Elaine's Taser Chain

A shadow moved behind Thomas.

"Wait!" I screamed.

A length of heavy chain whipped around his throat. There was a flash of greenish light and a crackling explosion almost as loud as a gunshot. Thomas jerked into an agonized arch and was flung free of the chain to come hurtling into me. For the second time in sixty seconds, I got hit with my brother's full weight and slammed to the floor. My nose filled with the sharp scent of ozone and burned hair.

"Harry?" called Elaine's voice, high and loud. "Harry?"

"I said to wait," I wheezed.

She came hustling down the stairs and over to me. "Did he hurt you?"

"Not until you threw him on me," I snapped. Which wasn't true, but being repeatedly bashed about makes me grumpy. I touched a finger to my throbbing lip, and it came away wet with blood. "Ow."

Elaine said, "Sorry. I thought you were in trouble."

I shook my head to clear it and glanced at Thomas. His eyes were open and he looked startled. He was breathing, but his arms and legs lay limp. His lips moved a little. I leaned over and asked him, "What?"

"Ow," he whispered.

I sat up, a little relieved. If he was able to complain, he couldn't have been too bad off. "What was that?" I asked Elaine.

"Taser."

"Stored electricity?"

"Yes."

"How do you refill it?"

"Thunderstorm. Or I just plug it into any wall socket."

"Cool," I said. "Maybe I should get one of those."

Thomas's head moved, and one of his legs twitched and began to stir.

Elaine whirled on him at once, her chain held taut between her hands, and little flashes of light began flickering through the decorative metal embedded into the links.

White Night Chapter 20, Pages 194-195