Spellbound (Otherworld 12)

Then hurt and self-pity. Why was he so angry with me? I was only trying to solve a case and help a young woman in trouble. Didn't he see that?

Fear and doubt came next. I was angry because he was treating me like a child, but wasn't that exactly how I was acting?

And then, finally, like a pile drive to the jaw: clarity.

Adam was right. I wasn't ready to leave home because I liked my life exactly the way it was. And, yes, I was avoiding telling everyone about my spell problem for the same reason. I was stalling in hopes that I'd find a solution or wake up and find my spells miraculously reinstated.

I knew Paige and Lucas wouldn't abandon me if I had no magical powers. They wouldn't fire me either. But my place in their life would change. And my place in Adam's life would change.

So why was I letting that happen already? Watching him drift away in anger and doing nothing about it?

I checked my cell phone. Adam had e-mailed me my boarding pass a few minutes ago. That meant he hadn't given up on me yet. Now I needed to get on that plane. Go to Miami.

I made it as far as the baggage counter when my cell phone rang. "People Are Strange."

"Hello?" I said.

"Savannah." It was Roni, breathy with panic. "Thank God. I thought I remembered your number, but I got it wrong the first time and--"

"Where are you?"

"We--we got ambushed. They rammed the taxi. The driver ordered us out. Your friend wouldn't go--she argued with the driver--so I took off--"

"What? Where's Elena? Is she okay?"

"They chased me. I twisted my ankle. I--" A deep pained breath. "I lost them, but now it hurts so bad and I can barely walk and they're still looking for me. I know they're still looking for me."

"Where's Elena?" I said. "Is she hurt?"

"I-I don't know. There were three of them. My cousin Chrissy, another woman, and a man. Chrissy and the woman chased me. The man stayed behind. I saw him pulling your friend from the car. He had a gun."

Shit. No. Please tell me I hadn't screwed up that badly.

"Where did you leave her?" I said.

"I'm at--"

"No, Elena. She could be hurt. Where did you leave her?"

"I-I don't know. I wasn't paying attention. I-I'm sorry."

"Fine, where are you?" That would get me close enough to find Elena.

When she gave me a street address, I told her I'd be right there. Then I called Elena's number. No one answered. I texted Adam. He called as I raced to a cab outside the terminal.

"Get back inside, Savannah."

"I can still catch my flight and I will, but Elena--"

"She's fine. There's no way she'd let some guy with a gun--"

"She's not answering her phone. Something happened. I texted you Roni's location. Meet me there."

I hung up before he could reply.

seventeen

Roni was holed up in a fast-food joint. It was lunchtime, and the place was packed. I found her in a corner, sipping a soda, shoulders hunched against the glares of families circling past her table as they looked for seats.