"They?"
Aliya smirked, a ghastly distortion of her face, instead of the cute features that most people had become used to.
Behind them, and a little to the side, Gabriel had stopped crying, now safe in Geneva's arms, he turned to the little scene, his little hand now glowing faintly for those who could see beyond the normal. A strange hum filled the large room, but the pulse was a little low. Something shifted in the air, right then.
Aliya paused, as if sensing it—
But she felt a stronger form of danger, and she had only a split second, but could not react, before she felt it.
The blast of light struck her square in the chest, searing through silk and flesh alike. With a shriek that tore through the air, she was thrown backwards, crashing against the opposite wall with a sickening thud. Her grip on Suzie released instantly, and the girl crumpled to the floor, coughing, her limbs shaking, but still trying hard to hold herself up.
