Mon’s eyes widened with determination.“Cyntag, he…” He shuddered, then fell limp.
“No.No!”She put her fists on the uninjured part of his chest and pumped.“Come back.Come back, damn it.”Even in her disbelief, grief tore at her.
A sound whispered behind her.She spun to find the green ball sailing down the curved stairs and into the den.An acrid smell hit her nostrils.Smoke rolled out of the upstairs hallway, and she heard awhooshin the den.The ball shot back out and hovered a few yards in front of her.She stared at it, almost mesmerized by the green sparks inside—until it came at her.
With a yelp, Ruby ducked as it whizzed so close that she felt a sting on her forehead, then smelled burnt hair.Herhair.She grabbed one of the knives she’d dropped as she launched to her feet.It tingled in her hand, emitting faint electrical shocks.She couldn’t take even a second to look at it.The ball floated a few feet away, following her movements.
Following her movements?
Like Hunter/Prey.“What are you?”she screamed.Orbpopped into her mind.
Flames licked inside the den and along the stairway banister.The orb had set the house on fire.Now it wanted her.What the hell?
It zinged toward her, and she threw the knife.It sailed through the air faster than she thought possible, stabbing the orb.It shuddered, vibrating so fast that she could barely discern the movements.It disgorged the knife, which disintegrated like friggin’ dust.But it had done something.The orb was smaller now.She needed to get the other knife.
The orb flew at her, and she ducked around the backside of the heavy foyer table.Hunter/Prey.It was all coming back.Wood crackled behind her, and smoke filled the house.Noxious fumes tickled her throat, hot and cloying, and she fought the cough burning up her throat.
Flames filled the den now, licking into the foyer as if they were testing the air.She lunged for the other knife but the orb cut her off.It had intelligence, all right.The knife seemed to glow, though it was probably reflecting the green sparks.Or maybe not.Obviously it wasn’t a normal knife.
The orb circled the foyer.She could barely see it now because of the smoke and the tears in her stinging eyes.Coughing spasms wracked her body, and smoke strangled the air from her.Have to get out of here.She backed toward the door.
The orb flew behind her, sending her jerking forward.Ruby feinted right, then ran toward the kitchen.It beat her to the door.The kitchen was already in flames, but a clear path to the exterior door remained.She took several steps back, facing the orb as it followed.Pretending to head to the front door, she twisted around and slid across the floor toward the second knife.She and Mon had played a form of paintball in his old house, which had marble floors and long hallways.She got good at sliding on the slick surfaces.
The knife tingled again as she gripped it in her sweaty palm.She spun around, searching for the orb.Not seeing it, she ran into the kitchen.Black smoke billowed in the upper portion of the room.The orb hovered between her and the door.The damned thing was keeping her from escaping!
She crouched, but the smoke drew closer to the floor.Soon it would fill the entire room.She readied the knife, held at her thigh and out of sight.One shot.That’s all she had because there was no going back in the den.Another coughing fit seized her, and she gripped the edge of the granite counter to keep her balance.All the while, she watched the orb come closer, taking advantage of her weakened condition.
Like a sentient thing.An evil thing.
Sucking in a breath, she snapped upright and threw the knife.Arcs of electricity danced along the blade as it plunged into the orb.While it tried to eject the knife, she grabbed a pot from the hanging rack.Like a baseball batter, she swung her whole body into throwing it.She knocked the orb against the wall and dashed back into the foyer.
Sirens pierced the air.Someone had called the fire department.Thank God.
Or maybe not.Would the orb hurt the firefighters?
She couldn’t see it as she dared a glance back while racing for the door.It flew open, crashing against the wall.Two firemen stood in the opening, clad in protective gear.
“Anyone else in here?”one asked her.
“My uncle!”She pointed, and at that moment, the entire wall where he lay collapsed in flames.
The force of it jerked her backward.No, that was one of the firefighters grabbing her as they retreated onto the front porch.She searched for the orb even as they scrambled to their feet.One firefighter led her farther from the house.She was a limp doll, all of her attention on the hellish nightmare come to life.Flames shot out through gaps in the roof and every window.If she’d still been inside, she’d be dead.
One of the men ushered her to a fire truck.A second truck pulled up, spewing firefighters and equipment.Medics treated the small burn on her forehead and gave her oxygen, while all she could do was cough and look for the orb.
Had it purposely destroyed evidence?Yes, she was sure of it.
Orb.She’d heard that word before, in the stories Mon created for her when she was a child: a hidden world of magick, with angels and people who turned into dragons.Magickwith akat the end, spelled differently because it wasn’t the illusion type.
It’s real magick, ducky.
The sorcerer-like Deuces could make orbs, instilling an intention like spy or fry.
She started shaking with the thoughts and questions bombarding her as she watched streams of water trying to tame the flames.The sounds of pumps, firefighters shouting instructions, and spraying water filled the air.The answers were in the envelope, and it was probably ashes by now.
The Book of the Hidden
The white dove’salarmed coos drew Garnet to the window of her turret bedroom.“What’s the matter, Opal?‘Tis not like you to be so fitful.”
