And splashed against an invisible barrier. Drek! He was ready for me—ready and waiting with some sort of barrier spell in place. I’d expected one that could stop bullets after what Águila had told me about the Azzie soldiers, but not one that could stop molecules of liquid. I tried to jam my hand through the magical barrier, but my fist smashed into something that felt like a metal wall. My fingers went numb and I dropped the perfume bottle. I cursed, scrambling for it. The drug was the only weapon I had.