In other words, her life was ideal. That is, until she got hit with the discovery she was a supernatural. It threatened to destroy her whole life. She resented her parents for keeping the secret from her.
She despised even herself for becoming the very thing that would destroy her. She loathed The Owl. Mistreated her. Saw her as the very bane of her existence.
Back then, if someone had told her she was The Owl, she would have had that same look of pain and resentment. It was a violation on an intimate level—absolutely defiling.
It took her a long time to get out of that rut. As she saw the look on Michael’s face, she knew there was a long way to go between Michael accepting he was a warlock and actually growing to utilize his powers.
You never know. Selena’s voice was calm and authoritative.
Where have you been? Emily screamed back internally.
Around, Selena replied casually. Warlocks are different from Owls. They don’t carry consciousness in their minds. Think of it as a muscle. The more they develop it, the bigger it becomes. They can decide never to use it, and they’ll be just like any other mortal. How did you think Aunt Anastacia survived so long?
You’re saying it might not take him as long as it took me?
Yes, Selena affirmed. He doesn’t have to deal with another person wanting prime time, like me.
“Are we doing this or not?” Michael asked after a while.
Emily dropped the duvet and hopped to her feet. “Yes. Let’s head down to the living room.”
When they stepped into the living room, Michael motioned for her to take the couch, while he took the armchair directly facing her. They sat down and stared at each other for a silent minute.
Outside, the sound of the three Alfreds arguing was no more. It was total silence, which made Emily wonder what they were doing. She saw an escape route from this session with Michael and jumped at it without thinking.
“I have to check out what the Alfreds are doing.” Emily shot to her feet before Michael could object. She was already choking on air. She ran for the door, just as Michael called her name with a warning tone in his voice.
She pushed the door open and escaped onto the porch, shutting the door behind her, trying to abolish any idea in Michael’s head that he must follow her outside.
But she immediately froze, having found the three Alfreds. They were just beyond the shimmering barrier and had formed a tight circle. On the dirt was a pentagram drawn using white chalk. The trio stood within the hexagon, forming a circle, and chanting a mysterious, but sweetly sonorous melody.
As they did, a white ball of flame formed in their midst. The more they chanted, the fiercer and larger it became. The white ball grew to the size of an SUV. Then they yelled a command and hurled the ball of fire in the direction of the house.
Michael slipped out onto the porch in time to watch the fireworks. The ball slammed into the dome and exploded in a bright white flash. The whole house shook at its foundation as though an earthquake had broken forth upon it.
The shield flared and crackled and spat, but it held.
The trio had stopped to watch the fireworks as well. When they saw that the shield held, they turned back to chant again. Before Alice Alfred turned back, she flashed Emily a sick smile. Emily knew what the message meant. The Alfreds were coming for them.
“How long before they breach the shield?” Michael’s voice was so close that Emily flinched to the side.
She glared at him for sneaking up on her.
Michael threw his hands up in surrender. “Sorry. Answer the question, though. I need to know when to skedaddle.”
Emily flashed him an irritated look. “There’s no skedaddling. They’ll be on you the moment you clear the dome.”
Michael disagreed with a shake of his head. “Not if I go through the back. They seem to be concentrated on the front.”
“Don’t you think they’ll have covered the back of the house somehow?” Emily rolled her eyes in exasperation. “These are magicians, not the cops or vigilantes. They have magic. They probably have a spell cast that will trap you the moment you break through the dome.”
“So, we’re stuck here?” Fear fleeted across his eyes for a second.
“It appears so.” She bit her lip and repeated, “It appears so.”
Michael’s shoulders slumped, and he bowed his head. Emily began to feel sorry for him. Maybe she shouldn’t have taken all his hope. She was about to reach out and pat his shoulder when he looked up at her.
He held her gaze momentarily before flopping down on the edge of the porch. “Join me. We might as well watch the fireworks together.”
Just then, the Alfreds hurled another fireball at the dome. The earthquake tore across the building, rippling through it like it was nothing. Surprisingly, the cottage remained standing. The dome also stayed.
The Alfreds returned to chanting.
Emily joined Michael on the edge of the porch. “Aunt Anastacia says that it’ll take them a day or more to break the barrier.”
“Really?” Michael’s face brightened. “It means we have some time to get help.”
Emily sighed. This was it. This was the part where she had to tell him everything that had happened since he was abducted.
“We would have called for help, if there was help to be called for.”
“What do you mean by that?” Michael frowned. “Oh, you mean the vigilantes? Well, you don’t need to tell them much. Just tell them you’re under attack. I know this is outside of city limits, but if my dad finds out I’m here, he’ll come with the cavalry.
