by James Riley
“Oh, he’ll be fine,” Sierra said, but she looked away, which made Fort nervous. “Hey, don’t get all anxious on me, you know I can feel what you’re feeling. He just hasn’t come to yet. And Dr. Ambrose doesn’t know why. Though she did see something odd—”
“Odd? What’s odd? Sierra…?”
Sierra sighed. “She wasn’t going to tell you, because she’s not sure what it is. Part of her thinks it’s just that your dad has some odd EEG readings. Don’t ask me what that means, I saw the answer in her head and still can’t remember it, but it’s something they read your electric brain waves with. And before you start panicking again, she just saw something unusual, and she’s figuring it out, okay?”
Fort nodded, then noticed something in her mind. “That’s not all she saw, is it? You’re hiding something.”
“It’s not important. I’d tell you if it was.” He glared at her, and she threw up her hands. “Fine. The weird thing in his brain… it sort of, kind of, only remotely looks a bit like something they saw in my mind, okay? And I’m fine, aren’t I?”
Fort frowned. Something they’d seen in Sierra’s mind? “But you were in a coma. Maybe that’s the similarity?”
“See, that’s smart thinking!” Sierra said, then cringed. “Except she doesn’t think that’s it. But again, let’s remind ourselves that not only am I fine, but I’m actually doing great. And in an effort to change the subject, can we talk about how Damian is actually a dragon, of all things? No wonder he was all mopey. I would be too if I were the last of my species.”
Fort’s eyes widened. “What happened with him?” he asked. “Last I saw, he was about to attack you!”
“I don’t know, I was kind of sedated, but from what he said, the Old One stopped controlling him just before he could,” she said, looking away again. “Here’s the weird thing: I’m not sure we’d have escaped if he hadn’t dragoned out. That Agent Cole lady? I’m not a fan.”
“Me either,” Fort said. “How did she catch you? I thought you were hiding in the airport.”
She made a face. “Remember how she told you that they’d completed their search in terminals four and five of Heathrow Airport? That was a lie. We came out, thinking we were safe, and BAM, they grabbed us.”
Fort’s eyes widened. “She used me to capture you?”
“She’s a tricky one,” Sierra said, sighing as she sat down on the bed next to him. “The only good thing that came of it all was that they brought us to the UK school for interrogation, since it was closer, and they didn’t want to chance bringing us back to the U.S. So at least they saved us some time, having to find it for ourselves!”
“That’s where you are now, the UK school?” Fort asked. “Did you see Cyrus? He and Dr. Opps were heading there…”
She nodded. “Both of them. Dr. Opps came through, trying to convince Agent Cole to release us, but she of course refused. I think she was about to throw him in jail for a while there. But after Damian dragoned out, we freed ourselves, and I decided to remind her of her dream to go to art school instead of staying on as a federal agent.” She grinned widely. “I think she quit and is applying to one as we speak.”
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Fort said. “I tried reaching you so many times. If I’d known you were captured—”
“You would have tried to come find us, but wouldn’t have known where. That’s one reason they took us to the UK school. No one here other than Dr. Opps or Cyrus knew where it was, so your little teleportation stunt wouldn’t get you there.”
“So do you have the book of Clairvoyance?” Fort asked, trying not to let his concern for his father overwhelm him.
“I told you, don’t worry about him!” Sierra said. “He’ll be fine. And no, we don’t have the book yet. Apparently it went missing when the kids here went a little bit insane after studying it. Maybe one of them stole the book and hid it, because none of the administrators know where it is. And since the students aren’t really thinking clearly, I can’t read their minds to figure out where it is.”
“Wow,” Fort said. “And Cyrus wasn’t any help?”
“Not really,” she said. “He spends most of his time talking to himself at lakes nearby. I’m not really sure what he’s doing.” She shrugged. “Anyway, I’m going to try to heal all these kids’ minds, both because it’d be cruel not to, but also so we can figure out where the book is. They got all riled up when Damian turned into a dragon, so we figure we’ll go somewhere a lot less public when we get the book, so Damian can learn Time magic in peace. It’s not easy hiding ourselves here in the middle of the school as it is. Dr. Opps is helping, but still. He’s been pretty anxious too, but he won’t say why. He and Cyrus have been talking a lot, so who knows what prophecies Cyrus has been telling him.”
“You should listen, if Cyrus gives you one,” Fort said, looking away. “He warned me I’d lose someone if I went after my father, but I thought that meant a friend would be left behind, not that Gabriel would turn on everyone.”
“He needs to learn to be more specific,” she told him, scrunching up her nose. “And if it makes you feel better, Gabriel probably would have taken the book if you hadn’t. And this way, you got your father back. Besides, at least you got to visit a different dimension. Look at how boring this school is.” She waved a hand, and the dark area around Fort lit up, showing a pleasant hallway lined with windows that opened on a green countryside. “Almost makes me jealous of that puke-green color there.”
“Stop trying to cheer me up,” Fort said, and she grinned at him.
“Just wanted to keep you from wallowing a bit,” she said, patting his leg. “Anyway, I have to go save all these kids, because I’m amazing. You keep healing, okay?”
Fort nodded. “Say hi to Cyrus for me, will you? And, um, don’t go disappearing on me this time. I might have missed having you around.”
She beamed, then leaped at him for a hug. He yelped when she slammed into him, then realized he wasn’t injured in his mind, and hugged her back. “I missed you too, Fitzgerald,” she said. “But don’t worry. I won’t be gone long this time. If all goes well, we should have the book and be heading to London in an hour or two to get off this island. And then we’re heading for…” She trailed off, then shrugged. “Actually, I have no idea where the sixth book might be. But that’s why we’re getting the Clairvoyant book now, so we can use it to see where we go next!”
Fort laughed. “That doesn’t make sense, you know?”
Sierra winked. “That’s why they call it magic, New Kid.”
And with that, she disappeared, as did the scene in Fort’s head, and everything went dark again.
At some unknown time later, something almost woke him up, a voice that could have been Sierra screaming his name, sounding terrified. But it cut off too quickly, and he fell back into a dreamless sleep, filled with a strange sort of dread that something had gone very, very wrong.
- FORTY-FIVE -
FORSYTHE,” A VOICE SAID, AND something tapped his face. “Forsythe. Wake up already, I don’t have all day.”
Fort opened his eyes, then immediately closed them again. He wasn’t in pain, at least, but his mind still felt fuzzy from whatever they’d been giving him. Another slap on his cheek, and he looked up to find Dr. Ambrose leaning over him. “Okay, I’m up,” he murmured, and she thankfully stopped.
“Good,” Dr. Ambrose said, leaning back. Fort could hear people running outside the door, and muffled shouting. “We’ve got a lot to talk about, and not much time. First, you should be totally healed now. Jia fixed your ribs, leg, and ankle.” She gave him some side eye. “You only fell, like, ten feet, Forsythe. Next time try not to land on everything breakable all at the same time.”
“I broke all of those things?” Fort said, sitting up slowly and feeling around his ribs. Everything felt totally normal, which made sense, since Jia’s magic would have restored his bones back to their nonbroken state. “Did Gabriel…”
“Not as bad,” she
said, frowning. “We kept him sedated, though, until his father decided what to do with him. He’s expelled now, if that helps.”
Fort sat up straight, his eyes widening. “Wait, you let him go? You know he can teleport, right? You can’t just—”
“Who are you talking to, Forsythe?” she said, glaring at him. “Of course I know that. And I said we needed to wipe his memories. But Colonel Charles outranks me, and he said he’d be taking his son home. What was I supposed to do, arrest them both?”
“Yes!” Fort shouted. “He almost let the Old Ones come back!”
“Let’s not get into who’s releasing what Old Ones here,” Dr. Ambrose said, narrowing her eyes. “I’m told you pulled a stunt just like that yourself. You’re lucky no one was permanently injured from that dragon you took on a joyride around the world.”
Fort’s face turned bright red, and he coughed to hide his embarrassment. “Yeah, okay, it wasn’t the smartest thing to do.”
“That’s the first intelligent thing I’ve heard you say,” Dr. Ambrose told him, sitting down on the bed next to him. “And don’t forget, I did warn you about Gabriel. He didn’t handle losing his brother well. Not that anyone would, but Colonel Charles thought you might be able to help Gabriel with his grief, because of your father. I’m pretty sure he didn’t think that you’d inspire his son to almost destroy humanity instead, but we all have our blind spots.”
Fort sighed. “I didn’t know he was Colonel Charles’s son, or stepson. He never told me. I saw all the special treatment, but I didn’t make the connection.”
“Next time I’ll put up a blinking neon sign or something,” Dr. Ambrose said, patting his shin. “How else do you think he would have gotten permission to use the book of Healing after classes? Not to mention that he and his mother have been staying here for months, over in the government-family section of the facility.” She shook her head. “They brought a bunch of VIPs down here to keep them safe once the first attack happened, just in case. Probably didn’t help Gabriel to get over things, being surrounded by soldiers and having those skeletons on display.”
“He was studying the Summoning book,” Fort told her. “He almost learned how to make a portal himself. If he had—”
“In some ways, we’re all lucky you stole it,” Dr. Ambrose said as the noises outside increased. Something was definitely happening. “Plus, even if you took him along with you, another fine choice you made, at least you were around to pull him back. Otherwise we’d all be knee-deep in Old Ones right now.”
This was all too much to process, and Fort had much bigger questions on his mind anyway. “How’s my father doing?” he asked. “Has he woken up yet?”
Dr. Ambrose shook her head and nodded at the curtain around Fort’s bed. “No, and I’m not sure when he will. His body is in great shape for a man his age, so he should be awake. I took an EEG, but it didn’t explain anything.”
Fort’s dream of Sierra came back to him. “But you saw something odd in the EKJ, didn’t you?”
“EEG. Electroencephalogram. Measures electrical activity in the brain. And yes, I did see something unusual in his readings, but nothing to concern yourself with.” She raised an eyebrow. “But how did you know that?”
“Just a guess, since he didn’t wake up,” Fort lied. “But you think he will? He’s going to be okay?”
Dr. Ambrose started to speak, then paused. “Yes, I do, Forsythe,” she said. “I think he’ll be fine. But I can’t say when he’ll wake up, or why he hasn’t yet.”
“Can I see him?” he asked, barely able to stop himself from leaping out of the bed and pushing aside the curtain.
Dr. Ambrose looked like she wanted to say no, but instead just sighed. “Okay, but just for a few minutes. We’re not done here. There are some pretty big developments happening out in the world right now, and they’re not going to wait.”
She helped him off the bed, which he was thankful for, as standing turned out to be a bit more wobbly than he expected. But his father’s bed was only steps away, anyway, just on the other side of the curtain, and by the time he reached it, he was feeling more steady.
That was good, because the sight of his father hooked up to various machines and IV drips almost sent him reeling.
“I can only give you five minutes,” Dr. Ambrose said, and walked over to the door. As she opened it, Fort saw soldiers waiting expectantly for her. “Say whatever you need to quickly, okay?”
He nodded, but she’d already turned and left, closing the door behind her. And finally, it was just him and his father.
His dad looked exactly the same as he had back in the Dracsi cave, which shouldn’t have been surprising, as that was just a short time ago. Still, it felt like years, and even now, the fact that his father was lying there in front of him brought tears to his eyes.
He just looked so vulnerable, so small, when he’d always seemed so big in so many ways.
Fort pulled a chair over and sat down, taking his father’s hand. There was so much to say, so much to apologize for, but now that he actually had his dad back, he had no idea where to begin.
“We never did see the Einstein statue, huh?” Fort said, and his voice cracked. The only response was the beeping of the machines, though, and for a moment, Fort just looked at his father, not sure if he could go on.
“I just want you to know,” he said finally, “that I am so deeply, truly sorry that… that everything happened. You’d never have been taken if I’d just…”
He wiped his eyes, his hand coming away almost soaking. Fort let the tears fall as he softly sobbed, laying his head against his father’s hand. “But I fixed it. I came to find you. I didn’t stop… I would never have stopped…”
As he said it, an image of Gabriel freeing the Old Ones appeared in his mind, and he squeezed his eyes closed, willing himself not to think about it. Would he have done the same thing, putting the entire world in danger to bring his father back? The thought made Fort sick to his stomach.
“I… I lost a friend,” he said quietly, picking his head back up. “His brother was taken. I didn’t know that, but my friend tried to rescue his brother, too, and I… I stopped him. To save him, but I still stopped him. And now I lost him, just like Cyrus said I would. And I have no idea what he’ll do next.”
Silence, except for the beeping from the machines.
“If I’d just waited another few seconds,” Fort whispered. “Maybe Michael would have changed his mind. Maybe I should have teleported him back too. But the Old Ones were going to attack, and I didn’t… I couldn’t know. But whatever happens next, it’s my fault. Just like you being taken.”
No response.
“Did I do the right thing? Gabriel could have let them loose on our entire world! But he was just trying to save his brother. I don’t know what I should have done! Tell me, please.” He squeezed his father’s hand harder now, not even bothering to stop the tears. “Please, please, please, just tell me what I should do. I don’t know, and I keep messing up!”
Someone knocked on the door, and Fort realized he didn’t have much time left. He cleared his throat and looked up at his father. “You’re going to be okay now,” he said, hoping he wasn’t lying. “Dr. Ambrose and Jia will make sure of that. You’re going to be okay, and we’ll go home, probably with no memories of any of this, and everything will be back to normal. It has to be. And I’ll… I’ll make this up to you, for the rest of my life if that’s what it takes. I’ll—”
The door opened, and Dr. Ambrose entered, closing it softly. “Forsythe,” she said, not unkindly. “I gave you as long as I could. But I need to speak to you about something.”
“What?” he asked, rubbing his eyes again as he let his irritation show. “What is so important? This is my father!”
She sighed. “I know. But something’s happened in the UK, and it won’t wait.”
She reached and flipped on a television above his father’s head, and the news appeared, showing what looked like a strang
e black dome surrounded by blue.
“Those were satellite pictures,” Dr. Ambrose said as a news anchor appeared on-screen. “Whatever that dome is, it’s covering half the United Kingdom.”
- FORTY-SIX -
FORT’S EYES WIDENED. THE UK? That meant…
Sierra? he thought as loudly as he could.
There was no response.
“We lost contact with the Clairvoyance school a few hours ago,” Dr. Ambrose said as the television showed closer footage of the black dome from a helicopter. On the water, military ships anchored just past the point where the dome hit the ocean. “Right around the time this appeared. It’s closing off almost all of England and Wales. We have reason to believe it originated at the Clairvoyance school.”
“What?!” Fort shouted. “Sierra and Cyrus are there! We need to get them out!”
“Sierra’s there?” Dr. Ambrose said, but Fort stopped listening. Instead, he retreated back into his mind, yelling Sierra’s name over and over, but again, there was no response.
“Oppenheimer is at the school too,” Dr. Ambrose said as a huge sinking feeling in his stomach made Fort want to throw up. “But that’s not why I’m here.”
“I can go,” Fort said, standing up taller. “I can teleport in there, and get them out. I can save them—”
“That’s the absolute last thing that’s happening,” Dr. Ambrose said. “You’re not going anywhere. None of you three are. But Colonel Charles wants to speak to all of you, and…”
She continued on, but Fort’s attention was caught by something she’d glossed over. “What do you mean, ‘you three’?”
Dr. Ambrose looked away. “We know the dome originated from the Clairvoyance school because we received a message from them. And not from the headmaster or a teacher.”
Fort frowned. “Cyrus said the students all lost their minds somehow, when they first learned Time magic.” Of course, Sierra had said something about fixing that, but he wasn’t going to let Dr. Ambrose know she’d been talking to him.