Anomaly (Causal Enchantment #4)(30)

To my dismay, fledglings were running for the tunnels like rats under threat of water, an image Mage had described earlier and, now that I witnessed it, couldn’t be more accurate. We couldn’t have them warning the other station.

I unloaded several more blasts of magic into the tunnels, reaching deep within to close them off completely. Beneath my feet, a tremor vibrated the staircase we stood on, but I ignored it, focused on the remaining fledglings now trapped, intent on burning them to ashes.

But the rumbling didn’t stop.

And when the cracking sound drew my attention to the fissure overhead, up and all around the curved ceiling, my stomach tightened.

I knew what was about to happen.

Mage grabbed hold and yanked me through the only exit left intact. We made it to the street level just in time to watch the pavement open up as the construction site caved in.

“Oh my …,” Fiona gasped behind me as vehicles and pedestrians disappeared into the chasm.

Chaos exploded around us. People scrambled to get away, hugging their loved ones as they ran down the street. In the distance, the screams of sirens bounced off buildings. I couldn’t say if they were rushing here or to the crash site of the runaway train.

And, in the mix of it all, were the fledglings. And they were scattering.

“The park!” Mortimer yelled as they took off, leaving Mage and me standing still in the midst of disaster. I could’ve yelled after them, demanded that they stay, that we needed to stick together. But I didn’t.

Instead, I stepped to the edge, my insides knotting as I witnessed the worst of it unfold below. People trapped in cars—the ones not already crushed anyway—peering through the darkness, their shocked faces frozen, the few seconds of relief as their doors are ripped off or their windows smashed, when they think they’ve been saved.

The screams of horror when they realize the truth.

“Do you have any magic left in you?” Mage asked.

“Some,” I said, my voice hollow. For what good it would do us, I didn’t know.

“Then you need to finish this. Eliminate what you can.”

I turned to gape at her. Was she serious?

“They’ll be climbing out soon and when they do …” She left the words hanging like the death sentence that they were.

My teeth cracked against the weight of this decision as I took in dozens of cars, the figures still moving inside.

“Sofie, their hearts may still beat but they are already dead,” Mage said more softly.

She was right. Mage was always right.

I closed my eyes as I depleted every last trace of my magic, igniting the massive hole with witch fire. The last heartbeats faded almost instantly.

And I knew that this night would haunt me for years to come.

Chapter Seven – Evangeline

The small wisp of smoke floating from the chimney told me that someone was home.

“Looks like everyone’s asleep,” I whispered as we made our way toward the dark log house, about five miles from the mine. Of course, we’d know soon enough. Their heartbeats would throb in our throats; the scent of their blood would fill our nostrils. And I’d know exactly how stupid I was for suggesting this.

I grabbed hold of Julian’s arm. “Wait.” His feet slowed. “Julian?”

Eyes mixed with excitement and wariness shone in the full moonlight as he turned to me.

Though I still didn’t really know what I was doing, I was quite sure that part of compelling someone required meaning the words. They couldn’t be a flippant comment, a passing request. I had to feel their importance. Thankfully, that wasn’t hard this time around, because I hoped with every fiber of my being that this would work.

“Julian, this is a test. You won’t hurt anyone in there. You will not feed on anyone. You’ll be able to resist the urge.”

He blinked several times and then turned his attention back to the quiet home, nodding slowly.

This has to work. “Ready?”

“Yup.”

I crossed my fingers that it would really be that easy.

A turn of the doorknob revealed the door to be unlocked.

“What’s the point of a deadbolt if you’re not going to use it?” Julian muttered.

“I guess they don’t expect to be bothered out here.” I left fresh snow tracks on the tile floor as I stepped into the house. The smell of them—of human life—hit me instantly, an appealing waft, like stepping into a warm bakery on a cold winter morning. I inhaled instinctively.

And reached out to grab hold of Julian’s forearm. Turning back, I found his eyes squeezed shut.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. I can resist this,” he forced through gritted teeth.

“You can. Look at me.” His eyes cracked open, crimson swarming the whites. “You will not hurt anyone in this house tonight, Julian. You will resist,” I said evenly.

He visibly relaxed. Baby steps. That’s all this was. If he could handle this, then maybe Sofie was wrong. Maybe Julian and I could join in the fight in New York. We could be useful!

I walked into the living room, my feet soundless against the old wood floors. I scanned the collage of photos on the wall, learning what I could about the family whose life I was gambling with tonight. A couple and three boys, all in their teens, by the looks of it.

“Why are you smiling?” Julian’s eyes followed mine over the countless pictures of the boys on surfboards and skis.