Page 61 of Phoenix Academy: Mayhem

I wonder what he told her had happened when she woke from the dead. And if she thought she was all alone in the world, with no other family but him. Her spirit would've been ripe for the taking—at which point, he tethered them together with dark magic so she could never even consider leaving.

"We have to save her." In amendment, I add, "And those people, too. There has to be a way to get them away from her so we can handle her without hurting them."

David offers, "A wolf does a pretty good job at scaring most normal people back to their homes. Especially one who doesn't die when shot."

One of the older men has a rifle, I realize. That's what David is referring too. It'll be dangerous for him to be the distraction, but I know that he's faster and stronger than a normal wolf—especially with my magic on his side.

Though I don't want him to risk his life, I can't force him to stay here and do nothing. I have to put some faith in him, just as he has in me, and believe that he can do this on his own.

"Stay safe."

Placing a hand on his shoulder, I push all my anger into him through feral magic: the resentment I have for my father, how much it enrages me that he's using my sister, and even my irritation at being covered in bug bites.

It flows into David, turning his eyes blue. Shuddering all over, his jaw clenches as he fights to control his shift. But he's gotten stronger and more capable in the past months, even since coming back home. He even manages to shift into a wolf with his clothes still on, instead of discarded on the ground beside him.

Pride and fear alike fill me as he charges towards the people on the tracks. Most scatter at his approach, save the man with the rifle. There's a tense moment when I think David is going to get shot, but he dances out of range of the rifle, leaving the man cursing and trying to reload before he gets bit. Instead he winds up being chased away—so that only Lizzy remains, her eyes narrowed at the wolf who's crashed at her door. She raises her hands towards him. Fire dances at her fingertips.

Before she can burn David with her grey flames, I burst from the trees, the twins behind me. "Lizzy! Over here!"

Calling her name distracts her for long enough that I'm able to do what I've practiced over and over again the whole way here: draw the runes in blue flame around here. First the circle of fire, which she stumbles away from, eyes wide. Then the sweeping lines, the little symbols, until two runes hug each other perfectly at her feet.

Sever and freedom.

If only I could be so free.

"No." Lizzy narrows her eyes at me, full of anger. "I won't!"

She tries to leave the circle, which is where the rest of our plan comes into place. Xavier and Reggie shift into panther form and herd her back in; David joins, nipping at her heels. The three of them, strong shifters larger than their animal counterparts, are able to drive her away from the edge of the circle as I approach, heart in my throat.

I think of Yohan's teachings.

Of Mage Auerbach's faith in me.

And most of all, of how much I long for my sister, for my family. Her life is precious and beautiful; she deserves to live it free of our horrible father, once and for all.

I have to hurry. He's on his way here at this very moment. I can feel the weight of him in the air, the stink of his black soullessness. Birds chirp in warning, and little ground-dwelling animals run for cover, chipmunks diving deep beneath tree roots and bunny rabbits kicking in fear.

"Don't be scared," I tell Lizzy, as a distinctive grey magic rope forms at her back, tugging her relentlessly towards his will. "I'm going to fix everything."

I step into the circle.

My feet pass through the flames harmlessly.

Xavier and Reggie make room for me between them, letting me approach my sister, who begins to deflate as the magic of the runes takes hold of her body.

Looking into her eyes, I squeeze her shoulder, then step behind her towards the tether. This next part will be hard—Auerbach warned me she might not enjoy the feeling—but it's what we have to do to make things right again.

The bracelet of seven immortals glows warm against my wrist, lending me its strength and promising me an end to this madness and mayhem once and for all.

Focusing my energy into my palm, I push my blue flames into the form of a sharp blade. The flames dance from hilt to tip, alive in a way no metal blade ever could be. Then I raise my arm up and slash downwards, through the tether, until it falls apart in the air around us.

Lizzy screams.

Xavier growls.

The runes fall apart beneath our feet.

Falling to her knees, my sister cries in pain. I hold her, catching her before she falls, and stare into the woods behind the abandoned train station. He's there; I can sense him, even if I'm barely able to make out his form. He knows I'm taking her from him, and his rage is as palpable as the sun beating overhead.

"It's going to be okay."

I summon the portal back to the academy, thinking of its green campus and Gothic structures, the heavy gates and all the strange and wonderful students inside. Pulling Lizzy to her feet, I run through to the other side, three shifters at my heels.

The gate closes behind us a few seconds later.

Just in time to hear the sound of my father howling in rage.

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