Rache! a shrill pixy voice called, and I looked up, blinding myself as Jenks dropped down from the sun. Youre up! See, Ivy. I told you shed be okay. Look, even her aura is back to normal.
Well, that was one good thing, but I was starting to see a pattern here, and I didnt like it. You got out okay? I asked, and he landed on Ivys shoulder.
Hell, yes. That wasnt multiple spells. I watched the whole thing. It was one bubble, and it came from that black car with the jerk-ass driver.
Hands shaking, I leaned on the cool railing. Two medical people were headed our way, and I winced. Oh crap, I whispered, grabbing Ivys arm as they descended on us, medical instruments flopping from pockets and their tight grips.
Im okay. Im okay! I shouted as the first tried to get me to sit back down, and the second started flashing a light in my eyes. It was just an inertia dampening charm. I think it was so big ordinary metabolic functions couldnt break it. I got out using a standard breakage charm. And get that light out of my eyes, will you?
A breakage charm? the one trying to fit a blood pressure cuff on me said, and I nodded, glad that ambulance teams were required by law to have at least one witch on staff and he knew what I was talking about.
Im willing to try anything, the first said, turning to look at the line of people.
Theyre going to wake up thirsty, I said, but they were already striding back to the people under the sheets with a new purpose. Thankful that Ivy hadnt let them put me in that horrible line, I gave her arm a squeeze. Thanks, I whispered, and her fingers slipped from me.
Theyre going to wake up thirsty, I said, but they were already striding back to the people under the sheets with a new purpose. Thankful that Ivy hadnt let them put me in that horrible line, I gave her arm a squeeze. Thanks, I whispered, and her fingers slipped from me.
It works! came an exuberant cry, and a cheer rose as a man sat up, groggy and holding a hand over his eyes.
I was so glad that I wasnt going to be the only one to wake up from this. Wheres my car? I asked as I scanned for it, and Ivy winced.
I.S. impound, I think.
Swell. My keys were still in it, and tired, I looked in my bag to make sure I still had that golf ball. Okay, who out here owes me a favor?
Jenks rose up from Ivys shoulder, turning in midair to look toward Cincinnati. Edden.
Nodding, I gathered myself, and as Ivy hovered to catch me if I stumbled, we shuffled that direction. I was surprised. As a captain of the street force of the FIB, or Federal Inderland Bureau, Edden didnt get out much, but this had happened six blocks from their downtown tower, and with both human and Inderland Security fighting for jurisdiction, hed want to make sure the I.S. didnt sweep anything under the carpet.
The chaos was worse on the Cincy side of things and they were still moving cars out. Unfortunately none of them were mine. Behind the blockade were even more official vehicles, and behind them, the expected news vans. I sighed, trying to hide my face as a helicopter thumped overhead. Three hours?
But the shadows on the road agreed with the lapse of time, and as we looked for Edden, I thought back to that inertia bubble. Safety charms didnt grow that big, and it wasnt a cascading reaction of one triggering another, either. It had been a misfired charm in a morning of them. What the Turn was going on?
Found him, Jenks said, darting away, and Ivy angled to follow his shifting path through the people. It was tight, and I leaned closer to her, not wanting to be bumped. Everything felt uncomfortably intense, even the sun.
Im sorry I scared you, I said as I pressed into her to avoid a harried medic looking for a sedation charm for some poor woman. Her husband was fine; she was having hysterics.
It wasnt your fault.
No, it was never my fault, but somehow I always got blamed, and upon reaching the blockade, I dug in my bag for my ID. Ivy had already flashed hers, and after comparing the picture to my face, the two officers let me past. Jenks was hovering over Edden like a tiny spotlight, and I limped a little faster. There were definite advantages to being a noncitizen, but only if you were four inches tall.
Captain Edden had put on a few pounds since taking over the Inderland Relations division after his son had quit. His ex-military build made the stress weight look solid, not fat, and I smiled as he took off his sunglasses, his eyes showing a heavy relief that I was no longer out cold on the pavement. Standing beside an open car door, he finished giving two officers direction before turning to us.
Rachel! he exclaimed, thick hand finding my shoulder briefly in a heartfelt squeeze. Thank God youre okay. That wasnt you, was it? Trying to stop something worse, maybe? You would not believe my day. The I.S. is so busy with misfired charms that they dont even care were out here.
Wasnt me this time, I said as we came to a halt in an open patch of concrete. And why is everything automatically my fault?
The bear of a man gave me a sideways hug, filling me with the scent of coffee and aftershave. Because youre usually mixed up in it somewhere. His tone was pleased, but I could see the worry. I wish it had been you, he said, his eyes flicking to include Ivy and Jenks as he put an arm over my shoulder and moved us away from the news vans. The I.S. is giving me some bull about it having been a cascading inertia dampening charm.
Jenks rose up, but I interrupted him, saying, It was an inertia charm, but it was one charm, not a bunch of them acting in concert. It came from about three cars ahead of mine. Probably the black convertible the kid was driving. I hesitated. Is he okay? Edden nodded, and I added, Nothing came from my car. If it had, I wouldnt have been able to get out of it.
Edden chewed on his lower lip, clearly not having thought it through that far. The I.S. would have, though. Ivy looked tense, and I was glad I had friends whod sit with me on the hard road and protect me from helpful mistakes. A guy with an armful of bottled water went past, and I eyed it thirstily.
If anyone would bother to look, I said, voice edging into accusation, they could see my safety charm hasnt been triggered. Its probably another misfired charm. Have you listened to the news today? No ones brain dissolved. We got off easy.
Edden shook himself out of his funk and looked over the surrounding heads. Yes, we did. Medic! he called, and I waved the woman off as she looked up from putting an ice pack on an officers swollen hand, probably crushed when they were getting the people out of their cars. Im fine, I said, and Edden frowned. I could use some water, though. You dont know where my car is, do you?
Eddens frown vanished. Ahh . . . he said, looking everywhere but at me. The I.S. took everything south of the midpoint.
Jenkss wings clattered from Ivys shoulder. Hey, hey, hey. Good-bye.
Tired, I sighed. I was not going to take the bus for the next twelve months while they figured out whose insurance was going to pay for this.
I can get you home . . . Edden started.
Ivy put a hand on my arm, pulling me from my souring mood. Its okay, Rachel. My car is just off the bridge in the Hollows.
That wasnt the point, and I shivered as Ivys hand fell away with the feeling of ice. The light was seriously hurting my eyes, and even the wind seemed painful. It was almost as if my aura had been damaged, but Jenks said it was okay. Why had it gone white, and right before the misfire? Edden, I had nothing to do with it, I complained, not entirely sure anymore. I cant tap a line over the water, and the I.S. knows it. If I could, I wouldnt have gotten stuck in that . . . whatever it was. It was all I could do to get out. This is the second misfire Ive been in today, and I want my car!
Edden jerked, his eyes coming to mine from the man with the water. Second? He whistled, and the guy turned. Where was the other one and why havent I heard about it?
Jenkss wings hummed, swaggering, if someone flying could swagger, as he landed on Ivys shoulder. Out at the golf course, he said, and Ivys eyes remained steady, telling me hed already told her. Someone almost nailed Trent with a ball, and she blew it up instead of deflecting it. Made a new sand trap out on four.
Eddens reach for the bottle didnt hesitate, but he eyed me speculatively as he cracked the cap and then handed it to me. Youre still working Kalamacks security? he said, clearly disapproving.
Eddens reach for the bottle didnt hesitate, but he eyed me speculatively as he cracked the cap and then handed it to me. Youre still working Kalamacks security? he said, clearly disapproving.
If you call that working, Ivy said, and I felt a chill as the cool water went down. Edden, Ive been listening to the radio the past three hours
As she held poor Rachels little hand, Jenks smart-mouthed, darting off her shoulder when she flicked him.
Eddens brow furrowed, and he looked back where Id woken up. You could hear the radio from there?
Ivy smiled, flashing her small and pointy living-vampire canines. Her hearing was that good. Almost as good as Jenkss. Ive heard nothing new since the bridge. If I had access to the FIBs database, I could confirm it, but Im guessing the misfires are contained in a narrow band thats moving about forty-five miles an hour, roughly paralleling 71.
I lowered the bottle, cold from more than the water. Across from me, Edden took a breath in thought, held it, then exhaled. You know what? I think youre right.
Suddenly everyone was looking at me, and my stomach clenched. This isnt my fault.
Edden went to speak, and Ivy cut him off. No, shes right. The first incident was just outside of Loveland. Rachel was nowhere near there.
Head down, I recapped my water, a bad feeling trickling through me. I hadnt been out to Loveland this morning, but my ley line was out there. Crap on toast, maybe it was my fault.
So youre off the hook! Jenks said brightly, and I lifted my eyes, finding Ivy as worried as me.