“You call him.” The second man’s voice had gone low, petulant. “Hey! Cyril!” No one replied, but the man must have gotten some sort of acknowledgement, because he kept going. “They’re in here somewhere, right?”
“Yeah.” This time, Daniel heard him—quiet, as though from a distance, and sounding as exhausted as Daniel felt. “T-They can’t- They’re in here. Until the barrier goes down.”
“And how long is that going to be?” the second speaker snapped. “Fucking hell. What are we supposed to do? Just sit here and-”
“Keep that damn barrier up,” the first man said. “Keep Merv close. Maybe he can feel them or something. However these magic freaks work. I’ll- We’ll figure it out.” Then, more loudly, “Hey! Ian!”
Daniel let his head roll forward, his lungs aching for a deep, refreshing draw of air. He didn’t dare do anything that might bring the pair closer. Hell, it seemed like even his heart was beating out of control.
Someone else called something, too low to make out. “Great!” the first man called back, his tone sour. “Just- Just climb up high somewhere, or something. Get up there and get watching.”
A whole mess of names, none of which meant anything to Daniel. He swallowed again—but even as his hand shook in Leon’s, he heard the voices growing quieter.
They were leaving.
He wasn’t stupid enough to think this was their chance. If what he’d overheard was true, then whoever Cyril was, he was responsible for that barrier. And keeping them in. The image of that worn, exhausted man in the back of their group sprang into his mind’s eye. If this barrier was the work of one man, then they’d have to be tired.
“Will the barrier run out?” he whispered, just a breath of air. He leaned forward as best he could, casting a glance toward Olivia. “This...This spell, or whatever. Is there a time limit?”
Olivia’s eyes flicked from side to side. Even in the shadows of their hiding place, her face was bone white. “I-I don’t know,” she whispered back. “I don’t know these people, Owl. Not really. We just- Indira contacted somewhere, and then this guy on their side wanted to meet up, and-”
“Quiet,” Daniel snapped. Olivia shut up. He sat, back, massaging at his temples.
If they waited here, maybe Cyril would get tired. Was that a thing? Did their magic wear at them the longer it was active, or was it a one-and-done casting?
Even if the spell would expire and dry up, did they have the time to sit around and wait for it? The Booklenders were looking for them, and every moment they wasted was another moment to get caught.
Again, his shoulder ached with the weight of the gun hanging underneath it. He had another option, if Cyril was the source of that shield. He could get rid of it—probably.
But was he ready to take that step?
Another thought sprang into his mind, and he twisted. Leon flinched. “W-What are you-”
“Shh,” he murmured, ducking his head to tap it against Leon’s shoulder. Leon quieted. Daniel pulled his phone from his pocket, squinting against the sudden surge of light in his face.
A few quick taps of the keys, and he pressed the phone to his ear.
It rang. And rang. Each one seemed impossibly loud, like a siren to draw in the people lurking around them. And then it clicked.
“Owl?” Maya said. “What’s-”
“Shh,” Daniel hissed. “Maya. Listen to me. Are you- Did you go to-”
“I’m in town,” she said. “What’s happening? Did you get James?”
Daniel cast a glance out into the steadily-brightening park. “We’re in trouble,” he murmured, as quietly as he could without totally losing his words. “We need your help. My car is-” He winced. “Gone.”
“W-What?” Maya’s voice went sharp, high-pitched. “What do you mean, it’s-”
“There’s a- a golf place. Near James’ house. Abandoned, I think.”
“I don’t see how that’s important when-”
“Do you know it?” It took everything Daniel had to keep from screeching at her. It wasn’t Maya’s fault they were in this mess. At the end of the day, it was his.
“I think so,” she whispered.
He nodded, then realized she couldn’t see. “We’re stuck. Can you- Can you come to the far side? Away from James’ house? We’re going to try and get away. And then-”
Leon’s hand clamped shut around his, cutting him off. Daniel froze. Maya chattered away in his ear, but he didn’t hear a word.
All he could hear was the sound of footsteps, again. Slow and careful, this time.
And getting closer.
Maya was still saying something as he pulled the phone from his ear and slid it shut.
- Chapter Fifteen -
“Shit,” Daniel breathed. Inwardly, though, his reaction wasn’t so muted. They were trapped like rats in a damn barrel, he was coming to realize.
The footsteps didn’t seem to care. They crept closer, steadily growing louder.
“What d’you see?” he heard someone murmur.
“Quiet.”
“I’m just asking. How’s that magic stuff work, anyway? Is it, like, infrared, or-”
“I said, be quiet.” The second speaker’s voice grew low and sharp. “I’m looking.”
The word was like a signal flare going off in Daniel’s mind. Right. Their opponents were looking—for them. And...infrared? He bit back a curse, ducking his chin to his chest. He couldn’t rule out the possibility of them having magical tools in their kit, which would bring this fight to a quick and unpleasant end.
They needed to move. Now.
With that thought lodged in his mind, he twisted, maneuvering himself toward Oliva—only to find her wide-eyed, looking right back at him.
Go, he mouthed. She shook her head wildly, jabbing a finger in his direction.
The sound of footsteps grew louder, and the voices with them. From his side of the alcove, or hers? He couldn’t be sure.
Again, the wheedling voices in the back of his head rose louder. This could be it. This could be Olivia’s betrayal. She’d turn them back toward their pursuers, and before they could run, they’d be-
He clamped down hard, killing the insidious worries before they could take hold. Olivia had had plenty of opportunities to turn
