I shook my head.
“Can you cast a spell to protect us?”
I shook my head again.
Wait, I could do one of those protection bubbles Tianna taught me to create, though I had no idea if it’d be strong enough to hold. After all, we were in theunderworld, for fuck’s sake. This was the birthplace of the scariest magic in existence, along with the most frightening of all monsters to wield that power.
“Whatever you just thought of, do it,” Brock urged, and I didn’t waste time. Whatever magic was being cast our way was far enough along for me to feel it amid the distraction of lava spurting all around us.
I squeezed Brock in my hold and closed my eyes. Right away, I pictured my energy, my magic, as a bright light that I could extend out of myself. When the white glow was bright within my mind’s eye, I directed it over Brock and me, draping each one of us individually in its protection. When I was satisfied that the light fully coated Brock and me from top to bottom, I whispered so softly that I wasn’t sure even Brock could hear me, and he was literally pressed against me…
“My light, my magic, infinite energy of the universe:
Protect our physical bodies from all harm.
Repel any and all attacks from the forces of darkness.
While we remain within the underworld, keep us healthy, strong, and safe.”
Okay, so it was more like a prayer, but Tianna had said words contained power, and so I was giving it all I had.
I added, “And please help us kick some serious ass.”
Brock’s murmur of a chuckle was the only signal that he had heard my obviously made-up spell after all, but I still prayed it worked.
Releasing Brock, I allowed my instincts to guide me instead of Cass’ booty shorts, which I now suspected had been magically tampered with. When my body pointed in the direction I’d last spotted the sirens, and I started in that direction, Brock grabbed my arm.
“Wait,” he said. Pulling me back against him so no one could eavesdrop in this place where the rock itself seemed to watch us, he breathed, “Use your illusion power. Project out several of you.”
“I’m not sure I can. I’ve only practiced it like twice.”
“Third time’s the charm,” he urged.
I sighed. “They’ll know I wouldn’t leave your side.”
“Then you’ll have to.”
I stared at him. He stared right back, apprehension at separating shimmering in his amber eyes. An orange glow reflected in them as I finally nodded. We needed every advantage we could get, however slight.
My dad had told me the secret to my illusion magic was to not think too hard on it. So before I could worry about how I’d accomplish it, I simply pictured three identical copies of myself, glowing bubble of light included, pushing some of my magic into the intention.
When I opened my eyes, nothing had happened. Like at all.
Shit. I guess when my dad meant don’t think on it too hard, he actually meant to think on it at least a little.
Summoning more of my magic, feeling it filling the well inside my chest, I clenched my eyes again and envisioned three separate versions of myself. I pictured every detail about myself that I could, even going so far as to have the other me’s smile confidently.
When the three images of me were fully concrete within my mind’s eye, I directed every bit of the magic within myself toward them. Even when I started straining from the effort, I kept going, and only once the three other versions of me were fully enveloped in a cloud of my purple magic did I release it.
In a rush, the remainder of my magic slammed into the three versions of me, and my eyes popped open.
I startled when I spotted three exact copies of me circling us, but then a huge grin split my face. Brock stepped away from me and walked into the middle of the projections so as not to give away which Evie was real.
“You did it!” Brock whispered.
I nodded. “Pretty awesome, huh?”
“Hell. Yeah. Now let’s get moving.”
