by Ilana Waters
“So you did sense her magic,” Richard said. “I knew I couldn’t be the only one! But you could’ve just given her the sack. You didn’t have to have her killed.”
“No, that part was just for fun. Until she began meddling in my affairs.” Cunningham shot Abigail a dark look. “Then, it became necessary. I was sure a few more dangerous missions would do it. But of course, that one at the clock tower went completely sideways,” she muttered.
“You kept sending her on investigations, hoping she’d get killed?” Arthur asked.
“In the words of the English,” Abigail said, “rude!”
“Makes me a bit less sorry we got rid of Gregson and Johnny and the rest,” Titus said to Abigail. “Not that I was terribly sorry before.”
“I knew it!” Cunningham screeched. “I knew you two set that warehouse fire!”
Arthur turned to Abigail, incredulous. “You did?”
“It’s a long story,” she said. “Johnny was a vampire—one of a few—who tried to kill us. Then Gregson turned into birds and tried to kill us. Basically, there were a lot of people trying to kill—”
“We get the point,” said Richard.
“You could have at least told us,” Arthur said. Then he closed his eyes. “No, you couldn’t have, because it would’ve meant confessing your magic, which we weren’t supposed to know about.” Abigail gave him an apologetic expression.
“You see what comes of sending in second-rate folk?” Carver had stopped rubbing his wrist. Now, he stared resentfully at Cunningham. “Should’ve let one of us handle it.” He pointed to himself and Sybil.
“I can take care of my own affairs, thank you,” Cunningham said stiffly.
Sybil glanced at the standoff around her. “Clearly, you cannot.”
“And it appears our little green simian was a red herring,” Titus said to Abigail. “I think we found out what brings supernaturals and mortals together. Turns out the answer is more mundane than we expected.”
“Yeah, money,” Abigail said morosely. “Now I kinda wish it had been a cursed jade monkey or something.”
Titus smiled. “There’s always next time.”
“Not for you four, I’m afraid.” Cunningham surveyed Titus, Abigail, Arthur, and Richard. “Although I do regret not being able to spend more time in your esteemed company, Mr. Aurelius.”
“Indeed.” Titus nodded politely. “I’m sure we have much in common. So much to talk about.”
Stop using that tone! Abigail chided him.
What tone? he asked innocently.
That tone that says you admire her!
“Quite.” Cunningham tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and smiled at Titus.
“Still,” Titus said, “you did encourage more than one supernatural to kill me in a clock tower.”
“Well, I hate to leave a job unfinished. So sloppy. What are you waiting for?” Cunningham asked Carver. “As you said, he killed Brandy.” She gave another wicked grin.
“Take your revenge.”
Chapter 20
Carver smiled menacingly at Titus. “About bloody time,” he growled.
“No, Carver, don’t!” Sybil cried. “You’re just going to get—”
Titus didn’t wait for Sybil to finish, or for Carver to attack. He pushed the magic in his hands together until it was one big, fiery ball and aimed at the dead center of Carver’s chest. It shot Carver all the way back to the ship, where he stayed pinned to the hull, screaming.
Sybil threw her own spell at Titus. Blast it, he thought. I can’t fight both of them at once. The flames of her magic were within an inch of hitting him. Then, they sputtered and drew back.
“How the—” Sybil shielded her eyes with one arm against a sudden burst of light. When it dimmed, Titus saw Abigail’s gaze locked on Sybil, hands outstretched. Sybil tried to throw her spell at Titus again, only to have her vision obscured by Abigail’s light spell.
“I may not be able to get through your shield,” Titus heard Abigail yell, “but I can sure as hell blind you, bitch!” Sybil gnashed her teeth, but no matter how she tried, she couldn’t see clearly enough to hit Titus.
“Keep it up, girl!” Titus shouted to Abigail, almost joyfully. Just a few more seconds . . . Titus gritted his teeth as his extended fingers forced more magic into Carver. Should be able to finish him. Then, just beneath Carver’s screaming, Titus’s vampire ears caught the sound of a gun being cocked. His eyes darted to Cunningham. She was taking aim at Abigail.
Titus’s heart started to pound. Dammit, die already! he thought to Carver, whose screams were sending hideous jolts through everyone around him. Or I may not be in time to save Abigail. He heard the sudden creaking of metal from one—no, two—crossbows.
“Don’t even think about it,” Arthur said to Cunningham.
“Remember what Sybil said.” Richard took a step toward her. “How that shielding spell may not be enough to save you.” Cunningham gave him an acid look. Reluctantly, she pointed the gun away from Abigail and back at the two men.
Yes! Titus grinned. Time to finish this. He sent a final burst of magic, and the spell was over. As it faded, everyone could see the hole it had burned in Carver, directly where his heart should be. Carver’s eyes were still open as his body slid, silently, to the ground.
Sybil bent her head back and let out a cry of frustration. She stopped trying to shoot spells at Titus. Abigail stopped trying to shoot spells at her.
“You mean you could’ve turned Carver into shish kebab at any time?” Abigail said. She gaped at Titus and motioned to Carver’s body. “Why didn’t you do that before?”
Titus blinked. Does that woman have any idea how much magic it took to do that spell? How much firepower? How much heat? Titus folded his arms. “He was about to attack, which forced my hand. Otherwise, we were in a holding pattern where the slightest movement could’ve gotten someone killed. Like you. Perhaps next time I won’t try to prevent it.” He gathered magic up again as quickly as he could.
“What were you thinking?” Sybil screeched at Cunningham. “Why did you encourage him?” She gestured wildly to Carver’s body as well. “You knew he was apt to do something stupid, like go after Aurelius.”
Cunningham tilted her head. “Sybil, my dear, I think you just answered your own question. We needed something to break this deadlock. Of course, I was hoping we’d take out one of theirs in the process.” Her resentful gaze moved between Titus and Abigail. “Still, Carver was less valuable a player than you. Be grateful I chose to sacrifice him.”
Sybil curled her upper lip. “Why, you backstabbing . . . I swear, I’d kill you myself if I didn’t need you to finish this job.”
“Come, come.” Cunningham waved the gun. Arthur and Richard jumped a little, never taking their aim off her. “You know what I said is true.”
“Except we’re right back where we started!” Sybil yelled.
“Hardly, ladies.” Titus smirked. “I’d say now, you have only one unbearably handsome vampire to fight over.”
Magic flowed rapidly into Abigail’s hands. “Titus, could you please focus, if it’s not too much trouble?” She indicated the shipping container. “If rescuing twenty-odd damsels in distress isn’t beyond your capabilities?”
Titus’s smile vanished. “Just because I am not awash in sentimentality does not mean I am uncommitted to our objective.” Lightning blazed in the sky; a wave of thunder replied angrily. The flaps of Titus’s jacket lifted with the wind. His vampire senses could almost see the static crackling in the air.
“Would you two mind having this lover’s quarrel after we’ve finished our business here?” Sybil replaced the magic in her hands as well, a lick of it hitting the shipping container on her right. Her glowing amulet rose, just slightly, and drifted toward the container. Titus saw Abigail’s eyes bulge.
Titus, she hissed in her mind. TITUS. Her amulet.
What about it?
It’s
still a magnet. Quick—distract her while I try something.
Like what?
Don’t ask questions! Abigail begged. Just distract her.
“Just a moment there,” Titus said loudly. He stepped in front of Sybil, blocking her view of Abigail. That curly-haired minx better know what she’s doing, he thought to himself. “I believe it’s up to me and Abigail to decide when we quarrel, about what, with whom, and so forth.”
He saw Sybil’s amulet jerk toward the shipping container. Sybil’s eyes went wide as the chain yanked hard at her throat. But just as quickly, the amulet fell again. The magic Abigail sent to it came winging back.
Titus ducked just in time to prevent the spell from hitting him. There were several cries of surprise from behind; the spell barely missed Abigail and the mortals as well.
“That was your plan?” Titus barked. He ran his fingers over the top of his head. He could feel the sizzle and smell the singed hair. “To decapitate me?”
“I was trying to pin her to the shipping container,” Abigail said, exasperated. “Which, in case you didn’t notice, is also a magnet.”
“Oh, you two were putting together a plan, were you?” Sybil smirked at Abigail, stroking the amulet. “Sorry, love. Guess you could say I upgraded.” Titus stepped toward Sybil, magic crackling in his hand. Sybil’s own magic flared from her palms; her protective shield gleamed. I am an ancient, Titus thought, but I doubt she is. It’s possible I could get through the shield, given enough time.
Titus hesitated. Or I might not. And if I die trying, it means Abigail will be alone, without another supernatural to help her. Sybil smiled smugly at him, then turned to Abigail again. “What’s that saying?” she asked. “ ‘Lightning never strikes twice’? I’ll be Fate-damned if I’ll let you work the same trick on me more than once. The amulet now not only defends me, but is also itself protected from all forms of magic.”
“You know, I usually enjoy sparring with opponents as clever as I am,” Titus said to Sybil. “This time, I’ll make an exception.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Titus saw Cunningham looking strangely at the amulet. Her gaze changed from fascinated to determined. She swiveled around to face Arthur and fired her gun.
“Arthur!” screamed Abigail.
But Arthur was quick. He saw Cunningham’s shot coming, and fired his crossbow at the hand holding the gun.
A fine archer, Titus admitted. He could see exactly where the bolt would’ve hit Cunningham’s wrist if it hadn’t been for Sybil’s shielding spell. But when the bolt hit the shield itself, it knocked Cunningham’s hand over, just an inch. It was enough to make the bullet miss Arthur and ricochet off the shipping container. The girls inside screamed. Arthur and Richard ducked.
Immediately, Arthur started to reload. Richard took aim at Cunningham, who took aim at him. Sybil tried to defend Cunningham by shooting magic at Richard. But her burst of magic was so bright, Cunningham couldn’t see to shoot him. The glare also blocked Cunningham’s view of Arthur. She couldn’t shoot him either.
Abigail pulled back her arms, one after the other, and threw bursts of magic all around Sybil. They didn’t penetrate the shield, of course. But they did prevent Sybil from focusing her magic on Richard. Then, Abigail turned to Cunningham, a spell poised in her hand.
Richard saw it. “No!” he cried. “This may be the only chance you and the vampire have. You need to get that shield off Sybil.”
“He’s right!” Titus yelled. He saw Sybil pale, and a thrill ran through his veins, as it had in countless battles before. We could really do this. Victory is near! He pushed so much magic into his hands, it felt like they’d been shoved in a furnace. “Abigail, help me!”
Abigail’s face filled with resolve. She planted her feet wide and balled her magic-filled fists. Together, she and Titus hit Sybil’s shield for all they were worth.
Come on, come on . . . Titus gritted his teeth, the muscles in his face and neck unbearably tight. Sweat poured from his forehead. Through slitted eyes, he could see Abigail in the same state. She inched forward, step by step, till she was barely two feet from him. A few yards off, he heard bullets and bolts winging through the air. Arthur and Richard had taken cover behind the side of the shipping container, and Cunningham behind a large crate. They continued firing at one another, but no one could get a clear shot because of the opposite side sniping.
Abigail tore a stone out of her hair and threw it at the shield. Titus felt the shield grow thinner, weaker. Sybil was still inside it, hands up, filling the space with defensive magic. Her shoulders heaved with the effort. Titus could see the whites of her bulging eyes. Together, he and Abigail struggled to bring the shield down.
Almost there . . . The force of his own magic slid his feet back. He leaned forward, fighting to remain upright. Sybil’s magic was working. Her spell was strengthening the shield. Dammit! Titus swore. Another few seconds, and we won’t make it. If only we had a little more force. Something to cut through it . . .
Now, Sybil’s magic was clearly visible to all. Cunningham was reloading, cursing behind her crate. Titus heard Richard draw a sharp breath. In the briefest break from the shootout, the boy peered around the shipping container to see him and Abigail losing the fight. Titus heard the realization of something else in Richard’s mind. Something he couldn’t quite catch. Richard’s focus darted between Sybil and Cunningham, the same way Abigail’s had. Cunningham finished reloading and cocked her gun.
Should I? Titus heard Richard think to himself. But then Arthur would be alone, facing Ms. Cunningham . . .
“Whatever you’re going to do, boy, do it now!” Titus bellowed. He felt the shock in Richard’s thoughts as he realized Titus had read his mind. But Titus didn’t care. It felt like swords made of fire had been pushed through his hands into his forearms. Abigail’s curls were damp against her bright red face. And Sybil was between them in the shield, her smile widening in triumph.
I’m being defeated by my opposite element, he thought bitterly. A water witch. Perfect. If only I weren’t taking Abigail with me.
Titus saw Richard around the side of the container, features scrunched. With one hand, he leveled the crossbow at the shield. Cunningham aimed her gun at Richard’s exposed arm. Richard saw the gun. He fired a bolt directly at Sybil.
The shield exploded.
Titus’s jaw dropped. It was a magnificent shot, by any standards. And combined with Titus’s and Abigail’s magic, it was the last straw. The shield could no longer hold.
Sybil’s face was a mask of terror as all her defensive magic came down on her at once. It didn’t fade, the way it normally would if she’d removed the shield herself. Her screams were almost as painful as a vampire’s. Everyone watched with a mix of horror and awe as Sybil’s body collapsed, lifeless, on the ground.
Cunningham dropped the gun in surprise. Now that it didn’t have Sybil’s shield, Abigail was able to telekinetically fling it into the water. Her face lit up as she ran to Titus.
“We did it!” she shouted.
Without thinking, he smiled broadly and circled her waist with his arm. The magic from their hands vanished. The fight was over. They leaned forward, lips almost touching—
“YES!” Arthur’s voice shattered the air. He thrust a fist to the sky and hooted, jogging over to Titus and Abigail. They opened their mouths to say something to one another, then closed them and drew back.
So, Abigail thought to him with a tiny smile, now that that’s done, when are we going on a real date?
Titus grinned back. I thought that’s what this was. There was a flash of lightning and a loud crack of thunder, punctuating their victory. The wind played with Abigail’s hair, blowing it back off her face and shoulders.
“Good show, all!” Arthur lifted his hand to thump Titus on the back, then lowered it. He settled for giving Abigail a high five. “Sodding mess to get through, though,” Arthur coughed. “If it hadn’t been for Richard . . . I sa
y, old man!” He whirled around, nearly knocking Abigail over with his crossbow. “Fantastic shot. Award-worthy, really. Richard, what are you doing all the way over there?” He waved for Richard to join them. “Get your arse over here. The day’s been won!”
“Erm, are you sure it’s safe?” He pointed to Titus. “I mean, with the vamp—wait.” He glanced around. “Where’d Ms. Cunningham get to?”
Titus jerked around. Cunningham was nowhere to be seen.
“That’s weird,” Abigail said as Richard walked tentatively next to Arthur. “She was here a second ag—”
“Aha! Got it!” Cunningham cried. Titus heard the snap of a metal jewelry chain. He turned to see Cunningham tying Sybil’s amulet around her own neck.
She came around the container’s other side. Titus sent a burst of magic toward her, but it was too late. She was encased in the same shield that had protected Sybil.
Blast all the fates! He’d been so busy rejoicing that he hadn’t realized the amulet was still viable.
“Useless.” Cunningham pursed her lips and shook her head over Sybil’s body. “Bloody typical. I thought a water witch would be helpful for shipping things at sea. I was wrong.”
She lowered her eyes to admire the glowing amulet. Then, she picked her head up, her lips in a malicious grin. “However, it would seem she was useful for some things.” Cunningham took a deep breath and held out her hands. Magic flowed from the amulet into her palms. Not her own magic, but Sybil’s, whose powers she’d hijacked. She knocked Arthur and Richard against the shipping container. They struck it headfirst before falling to the ground, unmoving. There was more shrieking from inside.
“Arthur! Richard!” Abigail screamed.
Titus’s head snapped toward the two men. “They’re not dead, Abigail,” he said. “Just unconscious. You know,” he looked at Cunningham, building up magic in his hands as fast as he could, “you’d better watch what you’re doing. You could hurt someone with that thing.”