Stewart yells as his mom crashes into the coffee table knocking the guns and the candles to the floor. One of the fallen candles catches the floor on fire and begins to spread to the entertainment center.
Ekabar waits until the Professor and James turn around. He reaches out, grabs James from behind, and tosses him sideways down the kitchen hall. He steps into the light revealing his thick dark leathery hand as he strikes the Professor. He falls forward and crashes into Rachel before she can react.
Rachel falls to the floor between the coffee table and the couch. She drops her gun as she falls to the ground with the Professor on top of her.
Stewart stares up in fear at Ocyrul holding Hydron and Drawk with ease as they try to break free. Stewart reaches out and grabs his mom as the Molawner Teelah fades into vision in front of Ocyrul.
“Release them!” Teelah commands.
Ocyrul steps forward and tosses the Molawners through the air across the room over the fallen humans. He reaches out with one arm and roars as he knocks the burning entertainment center sideways to the floor.
“No,” the Professor yells. He watches as the flames from the fallen furniture block the hall to the kitchen. “James!”
CHAPTER 17
Rick and Jeff stand at the rear of the car in the dark parking lot. The power in the area is out and their protectors Sevol and Rel are present in the darkness several feet behind them. There is frequent lightning flashing throughout the night sky all around them.
“I wasn’t ready for this,” Jeff says. His tone shows his fear as he shines one of the flashlights Rick gave him.
“Really…?” Rick says, “You have never been in a blackout with your protector? Unbelievable.” It is something that Rick has encountered before and it shows in his tone. He is not scared but he is aware. “Shine your flashlight everywhere you look. Rel and Sevol will protect us. They are stronger than the others. We will be fine. We just need to get inside your room to the candles. Ok?”
“Yeah,” Jeff says. He scans around and sees a couple in the distance as the man is teasing the woman about the dark. “Let’s go, now.”
“Wait,” Rick says. He aims the weapon in the air and fires. The blast scares the couple to duck down. He turns and yells to them. “Get out of here!”
“Rick?” Jeff asks as he fearfully scans the area. When his friend stops walking his nervousness increases. “What are you doing? We have to get to the room.”
“No,” Rick says. He steps back and looks to his protector Sevol. “We have to get out of here don’t we?”
“Yes,” the dark shadowy image of Sevol nods.
The door of the room next to Jeff’s opens and a man steps outside his room. “What’s going on?” Another door opens and curtains move as the guests inside the rooms stare out the windows.
“They are all in danger if we stay,” Rick says.
Jeff stares at the hotel as he realizes his friend is right. The attackers are bound to a circular radius around the Vauns. They cannot get close to others or they can be taken. He knows that Rick is right. They have to get out of here and fast.
“Get in the car!” Rick yells as he runs around the vehicle to the driver’s side.
Jeff opens the car door and is about to get in when the man in the room next to his yells. The tall shadowy image of Setah appears behind the man stepping into the walkway.
“Look out!” Rick yells as he aims his gun but the man moves too slowly.
“Mine,” Setah says as he grabs the man from behind and yanks him back inside the dark room. The door closes as the man’s screams fade inside the room.
“No!” Rick yells. He steps around the front of the car aiming his flashlight and gun everywhere he looks.
Rick’s attacker is the Molawner Notav. He fades into vision several feet behind Rick. He reaches out for the