“Well now, don’t we all look gorgeous enough to walk the runway. Let’s go show this school who really owns it.” Nev stood, smoothing the pink and black gown she’d created herself. Truly, Charity had never seen a dress like Nev’s, and she looked amazing. It was shorter in the front, but cascaded to the floor in the back. The skirt was tied strips of pink and black fabric, ribboned onto the fitted bodice. Only Nev could pull off something so unique, and do it so fabulously.
Livi’s dress was short, emerald green, with a fitted bodice and poofed skirt. Heels made her nearly as tall as Charity, but she wobbled enough that Nev kept a tight hold on her arm as they made their way down the stairs.
Darren, the boy who had asked Nev, waited next to the door, shifting his weight from foot to foot and rubbing his hands together. He was nervous, probably, but he reminded Charity of a self-conscious evil villain. Nev swept up to him like a queen, and he took her hand, swallowing hard, unable to take his eyes off her. Charity hid a smile, and paused on the landing to watch them.
Shane waited at the bottom of the stairs, cool, confident, his eyes sparkling. “You look amazing this evening, m’lady.” He offered his arm to Livi.
She giggled, tucking her small hand into the crook of his elbow. “Thank you, kind sir.”
Nev had been asked, which meant Livi had faced going all alone. Shane refused to let that happen. Charity loved her cousin more for his kindness than she ever could for his power and great destiny.
She thought about asking where Hunter was, but that boy had been so moody and angry all week long that she refused to care. Once, she’d even tried talking to him, and he’d brushed her off, mumbling about being better on his own.
So if he wanted to stay home and pout, it was fine with her.
Shane leaned over and kissed her on the cheek before she joined Conner outside. “You look incredible, Char.”
“Thank you, Shane,” she said quietly, hoping he couldn’t see the tear threatening to make its way down her cheek.
Conner stood on the stone path, tugging anxiously on his sleeves. He wasn’t big and tough and brooding like Hunter, but he was cute. She could like him. She wanted to like him. Especially when he turned toward her and his jaw dropped. “You… you look so, so good.”
She flushed, smiling. “Thank you, Conner.” He smelled as nice as he looked, musky but not overpowering. I can do this. I can like him.
The lawns between the school and the dorms were full of students; lots of black and white and fluff and color and sparkles. Photographers slid easily through the crowd, taking pictures of everyone in all their gorgeousness. So much going on, and still Charity looked for Hunter.
She caught sight of him just before they entered the school. He was standing in the parking lot, leaning against the cement wall. His arms were crossed over his chest, and even from that far away, she could feel him watching her. She stopped, frowning. Something… wasn’t right.
“Are you okay?” Conner leaned closer to be heard over the dull roar that was the dance.
Charity shook her head, tearing her eyes away from Hunter. She forced a smile. “Yes.”
****
“There’s nothing for me to do here. I’m wasting my time. On one,” Hunter said into the phone, watching Charity disappear into the school. He counted down from three in his head, swirling through the spell. The shimmering doorway opened, right there in the middle of the parking lot where anyone could see and he went through it, snapping it shut behind him. No one needed him at that stupid school. But there was a battle down south, and rumor had it the Edren Prodigy was going to make an appearance.
****
Charity tried — really, really tried — to focus on Conner. She danced and she laughed and she drank the yucky punch. Her head ached from the noise and the crowds and she couldn’t breathe but she still danced and laughed and drank more yucky punch, until her feet screamed for mercy. “I just need to sit down for a minute,” she said, trying not to whimper. She hobbled over to the tables, leaning a bit on Conner’s arm.
“I’ll get you more punch,” he said, hurrying away. He got caught by some friends though and paused to talk. Charity closed her eyes in relief.
The vision that she’d been fighting to keep away all night hit her hard. Shane. Shane, help!
Somehow, her cousin heard her. “Char? What’s wrong?” The chair screeched as he pulled it out to sit next to her, and she felt him brush her curls, suddenly damp with sweat, away from her face.
“Is she okay? I brought her some punch.” Conner’s voice was pinched with worry, and she could imagine how it creased his face, even though she couldn’t see it.
“Yeah. She’s… I think she’s got a migraine. Could you find her some bottled water and maybe some ibuprofen?” Shane asked.
Nice, Shane. Get rid of him and let my eyes glow in peace.
Keeping his voice low, he said, “Tell me what you see.”
She hated the odd, dislocated way she sounded when she was in the middle of a vision. “There’s a battle. A big one. I… don’t recognize the place. Somewhere desert-ish. And the Edrens are losing, but they don’t care because their Prodigy is coming and once he gets there, he’ll kill everything.” Shane’s hand tightened on hers. “But there’s something else…” Her heart froze in her chest as her vision pulled her away from the battle to the boy watching it, sparks lit at his fingertips. “Shane, Hunter’s there. Hunter’s waiting for the Prodigy.”
Shane yelped like someone had kicked him and Charity’s eyes flew open. “We’ve got to find him,” he said as he dragged a hand through his hair. “Can you fake sick?”
Charity pursed her lips, glaring at him. How many times had she faked sick to protect him before? Visions, especially ones where she saw Hunter waiting to die, took enough out of her that appearing sick was not a problem. In fact, she was struggling not to lose everything she’d eaten already.
Shane motioned to Livi. She and Nev both hurried over. “Oh girl, are you okay? You don’t look so good,” Nev said, putting a cool hand to Charity’s hot cheek.
“She’s not. I’m going to take her to the school nurse,” Shane said, tension thick in his voice as he scanned the room, hoping, no doubt, that she was wrong and Hunter was there somewhere.
“Livi, I’m so sorry,” Charity whispered. She was stealing her friend’s date, and she felt horrible, she really did. But Hunter needed them and that trumped dates every single time.
“Don’t be. The dance is almost over anyway. I’ll find Conner and let him know.” Livi squeezed her hand quickly before Shane darted out the door. Charity lifted her skirts and hurried after him, gulping the fresh air like she was drowning. Hunter, please be okay. Please, please be okay. It was dark; the moon was hidden in the clouds, and it smelled like rain. Good, it will hide my tears.
Shane didn’t hesitate. He got them into the woods and out of clear view and started making phone calls. Charity hugged her arms tightly around herself and wondered if the smell of pine needles would forever remind her of this gut-wrenching terror.
“They’re in Arizona,” he said as he snapped the phone shut and swirled through the saldepement spell. The doorway shimmered open. “I’ll call you as soon as he’s safe.”
Charity felt her jaw drop open before she could figure out how to speak. “You… you think you’re going without me?”
He didn’t respond, too focused on the scene in front of him while he reached backward to snap the portal shut. She had one chance and she grabbed it. Hefting her heavy skirts, she dove through the portal as it shut behind her.
“Charity! What are you doing?” Shane whirled, snarling at her, but he couldn’t yell without giving them away.
“I’m not letting you go alone. I’m not letting him face this alone! Now move it, Cousin.”
Shane’s mouth opened and shut like a deranged, very confused sea creature. “Okay,” he said finally, and spun toward the woman standing next to the spark of the portal. Charity knotted he
r skirts in her hand and climbed the small rise, staring in hopelessness at the battle before her. There were dozens and dozens of warriors, and the smoke was already so thick it threatened to choke her. “How are we going to find him, Shane?”
“Your vision. Tell me what you saw. Look for landmarks. Think, Charity.” Shane sounded strangled, his eyes wild with panic. He wasn’t afraid for himself — she knew him better than that. He loved Hunter like a brother, and right now his brother was somewhere out there, in the fire and ash and screaming and blood, waiting for the Edren monster.
Chapter Seven
It wasn’t that Hunter had a death wish. He was fairly positive, in fact, that he wouldn’t die but would gain valuable combat experience while having someone to take his frustrations out on. And while he’d been at school, fighting the Edren Prodigy had seemed like a good idea. But now that he was faced with the possibility of actually running into their demon, he wasn’t entirely positive this had been such a great idea.
Hunter, as the Carules Prodigy Guard, was more powerful than everyone else in the world, except the Prodigies themselves. And maybe the Edren’s Guard, although their monster Prodigy never had help. Probably no one trusted him enough to fight for him — or alongside him. Hunter leaned against a boulder that scalded his skin even through his t-shirt, and watched the battle. He really wanted to fight. A lot. The flames in his blood begged to be set free.
But he also didn’t want to die. A lot. And he could see that the warriors in this battle had more training than just their seer friend reading spells to them out of an ancient book. He almost called Shane to do a saldepement spell so he could go home. He pulled his phone out and hit the button, but then he remembered the dance. And Conner. And Charity, looking like an angel in someone else’s arms. He swore and shoved his phone back in his pocket. Pushing away from the boulder, he stormed across the desert sand, kicking viciously at a cactus. The whoosh of red flames blew past his face before he realized he had company. Cursing, he dove to the side as another spell flew over his head.
He hit the ground and rolled, ending in a crouch. There were three of them, Edrens. They looked just like any Carules except for the red flames licking their fingertips. He stood slowly, feeling sparks blaze from his hands. He burned the spell into the air, just about to push it at them, when there was an explosion behind him.
The Edrens in front of him stumbled backward and ran, fear shadowed in their faces. He spun, thinking it had to be Shane — those Edrens wouldn’t run from their own Prodigy, would they? But they were brilliant red flames coming from the hooded figure standing in the center of the battlefield, surrounded by burning bodies and bloody ash. The Edren Prodigy moved so fast, Hunter’s eyes blurred. His bright scarlet spells spun through the air before Hunter could even think of diving for cover.
For the first time in his life, Hunter knew true terror. He was going to die. He was going to die without ever telling Charity…
But the Edren Prodigy hadn’t seen him yet. He was too busy attacking the Carules who were stupid enough to fight instead of run. Slowly, so slowly, Hunter backed away, blending into the darkness. He stood motionless next to his boulder, watching the Prodigy move. He wasn’t human. There was no way that anyone, even a sorcerer, could move like that.
Hunter realized something as his terror abated enough to let coherent thought enter his poor brain. The monster didn’t chase those that fled. Instead, he slowed, hands dropping to his side. The hooded, shrouded figure’s head dropped to its chest as if suddenly overwhelmed by exhaustion. “I won’t hurt you,” he said to the Edrens cowering nearby. Without another word, he turned and dissolved into the night.
“Hunter?” Shane launched himself out of the shadows, nearly tackling Hunter in a bear hug. His tux was dirty and had burned patches, and his face was covered in ash.
“What are you doing here? Do you know how dangerous this is? The Edren Prodigy was right there.” Hunter jabbed the air furiously, trying to yell and whisper all at the same time.
“I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t looking for you, you idiot,” Shane snarled back. “What were you thinking? And you call me stupid.”
Shane’s words died in his throat. His metallic eyes, glinting in the darkness, widened in fear. He wasn’t a war-hardened soldier, like the others. But the battle is over, isn’t it?
No. It wasn’t.
Hunter saw the shadows dancing on Shane’s face and turned slowly. The Edren Prodigy materialized like a wraith and stood mere feet away, fire dancing in his palms. “Go home.” The voice was disconnected and cold. Hunter’s blood roiled and screamed. He was meant to fight this demon. He was meant to protect Shane, and without thinking, he moved in front of his best friend.
The Edren Prodigy sighed, slowly tracing the lirik into the night air. Neither Hunter or Shane even knew how to do a lirik yet. “Go home and you don’t have to die tonight. You’re just stupid kids. This isn’t your fight.”
Hunter pushed Shane backward, keeping his eyes on the monster in front of them. The spell burned bright, but hadn’t been pushed yet. What is he waiting for?
An inhuman scream shattered the scalded air as a creature rocketed off the gigantic boulder Hunter had been leaning against. It landed hard on the Edren Prodigy, knocking him to the ground. “Go! Run! Go go!” Charity screamed, rolling over and over, a tangle of ancient cloak and gauzy silk skirts.
Hunter ran. He barreled toward them, scooping Charity up in a tearing of fabric. Holding her tight against his chest, he leaped over the Prodigy and raced after Shane, who had his phone to his ear and a saldepement already burning in front of him.
The doorway shimmered open and Hunter didn’t hesitate, diving through, tackling Shane as he went. He expected the lirik to hit him in the back and it was okay because Charity was in front of him, she was safe, but the doorway snapped shut and they were all alive.
They tumbled into the dark room, lying in a heap on soft carpet.
“You… you saved us,” Hunter said, his knuckle brushing against the bruise already forming on her pale cheek as they lay tangled on the floor.
“Of course she saved us. She always saves us. Get off me.” Shane pushed at Hunter but Charity only blinked at him, big silver eyes wide and terrified.
“You did it, Charity,” he whispered. “It’s okay. We’re okay now.”
“Not all of us. Get your heavy self off me, Hunter. So I can heal her.”
Heal her? Hunter’s heart stopped and he frantically searched her for injuries. No obvious broken bones, and Charity was still breathing. Was she bleeding?
“It’s just a few bruises, Shane. I’ll be fine,” she said quietly.
Hunter felt the presence in the room before he saw it, tensing as he rolled protectively in front of Charity. Michael stood silently in the doorway, watching them.
Shane acknowledged him the same time Hunter did. “We almost died tonight. Thanks for answering your phone, Michael.” He slithered out from under Hunter and Charity, giving them both a dirty look before he rose to his feet.
“Dad. I’m your dad, Shane. And I will always answer.”
****
Hunter and Charity sat on the leather couches, waiting while Shane and his father talked quietly in the kitchen. Soft music from the stereo across the room drowned out their voices. The conversation was long overdue and Charity was happy for Shane. After all, how many times had she wished she could have even one brief phone call with her mother? Just one?
It wouldn’t happen. And right now, she didn’t have the energy to care. She was exhausted and really just wanted to go home — back to the dorms. Being a superhero took a lot out of a girl.
“You missed your dance,” Hunter said suddenly, tracing a scalded pattern in his jeans.
Charity shrugged. “It’s okay. It’s all about the dress anyway,” she teased with what little energy she had left.
Hunter raised an eyebrow, looking at the dress but not at her. “Your dress is ruined.”
&n
bsp; She glanced down. Yes, it was indeed ruined. The fabric was torn in more places than it was still intact, and the Prodigy’s flames had burned it pretty badly. “Eh. The Council can buy me a new one.”
Hunter met her eyes, finally. “Charity—” He flushed and looked away. The mighty Hunter looked embarrassed. Well, this is a first.
“Will you dance with me?” His voice was soft as his fingers entwined with hers. She was tired and ached and had all sorts of injuries but right then, she felt better than she ever had before.
“I would love that, Hunter.”
He pulled her to her feet and led her around the coffee table. In the dim light from the kitchen, he pulled her close, wrapping his hands around her waist. Charity leaned her head against his chest and listened to his heart beat. Strong and steady. She might not remember the next day, or next week, or a year from now, but at this exact second, she knew.
Hunter’s heart beat for her.
About the Author
Wendy Knight was born and raised in Utah by a wonderful family who spoiled her rotten because she was the baby. Now she spends her time driving her husband crazy with her many eccentricities (no water after five, terror when faced with a live phone call, etcetera, etcetera). She also enjoys chasing her three adorable kids, playing tennis, watching football, reading, and hiking. Camping is also big: her family is slowly working toward a goal of seeing all the National Parks in the U.S.
You can usually find her with at least one Pepsi nearby, wearing ridiculously high heels for whatever the occasion may be. And if everything works out just right, she will also be writing.
Another great read from Wendy Knight
Chapter One
Park City, Utah, Present Day
Arianna Delacour thunked her black duffle bag at the foot of her bed, wondering if she should even bother unpacking. This was her sixteenth boarding school. Sixteen in nine years, but there would have been more if she hadn’t been home schooled until third grade. That was when the Family started sending her out to hunt.
Feudlings in Sight Page 6
