Rilla and Victor’s spell is complete and the worlds will never be the same because of it. The spell capturing me and bleeding me of my magic has faded along with the earthquakes. Thunder and lightning still crash somewhere in the distance and rain pours into the house through the open doorway, but otherwise, the worst seems to be over. At least, directly around us it is.
With the spell gone, the chains were easily pulled out of the crumbling doorframe to release me.
My source of magic is completely empty as far as I can tell, and I’d guess Al’s is the same. Though I have a feeling mine will come back. He doesn’t have the same luxury. Then again, I wouldn’t mind sharing if it’s with Al.
While Al and I sit against a wall, drained of all energy to do anything more than hold each other, the others move around trying to assess the damage.
Sin’s first thought is for her animals of course. Once she’s sure they’re okay, though a little shaken up, she begins to walk around the house, checking every room.
“Damn it,” she shouts. “I think the earthquakes took out every single one of Gran’s plates. I guess we’re eating out of bowls for a while.”
“Do you think everyone at home is okay?” Rose asks.
No one says anything. We have no way of knowing and won’t find out until we go check. I’ve already tried to phone Mom, but all phones in our house are down, both cell and Gran’s old landline.
“I’m fine by the way,” Loraine says after a bit of silence. “Only used up a month’s worth of magic to save the house, but it’s not a big deal. I’m perfectly okay.”
I can feel Al’s head shake though I refuse to move in order to get a proper look at him.
“You did great, Loraine,” he says. “You saved us all.”
“Thank you,” she says. “Now was that so hard?”
“Aww!” Sin’s voice carries easily from somewhere at the back of the house. “The picture of us with Gran at Fairyland got ripped. Damn it. I looked so cute in it.”
Part of me wants to laugh, but I know if I start, I won’t be able to stop. Either that, or it will quickly turn to tears and I’ll start sobbing uncontrollably into Al’s shirt.
A knock on the door startles all of us, though none of us have the strength or energy to stand to do anything about it. Farah starts growling in the way she usually reserves for wizards, and all of us tense more. If it is a wizard, none of us, except maybe Sin, will be able to do a thing about it.
“Yep, this is it,” an unfamiliar voice barks as they walk through the door uninvited. There’s a strange quality to the voice, as though the person is trying to force themselves to speak in a deeper octave than is natural for them. “I can sense the magic.”
“Who the hell are you?” Sin says, followed quickly by, “Hey. Stop. You can’t go up there.”
A woman with brown hair cut short in a boy’s hairstyle gets to the top of the stairs and takes a long look around. I would have guessed she was a guy at first, except her shirt is tight enough to show the curves of her chest. Her gaze pauses as she takes in each of us and then the opening where the portal once was.
She points to the doorway. “Portal?” she asks in her false deep voice.
No one moves or gives any indication she’s guessed right. Assuming it is a guess.
Her finger moves to point between Rose, Loraine and me. “And two...three...two sorceresses?”
Again we don’t react. This time it’s more difficult not to be impressed. What would make her think we’re sorceresses? Unless she’s a sorceress herself, or a wizard, there’s no way she should be able to tell.
“And no dead,” she says. “Impressive.”
“Get out of my house,” Sin says as she follows several others up the stairs. “All of you. Or my chimera will kill each and every one of you on my command.”
As though trained to act with perfect comedic timing, Farah makes the most pathetic of yips and then rushes up the stairs to hide in the room at the farthest end of the hallway.
“Farah.” Sin races up the stairs after her pet. “What is wrong—?”
I have never seen Sin become completely lost for words for longer than a few seconds before. But when a tall, incredibly handsome young man with floppy green hair and emerald eyes that practically glow in the dark pushes past the other unwelcome guests and comes up behind her, lazily slings his arm around her shoulder, she goes utterly silent. She stares up at him, her jaw hanging open just like a cartoon character’s might. And she says nothing long after I expected her to be able to find her voice again.
“Hello, little shaman,” the man says. “Fancy meeting you here.”
Sin continues to stare.
“Guess you and your sister won’t have to rescue me after all,” he says. “I’ve already found myself a knight in shining...” He indicates the short haired girl. “What are you wearing? Leather? Cotton? Anyway, he graciously figured out a way to free me. For a price, of course.”
“I’ve told you,” the girl says patiently. “I’m female. That makes me a ‘she.’”
“Of course.” The green haired guy waves his hand dismissively. “It really is impossible to tell the difference with you humans.” His gaze falls on Al and his eyes narrow with concentration. I tense, not liking the way the stranger is looking at my Al. “You look familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?”
“Dray?” Sin finally manages to say.
His eyes widen with amusement and he grins at Sin. “Right. I have a name. Dray.” He nods while taking the time to think about it. “Not bad. Though I think it should have a bit more oomph like ‘Dray the Human Slayer’ or “Dray the Destroy.’ What do you think?”
Sin doesn’t respond.
“No, you’re right,” he says. “It’s too much. Fine, I’ll stick with Dray. For now.”
Since no one else seems to be able to ask the most obvious question, I say, “Who are you people?”
“My name is Tristan,” the brown haired girl says with a polite nod of her head. “And we are representatives of the Shadow Coven. We’re here to help.”
Look for book 4 of The Box series January 2014
About the Author
Christina G Gaudet is a young adult author. When not writing, Christina can be found working on comics, illustrations and designs. She grew up and continues to live in Prince Edward Island, Canada where having red hair instantly makes you famous. To find out more about Christina, visit her website at www.ChristinaGGaudet.com
The Box Omnibus #1 (The Box, The Journal, The Sword) Page 46
