Four days had passed since the possession ceremony. Four mind-numbing days cooped up inside the house with Wendy. She was sullen, often lost in her own world. She’d always been quiet and reserved, but now there was something different about her. The change in her scared me. I found myself watching her out of the corner of my eye, expecting her to attack me again. I knew somewhere inside her there was something evil, something dark, a thing that could take control of her body and mind at any given moment. The only time I let my guard down was when Dean joined us during the day.
But, forced to do nothing but sit around the house, even Dean’s company was little comfort. It was afternoon, the summer air made the living room hot and muggy, and my mind and eyes were focused on the door. At any second, it could burst open and Gage would request my presence. Will he give me the spell to transfer Luke’s spirit to another body? Will he force me to raise more zombies? Or demand I go on another road trip so I can watch him murder more innocent people? The hours ticked by, and I could only sit, wait, and worry about what Gage had in store for me next. I needed to get out of here, to take my friends with me—but escape now was too risky. Gage had me wrapped up tight, and I couldn’t see any way out. My only hope was that he would eventually make a mistake and give us that one opening, that one opportunity to get away.
Today, Dean was standing by the back door. He’d opened it to let in some fresh air. It was a beautiful day out—the sun was shining, and a gentle breeze blew in the smell of wildflowers. But there was an odd silence out there. No sounds of birds singing or bugs buzzing around filled the air.
It’s the hellhounds.
They were out there somewhere, watching us, guarding the perimeter. If we ventured out too far from the house, they would make their presence known. Dean still scoffed at their existence, but I knew they were out there. I had firsthand experience with them from the night Caleb dragged me out and burned me.
But I can’t tell Dean about that. I didn’t want him to know what Caleb had done to me. I hadn’t fought back. If I had used my magic to stop him, Gage would have gone after Luke. The rational part of me knew that I’d had no choice, but I still felt ashamed at being so weak and vulnerable.
Caleb hadn’t touched me since, but I knew he wanted to. Whenever he was close, his eyes were on me—brown eyes that were calculating and full of hate. I knew deep inside he was waiting for the one opportunity when he could really hurt me. He wanted me dead for the crimes I committed against his family. I knew how hot the flames of revenge could burn. They almost consumed me once. There were no words of comfort or regret I could say that would make him forgive me. He wanted revenge. His mother was dead, and he would not be happy until I was, too.
Suddenly an explosion of musical sound filled the room. I jumped out of my seat.
Dean had moved from the door to the piano bench. He gave me a sheepish look. “Sorry.” His hands were on the piano keys. “I’m bored out of my mind. It feels like we’re sitting here waiting to be escorted to the gallows. We should be doing something. We should be trying to escape.”
I looked out the window. “We have no way of getting past the guards or hellhounds. Not yet.”
Dean stormed over to my side. “And that won’t change unless we come up with a plan of action.”
“I think if we have more time—”
He cut me off. “I’m tired of sitting around and waiting to see what that demented guy is going to try next.” Dean lowered his voice and looked over at Wendy. She was standing over in the corner of the room, mumbling. She’d been doing that a lot lately—standing alone and whispering to herself.
Dean turned back to me. “They forced Wendy to be possessed by a demon. This is crazy. We need to do something.”
“If we’re too rash—”
He cut me off again. “We shouldn’t be sitting around like a bunch of scared rabbits waiting to see if—no, when Gage throws us into the stew pot. Colina, we need to do something now. While we’re together. While we’re strong and able. While there’s still a chance to help my family and all the other death dealer guilds.” He looked over at Wendy again. She was staring off into the distance and seemed unaware of our conversation. “What they did to Wendy…it's changing her.”
He’s right. Anyone can see it. Every day she was becoming more and more agitated. The day after the possession ceremony, she had taken to muttering to herself when she thought we weren’t listening. Her eyes held a haunted look and there were deep purple circles under them. Wendy had always been a bit of a tortured soul in the past, but gone was the timid girl I’d met in the asylum. In her place was someone filled with anger. She’s controlling it…but just barely. I saw glimpses of it blazing out of her eyes. I knew she was trying to stop whatever was happening, but she was having little success.
She’d attacked me outright once already and I knew, as a powerful mind reader, she was capable of worse magical attacks. It honestly frightened me. She kept telling us that Gage banished the creature at the end of the ceremony, but I still doubted it.
“Wendy is all right.” Even as I said it, I knew I didn’t believe it. I could tell she wasn’t okay. Every day she seemed a bit worse.
“I appreciate that you’re trying to look on the bright side, but you would have to be blind not to see that she’s morphing into something—”
“She is not morphing into something. It’s your imagination.” I wasn’t sure why I was arguing when I was in full agreement with Dean, but for some reason I started to get angry. “She didn’t have a choice. Gage forced that thing into her. It’s understandable that she’s having problems with it. You know what the rituals did to us—how they changed us.”
“I only went through the first one successfully, but yes, I stood before the abyss. I heard the…things in the darkness calling out to me.” He pointed at Wendy. “But those unnatural things have been inside her. They took her over, spoke out of her mouth, moved her limbs… What if they’re still somehow controlling her?”
I wanted to tell him he was crazy to think so. I didn’t want to believe it or face the fact that I was responsible. It was because of me that Wendy was here and held hostage. She wouldn’t have been on Gage’s radar if he hadn’t come after me to begin with. Dean was saying what I’d already been thinking, and every minute I spent with Wendy, I was more and more convinced it was true.
Wendy’s voice startled us from behind. “You think the demon is still inside me.” She stood facing us, her eyes wide with a wild look in them.
Dean ran his hand through his hair. “Well, I…I don’t know what I’m saying. Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I’m stir-crazy. Whatever Gage has planned next, I just wish he would get on with it. This waiting is driving me nuts.”
“Consider me your fairy godmother, come to grant you your wish.” Caleb stood in the doorway, a smirk planted on his face.
Scowling, Dean started forward.
Caleb raised a hand and gave Dean a cold smile. “No hard feelings about the other night. I landed a few punches, you landed a few… Anyway, we’ve got hours until nightfall, so I’m not here for you.” He looked over at me. “I’m here for Colina.”
I sucked in a breath.
“That’s right, princess, the big man requested your company.” Caleb motioned with his hand for me to join him.
I didn’t move. It’s been four days. What does he want now?
He gave me a slow grin. “I’m more than happy to come over there and force you to come along with me.”
After a moment’s hesitation, I sighed and started forward.
Dean reached out and grabbed my arm, effectively stopping me. “Where are you taking her?” he questioned.
“When the big man wants her, I come get her. No questions asked.”
Dean’s hand squeezed my arm. He looked down at me, pleading with his eyes. “Don’t go.”
“You know I haven’t really got a choice,” I whispered.
He pulled me closer. Concern filled his face. “Yes, you do.”
I reached out and squeezed the hand holding my arm. “It will be all right.” Dean reluctantly let me go and I looked over at Wendy. “I’ll be back soon.”
Wendy just nodded and looked away.
I walked over to Caleb. He reached out, but I shied away. Caleb chuckled and started out the door. With a last look back, I followed him.
We made our way down to the basement and through the tunnels. When we finally stopped, we were in the big cavern—the one where Gage held his party—but the chairs and tables were gone. In their place were a couple of large black-and-gray-striped rugs, a few chandeliers filled with black burning candles, a half-dozen black armchairs, and a few black side tables.
Gage sat in one of the chairs. He rose when he saw me, and his face lit into a smile. “I hope you’ve been able to keep yourself entertained. I’m sorry I haven’t come to see you sooner, but I had some pressing matters to attend to.”
The last time I’d seen Gage, blood covered his hands. “Busy killing more people?” I asked through clenched teeth.
Gage’s smile widened. “Not yet. But soon enough, once we get all the kinks worked out of the mummification process. I’m so glad you could join me.” He pointed to a bottle of wine and a crystal glass sitting on a nearby table. “Would you like something to drink? Are you hungry? I can have them bring you something to eat.”
“No, thank you.” My own polite response surprised me. I had answered automatically in response to Gage’s tone—the tone of a party host. He always acted as though I was a welcome houseguest and not his prisoner. I think he honestly believed I was helping him of my own free will. The man was truly deranged.
Gage watched me for a few moments in thoughtful silence before saying, “I think it’s time to continue your training.”
“My what?” I had no clue what he was talking about.
“Your death dealer training,” he answered.
I stared at him in disbelief. He wants to talk about death dealer training?
“I know, I know, I’ve restricted your use of magic. However, as we speak, Jacob is taking off Dean’s collar.” Gage’s eyes narrowed. “Now, be very careful, my dear. The collar is off, but my watchdog is still by his side, willing and able to do what must be done if you decide to do something foolish.”
Caleb moved to Gage’s side, and his fingers reached down and covered a dagger he wore in a sheath on his belt.
Gage followed my gaze and said in a reassuring voice, “No harm will come to your boys as long as you do as you’re told.” Gage reached down and poured wine into the glass, then lifted it and swirled the red contents around. “I was thinking—since we’re going to be working together, it only makes sense that we strive to get you to your absolute best.” Gage brought the glass to his lips and took a sip, then lowered it, cradling it in both hands. “It’s my understanding that you never had a chance to finish your training as a death dealer.” He gave me a look that made it clear he expected me to answer.
“I didn’t,” I finally admitted.
He nodded his head. “That’s why I thought this would be the perfect time to learn some of the spells. The first one I think we should tackle is the deflection of objects—bulletproofing, if you will.”
I rocked back on my heels in surprise. Gage wants to teach me how to be bulletproof? It was a spell that every death dealer learned. Mere bullets and other weapons couldn’t take down dark mages, but I knew enchanted steel could kill them. I looked over at Caleb and my eyes came to rest on his dagger. I’d seen that dagger up close—glowing symbols marked the metal of the blade.
Gage put the glass down. He reached out and patted Caleb on the shoulder. “Caleb has offered to help in your training.”
I almost laughed out loud. Was he serious? Caleb, the guy who wanted to kill me, was going to help me learn defensive magic? Gage must not know Caleb hated me. I wanted to protest, but knew that if I spoke up about his maltreatment, Caleb would kill Luke. I pressed my lips together and gave Caleb a hard stare.
He watched me with a malicious half smile on his face.
“Caleb is uncommonly skilled, even amongst his people in the Dragon Guild. Aren’t you, my boy? He is not the type to toot his own horn, but he’s a powerful death dealer.” Gage waved his hand in the air. “Show her.”
Caleb raised his right hand and wiggled his fingers. Orange flame rose, dancing between his fingers.
At the sight of the flames, my heart pounded hard in my chest. He burned me with that flame. My hand went to my leg, where the still-raw burns were starting to scab over. Caleb smiled widely as he watched my unconscious gesture.
Gage seemed unaware of the panic that filled me. There was pride on his face as he looked at Caleb. “As you know, most death dealers can raise flames. They use fire for many things, but it doesn’t have the attributes of real fire.” Gage cautiously reached out to touch Caleb’s hand, but quickly pulled his finger back and shook it in pain. “Caleb’s fire actually burns. The boy has true talent. It’s not often you find someone who can wield hellfire.” Gage waved his hand in the air. “Do you smell it?”
The overpowering scent of sulfur hung in the air. I remembered smelling it the night Caleb attacked me, but at the time I’d thought it was from the hellhounds.
“Brimstone.” Gage patted Caleb’s shoulder again. “He is the only death dealer I’ve ever come across that can raise true hellfire. He’s truly gifted.”
Hand still aflame, Caleb advanced on me with a cold violence in his eyes, and I retreated from him instinctually. My mouth had gone dry.
He wouldn’t try to hurt me, not with Gage standing right there. I took a deep breath and straightened my back. Though I was still uncomfortable, I forced myself to meet Caleb’s eyes.
He gave me a hard look before turning and flinging his hand to the side. The flames shot out toward one of the chandeliers. Fire hit the wax candles and they melted into a puddle on the floor.
“Quite impressive. You should see what it does to human flesh,” Gage said.
I couldn’t help but cringe. I was afraid, and Caleb knew it. He gave me another smile. I swore to myself that if the opportunity ever arose, I would force that smile from his face. I’ll burn it off with my own magic one day.
Gage walked over to a table on the side of the room. When he came back, he held a gun in his hand. “I couldn’t decide if I should bring a thirty-eight or a forty-five. Don’t look so scared, the spell is a powerful one.” Before I could say anything, Gage motioned to Caleb.
Caleb turned, and with long strides made his way to the center of the room.
Gage gave me a smile and then aimed the gun at Caleb. A loud boom ripped through the air as the gun went off. For one brief moment, I thought all my prayers had been answered and Caleb would fall down dead.
An instantaneous burst of orange light interrupted the thought, extending a few inches from Caleb’s body.
And that was it. Caleb was still alive and breathing. The death dealer’s bulletproof spell worked, just like the times I’d seen it used in Luke’s uncle’s shop by the men trying to kidnap us and at the mansion the night the demon rose. There wasn’t a big hoopla, no loud noises, no fireworks whizzing around the room—just one small burst of light.
“I assure you, I didn’t miss.” Gage raised his voice. “Caleb, show her.”
Caleb reached down and picked a miniscule object up off the floor. He walked over to me and opened his hand. In his palm lay the bullet.
“See? It’s quite an effective spell,” Gage said. “The death dealers came up with it ages ago in response to guns. It doesn’t make them immortal—you’ve seen they can be killed firsthand. Spells, enchanted blades—there are many ways to kill a death dealer, but non-magical weapons can’t seriously hurt them.” Gage handed the gun to Caleb. “Now it’s your turn, my dear Colina. I’m going to leave you in Caleb’s capable hands. I’ll be back in a bit to see how you’re doing with your lessons. Once you master this one, we will move on to the next spell. Your education has been sorely lacking, and the world is becoming a more dangerous place. As you know, death dealers now have targets on their backs. I think it’s important you’re able to protect yourself fully.” Gage turned and started to leave the room.
He wanted me to learn magic? All this time he had forbidden me from using any. Frustrated, I yelled at his back, “Why teach me magic when you won’t let me use it?”
Gage stopped and faced me again. “I’m hoping that one day soon you’ll come around. You’ll see that you belong with us. We’re your best bet at survival, Colina. I’m serious when I say I want to work with you. Nothing would make me happier than having you, Luke, and Wendy join our ranks.” His expression turned sullen. “I don’t like to threaten. I don’t like holding your boyfriend prisoner. I know, given enough time, you will come around.” He gave Caleb a cold stare. “I expect to see some progress when I get back.”
Caleb nodded.
“Now play nice,” Gage instructed before leaving the room.
We were alone.
Caleb still held the gun in his hand. “Are you ready to get started?”
“Do I have a choice?” I asked, looking at the gun.
He ignored my sarcastic tone and answered in a serious voice, “This spell is more of a state of mind. It’s not like the other spells you’ve learned.” He started toward me.
I backed away, looking behind me for any possible escape. No way was I going to let Caleb have a free shot at me.
He rushed forward, breaching the distance between us, and roughly grabbed my arm.
Without thinking, I slapped him hard across the face.
Fury sparkled in his eyes. His hand came up and rubbed his cheek. “I’m not going to hurt you. The only way you’re going to learn how to do this is if you let me get close to you.”
“Go to hell.”
His fingers dug into my skin. “The boss will not be happy if you refuse to try. I don’t think you would like to see him angry.”
That stopped me in my tracks. As much as I hated to admit it, Caleb was right. Gage scared even his own people. I’d seen firsthand how he’d killed one of his employees without a second thought.
Caleb gave me a hard, painful squeeze before letting go of my arm. He tucked the gun behind him, into the waistband of his jeans. “I’m going to stand next to you. Please try to restrain from hitting me again.” His voice lowered, full of irritation. “I’m not thrilled to be doing this, either. But what the big man wants, he gets.”
Caleb moved closer. Every nerve in my body was screaming to get away from him. I took a deep breath and forced myself to stand still. I could feel the heat of his body against mine.
“Every person has their own energy swirling around them. Some people call it an aura. Others call it chi,” Caleb said.
“I know about energy. I used to be a healer.” My mouth was dry. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.
“That’s right, I keep forgetting. Your kind pull on the energy from the ether sea and then push it into people.”
I nodded.
“This is different. You have to become aware of the energy that is swirling around you at all times. Your individual chi. Get a sense for it. Close your eyes.”
I looked over at him skeptically.
“I told you, I won’t hurt you. Look, I’m not thrilled to be doing this, either, but what can we do? The quicker you learn, the faster you can go back to the house and your buddies.” He moved away, then slowly came up behind me until his whole body pressed against mine.
I couldn’t help it—I started to jerk away, but his arm came around my waist and pulled me close to him.
This isn’t happening. But it was. He held me tight. “You can sense when someone is in your space, feel if something breaks across your energy field. Can you feel where your energy starts and where it intersects with mine?”
All I can feel is a blind terror because a monster is holding me.
“Try to focus,” he demanded.
I tried to clear my head, but Caleb’s proximity made it impossible. I want to hurt him so bad. Pay him back for what he did to me. I could hear my screams echoing in my ears from when he burned me. I was trying so hard to keep the emotions at bay that I could feel tears of frustration slide down my cheeks.
“Let’s try something else.” Caleb sounded annoyed.
He backed away from me and I let out a sigh of relief. He moved until he was a few feet in front of me. “Close your eyes.”
Caleb was standing in front of me, and he had a gun.
“I told you—I won’t hurt you,” he growled. “Now close your eyes.”
I forced my eyes closed. That gun is going to go off any second… He’s going to shoot me dead.
“Open your eyes when you feel something close, invading your space.”
I felt nothing—and then I did. A strange tingle ran up my back. I knew with certainty that something was close to me. I opened my eyes. Caleb’s finger was an inch from my nose.
“Good. Now take a deep breath and become aware of the same energy that always swirls within you. As a healer, you pull energy in from the earth or sky, but what I want you to do is to push out the energy from within yourself until it’s all around you.”
“Push it out where?”
“Think of it as creating a force field around you. Think of pushing a barrier out just a few inches from your body.”
He turned and walked to the closest table. When he came back, he was holding a thick, black leather-bound book. He opened the book and flipped through the pages until he found what he wanted. “Here it is. This spell is the one you’ll be doing.” He moved to my side and held the book out in front of me.
I looked down at a page full of Latin words. “Mages don’t say all this each time they make themselves bulletproof.” There were too many words. A bullet is shot within seconds. There’s no way they would have time to evoke the spell before the bullet found its mark.
“You’re right, they don’t. You just have to say it once. You go through the ritual and say the spell. When it’s all done, you’ve raised your own personal shield. And it’s up all the time around you.”
“What kind of ritual?” I force myself to ask.
His eyes narrowed. “I would love to say I get to strangle you on my family’s graves. I can’t say I haven’t daydreamed about doing just that. But no, this ritual is more about visualizing the energy all around you. The energy inside you.” He handed me the book, then retrieved a bag from the same table. He opened it and pulled out some black candles and a different dagger, one with an ivory hilt. Caleb twirled the small dagger around in his hand, his eyes gleaming. “A sacrifice must be made during this ritual.”
My mind flashed back to the memory of Gage slaughtering the girl during Wendy’s demonic possession ritual. “Going to kill more chickens? Slit another young girl’s throat?” I forced out through stiff lips.
He laughed. “Nothing so drastic. A drop of your blood will do the trick.”
I looked at the dagger in trepidation. Symbols covered the steel. “I have to cut myself with that thing?”
“I have to cut you.”
The way he was holding the dagger, the look in his eye… I had no doubt he would like to thrust that dagger straight into my heart. I looked around the cavern. We were utterly alone. If he wants to kill me, he can.
I looked around distractedly as Caleb set up objects for the ritual. We stood at the back of the cavern, in front of the stream. Caleb placed a total of twelve candles in a circle and laid a raven feather between each one. I expected him to draw a circle in the dirt, but instead he pulled out a bag of black-colored powder. He carefully sprinkled the powder along the dirt until he’d created the lines of a pentagram.
He motioned for me to stand in the middle of the pentagram. I took a hesitant step, but it wasn’t fast enough for his liking. He shoved me hard from behind. I stumbled forward until I was standing in the center. I took a deep breath and tried to force back my fear. You went through three death dealer rituals, Colina. You can do this.
Caleb bent over and lit each of the candles. Like the other night, an odd odor filled the room as the candles started to burn.
Caleb grabbed the book, and to my surprise, stepped into the pentagram with me. It was a tight fit inside the powder lines—we stood hip-to-hip.
He opened the book and held it up. “Now repeat the words as I say them.”
The spell was long and involved. I struggled along, trying to repeat each word after Caleb. When the last word left my mouth, I felt a tingling come up from the ground and run through my toes. Electric shocks skimmed across my body.
Caleb tossed the book to the ground. He pulled the dagger from his waist and held it out in front of him with two hands. He closed his eyes and raised the dagger up in the air. As he whispered to himself, he moved the dagger up and down, then left and right, turning to face me when he finished. He was so close I could feel his breath on my cheek.
“Turn around,” he said.
I didn’t want to. He had a knife in his hand. The last thing I should do is turn my back on him.
“Turn around,” he commanded in a cold voice.
He can’t hurt me, not now, not here, not when Gage will be back any minute…
I spun on my toes until my back was to him. I felt him come up behind me. A shiver ran through me as I felt his body against mine. One of his hands came up and circled my waist. “Whatever you do, don’t move,” he whispered in my ear.
I felt the cold blade against my throat. Panic filled me. I started to move away, but he pulled me back, hissing, “Stand still.”
He’s going to slit my throat. I tensed, ready to fight for my life. I felt anger pump through my blood. I could do it—I could raise my magic and kill him now before he hurt me. The collar was off Dean. But if I use my magic…
Dean had no power of his own. If Jacob came at him with a knife, could Dean take him? If Jacob raised magic and used it against Dean, would Dean turn berserker and kill him? Or would he be helpless, unable to fight back?
I wanted so desperately to call upon my powers and watch Caleb suffer for what he did to me. But if I did, there was a chance that Dean would be hurt. He wasn’t in control of his berserker nature, so there was no guarantee he could protect himself. I couldn’t risk it.
Caleb won’t kill me here and now. He’ll wait and do it when no one’s watching. When no one will suspect his involvement.
“Ready?” he asked. I could feel his breath on my neck.
“Whatever you’re going to do, do it,” I muttered.
The cold blade rested against my throat. I squeezed my eyes shut and then—
I felt a prick. A tiny drop of blood trickled down my neck.
Caleb reached up and slid his finger across the cut on my skin. I felt electric shocks where his skin made contact with mine. He raised his finger in front of my face, and I watched a drop of blood slowly fall to the dirt. It hit the floor.
An explosion of orange light ripped through the air and blew me off my feet.
When I opened my eyes, I was laying on the ground. I’d been thrown five or six feet from the pentagram.
What was that?
Caleb was on his knees a few feet away—he was thrown back, too. What happened? He was blinking hard, as if trying to clear his thoughts. He looked at me, and for the first time, I saw fear in those eyes. “What are you?”
I wasn’t hurt, but I was bruised and shaken. “I-I’m…a death dealer.” I wanted to believe that was all I was, but I could do things no other death dealer could do. What am I? That very question haunted me.
Before Caleb could say anything, Gage walked into the room. He surveyed the scene, then rushed to my side and put out his hand as though to help me to my feet. I ignored his offer and pushed myself off the ground to stand on shaking legs.
“What happened?” Gage demanded.
“We did the spell,” Caleb said. “There was an explosion.”
“Really?” Excitement filled Gage’s eyes. “I’m sorry I missed it.” He looked at me. “You really are exceptional.”
“That wasn’t part of the spell?” I whispered, brushing dirt off my jeans.
“No,” Gage answered. “There’s usually just a small burst of light, like the one you saw when I shot at Caleb.” His hands came together, and a thoughtful expression filled his face. “An actual explosion… You are such a fascinating girl. I can’t wait to find out what you’re truly capable of.” Gage reached into his pocket and pulled out a feather. Now, let’s test the spell.” He walked toward me and gave me a smile. “This won’t hurt, I promise.” He placed the feather in his palm, took a deep breath, and blew it out.
The feather floated off his palm toward me. When it was just a few inches from my body, it stopped—as though rebounding against something—and then started to float in the opposite direction.
“Most excellent. The spell is working. It will become more discriminating as it settles in. Of course, it doesn’t stop human touch. Someone could still slug you in the face or throttle that pretty neck of yours.” He picked the feather out of the air. “It’s more for inanimate objects. Feathers aren’t much of a threat. It won’t stop anything really big, like a bazooka or a crosstown bus, but knives and guns should no longer be a threat to you—unless, of course, they are enchanted. An enchanted bullet is hard to come by. They’re very expensive and very few mages know how to make an effective one.” He smashed the feather between his fingers. “Nothing like dropping a pretty penny on a supposedly enchanted bullet only to have it turn out to be a dud.” He dropped the feather and a slow smile spread across his face. “Are you ready for the big finale?” Gage asked. He didn’t wait for my answer, instead walking over to Caleb and holding out his hand.
Caleb reached back and pulled out the gun. He placed it in Gage’s hand. Gage pointed the gun at me. I raised my hands and shouted, “Wait—”
I barely got the word out before Gage pulled the trigger.
The gun went off with a loud explosion. I felt like a horse kicked me in the right shoulder. I lifted off my feet and slammed into the ground, my head bouncing off the dirt so hard that, for a moment, I was dazed. Then a burning, searing pain radiated down my arm.
A scream of rage escaped my lips, and I lost all control. The hairs on the back of my neck rose. Tingling filled my body.
An eerie howl filled the air, immediately followed by a dozen more. A gray shadow formed out of nowhere, raced by me, and headed straight for Gage.
Gage’s face filled with surprise and he quickly raised his hands to defend himself.
A half-dozen more shadows whizzed by me. The dark clouds morphed for a split second into the shape of wolves before blurring back into mist, into fog, into gray lights that swirled and danced in the air all around Gage. They darted in at him, forming a near-solid shape as they attacked. Gage stood perfectly still, hands raised, seemingly unconcerned about the threat they posed. Most of the attacks seemed to turn away at the last moment, but a few got through whatever invisible defense Gage was mounting. I watched the skin tear open across Gage’s arm, but he didn’t flinch in pain. His expression was one of concentration and determination as he stood against my spirit pack.
My spirit pack. I’m not alone. Pure joy and relief filled my heart. I could feel them with me, around me, protecting me. They’ll keep me safe.
I heard a shout fill the air. I looked over to see Caleb standing with his feet apart, both his hands full of orange flame. At his feet, the still-struggling form of a burning zombie tried to rise even as the flames consumed it. Another zombie rushed into the room, moving toward me at an unsteady trot. When I woke the zombies, I bound their will to me. But I was Gage’s prisoner, so Gage controlled my will. For the first time, I realized, they’ll come when I need help. Two more zombies entered the room. For a moment, wild thoughts of turning all the zombies on Gage and saving my friends overwhelmed me.
Then Caleb burned them away. His fire flared out, burning so hot that the zombie coming toward me stopped as if it hit a brick wall. The meat dripped off its bones in gobs of burning fat and blistering muscle. In seconds, there wasn’t enough tissue left to hold the bones together. It slumped to the ground. All that remained was a pile of bone, ash, and glowing embers.
I looked at Caleb and a red-hot anger filled me. With the anger came a fire from within my very depths. I felt it rising up, warming my body and mind. There was no more fear. There was only glorious fire. My hands rose up, azure-colored fire hovering in my palms, and I threw it with all my strength at Caleb.
There was real fear in his eyes now. His fire burned brighter in response and his flames extended out to create a wall of reddish orange.
My magic slammed against his, colorful sparks flying in the air at the collision. My blue flames began to wear down the wall of orange. Caleb’s magic wall shimmered and then, all at once, it exploded. A million tiny sparks of red and orange shot through the air.
Blue fire twirled and streamed, unimpeded, straight toward Caleb. My mind was full of darkness, full of rage. I looked on gleefully as my magic washed over him. Time to pay for what you’ve done to me.
Caleb fell to his knees as the fire consumed him. I dropped my hands. The fire faded. I’d done it. I killed Caleb before he could kill me.
And then I watched in shock as Caleb rose back to his feet. He stood there staring at me, completely unharmed. My magic hadn’t done anything to him. I overpowered his magic, but did no damage.
“Honestly, I expected more from you, Colina,” Gage’s voice called out. He sounded disappointed.
I looked over to where he stood. Gage had a gash across his arm, and little drops of black dripped from a tear across the middle of his shirt. Was it blood? Blood wasn’t black. The drops began to smoke, turning to ash and drifting slowly away. The gash on his arm started boiling like molten oil rising from the ground, until a black mist clung to his arm and covered the disturbing sight. In seconds, the mist faded, leaving an ash coating on his arm. Gage absently brushed it away, revealing unmarked skin. He had somehow healed himself. Just what is he capable of?
All at once, the adrenaline that had kept me going wore off. White-hot pain radiated down my right arm, crashing through my body. I felt hot liquid slide down my skin and looked at my shoulder. There was a large hole just below my clavicle where the bullet hit me. Blood gushed out of the wound and ran down my arm. More pain hit me, this time filling my mind until there was nothing—nothing but white-hot agony pounding through me. I let out a scream, crumpling to the floor.
My eyes fluttered open to reveal Gage standing over me. He had a bored expression on his face. “The spell should have worked. How odd that it didn’t.”
You monster… You shot me! I screamed in my head. The world began to narrow and turn gray. I stared into Gage’s cold eyes right up until the moment I passed out.