SuperNova: Heroes of Arcania (38 page)

Even so, the look on his face kept me from speaking. It made fear rush through me, this gut feeling that Fortune’s plan wasn’t so straightforward. That I could do nothing with my strength until I knew how to stop him.
 

His smile had no goodness or humor. “I think you deserve a taste. Just enough, in case you were wondering if Unbreakables felt pain.”
 

“No—”
 

I took a step back and Fortune’s arm came up. His left hand came up inches from my right side and electricity shot out of his palm. It seized hold, the shock cutting through me like a lightning bolt. I gasped and dropped to the ground. I writhed in pain, jerking from the volts to my nerves.
 

My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth; I couldn’t speak. The shockwaves lasted a few more seconds, the fadeaway leaving me ill and sore. I forced myself back on my feet, hoping I didn’t puke. I stayed several feet away from him; he didn’t so much as twitch, watching me the entire time with a smirk.
 

I clutched at my side, fingers worrying at the burnt hole in my dress. “Jerk.”
 

“Sorry about the dress, but you deserved a lesson,” Fortune said in a low tone. “I’ve had my fun now. See you later.”
 

“What do you mean?” Even I couldn’t miss the tremor in my voice. I swallowed hard, the knot in my throat painful and unmoving.
 

“If you couldn’t tell, I prefer to plan ahead. I didn’t come here to set your precious school dance on fire, but it was a fun bonus. I have what I want. Now it’s your turn to play. I’ll expect your move soon.”

Fortune backed away, midnight blue eyes never leaving mine. When he reached the double doors, he had the gall to give me a farewell wave. Still twitching, I hobbled after him, nearly making it to the doorway. I was within arm’s reach of Fortune when I froze mid-step. Unable to move, I watched as a figure emerged from the hallway to stand next to Fortune. A blond crown shone in the backlight.
 

My heart sank as the shape came to us.
How could Cole have joined—no. Oh, no.
I could still see and hear, so time hadn’t stopped. This couldn’t be Cole. The hold released on me, but I remained floating a few inches in the air. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t leave the spot I floated on.
 

This wasn’t a Timekeeper’s power. It was the gift of a Telekinetic.
 

Penelope’s tiny frame stood in front of me, her right arm reaching out to hold me in place. She kept my lips tight, wouldn’t let me speak. Her face remained passive, pale eyes coldly looking me over without any recognition. Footsteps thundered behind me.

“Penelope, no!” Cole yelled. “You don’t have to go with him. You’re stronger than that!”

He reached me, fully intending to tackle her, but she held up her other arm and held him in place too. He floated next to me, failed in any attempts to freeze them, helpless against her mind. Fortune grinned in approval as Penelope narrowed her eyes at her brother, her words twisted into a slight snarl.

“You’re not the only one who can put people in their place, bro. I’m not going because he’s making me. I’m going because I want to. Isn’t it what you always expected?”
 

Her face twisted with emotion, but I didn’t understand the look between them. Penelope and Fortune backed away to the doors leading outside to the parking lot. She paused at the doorway, looking back at us. At the last second, Penelope let her mind go and Cole and I dropped to our feet. We ran to her and her arms moved outward, throwing her gift at us.
 

Cole and I flew backwards, crashing into the other side of the gym against the cushiony mats on the wall. We stood up and looked to the exit—their shadows had just slipped through the doors. My whole body still buzzed with Fortune’s parting gift. I lifted a hand up and patted my hair, sure it was standing on end.
 

Cole reached out, pulled me into his arms. I allowed myself a moment’s reprieve, his warm embrace bringing me little comfort. This was too much to bear.
 

I pulled away to take everything in. We were both a mess. My side ached from where Fortune zapped me. With my ripped dress and hair askew, his blue tie long gone and blood across his cheek, we looked battered and beaten. Cole had a stunned look on his face, but when our eyes met, it melted into anger.

“She wouldn’t do this on her own,” he insisted. “Something’s wrong. I—I mean, we—have to save her.”

I said nothing, unsure what to believe. My silence didn’t reassure Cole and his shoulders drooped. I put my hand on his arm, looking for Henry to pop out from behind a doorway. No way would he have run from something like this, not when he could have the story of a lifetime. Not when he was his own key witness. I didn’t like how Fortune had dropped that little bomb on me. I craned my neck, searching for any sign of my best friend.
 

Instead, when Cole looked up at me, his face shone real fear. “There’s more.”

“What is it?” I shot him an impatient look, my head still swiveling at the doorways and exits.
 

“They took Henry with them.”

“What?” I staggered into his arms, the shock of his statement hitting me like a brick to the chest. “No.”
 

“He stole them from us, Nova. Pen and Henry are with Fortune.”
 

The world fell out from under me as everything faded to black.
 

Students screamed as they raced out of the school gymnasium. Beneath my fluttering lashes, bright colors flashed. I realized I was on the floor, someone’s strong arms around me. My boyfriend, Cole; he’d caught me before my head smacked to the floor when I passed out.
 

“Nova, please,” Cole begged. “I need you to wake up.”
 

“Cole,” I mumbled.
 

“Fortune took Henry and Penelope,” Cole said, repeating the second worst sentence I’d ever heard.
 

Another scream pierced the air, my eyes popping open. I jerked upright, seeing Cole’s only slightly relieved expression. Forcing myself to snap out of it, I tried to focus on our surroundings.
 

I glanced around, barely taking it in. Homecoming dance decor was strewn all over the place, the string of tiny white lights slung across tables and floor, many of the bulbs broken into a thousand pieces.
 

Kinda like my heart right now. Oh god, Henry
.
 

Fortune, the city’s psychotic bank robber, and consequently my little sister’s killer, had attacked the school dance and taken my best friend.
 

Because I got in his way.
 

That was perhaps the most terrible part, knowing that Henry’s capture was partly my fault. I’d taken two of Fortune’s money-filled duffel bags and prevented him from heisting another bank. I’d irritated Fortune, sure, but he’d attacked my school for another reason. Turned out Henry witnessed us block Fortune’s robbery attempt; he hadn’t recognized us, but somehow Fortune caught wind of the nosey high school reporter. Fortune had actually laughed when he told me he was “doing us both a favor” by taking Henry Wheeler.
 

And Penelope. God, it got worse the more I remembered the details. Penelope, Cole’s powerful little sister, had betrayed us. I knew she’d had a wild streak; her gift of Telekinesis had serious mojo and she’d made no secret of her interest in violence. But to team up with Fortune and fling her former friends (not to mention her own brother) into a wall was just plain cruel.
 

“We have to go,” Cole said, yanking me to my feet. “The cops will be here soon.”
 

“We’ll have to talk to them eventually,” I said, unsure if we should leave.
 

“We need to talk to our parents first,” he advised. “They’re the only ones who know the truth.”
 

I grimaced, knowing he was right. My dad, Arcania’s top defense attorney, knew my plan for vengeance against Fortune for the murder of my sister. More importantly, he knew about our gifts. I had to tell him the whole story before he heard any other version on the news or from his coworkers.
 

I allowed Cole to drag me out of the high school and to his car. We lived in the adjoining neighborhood, only a few blocks away. We were at my house within two minutes; I filled him in on my side of the story on the short ride.
 

Cole and I stumbled back into my house, locking the door behind us. I excused myself to go to the bathroom, taking refuge in the empty room. I stood against the door for a long moment. I struggled to breathe evenly, the panic attack about to hit. Tremors shook my body and I whimpered with each racking sob. My hands refused to stop shaking.
 

Deep breaths, Nova. There’s too much at stake to fall apart now.

Before I could slide down to the floor to curl up and weep, I dropped my bag and went to the sink. My hands slapped on the counter and I stared at the girl in the mirror. A girl I barely recognized.

“The girl who wanted to be a superhero,” I mumbled. “There’s a laugh.”