"Oh . . . my . . . God . . ." Marlene began to pace.
"Clarification for those of us not reading between the lines," Bobby said quickly.
"Lilith's spawn," Rider said, opening the back door to hock and spit over the deck rail. "Now it gets really fun, folks."
"Rewind that tape," J.L. said, his gaze darting between Jose and Carlos. "The Anti-"
"Yeah, and don't say it," Marlene warned. "Don't even bring the energy up in this house by speaking its name."
"Nobody fire on Yonnie, all right?" Carlos said, setting his cup down hard. "My boy is in a real precarious situation right through here, but he's the only way inside right now. It's too hot for even a Neteru breach at this point."
Taraquietly hugged herself and allowed her gaze to drift out the window. Carlos glanced at Rider and then atTara .
"But you can't go see him under any circumstances, T," Carlos said gently. "Even though Yonnie's my boy . . . the daylight's got him intoxicated right now and he hasn't fed."
"We'll I'm gladyou finally see the light, Rivera," Rider said, his gaze hard.
Carlos allowed the comment to slide. He understood where Rider was-he'd been there before himself.
"He's splitting my skull," Tara said quietly, her voice so soft that were it not for the intensity of her words everyone would have needed to strain to hear her. She slowly slid her fingertips up the side of her beautiful face to massage her temples, and then closed her eyes as her fingers began to tangle in her hair.
Tara's outstretched fingers soon became fists amid her dark tresses. Perspiration sheen marred her once even, honey-brown complexion. When she jerked her head to the side as though someone had struck her, the team watched in abject horror as her jugular vein rose beneath her skin, pulsing like an irate serpent.
"Just let me go talk to him,"Tara rasped in a breathy, pained whisper, beginning to crest a hint of fangs in her mouth.
"And I can't smoke him?" Rider said. "What, are younuts! "
"He has to eat soon," Carlos said, keeping his voice flat and matter-of-fact. "Sit her in a chair-do itnow, " he added asTara began to pace. "He knows that if he breaches this joint, it's all over. I'll be the first one on his ass. He also knows that, if he turns an innocent or feeds buck wild, there's nothing I can do for him at this point. . . . He already has two hundred years of bad history weighing his case in the wrong direction so-"
"Let me go, Jack!"Tara suddenly screamed and began fighting against his hold.
"Either shoot that motherfucker or prayer-banish him," Shabazz said, helping Rider holdTara in her chair.
A black energy pulse that sounded like a mortar round had gone off hit the house. Instantly tactical sensor Guardians were on their feet, sending a blue-white energy charge against the walls to box in the room.
"I call down the white light of protection and mercy," Marlene said, beginning to walk aroundTara 's chair. "By all the angels and ancestors of the righteous, barrier this woman's mind and spirit."
"And her body,"Rider interjected, struggling to holdTara down with his full weight while still clutching his pump shotgun in his right grip.
Ignoring Rider's outburst, Damali's voice quickly joined in the low chant with Marlene's untilTara slumped against Rider's shoulder, her body damp with perspiration and her breaths stilted.
"And that was just from a wistful call denied, Carlos," Damali said, staring at her husband. "We've gotta deny him access to the property. He's stronger, baby . . . he's-"
"I know, but he's still on our side, D! That right there was some old relationship bull, but it doesn't mean he's gone dark. It may not be right to lust after another man's wife, but you and I both know that if everyone who did got shot, half of America or more would be blown away-so I ain't going after Yonnie for that kinda shit. Not after the way he's had our back. So, before we just up and smoke the man, we have to know for sure that he took an offer he couldn't refuse."
"Carlos," Damali said calmly, her eyes searching his. "I will go with you on that, but after he just tried to vapor-snatch our team sister out of the house, you have to deny him access to-"
"And leave him ass-out in a firefight, D?" Carlos walked around in a circle. "Do you know who's on his ass right through here?"
"Tell him. Send him a transmission so he knows he's blocked and doesn't get hurt trying to-"
"No. I won't do it, D. I can't go there." He was talking with his hands, his back to the team, pressure splitting his skull. "Barrier him to Tara, you and Marlene make the Light do what it do-but don't ask me to blindside my brother like that over no bullshit, especially not now."
All eyes were on Carlos. He was breathing hard, had begun to pace. The looks on the Guardians' faces spoke volumes.
"Man . . . you know we all got your back," Shabazz said, "but this time, you may be in too deep yourself. You ever consider the fact that you mighta got mind-dazed out there alone on the beach?"
"What?" Carlos cocked his head to the side and stared at Shabazz, his gaze solid silver.