How to Hunt a Menacing Magical Shadow

by Christine Schulz

  “Geesh. Fine.”

  I grabbed my meal from the nightstand and gingerly walked downstairs to the dining room table. The completely open first floor meant I could see Blair in the kitchen putting away groceries and Eli sitting on the couch playing video games. Now that I thought about it, I bet they chose this place on purpose. One single room meant less places to hide should anyone intrude.

  I stabbed my fork repeatedly into my cold eggs, making a loud screeching sound that could be heard clearly across the entire room.

  Eli paused his game and turned around to face me from the couch. “I warned you, she’s infatuated. Go easy on her, will you?”

  I grunted loudly and threw my head back, a little more quickly than I probably should have because a sharp pain shot down my stiff neck.

  Blair marched over to the dining room table next to me, arms crossed in her usual intimidating power stance. “She feels the need to prove herself to everyone, especially with her unique ability. Every time you run off and nearly get yourself killed, she’s reminded that she failed, that she’s not good enough. I keep telling her you’re not worth her time but she won’t listen. So I’m only telling you this once, Adrian. I swear if you ever do anything to hurt Lizzy I will butcher your body and sear the meat for the wolves.”

  “Wait, me? She’s the one throwing me around!” I let go of my fork, and it clanked loudly against the porcelain plate.

  “You obviously haven’t been around women much.” Eli chimed in, “It’s Women 101: Men are never wrong.”

  “It’s not my fault she won’t leave me alone. I’m trying to avoid her—”

  “Avoid her?” Eli cut me off. “That’s not what it looked like in the illusion…insisting to run off to find her. Admit it, you were worried about her.” He rested his chin on his hands across the back of the couch, grinning from ear to ear, his eyes sparking with interest.

  “Oh, no you don’t. Wipe that smirk off your face right now.” I thought about activating my magic and blasting him through the brick wall out the second story window. “Drop it now. This subject will never be spok—”

  “ADRIAN!” A panicked Lizzy came stomping down the stairs and ran over to where I was sitting at the dining room table.

  “Adrian, something’s wrong. I think we’re under attack!” I glared at her with brooding eyes. I had just finished explaining how I wanted to stay as far away from her as possible, and here she was in front of me, disregarding everyone else in the room while we were “under attack.”

  Blair had walked back to the kitchen to finish cleaning up and Eli went back to playing his game, both conveniently unconcerned with the supposed threat.

  “You think we’re under attack? What the hell are you talking about? Everything’s clearly fine.” She squeezed her hand around my arm and dragged me over to the window.

  “Look...someone is trying to harm us with these white confetti crystals!”

  “Are you serious? It’s just snow. Haven’t you ever seen snow before? This isn’t an attack. It’s nature.” I opened the window, letting in a burst of cool air, then stuck my hand out into the freezing cold letting a snowflake melt in the palm of my hand. “See? My arm isn’t falling off. It’s fine.”

  Blair and Eli suddenly appeared next to me, also intrigued by the icy white flakes falling out of the sky.

  “Come on, stick your hand out.” Lizzy hesitated, pulling back before she reached the outside of the window.

  “This is ridiculous. I don’t have time for this shit.” I yanked at her arm and stretched it out the window as far as it could go, smacking her face flat against the glass. She tried to withdraw, but I refused to release my hold. She squealed and squirmed like I was about to chop her arm off.

  “See? It’s fine.” When she realized it wasn’t dangerous, she stopped struggling and let out a short, cheerful laugh. Blair and Eli smiled, satisfied they had seen enough, then returned to what they were previously doing.

  “Tell me more about this...snow did you call it?” Lizzy thoughtfully rubbed a snowflake as it melted between her fingers, deep in thought wondering everything there was to know about these mysterious cold, white crystals.

  “I guess the easiest way to explain it would be to say it’s like frozen rain. When it gets cold enough, the rain freezes and falls to the ground as these ice crystals. And when it accumulates, it becomes a wet, slippery mess. But it can also be fun. Kids play in it and make things.”

  “Fun?” Her face twisted with confusion. I wasn’t even sure if she knew what the word actually meant.

  “You can go sledding, build a snowman, have a snowball fight...” At the word fight her eyes lit up like glow sticks at an underground rave.

  Eli interrupted our conversation, flexing his fingers while he took a quick break from his game. “You know, it’s been a while since your last training. I think you should go out and try this...snowball fight you speak of.”

  “I like it. I mean, any chance to beat you up in a fight works for me.” Lizzy punched me in the shoulder and my hand shot up to soothe the pain. I swear her sole purpose in life was to make me miserable.

  I rolled my eyes and exhaled a huge breath of air. “In case you’ve forgotten, I’m already beat up. I need to stay in and recover.”

  “Psh, you’ve been recovering in bed for three days. Plus, you said yourself that you heal extra fast. So I bet you’re not even hurting anymore. Wuss. Always looking for excuses...” Lizzy did her signature move crossing her arms across her chest and pouting as she turned away to avoid eye contact.

  “No.” I was putting my foot down on this one. My job wasn’t to be a circus clown. I wasn’t here to entertain anyone or make friends. The only reason I was even still at this place was because I had nowhere else to go, and they were my best chance at figuring out what the hell was going on with Nolan.

  “I haven’t showered in like five days. I’m going upstairs to—” Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Blair behind the kitchen counter slapping a wooden spoon against her palm. Her sparking eyes narrowed into slits threatening to implode my head.

  “—to get my snow boots. I’m not going out there in sneakers.” Lizzy smiled, then shoved me out of the way to run up the stairs first.

  I swung the door open to my room, grabbing the plain black winter jacket, plain black snow boots, and plain black hat, scarf, and gloves from the closet. I had purchased the extremely plain clothes with the credit card Eli had given me. Although I might be mistaken for someone about to rob a bank in the North Pole, I figured black was one of those colors people tend not to take notice of.

  “Aren’t you two joining?” I stared at Eli and Blair, who took up a controller and joined Eli on the couch playing video games.

  “Nah, Blair and I have to do some research later on this Raven chick and anyone else she might be connected to. Besides, I’d rather stay inside where it’s nice and warm.” Blair nodded in agreement with Eli, eyes locked on the TV as she pounded at the buttons while cussing about how weak her character was.

  “Yeah, me too,” I muttered under my breath. “I’ll get you for this.” Eli grinned in calculating triumph at his dirty little scheme to trap me with Lizzy for the rest of the day. I clenched a fist through a thick glove wondering if I’d ruin it if I activated my magic to punch him.

  “Let’s go, lazy ass.” Lizzy waited by the door, wearing her black leather jacket, turtleneck, and combat boots that hit mid-calf.

  “Don’t you have something warmer? You’ll freeze outside wearing that.” She had no hat or gloves, and I doubted that turtleneck would block any of the cold winter air from penetrating her skin.

  “I’m fine. I don’t need you telling me how to dress.” She zipped up her leather jacket and we were off.

  Chapter 24

  I decided the best place to go was Daven Park, the place I should have been dropped off at when Mike tossed me through the wormhole. The park was glistening in a rolling blanket of white and the walkways hadn�
��t been shoveled in a while, several inches packed against the asphalt. Although it had been accumulating for some time, the heavy snow had stopped, replaced with light flurries and a blistering cold wind that stung my face.

  I peeked over to see Lizzy behind me furiously slashing at the falling flakes with a dagger. “Can you put that away? We’ve already established it’s not dangerous. And you’ll scare the kids.” She lowered her palm and the glowing dagger discretely disappeared in a swirl of glowing charcoal smoke.

  “When do we fight? I’m tired of walking.” I could tell she was now realizing why I had suggested she wear something warmer. Wet snow coated her thin boots, probably freezing her feet, and she was clutching her jacket trying to bury her face from the angry wind blowing frozen powdery dust at us.

  “Is that all you know how to do? Fight? Don’t you do anything else?” I remembered the conversation I previously had with Eli. Lizzy was always fighting to prove herself. She had no friends and her family abandoned her, so I bet she never did much other than train and work. Although I wasn’t not really one to talk. My idea of fun was kicking up the recliner on the couch and shoving fistfuls of cupcakes in my mouth while binge watching some ridiculous TV show. I really needed a hobby.

  “Training is fun to me,” she replied seriously. I stopped in my tracks and bent down to scoop up a handful of snow. Carefully, I cupped my hand and shaped it into the form of a ball. Then I threw it at Lizzy.

  “What the hell?” She brushed off the wet pellets with her bare fingers, shivering as little pieces managed to slither down her turtleneck.

  “Back in the field when we were training you said I couldn’t hit you. Well, there, I just hit you.” I pointed my gloved finger where the icy ball pelted her chest.

  “That’s not fair. I wasn’t ready.”

  “Oh? You know I distinctly remember someone telling me that you don’t have the luxury of knowing when and where your enemies will attack.” A mocking smile curled my lips, and I let out a very devilish snicker.

  She twirled around, her foot kicking out backwards into the air as she slipped on the icy surface and fell face first into a good foot of snow. Immediately without thinking, I burst out laughing.

  “I warned you it was a wet, slippery mess.” I didn’t want to be out here in the first place, but I could at least enjoy experiencing Lizzy’s tragic failure at accommodating to the foreign weather. I held out a hand to help her steady as she staggered to her feet, but she swatted it away.

  “I’m fine.” Her face was redder than a tomato, her hands and feet likely numb from the cold. She flung her pale hair behind her shoulder, bits of camouflaged powder fluttering into the air as they glinted slightly in the weak afternoon sun trying to peek through the heavy grey clouds.

  She mimicked my previous movements, forming an icy weapon the size of a baseball in her bare hand. She reeled her arm back, and launched it full force.

  She might as well have hit me with an actual baseball. The snowball exploded, the icy shards felt like needles pricking my entire face. A drop of blood dripped from my cheek staining the pure white snow at my feet.

  “Oh, I see. This can be an effective weapon when used correctly!” Satisfied with her shot, she bent down to try again.

  “This is supposed to be fun, remember? We’re not trying to kill each other.” Another ice ball bludgeoned my head.

  “This is training. Why aren’t you defending yourself?” She started forming a third snowball in her hand.

  “Impetus!” I yelled out, sending a gigantic snowball racing through the air at Lizzy. Her eyes widened, panicking at the missile locked on target to her face.

  I always felt a warm, tingly feeling when I activated magic. I wasn’t sure if the warmth would melt the snow, but when the icy rock practically knocked Lizzy off her feet I knew it didn’t. She twisted just in time to avoid the brunt of the attack.

  “Adrian! What are you doing? You can’t be caught using magic! Commoners here aren’t supposed to have magic objects. What if someone heard you…” Lizzy’s expression turned colder than the winter atmosphere swirling around her.

  Dammit. I hated when she was right. I shouldn’t have used my magic in public. If someone did notice, they’d report me to the police and this would all be over. They’d have caught the Obsession Killer and Nolan would get away with murder. Even worse, if the police found out they were helping me, they’d be punished too.

  “Well, maybe if you weren’t trying to constantly prove you’re better than me at everything I wouldn’t have needed to use it!”

  The words hit too close to home for her. Like Blair said, she was always trying to prove her worth. She leaned backwards, her condemning glare softening at my hurtful accusation. At a loss for words, all she could do was blink and sputter off incoherent sounds from her trembling blue lips.

  “Ugh, I’m done with this.” She was violently shivering, but she would never admit she was cold because that would mean I was right. I handed her my scarf and gloves, keeping the hat for myself in case someone recognized me. “Here. Put these on and let’s go. I have a better idea.”

  We trekked through the park in silence until eventually we found ourselves in downtown Peterburgh. Now that the storm had stopped, people were starting to venture outside their homes and I wondered whether I should really be wandering around like this. What are the odds that someone would actually recognize me?

  We approached a little shop huddled between a bank and a shoe store. The purple awning flapped as an arctic gust of wind swept through the city street. I opened the front door and the bursting aroma of rich, nutty espresso warmed my nose. I had come here only once before. I doubted anyone would remember me.

  “Welcome to The Busy Bean! What can I get started for you today?” A red-headed woman behind the counter flashed a white-toothed grin too big for her small face, her way too bubbly personality proving maybe she should lay off the caffeine while she was working.

  “I’ll take a hot chocolate.” I turned to find Lizzy staring dumbfoundedly at the chalkboard menu hovering against the wall, eyes darting back and forth trying to make sense of the gibberish in front of her.

  “Uh, she’ll take the same.”

  I paid for the order, and we sat down at a table next to a cozy fireplace while we waited for them to complete it. Eventually, Lizzy stopped shivering, the heat radiating from the fire bringing that pinkish white glow back to her skin.

  “Adrian!” The red-headed barista called out. I ducked my head into my shoulders and anxiously scanned the room to see if anyone noticed me. Why didn’t I give her a false name?

  I gave it a minute until everyone stopped focusing on the counter, then got up to grab our order.

  I slid the ceramic mug in front of Lizzy. “Have you ever tried hot chocolate? I think you’ll like it.”

  She poked the white mountain of fluffy creamy goodness towering on top of the mug, then licked her finger.

  “Mmm…” She chomped at the rest of the whipped cream like a dog, then investigated the hot brown liquid exposed underneath.

  “Just take a sip. It’s chocolate. I know you’ve had chocolate before because I’ve seen the damn cupcakes in the apartment.”

  She gripped her hands around the mug, relishing in the warmth it brought to her hands. Then she took a small sip.

  “Not bad, I suppose.” She took another sip. Then another. For something that was just not bad, she sure seemed to be really liking it. I smiled thinking to myself this was the first time I saw Lizzy actually enjoying something.

  I opened the white paper bag and placed the cinnamon roll on top of it. Despite my intention to keep the sweet pastry all to myself, Lizzy longingly ogled my snack with an insatiable hunger so I broke it apart and gave her half.

  “You know, we never did get to talk about what was bothering you before the auction.” I was referring to whatever had set her off at the thrift store. Whatever it was, she proceeded to give me the cold shoulder until I told her at
the auction if she played nice now we could discuss what happened later.

  “I don’t wanna talk about it anymore. Forget it happened.”

  A deflated rumble left my lips and I leaned across the table, staring Lizzy directly into those anguished turquoise eyes. It was the same look she had on her face when she sat down on my bed after she came home from searching for me when I disappeared in the vault.

  “Look. I don’t know what pissed you off. And at this point I don’t even really care. I’ve tried to be nice to you and I am done dealing with your bullshit. So tell me what your problem is or when we get back, I’m just gonna pack up my things and head out. I really don’t need this right now.”

  “No!” She blurted out rather loudly. Then her voice softened to a mumble. “It’s...it’s not you.” She dropped her gaze to her fingers drumming around the half empty mug on the table.

  “Well, that’s a first for me. I don’t know you well, but there’s obviously something bothering you. Just tell me what it is.” I think the police interrogator in me was making its way out, because I would have never bothered to listen to anyone otherwise.

  She straightened her back and wiggled uncomfortably in her chair, drew in a deep breath, and began explaining her story. “When I was nine, my world experienced a terrible tragedy...a massacre. My oldest brother had just joined a cadet recruiting program and started training in the military with the hope of one day becoming part of the Black Sheep. The massacre happened in the town he was stationed at. This man...this demon killed a thousand people. And he...he killed my brother too. He was the only person who accepted me for who I really was and not some bloody mind control freak. After that, my whole life just fell apart. Eventually, even my family gave up on me.”

  She pressed the back of her hand to her face, wiping away the tears before they fell from her eyes.

  “Wow. Lizzy, I had no idea. Here...” I handed her a napkin that she used to loudly blow her nose. “You said the Black Sheep. Isn’t that what your unit is called?”