Denouncement

by E A Foley

  “How about the end of the school year?”

  “All of winter quarter, but I’m making mine a full weekend—Friday night through Sunday evening—and am tacking on a second dinner out with a movie,” Brett countered.

  “I’ll take it,” Iris agreed. She had no intention of losing. “But you have to stay out of my dreams too. Not just physically leave me alone.”

  “Fair enough. Your Brett-free time won’t start until the first day of the quarter and will end on the last day of finals.”

  Iris nodded and filled with power. She crossed her arms and jumped in place in an attempt to circulate some warmth through her body. It did little to warm her up. The ball of fire Brett shot at her helped a lot more. Iris threw a containment field around the fire and controlled it to sit in front of her. She held her hands out to warm them until Brett dismissed the fire.

  “Hey,” she reprimanded. “I was using that. Guess I’ll have to form my own,” Iris said with a fake sigh. She created her own fireball. Launched it at Brett who stepped through a doorway and popped out somewhere behind her.

  Iris dismissed her fireball request and replaced it with a full barrier surrounding her in case Brett moved locations again. She turned to face him. He was much closer this time.

  Brett shot a few dozen blasts of air at her. They exploded on her barrier.

  Iris readied a wall of air to send at Brett. A blast of frigid air swirled up and surrounded her in a tornado of snow and cold before she could release her attack.

  Somehow Brett had disrupted the barrier she’d formed. It blocked her view of him.

  She focused on his magic. Released the wall of air in the direction she sensed his flows coming from. Had no idea if it found its mark.

  Iris tried to bat at the snow surrounding her. Her hand hit a wall. Her barrier remained in place. Brett hadn’t altered it. He’d used the snow entrapped at her feet to cause the mini-blizzard and now it had nowhere to go because she was containing it within her own barrier.

  Iris shot a second wall of air at Brett and released her barrier. The snow surrounding her flew outward with its sudden release. More joined it as his tornado of air continued.

  Before Iris could form another barrier between herself and whatever Brett threw at her, he dropped the tornado and sent an arsenal of air attacks her way. No two were the same in size or speed. It made defending against them difficult.

  Iris dodged several by feel. Snow drifting down still obscured her vision. She had to formulate a way to counter them. She honed her concentration. Blocked dozens of air missiles. Missed the tripwire he placed behind her feet.

  There was nothing Iris could do to stay upright. The last thought she had before she hit the ground was an image of a glass coffin top like in Snow White. By the time she sank into the snow, one appeared above her. She smiled. How did she continually forget she could form requests with images rather than thoughts and words?

  Iris searched out Brett’s location from the comfort of her glass-like shield. She surrounded him in a funnel cloud of snow. Sent an unyielding supply of stinging air attacks at him. Interspersed them with battering rams and full walls of air.

  She continually adjusted her target location as he tried to move or was moved by her walls of air. She wasn’t aiming to cause major harm but anything that made contact would leave a welt. Brett shifted to full defense mode. His counters grew weaker.

  The battle ended in thirty seconds. The moment Brett released all of his power, she stopped her attacks. Iris dismissed her cover and stood. She kept her mind ready to form another barrier if needed. As she approached Brett where he knelt on the cold snow, she searched his body for any major injuries and healed what she could. Thankfully, there was nothing more than deep tissue bruises. She still didn’t have the hang of healing anything like broken bones.

  “Do you surrender?” she asked after healing him.

  “I do,” he panted up at her from where he still knelt in the snow. “How did you do that?”

  “Do what?”

  “Keep your barrier, fire air missiles at me, and maintain the snow swirling so I couldn’t see anything?”

  “It’s just something I did,” Iris shrugged. But he had a point. She hadn’t thought about making several requests at once before. It appeared her theory of gaining more abilities when she wasn’t thinking about what she was doing was accurate. Iris added her newest revelation about her abilities to her list of things to work out and teach everyone else.

  “So,” she brought her focus back on Brett. “You promise to leave me alone all of winter quarter? No stalking me, or manipulating my dreams? And no bothering my friends because that means they’ll tell me all about it and that’s a bother too.”

  “A deal’s a deal. I’ll leave you alone all quarter. Guess I’ll have to try twice as hard to get that weekend with you next time.”

  Brett gave Iris a genuine smile that sent shivers up her spine, formed his rectangle of darkness, and disappeared through it. She couldn’t get a read on him. It was possible he actually liked her, but more probable he thought she was more likely to help him and his father punish humanity if she thought he liked her. Iris didn’t care to find out either way. She waited until all residual traces of his magic faded before using what little strength she had left to form a doorway home.

  If Brett had been able to hold out for another minute or two, he would have won. Her ability to keep using magic drained significantly faster when she performed multiple tasks at the same time. The thought did nothing to comfort Iris. She may be stronger, but he had better stamina and speed. She added both to her list and crawled into bed in an attempt to warm up.

  Chapter 32

  Iris dreamt about the mansion that night, but it seemed different. The pain she expected at the nape of her neck was missing. The distances and flow of the dream seemed off too. Even the mansion itself looked different. More like a British manner. Perhaps Brett wasn’t as into it as he had been. Or perhaps this was another ploy of his. It captivated her attention and kept her mind occupied while she made herself breakfast the following morning.

  “Hey! Where were you last night?”

  “I fell asleep early.”

  “How early?”

  “Not sure. Sometime after lunch. Maybe around four,” Iris shrugged and flipped the pancake over. “Want some pancakes?” she asked Violet.

  “Yes, please.”

  Iris poured more batter into the frying pan. Her mind was back on the previous day and her dream.

  “Want to talk it out?” Violet asked as they both sat down at the table.

  “Why not?” Iris took a bite and tried to decide where to start. She hadn’t told anyone about Brett in the library yet. Nor about James. Did she really need the backstory for everything to make sense?

  “Start at the beginning. Not the middle,” Violet told her.

  “That obvious?”

  Violet nodded. “You’ve been debating for way too long.”

  “All right, Brett—”

  “I thought as much.”

  “Yeah. Anyway, he showed up at the library mid-fall quarter where I was studying. He made it clear he’d been stalking me all quarter as he had my weekly routine memorized. Then he got a little more personal than usual. My lab partner, James, was in the library at the time and he told Brett to get lost. Brett did, but he kept in magical contact with me every time James and I studied together at the library. Just his way of saying hello, I see you.”

  “That’s creepy.”

  “More annoying than anything. It was like a constant pressure point at the back of my neck. I shocked him magically the last time.”

  “You used magic in public? Wow! He must have really pissed you off.”

  “Yup.”

  “So what happened yesterday?”

  “Oh, right. I went to my glade to try out a new skill. Well, I tried to go three days ago, but it was cold so I opted for the island instead. I didn’t make any progress on the island, so
I tried the glade again two days ago and had some success. When I stepped out of my doorway in the glade yesterday, Brett was waiting for me. Based on what he said, he felt me form my doorway and got there before me. He’s a really fast magic user.”

  “How did he know where to go?”

  “He’s been there before. I told you guys that, didn’t I?”

  “Guess I didn’t realize you were still going to the same place.”

  “I like it there. I didn’t want to give it up just because some asshole knows where it is.”

  “But it’s not just some asshole. It’s Brett.”

  “Yeah,” Iris agreed with an exhale and nod of her head. She picked up a pancake she hadn’t drown in syrup and tore off a piece.

  “So, he showed up at your glade . . . ” Violet prompted.

  “And he wanted to fight magically with me. I’m not sure fight is the right word but I’m not sure what else to call it. Spar? A test of our powers? That may be more accurate.” Iris got a look at Violet’s face and plunged on. “I won, don’t worry. Even healed him of a few wounds before he left. If it had gone on any longer, I probably would’ve lost. Then I would have been forced to spend time with him because of the stupid bet he wanted to make. Whatever. At least he has to leave me alone all winter quarter.” She shrugged and popped the pancake piece in her mouth.

  “He bet you would have to spend time with him and you bet he has to leave you alone all quarter? How much time?”

  “A full weekend including two dinners out and a movie.”

  “He wanted to go on dates?”

  “That’s all I can think of. It was worth it though.”

  Violet pursed her lips at Iris. “I’m not sure—”

  “A weekend versus a whole quarter? It was worth it. Trust me. But it doesn’t start until the first day of classes, so he brought up the mansion dream again. That’s what I’ve been distracted by.”

  “The dream? But you’ve had it so many times. Why is it bugging you now? Was it different? Did you learn more?”

  It always amazed Iris how much Violet could read from her expressions and body language. “Different, yes. Nothing new per se, but distances were wrong. And the look of the place. Like it wasn’t quite solidified. I’m not sure what to make if it.”

  “You sure it was Brett who dropped you into the dream? I mean, it might have been your mind reliving it since you’ve had it so many times?”

  “I hadn’t thought of that. The pain in the back of my neck was absent so that would actually make a lot of sense. Thanks, Vi. I feel a lot better now. Well, I should head out. Still trying to figure this new skill out.”

  “Can I come?”

  “I’m not ready to teach it yet.” Violet’s smile lessened. Iris plunged on before it became disappointment. “But if you want to come and watch, you’re welcome to.”

  “Great! Can we go to the island?”

  “Yes, we can. I’m not in the mood to see if Brett’s waiting for me so he can announce a re-match. In fact, why don’t you form the doorway to the island.”

  In two hours, Iris had all the kinks worked out for keeping something in a hiding place. Both weight and volume limited the space. It was almost like you could only carry items in your hiding place you could physically carry for long periods of time. She also taught Violet how to place a small rock in a hiding place of her own. Iris was exhausted but exhilarated at their progress. She decided she should bring someone with her more often in order to bounce ideas off of and get a second perspective on tasks.

  They put magic on hold during the holidays. No one’s schedule matched up, so they’d opted to spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s magic-free.

  Iris had to use magic every day in order to not have her subconscious take over. It was hard with all the family staying at her parents’ house for Christmas but much better than accidentally lighting the house on fire or making it rain inside.

  The mansion dream and an occasional prickling sensation were the only signs of Brett. The few occasions she checked to see if he was in Pacific resulted in silence. She assumed he was at his family’s vacation home per usual.

  Iris was glad to get back to her apartment ten days later. Not just for the ease of using magic there, but because she was about to have ten glorious Brett-free weeks.

  Winter quarter flew by for Iris. There were fewer band gigs, no bad dreams, and magic practices were fantastic—she even managed to turn into a faerie once. On top of that, Morrigan’s martial arts training sessions were going well. Since Iris was using magic more consistently, she saw Morrigan less frequently on Tuesdays, but she constantly stayed at Zarina’s, so Iris got to see her just as often. Best of all, she didn’t have to think about Brett or worry about him approaching any of her friends.

  With less to worry about than usual, Violet convinced Iris to keep going with Aikido classes and sign up for a Latin Ballroom dance class. It was something Violet had wanted to do since she started dating Cirrus—he and his brother used to place in competitions when they were younger. Aerianna and Rozlynd took the dance class too. By the time finals arrived, Iris was just as busy as usual, but the happiest she’d been since starting college. It only made the first day of spring break that much worse.

  Iris heard a frantic knock at her door in the Gallery. Something about the quality of the knock sent shivers down her spine. She split her mind and flew through her defenses to the Gallery in less than a second.

  Quiet surrounded her. She pulled flows into her being to determine who’d knocked. She was unsuccessful. A dull ache at the back of her neck grew into a knifepoint of pain. Brett was using magic nearby. To experience that pain right after the knock in the Gallery put Iris on edge.

  She joined both halves of her mind. Pulled more power into her being. Searched out Brett. She didn’t need much power. He was close by. Before she could determine a precise location, he created a bridge to somewhere else.

  The frantic knock gave a quick tattoo in the Gallery and disappeared once more. It was enough to send Iris after Brett. She concentrated on the residual magic he’d left behind, readied a barrier and opened her doorway.

  Iris stepped into a field of grasses taller than her. A sense of déjà vu sent a burst of dread down her spine to pool as ice in the pit of her stomach. Her breathing increased in speed but was shallow. She couldn’t get any oxygen. She closed her eyes. Calmed her heart. Swallowed a few lumps that didn’t want to go down her throat.

  With her breathing under control, Iris opened her eyes. She looked around the darkening field. A light source shone off to her right. She focused on it and felt a few tendrils of Brett’s power lingering from that direction.

  Not wanting to be found, Iris released all the power she held and moved toward the light source. The tall grasses thinned before making an abrupt change to a manicured lawn. At the center of the circular pad of green sat a large mansion. Five floors of dark windows stared down at her, their empty sockets a challenge to make it inside before someone saw her. Iris’s dream had come true.

  Chapter 33

  Iris dismissed her first thought of getting help. Even without holding any power, she could tell there were too many magic users in the building. She refused to risk another friend’s safety. This was between her and Brett. And whichever friend he’d captured. Iris could find out who, but it would mean using more magic which in turn would reveal her location to Brett. She also dismissed her notion to bang on all the doors in the Gallery. It would alarm the rest of her friends. And let them know something was up. She couldn’t risk either.

  Brett knew she’d follow him but he must not have thought it would be this fast or there would be people waiting for her. No, like the dream, she had stealth on her side and she was going to utilize it. But he should know all this if he knew the dream. Perhaps he could initiate it, but didn’t know any particulars. Or perhaps he had no clue what her dreams held, and he had simply tried to give her nightmares. This definitely epitomized one.
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  Iris listened to the still night for several minutes. She wanted to assure herself there was no one outside with her. That and convince her nerves she could do this. She edged along the grass line until she was at the closest spot to the mansion’s shadow.

  “It’s now or never,” Iris told herself.

  She stepped to the edge of the tall crops, took one last breath, and sprinted across the partly lit lawn to the building’s shadow. Iris slowed her last few steps and flattened herself against the still-warm wall. The night remained quiet. She edged along the building in search of a way in. Her eyes alighted upon a dark window.

  A few lights clicked on inside. Several windows spilled their glowing luminance onto the grass to join with the exterior lights. Iris flinched back. Retreated into the shadows. She counted to fifty. Retraced her steps to the first-floor window. Stopped to assure silence continued to surround her.

  Iris stood on her tippy toes and pushed the window up. It slid with ease. She paused for a moment. No alarm sounded to alert those inside as to an intruder. She pushed the window up further, pulled herself inside, and shut it behind her.

  A dozen dark shapes that would probably manifest into couches and chairs filled the room. There was a single strip of light that indicated the base of a door straight in front of her. Iris moved around the darkened shapes with care. She pressed her ear to the door. Whatever was on the other side, it sounded empty. She turned the doorknob. Cracked the door open. Almost sighed in relief at the lack of noise it made.

  Iris opened the door enough to peek her head out. A hallway lined with doors filled her vision. A single door stared back at her from each end. The layout of the physical building compared to the one she’d experienced in her dreams was uncanny. She tried to recall her dream in precise detail. When she’d run through the dream twice, she put the sequence into action.

  Iris exited the room, pulled the door shut behind her as quietly as possible and moved on silent feet to the door at the end of the hallway on her right.