Cold Burn of Magic (27 page)

Grant raised his head and focused his gaze on me. My soulsight kicked in, and I felt all of his pain, fury, and disbelief at what was about to happen.

“Help me!” he screamed.

“No.”

Seeing that I wasn't going to take pity on him, Grant turned his frantic gaze to Devon.

“Devon! Please!” he screamed. “Help me!”

Devon sighed and started forward, just as I knew he would, but I held my hand out and stopped him. I shook my head.

“No,” I repeated. “Not him. I know he's a member of your Family, I know you thought that he was your friend, but he doesn't deserve it. Not after what he tried to do to you. Not after what he did to Ashley and your father. Believe me. If you help him now, he'll just try to kill us again.”

Devon stared at Grant, an unreadable expression on his face. After a moment, he gave me a sharp nod.

Grant saw his last hope fade away, and he swung his ugly, hate-filled glare to me again. “You bitch!” he snarled. “You did this to me! My blood is on your hands!”

“Yeah,” I said. “I did do it to you. But you did it to yourself, too. Good-bye, Grant.”

Grant kept clutching at the cobblestone. The tentacle wrapped tighter and tighter around his ankle, until I heard the
snap-snap-snap
of the bones breaking in his foot. It gave him a harder yank, then a harder one . . . then a harder one still . . .

Grant screamed and wrapped his hands around the cobblestone that much tighter.

But it wasn't enough.

The bridge was wet, and the stones were slippery from the water the lochness had sprayed everywhere. Grant finally lost his grip. One moment, his fingers were scrabbling over the cobblestone, trying to latch on to it again. The next, the tentacle had snapped him high into the air. Grant barely had time to suck down a breath to scream before the creature slammed him down into the water.

Devon and I looked at each other; then we both hobbled to the bridge and peered over the side. The water rushed by much faster than normal, bubbling, foaming, and frothing like rapids. I thought I heard Grant let out one final waterlogged scream, and then . . .

Silence.

The river slowed back down to its normal flow, although an oily stain slicked the surface of the water—Grant's blood.

Devon let out a low whistle and slowly backed away from the edge, but I stayed where I was, clutching the stone for support. I might have backed away, too, if I hadn't thought that my legs would buckle, and I'd fall to the ground.

I don't know how long we might have stood there if the black tentacle hadn't risen up over the bridge again.

I tensed and tightened my grip on the stone, thinking that maybe the lochness was still hungry, and that Devon and I were going to be scooped up and pulled into the water like Grant and the two guards. The tentacle drew back, then snapped forward, almost like it was a baseball player hurling something in our direction. A bit of silver glittered in the air.

The piece of metal hit the stone ledge, bounced off, and skittered to a stop at my feet. I looked down.

My mom's sapphire ring gleamed in the moonlight.

I sucked in a breath. Beside me, Devon did the same.

“Why did it do that?” he rasped. “Why did it give your ring back to you?”

“I don't know. And I'm not sure I want to.”

I leaned down and scooped up the ring. Despite the blood in the water, the sapphire star and the silver band gleamed, as though they had just been cleaned. I slid the ring onto my finger, where it belonged, then looked up. That tentacle was still undulating in the air, almost like it was waving at me.

I hesitated, then waved back, even though I had no idea if the lochness could actually see me. “Um . . . thanks.”

The tentacle slid down and disappeared below the water's surface. A moment later, a loud sound blasted out from beneath the bridge, almost like a foghorn.

“Was that . . . a burp?” Devon whispered.

“Do you really want to know?”

He shook his head.

“Yeah. Me neither.”

I
couldn't walk, but Devon wouldn't leave me, so we sat on the lochness bridge. It was safer than hobbling through the streets. Despite the blood that covered us, no monsters appeared to make us their midnight snack. We seemed to be under the lochness's protection, at least for this night.

So I pulled out my phone and called Mo, telling him where we were. Ten minutes later, several black SUVs pulled up to the end of the bridge and stopped. Claudia, Felix, Reginald, Angelo, and several guards poured out of the cars and hurried over to us, along with another familiar face.

Mo dropped to a knee in front of me. “You don't look so good, kid.”

“Tell me something I don't know.”

He grinned and laid a gentle hand on my shoulder.

Felix crouched down in front of me and Devon. He shook his head, then smiled. “I can't leave you guys alone for a second, can I?”

“Next time, I will be happy to let you battle the crazy guy and his goons,” I said.

“What happened?” Claudia demanded in a sharp voice. “Where's Grant?”

I jerked my thumb over my shoulder. “Sleeping with the fishes—permanently.”

Claudia stared at the bridge, obviously confused. But then her lips puckered into a silent
oh
. Everyone else stopped talking, and more than a few peered over the side of the bridge, their hands on their swords, looking for the lochness. I knew they wouldn't see the monster.

Finally, Angelo cleared his throat. “I hate to point out the obvious, but Lila and Devon need medical attention. We need to get them into the vehicles now.”

Mo looked at me. “Is that okay with you, kid? Because I would say that you have more than fulfilled your contract with the Sinclair Family.”

Claudia stiffened at his words, but she couldn't deny them.

I looked around at everyone gathered on the bridge. Claudia, Reginald, Angelo, Felix, Mo, and finally Devon, who was staring at me with a mixture of hope and wariness in his eyes. And something else that I didn't want to think too much about right now.

“Yeah, take me back to the mansion,” I said. “Take me home.”

 

The rest of the night was a blur. Mo scooped me up into his arms and loaded me into one of the SUVs. Devon and Felix insisted on riding with me, with Mo in the front and Reginald driving. Mo kept up a steady stream of chatter the entire ride back to the mansion. Even Felix couldn't get a word in, for a change.

Back at the mansion, Mo carried me up to the infirmary, where Angelo and Felix poured stitch-sting over my wounds. Devon was in another room, getting his throat and other injuries looked at, and Angelo and Felix went back and forth between us. I asked about Devon, but Felix said that he was fine and not to worry.

Once I was healed, I took a shower and put on the pajamas that Felix brought me. Mo helped me back to my room, and I collapsed into bed.

The sun streaming in through the windows woke me the next morning. Thinking of Tiny and his beloved sunspots, I dozed for a while longer, but eventually, it got too bright and warm to sleep. So I threw back the covers, sat up, swung my legs over the side of the bed, and groaned, as a hundred small aches and pains flared to life in my body. All of my stab wounds were healed, but cuts and scrapes still dotted my hands and arms, not to mention my sore feet and the pulled muscles in my legs from running around barefoot for so long and so hard—

A faint
zip-zip-zipping
sounded, and something blurred across the room before stopping right in front of my face.

“Finally!” Oscar snapped, his arms crossed over his chest, his wings twitching in indignation. “I was wondering whether or not you were
ever
going to wake up.”

I winced. “Do you have to shout? I was in a fight last night, in case you haven't heard.”

“Oh, I heard all right. The whole mansion has heard. It's all anyone can talk about. Grant and what he did, and you and what you did.”

“So everyone's gossiping about me,” I muttered. “Terrific.”

He shrugged. “It goes with the territory, cupcake. Now, come on. We need to get you dressed. Claudia wants to see you.”

“Why?”

“I have no idea, but you are not going to keep her waiting. So, come on. Rise and shine.”

I groaned again, but Oscar darted around me like an annoying bee, poking and prodding me until I finally got up. I stumbled into the bathroom and took a hot shower, trying to work some of the kinks out of my body.

When I finished, I shrugged into a thick white robe and stepped into the bedroom. Oscar had already made the bed, and another black pantsuit lay on top of the comforter.

“What's that for?” I asked, fingering the fabric, which was even nicer than the one I'd worn to the dinner last night.

“Claudia sent it up for you, so you're putting it on.”

“Can't I just wear shorts and a T-shirt?” I whined.

“No,” he snapped back. “Not if you want any of
that
before you go.”

Oscar fluttered to one side and held out his hand. Trays of food had been arranged on the table in front of the TV. Steaming plates of scrambled eggs, hash browns, chocolate chip pancakes, cherry Danishes, and, of course, a mound of bacon. My stomach rumbled, and my mouth watered in anticipation.

I took a step forward, but Oscar darted in front of me, blocking my path and crossing his arms over his chest again.

“No,” he said. “Not one bite until you put your suit on.”

“You drive a hard bargain, pixie.”

He grinned. “So I've been told. Now, put your clothes on, and eat some bacon like a good girl.”

“Yes, master,” I grumbled, but I was smiling.

And so was he.

 

Oscar kept nagging at me to hurry, but I took my sweet time with breakfast, savoring every single bite. Despite what had happened last night, I had a sneaking suspicion that Claudia was going to boot me out today. After all, with Grant dead, she didn't need me to protect Devon anymore, and I wanted at least one more good meal before I left. I thought about stuffing what was left of the food, especially the bacon, into one of my suitcases, but I decided against it. For now.

When I was finally ready, I buckled my mom's sword and scabbard to my black belt and followed Oscar to the library.

“Claudia will be with you in a minute,” he said.

“Thanks,” I muttered. “I think.”

He grinned, then zipped down the hall and around the corner.

I entered the library, but Claudia wasn't sitting at her desk, so I went over to the doors that overlooked the balcony, admiring the view. That was something else I would never get tired of here.

Soft footsteps sounded behind me, and Claudia came to stand beside me. “Impressive, isn't it?”

I shrugged.

“Let's take a walk.”

She opened one of the balcony doors and stepped outside. I followed her as she strolled down a set of steps, across the lawn, and into the woods. I looked around, but I didn't see anyone else.

“Where are the guards?”

“I sent them to the opposite side of the estate,” she replied. “I didn't want them to see us.”

“Of course not,” I muttered.

Claudia gave a sideways glance, but said nothing else.

We followed a path through the woods for about a quarter of a mile before it opened up into a large clearing ringed by a wrought iron fence. Behind the fence, square blocks of black marble had been set into the grass.

No, not blocks, I realized—tombstones.

“A cemetery? Why did you bring me to a cemetery? Are you planning to bury me here?” I tried to make my voice light, as though it were a joke, even though I was afraid it wasn't.

Claudia didn't answer. Instead, she opened the gate and walked down the main row. I muttered under my breath, but I followed her.

I scanned the tombstones, many of which were shaped like crosses. Those on the left side of the graveyard bore the last name
Sinclair,
including one for Lawrence, Devon's dad. So this was the Family cemetery. But then, I glanced over at the right side and noticed that the last names were all different. So the guards were buried here, too. One grave near the front was fresh enough to still be covered with sprays of wilting flowers—Ashley's grave.

Claudia stopped by that grave a moment, bowing her head and silently paying her respects. So did I.

We walked on. As we moved deeper into the cemetery, another name appeared on the tombstones over and over again—
Sterling
.

Dread filled the pit of my stomach, and my legs felt as numb and heavy as they had last night after Grant had stabbed me. Suddenly, I knew exactly why Claudia had brought me here.

She walked almost to the back of the cemetery and stopped in front of one of the black marble markers. A star had been carved into the top of the tombstone, along with a few simple words underneath—
Serena Sterling, beloved mother and friend, trusted member of the Sinclair Family
.

My hand curled around my mom's sword, my fingers clenched so tightly that I could feel my skin filling in the star carved into the hilt. My breath came in ragged gasps, and my heart twisted in my chest, so painfully that I felt like I was in the grip of one of the lochness's tentacles, about to be pulled under and drowned by my own grief.

Claudia's eyes met mine, a mixture of sorrow, pity, and understanding swirling through her green gaze.

“I brought you here, Lila,” she said, “because I thought you might like to finally see your mother's grave.”

 

I drew in a breath, then another one . . . then another still . . . trying to get my emotions under control. Finally, when I felt calm enough, I dragged my gaze from the tombstone back to Claudia.

“So,” I said. “I guess the jig is up, huh?”

She arched an eyebrow, and I sighed.

She gestured to a black marble bench that had been set at the very back of the cemetery. “Let's sit and talk.”

We both walked over and sat down on the bench. Despite the heat of the day, the stone was cool, thanks to the shadows that cloaked this part of the cemetery. Neither one of us spoke for several minutes, and the only sounds were the faint cries of the birds and the trolls in the trees and the rustle of the summer breeze through the thick branches.

“How long have you known?” I finally asked.

“That you were really Lila Sterling? Daughter of Serena Sterling, the woman who used to be one of my best friends?” Claudia asked.

I winced and nodded.

“I realized it when I watched you fight Felix and Devon. You moved and attacked just like she used to do. I had my suspicions then, and they were confirmed the second I realized you were wearing
that
.” Claudia reached over and tapped my sapphire ring. “Although I'll admit that I should have known the moment Mo told me your name. Merriweather was—”

“My grandma's maiden name. We stayed with her a lot when I was a kid.”

I thought I'd been so clever, hiding who I really was from Claudia, but she'd known all along. I wondered if that was the reason she'd forced me to become Devon's bodyguard, so she could keep an eye on me. Probably.

Claudia was silent for a moment. “What did your mother tell you? About the Family? About . . . me?”

“Everything,” I said. “She never hid it from me. I knew that she used to be a member of the Sinclair Family, that the two of you were close, and that she left the Family because of some fight you two had right before I was born. She said the two of you didn't speak much after that.”

“That sounds about right.”

I could have told her more, about everything my mom had done for the Family and all the bodies she'd helped Claudia bury—literally and otherwise—but I wanted to keep at least some of my secrets to myself.

“Where did you go?” she asked. “After your mother left the Family? What did the two of you do?”

I shrugged. “We moved around a lot during the fall and winter. Ashland, Bigtime, Cypress Mountain. We stayed lots of places. Mom hired herself out as a guard to rich families, helped folks deal with their monster problems, things like that. The same things she used to do for you. Sometimes, she was just a thief, stealing art, cars, jewelry, or whatever, through the connections and jobs that Mo sent her way.”

“But?” Claudia asked.

I drew in a breath. “But we always came back to Cloudburst Falls in the summer. Mom said this was home, and that it always would be. As soon as I finished school for the year, Mom would pack us up and bring us here. She'd rent out some dinky little apartment in a neighborhood where no one would notice us, and we'd go out exploring, every single day. On the Midway, up the mountain, out to the lake and the beach. We'd eat ice cream and play games and go to the library and visit all the arcades, parks, and museums. It was always the best summer vacation.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “It was the thing I looked forward to the most, every single year. Even more than Christmas and my birthday.”

Claudia sighed. “Until the day Devon and I were attacked in the Midway.”

“Yeah. When Mom saved you.”

“I saw her that day. Just for a second. I thought she was a ghost or some figment of my imagination. Until I heard that her body had been found.”

Stars flashed on and off at the edge of my vision, threatening to surge into that wall of white and throw me back into the past, but I blinked and blinked until the stars disappeared, and I was firmly in the present once more.