"How do you plan on telling Callum? What if he wants to pass the baby off as his own?"
My sister-in-law chokes back a sob. "He'll never do that. He hates me."
A damp mist settles over us, and I pull my wrap tighter around my neck. "He hates everyone."
"No, really, Callum despises me. For years I've bared his wrath." She drops her voice. "He was jealous of Oliver and me."
"Because Oliver loved you?"
"No, because Callum loved Oliver." She sighs and stares out into the distance. "He's gay."
I choke back my surprise. "Are you sure?"
"Positive, but Malin insisted on binding us. She wanted an heir - even if it came through Callum's line and not yours."
"Did Mother not know?"
Annalise shakes her head. "She knew. She told me to try harder and ordered Callum to bed me, but we've only slept together once, on our binding night."
"How do you plan on telling him?"
"Eloise suggested having a group around. Perhaps later tonight?"
I squeeze her hand. "If that's what you need, then that is what you shall have."
"Thank you, but there's one more issue: The Light witches." Annalise grimaces. "Don't play nice, Lark. Round up a few hundred of them and enslave them. It's the price they have to pay for us to protect them from the humans."
Her words are bitter.
"Surely cooperation is a better route. Forcing them will only make them resent us more."
Annalise shakes her head. "No. If the Splinter group wins, I have intelligence they plan to out us to the humans. No one will be safe. We can't afford to lose control of the State. We can't risk our unprotected children."
"I want to try diplomacy first."
"It's getting us nowhere. Eloise can't find any Light volunteers. Everyone she's called has sided with the Splinter group. She couldn't even entice them with Council seats."
I sigh. "Perhaps the Channings can. Patrick is still technically in charge." I toss my tablet aside and it lands with a loud thunk on my desk. "I'd also like to wait for Beck and see what kind of treaty he can negotiate with the Eastern Society."
She blanches. "I'm telling you, there will be hunting for witches soon. It's already starting. Just last week a hungry mob attacked a home outside Vancouver claiming the occupants were witches and responsible for food shortages."
"Why am I just now hearing about this?"
"You've been busy with Beck. Among other things."
My wristlet chirps reminding me that the Council meeting starts soon.
With a wave of my hand, I flick the map image away.
"We'll continue this later?"
"Of course."
With a sigh, I grab my tablet. Time for my least favorite part of the day.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
"Here, here, and here." Minister Sun-Wei points at the conflict map, and three different spots illuminate. "Overnight, all three cities experienced witch hunts." He gestures to the smallest of the three tiny towns. "Only in Riverview did the family escape harm."
"What of the other two?" I ask leaning forward in my chair. Next to me, Beck's assumed much of a similar position.
"Dead." Sorrow and anger dance in Sun-Wei's voice.
"Even the children?" I ask.
His silent bob of the head fills my throat with bile. I swallow hard. "Were they witches?"
"Only the escaped family from Riverview."
"Light or Dark?" I ask.
"Light," the Minister responds.
I settle back into my chair, staring at the map. Nausea continues to wreck havoc on my stomach. "Where are they now?"
"In a house on Brodrick. They're staying with family."
I glance around the room, and everyone is staring at me, waiting for me. Beck shifts in his seat and places his hand over mine. My racing heart slows, and my mind focuses.
"Bring them here. I want to hear first hand what happened."
Sun-Wei croaks, "Right away."
#
The woman's hair is matted and dirty. Her eyes are heavy with dark circles. Stains and tears cover her pink dress.
But still, she looks better than the girl.
She's about fourteen, thin - too thin -- and taller than me. Her golden blonde hair is a rat's nest of knots with an odd stick poking out here and there. Her legs are covered in scrapes and scratches, most likely from when they dragged her through the streets, screaming and crying.
The boy, he's younger, maybe six, and sits quietly in the corner as if shocked into silence.
"They came when we were out walking," the man says. His voice is hoarse but deep. "At first, I thought nothing of them other than they were a rowdy group of young people out having fun." He stops and looks to his wife. With damp eyes, he studies her. She nods her head, encouraging him to continue. "We tried walking around them, but they blocked us. Spread out across the entire street. That's when I saw the red wristlets."
"Sensitives?" I ask.
The girl flinches when I say that word and reaches for her mother's hand.
"Branded by the State, yet walking freely," the man retorts. He doesn't seem to care that he's speaking to me.
Next to me, Beck bristles. I reach for his hand, before jerking away. He's burning red-hot to the touch.
Are you okay? I ask
I'm fine.
I'm not going to push him any farther. We don't need another Beck explosion.
"Landon, prepare a team. We're going to Riverview."
My guard eyes me carefully. "How would you like to travel?"
"Transporting, and as soon as possible."
#
We land in the secure zone next to the frozen river, and Annalise and Landon immediately begin running through our arrival procedures - scanning wristlets, securing the outside area, and assigning details. When Annalise is positive the area is safe, she pings the gate open, and we exit onto an empty street. It's eerily similar to the empty streets I once skipped down near the Ag Centers.
"Where is everyone?" I ask.
Beck shrugs. "In hiding?"
Landon studies his wristlet and points us in a new direction. "According to the report, the Jenkins family was attacked near the town center, which is this way." He takes the lead position, with Annalise at my side and Kyra next to Beck. The rest of the guard surrounds us and takes the flank. Eight guards in all. If I had ten more, I would have brought them, too.
From the Jenkins family, we learned that there are three other Light witch families living in Riverview. Our objective, in addition to finding the Sensitives who attacked the Jenkins, is to get the other families out and back to San Francisco, unharmed.
Each step we take brings us closer to the heart of the city. I know I'm safe, surrounded by the best guards in the world, but the hairs on my neck prick up.
Our first stop is a low-slung red brick house with black shutters. Snow covers the front yard and icicles drip from the awnings. It's a tiny house, smaller than Lena's, but well-kept.
"Who lives here?" I ask.
Annalise checks her wristlet. "The Lewises - husband, wife, and a three-year-old boy." She presses the feed behind her ear, "Luca, approach the house and make contact with the occupants."
A guard I barely know, rushes past me and lands on the front porch. The rest of us hang back, waiting for the door to open.
A minute.
Another doorbell ring.
Another minute.
Finally, Annalise says, "Break the door down."
Luca turns sideways, and with a swift movement, kicks his leg at the door. It bursts open.
The inside is a war zone with overturned furniture and broken glasses and dishes everywhere. Luca and another guard enter the house. Outside, the rest of us wait, our breath hanging heavy in the freezing air.
"There's no one here," comes a call from inside. Luca reappears on the porch. "Wherever they are, they either went fast or were forced out."
Something seems wrong. I tilt my head and
catch a glimmer, just a small one, of magic surrounding the house. "Beck," I say. "Do you see that?" I point to a corner of the house where I saw the glimmer.
Beck narrows his eyes and studies the spot. "Yes, it's like when you put a shield around us with Maz."
Annalise is already on top of it, scanning the house, checking it for charms and wards. Her eyebrows squish together. "There's nothing there, but I see it too. How can that be?"
"Maybe it's residual magic?" I ask. "Leftovers from a battle perhaps?"
My sister-in-law nods slowly. "That could be it, but it could be something more." She walks to where the glimmer is and moves her hands through it.
"It's magic all right, but I have no idea what kind or why it's here."
I wave my hand through the same area Annalise just did. A chill runs down my spine, and I hesitate.
"What is it?" Beck asks.
I place my hand inside the glimmer again. Waves of iciness fill me, and I shiver. "It's so cold. Did you feel that Annalise?"
"No. I felt air." She crosses her arms against her chest.
"Is there anyone who can read magic?" I ask.
Annalise scowls. "There are a few, but not here. It's mostly the elderly." She moves closer to me. "Let me guess, you can read the magic now?"
I shake my head. "No. I just feel the coldness."
With a deep sigh, Annalise says, "Let's check the other houses."
The deserted street gives way to a busy boulevard. People bustle past us without stopping, or even looking in our direction. In fact, everyone seems preoccupied - excited almost. The difference between the scene at the Lewises' house and here is stark.
"Where's everyone going?" I say, more to myself than anyone else. The jovial throng of people carries us forward, toward the center of town. The closer we get, the louder the cheering becomes.
It reminds me a little bit of when I found Miss Tully in the cage, and my heart sinks.
The Alouette blasts over speakers and to my horror, the crowd sings along. Beck grasps my arm. "We need to get out of here. They're hunting for witches - or at the very least, this town is no friend to us."
How foolish we were to rush into Riverview without insisting on due diligence. This town is firmly in the grasp of the Splinter group - even if they don't know it.
I turn around and begin walking against the tide of the crowd. The humans surrounding us have become so thick it's impossible to move without drawing attention to myself and those with me.
Annalise reaches out and grabs my arm. Her eyes are fixed on something in the distance. I'm too short to see what she's staring at, so I tug on Beck's shirt. "Pick me up," I order.
He scoops me up with one fluid motion and positions me on his shoulder. Sitting up here reminds me of being back at school when we'd always be late for breakfast. Only instead of seeing Bethina's disapproving eyes, I'm staring at a small stage and the three occupants who I can safely guess are the Lewises, by the toddler clasping onto his mother's leg. Each wears a red wristlet - even the little boy.
"Can we rescue them?" I ask, leaning down toward Annalise.
"No. And we need to get you out of here. Now." She turns her attention to Beck. "Let's go. I already can see how this is going to play out."
Beck carries me through the rowdy group of people surrounding us. To my surprise not one person notices me. They all face forward and watch the stage as if they've all been hypnotized.
"We're not going to make it back to the secure zone," Landon says over the roar of the crowd.
I look over my shoulder and see a dark-haired woman untangling the little boy from his Mother's arms. Even though I can't hear him, I can see him screaming. They erupt from him, and his face is red and scared. The mother tries reaching for him, but a man blocks her. The boy disappears from the stage.
"Where are they taking him?" I ask, my voice full of worry. "Annalise, we have to stop this."
"Not now, Lark. Not now."
I can't stop watching the stage as we move farther and farther away. The parents are being tied, back-to-back, and I notice, for the first time, the stack of wood at the far edge of the stage.
"Are they going to burn them?" A scream rises in the back of my throat. "Are they burning witches?"
We turn into an abandoned alley. Beck drops me to the ground and grabs the sides of my face. "Focus on me, Birdie. Focus on me."
But it does no good, my anger and horror build until my magic lashes wildly at my insides.
"Transport now," Annalise orders.
"No," I say.
"Lark, there is nothing we can do for them without exposing ourselves." She pinches her lips taut. "Besides they are Light."
"We can't let any witches, or any people at all, die." I fling my hands open, and the sky darkens. "I can soak the fire wood," I say. "I can put a stop to this."
Raindrops fall heavy and fast on us. Lightening rips the sky open, and my magic grows in potency. Out in the town square, chaos takes over as people run for shelter.
"Take me back to the stage," I order. "I'm taking them with us."
"This is crazy, Lark," Beck says. "This is clearly Splinter group territory."
"And I'm not afraid." It's a lie. My heart explodes in my chest, but I keep my face blank.
Landon and Annalise exchange looks, but don't stop me when I begin marching back out into the madness. I cross the less crowded square easily with my guard in tow. Murmurs surround me, but I don't stop. I keep my eyes on the couple tied together on the stage. Her long hair hangs wet and limp around her face, and his eyes lack life. Almost like he's given up.
When I reach the stage, my presence is known amongst the crowd, but the few who haven't seen me gasp.
"What's going on here?" I shout into my wristlet, booming my voice out to the crowd. "Why wasn't the State notified of these criminals?"
A human woman rushes forward. "Miss Lark, we were told you approved the executions."
I gag and turn away from her to get myself pulled together.
"The State handles all such matters in San Francisco. Not out here. Don't ever forget that." I shove the woman aside and demand, "Where is the boy?"
She scurries past me to an area just off stage and emerges with the toddler. His wide eyes are full of terror. I lean down and pick him up. He makes no noise and wraps his legs around my hips.
To the woman, I say, "Release these two to my guards. We'll retry them in San Francisco." I look around to see if there are any other witches waiting in the wings, but see no one.
The crowd watches me with curiosity. "People of Riverview, you are to turn over all suspected Sensitives to the State. Is that understood?"
The shivering mass mumbles "Yes," in unison.
Two of my lesser guards take the man and woman into custody while I continue to hold the little boy. His plump little hands play with my ponytail.
"Miss Lark," he whispers in my ear. "You keep us safe?"
I wrap my arms tighter around him. "Yes, sweetheart, I'll keep you safe."
CHAPTER NINETEEN
"Mandatory evacuations." The words sit with enormous weight, pressing down on me, making me question everything I've come to believe is right. "Starting immediately," I add. "All witches - Light or Dark - are to relocate to San Francisco. It's the only way to keep them safe."
After talking to the Lewises, it became clear that the Splinter group has no qualms outing witches who dare defy them.
"Where are we to put all these witches?" A nameless council member asks.
"We'll find room," I say.
"Lark," Henry says softly. "We're already at capacity here. Any more people will strain our resources."
"Meaning?"
"The food shortages will hit us, too."
A lump forms in my throat. "We have to do something."
"Inviting all witches into San Francisco is like shooting fish in a barrel, Lark." Henry pushes on his glasses. "If the Splinter group wanted to convert them, well, they'd all be here. No
more sneaking around. You'd literally be fighting in your backyard."
I rub my temples. No. I'm right about this. I know I am.
What are you thinking? Beck asks.
How to make this right.
Beck leans forward on the table. "What if we send some of the evacuees to Summer Hill?"
Minister Sun-Wei stares at him skeptically. "And repeat the stand-off we had not so long ago?" He shakes his head slowly. "We are talking about gathering all our witches, and possibly dividing them into opposing groups again. How many Light witches will come to San Francisco, and how many Dark will flee to Summer Hill. No, we'll end up segregated again."
"So what's your answer?" I snap.
A red flush works across his cheeks. "Do nothing. We have to deal with the food shortages and the war with the Eastern Society. We don't have time to relocate thousands of witches."
The memory of the little boy's arms around me asking me to keep him safe burns in my mind. "That's easy to say sitting in your cozy chair, Minister, and going home to a hot meal every night." I shift in my seat. "We have to protect our kind. It's what my ancestors fought so hard for, and it's what we'll continue to do."
Twenty pairs of eyes watch me as I stand. "We have an obligation to protect all members of this society, starting with our own kind. If we can't, they'll find someone that can. The evacuations stand." I turn to Annalise. "Put word out that all are welcome in San Francisco. If they chose not to leave, we can't guarantee their safety. Make this clear."
"If you're sure."
"I am."
#
I rush toward my office, having just left the Lewises with Sun-Wei for further questioning. The poor woman, Irene, has been shocked into silence, unable to fully process what's happened. She trembled the entire time I sat with them.
Luckily, the little boy, Sam, seemed unaware of the severe danger he and his parents were in.
I dump myself behind my work desk and take a few deep breaths.
"Are you ready, Miss Lark?" the cameraman asks.
I hold up a finger, indicating I need one more second. Another deep breath. The feeling of Sam's chubby toddler arms sits with me. Never in my life have I held a young child, but now I better understand why Mother fought so hard to protect and hide our youngest. I always assumed it was because witches can only biologically reproduce twice - always a boy and a girl - and she didn't want our kind to go extinct. But now, I think she had a soft spot for children. How could she not when they're so squishy and adorable?
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