by Kali Harper
Glancing at our feet, I frowned when I stepped in something wet. Even with the few lights overhead, it was hard to see where we were going. The tiled walkway beneath our feet sloshed as we walked through old rainwater and mud.
“That explains where the mud on his shoes came from,” I said as Darby faced the wall nearby.
“Izzy and I cleaned ours off before we got in the car,” Darby said with a nod. “Anyway, Caleb set his place up in the woods. It isn’t uncommon for stuff to find its way over here. You ready?” She summoned her broomstick, holding it tight as she started to draw a new portal.
“Is there anything I should know before we go through? How did your uncle’s car fit down here?”
“He didn’t bring the car, silly. We walked.”
“But I thought—”
“Izzy trusts me. I told her she’d be okay so long as she played along. There,” Darby said, standing back as a new portal opened in front of us. The image on the other side was covered in static, but when Darby stepped over to the other side, I did the same, my heart dipping into my stomach as everything I knew about Fairmount was pushed to the back of mind.
In front of us stood a beautiful forest scene, tall redwoods climbing high above a small cabin. Thunder rumbled in the distance, the ground under our feet soaked with rain.
“Where are we?”
“New York,” a man said, coming around the side of the cabin with his hair plastered to his face. “Hey, weren’t you here before?” He looked at Darby who hadn’t moved since we arrived. “You came with that lanky fellow. As I said before, I’m out of stock until next week. I need to wait for my supplier.”
“To make charms?” I asked, stepping between them.
“I need herbs, ones the suppliers of Fairmount aren’t willing to give. I’ve run out of them in my own garden.” He frowned. “And who are you exactly?”
“Astrid, a friend. I only came here to find out what the charm’s for. It’s all I ask.”
“So you can report me? Look, lady, what I do down here is no one’s business but my own. I no longer sell in Fairmount, but if Richard and his lackeys want to start enforcing those of us here, he can do it himself.”
“He ran you out of town before?”
“Yeah, what’s it to you?”
“Did Morpheus agree?”
“Morpheus had no say in it. Everything Richard does is because it’s what he wants or what he thinks is best for his city. He’ll push out anyone he can to make room for his Utopia or whatever it is he’s planning. I don’t keep up with the guy, but when he threw me out, I was happy to be rid of him.”
“Couldn’t you have left on your own?”
“From Fairmount?” He laughed. “Are you kidding? That’s like asking someone to leave the most prestigious job they’ve ever had. No one ever leaves Fairmount unless they’re asked to.”
“Or banished,” I added, which resulted in a stern look from Darby. “What? It’s true.”
“Banished? Who’s banished?”
Before I could think things through, I told Caleb everything I knew about Morpheus’ banishment, including what everyone had said about him. Once I was through, Caleb headed inside, glancing back over his shoulder as he did.
“There’s warm stew over the fire if you’re interested. That said, I think this conversation is best done in a more private setting.”
“I thought you said Richard doesn’t enforce what happens down here.”
“He doesn’t, but that doesn’t mean others should overhear.” He spoke as we entered the cabin, placing his coat on a rack by the door. “Folks down here aren’t fond of strangers, even if they’re clients. We live simple lives these days and tend to barter with one another more often than not.
Still, talking about the banishment of Morpheus, one of the most powerful beings I know, is bound to turn a few heads. No need to cause a rising panic unless you can contain it, eh?”
“Understood.” I waved my hands when he offered us some stew. “No, thank you. I’m just here for information.”
“The tall fellow? He seemed mighty tongue-tied. It took me a moment to get enough information out of him to understand what he said. He asked about a Seer’s charm and turned red with the two girls standing at his sides. I can’t read minds, but if I had to guess, there’s a big secret he wants to protect. You don’t think he—”
“No. There was actually rumors of a proposal.”
He smiled then, his eyes twinkling with mirth. “Well, I’ll be. Poor soul can’t keep his head on straight long enough to ask the question.”
“He never was good with words,” Darby agreed. “So that’s all the charm is for?”
Caleb nodded. “To block one’s thoughts and intentions as well as to read the thoughts of those he’s talking to. As I said before, I’m out of the supplies I need and have none coming in until next week.”
“I always thought charms were woven with magic,” I said, knowing a lot more about them than I’d ever care to admit.
“For the more seasoned witches and wizards perhaps, but I find mine last longer if I mix them with natural herbs. In any case, what I have is over there.” He gestured to a table of cookies and other small treats. “It’s hard to afford what I need to make them on a regular basis, so my supply depends on what I have on hand at the time.”
“Seasonal charms. I like it.”
“You’re familiar?”
“You could say that,” I said. “Thank you so much for your time. I’m sorry to come unannounced, but we’re on a deadline.”
“Of course, I completely understand. If you see that gentleman, wish him the best of luck from Caleb.”
“I will.”
Leaving the cabin with Darby at my side, I stopped her before she could open a portal back to Fairmount. “He didn’t seem at all like what everyone else had said.”
“It’s a completely different world down here,” she told me, opening the portal before summoning her broomstick. “When you think about it, it’s kind of like the difference between humans and witches.”
Different but the same. “Let’s get back before Lance realizes we’re gone.”
Chapter Sixteen
The streets of Fairmount were almost blinding as we made our way out of the old subway system. Darby had spent the entire walk back talking about her first trial and how she got her broomstick. According to her, she was a jack-of-all-trades but had a particular knack for defensive spells; fireballs, ice bolts, that sort of thing.
She explained how they were the first ones she learned and those she felt the most comfortable with, even if there were more useful spells she could use. Spells such as my shields or the ability to slow time.
“I’m still trying to perfect some of them,” she said as we rounded the corner, heading back up the middle of Fairmount toward The Magician’s Closet.
In the last three days, I’d spent more time in the city than I’d ever thought I would. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, it was starting to grow on me.
The air might’ve been fresher in Emberdale, but I also found comfort in knowing as soon as we walked over the hill, Laura would be handing out flowers outside her shop while Darien stalked at the end of the street.
I say stalked, but to be fair, he is a vampire. I still couldn’t believe how the wards of Fairmount made it so he could walk around in the daylight. It wasn’t like he sparkled or anything, but the wards allowed him to walk around unhindered by what he was. Maybe Emberdale could do the same thing.
“What’s the mayor doing here?” Darby asked, pulling me from my thoughts as she pointed up the way at Richard who seemed to be having a very animated conversation with Laura. “You don’t think he’s trying to kick her out of town, do you?”
“I don’t see why he would. Her powers were stripped during a Static Storm. Not sure how it happened exactly, but Ida mentioned it before.”
“I remember.” Darby made her way toward them, dismissing her broomstick which she’d s
ummoned moments earlier before we exited the subway tunnels. “And there wasn’t anything they could do for her?”
“I guess not. You’d think they would’ve reinstated them. It wasn’t like she did anything wrong.”
“A witch without her powers is like not being able to breathe. I couldn’t imagine being without mine.”
“Even if it means getting to go to the same school as Izzy?”
Darby hesitated. “I could still go to school with her.”
“You’d learn more here. If that’s what you choose, I mean.”
“You’re starting to sound like my uncle. Are you going to tell me to make new friends as well?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I know how important she is to you.”
“No, you don’t. No one does.” Her voice cracked and she averted her gaze, turning her back to me before wiping her eyes with the end of her sleeve.
Knowing better than to butt in where I didn’t belong, I decided to change the subject instead. “They’re still going at it.” Even from where we were standing, I watched as Richard’s face turned bright red, his posture as stiff as it had been back when he saw Sammy in his office.
“My uncle warned me about how passionate the mayor was,” Darby said.
“But badgering an old woman?” It would’ve been like me harassing Maggie. It wasn’t right.
“Maybe we should go.” Darby took a step back, taking my hand in hers as she did.
I had to agree. The more Richard put Laura down, the more uncomfortable I became. Then, shaking my head, I squeezed Darby’s hand and released it.
“What’re you doing?” She grabbed at my hand which was out of reach as I walked toward the arguing pair. “Astrid, if he’s chasing witches out of town, what do you think he’ll do to you?”
“I can’t just stand by and watch,” I told her, offering Darby a quick glance over my shoulder. “Someone should say something.”
“Someone who isn’t you. Please.” There was fear in her voice, and when she reached for my hand again, hers was clammy. “Let’s go.”
I was about to turn on my heels when Richard lifted his hand. Before I realized what I was doing, I ran toward him and shielded Laura, placing myself between them once I was within range.
Richard’s hand stopped short of slapping me in the face, his eyes narrowed in my direction as Darby shrunk behind me. His eyes were dilated, and when he tried to move again, he couldn’t, held in place by one of Darby’s spells.
“What is this?” he seethed, staring right at me. “Do you know who you’re dealing with?”
“I do now,” I said, keeping my arm in front of us to hold my shield in place. How he didn’t break through was anyone’s guess, but I had a feeling I wasn’t the only one keeping it in place.
“This is ludicrous!”
“Laura, are you okay?” I didn’t have to look behind me to know she’d taken a step back.
“Fine, dear.” Her voice shook as she spoke.
Richard stared in her direction. “You’re just going to stand there and do nothing?”
“I’ve stood by and watched this city fall,” Laura said, her voice grim. “I’ve seen you turn from the sweet boy I once loved into this… this monster I don’t recognize anymore.”
“I did it all for you,” Richard said, straining against my and Darby’s combined magic.
“You did it for yourself,” she countered, shaking her head at him.
“He could’ve given you your powers back.”
“Not even Morpheus can do that. I should’ve said something as soon as I found you in his office, but I stood by. I’m so very sorry.”
Darby leaned into me. “What’s going on?”
Fisher. Richard Fisher. It all made complete sense now.
“Look at his shoes,” I told Darby, noting the combat boots dusted with mud. If I had to guess, I’d bet the prints on the bottom matched the ones Lucy had cleaned up. “I think we found our suspect,” I added, the shield around us fading the longer we stood there.
“I’ll be sure to tell Lance you fought well against the dangers of our great city,” Richard growled, overpowering our magic enough to break through a part of our shield.
“Attacking children now?” I asked him, holding both of my arms in front of me as I did whatever I could to keep the shield in place. Darby leaned into me, visibly weak from our combined efforts.
“Of course not. That would be a very unwise thing to do.” He leaned in close and lowered his voice. “Let this be a lesson to you both. Never go up against someone more powerful than yourself. Who knows, he might have friends in high places. Get them!” He yelled at the top of his lungs, calling forth what I could only assume were the Celestials.
Flashes of white and gray flickered in and out of my peripheral vision, and when I finally focused on one, it morphed into a black crow.
Darby gripped my hand so tight, my fingers tingled. “Astrid, are those—”
“Those aren’t Celestials.” I swallowed hard, keeping my arm in front of us as my shield slowly gave way. Not now. Not now!
“Yes, now,” came Richard’s reply, his lips turning upward in a malicious grin.
Apparently, my projections had gotten a lot worse. Without Sammy guarding my thoughts, the only thing I could do was run.
“Darby, we need to leave. Now.”
As Laura ran into her shop and locked the door, Darby summoned her broomstick and pulled me with her, making sure I was on the back of it before soaring into the skies above Fairmount. Her long hair whipped at my face as we flew higher and higher.
“We’ll never get to Emberdale now,” she said over the rushing wind. “He’ll be guarding the portals for sure. And what was that? How can I hear your thoughts?”
“I’m trying to get them under control,” I explained, my eyes going wide as a cloud of dark smoke swirled beneath us, morphing into a mass of crows.
“You’d better get a handle on it soon because we have company. How good are you with shields?”
I shook my head even though she couldn’t see me. “Probably only half as good as you.”
“Then get up front and drive so I can take over.”
Was she seriously suggesting we change places while we were still in the air?
“Today, Astrid!”
“Okay, okay.” Holding onto the broomstick, my heart dipped into my stomach when Darby hung from it, slowly walking her hands under me before pulling herself back up so she could sit on the back. The broomstick swerved, narrowly missing a tree as I pulled back, catapulting us up over the clouds with the dark swarm following after us. “What are those things?”
“Not Celestials,” Darby said, a ball of flame erupting from her hands as she shot at the large mass. The crows dispersed, coming together moments later to form a single entity, each of the beast’s wings larger than a car.
The sinking feeling in my gut returned, and as it did, I focused on my thoughts and did whatever I could to send them to Sammy. He’d know what to do, and if not, at least he could warn Lance. “We’re being chased by a giant crow. It’s Richard. Richard’s behind everything.”
“Seriously? You’re going to project now?” Darby growled, throwing a frost bolt followed by a second fireball at the large bird which didn’t even leave a scratch. “What is this thing made out of?”
“Witch hunters?” I screamed, having heard back from Sammy.
“Is there a way to get rid of it?”
“I don’t know. Sammy isn’t answering. We need to lose it somehow.”
“You’re the one driving,” she reminded me, giving up on her offensive spells as she formed a barrier behind us. “Morpheus warned me not to overexert myself this close to a trial. So much for that.”
“It’s either this or getting killed, your choice.” I swerved again, barely avoiding one of the creature’s sharp talons as I dove beneath the clouds and into the woods around Fairmount. Whatever I said about Fairmount’s beauty before, forge
t it. “As soon as we get out of here, I’m done with magic.”
“You and me both,” Darby said, laughing hysterically. I figured it was nerves, because soon, I was doing the same exact thing.
Struggling for breath, I righted the broomstick and flew forward, weaving in and out of the trees as I kept below the canopy. The bird’s large wings flapped overhead, the wing beats slowly pushing us toward the ground.
“He’s going to ground us,” Darby said. “Go higher.”
“I’m trying, but it won’t budge.” Even with Darby’s shield, the crow was crushing us and pushing through her magic. Maybe if we both did a barrier like before…
“Stop thinking about it and just do it,” Darby ordered, doubling her efforts as I focused on us along with the broomstick.
The wood under my hands warmed as the spell took over, warding us from the creature’s first attack. Its large talons grazed the barrier. Still, keeping the broom upright and not passing out were close to impossible when flying at such a high speed. Slowing down wouldn’t have been much better, so I continued through the woods, doing whatever I could to lose the hunter before it grabbed us.
We were almost in the clear when the trees stopped, shrinking behind us as we entered a large grassy area.
“We need to turn back,” Darby said, her voice strained as she struggled to hold the ward in place. Dark spots crowded my vision, and as the broom descended toward the ground, I rolled off, leaving Darby to fly on her own. “What’re you doing?” she cried, turning back for me.
“Get out of here,” I told her, concentrating on the beast as it cleared the forest, many of the trees vaporized by its touch. “Get somewhere safe.”
“What about you?”
“Darby, now!”
I focused on the beast headed straight for us. Sensing Darby’s hesitation, I already knew how this was going to end. I couldn’t let a child fall to such a beast, especially considering I was the one who brought it on. If I’d just listened and kept my mouth shut, we would’ve been home by now. But no, I had to interfere and protect someone I barely knew from the mayor of Fairmount. The freaking mayor!
