Distraction and Diversion

"Would you shut up already?" Avian snapped, his already dark brown eyes darkening even more in irritation.

"Fine, fine." But I shut up because Avian just looks like one of those people you don't mess with--shaggy, touseled dark hair, dark eyes, a muscular frame, a strong jawline. And of course, the almost imperceptible fangs and wings that have over a sixteen foot wingspan don't help anything.

"Thank you. Now, if Micah were here, I would have him..."

"Do his little disappearing trick and nab Siren," I cut him off.

Clearly irritated I was finishing his sentances, he started to let out a sigh but stopped himself. "Yes, that's exactly what I'd have him do. But he's not. So I have to make do with what I've got."

"By which, you mean me."

"Yeah, the little miss Smarty-pants wannabe."

Oops, he's seriously in a bad mood I thought.

The next couple minutes passed in complete silence, and I took this opportunity to survey the prison in front of us. Guards on the wall, guards on the ground by the walls, watch dogs, even watch birds...it was high security.

"They change the guards out one at a time to cut down on confusion and panic, but with your telepathic abilities, it shouldn't be too hard." Avian was silent for a second or so. "When that one on the bottom leaves, he'll take the dog with him. So your chances of slipping by without being smelled are pretty high."

I nodded. "And if they do, I'll be using my telepathic abilities to hide myself. It'll be like I'm Micah."

"Only you won't be able to sustain it for one-nintieth of the time he can," he reminded me.

He was right, and it worried me.

"They're about to switch...get ready to go...and go!" he hissed.

As I dashed across the open expanse of hard rocky ground, my heart pounding, Avian's voice enter my head. Lakin, please don't screw this up.

I ignored him, screeching to a halt as I appraoched the wall. I could feel a tingling on my skin from the electricty coursing over the smooth, obsidian like stones of the walls. I needed to proceed with care.

You're doing good so far, he said.

I grunted in reply, too busy focusing all my energy on sustaining the hallucination I was projecting of empty space where I was, and also levitating myself with a force field.

Thankfully, Avian didn't feel the need to point out my timing was a little off; now I had to hold myself, in the air, with my mind, while waiting for the dog handler to walk to the other side of the wall.

He is not walking fast enough, and that dog is going to smell if the wind shifts even just a little bit...

Unfortunately, Avian conviently forgot to tell me the dogs were genetically enhanced, and it didn't have to wait for any wind to smell me a mile off. (Yes, I would have strangled him if I could actually bring myself to do it. I mean, heavens sakes, how many guys who could pass for angels have you strangled?!)

The dogs weren't barking yet because the scent masker Avian had drenched me in had been doing a pretty good job up until the point where I was sweating buckets.

And also the wind shifted.

The dog's head shifted towards me as he walked.

my ever helpful coach whispered in horror.

The dog's mouth seemed to open in slow motion, and I could see through its fur an outline of where its lungs would be. I watched them expand as it drew in air and then violently expell an earsplitting bark.

At least they can't see me, I thought, hastily moving myself over to the edge of the wall and setting my feet down.

Jerking away from its surprised handler, the dog lunged right at the spot where I would be. Deftly sidestepping, I expected the dog to fall over the side of at least miss me.

No such luck. That hunk of genetic engineering raked out a paw and its retractable claws hooked into my leg. I couldn't help the scream that escaped my lips and next thing I knew, the guard was firing his gun at me.

I caught each bullet in the sheild I quickly replaced my hallucination/ hologram with, catching each one and sending them streaking back at him. That took care of him, and a swift force-feild assisted blow to the canine freed me. But more guards--hordes of them--were streaking towards me.

Avian?! I could use some help! Like, anything! Anytime!

He didn't answer.

Leaping down off the wall and onto the walkway, I took off running. I shot flames from my palms at the guards advancing towards me to keep them away, but my telepathic energy was quickly waning and there were too many of them.

And then, suddenly, smokey tendrils of gray starting wrapping up over the walkways and towers, twining around the guards' legs and the dogs' mouths, jerking them back and over to the ground below.

I winced at the thuds that ensued.

I couldn't believe it. Siren?! You're free?

Her telepathic voice flooded my brain. Yes.

But who let you out?

Avian did, she said.

I couldn't believe it. Avaian?! Then, Avian!

I knew you'd screw it up so I just decided to use you as a distraction and free her myself, he said.

You could have told me first!I yelled.

He flew up beside me and landing graceful, folding his huge wings up against his shoulder blades. "I don't know why you're upset; we freed Siren."

"You lied to me and you've also insulted me." I folded my arms over my chest. Why was I so angry?!

"I'm sorry," he said, and he really seemed to mean it. He glanced at Siren, and then down at the crumpled guards. Already, we could hear sirens blaring and barking coming from inside the compound. "But I'll make it up to you. How 'bout a night time fly over Manhattan?"

He smiled.

I wanted to say no, but I couldn't help myself. "Fine."

"Okay, let's go." He grabbed one of Siren's hands and one of mine before jumping over the wall.

I yelped in surprise before using a force field to hold myself aloft as he dropped our hands and started flapping his wings in long, graceful sweeps.

As irritating as that was, I had to grin back at him when he flashed me another smile.

I mean, c'mon--he looks like a male model and has the wings of an angel. Who can stay mad at someone like that?! I sure as crud can't.