Page 148 of Lost

A giant of a man stood and started toward me. I could see his resemblance to the older woman.

“Sure, Mama,” he said. Then he looked at me. “Well, sis. Stay behind me and let’s get to gettin’. Best hold onto my belt so I don’t lose ya.”

I didn’t question him. I just did as he said. He turned. I grabbed his belt, and then he started climbing, taking giant steps up and over each row as people either parted to let him through, or he simply pushed them aside like they were curtains and he was determined to step through them onto a stage.

I followed in his wake, gratefully gripping his belt with both hands so that he almost carried me like a tail behind him.

“Sis, there’s a kid yellin’ and wavin’ at us. Is that who I’m takin’ ya to?”

I peeked around the mountain of a man to see Kev, flailing his arms over his head at us.

“Yep, that’s my brother.”

“Hang on!”

I hung on, and soon Jeremy deposited me right in front of Kevin. He was alone in the top row of the bleachers. Everyone else had fled toward the exits.

“Dude, that was seriously cool!” Kevin reached out to shake the giant guy’s hand.

“No problem. Need anything else?”

“No,” I said. “Go back to your family and keep everyone calm and together. We’ll take it from here. And thanks. Thanks a lot.”

“Welcome, sis.” And just as easily as he’d climbed up, Jeremy the Giant made his way back down.

“Okay, we’re calling Oak and the sprites now, right?” Kev asked.

“Not yet. First we need to get up there to the press box.” I glanced at the scoreboard. “We have exactly one minute and twenty-two seconds before halftime ends. That’s not enough time to negotiate with Oak to fix this mess, and if we don’t stop Neferet’s ‘Eat them all’ command, a lot of innocent humans will be killed.”

“How the hell do you think you’re gonna stop Neferet from commanding the Red Army to start killing?”

“I saw Stark go up there earlier. Hopefully, he’s still up there. I’m not going to stop Neferet. He doesn’t even have to stop her. All he has to do is—”

“Counter her command!” Kevin grinned. “That’ll at least confuse the armies and make them hesitate.”

“Yep, long enough for us to call the sprites and have them heal the red vampyres.”

“Good plan, Zo, but how do we get up there?” He pointed above us at the giant glass box.

“Well, as Stevie Rae would say, since we have all five elements here that should be easy-peasy. Trust me. This isn’t my first rodeo.” I keyed the walkie-talkie. “Anastasia! We’re going to need air. That means you have to concentrate and help us control your element. Ready to do that?”

“Yes, I am!” she said.

“Okay, here goes!” I held my hand out for Kevin’s, which he took without hesitation. “Focus on air—on how strong it is, how it surrounds us, fills us, and is always here for us.” Then I turned so that Kevin and I faced east. “Air! Hear my call! I am Zoey Redbird. This is my brother, Kevin Redbird. Nyx has gifted us with air affinities, and we need you to hear us. For the good of this world, we must be lifted up there.” I pointed to the very top section of the press box, knowing Neferet would never settle for seats that were anything but the best. “Air, take us there!” I squeezed Kevin’s hand tight. “Focus! And don’t let go of me!”

Kevin and I closed our eyes. I imagined air swirling around us, becoming tangible, like a gust of wind turned into the hand of the Goddess—cupping us in her palm and lifting us. In my mind’s eye I suddenly saw a clear image of Anastasia. She was sitting cross-legged at the top of the eastern bleachers, her eyes closed and her head tilted back. Her face was absolutely serene. Her long gray-streaked blond hair floated around her in invisible air currents. She was more radiant and beautiful than I’d ever seen her look.

And then Kevin and I were surrounded by a funnel of air. But this funnel wasn’t Oklahoma tornado crazy. It was soothing, serene, and warm. Safe within its eye, we began to lift.

“Wow! Hell yes, we have juice!”

I could hear the crowd below exclaiming in surprise, but I stayed focused thinking about air and how much I appreciated the invisible but powerful element. In seconds we were floating in front of a wall of windows behind which Neferet stood, glaring at us. Aphrodite was there too, watching us with wide-eyed surprise. There was also an ancient-looking Warrior—scarred, gnarled, and mean-eyed, watching us with a flat, calculating expression.

And there was Stark, who had just sprinted into the press box, mouth open, staring.

“How do we get in?” Kevin shouted over the funnel of air.

“The same way we got up here. Air can lift us, so air can also smash that glass.” I caught Aphrodite’s shocked gaze and mouthed,Get down.She didn’t hesitate. I saw her drop to the floor and then I raised both of my hands, taking Kevin’s with me. I turned my head to look at him. He met my eyes. “Imagine what we want, and then we ask air to push.” He nodded. I closed my eyes again, concentrating on a vision of air smacking against the glass and shattering it into a zillion tiny pieces that rained harmlessly to the empty top bleacher seats below us. Then I opened my eyes and told Kevin, “Push! Now!”

Kev and I pushed and, miraculously, air responded, smacking against the glass and shattering it into diamond dust before lifting us through the empty window frame and depositing us gently inside, just feet from Neferet.