“I’m fine,” he tells me, straightening up. He really does seem fine, though I know the cuts and scrapes on his back have to hurt like a motherfucker.
Red and blue lights flash outside and the chopper gets closer and closer.
“We don’t have much time!” I exclaim, extending my fingers. I summon the fire and the golem rounds on me. I rush forward, hands out in front of me.
“Ace!” Hasan yells, trying to stop me.
“The police will be here any second!” They can’t see the golem and they can’t see me. I’ve already pushed the truth and covered up facts. I had to do it, but it still weighs on me. Not only because I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before I’m caught in a lie, but because for my whole life, becoming a cop was the only thing that kept me going.
Then I became one, got promoted, and being Detective Bisset was pretty much my only sense of identity. I kept myself guarded and closed off. I lived but wasn’t really alive.
Now things are different.
I have friends. Boyfriends. A house we all share together like a family. I’m happy…but I’m starting to realize that being both a witch and a cop isn’t possible. Because Iwillget caught. I’ll kill a bad guy and not be able to explain why his corpse is just a charred pile of ash, or why the corpse isn’t a corpse at all and is a demon.
Fire burns hot around me, and I can feel the heat on my face. It doesn’t hurt me, and the warmth is comforting. The golem jerks away from the fire and I push forward, grabbing its arm. The clay is cool beneath my grasp and hisses from the fire. I squeeze my hand tighter and the clay begins to harden.
The golem, realizing he’s doomed, panics and swipes his arm out, knocking right into me. I step back, catching myself, and go after him again. This time, he barrels deeper inside the cafe, hitting the counter hard. Bits of clay tumble to the ground.
That’s it, keep running. Bang into more things and help me with the work.
Hasan and I are right behind it when the golem suddenly whips around, going berserk. It wildly swings both arms, and Hasan uses himself as a shield. He gets hit in the head, and blood starts to drip from his nose.
My eyes widen, and anger pulses through me, causing the magical fire around my hands to get bigger. The magical fire can’t hurt me, but I’m pretty sure if I catch the building on fire I’ll go down with the flames.
And so will everyone in here.
“Ace,” Hasan says, straightening up and wiping blood from his nose.
“I know.” I curl my fingers in, trying to control the fire. My heart is racing and the logical part of my brain is yelling at me to get away from the flames. The golem roars and the flashing lights from the police cars are right outside the cafe.
Shit, shit, shit.
I squeeze my eyes shut and let go of the mental shields I was forcing up, holding back my magic. Fire shoots from my hands, flames already over a foot long. I’ve never had the fire erupt like that before, and it takes me by surprise. The flames fly out in front of me, setting the display of overpriced coffee mugs on fire. Hasan knocks it to the ground, trying to smother the flames.
The small distraction is all the golem needs. He barrels forward, grabbing a barstool, and throws it at Hasan. It knocks him back, and before I can make sure he’s okay, the golem comes at me and tries to grab me by the throat. I duck out of the way and flick my hands. After I become a human flame thrower, the fire dies down, and now I feel depleted of magical energy.
Now’s not the time.
I know what to do, but I’m not sure I can. If I close my eyes and concentrate, I can pull in energy from all around me. Eventually, I’ll figure this out and it’ll come naturally to me. Or at least Jacques thinks so.
I jump over the counter, trying to buy myself some time.
“Come on,” I say, heart beating faster and faster. Hasan is slowly getting to his feet, one hand on his forehead. I hold my hands up in front of me, staring at my fingers. “Come on.”
Voices echo out on the street. I don’t have time for this. I need to take out the golem now.
“Fuck it,” I whisper, and close my eyes, letting my hands drop to the side. I splay my fingers, feeling for the raw energy that floats in the surrounding air.One…two…three…four…five…
I feel it buzzing, and I pull it in, opening my eyes to see Hasan throw a table at the golem. It hits it in the back of its head, causing it to whirl away from me with a roar.
“Hold him steady!” I shout to Hasan, knowing he’s going to have a difficult time even though he’s solid muscle. If he rips the charm off and uses his wings to fly forward, he’d have no issue pinning this fucker against the wall.
Hasan grabs one of the golem’s arms and pushes him back. I jump over the counter, summoning the fire. I go for its head, but I only get so far as searing its cheeks before it hits me hard enough that I’m seeing stars.
“Ace!”
“I’m fine.” I blink, ignoring the ringing in my ears. “It’s now or never!”
