The doors at the far end of the room thrust open, and strolling into the fray comes the girl from Michael’s school.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Well, if it isn’t bad girl Bianca,” the bokor says to the girl from Michael’s school. He drops his steel cane at his side, halting the electrical attack on my brother. His body calms. “Now is not the best time. As you can see, I’m a tad busy.” He tilts his head, indicating his magickal pounce upon my group.
“Now is the perfect time.” She glances over Michael and me. Takes in the entire scene.
The bokor’s face drops, showing clear signs of irritation. “Alright, then. What brings you marching into my business?”
My attention bounces between the girl and the bokor. Grazes over James and Jeanna. I can’t believe Jeanna is still sleeping. She must have taken the brunt of the bokor’s incapacitating spell. James remains huddled with his head down, appearing to have accepted his defeat at the hands of his brother John.
“Saddler has requested we retrieve that one.” Bianca dips her head toward my brother.
“I still have business with the boy,” the bokor says. “He blatantly interfered in my livelihood. I cannot turn a blind eye to such action.”
“Can’t you? Especially if Saddler requests such?” Four large men enter the room at Bianca’s back, stand as if at attention, awaiting her order.
The bokor closes his eyes and takes a slow, measured breath. Bianca gestures to the men at her back, sending them into motion. They move past me to Michael’s side, lift him from the ground. His head rolls, and he moans but makes no attempt to fight them.
“You will tell Saddler I was accommodating?” the bokor asks, pulling his cane front and center.
“Of course.” Bianca glances over James and his brother, the sleeping form of Jeanna. “Saddler always appreciates your cooperation.”
The men begin dragging Michael toward the door. Clinging to the wall, I pull myself to a stand.
“Michael?” I say and limp toward him and his exiting entourage. “Michael?”
“We’ll take the children, as well,” Bianca adds. With a two-finger motion to the open doorway at her back, more people spill into the space. A couple of girls, a few more boys.
I freeze in my place and stare at the girl and the people under her command. James’s attention also swivels toward her and the school group.
“Now, wait a minute.” The bokor lurches a step forward, slams his steel cane to the hard floor.
My muscles tighten in anticipation of the oncoming fight. The bokor has done a fine job at establishing his superior magickal skill.
“Would you defy Saddler?” Bianca crosses her arms, tilts her head, and raises her brow.
The bokor’s mighty strength dissipates, like air from a balloon. He bows his head, choosing not to respond. Bianca swings her finger in the air, and the people in her employ move into action. A larger boy lifts Jeanna from the floor and carries her toward the exit. A team, one boy and one girl, extract James from John’s reluctant release. He grumbles but is allowing.
Another girl appears at my side. “Do you require assistance? Or are you able to walk on your own?” she asks.
“I can handle myself,” I say, and wipe free any dust clinging to the front of my pants, wincing against the pain enacted by the motion. Following the procession of school personnel, I half-limp behind those helping my friends and brother. Two strangers walk on either side of me, and they give the impression they’re ready to swoop in and grab me at any moment should I stumble. “I’m fine,” I assure.
Bianca waits for us to file past her. “Your obedience is noted and will go far in fostering your allegiance and relationship with Saddler.” She spins and brings up the rear. We move from the room into a short hallway, another smaller room, and out the front of the building.
Three identical blacked-out vans are parked and waiting beneath the dull illumination of the streetlamps. Jeanna and James are being directed to the van at the front, and my brother, to the one at the back. The wide double doors are thrown open and the men start shoving my half unconscious brother into the back of a van.
I limp-sprint after them, each slap against the pavement thundering through my crown.
“Michael. Wake up, Michael.” I grab one of the guys handling my brother. Bianca clutches my arm and pulls me aside. I gasp and my eyes widen. My insides are jumping, wanting for action, but what action I’m not actually sure. I fail to grasp a handle on the severity of our situation. Are we in greater danger than before? Or have we just been rescued?
“Listen, kid,” she says, and I blink. Double blink.
For the first time since laying eyes on her at the school, I recognize a similarity between her facial scarring and Michael’s mark.
“The school has Michael’s best interests in mind,” she continues. “So, try to trust us. You’ve pulled him into a bad situation here, and we’ll get him out of harm’s way. Keep him safe.”
“You’re saving him on Saddler’s orders?” I ask. She nods. “Who is this Saddler, that the bokor bows to him? And what does he want with my brother?”
She peers past me, and I glance over my shoulder to determine what has caught her attention. James and Jeanna are being herded into the other van.
“Where do you think you’re taking my friends? And my brother?” I clench my fists.
“We will take Michael back to the school where he can be properly attended. Your friends will be dropped at their respective homes. Safe for yet another day.” Her gaze narrows. “But safe they will not stay if you children keep meddling in affairs that do not concern you.”
“You’re saying family and friends shouldn’t concern us?”
“Leave matters to the adults.” She gestures to someone at my back. A hand grabs my elbow and gently tugs.
“Hey!” I yank back. Glare at the guy tugging on
