Medusa's Dagger (Aya Harris Collection 1)

“Kit’s father is a warlock?” Gideon pulled out his notebook again.

I wanted to yell at him for being so insensitive, but not in front of Michelle.

“Does he have his father’s powers?”

Michelle tilted her head and frowned, lost in thought. “Yes, he’s been doing some amazing things lately. Just last week, he was able to transform his stuffed dog into a real dog. I’d never seen anything like it. He’s been begging for a dog for a year.”

Gideon stood up abruptly and rushed past me into the hall. He didn’t even say goodbye to Michelle. I waved to her and followed him, running to catch up.

“What was that all about?” I asked, pulling on his shoulder. “Why did you run out on her like that?”

He glanced at me and then pushed the button for the elevator. “Up till now, Theo’s been collecting powers that are mostly weak. But that boy’s different. If he drains Kit of his powers, he’ll have the ability to do some terrible things.”

“Like what?”

The elevator dinged and then opened. Two nurses stepped out, leaving it empty.

“Level cities, disappear in a blink of an eye, escape into different dimensions.” Gideon stepped into the elevator. “There’s really no telling. I think I know the warlock she’s talking about – the SI’s been trying to take him down for years, but he’s too powerful.”

I put my foot in the elevator, the doors bouncing off my boot. “What does that have to do with Kit?”

A dark cloud washed over Gideon’s face. “If that little boy has half of his father’s powers and Theo gets ahold of them, thousands of people are going to die.”

Chapter Fifteen

I hopped inside the elevator beside Gideon. He gave me a sideways glance, but pushed the button for the lobby anyway.

“What’s your next move?” I asked.

“Rita just texted me. She’s pretty sure it belongs to the Hampton Inn downtown, but she’s going to confirm. I need to update her on the situation with Kit, and then we’re going to sweep the hotel.” He tapped his foot, huffing when the elevator stopped at the fourth floor to let on an old woman in a wheelchair and her nurse.

I just realized I hadn’t told Gideon about Nicky’s text from earlier today. In all the mess of chasing after Theo, I’d nearly forgotten.

“Nicky texted me before Theo came into the museum,” I told him. “He said he knows where Theo’s staying. I’m sure he’s already at the hotel.”

“That complicates things,” he said. “The last thing we need is two murderers showing up and destroying half the city trying to battle it out. I have to get out there, now”

“I should go with you.”

If I knew anything about my brother, it was that he wouldn’t give up on hunting Theo down. Putting the SI, Theo, and Nicky in the same place sounded like a dangerous idea.

Part of me wanted Nicky to be caught. He’d broken the law, killed creatures that he had no right to kill. But another part of me wanted him to get out of town before it was too late. He was still my brother, after all. Even if he wanted to kill me.

Gideon waited until the old woman and nurse got off at the second floor, and then pressed the red button to stop the elevator. An alarm went off inside, violently vibrating my eardrums. I pressed my palms over my ears and watched Gideon try to say something to me.

“What did you say?” I yelled.

He grabbed my hands and pulled them off my head. “I said, you’re not coming with me. I’m not putting you in any more danger.”

I frowned at him. “It’s not your choice. My brother’s out there. I need to go with you in case he shows up.”

Gideon sucked in his cheeks and glared at me. “And do what? Get burnt up again? You’re not coming.”

“What do you want me to do? My life here is already ruined. Nicky knows where I am. The HQ is bound to find me soon. I might as well help you nab the bad guy before I have to leave town.”

The idea of starting all over again made me want to throw a toddler sized tantrum right there in the elevator. Making new friends didn’t come easily to me. Steven, Johnny, and Angel had become my family these past few years. Replacing them would be impossible.

I pushed the red button and the alarm immediately turned off, leaving a hollow buzz in my ears. The elevator continued to descend. Pressing my back on the metal wall, I stared stubbornly ahead at the door. He wouldn’t change my mind. I wouldn’t let him.