I reached for the door handle at the same time the lock clicked in place.
“And you’re nothing but a nuisance to my friend, Paige,” Emma said, picking up the tin pencil holder on Mrs. Parris’s desk. She examined a letter opener and then put everything back down. “Did you know she had the biggest crush on Kevin, but he asked you out and not her?”
At the time, I hadn’t known that. Kevin had asked me out during our freshman year, and it hadn’t been until I’d seen how distant Paige had become since then that I’d guessed she liked him. It wasn’t like I’d stolen him from her.
“Then we saw Isaac at the party. I’d just finished convincing Paige to go over and talk to him, and you showed up.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “You’re talking as if I purposely set out to ruin Paige’s dating life. You do realize she and I were friends before she started hanging out with you?”
“That was before she realized just how much you were holding her back, before I gave her the power to do something about it.”
“You what?”
Suddenly, Paige’s and Emma’s behavior made sense. When Kaylee and I had been friends with Paige, she’d been shy and sort of awkward in her own skin. I hadn’t seen her much over this past summer, but she’d come back to school confident, dressing totally differently and best friends with Emma. Damn, I should have connected Emma to Mark and Paige sooner. The only thing I wasn’t sure about now was if Mark or Emma had put the curse on the necklace.
I stared across the classroom into her dark eyes and saw nothing but hate. I breathed in and choked on a scent so vile it made me cringe. It took me a moment to place what it reminded me of, and when I figured it out I nearly stumbled sideways. Sulfur. The same odor the guys had smelled after the beach party. It burned the fine hairs in my nostrils. My heart pounded in my chest, and I had to tell myself not to panic. I had to get out of the classroom. I had to find Josh and Isaac.
“Open the door, Emma,” I ordered.
“No.” Emma studied her nails with calculated boredom. “The way I see it, if you were gone, then both Paige and I could be happy.”
I pulled at the door. It didn’t budge. “You’re crazy!”
That realization didn’t help me remain calm. It didn’t give me the feeling that Emma just wanted to talk and mark her territory, that being Mark himself.
Emma waved her hand in a jerky motion from left to right, sending one of the students’ desks skidding across the floor toward me. I threw my arm up in a blocking stance, as if she were throwing a punch, and pushed power away from me. Its force collided with the desk with a bang and ricocheted it away.
“I see you finally embraced your powers,” Emma said. “This could be fun.” I didn’t like the gleam in her eyes, and fun was the last word I’d use to describe what we were having. “Let’s see just how much you’ve learned.”
Emma thrust her hands forward as if pushing something out of the way. I was slammed against the wall and lifted to the ceiling by the force of her power. I clutched at my stomach where her spell held me pinned. Emma took the scissors out of Mrs. Parris’s desk and twirled them around in her hand. I fought harder to get free. I needed help.
“Isaac, Josh,” I half whispered, half sobbed—hoping our summoning spell would work.
In my head, I heard Kaylee’s panicked voice calling Josh’s and my name in reply.
Emma threw the scissors like a dart. They soared toward me, and I screamed as the point of the scissors sank into the wall next to my ear.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” Emma sat in Mrs. Parris’s chair and passed the stapler from one hand to the other as she spoke. “I was planning on killing you, but that would be a waste of your magic. I mean, really, if you were to drop dead right now, what would happen to all your powers?”
I figured they would die with me but was too stunned by Emma’s behavior and the turn of events to ask. I tried wiggling to free myself.
“You’re lucky I’ve seen how effective a curse can be, and there are a couple spells I’d love to try out. They won’t hurt much. There’s full-blown crazy where you’ll think you can fly just like Dumbo, or I’ve been reading up on one that puts different voices in your head. You know, imaginary friends only you can hear.” Her eyes widened. “Maybe you’ll think you’re the next messiah or something like that.” She laughed. “Or would you prefer to be just far enough gone that people call you ‘special’ and send you to a special school? I can make that one look like an accident, like you hit your head and knocked something up there loose. You pick.”
She acted as if she’d just asked me something as simple as which movie I would like to go see later that night.
I could taste my own fear, like rotten strawberries. With my left hand still gripping my stomach, I held my right hand in front of me and focused on my power, forcing it to travel down my arm and into my hand. I pushed it out to my fingertips and into a ball of energy that streaked toward Emma. She ducked, releasing me at the same time. I fell to the floor and scrambled to my feet. Emma was nowhere to be seen.
Her mocking laughter came from behind the teacher’s desk. “Not bad. Did you know that negative emotions make your spell stronger? That embracing the darkness within you can open up doors to your powers that you never knew existed?”
“And corrupt your soul in the process.” I tried the door again. Still locked.
“You have to taste the power it gives you to understand. It’s amazing. So incredible, you want more and more of it.” Emma stood back up. “Did you know there’s more to be had, if you’re not afraid to take it? I wasn’t afraid. I can share my powers and not even miss the little I give away. Paige was eager to become someone else. Someone who could walk through the halls of school with her head held high. Someone who wasn’t afraid to approach guys. I gave her power and showed her how to use it to turn herself into the person she wanted to be.”
“There was nothing wrong with the old Paige.” I looked around me for anything I could use against Emma, a book to throw at her or a chair to slam down over her head. Problem was, not much in the classroom was going to help me fight against a vamped-up psycho with her kind of power.
“The old Paige wouldn’t have had the guts to walk up to a guy and ask him out,” Emma went on. “You know, Isaac would have fallen in love with her if he hadn’t had the ability to block her charm.” Emma smirked. “He gave himself away that night at the shore.”
“Maybe Isaac wasn’t interested in having his mind played with.” I gave some serious consideration to throwing fire at her, but with the door locked and the type of luck I seemed to be having lately, I was afraid I’d end up burning myself alive in the process. “People should be able to choose who they want to spend time with.”
Emma shrugged. “Says you. Paige is happier now. She’s more fun to be with too. Slashing the tires on Josh’s Mustang was her idea. We were supposed to have dinner that night at The Grill, but when Paige saw you with Isaac, she didn’t want to stay.”
I hadn’t even known they’d been there. I’d have to start paying better attention to my surroundings. That is, if I made it out of this classroom alive and with my sanity.
“So you slashed Josh’s tires? What sense does that make?” I asked, hoping to keep her talking until I figured out what to do.
Emma walked around to the front of the desk. “We didn’t know what Isaac drove, and we figured since you were there with Josh and Kaylee, we’d still be interrupting your date. Hexing the necklace Mark gave you was Paige’s idea. She got it from the spell I have on my little friend.” Emma patted the black widow lovingly. “My spider knows when it’s in the hands of another girl. She causes paranoia and a string of bad luck. Anyway, Paige thought it would be funny if the next girl Mark gave the necklace to threw up all over him. I decided the curse should be more potent. The longer the necklace was worn, the stronger the curse became. That should have been you in the hospital fighting demons. You know that, don’t y
ou?” Emma smirked. “Does she still see them?”
“You bitch.” I charged her, making it a few feet before she socked me with a blast of power that pushed me right back to the wall, a few inches from the door. This time she locked my arms to my side.
“The hex bag on Isaac’s Jeep was all me,” she said calmly. “I do wish I could have seen what happened when his tire blew.”
The memory of sliding through the motor of the semi-truck gave me an involuntary shudder. “You almost killed us.”
I struggled to free my arms. Someone shook the door, trying to open it.
“Madison! Are you in there?” It was the loveliest voice I’d ever heard.
“Isaac!” I pushed what power I could from me and freed my arms, or maybe Isaac’s presence had distracted Emma and she lost focus on her spell. She raised her hand, sending a spell at the door that caused it to momentarily glow an eerie orange around the edges, sealing it.
“Move away from the door!” he yelled.
I struggled harder, but it was no use. Emma’s spell held me pinned to the wall. “I can’t!”
Isaac swore, then rammed into the door. It didn’t give. He did it a couple more times before the doorframe groaned under the impact. When the door flew open, it swung toward me. I held my hand up just in time to save my face. Isaac’s powers reached out and wrapped around me. As I became completely enveloped in them, Emma’s spell broke, and I slumped to the floor. Isaac shot a narrow-eyed glace at Emma, his powers sending her tumbling over the teacher’s desk. Kevin and Paige stood in the doorway.
Paige looked less smug than she had in the hall. Her eyes traveled from me to the scissors stuck in the wall. Kevin stood rigid as he watched Isaac help me to my feet. I threw my arms around Isaac’s neck and hid my face in his shoulder.
The bitterness I’d tasted at school when Isaac and Kevin had first seen each other and again at the graveyard when I’d talked to Sarah and Kaylee caught in my throat, and I gagged. I glanced at Kevin. Something dark stirred in his eyes as he watched Isaac holding me.
“Kevin?” I wasn’t even sure the word made it out of my mouth. I grabbed at my throat.
The deep blue eyes that bore down on me weren’t the blue eyes of my Kevin. They belonged to someone who had little control of his emotions and his powers.
Isaac looked from me to Kevin. Emma laughed and leaned against the desk to watch.
“Can’t—breathe.” Even as I fell into Isaac, I couldn’t take my eyes off Kevin. Isaac guided me to the floor.
The room filled with anger and hatred and jealousy and fear. My fear, and not for myself but for what Kevin and Isaac would do to each other. I knew in my heart Kevin wouldn’t intentionally hurt me. He just couldn’t. And Isaac, he had made it very clear that he would embrace the dark to protect me. I had no doubt he’d meant it. The stale air in the room turned icy.
It was selfish on my part, but I didn’t want to lose either of them. I’d rather die, which didn’t seem too far off. My lungs burned for the oxygen that wasn’t making it past my throat. Isaac covered my mouth with his and blew air and power into me. I savored it. The heat threatening to burn a hole through my lungs softened enough for me to take another breath on my own. As soon as Isaac moved away from me, though, the glory of breathing—something I’d always taken for granted—vanished. The burning returned to my lungs, and I struggled again for air.
Isaac stood in front of me, his powers no longer the scent of spearmint and vanilla that was him. I tried to scream for them to stop, but my throat closed around the words. Paige tugged at Kevin, trying to pull him out of the classroom. With a sweep of his hand, Kevin sent Paige flying across the room. She landed near the chalkboard.
“Do something!” Paige yelled.
Emma sat on the edge of Mrs. Parris’s desk. She had a ringside seat for the fight that seemed inevitable.
“A few more minutes and they’ll have taken care of our little problem for us,” Emma cooed. “Our hands will be clean of her blood.”
Oh hell, that didn’t sound good. I slipped into unconsciousness with those words swirling in my head.
I couldn’t have been out long. I woke with Isaac over me again, his warm lips covering mine, blowing air and power into me. I wanted to say thanks and tell him not to be angry with Kevin. Instead, I sucked in air like a drowning person rising to the surface.
“You’re killing her!” Isaac yelled. He barely raised his hand when he stood, which threw Kevin across the room and crashed him into the window before he came to a stop. The glass groaned as a crack emerged and raced like lightning over the smooth surface of the window to the metal frame that held it in place.
I grabbed the leg of Isaac’s jeans, trying to hold him back. I didn’t want them fighting over me. I didn’t want them killing each other over me. I could barely speak; my voice came out in a hoarse whisper. “Isaac, please. He doesn’t know what he’s doing. One of you has to stay in control.”
Isaac shook his leg free and moved out of my reach.
“Isaac!” I screamed, his name coming out in a dull, scratchy hiss instead of with the volume and intensity I’d tried for.
“Do something,” Paige begged Emma, “before they kill each other.”
“No.” Emma’s voice was cool, collected. Uncaring.
With Kevin on the other side of the room, still getting to his feet, I could breathe. Well, gag, really. The air reeked of power—strong and pungent. Kevin’s bitter jealousy and Isaac’s rage mixed with Paige’s sudden remorse and Emma’s sweet joy. It tasted oddly delectable as it eased the burning in my lungs and the pain in my throat. I swayed as I pushed myself to my feet. I kept one hand on the wall until the room stopped spinning.
I had to gather my emotions before Isaac and Kevin fought power against power. I didn’t want to be the reason Isaac embraced the dark and tainted his soul. He was good and kind and deserved to stay that way. Spearmint and vanilla. And Kevin only needed training, to learn to use his powers without negative emotions. All he had come here for was friendship and help, and all I had managed to do was push him away and cause him more pain than he deserved.
I staggered forward, grabbing the first desk I stumbled into for support. I glanced at Emma in time to see her lift her hand. My arm raised automatically, my forearm in front of me in a perfect blocking stance. Desks and chairs skidded across the floor as her powers rushed past me. I managed to create an invisible shield that kept anything from hitting me. Isaac and Kevin battled nearby, but I didn’t dare take my eyes off Emma. Paige stood a few feet away, tears streaking her face. She should be scared, I thought, trapped in a room with four witches: two pissed-off, one crazy, and one desperate.
I didn’t have time to gather my powers. I simply pushed, sending an uncontrolled amount of magic gushing forward. It hit Emma and Paige with vigor and sent them flying into the blackboard. Emma hit her head, knocking her out. Paige appeared too scared to move.
I inhaled deeply and moved forward one desk at a time. Kevin stood facing Isaac, one hand on the back of his neck, his eyes unfocused. Isaac’s back was to me. He stood with his feet shoulder-width apart and his palms in front of him. With a thrust of his hands, power rippled forward.
Kevin doubled over as Isaac’s spell hit him in his stomach. He stood quickly, sending his own powers out toward Isaac, who in turn was thrown into the teacher’s desk.
“Please,” I begged, my voice stronger than before. “Don’t do this.”
Isaac and Kevin both unleashed a spell—their powers collided in an explosion of red.
I moved closer to Isaac. His beautiful brown eyes were black. Kevin faced him, his features twisted in fury.
“Don’t do this!” I screamed. Tears ran freely down my face. I was losing everything. Isaac. Kevin. If they destroyed each other, they’d destroy me.
Their powers crackled around me, stinging my skin with its energy. Neither of them noticed me. I didn’t even know if they remembered I was there. They were beyond reasoning
with, but I had to try.
I grabbed Isaac’s raised arm. “Listen to me!”
He shrugged me off easily.
I lunged for Kevin next. He stepped to his side, moving before I could throw my arms around him to keep him from striking Isaac again. My knee hit the heater along the wall of the classroom. Isaac advanced on Kevin.
I had to get their attention. I had to make them hear me.
“Stop it!” I screamed as I ran between them, my arms out to my side, one hand on each of their chests. Power surged into me, and I shook viciously.
Have you ever accidentally stuck a screwdriver into an electrical outlet? The shock caused by the voltage traveling through the screwdriver into your hand causes your fingers to lock in place. Your body trembles, and at first you can’t move. The jolt short-circuits your brain for a brief moment before you are able to react. I can only imagine that standing in water while you did this would make the whole ordeal that much worse. The water would act like a conductor and keep feeding electricity back into you.
Having my hands on Isaac and Kevin while their powers ran through them uncontrolled was sort of like that, only ten times worse.
I could feel their emotions.
Betrayal, confusion, and jealousy emanated from Kevin, but his emotions went deeper than just him and me. They compounded into loneliness, feeling like an outsider in the town he’d grown up in. He hadn’t asked for these powers, and he didn’t want them.
There was a tinge of jealousy in Isaac too, but more than that, he was angry and scared. As scared of losing me as I was of losing him. But wrath and determination fed his powers, and I had no doubt he would be the one who walked away from this fight. His powers exceeded Kevin’s, and he’d yet to unleash the full force of his strength.
I wish I could say, in that moment standing between the people I loved, that I saw hope—a bright light that assured me things would be okay. Sometimes, you just know that isn’t true. Sometimes, you end up hurting the ones you love. You can’t save them or yourself.
Embrace Series 01: Embrace Page 19
