I accelerated, heart performing backflips while Jake tried calling the Brambles.
No answer.
He tried Drake, then Riley, then Isaac. No one answered their phones.
My chest contracted painfully, my scalp prickling. I couldn’t drive any faster than this unless I wanted to crash the car on the next bend.
Jake kept trying the phones.
Whenever bad things happen, the world always slows to a crawl. As if you’re wading through water, desperately fighting the liquid resistance as you try reaching your goal.
This was the quickest route home, but that didn’t stop the mental flagellation for not thinking of a better plan.
Mum would bollock me if she knew how much I worried about her. She was a realist, never shying away from the cold hard facts of death. One moment you’re alive, the next you’re gone. All part of the circle of life, according to her.
A matter-of-fact statement, sure, but after she lostDad and then the previous Aurora triplets, she’d decided to try making the inevitable more palatable with more sprinkles of sugar. Like telling me she’d always be with me when her time came.
I refused to swallow any facts or sugar-coated crap. It wouldn’t lessen any hurt, and it wouldn’t stop grief’s rotten touch.
“It’ll be okay, Ollie,” Jake shot for reassurance.
Tell that to my panic.
Fear fluttered like birds trapped in a room with a cat. My knuckles were on the verge of popping from my tight grip on the steering wheel.
The mansion was protected. Magic couldn’t break through the protection spell, especially after Riley cast the latest one with his sacred strength. At the same time, nothing was infallible. We were up against shadow magic, as well as the strange power of the mystery fae woman.
Come on, car! Move your wheels!
I turned the last corner, coming into the final stretch where the high verge on my right gave way to the wrought iron fences of the mansion grounds.
A huge crystal shade stood in the driveway, the gates flattened beneath it.
“Holy shit,” Jake said, speaking for us both.
I spotted the Brambles, Drake, and the brothers facing down this monster, guns firing, spells too.
No sign of Mum.
Three crystal shades leaped out of the dark vergeto my left. I slammed on the brakes, skidding to a stop.
“Bloody hell!” Jake wailed.
My heart in my throat, I fumbled for my witchcop gun.
The three shades split apart until ten blocked the road completely. Together, they hissed, rocking from side to side as if they were around a campfire, swaying in prayer.
Not about to cower in the car, I flung the door open, pointing my gun at them.
“What is this?” I demanded, using the door for cover.
Jake mirrored my action on the other side.
“Irrelevant witches,” the shades responded as one, their collective voices echoey in my ears.
Where were the weak points here? Bullets didn’t slow down the big one on the driveway, at least from my perspective. Spells failed too.
“You will not spoil this,” the shades said. “This is the beginning of a great change.”
