Anomaly (Causal Enchantment #4)(50)
But they also hated to lose.
It had taken years and many concessions to Terra in order to name the girl his, for Terra could see what a powerful adversary the choice could be. She did not want to lose. She had, after all, chosen the primary player for this game—the redheaded witchling named Sofie—after winning the last round, with every intention of winning again.
The others had selected well—Unda chose the one named “Nathan” as a means of attacking Sofie’s romantic side. That choice propelled the game forward with Sofie’s pleas for help from the Fates. A’ris further complicated the player Sofie’s life by inviting venomous jealousy into the game through the election of the witch, “Ursula.” That player’s hatred and determination far exceeded their expectations.
But they all knew that in the end, it would come down to a face-off between Incendia and Terra’s players.
And Incendia was certain that when the true test time came, his player would choose right.
“Do you think it’s true that the player Sofie will not pray?” A’ris asked, recalling her declaration to all that she no longer would.
“I don’t see how she won’t. When she grows desperate enough.” Terra chuckled to herself. “That silly name … ‘causal enchantments.’”
“Silly the name may be, but they’re the only lifeline for us into this world,” Unda said. It was their one true weakness, if it could be called that. “The only way to interfere without stopping a game before it has run its course.” If they stopped a game, how would they begin a new one? Who would be named victorious? Who would select the next primary player? Ending a game before completion was against the order of things, and the Fates required order.
“That is not true,” A’ris quickly corrected. “Recall we will be granted one audience with the player Sofie should the need arise. That was arranged.”
“Yes, it was.” Incendia nodded his agreement. He had arranged it as a barter for the two requests the player Sofie had made when the Fates had granted her request for an audience with them. “Let us not use it until absolutely necessary.”
Chapter Seventeen – Sofie
“It’ll be days before the military can step foot in there to look for survivors,” I said, studying the ominous clouds taking over the morning sky. From our perch atop a mountain ridge near the mine, my hollow voice carried on the constant breeze. The hollowness was a fitting counterbalance to the rot that had taken up residence inside, a feeling I knew I wouldn’t shake for years to come, if ever.
Based on Lilly’s quick scouting—I really had to hand it to her, unlike the rest of us, she was keeping it together despite losing both Kait and Galen—the bomb may have devastated the city but it appeared the entire northeastern seaboard was paralyzed, electrical systems fried, communications systems broken. We wouldn’t know how far that paralysis extended until a more thorough investigation was conducted.
“They won’t find many,” Mage said, standing directly next to me, her jet-black hair fluttering in the wind. “Perhaps some along the outer ring, if the fledglings who survived haven’t dispatched of them first.”
I dipped my head with the weight of the situation. How many fledglings could’ve survived? Certainly a small fraction compared to the infestation of hours earlier.
Certainly not one tied to the nineteenth floor of a Manhattan office building at ground zero.
“I can’t help but think we should’ve waited.”
“This would have happened anyway. How long did you think the rest of the world would have sat back and simply watched, waiting for the ‘epidemic’ to come to them, before they realized they were at war?” Her voice turned harsh. “Eleven days. That’s how long they waited on Ratheus before this country was bombarded with the world’s nuclear weapons supply. Their peace treaties, their friendships … none of it mattered in the face of true fear. Even now, there are countless conversations taking place behind closed doors, wondering who ordered the attack, who may be next, and what to do about it. Eventually they’ll come to the same strategy—survival of the fittest. Or the most powerful.
“And it doesn’t help that this country’s leaders are likely being counseled by the Sentinel and the witches, pointing fingers at our kind, pushing for harsh offensive tactics to eliminate us before this should happen again.”
“If that’s true, then we’ll never be rid of this threat until every last witch and sentinel is dead,” I said.
“Second-guessing yourself will not change anything,” Mage reminded me.
“But perhaps someone may have found Amelie and released her.” Some unsuspecting human going into the office. If anyone would bother with what was happening around them. “Then she’d still be alive.” And I would not be the treacherous witch who looked directly into Evangeline’s eyes and lied. Watching that comprehension take shape in her mind felt like a scythe sweeping through my gut.
“And this world would have no chance,” Mage pushed. “Now, it does. At least a small chance. We will go in there, finish off the last of them, and then the humans can clean up.”
Clean up? How did one begin to clean up the kind of devastation I had just delivered to them? They had done it—twice—many years ago, in Japan. I remembered that. But these bombs were so much more powerful! And we were talking about New York City!