I managed a smile. "Next time, I'll call you. You're the expert in demon deals."
He chuckled. "True, but in general, my advice would be simply not to make them. In this case, though, you clearly were not making a bargain. We have no idea how such a thing could be accomplished. That's what the Fates have your mother investigating."
"The Fates? But they're the ones who did this." My heart battered my ribs. "Aren't they?"
"The Fates can be as devious and underhanded as any demon. But they aren't responsible for this, and they have no idea who is."
I was screwed.
My father assured me that my mother was on the case, and so was he and this would all be resolved. Of course they'd say that. Of course they'd mean that. But if the Fates didn't know who'd zapped my powers, I was screwed.
&nb
sp; Even if my parents found the demon responsible, I couldn't negotiate with it the way I could with the Fates. I'd have to reverse the whole deal, give up what I'd gotten in exchange for my powers.
That didn't matter to my father. Yes, he agreed it was terribly tragic for this little girl and her grandmother, but Lucas could help with the court case and Paige could make sure Kayla had a good foster home until it was resolved. What was important here was me. My mother felt the same way. Both my parents were fiercely loyal to friends and family. The rest of the world? Not their concern. It was a view I'd thought I shared until, given the choice between saving myself and putting Leah back in hell, I'd chosen to spare her future victims.
My father mentioned that, too. Nothing overt, just a reference to "that business in the warehouse," telling me it was very brave, and under no circumstances was I ever to do it again. Pretty much the same message Mom had passed on. Terribly noble, but there'd be no more of that, thank you very much.
As for my situation, I let my father assure me it would be resolved. I let him advise me to lie low in the meantime. I let him ask Adam to take care of me while I was vulnerable. I discussed it all very calmly and maturely, and I did the same with Jaime when she returned.
After that I said I needed a few minutes alone, and left the theater. Then I lost it. Started shaking uncontrollably, panic choking me until I gasped for breath. I vented my rage and frustration on the nearest wall, and I wouldn't have stopped if Adam hadn't appeared. He pulled me away and held me tight, letting me pummel his back instead until I realized what I was doing and threw my arms around his neck and cried. Sobbed like I hadn't since the day I'd finally accepted that my mother was gone and she wasn't coming back.
Now my powers were gone. And they weren't coming back either. I was as lost without them as I'd been without her.
I cried until I realized I was crying. Me. Savannah Levine. Breaking down like a little girl. I pulled back from Adam, my cheeks burning, my heart thudding against my ribs, the walls of the alley closing in, Adam standing too close, watching me too carefully.
I took a step away.
"Don't, Savannah," he said softly. "Please don't run."
"What am I going to do?" I whispered. "Without my powers, I'm--"
"Exactly the same person you are with them. Just a whole lot less dangerous."
He was trying to make me smile. Instead, fresh tears filled my eyes.
I was Savannah Levine, ultrapowerful spellcaster. Daughter of a Cabal sorcerer and a dark witch. Without my powers, I'd be a human PI working for an agency specializing in supernatural cases. As useful as an ashtray on a motorcycle.
It wasn't just that I needed my powers to investigate cases. I had a contact list filled with the names of unsavory supernaturals that Paige and Lucas couldn't get near. Unsavory but well-connected supernaturals who'd reached out to me because I was the daughter of Eve Levine. If they realized I was spell-free, they'd stop taking my calls. Then I'd have nothing to offer the agency. Nothing to offer Paige, Lucas, Adam . . .
My gut clenched and I staggered forward. Adam grabbed for me, but I pushed him away and ran.
Another theater down the road had just gotten out, and the sidewalk was jammed with strolling patrons, in no rush, just chatting about the show. I weaved past little old ladies with walkers and shuffling old men.
Just move. Please. Just move!
My head started to throb as I slowed to a walk. I squeezed my eyes shut. Just what I needed. More headaches. I'd been having them for days, and I'd assumed they'd been part of the poison Leah fed me, but--
I stopped, ignoring the curses of a middle-aged couple that crashed into me.
Headaches. They'd started when I first went to the commune, then seemed to come and go at random. Only it wasn't random. It happened every time the witch-hunter was near me.
I looked out over the sea of faces--
A hard blow to the back of my knees made my legs buckle. I fell against an old woman and she tumbled off the curb with a shriek.
Headlights flashed. Someone screamed. I wheeled to yank the woman back. The headlights veered out of the way as the truck driver swerved for the middle of the road. Metal crunched. Glass shattered. Hands grabbed onto me. Adam dragging me onto the sidewalk, the old lady, too.