He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Jasper, picking him up. Ignoring Jasper's struggles, ignoring the whips of energy beating through his mind, Michael thrust a cord of power at the window, smashing it. Holding Jasper tight, he dove forward, throwing them both through the shattered window and out into the sunlight.
* * * *
Nikki stopped abruptly, her body stiffening with shock. Pain washed heat through her, almost suffocating her. Michael was hurt. Maybe even dying.
"No!” She spun and ran back to the house. Promise or not, she couldn't let him die. She'd stood back and watched her parents die. Had watched Tommy die. She sure as hell wasn't going to repeat the same mistake with Michael.
Glass shattered. She slid to a halt and glanced up. Michael and Jasper tumbled out the front window and hit the ground with bone-breaking force.
Jasper's hiss filled the air with venom, but he didn't burst into flame, as Monica had. But she could feel his desperation, as clearly as she could feel Michael's determination. He was holding onto the younger vampire, but only barely. And with every minute that passed, he was weakening.
Still she hesitated, needing to help but unsure what she could do. Jasper's struggles were becoming more frantic, his movements more desperate, but he might still have the power to control her. She didn't want to end up attacking the man she was trying to save.
She bit her lip and watched the two men roll down the slight grassy incline and onto the sidewalk. Michael's dying.
Jasper's whisper ran through her mind, full of malice. She swore and retrieved the second silver knife from her boot. If one didn't kill him, maybe a second would. A wash of energy hit her, sending her staggering backwards.
"Stay ... back!"
Michael's command was hoarse. Tears sprang to her eyes. Jasper was on top of Michael, fighting with fists and mind against Michael's grip.
Did he really expect her to simply stand there and watch him die?
She took a step forward, then stopped. Something glinted brightly between the two men... Her knife, wedged deep in Michael's side. Killing him, as she'd tried to kill Jasper.
"No!” she screamed, smashing aside the barriers of pain. Reaching out kinetically, she ripped the blade from his side and flung it as far away as she could. She glanced at the knife in her hand and threw that away as well. Just in case Jasper managed to break free from Michael's hold. Both men were weakening. It was evident in their struggles, in the weakening wisps of power running around her. In a last, desperate effort, Jasper screamed, surging upwards, smashing free of Michael's grip and staggering away. His desperation to escape the growing heat of the sun filled her mind ... then he turned and met her gaze.
He smiled suddenly. Nikki clenched her fists and backed away. Energy flowed through her, a desperate shield, a last defense.