by Amy Boyles
“None?” I said.
Maggie shook her head. “No. I was as surprised as anyone.”
I looked at Stone. “How long will he sleep?”
Stone leaned against the wall. He brushed a bit of lint off his jacket. “A few hours. It’s something we angels can do, calm people down enough so that he’ll rest. He’s tired. Whatever happened took a lot out of him.”
I flashed a look at Ron. “Have you seen this before? Have you seen a demon either lose hold of a child or return one?”
Ron ran his fingers over his bald head, rubbing back and forth. “I’ve seen demons abandon who they’ve taken. But generally that was in the confines of the same house. I’ve never seen an entity actually steal a human and then return them.”
My phone rumbled. I fished it out of my pocket, praying and hoping that it was Dex. His name flashed on the screen along with a text.
Do you have time to talk?
“Excuse me for just a minute,” I said. I stepped outside and dialed Dex’s number. “Where are you? You haven’t called. I’ve been worried sick.”
“Andie, it’s so good to hear your voice. You sound exactly like a warrior princess, did you know that?”
“Please be serious. Jonas just came back.”
Dex didn’t say anything for a moment. “He did? That’s amazing. That’s fantastic. Look, I’m on my way home, but there’s something you’ve got to know first.”
“What is it?”
He sighed. “I’m trying not to be mad at you for calling the lord vampire to Normal.”
I winced. “I know. I’m sorry. But what else are we supposed to do? We can’t just sit around and wait for God knows what to happen.”
“You probably should have,” Dex said.
“Dex,” I said. “Are you okay?”
He chuckled. “Are you worried about me?”
I scoffed. “A little. Don’t get a big head about it. Actually, Vordrid was wondering. He asked about you. That’s why I called.”
“Oh, Vordrid? Well if he asked, then let me talk to him.”
“He’s not here. Listen, Dex, if you’re going to be difficult, you can just go back to looking for the lord vampire and I can stay here, guard our child by myself and wait for the apocalypse.”
“It’s funny you mentioned the apocalypse,” he said. “I wasn’t able to find the lord vampire, only some of his lackeys.”
Lackeys?
“Didn’t hurt you, did they?”
“No one hurt me. They don’t know I work for the tribunal, that I’m in Normal, or anything like that. Last they knew, I was just one of them, a bloodsucking vamp.”
I stop myself from making a remark about how, in fact, he was a still a bloodsucking vampire. “What did you find out?”
“I need to get all the kids to your house tonight. Keep them there. Keep them safe, no matter what.”
Helicopter-sized nerves fluttered in my stomach. “Dex, you’re scaring me.”
“I’m not trying to scare you, but what we’re dealing with is serious. What the lord has planned—”
“That reminds me. I have to tell you something. He used to be a hunter, Dex. Before he ever became a lord, he was a hunter and destroyed his book. Did you know that?”
Dex breathed into the phone. “No, I didn’t know that. But it doesn’t surprise me. What does that have to do with anything?”
I kicked a pebble down the sidewalk and watched as it tumbled over the concrete. “It’s important because the power that he has is not just from him, it’s from the book. We’re not only talking about defeating the lord; we’re talking about pure power.”
I stopped, thinking for a minute. “That’s why we didn’t win against him three years ago. The supernatural tribunal knew all about him. They sent us in to fight him without giving us all the details. Don’t you think that’s a little suspicious?”
“No, Andie, I don’t think it is. Maybe those on the tribunal didn’t know.”
I threw up my free hand in frustration. “One of the witches in town knew. And if she knew, then certainly the tribunal knew. Why didn’t they tell us?”
“I don’t have time to worry about that now. What I’ve got to worry about is getting the kids safe. Andie, he’s coming. The lord vampire is coming, and he’s coming to get those kids.”
“Why? Why does he want the kids?”
“I’m not completely sure yet.”
I had the feeling my husband was keeping things from me. “But you’re sure enough that you know something. What is it? If you don’t tell me, I’m not going to do what you ask.”
His voice got louder, huskier. “Now that’s being immature. Don’t you think you should just do what’s in the best interest of the children?”
“Dex, this is not like smoking a cigarette in front of kids. We’re talking about demons and vampires. I have a right to know. What is it?”
“Andie,” he said, his voice full of a dark grittiness that I’d never heard before. “Andie, what we’re dealing with is serious. The lord vampire wants to take every bit of power from the children and use it for himself.”
“What about Jonas? He came back.”
Dex paused. That he wasn’t saying anything only made my stomach sour with worry. An iron taste filled my mouth. “Dex?”
“Jonas doesn’t have any more power, Andie. The demon stole it from him.”
FIFTEEN
“So Jonas doesn’t have any magic?”
Dex’s voice came crisp over the line. “I don’t think so, no.”
“What does that do to him? Who is he if he doesn’t have his power?”
Dex sighed. “I don’t know, Andie. I just don’t.”
“And he wants to do that to Gabby?”
Dex didn’t answer. His silence said enough.
“Okay,” I murmured. “How far away are you from here?”
“I’m in a safe house now and as soon as it gets dark I’ll start trekking back. I should be there later tonight, but I don’t know if I’ll beat the lord or not. You’ve got to keep Stone close, as close as you can. You’ll need him, Andie.”
“Great. He’s mad at me.”
Dex’s voice tinged with intrigue. “Have a lover’s quarrel? Told you that guy’s not good enough for you. Probably started spouting off some stuff about how angels do it better.”
I laughed. “You wish. No, he thinks I’m being selfish, that I’m not looking out for Gabby’s best interest by not becoming a vampire.”
“What’s this about?” he said.
I explained Dot and Vordrid’s theory that I needed to shift into a bloodsucker to be able to destroy the book.
“I’m just not willing to do that, Dex. It goes against me being a hunter—everything I’ve worked for and believed my entire life. I mean, you’re a vamp; that can’t be helped. But this I can help. There’s got to be another way.”
Dex didn’t reply. The hair on the back of my neck pricked to attention “You think Stone’s right? I’m being selfish?”
He sighed. “I think the Andie I know, even through all her faults, would still push aside her own needs for those of others. You want to protect Gabby; I get it. So do I. I want to do anything I can to keep her safe. If that meant I had to die for her, I would.”
I scoffed. “I would die for her.”
“But not become a vampire. You don’t even accept me for what I am. That wasn’t true when I was human. But now I’m a bloodsucker and it doesn’t matter what we used to have because deep down you still think I’m the enemy.”
I curled my fingers. “That’s not true.”
“Yes, it is. My love is unconditional for you, but you can’t say the same.”
The words struck me cold. I wanted to be with Dex, but Dex as a human, not as a vampire. But still I believed there was another way to absorbing the handbook’s power. I just had to find it.
I decided a change of conversation was in order. “Where’s the lord? When do you expect him here?”
“He could be there any minute. You need to get everyone in gear.”
“Then let me get off the phone.”
We said our good-byes and I went back inside. Dex’s words about Jonas drifted in my brain like an unwelcome guest. I didn’t think it was in anyone’s best interest for me to bring it up, so I kept my mouth shut about it.
I hugged my phone to my chest and pressed my spine against the front door. Everyone was in the living room, still drinking their tea.
“The lord vampire is on his way. Dex said he’ll be here tonight most likely. We need to gather all the children and take them to my house.”
Ron quirked a brow. “Not hallowed ground?”
“Do you want to tell the pastor of First Baptist he might have a holy war in his sanctuary? Because I sure don’t.”
Stone slid his thumbs down his mug. “Ron's right. A sacred place is our best chance. I’ll hit the pastors, see if I can convince one of them to help us.”
I shook my head. “They’re going to think we’re crazy.”
Stone shot me a cold glance. “Better crazy than dead.”
He had me there.
Kate sprang into action. “I’ll call the parents, let them know what’s going on. Tell them we’ll be meeting up.”
“Okay, thanks,” I said. “I’ll be at home.”
Ron flashed a look at Maggie. “We’ll be here. I’ll wait for the call.”
I nodded. I desperately wanted to peek into Jonas’s room, see if I could tell if he had any magic. Deciding that was something I could do, I said, “Mind if I make sure he’s okay before I leave?”
Maggie shook her head. “No, I don’t mind at all.”
I padded to the bedroom and slowly opened the door. The hinges creaked, and afraid I’d wake him, I wedged through the opening and onto the soft blue carpet of the bedroom.
I took a long look at the sleeping boy. He was so young, so childlike, even though he was nearly a teenager.
His eyes fluttered open as I stared at him.
“I didn’t mean to wake you,” I said.
Jonas frowned. At first I thought he was annoyed that I was in his room, but he turned his attention to his hands. He flexed them repeatedly; then he wiggled his toes.
“I don’t have it anymore,” he mumbled. “I can’t do it.”
My heart raced. “Don’t have what? Can’t do what?”
“The power,” he murmured. His gaze cut to me. Jonas’s chest rose and fell quickly. I could almost see panic swelling into him. “I don’t have it,” he screamed. “I’ve lost my power! Mom!”
Maggie rushed into the room. I backed away. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.
She flashed me a concerned look as she reached his side. Maggie swiped a hand over his forehead. “What’s wrong?”
“My power,” he screamed. “It’s gone!”
I backed out of the room and left the house.
As I slid behind the 4Runner’s steering wheel, I could still hear his screams.
I got home a little later. I found Dot in her bedroom with Gabby. Dot had a scarf laced over Gabby’s head.
“Beep, beep,” Dot said. “Get out of the way, we’re rolling down the highway. We’ve got the wind in our hair and adventure in front of us!”
Apparently my great-aunt was pretending to drive a car. I envisioned them driving a convertible down Route 66.
“What are you doing, exactly?” I said.
Dot’s eyes widened with glee. “We are ladies of the summer in our automobile.”
Gabby giggled. “Automobile.”
I nodded. “Listen, Stone is trying to get everything set up for us to go to a church tonight. I came back early so we could get ready.”
Vordrid sailed into the room. “Andie, I’m so glad you’re here. There’s much to discuss. We’ve got work to do.”
“Work to do?” I said.
I felt like I’d kinda already done a lot of work lately, to be honest. I had the world on my shoulders, a town to keep together, a lord vampire to stop, and my own soul to keep. What other work could I possibly do?
“Vordrid’s right,” Dot said. “I’ve got a spell to teach you, Andie.”
I quirked a brow. “Really? What spell is that?”
Dot leveraged herself against the bed to rise. “It’s a disappearing spell. You never know when, in times of trouble, you will need to be able to vanish, or at least to look like you vanished. Trust me, I’ve used this plenty of times in my life. Why, I remember a time when a porcupine was hiding in the woods. I had to grab one of its magical quills because I needed it for particular potion. But that porcupine wasn’t giving up those quills easily. So what did I do?”
Let me guess. “You made yourself invisible?”
Dot clapped her hands. “Exactly! That’s exactly what I did. And with everything that’s going on in the world, you also need to be able to be invisible.”
I reached to scoop Gabby into my arms. She pulled away, and in a flash, my daughter was floating in the air. I stepped back a few feet “Gabby? When did you learn to do that?”
Dot’s eyes widened as well. “I didn’t teach her how to do that. She must’ve just learned it on her own.”
Vordrid circled the air around my daughter. “She’s a natural, that’s for sure. Very few witches have that much innate ability. It will be amazing to see what she grows up to be like.”
I smacked my palm against my forehead. Dot and Vordrid turned to look at me. “We’ve got a problem. The demon was placed here to steal magic from the children. This isn’t forcing intuitives to become dragons and riding them. This is flat out magic stealing.”
Vordrid sailed down to the floor. “Steal magic? I’ve never heard of such a thing. How could he possibly be doing that?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know, but the Jonas boy came back without his power.”
Dot lowered herself back onto the bed. “This is worse than we thought. Much, much worse. Andie you must learn that disappearing spell. I’m afraid we may need it sooner rather than later.”
“Okay, tell me what I need to do.”
Dot crossed to her dresser. She opened it up and started rummaging through. It appeared as deep as her bottomless medicine bag. Dot tossed out socks, underwear, vials of what looked like dried mushrooms, toadstools, cotton balls, lipsticks, scarves. Everything plus the kitchen sink, plus a thousand other things.
“I know I put it in here. I just know I did, but I can’t find it.”
“What are you looking for?” I said.
“I’ll tell you when I find it.” She riffled through for a few more seconds until she pulled something out. “Ha!”
I squinted at her hands. She had her thumb and forefinger pinched together as if she was holding something, but I didn’t see anything. “What’s that supposed to be?”
“This,” Dot said proudly, “is an invisible silkworm. This little creature has the ability to make you vanish with its invisible thread.”
I shot Vordrid a concerned look. “I’ve never heard of this worm.”
Doc appeared to put the invisible creature in a ring dish. “That’s because this little guy has been extinct. For centuries no one thought he existed, until I found one fossilized in a petrified forest. Then all it took was a little bit of water to rehydrate him and he was ready to go.”
Let me put it this way, I was more than skeptical. “Vordrid, have you ever heard of this?”
“I have indeed,” he said. “I didn’t realize Dot had such a thing, but I do know about them.”
“I couldn’t tell anyone for fear of it being stolen,” she said. Dot fingered her pink hair. “This little guy, if sold, would go for millions.”
I tapped my foot impatiently. “And you don’t want the money?”
“Andie, there are some things worth more than money.”
Sure. I mean, if I had a worm that was worth millions of dollars, I’m pretty sure I knew what I’d be doing. But I didn’t have the mental capacities of Dot
—or lack thereof.
“Andie, this worm is worth much more than money.”
I padded over to the dresser and peeked inside the dish. I will just go ahead and say that either Dot was crazy, or I was blind. And I’m pretty sure I’m not blind.
“I don’t see anything, Dot.”
“Oh Andie, you can’t see with the eye. You have to see it with your mind.”
I sighed. Why couldn’t anything with her be easy? I sent out a few feelers of magic toward the dish. I was more than skeptical. An invisible worm that helped you vanish? It just sounded a little too crazy pants for me.
I wrapped my magic around the dish. I felt a very small but incredibly powerful presence reach out and touch my power.
“Ah,” I screeched. “What the heck is that thing?”
“It’s the wormy.”
“Wormy,” Gabby said.
My toddler drifted back down to the floor. Thank goodness. I can only handle one bit of craziness at a time.
“Okay...how does this work?”
Dot rubbed her hands with glee. “Pick it up.”
I reached inside the dish, a little fearful that I would feel something slimy. Even though I couldn’t see it, the creature still kinda set my stomach into all sorts of queasiness. But when my fingers brushed the invisible creature, I felt pure energy. Sort of like static electricity, except stronger. Much stronger. I curled my hand around it and pulled it from the glass.
“Okay, what I do now?”
“Now see yourself invisible.”
I shrugged, a little surprised it would be so simple. However, I did as she said. I closed my eyes, and envisioned that I wasn’t there anymore.
“Is it working?”
“No,” Dot said.
“I’m afraid not, Andie,” Vordrid added. “Are you trying to use your own magic as well?”
Doggone it, I was. “Yeah, am I not supposed to do that?”
Dot shook her head. “No, don’t use your own magic. Rely solely on the worm.”
That’s the first time anyone had ever said that to me. I tried again, this time focusing completely on nothing but the worm. “Anything?”