I brought out the Wretch, as he ducked around me. His arms were longer like this, and as he swung one in my general direction, he came into contact with the Wretch.

I saw sparks and arcs highlight the Wretch’s general shape, just for an instant. I saw him see it.

He reached out, checking the coast was clear, and again, came into contact with an outstretched arm of the Wretch. Again, highlighting its shape, and that it had moved.

His belt flashed, electricity crackling in a ring around his midsection. Then his legs were gone—he was a torso with a head of electricity, two lash-like limbs, and a tail of lightning, floating in the air. The electricity that crackled along his chest and stomach left flesh temporarily phased out in its wake. I could see veins against a backdrop of bright lights tracing similar forking lines. I could see raw, red flesh where the ethereal lightning form cut through physical meat.

He changed direction instead of trying to go through me and toward the Lyme Center. His movements were more unpredictable now, faster. He didn’t fly or teleport, but arced, bouncing off of a car, then lunging toward his own vehicle. I flew after, Wretch up.

Heading for his big gun?

For the gun in the passenger seat?

He chose the latter, lunging toward the open truck door. His movements stuttered, as he darted fifteen to fifty feet ahead, stopped, reoriented himself, then lunged forward again.

It took three such movements to get himself to the truck. Faster as an energy breaker than I was as a flier.

With lightning hands, he held his laser rifle. He twisted around, weapon in his arms—

A silver blade flew past him. Rain’s crescent of light didn’t touch the arm of energy. It did cross the body of the weapon.

The guy aimed at me, then fired.

Sparks showered, geysering out through the line of silver. Lightning jumped out, wild and white, tracing along the ground with no apparent rhyme or reason.

Rain was still on the ground, but he was already creating his next silver blade, ready to throw it if needed. The tinker threw his broken rifle aside, then headed directly for the Center. I flew to intercept, and he threw himself at the ground, bouncing off of a frozen puddle and toward the same block of cars we’d used for cover.

I positioned myself to keep him from going over, ready to move to either side if he tried to go around.

He went through. I could see the arcs of energy crackling around the bones of the car he slammed into, as he conducted himself through it. He leaped out and into the next car, chaining his way through.

“Sveta!” I called out.

He emerged from the far end of the block, stopping to orient himself again, looking around. He turned to stare at me with those black ovals, then darted for the cars nearest the front door of the Center, Sveta hot on his heels.