Page 44 of Midnight Witch

Metal groaned and crunched behind them. One of the patrol cars had smashed into the front end of a moving truck. Another skidded and crashed sideways into a traffic-light post to avoid the bus.

Mae looked away from the mayhem they’d left behind and studied the way ahead with a scowl. “Take a left!”

This time, Vlad obeyed her without question.

The Bentley’s tires lifted off the road briefly as it swerved onto a street that ran behind a gas station and an automobile repair shop. A chain link-fence gate appeared at the end. Vlad gripped the steering wheel and floored the gas.

The Bentley smashed through the gate and bolted into a construction site.

“Head for the tracks!” Mae said urgently, glancing over her shoulder. “They should slow down the patrol cars!”

“They’ll slow down the Bentley too,” Vlad protested.

“I’ll conjure a weak version of Wind Fury under your car.”

Vlad narrowed his eyes at her. “Have you done this before, princess?”

Mae grimaced. “No.”

Nikolai pressed a hand against the roof as Vlad maneuvered the Bentley up a dirt road that led to the railway line. He drove onto the tracks and pointed the car south, stone chipping rattling against the undercarriage.

Magic thrummed across Mae’s bond with Brimstone and Hellreaver. She concentrated on creating a controlled version ofWind Furyunderneath the car. Invisible currents whooshed into life with a low roar.

Vlad’s eyes widened as the Bentley’s ride went from bumpy to smooth. “Whoa!”

Nikolai stared out at the railway line. “Can’t you just fly us out of here?”

Vlad grunted. “That’s the first good idea this guy’s had all day.”

Mae clenched her teeth. “That’s not how this works. If I put more power into this spell, it’ll either rip the car apart or send it hurtling into the sky.”

They both sobered at that.

The sound of rotors rose behind them. Gunfire peppered the tracks. Debris and rocks clouded the air.

The gunship was on their tail, the state police helicopter trailing in its wake.

Mae narrowed her eyes.It’s not going to be easy to lose these guys!

She took a deep breath, maintained control ofWind Fury,and castNullify. To her chagrin, the spell confirmed the absence of black magic among the men in the aircrafts. None of them was a sorcerer. Which meant she couldn’t go around getting rid of them willy-nilly.

A pair of factories appeared on their right. The railway line continued past them onto a bridge up ahead.

She was pondering whetherIce Fortresscould freeze the helicopters’ fuel lines when a massive explosion rocked the oil depot they were passing.

Mae’s heart stuttered. Time slowed.

Brimstone’s snarl sounded dimly in her ears. Hellreaver dropped from her neck and transformed, demonic energy flaring around his blades. Their magic augmented her own as she unleashed the only spell that could protect them.

“ECLIPSE!”

A black hole exploded in the sky.

Crimson enveloped Vlad and Tarang as they prepared to counter the effects of the detonation.

Whiteness filled Nikolai’s eyes. He pressed his hands to the window. Alastair’s pupils blazed as he gripped his sorcerer’s shoulder.

“Moon Shield!” the sorcerer roared.

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