SuperNova: Heroes of Arcania (37 page)

I crashed through the front doors of the gym, sending them flying open and banging into the walls. I swallowed hard as I prepared to go down swinging.
 

Amber stood twenty feet from me, terror etched into her pretty face. I followed her gaze to one of Fortune’s lackeys approaching her. Students cowered behind her, frightened and unsure of what to do.
 

He brought his arm up and aimed his gun at Amber. Her hazel eyes grew wide with fear as he mumbled something at her. Lackey’s torso twitched and his finger inched to the trigger. I took off in a sprint, blood pumping hard as I pushed myself to beat his bullet. I lunged forward, slamming my body into Amber’s as a shot rang inside the gymnasium. The bullet hit my shoulder and bounced off into a stage light, shattering red glass everywhere. A girl screamed and the crowd exploded.
 

Amber and I fell to the floor in a heap, my arms around her shaking body. The bottoms of dresses swirled over our faces as girls ran. The panicked crowd knocked over the gunman; he scrambled for the gun that ping-ponged between frantic high heels and tennis shoes. Amber panted, her throat choking with tears.
 

“Oh my god,” she said. “Why is this happening to us?”

Because I hit Fortune where it hurt.

Guilt knotted in my throat. I’d woken a sleeping dragon and now my friends would pay the price.
 

Instead, I got up, yanked Amber to her feet. The gunman also stood, momentarily checking his gun and I took my chance. Elbowing a student out of my way, I ran to the thug and pulled my arm back. He looked up in time to see my fist; the force behind my blow snapped his head to the right and he dropped like a sack of flour, motionless on the floor. I grabbed the gun; I didn’t want it, but he couldn’t have it, either.
 

“N-Nova?” Amber stared at me, dazed by the chaos and my mask. She grabbed my shoulder, yelled into my ear. “We need to run, let’s get out of here!”

I shrugged her off, ignored her shouts and looked for the faces I needed. Seeing neither Cole nor Penelope, I didn’t know what should be done next. Amber’s nails clawed into my arm; her face wet with tears, she might’ve been on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I pried her fingers off me.

“Amber, run,” I said. I looked into her watery brown eyes and spoke firmly again as her face turned questioning. “I have to stay here and help whoever I can.”

“You’re staying?” she asked, panic building in her eyes.
 

“I have to help. I don’t want anyone else to die.”
 

Something about my answer clicked for her. She grew solemn. “It’s really him? He’s here somewhere?”

“It couldn’t be anyone else,” I replied.
 

She grew quiet, her hands dropping to her sides.“Can you stop him?”
 

A body crashed into us; I steadied Amber, not wanting to lie. “I can try.”
 

At my tone, instead of turning to bolt as I expected, her back went rigid and she stood tall. Something changed in Amber’s eyes. She took a deep breath, a sudden calm washing over her.
 

“What can I do?” she asked.
 

I searched her face, finding determination. I nodded at her; she could actually help, provided she stayed out of harm’s way. “Call the police and make sure they’re on their way. Tell them it’s Fortune. As soon as you do that, get everyone out. The less people to trap in here, the better.”

Amber’s face paled at the thought of hostages, but to her credit she stayed strong. Whipping out her cell phone like she did a hundred times a day, she jabbed three numbers in. Then she turned to the crowds, shouted at people to get out as she told the operator to send everyone to the high school.

I watched her march out, urging others and helping another girl up. A smile flitted across my face, proud of my friend. She managed to get out into the hallway and I relaxed, knowing she’d make it out of the building.
 

Any humor on my face fell at a nearby cackle, the creepy sound mixing in with the students’ panicked cries. Goosebumps erupted on my skin.
 

Fortune is here.
 

A tall shadow entered the doorway before he did, slinking in. With the lighting behind him, his shadow loomed, spindly fingers reaching for me. Jagged blue rivulets of light flashed and my blood ran cold at his laugh. I glanced in either direction, wondering if I could slip away. When Fortune came into view, I noticed his slick black suit; he’d exchanged the black tie for a white one. He swaggered into the gym.
 

“Oh good, you
are
here,” Fortune said, zeroing in on me. He ignored the last few kids fleeing from the gym. He gave me a once over and smirked. “Nice dress.”
 

I steeled every nerve, trying to sound nonchalant. “Thanks. I see you also dressed for the occasion.”
 

He fingered the tie against his chest. “It’s nice, right? Versace.”
 

“I never doubted you had expensive taste. Explains all the money you like to take.”
 

Fortune sniggered. “I enjoy nice things.”
 

He glanced at a group of students crowding the side door to get out. His hand twitched by his side. I cleared my throat to keep his attention on me. “You know, we could’ve put something on the schedule if you wanted to see me.”
 

He turned back to me, his lips pursed in a half smile. “My way is more fun.”
 

“How did you know I was here?”
 

Thin shoulders shrugged. “Didn’t. You seem to show up whenever I want to cause trouble.”
 

“Hashtag sorry not sorry.”
 

He hesitated a split second, not understanding teen speak. Before I could get too pleased about it, Fortune waved a hand at me. “Your hand has been played, girl. I’m almost impressed you’re only in high school.”
 

My teeth ground together in annoyance. “I’m more than some girl.”
 

“I suppose I’ll give you that,” Fortune said, taking a step forward. I shifted my weight, freezing when he shot a look at me. He raised an eyebrow as though debating, a grin spreading under his mask. “You’re not a bad opponent.”
 

“This is between you and me,” I said, changing tactics. “Leave everyone else alone. Don’t make them pay for what I’ve done to you.”

“I didn’t do this for you, darling,” he said. Goosebumps raised on my arms as he spoke. “I’ve come for someone else.”

“You’re not leaving with anyone.” I raised my voice at him. “In fact, you’re not leaving. You’re going to pay for your crimes.”

“Oh god, do you know how ridiculous you sound?” The dark blue color stood out so coldly against the whites of his eyes as they rolled upwards and back to me. “You won’t kill me.”

“You won’t kill me, either.” The words slipped, left my mouth in a bratty, teenage voice. I could’ve smacked myself for it.

“Is that so?” Fortune only raised an eyebrow before waving his hand near my face. I reacted without thinking, jumped backwards as a thin bolt of blue light left his palm. It struck at the floor at my feet with a sizzle as his lips formed a thin smile. “Sure about that?”

After forcing my bladder to control itself, I vowed not to jump again like a scared cat. “You only use that power because you don’t want to fight.”

“Well, yes. I play to my strengths, I thought that was obvious.”

I started forward and he wagged a finger at me. A blue light glowed on his fingertips. I planted my feet again.

“I’d prefer if you stay right where you are,” Fortune said. “I’ve seen how you treat my friends with
your
strength and I don’t want to kill you yet.”

“Oh yeah? How come?” I glared at him, jutted my chin out. I hoped he’d see it as tough, when really, it was to keep my teeth from chattering in fear.

“You could be useful.”

“You are beyond mistaken if you think I’d ever join up with you.”
 

“Everyone can be…persuaded.”
 

You’ve already taken everything from me.
My mouth clamped shut against the confession, not wanting him to have any more clues on my identity. Wanting to get the subject as far away from me as possible, I said the second thing that came to mind.

“What happens if I kill you?” The tone I used made the right corner of my mouth curl up in a smile I didn’t know I had.
At least my subconscious has some bravery.
 

The smallest blue sparks erupted from his fingertips. “You’re awfully confident for a high schooler in a prom dress.”
 

My hackles rose. “Your luck has run out.”
 

“My girl, you’re a walking cliche. You need to work on that if you want to keep up with me.”
 

“You think you’re so great just because you have some wicked superpower. Big deal.”
 

His lips pursed together in annoyance as he approached me. “They are not ‘superpowers.’ They are gifts.” Then his tone switched, turned condescending while he gave a know-it-all smile. “Or didn’t your parents teach you anything?”

“They’re not gifted.”

“Gifts are hereditary. Someone in your family had a bit of talent they didn’t share.” His sly tone indicated he thought he was tricking me, trying to turn me against what I knew.
 

I refused to speak, not wanting to hand over any information he could further use against my parents. I wouldn’t give him easy access to my family. My silence made him laugh, which stumped me more.
 

“My mother taught me everything,” he said conversationally. “We have a grand time together.”
 

Penelope’s words rang in my memory, about Fortune being a mama’s boy. He’d used present tense referring to his mother; I filed that little tidbit away. I waited for comebacks to zip through my brain; instead, I came up with nothing. Fortune laughed again at my speechlessness. One more thing in his giant “Win” pile. Starling’s face flashed in my mind and I wished I could set him on fire.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said.
 

Better plan, Nova. Get the subject off your parents.
 

“Of course it matters.” There was that sly smile again, like a fox in a hen house. It irked the crap out of me. Fortune didn’t seem to notice my disgust.
 

“Are you going to kill me now? Zap me like everyone else?” I asked.
 

He shook his head. “No. You one-upped me at the bank. That makes you special. I want to play a game with you.”

When he didn’t elaborate, I got even more creeped out. Against my better judgment, I made a show of glancing around. It was more more for my benefit than his. “Where are your buddies?”
 

“Around.” Fortune tugged at his jacket lapels and made a brushing off his jacket. He looked at the nearby doors. “Where are yours?”
 

I stayed very still, not even daring to think about Cole or Penelope.
 

Fortune cracked another grin. “I haven’t met a Timekeeper. He’s useful, isn’t he?”
 

My knees threatened to buckle underneath me. He knew much more about us than I’d suspected, his men remembering more than I’d guessed. I couldn’t, under any circumstances, let him have Cole. A Timekeeper was rare, he’d said as much. Fortune would torture Cole until he had no choice but to work for the guy.
 

Against people like me.
 

“What are you doing here?” I asked.
 

Fortune snorted. “Ironic, really, that what I’m ‘doing here’ is saving both our secrets. Did you know someone saw us at the bank?”
 

“What?” I asked, sure I hadn’t heard him right.
 

“I’m looking for the witness.”
 

My heart sank and my question came out on autopilot. “What witness?”
 

I knew before he answered me. He sneered beneath the mask. “Some punk named Wheeler. I’ll make sure his story never gets out.”
 

My hands curled into fists. “Get out of here before I crush your skull into the cement walls.”
 

Fortune’s head tilted back as he let out a cackle. Snapping upright, his long legs closed the gap between us. I managed to remain in place, feeling like I’d upchuck any second. In what seemed like one fluid moment, Fortune came face to face with me. He leaned in, his tall frame looming overhead. Lightning crackled on his hands, currently down at his sides.
 

“He’s your friend,” he said, referring to Henry. He towered over me, winking behind his mask. “That’s good to know.”
 

Inside, even my organs trembled. Outside, I kept up the stare, dared him to come close a little closer. My fist wanted to meet his face; I wanted him to see stars. I stayed still, knowing he’d light up at any sudden movement. I didn’t want him to electrocute me. It might not kill me, but it would
not
be fun.