Page 114 of Sigils & Spells

He mouthed, “Down.” We wedged ourselves into the space between the closet and the bed.

“If Gabriel hadn’t left when he did, I would have attacked him.”

I shoved my fist into my mouth to keep from crying out at the same time Jonah thumped against the door.

“This is not acceptable,” Franz said. Could he hear our hearts beating? Could he smell us?

“It’s too hard. I’m working out of my element. I need more time.”

I turned my head to look up at the mirror. From my angle, I could only see half of the doorway. Wishing I were anywhere but here, I stared at the mirror and the doorway’s reflection.

Jonah thumped again.

“We don’t have the luxury of time. That shifter is in there hammering away. If your shield spell doesn’t hold, we’re going to have to kill him.”

“We need him.” Leesa came into the bedroom, cradling a hand against her reddened cheek. “Youneed him.”

“Do what you have to. Sacrifice another—” he broke off. “What’s this?” Franz roared. He grabbed the journal off the bed. “You told me you burned this. Does it have his notes in it? What else are you keeping from me?” He backhanded Leesa with the journal. The force of the blow sent her crashing into the wall.

Aidan jumped up from his crouched position. “Police! Freeze!”

The vampire spun about and streaked away.

Aidan followed, scrambling around the bed and jumping over Leesa.

As I rose I heard what sounded like a miniature explosion in the living room. Leesa moaned. She’d curled into a ball, slowly rocking.

“Stop!” Aidan called out. “Police!”

I edged around the bed. She rolled, hand coming up to cast a spell. I hit her with my paralysis spell.

My gaze went to her upraised hand as I stepped over her. Thin white scars crisscrossed her palm.

Only a jagged edge of the front door remained. The rest of the shattered pieces lay in the hall. Cautiously, I poked my head out of the apartment. Several neighbors were doing the same as me, peeking out to see what was going on, but not venturing out. They tossed rapid-fire questions back and forth at each other.

Approaching sirens wailed. They sounded beautiful.

I returned to the bedroom, stepping over Leesa once again. Jonah hit the closet door again. I placed my sore hands on it and went back to work.

“Marin, will you release your spell?” Aidan stood next to Leesa. “I need to get the anti-magic cuffs on her.”

Another officer loomed in the doorway.

I had no idea how much time had passed. Exhaustion draped over me like a wet blanket. My hands throbbed. The damned unbroken spell mocked me.

“Sure.” The paralysis spell obediently crumbled.

Aidan and the officer helped Leesa sit up. Her head lolled like a newborn’s.

“How’s it coming?” Aidan brought her hands behind her back and snapped on handcuffs. Eyes unfocused, she grinned up at me.

“I need help. Are the Master Breakers on the way?”

“They are. Harding will be here soon too.”

In a slurred voice, Leesa said, “They can’t help.” She started laughing.

“I think she has a concussion.” I flexed my fingers. Small blisters had formed on them as well as my palms.

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