Dime Store Magic

I turned to see one of the Salvationists. He slammed a Bible into my face.

'Get thee hence, Satan!'

I whirled away. A hand caught my arm. I looked into the rolling eyes of a young woman.

'Bitch!' she shouted. 'Look what you did to my shirt!'

She grabbed it, pulling the front forward with a seam-ripping wrench. It was covered in dirt and blood. More blood smeared her hand. In the opposite fist she held a Swiss Army knife, bloodied blade exposed.

Without thinking, I grabbed for the knife. The blade sliced across my palm. I yelped and fell back. Cortez appeared, grabbing the woman from behind. She spun and struck. The short blade plunged into Cortez's side. She yanked it out and pulled back for a second stab.

I cast a binding spell. The woman stopped in mid-strike. I threw myself on her, knocking her down and grabbing the knife. The spell broke then and she fought, kicking and screaming. Cortez dropped to his knees and tried to help me restrain her, but adrenaline seemed to triple her strength and it was like restraining a wild animal. We both cast binding spells, but neither worked. If only we could calm people-Yes, of course. A calming spell. I cast one, then another, reciting the spell in an endless loop until I felt her limbs go slack beneath me.

'Hey,' she said. 'What-Get off me. Help! Fire!'

Around us, people had stopped fighting and were milling about, wiping bloodied noses and muttering in bewilderment.

'Perfect,' Cortez said. 'Keep casting.'

I did. We got to our feet and, with Cortez shielding me, we moved through the crowd as I repeated the calming spell. It didn't work on everyone. As I'd feared, the aggression had taken on a life of its own and some people didn't want to stop, yet enough people did that they were able to restrain those who kept going.

'Now, to the house,' Cortez said. 'Quickly.'

'But there's more-'

'It's good enough. Any longer and people will start recognizing you.'

We ran for the front door.

Once inside, Cortez called the police. Then I led him to the bathroom, where we could assess injuries. Savannah stayed in my room, door closed. I didn't tell her it was over. Right then, I was afraid of what else I might be tempted to say.

The slice across my hand was the worst of my injuries. Hardly fatal. I slapped on a bandage, then turned my attention to Cortez, starting with a cold compress for his bloodied lip. Next, the knife wound. The blade had passed through his right side. I pulled up his shirt, cleaned the wound, and took a better look.

'It looks okay,' I said. 'But it could use a couple of stitches. Maybe when the police get here, we can take you to the hospital.'

'No need. I've had worse.'

I could see that. Though I'd only pulled his shirt up a few inches, I could see a thick scar crossing his abdomen.

He was reed thin, but more muscled than one might expect from his build. I guess there's more to fighting Cabals than courtrooms and paperwork.

'I'll make a poultice,' I said. 'It usually pulls the wound together better than stitches anyway. Less chance of scarring, too.'

'Handy. I'll have to ask for a copy of the recipe.'

I opened the bathroom cupboard and took out the poultice ingredients. 'This is my fault. She's cast that spell once before, with even worse results. I should have warned her about it. I should have told her to wipe it from her repertoire.'

'I wouldn't go that far. The confusion spell can be very useful, under the right circumstances, or as a spell of last resort. The caster has to understand it, though, which Savannah obviously doesn't.'

'Does it always work like that?'

'No. Her casting is surprisingly strong. I've never seen a confusion spell affect so many people in such a clearly negative fashion. The spell always exacerbates any underlying tendency toward violence. Perhaps under these circumstances, I should have expected such a reaction, assuming the sort of people who congregate around such a story are not the most mentally balanced of individuals.'

'That's an understatement.'

The doorbell rang then.

'The police,' I said. 'Or so I hope.'

It was the police. They didn't stay long. Outside, people had either left or resumed their vigil as if nothing had happened. The police took some statements, helped people to the paramedics, and secured the area. Afterward they left behind a cruiser and two officers to keep watch.

Savannah finally appeared as I was putting the poultice on Cortez.

'Don't expect me to say I'm sorry,' she said.

I turned to face her.

She stood in the bathroom doorway. 'I'm not sorry.'

'You-do you know what you've done?' I stalked across the bathroom and pushed open the window. 'Do you see that? The ambulances? The paramedics? The blood? People got hurt, Savannah. Innocent people.'

'They shouldn't have been there. Stupid humans. Who cares about them?'

'I care about them!' I ripped the bandage off my hand. 'I suppose you don't care about this, either. Well, there is something you should care about-'

I grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face Cortez, then pointed out his swollen lip and wounded side.

'Do you care about that? This man is here to help you, Savannah. To help you. He could have been killed out there trying to undo the spell you cast.'

'I didn't ask him to undo it. If you got hurt, it's your own fault for going out there.'

'You-' I flung her arm down. 'Get to your room, Savannah. Now.'

Her eyes glistened with tears, but she only stomped her foot and glared at us. 'I'm not sorry! I'm not!'

She turned and ran for her room.

Chapter 26

All About Eve

'I AM SO SORRY,' I SAID AS WE WALKED INTO THE LIVING ROOM. 'I know I should be able to handle her. I really should. I keep telling myself I'm making progress, teaching her control, but then something like this happens and it's-it's pretty obvious I haven't taught her anything at all.'

I dropped onto the sofa. Cortez took the arm chair and moved it around to face me before sitting.

'She doesn't like humans,' I continued. 'She hates the Coven. She probably hates me. Sometimes I wonder why she sticks around.'

'Because her mother told her to. Before Eve died, she told Savannah that if anything happened to her, she was to find the Coven and take refuge there.'

I looked up at him. 'Who told you that?'

'Savannah. We talked earlier this evening. She has some concerns and hoped I might be able to mediate on her behalf.'

'What'd she say? No, let me guess. I'm a wonderful guardian. I understand her and I always know exactly the right thing to do and say.'

A slight smile. 'She admitted you two don't always get along. Naturally, she says you don't understand her, you don't give her enough responsibility, you're overprotective, all the things every teenager says to every adult. Do you know what else she says? That you have potential.'

'I have…' I couldn't stifle a small laugh. 'I have potential.'