Page 9 of Mostly Shattered

Anthony laughs and pulls my arm. “Come on, we need to get to a new position.”

I don’t know what he’s talking about, but I’m happy he’s letting me come. He leads me through the woods, and I struggle to keep up with him in the dark. Streaks of light show on the tree bark as the others battle it out. He comes to a bush near the field and ducks down.

“Maybe I’ll get magic for my birthday. I’ll be six,” I say. “And then I can be immortal like you, and I can go to school with you.”

He scrunches up his nose. “Stay quiet, Tam-tam.”

I mimic his movements, crouching and cupping my empty hand at the ready.

He sees me and gives a soft laugh. “Do you want to try?”

I nod, eager.

He looks around at the field before manifesting a fireball. “Okay, hold out your hand. I’m going to give you the magic and you throw it as hard as you can when you see Peter dart past. He’s the target tonight.Try not to let him see where the fireball came from, or he’ll get us, and we’ll lose.”

Excitement makes me jittery, and my legs jerk as I bounce in anticipation.

“Ready?” Anthony holds the fireball.

I nod and whisper, “Yeah.”

He places a hand under mine and holds me steady as he brings the fireball close. He drops it down onto my fingers.

Fire bursts over my fingers, and I scream at the terrible pain. I shake my hand, but it only makes it worse. I start to run.

“Tamara!” Anthony shouts after me.

I keep screaming.

Suddenly, a dark shadow sweeps in from above, and I’m wrapped in cold arms. The fire goes out against the creature’s chest. I feel my body moving as my feet are lifted from the ground.

“Tamara!” Anthony calls out. “Tamara, where did you go?”

I’m crying and can’t stop.

We land on the ground on a forest path. When I look up, I see my grandfather’s vampire friend. “Easy, child, what’s happened?”

His voice is calm, almost soothing. I know to be careful. Vampires can take over your brain and make you do things. Anthony told me.

“What did you do?” he asks.

“I tried to… cast… off… magic… my hand… but…” I sob as I try to explain.

He takes my hand in his as he studies it before pressing his fist against my palm. The cold feels good against the burn and lessens the sting.

“Ar-are you going to eat me, Constantine?” I ask him, sniffling through tears. “I don’t want to be a snack.”

He gives me a strange look. I see the moonlight hitting his fangs and cry harder.

“Tamara!” Anthony screams in panic.

“Anthony,” I yell back. “Help! The vampire is going to eat me!”

“Hey, stop that,” the vampire orders, with an awkward pat on my shoulder. “I’m not going to eat you. You’re going to be all right. Your grandfather can fix your hand good as new.”

I wish he could fix the missing magic in my hand.

“But why aren’t you going to eat me? Is it because I’m broken and taste bad?” I sniffle.

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