She couldn't The car passed on.
I should make her get away from the window, Keller thought. This wasn't as obvious a conclusion as it seemed. The Night People weren't in the habit of using sharpshooters to pick off their targets.
But it was still probably a good idea. Keller was tiredly opening her mouth to say it when something caught her attention.
The blue-green car was back. It was at the exit of the circular driveway, stopped but facing the wrong way, as if it were about to enter.
As Keller watched, it revved its engine.
Keller felt her hairs prickle.
But it didn't make any sense. Why on earth would Night People want to park there and draw attention to themselves? It had to be some human kids acting up.
Hiana was frowning. She had stopped tracing
patterns in the dust on the windowsill. "Who's that? I don't know that car."
Alarms.
But still...
The car roared again and started moving. Coming the wrong way along the driveway.
And Jaime, right below them, didn't look up.
Diana realized at the same time Keller did.
"Jaime!" She screamed it and pounded the window with one small fist. It didn't do the slightest good, of course.
Beside her, Keller stood frozen and furious.
The car was picking up speed, heading straight for Jaime.
There was nothing to do. Nothing. Keller could never get down there fast enough. It was all going to be over in a second.
But it was horrible. That giant metal thing, tons of steel, was going to hit about a hundred and ten pounds of human flesh.
"Jaime!" It was a scream torn from Diana.
Below, Jaime finally looked up. But it was too late.
Chapter 10
The car coming. Iliana screaming. And the feeling of absolute helplessness-
Glass shattered.
Keller didn't understand at first. She thought that Iliana was trying to break the window and get Jaime's attention. But the window was safety glass, and what broke was the beaker in Diana's hand.
Blood spurted, shockingly red and liquid.
And Iliana kept squeezing the broken glass in her hand, making more and more blood run.
Her small face was fixed and rigid, her lips slightly parted, her breath held, her whole expression one of complete concentration.
She was calling the blue fire.
Keller lost her own breath.
She's doing it! I'm going to see a Wild Power. Right here, right beside me, it's happening!
She wrenched her own gaze back to the car. She
was going to see those tons of metal come to a stop just as the BART train on the video had. Or maybe Iliana would just deflect the car in its course, send it into the grassy island in the middle of the driveway. In any case, she can hardly deny that she's the Wild Power now-
It was then that Keller realized the car wasn't stopping.
It wasn't working.
She heard Iliana make a desperate sound beside her. There was no time for anything more. The car was on top of Jaime, swinging up onto the curb.
Keller's heart lurched.
And something streaked out behind Jaime, hitting her from behind.
It knocked her flying toward the grassy island. Out of the path of the car.
Keller knew who it was even before her eyes could focus on the dark golden hair and long legs.
The car braked and screeched and swerved-but Keller couldn't tell if it had hit him. It went skidding, half on and half off the sidewalk. Then it corrected its course and roared along the driveway, speeding away. Nissa came dashing out of the door below and stood for an instant, taking in the scene.
Above, Keller was still frozen. She and Iliana were both as motionless as statues.
Then Iliana made a little noise and whirled around. She was off and running before Keller could catch her.
She shot past Winnie, leaving a trail of flying red droplets.
"Come on!" Keller yelled.
They both went after her. But it was like chasing a sunbeam. Keller had had no idea the little thing could run like that.
They were right behind her all the way down the stairs and out the door. It was where Keller wanted to be, anyway.
There were two figures lying on the pavement. They were both very still.
Keller's heart was beating hard enough to break through her chest.
Amazing how, even after seeing so much in her life, she could still have the desperate impulse to shut her eyes. For the first moment, as her gaze raked over Galen's body, she wasn't sure if she could see blood or not. Everything was pulsing with dark spots, and her brain didn't seem able to put any kind of coherent picture together.
Then he moved. The stiff, wincing motion of somebody injured, but not injured badly. He lifted his head, pushed himself up on one elbow, and looked around.
Keller stared at him wordlessly. Then she made her voice obey her. "Did it hit you?"
"Just glanced off me." He got his legs under him. "I'm fine. But what about-^-"
They both looked at Jaime.
"Goddess!" Galen's voice was filled with horror. He scrambled up and took a limping step before falling to his knees.
Even Keller felt shock sweep over her before she realized what was going on.
At first glance, it looked like a tragedy. Diana was holding Jaime, cradling her in her arms, and there was blood everywhere. All over the front of Diana's sweater, all over Jaime's white shirt. It just showed up better on Jaime.
But it was Diana's blood, still flowing from her cut hand. Jaime was blinking and lifting a hand to her forehead in bewilderment. Her color was good, and her breathing sounded clear if fast.
"That car-those people were crazy. They were going to hit me."
I'm sorry," Diana said. "I'm so sorry; I'm so sorry..."
She was so beautiful that Keller's heart seemed to stop.
Her fine skin seemed almost translucent in the cool afternoon light. That glorious hair was rippling in the wind behind her, every single strand light as air and moving independently. And her expression...