Magic Undying (Dragon's Gift: The Seeker #1)(47)

No, no, no. My hearth thundered in my ears, and my skin chilled to ice.

This was my fault.

I spun, ran out of the shop and across the street to the park on the other side. My mind whirled like a Ferris wheel as I turned and gazed through the shop window.

Everything had disappeared. Nix stood alone amongst our usual clutter of artifacts, her face shocked.

The breath whooshed out of me in relief, and I nearly swayed.

It was gone.

But I’d done that. I’d done that.

Sweat broke out along my skin, my relief short-lived. Holy magic, this was a problem. I was bringing the past back. Bringing the dead back.

“Del!” Roarke’s voice sounded from the other side of the street.

Startled, I glanced up to see him hurrying across the pavement toward me.

“What are you doing over here?”

I glanced around, mind scrambling. “Uh, I thought I saw my neighbor’s dog. He shouldn’t be out.”

Roarke’s gaze searched the street and park behind me. “You find him?”

“No. I must have been mistaken.” I looked at him hopefully.

His brows lowered. “No, you’re up to something.”

“Am not.”

“No, something is off about you. But don’t worry, I’ll figure it out.”

That was exactly what I was worried about. “Come on. Let’s head in.”

As we crossed the street, I prayed to magic and every god I wished I believed in that the crazy magic wouldn’t happen again. When we entered the shop, the first thing I noticed was Nix’s squashed apple on the counter. There were a couple of artifacts tumbled to the ground, as well.

“Hey, guys,” Nix’s voice was slightly strained, but she looked mostly normal. “Cass is in the back. I’ll go get her.”

“Will you hang out here?” I asked Roarke. “I’m going to use the ladies’ room.”

He nodded, his gaze already traveling over the assortment of crazy artifacts cluttered onto the shelves lining the walls. I followed Nix into the tiny back room where I found Cass changing into a new T-shirt.

“I freaking spilled on myself again,” Cass muttered as she tugged the thing over her head.

“That’s not going to seem like a very big problem in a sec,” Nix said as she turned to me. “What the hell was that?”

“What was what?” Cass asked.

“Keep your voices down,” I hissed. “Roarke is out there. He thinks I’m peeing. And you missed it, Cass. I think I’m manifesting new powers. I’m bringing old places back to life. Bringing people back.”

“What?” Cass’s shocked gaze met mine.

“Yeah,” Nix said. “Our shop used to be the general store that served the factory workers above. Del just strolled in and brought with her this weird blue glow, and out popped a whole bunch of people in old-timey attire. She brought the dead back. She brought the past back.”

“Not good,” Cass said.

No. Bringing the dead back to life was strictly forbidden. That was a very bad power to have, even if they did disappear when I left. With the way my weird deathling powers were changing, maybe next time, they wouldn’t stay gone.

“Why’s it happening?” Nix asked. “Can you control it?”

“You’re going to have to control it,” Cass said.

“I know.” I dragged my hands through my hair. “But I don’t know how. And I don’t know why it’s happening. I mean, I turned into a Phantom when those other Phantoms embraced me. Aethelred said it was a trigger. Maybe something triggered this.”

“Going to the Underworld might do it. That’s a solid trigger, I’d bet.”

“Yeah.” I nodded, feeling the slightest fraction better. At least I had a why. Kinda. “But that still doesn’t explain what the hell I am if I can bring folks back from the dead.”

“A secret,” Cass said. “That’s what you are.”

She was right. And I’d have to learn to control it. What if it happened in a grocery store? Not to mention, sometimes the people I brought back didn’t want me on their turf. Tintagel Castle had been proof of that.

“Yeah,” I said. “Yeah, I’ll practice. But first we have to figure out this demon thing and get Roarke off my tail.”

“We’ll help.” Nix glanced at the books that I just now realized were still clutched in my hands. “Those the books you mentioned?”

“Yep.”

“‘Kay, let’s head out there,” Cass said. “Aidan is coming over on his lunch break and bringing pizza.”

My stomach grumbled. I’d nearly forgotten I hadn’t eaten. I followed my deirfiúr out into shop. Roarke was admiring a pair of wicked looking daggers on the shelf.

“Let’s get started,” I said. “I don’t know what kind of clue we’re looking for, but I hope it’s in one of these books.”

Aidan walked through the door carrying two pizza boxes and a six-pack of soda. He grinned and held them up. “Lunch.”

He set the food on a little table against the wall, then approached Roarke, who held out his hand to Aidan.

“Roarke.”

Aidan shook his hand. “Aidan Merrick.”