Nicole started to walk around us, moving away from Nick and forcing Cale and me to divide our attention.
I have her, said Cale, turning until we were back to back.
So, at the Police Academy, I said, what did they teach you to do with darkness mages?
Nothing that would work on Lisabelle, said Cale grimly.
What are you talking about? I demanded. Why would you ever attack Lisabelle?
I dont know if you noticed this, said Cale without looking at me, but shes gone over to darkness.
I shook my head, knowing he couldnt see.
Do you know anything about Lisabelle? I asked Nick. I knew it was risky, showing I cared, but the Nocturns had to know that. We had been watched all these years, after all. Faci, for instance, had always seen us together. Lisabelle only threatened to pound fellow students into the ground when one of her friends was threatened. Well, that, and if you talked too much.
The Nocturns would know that wed do anything for each other. Lisabelle had just proved that by ransoming Sip, at whatever cost to herself.
For a second I thought Nick wasnt going to answer, but eventually he nodded. We left before she got there, he said. Its above our pay grade.
Shut up, Nick, Nicole hissed. Whose side are you on?
Im not telling her anything, said Nick. Besides, its not like we know anything.
Shut. Up.
Lisabelle Verlans is overrated, Nicole scoffed. Theres no way shes as powerful as all the paranormals think she is. If she were, shed be a queen.
Have you ever seen her fight? I asked Nicole.
Nicole shook her head. I dont need to. That kind of darkness power doesnt exist. Why would the premier want a darkness mage around whos stronger than all the rest? Particularly one whose loyalty is in question?
I believe shes that strong, said Nick. I believe shes the strongest, but Ive never seen her fight. Whatever side shes on is the one with the better chance of winning this war.
There is only one winner of this war, said Nicole. Darkness.
Cale didnt wait for me. He lunged. I saw him dart right at Nicole, reaching for a pouch at his waist which could only be filled with pixie dust. Cale never had a chance. Nicole pulled up a black shield of fire and Cale slammed into it. I watched in horror as my friend slumped to the ground. Worst of all, he was still obviously conscious as Nicole slowly stepped toward him.
I felt sick as I watched, but I couldnt stand there for long, because Nick was coming toward me with black fire in his hands.
Enough of this, I said. Nick paused, but Nicole didnt. She slapped Cale hard across the face, causing him to fall sideways.
STOP IT! I cried this time, anger a welcome fire coursing through my body.
Or what? Nicole demanded, staring hard at me.
I smiled. You should have met Sigil, I said. He could have told you some of the more creative ways elementals know how to fight.
Oh yeah, like what? Nicole asked, crossing her arms over her chest. She was taking the bait, giving me the time I needed.
Like lightning, I said, and raised my hand.
I felt stronger, my stomach had stopped hurting, and the elemental power that coursed through my blood burned away the dark magic Nick had hit me with.
High above I felt a rush and saw a flash that lit the night sky as if the millions of silver stars were gleaming together.
The lightning lanced down, striking the earth right in front of Nick. The darkness mages face registered shock as he stumbled backward.
While Nick was on the ground I pointed at Nicole. Exciting enough for you? Get away from my friend.
Nicole stood wide-eyed in shock, and that pause gave me another opening. A second lightning bolt lanced down from the sky, striking a mere foot away from her. She cried out and tried to throw black magic at me, but she was in too much of a rush. It came out as a blob and missed me completely.
Cale, who was looking at me as if hed never seen anything quite like this before, struggled to his feet.
You okay? I asked him. He nodded. Then lets finish this thing, I said.
He grabbed a handful of pixie dust and flung it at Nicole. She screamed and dodged, right into another bolt of my lightning. It just missed her, but it came so close I smelled singed hair. With a satisfaction I hadnt felt since Golden Falls, I turned to attack Nick again. Unlike his wife, he knew when to run.
Come on, he yelled to Nicole. We have to get out of here.
I wont be beaten by two students, she cried in a fury, desperately trying to cobble together more black magic. But it was no use. Her ring was a dull black, and I had seen in the flashes of lightning that she didnt have much left. She needed all of it to defend herself from my attacks; she didnt have enough to attack me back.
They ran, and I just watched them. I didnt want to kill them; they reminded me too much of Lisabelle, and I hadnt yet come to terms with taking a life, except for demons. As unrealistic as it was starting to seem, I still hoped I would never have to.
Hey! I yelled.
Nicole looked over her shoulder but kept running, while Nick stopped. She glared at him, but he waited to see what Id say.
If you ever come near my brother again, I said, Ill stop pretending like I dont know how to aim that lightning.
Nicole started to sneer, but Nick pulled her away. I watched them run down the lamp lit street until I couldnt see them anymore.
You okay? Cale asked, staggering up to me and putting his hand on my shoulder.
Yeah, I said. My stepfathers going to be so mad.
Sorry about the banister, said Cale ruefully.
Oh, I waved my hand, that will be an awkward conversation, but I was thinking hes going to be mad that I dont have a summer job anymore.
Cale chuckled. You dont have a summer job anymore, and its time for you to get back to Public.
Instantly I brightened, but then I thought of Ricky. Cale could read the worry on my face like an open book, and he tried to rea.s.sure me. Were doubling his security. After tonight we have no choice. Were worried that theyre going to send Lisabelle after him.
I wouldnt worry about it, I said. She would find a way to protect him.
Cale didnt look so sure.
Hey, I said, this is my best friend were talking about. Sh.e.l.l always be on our side.
Cale shrugged. I dont mean to say anything bad about your friend, he said, but she willingly went to darkness. Arguably they never could have gotten her unless she was willing.
She did it to save Sip, I said, throwing up my hands. Thats hardly willing.
Either way, shes now taken all her power to the Nocturns, and we have to fight her. Its a fight that we all know we cant win.
If it comes to that, I said. But it wont.
Light was starting to burst over the tree tops as the sun came up. The rain had stopped long ago, leaving the world drenched in bright colors. It promised to be another beautiful summer day.
Cale, I asked tiredly, how exactly does the Paranormal Police Academy train you?
They optimize our natural abilities, Cale explained. The Academy doesnt try to teach us to do anything we werent already learning. We learn to use what we have.
So you were about to use your pixie dust to . . . what? I asked.
It reacts with darkness, he said. Theyre Nocturns, and all the power around them is dark. My pixie dust would have created little b.a.l.l.s of fire.
When it touched them?
Yeah, or their magic, said Cale. I just didnt get the chance, because you control the sky.
I smiled. Im surprised they didnt hear the story from Golden Falls about what happened when the demons attacked us.
They may not have believed it, said Cale. I didnt. Anyway, the real reason I came here is that Caid called a Conclave. All paranormals - except a skeleton force a.s.signed to protect vital paranormal interests, like Ricky - are required to attend.
At first I didnt understand what he was saying, but when he continued to look at me it finally sank in. Im leaving? I asked.
Cale nodded. Summers over.
Chapter Fifteen.
I left Ricky a note. I felt sick about it, but I didnt know what else to do. Cale had planned to tell me earlier, but when he realized that Nick and Nicole were darkness mages he hadnt had a chance. I demanded to know why he hadnt shared that little bit of information with me, and he said that he had wanted to deal with it on his own. I told him that was entirely unacceptable.
He shrugged. I was starting to wonder if the Police Academy was really a good thing or not. But either way, I had to leave for the Conclave immediately.
Most paranormals, including the unusual and rare Strange, were being required to attend. Mound would be there. Sips parents, Loughs parents. Probably not Lisabelles parents, because no one was sure where they were. Sip had also sent me a message to say that she was on her way. The thought that we would finally be together again was inexpressibly comforting. I couldnt wait.
Typically a paranormal Conclave would have taken place at Vampire Locke, but since that was now impossible, we were meeting in Sips parents town, in the middle of nowhere in New Hampshire. I thought of the barren fields and Sips house and wondered where exactly all of us would stay.
Instead of flying I took a human route: I hopped on a bus. Sip would have thought I was crazy, but as I explained to her later, the less attention I drew to myself the fewer problems we would have.
I reached Sips home town in early afternoon. Several times Id tried to sleep on the bus without success, so I was tired. Since Sip was already there, she was able to meet me at the bus station. We hugged, but we didnt say a word to each other until we were safely at Sips parents home.
Where are Hyder and Helen? I asked.
Theyre out to dinner with a few other senior paranormals, Sip explained. My brothers are with them.
Sip was the youngest of six. She had five older brothers. Poor girl.
I think they wanted to give us come privacy since we havent seen each other all summer, she said. I was relieved that she sounded just as bitter as I felt.
Any news of Lisabelle? I asked.
Sip shook her head. Caid told my parents hes been getting reports of a very strong darkness mage fighting with paranormals, pixies mostly. He thinks its Lisabelle.
Theyre setting her up to be blamed, I said, fear gripping my heart.
Yup, said Sip, nodding grimly. They sure are.
I didnt want to think about what that meant. Obviously Lisabelle would never go over to darkness; she was only there because she had to be. We knew that, but no one else seemed to believe it.
You know, said Sip thoughtfully, Lisabelle once said that the only way she could live with me was because I was more pleasant when I was sleeping. She gave me a half-hearted smile.
That sounds like Lisabelle, I said softly. Sip nodded, her eyes bright.
We both let a few minutes of silence pa.s.s. Then, knowing it was better to get our minds off our friend, I started talking again. Anything to forget, if only temporarily.
What about the secret messages youve been putting in Tabble? I asked. Any response from that?
Sip shook her head again. Sadness was like a weight on her shoulders. No, she whispered. I keep hoping. I keep signing them neon, but theres nothing. She might not be able to write. She paused, then brightened a little. Have you dreamed her?
Not since that first night, I said. I wondered if the darkness premier or Malle might have figured out what was happening.
Its possible, said Sip. But come on. Lets go outside. Lough said hed be arriving with Bartholem soon.
Hes bringing the cat? I asked, startled. Sip grinned.
He tried to leave him, but I guess Bartholem had a fit and Lough had to bring him along after all.
Sounds about right, I said, grinning back.
It was now early evening, and Sip and I had a ton of catching up to do. For one thing, I wanted to talk to her about Keller, because I couldnt not talk about Keller. And that was only the first topic on a long list. In true Sip form, she prepared us a pot of tea, sliced some cheese and put it on a plate with crackers, and grabbed a blanket. We went outside and spread the blanket on her front lawn, sitting on the gra.s.s to wait for Lough.
At least well be on our way back to Public soon, I said, biting into a slice of cheddar.
Everything feels better when were there, said Sip. It wasnt the same this summer without the other students.
Hows the research coming? I asked. Sip had spent the summer researching ways to get Lisabelle back, even if that isnt what she told Oliva.
Not well, said Sip grimly. Lisabelle probably had to sign a Blood Kept, a type of agreement thats almost impossible to break.