Kara and Charlotte severed their spell and the currents of magic subsided. The two of them smiled at each other.
“We did it!” Charlotte said incredulously.
“I can’t believe we’re really doing this.” Kara replied as she shook her head.
The imp waited expectantly as it silently shifted its gaze between Kara and Charlotte.
“Go to the boys’ dorm and wreak havoc!” Charlotte ordered as she pointed out the window. The little demon hissed and clicked its tongue in acknowledgement and vanished from sight. “I synchronized my mirror with the boys’ room. We can watch through here.” Charlotte said as she retrieved her mirror from the desk.
“So that’s what you were doing this morning.” Kara replied.
They watched eagerly as they saw the demon suddenly appear in the dorm across the courtyard. The lounging boys jumped and shouted with astonishment when it emerged in their presence. Then chaos ensued.
The imp overturned mattresses and dumped several boys on the floor. It skipped along desktops and kicked over books and lamps. The boys’ belongings fell to the floor with a great clatter. One boy dove and tried to capture it in his arms, but it vanished in a puff of smoke and reappeared inside an open dresser. It cackled maniacally as it grabbed clothing and hurled it across the room. Sweaters, socks and pants were flung in the air amid the boys’ shouting and cursing. “Would somebody get that thing?” one of the boys, Scott, yelled. Marcus picked himself up off the floor and made a grab for the imp, but it threw a shirt in his face and it leaped out of the dresser as the boy reached up to pull it off. The little demon landed on Marcus’ shoulder then instantly bounded away as several more boys ran toward it. It jumped from one boy to the next and kicked several of them in the face as it went. Scott, Peter and Hameed all tumbled to the floor as the imp landed on the bookshelf. They sat up and rubbed their cheeks while the demon threw books across the room. One book hit Hameed in the head and he groaned loudly in pain.
“All right, come here, you little shit!” said Preston, one of the other boys. He swung an open pillowcase in an attempt to capture it but it nailed him in the face with a book and vanished again. Preston bellowed and clutched at his nose.
Kara and Charlotte watched all the chaos unfold from the girls’ dorm and laughed hysterically together. Their faces turned red with glee and tears formed at the corners of their eyes as they watched the boys struggle to contain the imp.
Meanwhile, the imp ripped open a pillow and tossed its feathers into the air. Hameed yanked at the blanket and dove to tackle the demon beneath it but it leaped for the headboard then jumped again for the window. It perched itself on the curtain rod then dragged its claws down the drapes. Scott blasted it with a shockwave but the creature vanished and reappeared on Scott’s head. It yanked at his hair as his spell shattered the window. Scott growled and reached for the imp while Marcus swatted at it with his hands. Preston swung at the demon with a book but he missed and hit Scott instead. He fell to the floor unconscious amid the din.
Kara and Charlotte could hardly breathe anymore. “Oh my God!” Kara exclaimed when the window was blasted.
One of the senior students, disturbed by the commotion burst into the boys’ room. “What in the hell is going on in here? An imp!” Ryan exclaimed. Marcus had finally managed to tackle the demon, but after a moment of squirming it vanished and reappeared atop an open textbook on the desk. It ripped several pages out of the book and cast them aside. Ryan restrained the imp with a Binding Spell. Unable to move or teleport, the demon stood crouched over the book, its arm frozen mid-swing in the motion of its last throw. “Where did this thing come from?” Ryan demanded to know. The three boys shook their heads and shrugged. The senior student sighed. “Whatever. We’ll figure it out. Someone, get Professor Chang.”
Hameed and Peter left the room to find the professor.
When Professor Chang arrived, she shook her head with irritation at the sight of the frozen imp. “Do we know who summoned this creature?”
“No, Professor.” the three boys answered. Marcus had dragged Scott up from the floor and he now lay on the bed unconscious.
“Well. Let’s find out.” Professor Chang stood before the creature and cycled through a short sequence of hand gestures. Then the frozen imp was set aglow with a shimmering blue light that faded into a white shimmer. “When mystics cast magic, they leave behind a residue which can be read and detected like fingerprints.” Chang explained. “This residue is specific to every magic user and can be used to identify who cast the spell and where.” As Chang spoke, ghostly images of Kara and Charlotte’s faces appeared above the demon; Kara’s face in white and Charlotte’s face in blue. “The culprits in this case appear to be Kara Hartman and Charlotte Grey.” Professor Chang finished.
“We are sooo getting them back for this.” Preston murmured. The other boys nodded with assent.
Professor Chang waved her hand and sent the demon back to its world. Then she turned to Ryan and said, “Clean this up, will you?”
Ryan nodded. “Yes, Professor.”
“Enjoy the rest of your weekend, boys. Now, I have two naughty girls to discipline.” said Chang as she turned to leave.
Ryan cast regenerative spells to repair the window and the drapes. The shards of glass flew back into their frame and reassembled themselves. The gashes in the curtains closed and the books flew back to their shelf. The torn bedding was sewn back together and the ripped pages reattached themselves. The lamps that were knocked over stood themselves back up and the clothes flew into the dresser neatly hung and folded. Ryan looked at his handiwork and nodded with satisfaction. “Right. Let’s try not to stumble across any more demons this weekend, yeah?” Then the senior student turned and left the room.
Kara and Charlotte were punished with a week of detention plus chores in the kitchen that weekend. Kara’s forehead beaded with sweat as she glumly stirred a steaming pot of soup. Charlotte looked up from her chopping board and saw Kara’s gloomy expression. She then growled and imitated Scott when he tried to pull the imp off his head. Kara laughed loudly at the mischief they had created together. Every evening that week as they sat in detention, they snickered quietly together as they mimed how the boys tried to capture the demon. Even as they laboriously transcribed charts and diagrams, they still amused one another with the boys’ comical groans and shouts from that night.
Chapter Nine
Charlotte Grey Old Town Alexandria, District of Columbia, Present
Charlotte walked the streets of D.C. on a bright but chilly afternoon. She wore a long black coat buttoned all the way up to her neck with the collar turned up. The cold wind blew into her face as passersby strolled along the sidewalk. Traffic zipped through the busy streets and people meandered in and out of the storefronts. They talked and laughed of casual things, but intermixed with their chatter was something else. Headlines about the jailbreak in Canada had reached the public and now reports of an impending crime wave swept through the country. But they had no idea one of the escaped outlaws now walked among them.
She felt very safe here and it was good to be a free woman again. She and Saba had arrived in D.C. early that morning. Saba landed the jet near an abandoned warehouse and immediately went off to visit an acquaintance of hers. Something to do with finding her grandfather’s library, she said, which left Charlotte to her own devices. She appropriated one of the motorcycles stowed in the jet and sped out into the city. Once she arrived in Old Town Alexandria, she bought and devoured her first meal that wasn’t already half stale. It was the best food she had eaten in two years. Now, she strolled along the street and pondered how she was going to find Kara.
According to Saba, she lived somewhere along the Potomac. But that didn’t narrow it down very much. It could take weeks to search all the neighborhoods surrounding it. She supposed she could summon demons to hunt Kara, but that would entail casting magic, which meant she could risk exposing her location once the magical residue of h
er spells was discharged. Charlotte could not risk being apprehended now that she was so close to achieving her revenge.
She passed by a glass booth with a large poster taped on the inside of it. The bold headline announced some sort of art exhibition that was to take place a couple of nights from now. Charlotte almost walked right by without giving it any note, when, suddenly, she caught a glimpse of a name on a list of artists at the bottom: Kara Hartman. Charlotte halted in her path and fixed her gaze on the advertisement. Apparently, the city was hosting an exhibition to showcase some of their best up and coming artists to benefit the ailing neighborhoods in D.C. In addition to six others, Kara Hartman would be one of the artists featured. In the center of the poster was the date, time and location for the event. Charlotte smiled. Kara would pay for her betrayal soon.
Kara Hartman District Wharf, District of Columbia, Present
Kara wiped sweat from her forehead and placed the wooden practice sword on its rack. She panted softly as Selene walked up from behind and hung her sword next to Kara’s.
“You’re getting better,” she said. “Your combinations are more varied than when we started.”
Kara grinned wanly. “Yeah. I’ve been refreshing myself on Professor Chang’s combat lessons.” A pang of grief stabbed at her heart at the mention of her name. Charlotte killed Professor Chang to find her. She killed several guards in the jailbreak. Who else was going to die before this was over? Selene saw the anxiety in Kara’s eyes as she reached for a bottle of water on the table.
“Kara, we can beat her, okay? We’ll be ready,” Selene reassured her.
Kara turned to her and said, “Selene, Charlotte is savage. She loves to hurt and kill but I’m not ruthless like she is. What if…”
“You don’t have to be,” Selene interjected. “I can. I can be whatever you need,” she said solemnly. Kara looked into her eyes and saw she was dead serious. Selene, the demon hunter, the cage fighter, the survivor stood before her and pledged her strength to a fight that wasn’t even her own.
Just then, Amelia entered the training room. Her pretty but somber face regarded them with a grim expression. “Ladies. John and I would like a word with you.”
Kara nodded in acknowledgement. Then she and Selene followed Amelia out into the living room.
John stood at the window with his hands clasped behind his back. He watched the boats drift leisurely down the river just beyond the brightly lit waterfront. Kara thought it strange to see him without his dark coat. He stood there in a simple gray button-down shirt and slacks. It was like seeing a knight without armor right before battle. Her tall, strapping brother turned and saw the three women enter.
“It’s good to see you are taking proactive steps to prepare for your battle with Charlotte,” said John.
Kara didn’t like the way he said that. Something was wrong. “Of course. What did you want to talk about?”
John hesitated before he spoke. “As you know, Charlotte is here and the date of your exhibition is tomorrow night…”
“If you’re here to discourage me from going…” Kara began but was cut off by Amelia.
“No, Kara. Quite the opposite,” she said. “We want Charlotte and Charlotte wants you. We want you to go there and draw her out into the open so that we can apprehend her.”
“So, you want to use my girlfriend as bait?” Selene said indignantly.
“I didn’t mean to state it so bluntly, but…yes,” Amelia replied.
“If you don’t want to do this we can find another way, Kara,” John said quickly. “But … this plan seems to be the most efficient strategy,” he continued with difficulty. Selene was touched by his protectiveness toward Kara.
“No one will judge you if you don’t want to proceed,” Amelia added.
Charlotte had taken her baby brother. She had taken Professor Chang and now threatened to burn everything else Kara held dear. She had to be stopped.
“Kara. What do you want to do?” Selene asked.
Kara locked eyes with John and said, “I’ll do it.”
John Hartman District Wharf, District of Columbia, Present
The waterfront was brightly lit when the cold and dark night settled over the Potomac. Passersby meandered from one storefront to another as they talked and laughed easily. They huddled by the firepits ate s’mores and sipped wine by the undulating water. John wished he could be oblivious like them, happy like them.
But tonight, his heart was heavy. Two of his officers, Marcus and Rachel, had been slain in combat, plus hundreds more of his comrades. The tumult triggered by one of their own swallowed their lives whole. Why Saba did such a thing was beyond him. Betrayal of this magnitude was without precedent. But John would make damn sure it would not be without justice.
“What are you thinking about?” Amelia suddenly asked him. She stood at his side and stared across the dark water.
It was a moment before John answered. “I wish Marcus and Rachel were here.” he said.
Amelia exhaled with a quivering breath as tears filled her eyes. “Me too.”
John wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close to him. She was perhaps the one silver lining in this cloud of tragedy. He had almost lost Amelia in their battle against Charlotte. Almost. Thankfully, he was able to reach her in time and heal her wounds before she had lost too much blood. She stood beside him alive and well because the Creator empowered him to save her.
After a few moments of silent grief, John released her from his embrace. “There’s something else.”
Amelia turned to him and looked up with a questioning gaze.
“When Charlotte stabbed you, I felt like my whole world was shattered. I didn’t know what I would do if I lost you. I don’t ever want to feel that way again,” John said with his eyes locked on hers.
“You won’t,” Amelia replied quickly. “I promise,” Then she wrapped her hands around the back of his neck and pulled him down into a kiss.
Charlotte Grey Paradigm Gallery, District of Columbia, Present
On the night of the exhibition, Charlotte stood on a rooftop two blocks away from the gallery and gazed through the large panoramic window. She held her index fingers and thumbs in an “L” to form the corner of a viewfinder and the blue energy between her hands magnified her vision. The large exhibit space was aglow with the light of radiant chandeliers which shone brightly on the guests as they trickled in. They strolled across the floor sharply dressed and tipped glasses of champagne at their lips as they stared reverently at Kara’s silly paintings. Charlotte spread her hands apart and zoomed in on the crowd. Then she panned slowly across the room as she scanned the faces of all the guests.
She patiently sifted through all the strangers until she finally found her target. Kara entered the chamber in a short white dress embroidered with pearls. She smiled and greeted the guests seemingly unaware of the imminent danger she faced. Charlotte laughed inwardly.
She drew her hands closer together and zoomed out. Across the window, Charlotte saw a shimmering field of turquoise light, visible only through her viewfinder. Charlotte recognized the energy instantly. Well, well. Looks like Johnny’s come out to play. The Ward on the chamber was designed to bar anyone with malicious intent from entering, which complicated things for Charlotte. But perhaps if she could bring Kara out to her…
Charlotte zoomed out further and scanned the street below. Cars pulled up to the gallery entrance and the drivers stepped out as they handed off their keys to the valet. Across the street from the gallery, Charlotte could see John and Amelia as they patrolled vigilantly on the surrounding streets. No doubt they would be anticipating her. She released her Viewfinder Spell and formulated her plan of attack.
The Ward on the chamber would prevent Charlotte from entering, but she knew of one type of demon that could slip past Wards. Also, a diversion for John and Amelia would probably make her life a little easier tonight. Charlotte smiled and knew exactly what to do.
John Hartman Paradigm Gallery
, District of Columbia, Present
John was on edge as he patrolled the streets on foot with Amelia at his side. Every woman with brown hair and pale skin was Charlotte and every blue glow was the glow of her conjured flames. His magic burned like a fireball deep within him ready to strike at the drop of a dime. He held that energy firmly like one would grasp the hilt of a sword within its sheath.
Amelia looked up at him out of the corner of her eye and could read his tension plainly. His eyebrows were pushed together and the corners of his mouth drawn in a frown. His stoic face was as cold as the air around them. She wanted to say something reassuring to him. She would have, if the same anxiety he felt did not weigh on her as well. Amelia saw Charlotte take down five guards at once, all of them burned to death by her searing flames. She wanted to believe the four of them would be enough tonight, but inwardly she knew they would need a miracle.
Chapter Ten
Kara Hartman Paradigm Gallery, District of Columbia, Present
The exhibition was not anything like Kara imagined it would be. The gallery space was brightly lit and abuzz with casual chatter. People in formal attire trickled in and clustered around Kara’s paintings which adorned the gallery walls. With champagne glasses in hand, they discussed the virtues of Kara’s work, pointed out her brush strokes and applauded her composition. Tonight was supposed to be a celebration of how the culture of the city was expressed through its artists. But Kara was not in a jubilant mood.
Charlotte was in town and would very likely strike tonight. Even as she weaved through the crowd and greeted the guests casually, a cold, heavy knot settled in her stomach. She did her best to smile and offer small talk but it was all a façade for the feeling of dread that gripped her heart. In her mind, Kara could envision the gallery in flames as Charlotte stood over her with a glowing blade held at her throat.
Dreams of Fire Page 18