Hawk jumped backwards the armor covering his entire form as he skated across the ground. One by one the colors flashed as the six of the knights jumped from the small pier and onto the street proper. Cars swerved around them, honking their horns while people dove to the side walk.
Hawk’s formerly silver armor was black now but not like what Vixen’s had been. This black was deep and endless like space above. Unlike their previous armor that was armored pieces over space chain mail, his covered his entire body like a proper suit of armor. His helmet was more angular and the visor sharp. Both his hands were now tipped with claws and the same for his feet, hooked like talons. Hawk’s wings spread and he caught the air rising above them.
He looked around at the people that were on the streets staring up at him or in their cars that had swerved off the street. Raising his wings slowly he spread his feathers as if he were some giant bird and basking in the light. But the team knew better and Kathryn and Cal were already moving.
“Get the hell away from here!” Cal shouted as Kathryn pointed her staff at the ground. Blue light glowed at the tip and raced across the ground before rising as a wall around them. He shot his feathers out in a storm but they couldn’t pierce Kathryn’s shield. The spare feathers slammed into the six of them blowing some of them back.
Hawk looked down at Kathryn scowling and dove straight at her. He crashed into the ground as Cal pulled her out of the way. The barrier shook slightly but Cal jumped forward with his sword swinging at Hawk. The pink blade was a blur of movement that Hawk blocked and deflected with quick hands.
Hawk turned his shoulder and his wing slashed at Cal. The feathers cut at the front of his armor but the knight split in half, him and his clone running around. One lunged forward getting deflected by the other wing. The other Cal ran, climbing over the wing and flipped slashing at his head. The blade scratched across his helmet and he flipped past him.
Cal landed on the other side when the flat of the wing slammed into his chest sending him flying into the barrier. Kathryn watched Hawk approach but looked past him to the people outside. Some had finally started scattering away from the fighting that had started but there were still too many people around.
Red light flashed in front of her and one of his claws was blocked by a purple blast of light. Seth stepped in and with a quick left then a right sent Hawk back. Lunging he threw another quick flurry of punches scoring hits hard enough to force Hawk on the back foot.
Hawk thrust both his wings forward sending a barrage of feathers at Seth. Crossing his arms in front of his face Seth took the brunt of the attack and then sank to his knee. Using Seth’s shoulder to aim, Marco fired his purple shots square into Hawk’s chest. His wing moved to block the first round and then he shoved his hand forward.
A black rift appeared in front of his palm absorbing the rest of the clip. Clasping both hands together he sent a barrage of black energy at all three of them. Marco was already spinning the revolver but he couldn’t get a shot in time.
Both of them were blasted off the ground and sent rolling backwards. Kathryn dragged her staff out of the ground and spun it around pointing at Hawk. Separating the segments, she spun, extended and slammed it into his jaw sending him reeling away.
She connected the pieces and shoved the staff into the ground. The staff expanded vaulting her forward and she kneed him in the chest knocking him backwards. Looking down at his chest he saw the crack in the armor but then watched it repair itself and he smirked back at her.
“I’d say not bad but you guys are a let down.”
Kathryn flicked her fingers backwards, “Oh I’m just getting started with you.”
“Don’t say that to him,” Sarah said walking up to her. Her previously yellow armor was now a richer golden color. Even the axes at her side had golden blades crackling with her lightning. “Creeps like this guy will think you’re flirting.”
Kathryn snorted, “Violet would throw a fit.”
Sarah nodded and brought up both her axes up, “Well before he gets the chance why don’t we teach him some manors?”
Hawk rubbed his jaw and looked at the two of them but focused his gaze onto Sarah, “Didn’t I kill you?”
“Clearly not since I’m here right now,” she spread her arms. “So come on if you think you’re bad.”
Hawk didn’t respond and instead flew right at the two of them. Diving at them, he brought one arm down over her head. She took a step to the side and he slashed through a yellow blur of where she was. She flipped her axes around and swung both into his side. He jerked at the first hit and when the second connected lightning exploded blowing him away.
He dug one wing into the ground tearing it up as he slid backwards. He began to stand but winced and sank back down scowling. He tried to raise his wings again but instead he was raising his hand. Clanging her axes together Sarah chased after him blue energy flickering along her body.
Grinding his teeth together he flashed black getting under control. He pointed his other wing, sending a flurry of feathers at her. She flashed blue and they deflected off her barrier. Jumping she raised both axes together the lightning catching on the snow. Hawk’s jerked his arm forward and the black starry energy trailed behind it.
Sarah stared into the darkness and for a moment she wasn’t in the streets ready to drive her weapons into his skull. She was floating through the darkness that had been her home for the past week. The emptiness that she had walked was surrounding her. The cold loneliness gripped her and crashing into the ground she came back to herself.
Hawk stood over her leaning on one wing but was able to raise his clawed hand, the black energy gone. “Not as fun as the first time but nothing is ever as good as your first time.”
Before he could bring down it down, Jack’s scythe caught his arm. He reached out and grabbed Hawk’s wrist wresting him away. Hawk turned and tried to fight off against him but Jack wasn’t budging easily. Jack grunted and shouted, “Marco shoot us!”
He didn’t hear a response any time soon but he felt the impact from the bullets and then the red light engulfed them and they were gone.
The Harlequin Library 