Gently.

Keira slipped off her seatbelt, and slipped forward, her arms sliding around the redhead’s waist, as she pressed close to her head. “That hurts my feelings.” She murmured in Hope’s ear.

“I don’t want you hurt.” Hope cooed softly.

“You can’t hurt me.”

“You don’t know that.” Hope gulped softly.

“We’ll find out when we practice. For now, trust me to stay out of harm’s way.”

“Will you?” Hope asked, turning her head, their lips nearly brushing against one another.

“I’ll try.” Keira murmured, leaning in and gently kissing her lover.

Alaric sighed loudly. “Keira please put your seatbelt back on.”

“Yes sir.” Keira replied softly, though her eyes never left Hope’s.

The three of them rode in silence for the next half hour, until they came across the wreckage of a yellow school bus sitting on the side of a highway. There were a couple of sheriff SUVs sitting in front and behind the burned-out bus. Alaric pulled their sedan off to the side, and the three of them got out and made their way toward the bus.

A middle-aged man, in a sheriff’s outfit waved, and walked over to them. “Alaric.” The blonde smiled, tipping his broad beige hat.

“Jimmy.” Alaric smiled. “Any insight?”

“Arson is possible, but the fire marshal is out of town, so when you’re done, we’re going to tow it, and leave it for them. The strange thing is, no bodies, not a single one.” The Sheriff frowned.

“Well, we’ll take a look around, make sure it’s not our domain, and let you know.” Alaric nodded to him, as the three walked toward the husk of metal.

The inside was charred to a crisp, the seats all left as metal frames standing like a graveyard in the black charred walls of its crematorium like tomb. Hope walked toward the back looking side to side, as she moved. Reaching the end, she grabbed a dirty blue backpack from the charred bench and held it up.

Walking back toward the other two, she frowned at them. “If it’s a alter, they were wearing this when they unleashed their fire.”

Keira cocked an eye in fascination. “How do you know?”

“Ever notice how your clothing isn’t damaged when you use your powers?” Hope pointed out. “Often, we generate a small field around us, that protects us from the energy we’re generating. “Backpack is unusual, but not unheard of.”

“So, the alter is like you?” Keira asked.

“Not as powerful, the metal is warped but not really melted. They may not be able to use their full strength yet, but right now, they’re far below what I can do.” Hope shrugged, handing the pack to Alaric.

“What do we do now?” Keira asked.

“We go into the woods and look for the Alter, you stay here, in case they come back for their pack.” Hope said firmly.