Dancing on Strings

A Touch of The Wild

This was where she could find her sisters.

This was where she would find Kazimir and Dalton.

But there had not been this much commotion last time.

This time, as she slowly got to her feet, she stared through the doors, towards the lines of tables, filled with all the same faces, all of whom were looking up towards the ceiling, voices raised, some cheering, some shouting, some with hands pressed to their mouths and eyes wide.

She stepped forward and looked up and her eyes widened and Billion – the man with the black wings and taloned fingers – went roaring past, wings wide, flying through the air as he dodged the wave that had been aimed at him.

He snarled something that Mai couldn't catch over the sound of the crowd before sending what appeared to be a ball of black lightning at someone across the hall.

"What in the world?" Mai whispered, staring, eyes wide as she gaped at the chaos of the hall that had appeared so calm and composed before.

It was a mistake to speak.

Billion whirled around, like she had screamed in his ear, and he stared down at her from where he hovered near the ceiling, blinding hatred in his eyes as he turned towards her.

She took a step back, startled by his fury – not that it was any different from last time, but Griffin wasn't with her this time.

In the blink of an eye, Billion turned on her, speeding towards his, his razor nails stretching towards her throat.

The force that hit him from his left sent him flying, crashing into the far wall with the force that actually shattered the rock face, sending rubble and dust bursting through the air.

A hand closed on Mai's arm and she looked around to see Dalton beside her.

He gave her a strained smile and pulled her out of the doorway, ducking as a lump of rock flew at them.

"Mai, how good of you to join us!" he shouted over the commotion.

"What is going on?" she shouted back.

"Kazimir and Billion don't get along!"

Mai stared at him, then looked back to the other side of the hall where the dust still tossed and rolled in the air.

Most of the hall were paying attention to them anymore though, they were staring at Mai, stunned, mouths open or turning to whisper to each other.

"Mai!"

The shout drew her attention just as Zola appeared, throwing her arms around her and gathering her into a spine-cracking hug.

The next second, all her sisters were around her, smothering her in arms and gowns and Mai was momentarily reminded of the downside to be one of the shortest of her family.

The moment was broken however when Billion broke free of the dust ball, launching back into the air and the dust settled to reveal Kazimir on the ground, on his hands and knees – still in his merman state – as his head snapped up to glare pure death upon Billion to circled above, eyes fixing on Mai in the middle of her family.

"Get away from her!" he roared, turning and diving.

Zola wrapped her arms around Mai, crying out in panic but Kazimir pushed himself off the ground, flying through the air like he was moving through water, flying with all the ease of Billion with his wings.

The collision was like listening to rocks crashing down a mountainside as they soared overhead.

"She's a goddamn Dreamer!" Billion screamed, thrashing to try and escape Kazimir. "She's one of them!"