“What do you mean, murder crows?” Samantha said. “I haven’t lived in this town for long, but I don’t remember there being murder crows.”
“Nor would you. This place has changed since you’ve been gone. Hilda came with her gaggle of witches and took over the town. They’ve been growing the rift bigger with each passing moment, and it’s making everything go wonky.”
“So murder crows came to town between the time when Hilda captured me and now?” Samantha turned to me. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know about them.” I held my hands up. “Neither did Katie. Did you?”
“Of course not. I think I would remember murderous crows that shot lasers.”
“Magical beams,” Frank corrected.
“Whatever,” Samantha said. “Same difference.”
“Yes, but lasers are science fiction, and magical beams are fantasy. And magical beams just feel right for where we are right now, with the magical murder crows and all.”
I stepped toward the counter, careful to avoid the barbed wire. Frank watched me with wide eyes. “I wouldn’t do that, if I were you. Those things are rigged to explode at the slightest touch.”
“Fine.” I took a step backwards. “Then how about you explain what happened, and just assume none of us have ever heard of murder crows.”
“It was horrible. Hilda and her ilk showed up soon after you left. I tried to stop them, but they overpowered me, and I had to hole up here, hoping you would return with a solution to close the rift forever. I don’t know what they have planned, but it’s something big, and with the power of the Dark Place, they can basically harness unlimited magical power.”
I looked at Katie and Samantha, then back to Frank. “If that’s the case, then we have to stop it, now.”
“Does that mean you have all the ingredients?” Frank asked. “Please tell me you found some dragon fire. All my searches have been fruitless.”
“We have it,” Samantha replied.
“Bring it here,” he said, holding out his hand.
“First, let down your booby traps.”
Frank snapped his fingers and the barbed wire on the ground disappeared. “Fine. You’re no fun.” I handed Frank the book and the dragon fire. He brought the dragon fire to his face and stared at it. “I’ve been looking for you for so long.”
“Can you make the glue we need with these ingredients?”
“Of course.” Frank nodded without taking his eyes off of the fire. “Just give me a few minutes and then, you’ll be off to save the world.”
Chapter 49
Samantha and I sat on the metal counter, which used to be glass. But that was before everything apparently went to Hell, after we left to find Samantha.
“So, you just feel nothing for her?” Samantha asked, looking over at Katie, who hovered near the door.
“Literally nothing. I mean, I’ve said I don’t feel anything for somebody before, but I always felt something. With her, I feel nothing. Like a literal hole in my heart.”
“That sucks,” Samantha said.
“It does, but it also doesn’t. I hate to admit it, but there’s something nice about not being bitterly sad that she’s going to leave back to the Dark Place when this is all over.”
“That’s if we win,” Samantha said. “We’re going up against Hilda and the whole council. Look at us. We’re not qualified for that. They’re going to destroy us”
“I know,” I said. “But we have to win. The fate of the whole world is at stake.”
“How are we going to do that?” Samantha asked. “We don’t even know magic.”
The back door opened, and Frank stepped out, holding a jar of white paste in his hands. “This should help.” He placed the jar on the metal counter between me and Samantha. “It’s a pretty good batch, if I do say so myself.”
I grabbed the jar from him and studied it. “This is really going to save the world?”
Frank shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s supposed to, but honestly, it was never meant for this big a tear.”
“It has to work,” I said. “But we still have no idea how to beat Hilda.”
Frank grabbed a book from the case behind him and slammed it on the counter. “My wife had this book on her when she died. It’s the only one I was able to keep from her library. It’s full of offensive spells which can take down a witch. Most of them take months to master. Luckily, I’m not much of a student, so I can show you the ones which take the least mana, including the power of flight.”
I hopped down from the counter. “Let’s do it.”
Frank opened the book and held out his hands. “Okay, hold out your hands like this, like you’re making a square.” Each of us brought the thumb and index finger of our hands into a square. “Now, repeat the power word, Levithian, as you imagine yourself lifting into the air. As you say it, bring your hands to the ground and push them into the ground, like you’re using your arms to push off the ground.”
I made the square and closed my eyes. I felt idiotic, but I couldn’t doubt myself, or Frank. He was my best chance at saving the world. “Levithian,” I mumbled under my breath, but nothing happened. I repeated it again, but I still didn’t lift off the ground.
“You’re not picturing yourself light enough,” Frank said. “Look at your friend. She’s doing it.”
I opened my eyes and saw Samantha floating in the air. She was doing it. She was really doing it, and suddenly I got very competitive. It could be done, and I was determined to do it as well.
“Levithian,” I said, imagining myself flying through the air. “Levithian.” I pushed my hands down to the ground and pushed off from it. My feet suddenly felt like they were disconnected from the ground. I opened my eyes, and saw that they were, because I was in the air, floating as if I were a bird.
“Whoa,”
