“I’m so sorry,” Zeph says. “I can’t break a spell this powerful, but I’d be happy to look into someone who could. Our community is well connected.”
“Thank you,” I say without much feeling. “My gargoyle friend is doing the same thing, but it can’t hurt to have someone else on the job.”
From the depths of his pants pocket, Zeph pulls a glittering gold seashell and presses it into my palm. “This may help on your journey as well. If you find your magic weakening, or you are weary, this charm can amplify your powers, help direct them. As long as it’s on your person, all you have to do is concentrate on it before casting a spell.”
Thanking him again, I wipe my nose with a napkin and force a lie of a smile. Another dead end in my search for answers. Not much of a surprise. At the very least, if I can’t find a way to save myself, I can try to save Max. Maybe in the end a little karma will help.
14.
WITH THE EXTRA OOMPH from mermaid magic, Max and I make it to Piracicaba after just a few more jumps. We land next to a river as the sun dips behind a wall of trees. Light pokes through bunches of leaves and spindly branches, and the sound of wheels on concrete roars somewhere beyond the small forest. In the distance, small, flat boats chug toward a skyline dark with tall buildings.
Max sinks into a crouch on the bank and splashes water on his face. “That wasn’t so bad,” he says. “I always forget how potent mermish magic is. Hopefully his ability to find someone to help you is just as powerful.”
I force the corners of my mouth up but can’t make the rest of my face get with the program. “Better not to hope.” Pulling my cell out of my bag, I swipe up the GPS, then type Machados into the search bar. “Ready to try and find us a witness?”
Shadows stretch across Max’s cheeks as he straightens. “As much as I can be. Did I get us close-ish?”
“It’s about a ten-minute walk.” I look him up and down. “Think your delicate feet can handle it?”
With a chuckle, Max shoves me gently with an elbow, and the two of us set off, following the map’s directions. Star-gilded night slides slowly up the horizon ahead of us, darkening the shadows extending across our path and turning the river black. Every rustle in the bushes to our right triggers a flinch of muscles through my entire body.
I watch the forest out of the corner of my eye, my skin itching with gooseflesh, my paranoia at full blast. “Max?”
“Yeah?” he says, matching my whisper.
“Besides water spirits, what other paranormals are native to Brazil?”
The tendons along Max’s jaw stand out as he swallows. “Too many to count. Why? See something?”
My shoulder blades pinch together. “I’m not sure.”
A low gurgling rumble rolls from the darkness. Heart drumming against my sternum, I grab Max’s wrist and pick up the pace. Glowing eyes flash in my peripheral vision. Every instinct urges me to run, even as logic screams against it. My body splits the difference and I set off at a jog.
With a snarl, those eyes spring over a thick fallen tree. A wolf-like creature bounds after us. Its massive legs move much faster and with more precision than seems possible. Silver-furred and at least twice the size of Sam’s werewolf form, the creature tears after us, fresh blood dripping from its fangs.
Max flips a hand around to grab my forearm, water bamfing us away from the creature. We don’t get far. Max stumbles, in better shape because of Zeph’s magic, but still running on empty after traveling us so far. Slick with sweat, he recovers his footing and tries again. This time we only make it a few feet away.
The werewolf jumps at us. It rams into me, digging its claws into the back of my shoulder, and snapping at my face. I wrench my arm out of Max’s hand and shift into phoenix form. Calling out with my native song, I claw at the werewolf’s eyes, sending a wave of fire across its fur.
The flames slide right off it and the wolf takes a swipe at me. Before it makes contact, a massive wave of water slams into it, forcing the creature off the path and into the bushes. With a hard flap of my wings, I catch Max by the shoulders with my talons, and use every ounce of my power to blast us into the sky.
I take us as far as I can, settling us down in an alley before I burn out. My legs buckle as Max and I both collapse against the brick wall gasping for air. Scalding liquid soaks my arm, drips red onto the concrete under my feet. I let out a strangled groan.
“Maybe we should have bribed Zeph to come with us,” I say through clenched teeth.
“Ooof, that looks bad, mama.” Max’s voice shakes. “Let’s see your bag. You’ve got...” he coughs, drawing in a ragged breath. “You’ve still got first aid stuff in there, yeah?”
I ease my backpack off my shoulders, wincing when one of the straps slides across the claw marks. “There should be some left. And water. Drink some water. I don’t want to have to try and carry you to the bar.”
Though shaking and exhausted, Max helps me sit, then tears open one of the antiseptic bags and gently dabs the wound on my shoulder. “Sorry about that.”
“About what?” I crane to look at him.
“I shouldn’t have landed us so close to the woods,” he says, focusing on the task of cleaning my arm. “All I was thinking about was the river and needing water. I didn’t think about the fact that there might be a lobisomem, uh, werewolf. Honestly, I’m a little shocked there was one that close to the road. Though I guess I shouldn’t
