Page 51 of Zero Happily Ever Afters

Layla and I competed with our telekinetic grip on her cell phone. Usually, I didn’t fight with kids about their technology. There were times when brain breaks were necessary, but I’d be damned before I allowed someone to blatantly disregard my test policies, especially when they had a state test coming up. This type of infraction would invalidate everyone’s score. The damn FAP test didn’t play.

“It’s mine until the end of the day,” I thought, keeping my eyes trained on Layla. “Or you’re welcome to have it back now in pieces.”

Our telekinesis pulled at the phone, each capable of adding more pressure, but that’d most certainly shatter the fragile glass.

“Even you wouldn’t be that—”

“Have you met me?” I glared.

Layla huffed, releasing her telekinesis and allowing me to take her phone while she broke a pencil and pouted. After a few minutes of quiet fury, she resumed her test, thinking profanities about me nearly as hostile as Kenzo during his first year. If I could survive his animosity, I could handle anything from anyone.

Chapter Fourteen

The time had finally come. Milo flew through the night sky toward Enchanter Diaz and his bear familiar, who were arriving in the city via some train that had been sequestered for official Global Guild business. Milo nearly rolled his eyes at the ripple effect of unnecessarily altering the lives of so many people attempting to get home, travel on business, or enjoy the scenic route afforded by train.

He buried those possibilities, neatly tucking away the potential futures of strangers he’d never encounter again since his mission carried him far out of reach. They’d gone everywhere, it seemed. Gladiatrix announced her presence from Florida all the way to Maine, flying from state to state to force a shift in their target’s plans. Diaz and his familiar hunted along the West Coast without delay. Milo and Wadsworth moved in zigzags across the nation, presenting themselves at every capital city leading to their destination.

Looking through the memories of my manifestation that synced with me revealed Milo’s plan involved a lot of separate PR stunts. All of which was intended to steer The True Witch toward an objective he knew how to prevent. One that’d spare another town the horrors that’d fallen upon Harmony Valley.

Now, this Global Guild coven had reunited and traveled toward a destination where The Inevitable Future intended to shatter every horrible possibility The True Witch sought to unleash upon the world.

And Milo did so here. I snapped to attention, almost reeling myself back into my own mind as I sat at home, wondering when my sunshine would return. He had.

Milo was flying through the Chicago night sky. What was he doing here, of all places? Yes, his mind fixated on meeting with Diaz and Wadsworth, but here? Our home? Why drag this True Witch to our doorstep? Was that the only option? Did Milo want to use her defeat here to push some other agenda? I could never keep up with all the futures he juggled; even having thousands of potential possibilities bouncing around my inner core didn’t truly offer me insight into Milo’s mind. Merely a fucking headache for the ordeal he dealt with.

He reached the abandoned train station, tied off by Cerberus Guild, as he knew they’d move in fast to clear the areas he needed emptied. Enchanter Wadsworth leaned against a pillar, sucking in oxygen from his tank before untwining himself. Such a big mission meant he needed to dispense of anything that hindered his success. I couldn’t imagine him fighting, taking on a non-support role, yet the ideas bubbled along his furious surface thoughts.

Outside the train doors, Enchanter Diaz fussed with armor plating on his familiar bear. She playfully bit the gauntlet on her paw until Diaz shooed her off, adjusting her helmet. Each piece of the bear’s armor covering her from head to toe was etched in enchanted sigils, symbols that warded or dampened or shielded against magics. Even my telepathy struggled to gauge Diaz’s thoughts as he stood close to his guarded familiar.

I searched for the most powerful member in their group but didn’t see Gladiatrix anywhere. That was disconcerting.According to Milo’s mind, she was still several states away, a day’s drive based on the last news report Milo had checked this morning with her helping remove a resurgence of demons from the town of Lumberton, North Carolina.

“Glad you’re here,” Milo said. “We’re gonna have to move soon.”

“Well, it might take some time.” Wadsworth nodded at Diaz and his familiar. “They’ve been getting dressed for the better part of an hour.”

“Priscilla never goes into combat undressed,” Diaz said, tipping his hat. “It’s unbecoming for a lady of her station.”

“Seriously?” Milo questioned.

“No.” Diaz laughed.

“Does she really need armor?” Milo asked. “She’s basically already a thousand-pound battering ram.”

And according to his surface thoughts, they had the full intention of keeping her distant from combat in a supportive role. I scoffed at that, nearly jolting back to my body. They were going to take the elderly man on literal life support into the fight but keep the ferocious bear on the sidelines?

“Definitely. It’s our Sword & Shield Duet.” Diaz unsheathed his weapon, revealing a pristine blade covered in symbols similar to his bear’s armor.

It appeared the duo served as a perfect attack and defense; formations they’d trained in bubbled along Diaz’s mind.

“Look, I get it.” Diaz put his sword away and continued checking over each buckle that held together Priscilla’s armor. “We’re just support on this mission, but that doesn’t mean we go in unprepared.”

The bear growled and nipped at Diaz.

“Baby gurl, you know I gotta double check those straps.” Diaz had a stern fatherly expression, the silent rage of ‘let me do my job’ on his face.

Priscilla whined, letting out a low growl while Diaz checked the fasteners of her plated armor.

“You know the location, Evergreen,” Wadsworth said. “Let’s just go. Leave Diaz behind. He’s barely a qualified Global Guild witch.”

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