Unleashed Magic (The Chronicles of Andar Book 1)

by Laura M. Drake

  Miss Hallis was hit in the chest and lay there unconscious. Neil told the rest of us to run. The library exploded in chaos and magic.

  Seven. Eight. My breathing sped up, close to hyperventilating.

  Gray pushed me out of the way and was hit in my stead, and Ivy screamed in fear as that man threw bolt after bolt of his purple energy at us.

  Nine. Ten. I steadied my shaking hands on my knees.

  Neil’s horrified face when I flew across the room.

  Neil!

  My eyes popped open, and I lurched to my feet. There, in the back of the room, the crystal stood innocently. I took a few wobbly steps toward it before my legs gave out, but the nurse caught me before I hit the floor.

  “Neil.” I struggled to get the word out through my sobbing.

  “What about Neil?” Mr. Mizuno demanded.

  Nurse McKay squeezed my arm painfully.

  I would’ve pushed her away, but I deserved the pain. I couldn’t do anything to save my friends. With tears running down my face, I pointed to the crystal.

  His gaze followed my finger to the crystal across the room. “He’s inside the crystal?”

  I sobbed harder. All I wanted was for Ivy to give me a hug and tell me everything would be all right. “Where’s Ivy?”

  They both shifted uncomfortably.

  Please, no.

  “Oh, honey.”

  Nurse McKay’s sorrowful voice told me Ivy was gone, too. She put her arm around me to comfort me, but I shrugged it off. My friends were gone, and I hadn’t done anything to save them. I didn’t deserve comfort. Ivy was kidnapped by a madman. Neil was trapped in a crystal and might not be breathing. And Gray...Gray!

  “Is Gray alive?” I grabbed the collar of her shirt and pulled her closer, somehow hoping she couldn’t deliver more bad news if she was close enough.

  “He’s alive, but—-”

  The rest of her words were drowned out by my inner celebration. Alive! Oh thank the elements, he was alive.

  Wait. “But what?”

  She hesitated, and I tightened my grip on her collar.

  “But he’s hurt pretty badly. We aren’t sure if he’ll make it.”

  I sank back into unconsciousness.

  The next morning, warm sunlight cheerfully streamed on my face. I smiled, content to lie there for a while until a foot scuffed on the other side of the room. “Good morning, Ivy.”

  Someone cleared their throat, and I opened my eyes. Henry put a tray of food on my desk. “Hey.” His soft voice shattered the illusion.

  Ivy’s bed was empty. Pain wrapped around my heart, and I squeezed my eyes shut again. The library. It was all real. My chest tightened and pressure built behind my eyelids. I rolled over and cried into my pillow.

  My desk chair scraped across the floor toward me, then screeched in protest when he sat in it.

  Ivy. Neil. Gray.

  I squeezed my pillow tighter, gasping in breaths of air.

  Why? What did he want with them? Why did this happen? Ackley was supposed to be one of the safest places in Andar.

  Time trickled by and my wracking sobs slowly settled into hiccoughs.

  My stomach growled.

  He placed his hand on my back, lighter than a pegasus' feather. “You should eat.” His voice was low, cautious.

  “I’m not hungry.” My voice was muffled by my pillow, but I didn’t move it.

  “You need your strength, Emmie.”

  “For what?”

  “For your friends. They need you.”

  Because I was so helpful the last time they needed me. I took a deep, cleansing breath and sat up. “How’s Gray?”

  Henry looked at me and my uneaten plate of food. “Tell you what, you eat and I’ll talk.” He placed the tray on my lap.

  Hunger stirred in the pit of my stomach like a slumbering mammoth salamander coming out of hibernation. “Okay.”

  He watched me take the first few bites of my breakfast. When he still didn’t open his mouth, my spoon froze, and I shot him a look.

  “Last night, an explosion went off near the stadium, and all the teachers gathered there, thinking there was another attack.”

  “That’s all the way across campus.”

  “I know. The teachers realized it was a decoy, but it was too late.” He cleared his throat. “The good news is Nurse McKay was able to help stabilize Gray last night, so he’s no longer in critical condition.”

  My spirits rose a fraction of an inch. Gray would be okay.

  “The bad news is, he’s in a coma, and we don’t know when he’ll come out of it.” Frustration carved deep lines around Henry’s eyes.

  “But he’s alive,” I repeated on an exhale. A tiny weight lifted from my shoulders. They were still too heavy to lift, but at least Gray would live.

  “We aren’t sure why his magic isn’t healing him.”

  I took another bite of fruit. “Could it have to do with what he was struck by last night?”

  “It could, but since none of us know, we couldn’t hazard any guesses.” He looked at me sharply. “Do you know what hit him?”

  “I’m not sure, but it looked like a bolt of purple lightning.”

  His eyes rounded as his back when rigid. “Purple lightning. Are you sure?”

  “I think so.” I wavered. I shuddered, recalling the sharp tang of fear as Miss Hallis was thrown across the room or the terror that froze me in place as purple lightning slowly beat down Ivy’s water shield. “I’m sure. It didn’t look like any magic I’ve seen before, but I’ll never be able to forget that purple lightning.”

  “Then I need to talk to the Academy Heads immediately.” Henry stood so abruptly his chair tipped back. “There’s no time to waste.”

  “Wait, what about Ivy and Neil? And what happened to Miss Hallis?”

  “We’re still figuring out how to help them, and Miss Hallis is in the infirmary with Gray.”

  Discouragement was a luxury I couldn’t afford. “What can I do to help?” A tiny sliver of determination ran through me, and I tried to focus on it.

  “Just take care of yourself today.”

  “All right,” I promised, not wanting to be a distraction from their efforts to help Gray.

  “No classes today. All you have to do is stay out of trouble.”

  “I will,” I promised. The door swung shut behind him. “I’ve had enough trouble to last a lifetime.”

  Neil was trapped, Gray was in a coma, and Ivy was taken by that man. Why did he take her?

  I got out of bed and located my communication crystal, hidden under a pile of clothes. Should I message my parents? I rolled the crystal over in my hands before dismissing the idea.

  I tossed the crystal onto my bed, stood, and paced.

  Would my friends be okay? Would that man come back again for Neil? The more I paced, the heavier my heart was weighed down with worry, dragging me down until I finally stopped.

  I sank onto my bed and rummaged through my bookbag until I found Gray’s textbook.

  Biting my lip sharply to focus on the pain instead of my feelings, I read:

  Light Magicals are considered some of the most powerful Magicals because not only can they heal others but they can heal themselves. This makes them invaluable to have around, even if their magic can’t be used offensively.

  “Then why isn’t Gray healing himself?” I muttered belligerently to the textbook. I skimmed the page until the words ‘Dark Magic’ caught my eye.

  Light Magicals’ greatest weakness is Dark Magic. If foreign Dark Magic enters their body, it can have various negative effects on the Magical. Unlike sickness or disease, a Light Magical’s own magic isn’t enough to overpower Dark Magic.

  I read faster, gripping the book tightly. Was this what happened to Gray? Was that purple lightning some kind of Dark Magic?

  The only way to remove Dark Magic is for another Light Magical to provide energy to cleanse it from the body. All Light Magicals can share energy with one another, an
d the extra energy will give the wounded body the strength necessary to cleanse itself from infection. This is why Light Magicals often work in pairs.

  My hope propelled me out of bed and into the hallway. In my nightgown and socks, I ran through the empty corridor. As I approached the infirmary door, I heard voices. My hand froze in front of the handle. Inside, Henry and the head teachers discussed Gray’s condition.

  “Emmie was confident when she described the attack.” Henry’s voice drew me closer.

  “We aren’t prepared for this!” Ms. Ventor cried in a shrill voice.

  Involuntarily, I took a step back.

  “Do you know what that would mean?” It was the deep voice of Mr. Kaji. “This man is breaking every Magical law we have and throwing the whole country into chaos with his carelessness!”

  Alarm slithered through me, turning my blood to ice.

  “I don’t think it’s carelessness,” Henry muttered near the door. “With the Monarchy gone, the Koban law enforcement hasn't been as efficient. Some Dark Magical could easily have gone undetected.”

  There was a pause. Henry’s thoughtful voice made me feel like I was back in the classroom instead of eavesdropping in a dark, chilly hallway.

  “What are you thinking, Henry?” That was Ms. Ventor.

  “This could be the clue we need to figure out what’s wrong with Miss Lancaster. Every teacher has tried to help her, and even Elsie’s Light Magic turned out to be ineffective. No one could figure out what was wrong with her or why she wouldn’t wake up. Maybe it was something none of us dared imagine. Maybe it’s time we did more than study the past; we need to learn from it.”

  “But how can we help her if it was Dark Magic? The Koban are the ones who deal with Dark Magicals.” Mrs. Terrel’s voice was agitated.

  Footsteps grew louder, heading toward the door from the other side. I hastily retreated. Nothing happened, so I returned to my position.

  “It would explain why her fire had that purplish tint. This man somehow tainted her magic with Dark Magic,” Mr. Mizuno said.

  A deep silence seeped out the door toward me.

  “If Gray got hit with Dark Magic, then this is more serious than we thought. If there’s still even a trace of foreign Dark Magic inside of him, it will battle with his Light Magic, trapping him in this comatose state.” Mrs. Terrel’s voice was somber.

  My heart plummeted.

  “When is Headmistress Elsie scheduled to return? She could heal Gray.” Mr. Kaji’s voice joined the conversation again.

  “Not for another week. She was asked to extend her stay to be a neutral party.” Mrs. Terrel’s words were laced with disappointment. “Tensions between the regions are still at a breaking point.”

  “With her gone, there aren’t any other Light Magicals left at school who have enough control to help heal Gray.” Henry’s words further crushed my hope.

  “If we could get a message to her, she could return quickly enough, but she hasn’t been responding to her crystal. Who knows how long Gray can hold on?” Ms. Ventor sounded panicked.

  Wasn’t there another way? I wanted to scream at the room of adults, but I held myself back.

  “If only he was bound to someone,” Mr. Mizuno said softly.

  “You know it’s too dangerous for underage Magicals to bind.” Mr. Kaji’s sharp reminder came at the same time Henry spoke.

  “You think that would be enough to cure him?”

  “Bound couples have a natural ability to help one another heal through their exchange of magic.” Mr. Mizuno’s voice switched into one he probably used during his lectures. “I would need to check some of the old histories to be sure, but from what I remember, wounds from Dark Magic are almost always fatal unless quickly treated with Light Magic. The longer one waits, the riskier it gets. But if he was bound, she’d be able to use her own energy to feed his magic..”

  Stupid Binding age laws.

  “Speaking of transferring energy, I think there’s one other method we could try. It’s a bit dangerous, but this is a critical time.” There was a pregnant pause after Mr Kaji’s declaration.

  “Are you suggesting...” Ms. Ventor’s voice shook.

  “No. It’s too risky,” Mrs. Terrel said.

  “What exactly are you suggesting?”

  Yes. Go, Henry! He probably didn’t like appearing ignorant in front of the head teachers, but I was grateful he asked so many questions.

  “The familial energy shift,” Mr. Kaji explained. “It might be our only option.”

  “It’s too hard to control how much energy you pass along,” Mrs. Terrel said.

  “Besides, isn’t the other Mastiff boy trapped in the Arresting Crystal?” Mr. Mizuno pointed out.

  An Arresting Crystal? Was that what it was? Neil’s horrified face flashed through my mind, planting another seed of fear.

  “What about the boy’s father? Wasn’t he just here for a visit? Maybe we can call him back,” Mr. Kaji suggested.

  “I called Delegate Mastiff this morning to inform him about the attack,” Henry said. “He wasn’t at home. It seems he hasn’t gone back since his visit here. No one could tell me his whereabouts.”

  My breath froze. Howie was gone?

  All at once, the room exploded in noise.

  “Was he taken?”

  “Is this another kidnapping attempt? Are delegates being targeted now?”

  “Where were his bodyguards?”

  A tense silence settled. “I don’t think we should jump to conclusions, but the fact remains that he’s unavailable, so we need to find another way to help Gray.” Henry’s voice dipped at the end like it often did when he was worried.

  Howie, where are you? Your boys need you. I need you.

  Chapter 14

  I waited until the halls were usually empty, then I waited a little longer before sneaking out of my room that night. I stole through the hallways, fear hounding my steps. But it wasn’t the same mind-numbing fear from the attack; it was the fear of being left alone.

  Even if Gray was in a coma, I needed to be beside him.

  I confirmed that no teachers were around before I slipped into the infirmary like a shadow. Mrs. Hallis lay on a bed close to the door.

  A few beds away lay Gray. The sight of him, still and pale, stole my breath. I swallowed before pulling up a stool next to him and taking his hand.

  “Hey, Gray.” My voice broke when I said his name, and I hurriedly blinked my eyes to keep the tears from spilling over. Even knowing it was coming, his silence left me heartbroken.

  Gray was never silent—never still. Always full of laughter and jokes, just like the day we first met.

  The merry clink of dishes and happy hum of conversation surrounded me on all sides. Everyone celebrated the first night before the term started. I recognized some of the other Grade Ones. There was the girl with the blonde braids. Playing with their new blue ties, she and the girl next to her giggled.

  My gaze landed on the gray-eyed boy I’d been next to during the assembly. He sat next to a red-tied boy with his same messy, dark hair and sharp eyes. His hands flew through the air in excitement while he gestured to his white tie. The older boy ruffled his hair, and over his brother’s shoulder, the gray-eyed boy met my gaze.

  I took a deep breath. The delicious aroma of candied chestnuts drifted to me from my plate. My hand drifted to the gray tie around my neck. I didn’t belong there. The happy faces, delicious foods, excited kids. I couldn’t relate to any of it. Suddenly, the sweet scent of the chestnuts made me nauseous. I stood and walked to the door. Once I was outside, I took off running. I didn’t make it far before I collapsed to the floor. I pulled my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around them before I cried.

  Not long after, a breeze brushed against my arm as someone sat next to me. I wiped my eyes on my sleeve. Somehow, I wasn’t surprised by the gray eyes watching me curiously.

  “Want to see something funny?” The boy glanced at me, eyes glinting mischievously w
ith the light from the hallway.

  I shifted uncomfortably on the hard tile floor and sniffled. “Okay.”

  He put his hands to his face and smashed his cheeks together until his lips protruded and his words stumbled out. “Mama, mama. Open the door!”

  I giggled at the site, and he put his hands in his lap, a pleased smile on his face.

  “Gray?” A worried voice echoed down the hallway.

  “That’s my brother, Neil. He’s probably wondering why I left.” He stood and turned toward the voice, but then turned back and held his hand out to me. “Come eat with us. I promise I won’t bite if you let me have all the spiced pumpkin truffles.”

  I shivered on the cool tile floor and took a breath before I reached for his hand. “Your name is Gray, and you have gray eyes?”

  He pulled me up. “Don’t even get me started on that.”

  The moonlight glinted off the needle sticking out of his arm. I hated it for ruining my pretending as much as I appreciated it for keeping him alive. If Headmistress Elsie were there, he wouldn’t even need that.

  I choked back a sob and tried to speak normally. “There’s some crazy stuff going on right now. That Magical who hit you also trapped Neil in a crystal and kidnapped Ivy.” I took his hand in mine. “It’s been the worst twenty-four hours of my life, and I wish you were awake right now. Howie is missing, no one knows how to wake you up, and I have no idea what to do about any of it.” His face blurred, and my tears tickled my face as they rolled down my cheeks and dripped onto his blanket, leaving wet spots behind on the otherwise spotless surface.

  His chest rose and fell hypnotically, and I took a deep breath, pushing away the tight feeling in my throat. “I wish you really were my brother so I could give you my energy.” The admission stole out as a whisper. “I would give it all to you if that were what it took to bring you back.”

  Please, elements, let him get better.

  Gray’s long eyelashes rested peacefully against his cheeks, hiding his eyes from me—ones that were normally full of laughter.

  I ran my fingers through his hair, the same way he always begged me to do when we were children.

  Little nine-year-old Gray’s voice popped into my head. “Please, Emmie. Play with my hair just like my mom does.”