Chapter 380

The air around Mila felt thick, crackling with electricity. She stood in the bedroom doorway and opened her mouth in a high-pitched wail as her plait of hair lifted into the air, her nightshirt undulating around her knees.

Papa grabbed Mama, Nanny grabbed the bags. The three of them raced from the kitchen. Papa twisted to fling something back that resounded with a piercing shriek and CRACK of energy.

Mila dropped to a crouch, hands in fists to her ears. 'NO, NO, NO!' she cried out in fear.

'Come, Lea,' Papa said, letting Mama go ahead into the bedroom. He bent to scoop Mila up.

Whatever Papa did made the thickness to the air vanish, but it didn't stop those at the door. Arms clinging tight to Papa as he lifted her, Mila watched as their front door exploded. Splinters of wood hurtled toward them, Mila buried her head against Papa's neck, arms squeezing tight.

Small thuds of wood against wood made her peek.

The thousands of splintered pieces of door lay scattered in the corridor be