by J. S. Malcom
No way. She can't possibly be a—
I dart away just in time to avoid another lightning strike, the ground exploding as dirt and rock spray. Come on. Seriously? I'd almost managed to convince myself that the first strike had been a coincidence. But, whatever, she just missed twice.
Nepheras shrugs, as if hearing my thoughts. “Just warming up,” she says.
Another lightning bolt strikes down, followed by another in a quick succession of blinding flashes. Nepheras laughs as I dodge and scurry. She keeps laughing as more bolts follow, each one getting closer. I hate to be selfish, but if she’d just spend a little time on Nora, then maybe I could muster up some magic to strike back. As it is, I can barely manage to keep from getting fried as I circle what amounts to an electrified cage. No wonder Nepheras keeps laughing. I must look ridiculous. I also get the feeling she's almost done toying with me.
Another lightning bolt strikes down, and this time I drop, flip and roll, hoping to break the pattern. I spring to my feet where Nepheras doesn't anticipate and the next bolt wildly misses. It takes her only a moment to recalibrate, but at least it gives me time to invoke a shielding spell.
That's as far as I get before the strikes resume. One would have baked me for sure, but instead it explodes in a shower of sparks against my shield.
“Well, look at that!” Nepheras says. “See, you’re getting better!”
Seriously, the bitch is mocking me now?
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” I say, spitting out the words through gritted teeth.
“Definitely true,” Nepheras says.
I freaking hate this demon. If she’s a god, no wonder the human race ran them out of town. The annoyance factor alone would inspire millions to sacrifice themselves in battle.
I try to call up more magic as Nepheras lights up the sky once more. Her strikes start up again, jagged arcs of fire streaking down to pound against my shield. There’s no way I’m going to last much longer.
The barrage suddenly stops as Nepheras lets out a scream of pain, her face contorting into a shocked mask of rage. She staggers and spins in the moonlight, clutching at the knife in her back. Then a shadow streaks out from behind her, moving toward me like a bat out of hell.
“Get us out of here, veil witch!”
I’m already on it, the shield gone and a bluish-white orb expanding in my hand. I open the veil and Nora darts through the gap with me right behind her. The two of us stumble out into Byrd Park, where I trip and fall to the ground. Then I jump up again, spin around and make damned sure to close the veil behind us.
CHAPTER 17
The next afternoon I’m still groggy as I trudge across the field getting ready for practice session part two. Once we’re back in place, the four of us lined up like boot camp cadets, Regina hovers before us like a fat little bee. I really wish she didn’t make it look so easy.
“For this afternoon’s entertainment,” she bellows, “you’ll pair off against each other!”
She pauses just long enough for us to volley apprehensive glances back and forth.
Then she continues. “That way, you can really learn what your opponent is made of. You’ll need to know, if you’re going to have each other’s backs in battle. And, as you’ve probably surmised, one is likely soon coming.”
Regina’s referring to the same incident that inspired today’s grueling regimen. Evidently, during my visit to the Inversion last night, the veil was once again breached. This time, out by the airport. Why there, I have no idea, but social media soon lit up with reports of gremlins seen on the wings of a departing flight. Of course, those claims were dismissed, and the emergency landing blamed on an engine malfunction. Still, we know better.
And I care. I really do, but what a day for our first double-header. The four of us—well, five including Regina—already put in four hours before lunch. It rained this morning, so my boots are muddy and my clothes sticking to my skin. I’m also still beat from my death match with Nepheras. At least I didn’t leave a vampire in my closet, so that part’s good. After we made it out of the Inversion last night, Nora called Stephanie to see if she could stay there. Maybe she figured I was dangerously impulsive, or maybe she just didn’t want to spend another night in my closet, not to mention a building full of witches. She didn’t say.
Still, it was a long night, and it took everything I had to drag myself here this morning. Right now, all I want is a cup of mint tea and a nice hot bath.
I’m snapped out of that fantasy by Regina screaming in my face. “Am I boring you, Ms. Anderson?”
Yes, she loves to repeat my generic surname. It’s her way of putting me in my place. With Autumn’s powers on ice, we all know what the stakes are. At some point, it will come down to me. No pressure or anything.
“Sorry, just a little tired,” I say. “Is this really necessary?”
Not surprisingly, Regina doesn’t react well to my question. “Is this necessary? You’re tired? Well, excuse me, Ms. Anderson, but some of us believe this is very necessary. As in, we need to protect the human race! Are you not on board?”
Oh, fucking hell. Will I ever learn to keep my mouth shut? Sadly, probably not. My face grows hot as I look around at the others. “Yes, I’m very much on board. Sorry.”
“Good!” Spittle flies into my face as Regina hovers before me. “Can we get back to practice?”
“Yes, of course. I was just—”
“Harper, you work with Blair!” Regina bellows. “Alec! You pair off against this one!”
Great, that should really help the dynamic between us.
Regina buzzes over to where she left what looks like a lunch box sitting in the grass. I was kind of hoping she brought snacks, but once again she doesn't fail to disappoint. She flips open the case to reveal that it's lined with foam, from which protrude four glass tubes. She plucks those out and zooms back in our direction, passing one to each of us. The tubes contain a murky substance roughly the color of poop.
“Those are for you to drink,” Regina informs us, apparently assuming there's no need for further explanation.
Huh?
“What is it?” Blair says.
Thank you, Blair.
“A potion,” Regina says.
I feel like pointing out that we weren't drafted. Technically, we didn't even enlist. We could leave if we feel like it. I don’t say this because I’m afraid to.
“What does it do?” Harper asks.
Thank you, Harper.
Regina glares at her. “Do I sense a trust issue?” However, before Harper can respond, Regina adds, “But fine. If you must know, these vials contain an inhibitor potion. For non-magical humans, the result would be displaying more inhibited behavior, the subject most typically questioning the effectiveness of their default settings. The jokester would be less sure about making a joke, the flirt less likely to bat her eyes, et cetera. The potion was developed to break habits and inspire new behaviors.”
Regina stares at us as if we should be good to go.
“What about us?” I say, risking more scorn.
She sighs with impatience. “For witches, drinking this potion will keep you from reaching for your most handy trick, that thing you rely on as your default defense tactic. It's time to strengthen those secondary skills. Now drink!”
While I'm not excited about drinking Regina's potion, I guess it won't kill me. Then again, she handed each of us a specific vial. I mean, she wouldn't, right? I think about asking Alec to trade, but his vial is already empty. The same goes for Harper and Blair. Regina continues staring as she waits. Yes, Regina, you do detect a trust issue.
Screw it. I swallow the potion, which actually tastes like pomegranate and lime. Huh. How about that? I brace myself for whatever is supposed to happen, but it seems like nothing does. I have to wonder if it might be a magical dud.
Regina points down the field, to where two large circles are outlined with stones. They weren't there before, but that doesn't surprise me. I've got
ten used to the practice field transforming at Regina's will. “Blair and Harper, take the circle on the left.” She turns to us and says, “Alec and Anderson, you take the one on the right.”
Love you too, Regina.
We do as we’re told, crossing the field to take our places.
“Okay, have at it, Regina says.
Blair sighs, rolling smoky eyes ringed with black makeup. “What does that even mean?”
Regina lifts into the air. “It means magically subdue your opponent. Starting now!” She blows through a whistle that suddenly appears in her mouth, making sure to direct its shrill blast at my ear.
Then Alec and I stare at each other, having no idea what to do. I glance over to see Harper and Blair shifting listlessly too.
“Okay, how about a little incentive?” Regina calls out. “First one out of their circle gets to call it a day. The loser stays for three more hours.”
Okay, bath, here I come….
Regina blows into her whistle again, making me wince. “By the way, you can’t leave your circle while your opponent is still standing. And don’t hold back. We have healers who can address most injuries.”
Most? Comforting.
Still, it sounds easy enough. All I have to do is take Alec down and then skedaddle. As soon as I entertain that thought, the stones marking our boundary rise up into the air and start whizzing around the perimeter of the circle. Oh, come on! That's ridiculous. There's no way to get past that without having your head bashed in. Screw this.
Suddenly the stones freeze midair, hanging suspended for a few seconds before they start spinning again. Clever girl. Regina is making it tough, but not impossible. The right combat skill, combined with the right timing, and it's tea time for me.
I shift my attention back to Alec. He shrugs as if to say, Sorry, but I have to kick your ass now.
Obviously, this dude has no idea who I went up against last night.
We start circling each other, Alec going into his terramancy stance at the same time I go to light up an energy whip. I figure a few well-placed lashes will bring him to his knees. My guess is that he's planning to snare me with one of his vine traps. With me immobilized he’ll be good to go. Neither happens.
For a moment, Alec and I both look at each other with bewildered expressions. Then I realize what’s going on. Oh, right. Our default settings have been disabled. Time to use those secondary skills. I can tell Alec is thinking the same thing.
“What are you waiting for?”
Presumably, Regina is shouting at the two of us, but I don’t dare take my eyes off of Alec. It’s ridiculous, but we both start to circle each other again like a couple of sumo wrestlers. I’m not sure what he’s up to, but I’m trying to think. Secondary skills, secondary skills…
Geez, Regina may have a point. Everything I do involves energy manipulation. Sure, it’s powerful, but maybe it’s time to think outside the box. Okay, I can also open the veil, but that must be rooted in the same magic. Besides, even my primary magic isn’t always effective when facing an opponent. Last night, for example. I couldn’t exactly bounce Nepheras out of the Inversion. Why would I want to? Just the opposite. She needs to either stay there or die. Preferably the latter. Either way, my other powers were essentially useless against her. Honestly, I have no idea what kind of power would match her own but—
Where the hell did Alec go? I only just realize he’s gone when something shoves me from behind. I stumble forward, almost losing my balance, and then whirl around to see Alec grinning at me.
“Did you just shove me?”
He shrugs with a lopsided grin. “You know the rules.”
Okay, fair enough. He can’t leave while I remain on my feet. Regardless, who cares? How the hell did he just do that?
We resume circling as I try to think. What else do I have in my arsenal? Well, I can blind someone with intense light. But that’s still energy magic. I’m kind of psychic sometimes, but that’s useless right now.
Suddenly, Alec blips out of existence again. A split-second later I get shoved from the side, nearly going down this time. I stumble sideways thinking, What the hell? And, yes, Alec is grinning once more.
He starts circling again, so I do the same. Is he freaking enjoying this? I swear he’s—
A quick flash, no Alec, then another shove, this time from the other side. Fucking bastard! Is he freaking teleporting? He is, isn’t he?
“If you just drop, we can go home,” Alec says. “Well, I can anyway.”
We resume circling, this time my blood boiling. I stare daggers at the entitled, pedigreed, fancy-witch-school-trained little shit across from me. Speaking of daggers, what about my athame? Okay, I’m pissed off, but I’m not pissed off enough to stab him. Am I?
Alec blips out and I keep circling, waiting for him to reappear. Suddenly, two things occur to me. He’s shoved me once from behind and once from each side. I bet anything he’ll reappear to attack from behind. The other thing is that, while I’m light years behind Regina, I pulled off levitation the other day. Just briefly, but, hey.
With that in mind, I jump up and manage to stay floating as I spin around. Sure enough, Alec appears exactly where I thought he would. Only this time, I’m both facing him and hovering above the ground. I angle back, pull both knees to my stomach and plant a two-legged mule kick into Alec’s chest. He lets out a painful groan as the wind rushes from his lungs. Then he stumbles back and falls on his ass. And it must be my lucky day, because the stones freeze mid-air in that same moment. I dash through just before they start spinning again.
Alec stares back at me, both stunned and angry. He croaks out, “What’s your deal?”
He does have a point, in that I returned playful shoves with a full-on frontal assault. Hopefully, I didn’t break any ribs.
Still, I just shrug. “You knew the rules.”
There it is again, Alec bringing out the worst in me. I start walking toward the castle, looking over my shoulder to see Harper and Blair are still circling. Harper doesn’t appear to be experiencing hallucinations, and Blair’s not on fire, so I guess they’re still digging around in their magical toolkits. As for Regina, she watches me with a curious expression. If I didn’t know better, I might even think she’s impressed.
Right now, I really don’t care. I’m exhausted. And while part of me feels like I owe Alec an apology, I’m just not up for it now. All I want to do is go home. So, of course, a shadow falls over me. I look up to see Regina hovering overhead.
“Anderson, Beatrice said she wanted to speak to you before you left. I figured that would be hours from now.”
Well, thank you very much, Regina.
“Meet her in the sitting room.”
As if to remind me that I’m a toddler at levitation, she swings around in a graceful arc before shooting back toward the others. She does this while yawning and checking her phone. Show off.
~~~
Beatrice waits in the same sitting room where we first talked the other day. When I arrive, she waves me in and then gestures to a chair across from her. I take a seat as she floats a vial of blue liquid across the coffee table between us. It waits suspended in the air.
“To counter the inhibitor,” Beatrice says. “If you prefer, you can just wait until it wears off. Probably a few hours, at best.”
Yeah, not happening. Levitation will only get me out of so many squeezes. I reach for the vial, pull out the cork and suck back the contents. The potion tastes kind of like buttered toast with cinnamon. Not bad.
Watching me, Beatrice nods. “That’s what I thought. Not having access to your primary magic can be an uncomfortable experience.”
The vial starts wiggling in my hand, as if trying to escape.
Beatrice notices my confused expression. “You can let go.”
I do and the vial floats up to puff out of existence in a cloud of blue vapor.
“Something we’ve been working on,” Beatrice says, a pleased smile curving her lips. “Qu
antum glass. One step better than recycling.”
Pretty nifty, I have to admit, but I’m distracted by a sudden shift from feeling exhausted to downright perky. I gesture to where the vial just vaporized. “Was there something else in there?”
“A little pick me up,” Beatrice says. “Entirely organic, I assure you. You must be tired.” Her eyes meet mine and she adds, “Ellis spoke to Nora this morning. He called her a little before sunrise.”
Oh.
The thing is, I saw Beatrice earlier but didn’t mention going to the Inversion. I wasn’t sure how that would go over, considering I wasn’t even close to having a plan at the time. I figure I can work my way around to it when the time feels right.
Then Beatrice continues. “Nora said the two of you got into a bit of a scrape.”
So much for holding those cards close to my vest. I sigh and run my hand through my hair. “I have to admit it was touch and go there for a minute.”
I stop short of saying Nora saved my life, but essentially she did. So, there’s another one I never would have expected, that Nora carries a blade. Well, carried. The last time I saw her knife, it was sticking out of Nepheras’s back. I didn't think vampires felt the need to carry weapons, but I guess being lightning fast and having fangs won’t always do the trick.
I also realize that Nora didn’t need me to leave the Inversion. She’s a vampire, and apparently they’re allowed to come and go. She knew where that portal was, so I guess she could have just run off and left me. She chose not to do that.
“Yes, she said it was close,” Beatrice says, keeping me in her penetrating gaze. “I understand you encountered a high demon.”
I shrug, mostly to keep myself from feeling freaked out at the memory. “Turns out I did.”
“And?”
“You weren’t wrong about them making a strong first impression.” Well, technically second, but there’s no point in going into that now. “So, what’s the deal? Are they, like, gods or something?”