“Yeah, the secret part.” I walked over and tugged at the silver.
“Hands off, chica.” She slapped me, but I’d pulled it out. It was a curved blade suspended over a goblet. Her T-shirt had dipped when I yanked the chain out, revealing a black tattoo.
“They mark you too?”Crocus. They bound the magic to the person. Ranth didn’t have a tattoo. I’d seen his chest—I wondered what else it did other than block spells.
“What does that symbol mean?” I asked Ranth.
“I have no idea. It’s nothing to do with the Ahknim.” He walked toward Fabra, and she held a hand to stop him from coming closer.
“Things change. Time alters all purpose,” Fabra parroted. She turned away and tucked the chain back into her shirt.
“That your motto?”
“The specifics to the order are closely held.” She pursed her fuchsia-painted lips in a smirk.
“Right, of course they are. Tell us what you know about Ranth and how you know what you know.”
“Only the simple questions, huh?” She waved a hand at Ranth. “He’s a Keeper, and I guess old, though I don’t know how that works. Some of the weirder stuff that goes on is above my Order level.”
“But you said you saw his file?”
“Part of my briefing.” She patted her back pocket.
“Phone?” I asked, holding out my hand.
“Not a chance, babe. There’s sensitive stuff on there.” Fabra crossed her arms.
“You know I’m a witch, right?” I crossed my arms too.
“You threatening me?” She cocked her head.
“Not at all. Reminding you. I want that file. You can send it to me.”
“No can do.”
Ranth walked up to Fabra. “Then you can show it to me. Because it’s literally my file.” He towered over her.
Fabra looked up at him, sizing him up. “I guess I can show it to you.” She tugged out her phone and scrolled through screens.
“Here you go.” She held out the phone. I peered around her shoulder, but she turned it away from me.
Ranth grabbed it, but she held on. He bent her wrist back, ripped it out of her hand, and then tossed it to me.
I emailed the file to myself and Ori while Ranth held Fabra off. The cloudiness of the room was an indication that she had some tricks of her own. Normally, the house would prevent a spell from being cast, but now that I’d weakened it… I sent a file and another three emails that looked interesting before tendrils of rainbow-slicked orange curled around me. Fabra darted under Ranth’s arm and snatched the phone out of my now partially frozen hand.
The room swam as Ranth’s words about magic being my core railed through me. I locked on to the crawling orange, and my skin glowed with a silvery light. The orange curled in on itselfas if I’d burned it. It shrank away, retreating to the shadowy corners of the room, then dissipated altogether. I wavered with fatigue, leaning on the wall for support. How was Fabra doing this without magic of her own—and why was the house letting her?
Fabra wiped a hand across her forehead as if the orange thing had winded her. “Wow. How’d you do that? I’ve never seen anyone do that…” Fabra said, her eyes wide and the hand with the phone now at her waist.
I had no idea what I’d just done. I was used to sending out energy balls, but that was throwing things. I’d never made myself glow before.
“Nice tat, by the way. What’s it say?” She pointed at the words glowing on my forearm.
“Secret.” I tugged down my sleeve and shoved another square of chocolate into my mouth. The raw energy coursed through me.
“Let’s get this straight, kids. I need to take him back to Bayview, and you want your answers. I’ve given you what I know, and you took some extra bonus. But now I’ve got nothing more to give, and you’re keeping me here against my will. So, unless you want me to call 9-1-1 and report a situation, I’d suggest you let me do my fucking work.”
The house creaked, and the floor shifted in protest, throwing her sideways to her knees.
