Annie's Song(35)

Going with gut instinct she inched the ring off her finger, hoping Eric would forgive her. She aimed for the center of the fiery column and flung it. Not waiting for the outcome, she crabbed across the ground, shouting the third repetition of the spell over the hideous shrieking as she grabbed up the box. She finished the last line and swung the box around.

This time she felt the spell click. Pain roared up her arms. She ignored it and held on.

Blue fire wrapped around the elemental like a rope, dragging it toward the box. Annie pushed up to her knees, her muscles screaming at the growing weight of the box. The elemental struggled. Tendrils lashed out, scorching her arms. One whipped across her left cheek, the pain shocking the breath out of her. She still held on.

Scraping together every last ounce of power, she tightened the shimmering blue rope. The elemental shrank away from it, compressing into itself as it struggled to keep itself free.

Her head felt like it was about to explode. Her arms shook so badly she was afraid she’d drop the box. The sleeves of her jacket were gone. Most of the skin on her arms had long, nasty burn marks, only making it harder to keep her grip. She pushed past the exhaustion, and the blue coils tightened, until they all but smothered the thin column of flame.

The elemental let out a final, ear shattering shriek before the blue fire dragged it into the box. The lid snapped shut, a blue glow surrounding it for one endless second. It brushed her fingers, and faded, leaving her empty, stripped bare.

With a sobbing breath she let the box slip out of her hands. She wanted to collapse, but she had one more thing to do before she got herself and Zach out of here.

“Annie!”

The shout had her fighting to stand, ready to do battle again. Warm hands closed over her shoulders, eased her back down. “It’s all right, Annie. You did it. You won.” She lifted her head, met Michelle’s eyes. “Oh, look at you. That elemental didn’t give up easily.”

“Zach,” Annie whispered. It hurt to talk, to think. She didn’t want to try moving yet, but she did. She’d left Zach alone, hurt. “I need to—”

“Penn is with him—all right.” Michelle caught her around the waist when she fought to push herself up. “Let me help you.”

Annie focused all the strength she had left on getting to Zach. After Michelle eased her to the ground, Annie gripped her arm. “Counter spell—it’s in the knife handle.”

“Where?”

Annie looked across the room. “Diana.”

“I’ll find it, get it to Marcus.”

Annie shed what was left of her jacket. Cool air brushed over her burned cheek, and tears stung her eyes. She laid one hand over Zach’s, held on to him.

Penn touched the wound on his side; a soft white light surrounded her hand, and he bolted awake. “Keep still, Zach. It’s over, and you’re safe. Both of you.”

He nodded, swallowing. “I want to go.” His hoarse whisper had Annie and Penn leaning over him. He clutched the amethyst, tears gathering in his eyes. God, no— “I can’t feel Mom anymore.”





FIFTEEN



Annie didn’t know how they got back to the hotel so fast. But the chaos they walked into had her pulling Zach to the far corner of the hotel room.

Marcus straddled Claire on the bed, doing chest compressions, while Michelle read the counter spell from a piece of parchment. Eric stood at the end of the bed, both hands on Claire’s ankles.

“Mom—”

“No, Zach.” Annie held him, fresh pain bursting up her arms as he struggled with her. The tears slipping down his face nearly broke her. Seeing Claire like that, still and unresponsive, finished the job. I can’t do this to him—not if this is— She couldn’t complete the thought, even in her mind. “Okay—but you have to stay out of—”

He pulled free and limped over to the bed, one hand pressed against his left side. He used every available surface to get himself there, his injured leg dragging behind him. Eric held out one hand, drew him to the bed.

Annie followed, feeling useless. She was empty, hollowed out after fighting with the elemental. So she stood, hurting, terrified, unable to help.

Penn took over the counter spell. She was the more powerful of the two, and as she spoke the words they sliced through the air. Annie could almost see them wrap around Claire.

Marcus must have sensed it. He stopped pounding on Claire and sat back. After endless seconds, Claire’s hand twitched.

“Mom—” Zach moved. Eric moved faster, caught his arms.

Penn finished the spell. Silence hummed around them, broken only by Zach’s harsh breath.

“Please,” Annie whispered. Tears clogged her throat. “Please . . .”