Eddie is just as surprised. “That wasn’t me.”
Victor and Eddie look over at Leo, who is also bewildered. Distracted, Victor is thrown high into the air on a layer of earth. The layer tosses Victor. As Victor falls, he conjures a gust of wind to help him to the ground. As soon as he lands on his feet, he looks around.
“He’s here,” Victor remarks, scanning the field. “I can feel he’s close.”
Eddie looks around. “Who?”
“Derek,” Victor responds.
Leo tries to run over to Victor when a rock wall surrounds him. He tries to jump out, but the wall closes the opening.
“Leo!” Victor shouts as he runs over. A vine comes up and twists around his ankle, knocking him down.
Eddie struggles to move as vines wrap around his wrists and ankles. “Damn it!” He burns off the vines, then burns the vines binding Victor.
“Thanks,” Victor says to Eddie. “We need to help Leo.”
Before they can help Leo, sharp rocks start flying off the wall. Victor creates an air shield to protect himself and Eddie. Eddie stands behind Victor, collecting the rocks with his magic. Eddie shoots the stones back at the wall around Leo. The wall starts chipping away, weakening, allowing Leo to break through his dirt prison.
“Eddie, help Leo,” Victor commands as he looks around the empty field. “I know you’re here!” Victor shouts out into the open field. “I can sense your presence! So why don’t you come out and face me, warlock to warlock?”
Derek appears when he drops the illusion spell. “Looks like you’re getting stronger.”
Victor turns to face Derek. “That illusion charm must have taken up most of your energy. You’re not putting up that much of a fight.”
“And you should have listened to me about replacing Leo with another mentor,” Derek barks. “Also, my superior is still waiting for your response.”
“I’m sorry, I’m not interested in being in any coven you’re a part of,” Victor snaps back.
“Then I guess no coven will take you if you’re dead.” Derek starts throwing fireballs at Victor. Victoruses his Air and Water Magic, extinguishing each one flying toward him.
Leo is about to conjure something when Eddie stops him. “Don’t! This is Victor’s fight.”
“But we have to help him,” Leo demands.
“I know, mi amor, but the oath.” Eddie releases Leo’s wrist and says, “He challenged Derek. I will step in if I need to.Comprende?” Leo nods and watches on.
Victor lifts Derek high into the air on a layer of earth. He then causes a microburst to slam Derek to the ground. Derek reacts, breaks himself free, and turns the layer of soil into a fiery ball of dirt. Victor jumps and rolls to the side before it crashes down on him. When Victor looks up, Derek is hurling down at him, holding his dagger.
Victor covers himself with a thick layer of dirt. Derek lands on top and starts stabbing away at the earth, trying to dig his way to Victor. When Derek stands up, Victor explodes his earthy cover, sending Derek backward.
“Enough of this!” Victor shouts. As Derek stands, Victor shoots roots up from the ground and starts to bind Derek. Derek struggles to break free. Fireballs go flying out all over the place. Eddie helps block the attacks from hitting anyone.
“Let me go!” Derek demands. “Stop fighting like a little bitch!”
“He’s not a bitch,chéri.” Madame Jeanette and Superior Charles suddenly appear behind Derek. Eddie and Leo are confused about where they came from, not seen in the middle of an agave field.
Derek snarls at Madame Jeanette as she slowly steps beside him. “What? The wannabe empath had to call for reinforcements?”
“No,chéri, I’m here because of this . . .” Madame smiles fondly as she opens her palm.“Bòn nwi.”She blows black sandy dust into Derek’s face. Derek coughs until he passes out.
Superior Charles shakes his head as he approaches. “Jeanette, you know I don’t like it when you use Voodoo magic.”
Madame Jeanette flicks her hair back and grins at Superior Charles. “Then how was I supposed to knock him out, Charlie?”
Superior Charles flares his nostrils. “You know I don’t like being calledCharlie,” he groans through his teeth.
Victor frees Derek from his bindings, letting him drop to the ground with a thud. He looks back at Eddie and Leo and asks, “Are you two okay?”
