Antebellum Awakening (The Network Series #2)(52)

“I’m looking for it,” Miss Mabel hissed. “Why don’t you try for awhile?”

“I shouldn’t have to do it if you were competent. Honestly, how difficult can it be to find a book? We can’t afford a longer delay, not with the Central Network fighting back and Derek still in as Head of Protectors. Two simple tasks, Mabel. Find the book and get rid of Derek. That’s all I asked of you. Looks like I’ll have to do it myself.”

Now, I thought. I should transport now.

But I didn’t, because they were talking about my father, my Network, my world.

“I have it under control.”

“Is that why you have a little stranger rifling through your bedroom?” the new voice asked in a little purr, setting my powers on fire. A feeling of fear pinched my heart, like someone had pulled a string through it.

“She’s nothing I haven’t handled in the past,” Miss Mabel said tersely. “I’ll take care of things here. Leave, and don’t rush back."

“I’ll leave you to it, darling,” the voice said. “She’s obviously quite brave for someone so young. Perhaps we should try to recruit her. She might do a better job than you have.”

“I told you to leave.”

The whisper of someone transporting away was the only reply.

A surge of fear welled up within me as I whispered the transportation spell. But the welcoming blackness didn’t come. Panicked, I tried again and again, but it felt like my magic was hitting a wall. Nothing happened. Miss Mabel must have a protective shield on her room that allowed witches to transport in, but not back out. A veritable trap that explained the oppressive feeling I’d had.

“Come out, come out, Bianca darling,” Miss Mabel called, her voice closing in. “Or I can come find you.”

This was it. I wasn’t getting out. I tightened my jaw, drew in a deep breath, and yanked an unlit torch from the wall. If I couldn’t get away, I certainly wouldn’t cower. The sound of Miss Mabel’s hem sliding over the floor rustled into the room. I released the invisibility incantation and gripped the torch in my hands, holding it like a club.

“Miss Mabel,” I said, dipping my head in greeting.

She stopped at the foot of her bed, her eyes narrowed. Her blonde hair swung loose on her shoulders, skimming a scandalous dress of sapphire silk that brightened her eyes, making them shine. A slip of black lace peeked out from underneath the top layer. Held fast in her left arm was the Book of Contracts. I swallowed back the dry taste of humiliation and fear.

“Merry meet. Why don’t you stay right there for a little while?” she asked.

An invisible force pushed me into the wall and tightened around my neck, cutting off my airway. The torch fell from my arms with a loud crack and rolled across the floor.

“Nasty little trespassers deserve to be punished for their stupid ideas, don’t you think?" Miss Mabel spat. “Especially a witch with such poor execution. You thought I wouldn’t notice you here? Fool!”

The invisible band around my neck constricted. My arms flailed for purchase, my toes stung from the weight. No matter what I did, I couldn’t breathe. All my weight sat on my throat.

“So,” she drawled, setting the Book of Contracts on her bed and moving toward me with her usual slow saunter. “You thought you could come steal my book and destroy your binding, did you?”

The Book of Contracts flapped open with a burst of hot wind. My hair whipped across my face, partially obscuring her wild, bright eyes. I’d seen Miss Mabel in many forms, but never had she appeared this dangerous, this . . . furious.

“I’m going to assume that you are still determined to not kill the next High Priest?” she said.

The pressure around my throat loosened just enough to allow me breath. I coughed, pulling in large gulps of air. “Never,” I finally muttered.

“You don’t want to live?”

“Not at that cost.”

Standing so close to her, knowing that my life was in her hands again, was almost too much to bear. I didn’t know I could hate someone so much. The magic in my chest pressed against me. What would happen if I let the power go?

The band around my throat disappeared. I pitched forward, landing on my hands and knees in front of her.

“That looks better,” she quipped, taking a step back. I coughed so hard I nearly vomited. Catching my breath, I glanced up. The Book of Contracts lay just out of reach on top of the bed, still rustling in the wind. When the pages finally settled I saw my name.

I, Bianca Monroe, swear to complete an unknown task . . .

With a flick of my wrist, I pulled the hidden blade from my sleeve, jumped to my feet, and drove the tip of the dagger into the Book of Contracts, stabbing right into her bloody thumbprint. Pain burst through my hand, shooting up into my shoulder and down my body. I let go with a cry. An explosion threw me back, tossing me as if I were a rag doll. I slammed into the wall and bounced to the floor, smacking the rock with the side of my head. Her laughter was earsplitting to my hazy mind.

“You are a bit reckless lately, aren’t you?"

When my vision cleared, I saw my blade resting next to the Book of Contracts, melted all the way to the hilt.

“A courageous try,” Miss Mabel said, chuckling in a way that frightened me. “But never good enough.”