The gun’s handle felt cold and smooth, and she pulled it free, not surprised to find it fully loaded.
Thanks Yoma.
Mama Knot’s biggest leaf brushed her cheek as she got up. Layela associated the gesture with affection. Mama Knot had only been a seedling when Yoma brought it to Layela years ago, and it was the one plant she could not bring herself to sell. It was entirely too loving and lively, and had kept as careful an eye on Layela as Yoma and Josmere had when she was healing, losing quite a few of its own leaves in worry for its friend. It had been a wonderful companion when Layela needed only quiet to fight and rebuild her broken mind. Her mouth grew dry at the thought of how close she had come to repeating that fate today. She surely would have, had Ardin not helped her escape. She hoped he was on their side.
Layela leaned in and gently blew on Mama Knot. The whole plant puffed its leaves in pleasure. Layela smiled and kept the gun close as she approached the door to the show room. It was nice to be missed.
“Would you just go away?” Josmere’s voice was laced with cyanide.
“Not until I have what I came for!”
Layela stepped onto the floor, certain neither one of them would notice her in their anger. Ardin had his gun drawn, and Josmere’s gloves were off. It was time to stop them both before this got out of hand. No vision whispered in her mind, so she knew no one was going to die here. Still, she hoped no one would get badly hurt, either. Layela took a deep breath and aimed, disappointed Ardin had turned out to be the enemy.
“Don’t move or I’ll shoot!” Ardin looked at her for a split second, surprise and annoyance flickering in his eyes. “Lilac, I’m fine, I don’t need your help.”
Josmere looked even more annoyed. “What in the thirty-three bloody hands of Gumar are you doing here, Layela?”
Ardin lowered his gun and he looked at Layela in shock, as if truly seeing her for the first time. “Wait, you’re Layela Delamores?”
A second later, the large, vibrant and expensive front windows of Sunrise Flowers exploded into a thousand pieces, shards and petals filling the air. Layela threw herself to the floor, unable to distinguish Josmere from the broken plants littering the shop.
CHAPTER 8
Josmere!” Layela cried as she fell to her knees, only to be tackled to the floor by Ardin, the rogue’s body covering hers as another volley exploded around them, shattering more plants.
“Stay down!” Ardin hissed as he rolled off of her, raising his arm and firing a few shots in the general direction of the assailants.
“Time to go.” Ardin crouched, grabbing Layela’s right arm, and started to drag her. She struck at his arm with her free hand, but he grabbed the cuffs still secured to her left hand and dragged her by both wrists, ignoring her struggles.
“Josmere! Where are you?” she screamed. She tried to turn around to hit the rogue, but she was barely able to gain her footing — much less plan an attack — with waves of pain cascading from her wrists all the way to her bruised ribs.
“Right here,” the Berganda said as she grabbed Ardin’s arm. The rogue looked down in horror at the green hand pressed directly to his flesh. Layela held her breath, waiting for Ardin to convulse and collapse; she had seen Josmere’s powers at work before. An instant passed and his fear vanished. He yanked his arm out of her grasp. Layela had never seen Josmere look so stunned.
“I guess stories of the powers of the Berganda are greatly exaggerated,” he said. Another round fired and they all ducked to the floor. Ardin’s hold on Layela’s wrist was still strong. Her cuts re-opened and blood flowed into his hands. He was too intent on getting out to notice.
“Now, let’s go!” Ardin pulled Layela towards the back door. Layela planted her feet and fought him as best she could, wishing she still had her gun. “Stop struggling,” Ardin hissed back, “I’m trying to help you!”
“Then let go of me and let me fight,” Layela shouted back, but his hold only tightened as he reached the door behind the counter.
He replied, “I would, if I was sure I’m not the one you’d be fighting!”
“Wait!” Josmere scrambled back up and called out, but Ardin ignored her. She swore and tried to reach Layela, but Ardin pushed the door open and shoved Layela through with little grace. Layela stumbled forward and was about to turn and try to take him on when her breath caught in her throat. Standing before her was another Berganda, similar to Josmere, but different; her eyes didn’t hold the same warmth. Beside her, Mama Knot’s leaves were pulled back onto themselves, the plant protecting its core.
She heard Ardin grunt behind her, and wondered if the Berganda was his ally, maybe brought along to defeat Josmere — though Layela doubted Berganda ever turned against each other. Especially now, with their race dwindling so rapidly.
“Why, hello my dear,” the Berganda said in a soft hiss, and Layela backed up only to bump into someone else. She turned around, thinking she would see Ardin, but a scream caught in her throat as she faced the Kilita, victory flashing in his orange eyes.
“Don’t move a muscle,” Ardin ordered, the rogue’s gun trained on the Berganda’s head as he stood back up. The Kilita’s eyes didn’t waver once from Layela.
“Shoot, if you dare,” the Berganda hissed, and Layela believed Ardin might actually do it, but Josmere screamed and tackled him to the ground. The rogue swore as he went down, his gun still firmly clutched.
“Fire!” The command was heard before the shots came, and all five fell to
