and though I’m immune to their powers, that doesn’t mean I can’t feel the brush of warmth as Joaquin’s fire sweeps past my leg. Much closer and they won’t have to use magic. They’ll be able to grab on to one of my feet and send me careening across the sky.
I’m not about to let that happen—not the grabbing on to me and definitely not the “sending me flying” thing. But a superfast glance over my shoulder shows me that pretty soon, I’m not going to have a choice. So I do the only thing I can think of—dart into one of the few midair portals.
As I do, I pray it’s not like the last one I entered. A girl can only take so many things going to shit around her at any given time, and I pretty much feel like I’m at my quota right now. Just saying.
Turns out it’s not at all like the last one I entered—it’s so much worse that I kind of want to cry.
I don’t even know what to think about this one, except to say that whoever thought it up was pure evil. Brilliant, yes, but also completely evil.
Something about the gravity is all messed up, and I end up freefalling through the portal while also spinning head over heels. With each spin, the top of my head and the back of my heels scrape against the walls of the portal and I get an electric shock every single time. It’s really, really not fun.
Even worse, from the scream I hear not too far behind me, at least one of the dragons chose to follow me into the portal and whoever it is is pissed. Then again, they’re so big, they must be scraping against the sides of the portal the whole time. I’m having trouble feeling sorry for them, but I wouldn’t wish that kind of shock/electrocution on anyone.
I try to take a guess at where we’re going to come out—and how I’m going to gain control enough to keep flying when we do—all while holding on to a ball that’s starting to vibrate hard again. And can I just say, it’s beginning to feel like overkill… Bad enough that I’ve got eight homicidal paranormals on my ass. I need to also have a ball that’s sole purpose seems to be to break me apart? I know Flint and Jaxon love Ludares, but I’m pretty sure it might be the worst. Game. Ever.
The portal finally ends, throwing me out into the near pitch black…and, I realize with horror, on top of someone.
What the hell? Afraid I landed on one of the werewolves, I start to push away, but then I realize I’m hearing human screams. And not one or two but several of them…all up close and personal.
Which means… I look around desperately, trying to get my bearings and find the goal at the same time, only to realize that I’m not even on the field anymore. This freaking defective portal dropped me off directly in the middle of the audience. Which means… Oh shit.
We’re about to get squashed.
“You need to move!” I shout. “Move now!”
Then I take off, flying right over my classmates’ heads even as I hope that they listen, that they manage to get out before… All kinds of screams ensue as Joaquin slides out of the portal and right into—and on top of—the crowd.
A glance behind me shows that Delphina follows right after him, belching ice, and the two of them manage to take out a whole section of arena seats—and the people sitting in them. Cyrus yells for order, and several teachers and Circle members race for the area, hoping to sort out the melee.
I make sure no one is seriously injured then take advantage of the ensuing chaos to toss the ball high enough in the air to reset it, then catch it again as I race back down toward the field. I’m in my gargoyle form, so despite the darkness, I can see well enough to figure out that I’m not that far from their goal line. I lay on the speed, heading toward that damn red line with every ounce of energy I can muster. I’ve got thirty seconds to get close to my goal and maybe, just maybe, figure out one more way to reset the ball without chancing losing it when I’m this close to the end. Now if everyone else on the field would also cooperate, I would really appreciate it.