Page 117 of Change

The ground vibrated under my knees, and the now-warm air brushed across my cheek.

“Um…” Glasses ventured, moving closer to the onmyoji. “Jameson?”

No.

As Jameson paused in his speech, turning to protest being interrupted, the ground fell out from under me, and the weight lifted from my wrists. Colors bled together as the pressing need to get away—to get help—filled my thoughts. I had to get out of here, I had to—

White hot flames exploded across my face and torso, and I fell back, sliding across the floor until I was flat against a hard surface, with a squeak of protest and pain as my arms moved to cover my head.

“Well, that was interesting.” And Jameson really did sound intrigued. “Even most higher ranking fae wouldn’t be able to blink out of those restraints.”

His words sounded foreign and jumbled, but were still distinguishable. However, my head was still reeling, and I couldn’t make out anything from the spots in my eyes.

“What was that?” Gloria sounded shocked.

“A barrier,” Jameson said simply. “It prevents anything from escaping unless physically ushered in and out of these doors.”

I rolled onto my stomach, my vision finally clearing, to see the four staring at me in discernment.

“Now I’m beginning to see why the Dubois family wanted you,” he said, stroking his chin. “But no fae or spirit will be crossing in and out of this room today. However, this is a good omen.”

“She made a noise,” Glasses said. “She’s not physically mute. Be careful.”

I could almost feel the sudden tension radiating from Gloria and Ada. His every footstep sounded loud as Jameson closed in on me before finally kneeling to the ground in front of me.

Before I could even move away, he grabbed the back of my neck, holding my face upwards to his. The world paused, and I stared at him. The strangest feeling brushed along the back of my mind. A cold tickle as his deep eyes bore into mine.

“She’s not going to be casting any enchantments today,” he said finally, speaking to the others. “Her inability to speak is not from something physical.”

His sidekicks watched him with wariness and Gloria and Ada in surprise. The mood of the room dropped further.

“If you say so.” Glasses adjusted his frames once more. “You’re the specialist.”

“I am.” Jameson’s grip loosened from the back of my neck and he stood. “Now let’s get with it. We need to reinforce the room before Ducharme arrives.”

Get with it.

I stared at the chalk-outlined circle again, and my pulse raced. The others avoided it as they moved to me, and I knew I had to do whatever it took tonotbe dragged into that circle. My chest swelled with a feeling of urgency as I moved to my feet, my thoughts still swaying from the events only moments prior.

It was almost there, a—at the moment, welcome—sensation brushed against the back of my neck. I didn’t care what happened or who we had to kill.

I needed Mu. There was no way I could get us out of this on my own.

As the thought crossed my mind, the feeling faded and my breath hitched in a panic as the possibility of becoming kick-ass within the next second drifted further and further away.

Why?

My mind reeled as a sense of angry betrayal filled me.

Any other time I could do this! Why not now?

But I didn’t have any time to panic before two sets of hands grabbed at my arms. Despite the shouted protests ringing throughout the room, I was pulled forward and thrown, unceremoniously, into the circle.

My breath seized as the ground rushed up to meet me. My hands and knees crashed into the floor, and all resistance faded as I fell, down, down onto the stone. My hearing grew muffled and light and space vanished as a heavy lethargy weighed in on me from all directions.

A bright light flickered in the corner of my vision, and it took a monumental effort to turn my face toward it. Distantly, I became aware that I was now laying on my back, but I’d no idea how I’d managed to turn over, or why I couldn’t seem to feel the cold, rough floor against my skin. This was maybe okay, but even if it weren’t, it’d have to be.

I couldn’t muster the energy to move even if I’d wanted.

Another flash, clawing at my attention, but I was only dimly aware of it.

The deep sound of laughter ricocheted through my fuzzy thoughts, words that should have held meaning.

Then, as the object grew brighter, the pain that had only been a distant memory in my head shot through my skull with a vengeance. My arms and legs seized in pain as the feeling of a thousand teeth pulling at my skin pierced through me.

And the ever-distant, but always-present shadow that lingered in the back of my thoughts, began to fade further away.