late twenties, early
thirties. He didn’t smile, and he was standing at attention like a soldier.
Obviously an agent. They all had that look about them, like they could kill you
easily and were completely aware of it. “He’s here to secure Devin. Don’t feel
threatened. He’s one of the best we have.”
I understood why Devin needed the extra
security. Outside of Sophia, he had the fastest and strongest magic I’d ever
seen. On the road, I’d witnessed the impossible. He could conjure up tables and
tables of food, form clothes out of dirt, houses out of piles of sticks. I’d
seen him heal with his words, but now, I’d seen him kill with his words.
He raised his head and smiled at me. He
wasn’t as incapacitated as the others.
“Whenever you’re ready, Nathan,” Jeffery
said.
I nodded and locked eyes with my old
friend. “As you know … this is Devin,” I said. “Leader of the Peace Group. He
hired me. I told him about my parents, and he captured them or had them
captured.” My voice shook. I took a moment to compose myself. “He invited me to
a meeting to see them murdered.”
“And why didn’t you stop it?” Devin
slurred. I’d wanted to ask myself the same question.
“Don’t answer that,” Lydia said. “Devin,
it will serve you well to keep your mouth closed.”
“As long as I have my voice and can fight
whatever you’re trying to do to my brain, I will speak,” Devin said.
Lydia chuckled and gave him a you just wait kind of look. I would hate
to be Devin later.
“Go on, Nathan,” Jeffery said, scowling
at Devin like he’d already heard enough. This part was just a formality. Devin
was already screwed, and I was ready to go home and put this behind me.
“He killed John and Theresa Reece,” I
said. “It had to be his idea. He’s a dangerous wizard.”
“Your Honor,” Jeffery said. “On behalf of
the Magical Council, I consent to the punishment of Devin St. Jermaine.”
He’d left out the merciful part.
“Thank you for your time, Jeffery,” Lydia
said. “You or the Elders can contact me personally if you have any further
questions.” Jeffery smiled like that was an honor and bowed to Lydia. Then he
shook my hand, snapped, and left.
“Can I go?” I asked. Lydia nodded and
Devin lifted his head again.
“Nate,” he said. I turned to leave. I
didn’t want to hear anything else he had to say. “We really were friends. I
know you probably don’t think that now.”
“I wonder why,” I said, without turning
around.
“But we were. Real friends. I swear. To
prove it,” he said. “I’ll help you. Be careful. They are rejoicing over your
witch’s blood.”
I spun around, and Devin’s head slammed
into the silver table. He screamed as blood poured out of his nose. Tyler still
hadn’t moved, and Lydia was examining her cuticles.
“That will be all, Nathan,” she said.
“We’ll take it from here. The elevator is at the end of the hall.”
I bowed to Lydia like Tyler would expect
me to and left. I tried to think about the cryptic message from Devin, but the
thought wouldn’t stay in my head. The closer I walked to the elevator, the
further I walked from the morgue, from my mother, and she couldn’t come with
me. I tried to force myself to think that she was with who she wanted to be
with right now. She would have never chosen me over John anyway. She never did.
But I couldn’t stop thinking about her toes.
The elevator dinged before I made it
there, and Sophia poked her head out. I ran to her while my shoulders shook
violently. I was either about to shift or cry harder than I ever had in my
life.
As the elevator doors closed, Sophia took
my left hand and pressed my palm to her lips. “It’s all over, love,” she said. “It’s
all over.”
I held my tears in. I didn’t want to cry.
I didn’t want to be pitied.
“Sophia, if it’s not too much trouble,
could you handle the arrangements with Lydia? Get them buried or cremated.
Whatever. I don’t