A bolt of lightning shot out from the snake pit, leaping across the few feet of desert and striking the body of the panther. The whole snake pit seemed to burst into cold, blue flame for a moment, with a rushing noise like a building rain, and then a deafening explosion threw Jessica to the ground. She rolled across the dirt, the boom shaking the hard desert sand beneath her.

For a moment she couldn’t move. Her head rang, and she could see nothing but the bolt of lightning striking the big cat, burned into her eyes like the afterimage of a camera flash.

Jessica forced her eyes open and rose shakily, coughing, not knowing which way was which. Tears streamed down her face, and as she blinked them away, Jessica saw a blurry form hurtling toward her through the air.

She took a few half-blind steps backward. The shape landed in front of her.

Jessica put a hand up to her neck instinctively, but the necklace was gone. She was defenseless.

A hand grabbed her arm.

“This way, Jess.”

Gravity slid away. Suddenly she was made of feathers.

“Jonathan.”

With a single, soaring step he pulled her across the crackling boundary. She had been only yards from the edge of the snake pit. Lights flashed around them, the hairs on her head standing up as if she’d stepped into a bath of electricity.

Jessica stumbled when they landed inside the sinkhole, and the moment Jonathan let go of her arm, her feet slipped down the slope of softer sand. She sat down hard.

“Jess?”

“I’m okay.” She blinked away the dirt in her eyes and managed to get Jonathan’s face into focus. He was breathing hard, kneeling next to where she sat, loose dirt slipping around them down into the center of the pit.

“I tried to stop the darkling, but it went for you so fast,” he said breathlessly. “I thought I was too late.”

“No, you were just in time.” Jessica shook her head, trying to clear the ringing in her ears. Her fingers and toes buzzed, as if some huge force had moved through her, electrifying her body in its wake. Every breath seemed to fill her with energy. She almost felt like laughing.

“I lost Obstructively. I mean, I threw it at the psychokitty,” she babbled.

“I saw the whole thing. That was incredible.”

“Is it gone? Your necklace?”

“Blown to bits, but I’ll give you another one.”

“Oh, good.”

Jessica giggled, then forced herself to take a slow, deep breath. The buzzing in her body was fading. Finally her vision cleared completely. Jonathan’s face was twisted with concern.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked. “You look like you just stuck a fork into a light socket.”

“Gee, thanks.” Jessica stood shakily, and he reached out a hand to help her up. “I’m okay, really.”