"Robert," Cassie muttered.
"No," Julian growled. "Elspet. She can control water."
"There's no water around here," Chris said.
"Snow is water," Melissa reminded him.
"What are they going to do avalanche us in here? Oh crap," he muttered as his shoulders slumped.
"I think it's their way of telling us to come out." Julian rose to his feet and thrust the last of the arrows into Dani's chest. She fumbled awkwardly with them as he strode toward the window behind the sink. He jerked the curtain back with enough force to rip it from the rod. A solid wall of white already coated the cracked glass all the way to the top of the sill. "Son of a bitch. I'm going to kill her."
"They really are going to bury us in an avalanche," Joey said in awe.
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Julian assured him. "I hate the cold. Solar girl, why don't you heat something up and clear us a path out of here?"
Cassie glowered at him. "I really don't like that one."
Julian grinned at her but it didn't reach his eyes. "They're coming for you, so let's hope your batteries are as chargeable as a solar panel."
Cassie could only hope the same thing as she stepped up to the kitchen door. She pulled the kitchen curtain aside and almost shrieked as she jumped back. A pair of vivid red eyes stared back at her. Cassie blinked, the eyes blinked. Something inside of her shifted and slithered, she felt cold and hot, hot and then cold again. Sweat trickled down her back, goose bumps broke out on her flesh as her mouth went dry.
Freaky eyes, that's what Zane had called them. They're a little different, Devon had said. But they were more than a little different, they were most certainly freaky, and they were hers. She knew that even before her hand touched the corner of them in the glass across from her. She knew that it was impossible, unless she decided to Oedipus herself, but she wanted them out of her head right now!
How were they all not running and screaming in the opposite direction from her?
Because they had faith in her, she realized as her hand slid down to her side. They had faith that her eyes weren't a clear indication of the fact that she was a monster, and she was going to live up to that faith no matter what it took. Cassie squared her shoulders and set her jaw as she placed her hands against the glass.
"Can you clear a path through that?" Chris asked.
"We're about to find out."
"Please don't burn the house down around us."
Cassie smiled grimly but refrained from commenting as she focused her attention on the cells she felt vibrating within her body. She drew upon the knowledge that had come with the acquisition of Adon's power. Heat spread out from the center of her chest, seeped into her arms and pooled in her hands. She was reminded of a glass blowing exhibit she'd seen on a field trip as the tips of her fingers started to heat and glow. Glass began to shift and meld beneath her hands, it flexed outward as she continued to focus the heat away from her body.
Beyond the glass she could feel the cold press of the snow as it began to melt. The Elders hadn't buried them in the house with the intention of killing them, but even so Cassie worried about the water beginning to drip around her feet. No, they didn't plan to suffocate them beneath this snow and water, but they were hoping to burn her powers out.
Chris stepped back as more water seeped around the melting window and into the kitchen. Small flames sparked and flickered to life out of the tips of her fingers. She could feel the heat of it but it wasn't painful. In fact, she found the sensation almost pleasurable as it warmed her flesh and danced over her skin. Though Chris had been kidding, she was a little afraid she may set the house on fire.
Devon rested his hand on her shoulder as he pressed closer to her side. "You can do this."
Cassie swallowed heavily as the flames flickered higher and began to encircle her wrist. They seemed to be staying close to her body but a small ember leapt up to catch at the curtain. Devon yanked it off the door and stomped on the small flames. Annabelle pulled a fire extinguisher from underneath the kitchen sink.
"Just in case," she muttered as she aimed the nozzle at Cassie.
That would be the perfect topper, Cassie thought as she shifted her stance and pressed more firmly against the glass. Incandescent colors twirled and spread through the melding glass as it slid further into the massive snow bank outside. "Water drowns fire," Cassie murmured as water began to seep into her sneakers.
"I'm going to drown Elspet," Julian muttered as he tapped a stake against his palm. "I never did like that girl."
"She used to be so subdued," Devon commented.
"That was a front. Believe me, there's more to that sea monster than meets the eye."
Cassie grit her jaw and narrowed her eyes. She hoped Julian was right, as much as she hated the nickname she hoped she was like a solar panel and that she had enough energy stored to carry them through this battle. "It won't be me," she whispered.
"What won't be you?" Dani inquired.
"What Matthew saw, it won't be me."
Devon pressed a kiss against her temple. "It won't be," he murmured before turning away. "Julian, come with me."
"Where?"
"They won't be able to get in through the windows but they can make it through the front door."
***
Devon hoisted the crossbow against his shoulder as he pulled back the curtain to reveal the mound of snow piled against the front door. "They're trying to burn her out," Julian said.
"I'm not sure they can," Devon told him. He dropped the crossbow to his side as he stared at the wall of white.
"Devon..."
"You were right Julian. She's going to get through this, she's stronger than all of us, and she's most certainly stronger than them. Even if she does burn out they won't be able to break her spirit. No matter what happens though, Robert is mine."
Julian's mouth curved in a smile as he leaned back on his heels. "Are you ready for that?"
"I'm more than ready for that. It should have been done years ago and after what he did to her... He's mine Julian."
Julian spread his hands before him. "I won't object, though I wouldn't mind getting a few good blows in too."
"Be my guest."
"No matter what Zane plans, Robert will still try to kill her."
"I'm counting on it," Devon assured him.
"Devon!" Melissa's shout from the kitchen drew his attention back that way. "I think she's almost through!"