“Larissa…” I could hear the concern in her voice.
“Why did you send Joe to Plymouth?” I asked. “Was it just so I’d spy on him for you?”
“I didn’t send Joe to Plymouth,” she said. “Your mother did. She thought a teenage Mage might just make you more interested in magic, and do you know what the saddest thing is? It worked. Thousands of years of Witches are rolling in their graves right now.”
“Wait. My mom… mom set us up.” I laughed. It was a miracle, not a manipulation. That’s amazing. I think…
“Joe did a rune.” The words just fell out of my mouth while I was processing a miracle. I wanted to draw them back in, deny them, pretend they never existed.
I could hear Giara’s intake of breath. “He did a rune. Did he hurt anyone?”
“No,” I said emphatically. “No one got hurt, no property was damaged, and he didn’t mean to do it.”
“This is his second time accidentally doing a rune,” she said. “What happens the next time? We don’t give third chances. We don’t usually give second chances.”
“Why did you then?” I asked.
Giara was silent for a moment. “Because I’m not as hard as your mother was.”
I couldn’t respond.
“But I don’t have that option now,” she said. “The law is clear on this one.”
“If you hurt him…” I said.
“I don’t have a choice.” Giara sighed again.
There’s always a choice, I thought. My mom was the one who taught me that. I held my tongue.
“Look, Larissa,” she said, ”he’ll be weakened after doing the rune, and there’s a limited time to stop him. I’ll be there soon, and we can talk about anything you want to, okay? Afterwards.”
I closed my eyes.
“Give me three hours, alright?” she said. “Three hours.”
I hung up the phone without saying goodbye. I stood there in the kitchen, watching Joe’s chest rise and fall with every labored breath. The phone rang in my hand. Giara.
“What.” I said.
“Larissa, thank heavens you answered,” Ms. P. said. “Have you seen Joe? He didn’t come home tonight.”
I glanced at Joe’s sleeping body. Giara would be here soon. I had to hide him; I had to keep him safe.
“He called me an hour ago,” I lied. “He was mad about something, and decided to go for a drive. He borrowed my car.”
Ms. P. took a deep breath. “Did he sound okay?”
“Yeah,” I said. “He’s gonna be fine, Ms. P. Don’t worry.”
She let out a breath. “That’s a mother’s job, Larissa, to worry for their children.”
“And sometimes the kids take it upon themselves to worry about their mothers.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Be careful with this Ash guy, Ms. P.” I said. “He’s not who he says he is.”
I could hear a male voice through the phone. Ash was still there at Joe’s house.
“Why...” she started.
“Be careful, Ms. P.” I corrected myself. “Maggie, please be careful.”
I hung up again, because apparently today was the day for hanging up on grownups.
I sat down on the ground next to Joe, and the runelight on my hand sprinkled away. I put his head in my lap, and then started playing with his hair, waiting for Giara to come and kill him.
No.
I had done my part of the bargain, but that was over now. I would protect Joe no matter what. That meant it was time for us to go. I wasn’t on the Grandmothers’ side, but I wasn’t on the Grandfathers’ side either. It was their war, not mine. Not Joe’s. We weren’t their pawns, their weapons, or their tools.
We were on our own side. If that meant we were at war with both the Grandmothers and the Grandfathers... heck, with every person in this entire world who could use magic... then so be it. Let them bring their worst. We were ready for them.
If only Joe would wake up.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
The first thing I did was try to pick Joe up, to see if I could bring him to my car, but he weighed a lot, and it was impossible. I did a transformation rune on him and changed him into Meg. His clothes hung off her tiny frame, so I rolled up the pants, and the sleeves, and then picked her up. Much easier.
I ran back inside and got my coat, my mom’s credit card, and a few changes of clothes. When I got back to the car, Joe was still asleep in Meg’s tiny body. Everything was still, but I had this feeling that someone was watching me. Not an Instinct, just someone. It didn’t feel right, if that makes sense.
I backed up, and kept my eyes open to my surroundings. I think the adrenaline helped, as I was exhausted mentally, emotionally, and most of all physically.
If it took Giara three hours, that meant she was driving from Chicago, so I wanted to go the other way, except… Wouldn’t that be predictable? Maybe what I should do was go right toward her, maybe take the airport in Chicago.
If I drove past her, then… I could transform my own face, but she would recognize the car. Maybe I should ditch it and borrow someone else’s…
Was I really just considering grand theft auto? Apparently, Joe had been a worse influence on me than I thought. What I needed was a car that I know would be full of gas, and I only knew one person who was as anal retentive as I was.
Ryan.
I drove through the streets of my town, parked my car around the corner from Ryan’s house, and lifted Joe’s body. Meg’s head rolled until her nose brushed against my neck as I trudged up the perfect gingerbread pathway to the garage. They had locked the doors to their white Toyota Sienna, but I ignored it and drew the rune for open. Then, I tossed Joe in the passenger seat.
These rubes made it too easy, I thought. What I wouldn’t give for a guard dog just to spice things up.
Ha. I giggled to myself in that tired way that I only giggle when it’s almost two in the morning and I’m about to commit a felony. I put the silence rune on the hood of the minivan, and then on my own hand, completing the circle.
Christmas music came on as I started the van with the rune for fire. I revved the engine, confident that the rune would block out the noise, and then drove down the street. I switched the radio to my favorite oldies station, and blasted seventies rock in hopes Joe would wake up and complain to me.
About twenty minutes out of Plymouth, I reapplied Joe’s rune. I transformed my face to that of Meg’s mom, who I found out had a much better voice than I did. I enjoyed singing along to the radio, and anyone awake in my car would have enjoyed listening to me sing, because it was, honestly, pretty amazing.
Now I hope no one thinks I am in anyway condoning criminal behavior. It’s bad. Don’t break the law. Anyway, any time you break a law there are consequences, and please know I found that one out for myself. I’m not just repeating a public service announcement.
I passed Giara about an hour out of Plymouth. She didn’t even glance at me, which was good, because if she did she would have seen I was glaring at her, and that might have given the whole thing away.
Joe stirred once right outside Chicago, and I shouted at him, but he never woke up.
I abandoned Ryan’s minivan in the O’Hare Airport parking garage, reapplied Joe’s transformation rune, and then, looking around to make sure no one was following me, I tried to pick up Joe again. My arms though had had it, and I don’t think I could have carried him to the next car, let alone into the airport.
“Stay here,” I whispered. I put the rune for invisibility on his arm and walked out of the car.
Please keep him safe, I thought, but there wasn’t anyone there to help him, except me. The parking lot looked empty, but it didn’t feel that way. I felt like people watched me from every direction even if I couldn’t see the eyes.
Inside the airport, I felt better. The florescent lights felt reassuring. I used my mom’s credit card reserved only for emergencies to buy a ticket economy class to Paris. I had my passport,
but I knew Joe didn’t have one. I had no clue how I was going to get him on the plane. Maybe I could use the invisibility rune on him, or transform him to look like luggage. I don’t know.
I was so tired.
The next plane left at 5:20 p.m. I had fourteen hours to wait. On the other hand, I guess there were fourteen hours until they could find me.
I went back to the car and got in. I wiped the air, but Joe didn’t reappear. I reached my hand toward where Joe should be, and there was nothing but air under my fingers.
Joe wasn’t invisible. He just wasn’t there.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
By this point, I was so exhausted that all I could do for a couple of minutes was cry. I know, not proactive at all. In my defense, it had been a very long day, and I’m the kind of girl who needs her sleep.
When even crying was too much for me, I sat, numb and frozen, in the driver’s seat of Ryan’s minivan. Which I had stolen. Oh man, I was in so much trouble.
I got out of the car, and I felt again like I was being watched.
Did someone follow me? The only threat that was close enough, and suspicious enough to follow me would be Ash.
I whispered, “Are you sure you want to do this?”
No one answered, so I repeated, “I said, are you sure you want to do this?” in a much louder, more threatening voice.
There was movement to the left of me. I saw a flash of a red cap. The Grandfathers.
“I’m coming peacefully,” I said. “You don’t need to hit me again, Ash.”
There was movement to my right. Yes, Ash was there. I put my hands behind my head, as they do in the movies, and then cleared my throat, “Where’s Joe?”
“That is not your concern,” a man behind me said.
I turned. It was the man who had worn the business suit as he warmed his hands in front of the fire.
“Miles,” I said with a nod, showing respect I didn’t feel. He stood taller. “Where’s Joe?”
“How is that your business, hmm?” asked a voice from out of my line of sight.
I closed my eyes. I would know that voice anywhere. It was Leo.
Fury filled my body with adrenaline. I pointed my finger without looking at him.
“That is close enough.” I said. I turned to face him; “I swear if you come any closer, I will destroy you.”
Leo looked at me with a grin, as if I just told the most hilarious joke. I wasn’t kidding. He looked at my face and then took a step back.
“Larissa, you can put your arms down,” a voice in front of me said.
A line of runelight rippled over the open air as his invisibility rune ended, and Robert appeared in front of me. All around me, the men took a respectful stance.
“We only wish to talk,” Robert said.
“How did you find me?”
“We’ve had eyes on you,” Robert replied.
I growled under my breath.
“Where’s Joe?” I asked again.
“He is not your concern…”
My fingers drew the rune for truth in the air and then threw. Robert swished his hand, and the runelight fell like rain, brushing against his skin, but not landing. How did he do that?
He walked to me. I drew another rune, this one for stay, and I threw it at him. He wiped his fingers again; my runelight fell harmlessly to the ground again. He kept walking until he reached me. He drew the rune for stay on my arm. My body rebelled against me, but I lifted my arm and wiped it off.
The men behind me started whispering, and Robert glanced back at them. While he was distracted, I drew the rune for stay on his arm, and then with transformation I turned him into Giara.
Leo fell on the ground laughing. Robert tried to wipe the runelight away, but my runes stuck.
“Robert,” I said, inching closer to him. Giara’s face turned toward me. “Where… is… Joe?”
“Don’t hurt him. He can still be taught.” Giara’s voice pleaded the words I would say to her.
“I would never hurt him.” I said. “Where is he?”
“He’s safe,” Robert said.
I sighed, “Yeah, I don’t trust you.”
I looked around me. Seven grown men stood in a circle surrounding me, just one seventeen year-old girl. Anyone looking on would think that I was the one who should feel threatened. But their faces spelled out that they were the ones scared of me. Well, I did have their strongest Mage under my control. They all had the same expression, except Ash. Ash looked reluctant. He looked… ashamed.
“Ash,” I said.
He glanced at me and then looked away.
“Ash, where is your son?”
Leo looked sharply at Ash, and then let out an explosive laugh that twisted to a giggle.
“A son. Hmmm?” Leo kept giggling.
“Stop,” I commanded him, but Leo ignored me.
“I have a grandson,” Leo said between giggles. I glanced at Ash. He was looking down at the ground.
Leo was Ash’s father.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
My least favorite person in the world was related to my favorite. Leo was Joe’s grandfather. Hooray for irony.
“Look, gentleman, I’m tired, and when I’m tired I get cranky. Okay?” I smiled, and the men stepped backwards. “Now, I’m gonna give you the benefit of the doubt, and assume you were just trying to protect Joe from a Grandmother. I get that, since that’s what I am trying to do.”
They looked at me as if they weren’t clear on what was happening.
“Don’t tell me you weren’t listening through the walls?” I said.
They clearly didn’t know what I was talking about. The Grandfathers must not have known the eavesdropping rune. Whoops, guess I just spilled a Witch secret. My bad.
I sighed, “Giara is coming to kill Joe, and I’m not gonna let that happen. Now, give him back to me. We have a plane to catch.”
“Where are you going?” Giara’s voice coming from Robert sent a chill down my back.
I wiped my fingers and the transformation fell. Then with a whim of trust, I released the stay rune as well. He smiled at me and moved his hands, scratching a spot on his nose. His eyes were kind. He hadn’t been anything but nice to me. Maybe I could trust him.
“I’m going to the Grandmothers’ Study, to steal back my mom’s notebook,” I said.
“You are not a Grandmother?” Miles asked, his British accent coming out more than before.
I shook my head. “Not yet.”
“I…” Miles looked once at Robert, panic in his eyes as if awaiting a decision on his life. He turned back to me, “I am so sorry we allowed Leo… to an innocent.” He looked at Robert. “I swear, Robert, I didn’t know.”
“This one has surprised us all,” Robert replied, and Miles’ shoulders relaxed. “Child,” Robert started, but I glared, and he rephrased, “Larissa, perhaps we could help you.”
“What?” I said.
“You’re not the only one who the Grandmothers have stolen from,” Robert said. “They have a few things of ours as well.”
“I’m not giving you the killing runes.” I said firmly.
“Of course not,” Robert answered, looking shocked at the very thought. “We wouldn’t dream of asking for those. I simply wished to help you take away something that doesn’t belong to them.”
“That’s it? That’s all you want to do?” I asked suspiciously.
“Yes.”
“So you would help me and Joe get to Paris to retrieve my mom’s notebook and then see us home.”
“We would help you.”
“No, thanks.” I said.
Robert sighed. “Larissa, you and I aren’t enemies. The Grandmothers have taken so much from us both. They’ve taken our home, the lives of our friends. They’ve taken the lives of innocents and broken the Law of Peace. If they retain these few trinkets of ours, I fear Giara might do our world serious damage.”
“Look,” I said, “it’s nothing personal; it’s just not my war to fig
ht.”
“Your family was a casualty of this war, how can you say it’s not personal?” Ash asked.
“Now Ash, that’s unfair.” Robert said, stepping toward him, “This is Larissa’s choice. That’s important. There must always be a choice.”
I took a step back. “My mom used to say that.”
“Your mom was an advocate of peace,” Robert said. “She and I were often similar in our opinions. Now, young one, I tell you truthfully, without us, you will not gain your mother’s notebook. Without you, we won’t gain back what we need to keep this world safe. So tell me, will you let us help you?”
Leo stopped laughing, but other than him, the others looked honest, eager, and maybe a little repentant.
“I... I don’t know, will you tell me where Joe is?”
“Of course,” Robert said. “You and I have no quarrel, young one. We are not on opposite sides. You will take our help,” I did not like the bossy way he said that. “Think of it as a way to repay you for the unkindness you have suffered at our hands.”
“I...” I didn’t know what to do.
“I will only return Joe to you, if you accept our help. If you arrived unassisted, it would be like handing him over to the Grandmothers.” The way he said “Grandmothers” made it clear how deep his hatred for them went. “We protect our own.” He looked at me as if he was waiting for a response.
I swallowed, and then nodded once.
Ash looked at Robert, and Robert dipped his head with a wide smile on his face. Ash waved his fingers, and a ripple of runelight appeared on the cement in the parking garage. The transformation rune had ended, so it wasn’t Meg’s face, it was Joe’s, still sleeping, his clothing rolled back down. He looked so peaceful, so relaxed. Although… His face looked flushed, and his cheeks were a brilliant red. Something was wrong. I walked to him; the men parted and let me through. Joe’s cheeks were burning up, so hot against my fingers that my heart sped up in fear. Would performing the love rune kill him before Giara had a chance to?
“He has a fever,” I said. “Does anyone have any ibuprofen?”
Funny Tragic Crazy Magic (Tragic Magic Book 1) Page 16