Magic ripped through the air. That was the right kind of ammo. I gasped as I felt in it the pit of my gut.

The screaming started almost instantly.

"Something charged in that weapon," Xavier whispered. "Where in the hell did he get that idea?"

I swallowed, staring at the ground. The weapon fired again and each time, the power built in the air. Higher and higher.

"He's going to bring down the f'ing ward. Son of a..." Xavier's voice was full of shock, amazement and a little bit of horror.

I clamped my hands over my ears, because I knew what was coming. I could hear something shrieking--the wards, maybe. I could hear somebody screaming off in the distance, even though I knew the firefight was easily a mile away.

The magic built and built, and built--

When it broke, it was like a tsunami and I swayed under it. Blood trickled from my nose and I huddled there, convinced that somehow, the dying magic would get in and grab me.