The Rising (Darkness Rising 3)

At a noise to my left, I turned to see Corey on the floor.

FORTY-TWO

DANIEL AND I RACED over as Corey rose, rubbing his shoulder and wincing. "Okay," he said. "How did I end up--?"

He convulsed and retched, spewing the cupboards with half-digested pizza.

"Really not a cool power," he mumbled as he tried to push up.

He went down again, crouching, hands to his head. We took him, one at each arm, and moved him to a cleaner spot in front of the fridge. He sat with his back against it, heaving deep breaths as he winced in pain.

"Where are your pills?" Daniel asked.

"Hell if I know," Corey said. "My bag. Maybe." He swore and doubled over. "Just hold on. I'll remember as soon as I can think--"

He let out a yowl, hands to his head.

"Breathe," I said. "Just breathe."

He scowled at me for echoing his words from before, but took deep breaths, chest heaving. When the door banged open, we all jumped. It was Derek, with Chloe right behind him.

Derek's gaze shot to Corey, sitting on the floor, us crouched on either side. "What--?" His nose wrinkled and he looked over at the vomit.

"He's having a vision," I said. "That's what happens."

"Attractive, I know," Corey said between gritted teeth. "And now I get new witnesses to my humiliation. Wonderful."

"We're used to it," Chloe said. "Derek used to do that when he Changed. Only worse."

"Thank you for sharing," Derek muttered.

She grinned. "You're welcome."

Chloe grabbed paper towels from the counter. When I realized she was going to clean up, I hurried over, saying, "No, I'll get that."

"You look after your friend," she said as Derek went to help her.

I was going to protest again, but Corey doubled over, groaning, and I returned to him.

He had his eyes squeezed shut. "Trees," he said. "I'm seeing trees. Which better not mean we're going to end up in another forest, because I am so damned sick--" He gasped as if hit by another wave of pain. "Yep, it's a forest. Trees, trees, and more trees."

"Deciduous or coniferous?" I asked.

He opened one eye. "English?"

"Leaves or needles?"

He closed his eyes but didn't flinch or gasp this time, just leaned back against the fridge, as if he was seeing the vision play out behind his eyelids.

"Mostly leaves. Changing color, like they are here." A pause. "I think it is here. I see a mark on one of the big trees. Blue paint. I saw some with that."

Chloe nodded, walking back with Derek. "It's a woodlot behind us. The owner marked trees for cutting."

Corey winced and jerked forward again, eyes squeezed shut. "People," he gasped. "I see people. In black and camo. There are two women. They're doing something. Casting spells, I think."

I described the two witches we'd seen--the St. Cloud one and the Nasts'. Corey was seeing both. When I realized that, my stomach plummeted.

"You led the Nasts here?" Derek said.