The Demon's Covenant Read Free

lives.
    Seb and the other boys turned their heads and stared, the tension in their bodies easing as they took in the sight of Gerald. He was hardly an awe-inspiring sight, Mae remembered, though all she could see of him was a blue shirt and sandy hair going in every direction.
    She recalled the mild, freckled face under the sandy hair; the shy voice, the sweet smile, and those clever, watching eyes.
    Gerald lifted a hand, and the lid of a bin rose and spun in midair like a ninja’s star, missing one of the boys by an inch and striking sparks off the wall.
    â€œFunny how these freak winds happen,” he observed in his friendly way.
    The boy who the bin lid had almost hit took several steps back. Gerald gestured easily and the lid rose again, quivering in the air.
    A slow, small creak came from the darkest corner of the alley. Even the boy being menaced by the airborne bin lid turned his head to see the rusty old drainpipe peeling itself from the wall.
    The bin lid was pinwheeling in the air now, a blur of silver. The drainpipe was bowing toward them, tall and thin, looming out of the night like a spindly, starving giant who had finally spotted food.
    Gerald laughed indulgently, as if he was showing them all a trick, as if he’d just produced doves from his sleeve rather than killer drainpipes.
    â€œRun,” he suggested.
    Two of the boys exchanged frantic looks, their eyes swiveling from Gerald standing in the alley entrance to the drainpipe, and then back again.
    â€œDon’t bother Jamie anymore,” Gerald advised. He stepped back, politely motioning for them to go through.
    The two boys ran. They didn’t even notice Mae standing frozen and furious to one side.
    Seb did not move. For a moment Mae thought he was frozen by magic as she was, his hand still lifted to deliver Jamie a blow that would never land. Then he let his hand fall.
    â€œDid I fail to make myself clear?” Gerald said, with an edge to his voice now. “When I said run, I meant you, too.”
    â€œI’m—” Seb began, and shook his head. “Sorry. I’m sorry. I—right.”
    He bowed his head to Gerald. Mae saw him shoot a dark look under his lashes at Jamie.
    Jamie gave him a little wave. “Don’t let the alley hit you in the ass on your way out.”
    Seb looked like he wanted to answer, possibly with a blow, but then he cut a swift look back at Gerald and stepped slowly away. He passed Gerald, making for the alley entrance.
    He did see Mae. For a moment they looked at each other, his scowling face smoothing out. He looked as if he wasn’t quite sure what to do, and in the end he did nothing, just backed uncertainly away.
    She’d deal with him later.
    In the alley Jamie raised a hand and the spinning of the bin lid slowed. It was held still and suspended for a second, and then it flew with extreme force at Gerald.
    Gerald caught it easily and nodded thanks, as if Jamie were a squire who had just tossed his knight a shield.
    â€œYes, like that. Why do you allow them to hassle you when you can just do something like that?”
    â€œBecause I don’t have to,” Jamie said shortly. “They’re idiots, but that doesn’t mean I want them hurt or scared. And I don’t need you to scare them either. There was no need for all that! I have to live here, you know.”
    â€œNo, you don’t.”
    Jamie batted his eyelashes and laughed. “Oh yes, take me away from all this. You don’t listen.”
    â€œIt’s you who doesn’t listen!” said Gerald. “You’re a magician.”
    â€œNo, I’m not.”
    â€œIt’s not a choice,” Gerald said. “You were born a magician. It’s in your blood, and you think you can just stay here in this dull little life, being persecuted by dull little people, when you could be so much more. I could teach you.”
    Jamie smiled, so much more at ease with a murderous magician