Emily’s eyes watered, her heart overflowing with sadness. She had to hold herself down because she felt sorry, she felt an inordinate desire for Marion. No matter how asinine it seemed if she thought about it. Desire that inspired her to want to reach out, touch his cheek, put her arms around him.
Marion. The one who wanted her and her family dead.
“I’m sorry I had to burn your house down,” Emily whispered. “I’m sorry I had to attack your family. I’m sorry—”
“I don’t understand,” Marion stuttered. “I thought you hated me.”
Emily gasped, her eyes filling with more tears. “I don’t hate you!” she snapped, dispelling whatever had given Marion that notion. “I—” She stopped herself before she proclaimed her attraction to him.
It was forbidden.
How could she?
He was on the wrong side. He wanted the whole world to burn. She wanted the whole world to live. Obviously a conflict of interest there. He wanted her to be used as a sacrifice; she wanted to be free to live out her life unscathed. How could they have any kind of feelings for each other?
It was too late, however. Marion didn’t need her to say anything. He saw it in her eyes. And that was what broke him.
Immediately, the fire ceased from his eyes and his fists. His shoulders sagged as he let go of his rage.
“I . . .” His voice came out as a withered stutter. “I’ve never wanted to hurt you,” he said, picking his words and using them carefully. “I—”
Emily moved closer. She stretched out a hand. He caught it before her fingers grazed his cheek. “It’s okay,” she whispered, trying not to choke on the smell of ash he exuded.
He let her hand touch his left cheek and then shook his head. To Emily, he was no longer the larger-than-life Marion. He was the high school student who’d started recently at Keaton Wright Senior High. He was the smooth and devilishly handsome guy everyone wanted to be friends with. And for a moment, she was no longer The Owl that could unleash hell on earth. She was just Emily Davies, cheerleading captain and lover of life. She couldn’t explain her overwhelming feelings, but they were strong.
The moment was fleeting. Rewarding. Fulfilling. When it was over, she withdrew her hand, took a step back, and took a deep breath.
“Do what you must,” Emily whispered. “I’m not going to fight you. I’m done fighting you.”
Marion looked at her grimly. Then he turned to Joanna’s parents and pointed a flaming hand at them. But this time, a blue flame leaped from his hand and smashed into the red orb above Joanna’s parents.
The red orb exploded and vanished. Emily watched wide-eyed as the Russos stirred on the bed. Then she glanced back at Marion. Dumbfounded.
“I’m probably going to regret this.” Marion pointed at her and waved his other hand at Joanna’s parents. A bluish flame appeared around Emily and another one around Joanna’s parents.
“Marion—” Emily’s heart raced. She opened her mouth to say something else, but Marion cut her off.
“I hope you’re ready for war,” he announced. “Because when Mom and Dad wake up, they’re going to turn this town upside down.”
That was it. There was an explosion of light. The next thing Emily was aware of was standing in the road with Mr. and Mrs. Russo standing next to her.
“What’s going on here?” Joanna’s father flashed a surly glare at Emily. Joanna’s mother was still coming to, standing on wobbling feet.
Emily didn’t get a chance to respond. Aunt Anastacia materialized in front of them along with her car. She opened the door without hesitation.
“Mr. and Mrs. Russo, this way, please.” She motioned for the duo to get in the car.
The Russos didn’t question her. Joanna’s father only flashed another accusing glance at Emily before he guided his wife into the back seat.
Aunt Anastacia threw a wary look at the house behind Emily and then gestured for Emily to get in the car.
“Won’t you ask me what happened?” asked Emily before she moved from where she stood. She was still struck by what Marion did. Was this a trick? Was she maybe unconscious on the floor of the Russos’ bedroom?
“You got out with the Russos, and you’re safe, and you’re not being pursued.” Aunt Anastacia nodded as she looked around. “Looks like a clean getaway. Obviously a very interesting story, and I’d love to hear it, but I don’t think standing on the road in front of the Russo Manor to rehash the details is a good idea right now.”
Emily sighed but started talking anyway. “Marion let me go. He caught me. And then he let me go. It was a trap. They were waiting for us there.”
Aunt Anastacia’s eyes widened. Then she turned to the car, waved her hands about, and chanted quickly. Nothing seemed to happen for a moment. But then there was a loud pop in the vehicle and a scared yelp from the duo in the back seat.
Aunt Anastacia turned to Emily and did the same thing. There was no pop.
“You’re clean,” she said. “Get in the car. We’ve got to move.”
Emily got in the car, strapped on her seat belt, and tried not to think about Marion.
“What was that?” Mr. Russo asked, his voice angry, and his face contorted in a gruesome frown. “What sorcery was that?”
“Mr. Russo, please,” Emily cut in before Aunt Anastacia could reply. “We know you’ve been cozying up to the Alfreds. Don’t even think about damning sorcery right now.” Through the rearview mirror, she could see the look of surprise on the man’s face. “Yes, that’s right. We know you joined forces with the evil roves.”
“Evil roves?” the man laughed. “You think the Alfreds are the ones running the show?” He laughed again. This time it was hysterical. Tears fell down his eyes. “You’ve doomed us all!”
With that, Aunt Anastacia started the car and drove off. Emily was
