The Turncoats (The Thirteenth Series #2) by G.L. Twynham

we call electricity. What sort of risk are we going to need to take?” Val asked.
    Zac moved around the counter and headed for the door. “A large one; they’re here.”
    Fran and Wendy moved towards the door behind Zac and watched as the two very angry women made their way up the street towards the shop.
    “Hey, what’s going on? I saw you were back. How did it go?” asked Jason, choosing that moment to emerge from the cupboard.
    “Not good,” Val said taking off the bracelet Sam had given her. She flicked it out, watching it uncoil rapidly and then relax by her side.
    “When did you get that?” asked Jason.
    “Yesterday. Now help me set it into a circle on the floor and then get the others back behind the counter.”
    Val stepped to the side of the water cooler and flicked out her sword. Jason laid the lasso style bracelet on the ground and went to the door.
    “Come on guys, Val has a plan.” Jason grabbed the girls and led them behind the counter.
    “Open the door, Jason; we can’t afford any damage,” Val called over. “Zac, you stand on the other side of the circle, ok.”
    Zac did as he was told. “What’s your plan...” he asked, but he was too slow and the women burst through the open doorway.
    “You,” the women closest to Val pointed at Zac, “where’s the portal?” They stepped forward. Luckily both entered the circle at the same time. Val stepped into view and gently placed the tip of her sword onto the bracelet. She was apprehensive, not sure what would happen, but she just hoped that her small knowledge of science was correct and she had created a conductor. She need not have worried. Her father’s bracelet plus the sword touching the Sam’s bracelet made a powerful combination and the sparks started to fly.
    The Chellemi stared around them, then they began to laugh heartily. “You are pathetic. Are you going to dazzle us to death with your light show?”
    Val responded confidently, “No, I’m going to show you how not to mess with electricity on planet earth.” Her free hand came back and she grabbed the water cooler. “Zac, run,” she called as it started to fall.
    The two women in the circle were not so confident now. They stood no chance. The cooler crashed down and the water gushed across the floor in seconds. When it entered the circle it had the desired effect and the two women started to shake and shudder. Their screams were stomach curdling. Val pulled the sword away as they fell to their knees into a pool of water and sparks.
    “Zac, get them upstairs,” Val ordered.
    He touched both women and disappeared. Val picked up her bracelet turning the gem as Sam had shown her and watching as it resumed its original form.
    “We will be back in a minute,” she reassured the others as she ran up the stairs to join Zac who had deposited the bodies in front of the portal. “Call the Collector,” she ordered and he placed his hand through the portal.
    “Warning! Warning! Prisoners in transit,” the portal called out.
    “Like we didn’t know,” Val whispered sarcastically.
    Meanwhile Zac was panicking. He desperately searched the bodies of the two women for the bracelet. When he finally found it, he quickly placed it in his pocket and glanced nervously at Val.
    The Collector arrived before he could say anything.
    “Good day Val and thirty-three twenty-seven. Or would you now prefer me to call you by your new earth name, Zac?” She looked from one to the other. It was amazing how she was at least a foot smaller than them, yet Val always felt like she was looking up to speak to her. “I see you have captured prisoners 148702 well done. I also hear you have created a spell to protect the shop. Very good indeed, if it works.” The Collector placed her hand over the women and elevated them in preparation to take them away.
    “Just a minute. I need to ask a question. Aren’t these humans? Aren’t they just possessed by your prisoners’ spirits?” Val felt nervous