The first attack came like lightning.
Metal spears hung suspended in the air between Claire and the Hunters, caught in the invisible tug-of-war between James's power and the grey-suited men's control. Sweat beaded on James's forehead as he held them back, his fingers trembling with effort.
"You're slipping, old friend," Lena taunted, her silver-streaked hair whipping in an unnatural wind. She raised her hand, and the water from the broken hydrant suddenly stopped its chaotic spray, forming into deadly ice spikes that glinted in the afternoon sun.
Claire felt a hand on her shoulder. "Watch carefully," Dr. Chen whispered. "Every power has its counter. Water can defeat metal, but—"
"Fire melts ice," Claire finished, the knowledge rising from somewhere deep within her. The smoke around her arms pulsed with amber light, matching the glow of her birthmark.
Dr. Chen's eyes widened. "How did you—"
But Claire was already moving. The smoke responded to her will, thickening and heating until it glowed like embers. As Lena launched her ice spears, Claire's burning smoke met them halfway. Steam hissed and billowed across the street, creating a momentary screen.
"Impressive," Lena's voice cut through the fog. "But predictable."
The steam suddenly condensed and shot toward Claire like bullets. She would have been hit if Uncle Zhang hadn't appeared in front of her, his hands moving in precise patterns. The water droplets scattered harmlessly around them, as if deflected by an invisible shield.
"The old guard still has some tricks," Uncle Zhang grinned, though Claire could see the effort in his stance.
James took advantage of the distraction to counter-attack. With a sharp gesture, the suspended metal spears reversed direction, forcing the two male Hunters to dive for cover. But Claire noticed something wrong with James's movement – his right arm trembled slightly, and a thin line of blood trickled from his nose.
"Power has a price," Dr. Chen murmured, noticing her concern. "Even for someone as strong as James. We need to end this quickly."
Claire nodded, understanding flooding through her. She could feel it now – the drain on her own energy with each manipulation of the smoke. But there was something else too, a deeper well of power she hadn't yet tapped.
The birthmark on her wrist burned brighter, and suddenly she could see it – patterns of energy flowing through the street like luminous rivers. They connected everything: the buildings, the broken hydrant, the scattered metal, and most importantly, the people. Each person glowed with their own unique signature. The Hunters burned cold and sharp, while James and the others radiated steady, warm light.
"I can see them," she whispered. "The energy flows."
Dr. Chen sucked in a sharp breath. "Already? That's—"
A scream of twisting metal interrupted him. One of the male Hunters had torn a street light from its foundation, wielding it like a massive club. The other was systematically destroying the parked cars, creating more raw metal for their arsenal.
Lena stepped forward, her hands weaving complex patterns. The temperature plummeted, frost spreading across the ground. "Enough playing. Take her."
Claire acted on instinct. She reached out, not for the smoke this time, but for the energy flows themselves. The birthmark on her wrist flared with blinding light, and for a moment, everything stopped. The frost, the flying metal, even the steam in the air – all hung motionless.
"Impossible," Lena whispered, actual fear crossing her face for the first time.
Then Claire's knees buckled. The weight of what she'd done crashed over her like a physical blow. James caught her before she hit the ground, his own exhaustion forgotten.
"Now!" he shouted.
Dr. Chen and Uncle Zhang moved in perfect synchronization. Golden light erupted from Dr. Chen's hands, while Uncle Zhang executed a series of movements that sent waves of force rippling through the air. The combination caught the Hunters off guard, sending them flying backward.
"This isn't over," Lena snarled as she regained her footing. "The Alliance will—"
A new voice cut through the chaos: "Will what, exactly?"
A tall figure in an expensive suit stood at the end of the street. Claire's enhanced vision showed her his energy signature – a complex tapestry of blue and gold that made the Hunters' power look crude in comparison.
"Lucas," Lena spat the name like a curse.
Lucas Wright stepped forward, each movement precise and elegant. "The Council sends its regards, Lena. And a reminder about unauthorized recruitment attempts."
The female Hunter's face contorted with rage, but she wasn't foolish enough to challenge him. With a gesture to her companions, she backed away. "This isn't finished," she promised Claire. Then they were gone, vanishing into swirling mist that dissipated in seconds.
Claire tried to stand, but her legs wouldn't cooperate. The glowing energy flows were fading from her vision, and exhaustion pressed down on her like a lead blanket.
"Easy," James murmured, supporting her weight. "The first time seeing the flows usually doesn't end in actually manipulating them. You've overdone it."
"Is that... normal?" she managed to ask, fighting to keep her eyes open.
"My dear," Lucas said, reaching them with that same measured grace, "nothing about you appears to be normal." His energy signature pulsed with interest as he studied her. "The Council will definitely want to meet you now."
"The Council can wait," Dr. Chen said firmly, checking Claire's pulse. "She needs rest and training first. That display of power—"
"Will draw others," Lucas finished. "Yes, I know. That's why I'm here." He smiled, and something in that expression sent a shiver down Claire's spine despite her exhaustion. "Things are about to become very interesting in New York."
"The flows," Claire mumbled, fighting unconsciousness. "They're beautiful."
"Yes," James agreed softly, and she felt him tense slightly as Lucas approached. "But beauty can be dangerous."
Those were the last words she heard before darkness claimed her for the second time that day. This time, her dreams were filled with rivers of light and a familiar symbol burning in the sky – the same mark that now pulsed on her wrist like a second heartbeat.