"And if I could help others achieve their own immortality, it's a good way to end my life. Sorry, but nobility has never been one of my virtues."
"What's going on here?" Anita stepped into the room. When she saw me, she blinked. "Savannah. Good to see you again. If you came to rescue your friend, I can assure you we were having a friendly conversation--"
Cassandra raised the knife. "I don't consider this conducive to friendly conversation. Particularly not when it's aimed at my neck."
Anita's look of shock seemed genuine. "What? No. How--?"
"Seems your new friends weren't interested in conversation," I said.
"She killed Brad," Eloise said, pointing at me. "Just killed him."
I looked at Brad. He lay on the floor, eyes open. Dead.
Had I done that? How? Even now, when I whispered an incantation, I could tell it wasn't going to work. The power was gone, leaving me empty and numb.
Cassandra turned to Anita. "You may have had nothing to do with this, but your inability to ensure my safety does not bode well for a business relationship. Tell Gilles I said no."
"Savannah." Anita stepped forward. "May I at least speak to you? I know our last encounter wasn't pleasant, but we've realized our mistake."
"You want to deal with me? Release the boy and his parents."
"Boy?"
"You know who I'm talking about. Larsen Dahl. An
d on the subject of children, if you go after the Danvers twins, you'll end up like him." I pointed at Brad's body.
"Elena's children? I'd never hurt--"
"I know they're on Giles's list of collectibles. And I know Matthew Hull wanted them, too. You've admitted to working with both."
"Matthew wanted them for their value on the black market. To fund his experiment, not as material for it. The children are in no danger from me or Giles. I can assure you--"
"Don't assure me. Just stay away from them. And return the boy and his parents."
We walked out, leaving Anita to deal with Eloise.
"So it seems your spells have returned," Cassandra said. "And at a very opportune moment."
I shook my head. "They're gone again. I can feel it. I don't know what that was. I didn't even cast. Just reacted."
"If my life being in danger invoked that response then . . ." She looked over at me. "Thank you, Savannah. It was unexpected and appreciated."
I looked away, my cheeks heating. I tried to think of a clever comeback, but couldn't, and settled for saying, "What you said in there, about negotiating with Giles . . . I know you're getting to the end and . . . and that can't be easy but . . ."
"It might be advantageous to us at a later stage if we haven't ruled out collaboration." She walked another few steps, then lowered her voice. "For the record, while I'm not overjoyed at the prospect of my life ending--I suspect there will be some very unbecoming kicking and screaming involved--I have accepted it."
I nodded and we continued out.
thirty-two
Lucas texted to say they'd be here in two minutes. I texted back to say we'd handled the situation. Just meet us and we'd explain all. For now, best to leave Anita alone. As Cassandra had said, there was an advantage in letting her think we might negotiate with her.
In the alley, Cassandra and I walked in silence, lost in our own thoughts. When I fell a pace or two behind, she didn't notice.
I kept thinking about what had happened inside. When a friend was in danger, my power returned. Did that mean some otherworldly entity was actively holding it back, saying, "Okay, we'll let you have one shot if you really need it." That sounded more like a deity than a demon. Mom said the Fates weren't involved but--
"Savannah."