Lightning by Bonnie S. Calhoun Page A

to take these here women with us as the rest of the payment.” Dirty Nails sneered at Cleon and turned to face Jaenen. “You had something to say about my friend touching your woman before. What you got to say now?”
    Jaenen opened his mouth.
    â€œI’m not his woman.” Selah put fists to hips. “You talk to me if you have something to say about me.” Suddenly she realized how stupid that sounded, but there was no taking it back. She stuck out her chin and glared at Dirty Nails.
    The bandits howled, making snide comments about Dirty Nails’ lack of ability to control one little woman. His hand shot out and he slapped Selah across the face.
    She saw it coming as if in slow motion. She flinched, turning with the slap to lessen the blow. Fear dissolved. She licked her lip, looking for blood, then cracked her neck from side to side. Her nails dug into the palms of her hands. Pain heightened her sense of fear.
    Jaenen lurched to her defense. A rifle barrel intercepted him. He retreated, hands raised, forehead bloody.
    Selah’s eyes narrowed. What manner of craziness was this? Everything was moving in singular frames of time. She glared at Dirty Nails again, wishing she could shoot flames from her eyes.
    The smile left his face. He threw his rifle to the side and grabbed the front of her shirt with both hands, drawing her into his putrid smell. She gagged and recoiled. He yanked her forward again to stand nose to nose, snapping her head back.
    A guttural roar burst from her chest. “Nooo!” Selah thrust out both palms to push him away. Dirty Nails lifted from the ground and slammed into the top side of the AirWagon. He dropped to the ground with legs and arms splayed.
    The remaining bandits turned and ran, leaving Dirty Nails to flop around on the ground. The sound of horses galloping away into the forest punctuated his curses as he gained his footing and snatched up his discarded rifle. He spit and scrambled after his men. At the end of the forest he turned back. “What kind of freak are you, lady?”
    Selah stumbled back, extending her arms to steady herself. Cleon and Jaenen stood rooted.
    Treva rushed to her side. “What was that?”
    â€œI don’t have a clue.” Selah held up her hands and scannedboth palms. They vibrated again like this morning. Fear and wonder consumed her at the same time. Was this part of being novarium?
    â€œI guess you won’t have a use for these.” Cleon gathered up her scattered kapos and dropped them back in the leather pouch.
    â€œAre you going to tell us what’s going on, or do we just pretend we didn’t see you make that guy fly through the air?” Jaenen stood his ground, noticeably farther away.
    Selah winced, though Treva didn’t appear intimidated.
    â€œHow long has that been happening?” Treva rested her hand on Selah’s arm.
    â€œI don’t know. I think I first noticed it this morning.” Selah continued to stare at her hands as though some invisible text would pop up with a warning label and directions.
    â€œCan you do it again?” Cleon closed the pouch.
    â€œI don’t know. I’ll try.” Selah extended her hands. She didn’t know how to turn on whatever it was that made the energy burst. She tensed her muscles, then jerked her hands forward. Nothing happened.
    Treva jumped back. “Hold on! I think you need a focal point and I don’t want to be it.”
    â€œMe either!” Cleon and Jaenen spoke in unison.
    â€œMaybe it’s an emotional reaction, and you need to be upset or something,” Treva said.
    â€œI was angry about being slapped, and his smell made my stomach lurch.” Selah rubbed at her hands.
    Jaenen shook his head. “We came out of that a lot better than I expected. This is why a caravan is always the safestbet through this part of the country. You two women were very brave.”
    â€œI wasn’t scared like this