When I gave a fortune, I was always sure to focus on the things the person could change. It wasn’t just crap about avoiding the color yellow or wearing a green dress to attract more money.
Nope. A truly formative fortune would tell a person what they could do to attract what they want. Because people, no matter how they seem, want to be active in their destinies. They don’t want some random tall stranger to sweep them off their feet. They want to sweep said random tall stranger off their feet. We’re like cats to the cream. Few people like a passive fortune. You tend to appreciate what you find for yourself, not what falls in your lap. I was no different. Even though it was a seriously scary prospect to entertain, I wanted to settle this on my own terms.
My own mistakes, my own victories.
Though I was still woozy from blood loss, I managed to nod my head. “I’ll do it. I’ll figure out a way to stop him.”
Sarah looked expectant.
“But I could really do with a Band-Aid first. Several, if you have them,” I managed through a chuckle.
Sarah joined in. “I think we can find you something slightly more effective than a Band-Aid. Come with me.”
I followed. Soon, I settled down to get some serious medical attention. One of the healing witches was curing me with their magic. Though I would have objected, considering I didn’t want anyone to hurt themselves for me, I knew if I had a chance of defeating McCain, I had to be at the top of my game.
I lay back against the discarded chair one of the witches had found.
One of the chair’s springs had pushed out of the fabric, and chunks of foam were scattered around the ground by my feet.
The seat also stank. Of fish.
I didn’t care. It was relatively comfortable and allowed me to take the weight off my feet as the healing witch kneeled beside me, his hands splayed wide, his eyes closed as magic played over his palms.
Though the sensation was pleasant and seriously calming, it didn’t feel anything whatsoever like the magic Max had used on me. It was miles apart from that grass and sunshine.
And that?
That made me think of Max.
Even though I knew I should be lying back, eyes closed, trying to relax to allow the magic to work as fast as it could, I kept stealing glances at Max.
There he was, on the ground, a makeshift mattress beneath him, his eyes open as he stared at the sky.
I hoped he was still in there somehow. Hoped that scrap of McCain’s good side hadn’t been destroyed.
There was, after all, so much I had to discuss with Max. And by discuss I obviously meant with my lips. I wanted to pick up where we’d left off. And this wasn’t desire talking. No. Ever since the day Max had appeared on my doorstep, I’d known he was the one. And yet, he’d been taken away.
“Relax,” the healing witch snapped.
“Okay,” I mumbled as I tried even harder to close my eyes.
It didn’t take too long for the healing witch to see to my injuries.
By the end, though I wasn’t completely cured, it had certainly taken the edge off the pain. Blood didn’t slip down the back of my leg anymore, either. Which was very nice. Fortunately, the witches also had a change of pants.
I didn’t have a chance to wash. I was at the municipal tip, after all.
Now I was done, I met back up with Sarah Anne.
She was standing several meters away from Bridgette, watching her, a grim expression pressed over her pretty lips.
Slowly, Sarah arched her neck over her shoulder and turned to me. She considered me with a calm, calculating look. “I wasn’t kidding before – this will all hinge on you.”
Maybe it was something to do with the fact I was now healed – that I wasn’t distracted by my nausea and pain – but I took a gulp. Because I realized how damn awful it was to have this kind of responsibility – the whole frigging city weighing on my shoulders. Hello, my shoulders were narrow, and as for saving the world? Go seek applications elsewhere. Rather than point a word of this out, I managed a shuddering nod.
“But to do it, we need to find out exactly what that contract is and exactly how you can use it to your advantage,” Sarah added.
I frowned, brought a hand up, and scratched my arm. “Do we have time for this? I mean, I know you said the dump is one of the most secure places in Bane City, but he will find me.” My voice dropped low, ringing with an ominous note of certainty that shook through my belly.
“Yes, he will find you,” Sarah agreed in that same ominous tone. “But we do have time. Enough to try this rite.”
“What exactly will this entail?”
“We still need a few things. We’re setting them up now. But, using your powers, we’ll try to take you back to the point in time when the contract manifested.”
I made a face. Because, hello, I was sick of being dragged back into Scotland’s past. I didn’t mind the sun and grass, but I had a really big problem with Max the asshole.
“It’ll be okay. It’ll just be a vision. It should help you – give you some clues. Give you a plan.” Her voice dropped to a whisper.
With my hands curled into tight fists and my fingernails grating across my palms, I nodded. “Okay, let’s do this. What do you need from me?”
She pressed a small smile over her face that told me this wouldn’t be pretty.
