Page 63 of Commanding Chaos

“What?” I snapped.

“Nothing.” She handed me the restocked bag, and I slung it over my shoulder. “Still no response from Shade.”

“Still didn’t expect one.” I grabbed three energy bars from the pantry and handed one to her. “One of these days, we’ll have time for real meals again.”

“I sure hope so.” She broke it in half and shoved a piece into her mouth.

I tossed one to Chaos when he joined us in the kitchen.

He curled his lip. “What is this?”

“Breakfast, and probably lunch. Eat up.” I tossed my wrapper into the trash and took a bite.

“Your means of sustenance are lacking.” He shoved the entire bar into his mouth.

“Let’s go.” Ember grabbed the keys from the hook, and we headed downstairs and out the back door.

Chaos took the back seat, and I climbed in front next to my sister. “Where do you think he is?” I asked.

“I figure we’ll try his house first. If he’s not there or at Miles’s place, we’ll have to scry for him. I’d rather not waste our vim on that, but if we have to, we will.”

I nodded, and she backed out of the alley before heading to our first destination. We stopped on the curb across the street and eyed Shade’s house, a squat one-story painted white with green shutters. His black Mustang sat in the driveway, and his porch light was still on from the night before.

Ember turned in her seat and made a stop motion with her hand to Chaos. “Wait here.”

“Not happening.” He reached for the door handle.

“She’s right.” I touched his shoulder. “He likely won’t answer if you’re standing on the porch. Let us try to smooth things over before we bring you in.”

He grunted. “Either your memory is short, or you have no regard for your own lives. He nearly killed you both.”

I winced. He had a point as well. “Okay but hang back on the sidewalk until we calm him down.”

“That request, I can accommodate.”

Ember and I hurried up the front walk while Chaos stayed back like a good demon. She rang the doorbell and knocked, but, of course, Shade didn’t answer.

“Open up,” she shouted. “Your car is in the driveway; we know you’re home.”

“Perhaps he walked somewhere,” Chaos said, which earned him a “shhhh” from my sister.

She knocked again and peered through the window. “I don’t see him. Maybe he’s in the back.” She started around the side of the house.

“Wait.” I took a deep breath, centering myself. “I know we’re saving our vim, but if I have this inborn power of location, it won’t tax me.”

Ember nodded. “Do it.”

Closing my eyes, I opened my senses and searched the vibrations in the air for Shade. I felt Chaos easily. Ember as well, but when I sent my magic outward, I felt nothing. “He’s not here.”

“Are you sure?” She climbed on a wooden box to peer through a side window.

I laughed dryly. “You’ve spent the past weeks convincing me I have this power, and now you’re questioning it?”

“If Ash doesn’t sense him, he isn’t here.” Chaos joined me on the porch and took my hand. “If you want to scry for him, I can share my magic with you. Use my power so you don’t deplete yours.”

“That’s a big, fat nope. Let’s go.” Ember paced across the street and stopped outside the van. “Now.”

“We’re wasting time,” he said under his breath.

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