Wild Magic

by Madeline Freeman

  Dana’s leg is bent beneath her at an odd angle and blood gushes from a cut on her forehead. She wails but doesn’t answer Bria’s question.

  “I’m gonna straighten out your leg,” Bria says.

  Heat surges through my body. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

  Bria doesn’t look up. “My mom’s a nurse.”

  It isn’t exactly an answer, but Bria sounds sure of herself so I don’t stop her. When she starts moving Dana’s leg, Dana lets out a piercing shriek and I bend to her side and take up her hand. She squeezes my fingers so hard I gasp. Her face drains of color, the blood on her forehead a vivid contrast to the white of her skin.

  “Bria, I think we should go get somebody. Is there a nurse? Or should I call nine-one-one?”

  But Bria isn’t paying attention to me. One hand grips Dana’s leg above the knee, the other below. She closes her eyes, taking in a deep breath and releasing it slowly. Eyes prickle the back of my neck and I look to my left and right, but no one else is in the stairwell. I return my gaze to Dana, but the sensation doesn’t go away. I tip my head backward. At the top of the stairs, peering over the concrete rail, is Bridget. A smile curls the edges of her mouth and her eyes are narrowed in triumph. A shiver courses through my body and I know for a fact she did this. And she likes it.

  She blows a kiss before disappearing behind the rail. My stomach jolts and my legs strain to follow her, but Dana’s grip on my hand keeps me in place. The color slowly returns to her cheeks and Bria pats her leg.

  “Can you bend it?” she asks.

  After a second, Dana attempts it and is able to move her leg without wincing. I watch Bria as she helps her to standing, but she avoids my gaze. She doesn’t look at me the whole way down to the office to find the principal, but she doesn’t have to look at me for me to know what happened: She healed Dana’s broken leg. It’s something I didn’t even know was possible, yet Bria did it like it was nothing. I’m completely awed by the power she possesses.

  By the time I make it out of the building, Seth is waiting for me in the parking lot. Despite the horror of the last fifteen minutes, I can’t help smiling. If Bria is strong enough to mend a broken bone, I’m confident we’ll be able to keep the circle from doing magic. We just need to figure out how.

  Chapter Nineteen

  West almost slams the door when I show up at his house with Seth half an hour later, but I’m ready for it and push it back into his face.

  “West, let her in, for crying out loud,” Bria calls from within. She lays sprawled across the couch, face buried in the crook of her arm.

  “What, is it bring-a-friend day and nobody told me?” West doesn’t try to close the door again, but he stands with his arms crossed over his chest, blocking us from entering.

  I roll my eyes. Although I’m pretty sure I could use magic to shove him out of the way, I doubt it would help my case any. He already doesn’t like me. “This is Seth. He’s my cousin.”

  “He’s cool,” Felix says, dropping a hand onto West’s shoulder. He smiles and I smile back, glad he’s on my side.

  After a beat, West backs up, grumbling. Seth nods politely as we pass him. I resist the urge to knock into him with my shoulder. I sit down at the end of the couch by Bria’s feet. She still hasn’t removed her arm from over her eyes. I pat her ankle. “What’s wrong with you?”

  Felix shrugs, taking a seat beside Seth on the love seat adjacent the couch. “Dunno. She’s been like that since she got here.”

  “I believe I may have an explanation,” Seth says, leaning forward and propping his elbows on his knees. “If what Krissa suspects is true, it’s possible your friend has overtaxed her system.”

  West snorts as he sits down in the arm chair by Bria’s head. “Krissa.”

  Felix launches a throw pillow at him. “Overtaxed herself doing what?”

  “She didn’t tell you?” I shake Bria’s foot and she mumbles incoherently in response. “Bridget Burke knocked Dana Crawford down a flight of stairs and broke her leg.”

  West leans forward, forgetting his air of irritation. “Dana’s got a broken leg?”

  I shake my head. “Not anymore.” I glance significantly at Bria, who mumbles again.

  Felix whistles. “Holy hell. I didn’t know we could do that!”

  “Wait—you said something about overtaxing herself?” West’s deep-set eyes are fixed on Seth, his suspicion forgotten for the moment. “Is she gonna be okay?”

  Seth nods. “How much do you know about the difference between witches and psychics?”

  West’s eyes flick to me. “Why? How much do you know?” His words are sharp, defensive.

  “Quite a bit, actually,” Seth says, unruffled by West’s tone. “In addition to having quite the addiction to research, I also happen to be both a psychic and a witch.”

  This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this, but my stomach still flutters. Of course, I already knew Seth was a witch, but when he told me he’s also a psychic, it thrilled me. Once again, I’m thankful for his presence in my life. He’s the one person who can understand me more fully than anyone else because he has the same abilities swirling around inside him.

  Seth waits a beat before continuing. “As you may already know, there are certain things that both psychics and witches can do with their abilities. The main difference is where they draw their power. With witches, the power comes from nature—the elements, herbs, stones. They can connect with and channel the natural energy around them. Psychics, however, tap into an internal reservoir of sorts. Your abilities exist inside you. As such, both witches and psychics have their limitations. Witches need to be able to connect with something outside them to produce magic, so without proper concentration or ability to connect, the potency of their spells can be diminished. And while a psychic needn’t connect with something external, the limitation is that you only possess so much energy inside you. Your friend Bria has used a good portion of that energy today, and it will take some time for it to replenish within her.”

  Felix’s eyebrows pull together as Seth explains, his face scrunching at each odd turn of phrase. When he’s done, I shrug. “It’s just the way he talks. You’ll get used to it.”

  West’s posture relaxes. “Okay. So what? Is this why you brought him here? To give us a lesson on the differences between psychics and witches?” His tone is somewhat warmer than it had been when he spoke to me before, and I take comfort in this.

  “Bria had an idea earlier. She wondered if there might be a way for us to somehow block the witches from using magic. I mean, it started because we were annoyed that Zane keeps confusing Mrs. Hill so we don’t get through a lesson, but after what Bridget did…” I press my lips together, debating whether to share the next bit, afraid West might make a snide remark. But this is bigger than my own comfort, and I press on. “Yesterday, when Fox—” I take in a breath. “Zane was there and he lit some guy’s car on fire. That’s bad enough, but what’s worse is he couldn’t put it out afterward. We need to keep them from using magic that they can’t control or using it to hurt people. And I figured having a second witch here could help us see if we can do it.” I nod encouragingly at Seth, whose lips twitch in a smile.

  “It is possible for a psychic to overwhelm a witch—to prevent him from connecting with a source of power and disrupt whatever spell he is attempting.” His head cocks to the side. “In this case, it may take more than one psychic, as the circle isn’t attempting to connect with nature in general but rather drawing their energy from a specific source.”

  Felix raises an eyebrow. “The crystal?”

  Seth’s eyes widen with surprise.

  West raises his hand, like we’re in school. “Excuse me—what crystal?”

  I bite my lower lip. As much as I like sharing things with Seth—as much as I trust him implicitly—and as much as I want to be honest with the psychics, the prospect of telling everyone the whole truth about the stone makes my stomach twist. Felix already knows�
�I told him about it along with everything else. But when I finished explaining, he promised to keep everything to himself, to let me decide who should know and who shouldn’t. A tiny nod from him now is all I need to know his oath still stands. I take in a breath and release it slowly. “Certain objects—herbs, stones—can be charged with energy, and it can be stored in them for use. Like a talisman. Like Seth said, instead of connecting to something like wind or water, a witch can connect with the stored energy. It’s much easier to cast spells that way. And the circle found a quartz crystal—a very powerful one. And to focus their collective magic through it, they did a spell to anchor to the stone. Have you noticed they’ve been using magic more lately? And for bigger things? That’s how they’re doing it.”

  West nods, but his brow remains creased, like he doesn’t entirely understand what I’m talking about. From her spot on the couch, Bria shifts until she’s propped against the arm in an almost sitting position. “So,” she says, her voice thick, “we have to keep them from connecting to magic they’re already connected to? Awesome.”

  “It will most likely be exceedingly difficult,” Seth says bracingly. “Indeed, I’m not sure whether you will be able to succeed at all. But Krissa says the circle is being reckless—endangering lives. That their control over the magic is tenuous at best. So, at the very least, we need to try.”

  West leans back in his chair, crossing his arms, his brow wrinkling in thought. “If this crystal thing is so dangerous for them to be connected to, why don’t we just disconnect them?”

  “Seth’s been looking into that,” I say quickly.

  He nods. “Thus far, all I’ve located are spells for witches to cast, and all of those require an equal or greater number of witches trying to sever the connection than witches connected to the object.”

  “So, for now, all we can do is try to keep them from using the crystal’s magic. Seth seems to think if we can overwhelm a witch’s mind during a spell, we can stop it from happening.” I clap my hands together and Bria jumps. “So, let’s get started.”

  Training is slow and arduous, and to say the first tries were complete failures is being kind. Seth and I completed a series of simple spells—lighting birthday candles from West’s junk drawer, changing the color of paper napkins from white to green or blue or purple, mending broken pencils—but neither West nor Felix succeeded in distracting us in the least. Bria naps on the couch while we practice, which Seth assures us is the best thing she could be doing at the moment.

  After an hour of changing napkin colors, I move on to practicing glamors on my outfit, changing not only the color of my pants and shirt but the pattern and cut. Seth explains how to turn objects invisible and make them levitate, and soon magazines and remote controls are zooming through the air and Bria appears to be hovering in midair because I’ve used a glamor to make the couch disappear from sight.

  Felix throws up his hands, sprawling across the love seat. “That’s it. I give up. This is impossible.”

  The smile stretched across my face slips and the objects chasing each other around the room pause. “Oh, come on. You can’t expect to get it your first try.”

  “Or my second or third or four hundredth. I’m glad you’re having fun, because this is ridiculously frustrating for me.”

  I direct the magazines and remotes to rest on the coffee table as I cross to the love seat. I pick up Felix’s legs and sit beside him, allowing his calves to settle across my thighs. “I’m sorry. It’s just… I don’t get to do magic much. I guess I’m getting a little carried away.”

  He shrugs. “It’s not that. I mean, you should be doing crazy spells. But I was hoping to be able to stop you at least once.”

  A triumphant shout emanates from the kitchen and West bounds into the living room, fist punching the air. “I did it!”

  On the couch, Bria stirs, blinking heavily. “Why’s there shouting?”

  West collapses onto the armchair, grinning broadly. “I did it. I kept him from lighting a candle.”

  Seth enters the room, nodding appreciatively as he leans against the wall. “That you did. Now, stop Krissa.”

  West leans forward, eyes wide and expectant. “Bring it.”

  I can’t conceal a smile. There’s a yellow birthday candle on the coffee table and I grab it. When I first learned this spell, it took concentration and visualization. Now it’s as simple as breathing, and, in a blink, the wick is lit.

  West’s face falls. “What? But I—” He gapes, turning toward Seth. “I just did it.”

  Seth doesn’t appear surprised by West’s failed attempt. “My ability to connect with magic isn’t particularly strong. At the moment, I’m a much more capable psychic than witch. Krissa, on the other hand, is quite strong. When she connects with an energy source, she fills with power easily. Yet even her abilities are pale compared to what the circle is capable of.”

  Felix shakes his head. “We’re screwed.”

  “No,” Seth says firmly. “You just need to practice. Indeed, I fear if you are unable to master this task, it will be impossible to disconnect the circle from the crystal at all.”

  Silence falls over the room as Seth’s words sink in.

  Felix swings his legs off mine, planting them on the floor and sitting up. “Okay. Let’s try again.”

  West offers to order pizza half an hour later and I’m surprised by how dark it’s gotten outside. “Won’t your parents be home soon?”

  He shakes his head. “Mom’s out of town on business. Dad works second shift.”

  Felix snorts. “Why do you think we always meet over here?”

  West points, shifting his finger between me and Seth. “Are either of you offended by pineapple?”

  “I actually need to be going,” Seth says, holding up his cell. “I promised Jodi I would have her car back to her by closing time, and it’s nearly that.”

  “Oh.” I bite my lower lip. It makes sense, of course—Jodi can’t be expected to walk home from town, not with it as cold as it is. “I guess we can practice some more tomorrow, then.”

  I take a step to follow Seth, but Felix touches my arm. “Stay. I’ll take you home. I’m not ready to stop practicing yet.”

  Bria lets out a breathy laugh from her spot on the couch. “You just want pizza.”

  He shrugs. “Maybe.”

  I hug Seth. “Thank you.”

  He smiles, his hand covering the doorknob. “Of course. Call if you need anything.”

  After he leaves, West places the pizza order while Felix attempts to keep me from levitating a throw pillow.

  I’ve done more magic today than I’ve done ever, and with every spell I attempt, things get easier. The rush of energy that fills me each time I connect with an element no longer frightens me. I can direct the flow; I can control it.

  We take a break when the pizza arrives. Bria manages to stay awake long enough to eat a piece, which I take as a good sign. After we eat our fill, Felix and West decide to pool their abilities to take me down rather than take turns. As I turn chunks of pineapple different colors, something tugs at the edges of my consciousness. It’s not enough to keep the pineapple from turning blue, but it’s enough to notice.

  It’s after eight when Bria’s cell rings. She grumbles as she rolls off the couch, squinting at the display. “Yeah, Mom,” she murmurs as she heads down the back hallway toward West’s room.

  I’ve moved on to turning the cheese green when my glamor fails, leaving it muddled and streaky. The boys whoop so loudly, slapping each other on the back, that I almost don’t notice Bria when she reenters the room. She’s pale, and the look on her face tells me it’s not due to her spent energy. I put a hand on each boy’s shoulder and the two become subdued, confused looks on their faces.

  Bria shuffles toward us, a muscle in her jaw jumping. “That was my mom. She’s at work—in the ER. She called because… she recognized him.”

  Felix and I exchange glances. She’s not making sense, but I don’t want to
press her. I slip my arm around her shoulder and give her a squeeze, waiting for her to go on.

  Bria draws in a shaky breath. “Dana Crawford’s dad. He’s dead.”

  Chapter Twenty

  “I don’t believe in coincidences.”

  West broods as he leans against his locker. It’s been three days since Dana’s dad died, and this is hardly the first time West has expressed this opinion. Still, my stomach clenches. Typically, I would agree with him, but I can’t get my brain around the idea that the circle had something to do with the death of Dana’s father.

  According to Bria’s mom, he was in a car accident, but it doesn’t look like that’s what killed him. The injuries he sustained when his SUV hit a tree weren’t severe enough. His death is what caused the accident, not the other way around.

  “How could they be behind it?” It’s not the first time I’ve asked the question.

  Felix sighs. “You said Bridget knocked Dana down the stairs without touching her. And that Zane lit an engine on fire. Is this really outside the realm of possibility?”

  “I think the better question is why.” Bria looks better today than she has since Tuesday: Her color is back and only the barest hint of dark circles hangs beneath her eyes. “I mean, knocking someone down a set of stairs is one thing. Murder? That’s a pretty big escalation.”

  “I agree.” I say the words, hoping doing so will make them true. But the fact is I’m not entirely convinced the circle is innocent, not with the crystal influencing them. I just don’t want to believe they’re capable of it. I don’t want to believe Fox is. Despite the fact that he hasn’t looked at me since our fight, I’m not angry with him. It wasn’t him talking. It all comes back to the darkness they’re anchored to.

  “I really don’t care about how or why,” West says. “If you’re right, Kris, then the only thing that matters is breaking their connection to the crystal. Seth still hasn’t figured that out?”

  Warmth bubbles in my chest. West’s attitude toward me has done a complete one-eighty. Far from the venom he spewed the first time I showed up at his house, his demeanor is friendly, like the West from my reality. Yesterday was the first time he called me Kris, and although I prefer Krissa, I won’t correct him. He’s accepted me as one of them. “I talked with him yesterday. He says he found some resources that look promising, but he hasn’t found anything concrete yet.”