Page 193 of The Demon's Spell

“Chloe, you testified that your kidnappers admitted their intent to kill you in a black magic ritual,” Verla said, driving the point home for the jury. “Did your kidnappers tell you anything else that night?”

“Yes,” Chloe said confidently. “They said we were not the first people they’d taken for the resurrection spell. They told us they had also killed Caleb Thomas and Isaac Miller in an attempt to raise the dead.”

A gasp traveled around the room, but no one spoke, for fear of being thrown out.

Verla took a moment for the information to sink in, then continued. “Where were you when the explosion occurred and the east wing collapsed?”

“I was outside with Nadine, Lucas, Talia, and Grant. We got out of the building right before the blast.”

“Can you describe what Lucas and Nadine were doing at this time?”

“They were helping us out of the building,” Chloe said. “Lucas was carrying me, because the witches had attacked us, and I’d sustained several injuries.”

“Can you describe your injuries to the jury?”

“Nadine and Lucas had some cuts and bruises. Grant had a broken arm. Talia and I both had to get stitches,” Chloe said.

“While Nadine was helping you escape your attackers, did she have time to cast the potens crepitus spell?”

“No, she didn’t,” Chloe said. “Besides, it’s not a spell we cover in our classes, so none of us would even know how to do it.”

“What did you and your friends believe had happened?”

“We assumed the witches had implemented a fail-safe spell to cover their tracks in case they were discovered,” Chloe said.

“Where were the four kidnappers when the blast happened?” Verla questioned.

“Inside the building.”

“So they got caught in their own spell?”

“Yes.”

“Objection!” Olivia shouted. “She can’t know that for certain!”

“Sustained,” the judge said.

“No further questions, your honor,” Verla said confidently before she sat.

Olivia stood to begin her cross examination. “Miss Olson, you testified that you and Nadine Evers were kidnapped, and that Lucas Taylor and his friends came to save you. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that is correct,” Chloe replied dryly.

“If you were truly kidnapped, why did Lucas not go to the police?”

Chloe kept eye contact with the prosecutor. “If he’d gone to the police, we would have been dead by the time they arrived.”

“How could Lucas and his friends possibly know that?” Olivia cocked an eyebrow.

Chloe held her head high. “It’s my understanding that the Imperium Council had already been informed. Lucas and his friends got us out of the building before the blast. The Imperium Council showed up after. If he hadn’t been there, we’d be dead.”

Olivia’s features faltered, but she kept her voice strong. “Lucas purposely put people in danger and took risks without regard to anyone’s safety. Isn’t that right, Miss Olson?”

“Like I said, they used Seer magic to find us,” Chloe said. “They knew we were in grave danger.”

Olivia could see Chloe wasn’t going to crack, so she shifted her tactics. “Lucas Taylor was writing an article for the school paper about the two missing boys, isn’t that correct, Miss Olson?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

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