Extremely powerful. It amplifies magic. Christ, Old One . . . That’s even out of my league, which is saying something.”
I rolled my eyes. Cyrus was powerful, but not that powerful.
He seemed lost in his thoughts. “It’s a techno mage doing this. We’re so few and far between, and I can’t imagine anyone I know being able to do it . . . It’s got to be a new player on the scene.”
“Concentrate, Cyrus,” I said, taking him by the shoulders. “One thing at a time. What does this spell do, exactly?”
“You use every bit of technology around the target to act as an amplifier. You could use it to hit them during a fight, or to send a telepathic message, or any number of things—drain their willpower or steal their magic, which I didn’t even know you could do up until a few moments ago.”
I snorted. “You say that like you don’t want us to suspect you.”
“I don’t!” he snapped. “But the fact of the matter is, I am the most powerful known techno mage right now, and if something is going down, I’m going to be the one people are going to blame.”
“The television was eating his brain,” Wesley said, mulling things over. “That’s what Edgar said earlier.”
I turned. “You think whatever attacked Joseph and Donald attacked Edgar?”
Wesley shrugged. “There’s only one way to find out. I’m going to the jail where they’re holding him and do a diagnostic spell. See if he has any metaphysical wounds and if they look similar.”
“So it’s the EHJ to the rescue,” I said. Great. I could head home.
“Sort of,” Wesley said. He gave me a sinister smile. “Since Joseph came to you for help, why don’t you go see if you can help his brother?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“You knew it was possible to steal magic from others? I mean, you know how? You know the spell yourself?” Joseph stared at me while Cyrus related how he had been magically revived. Wesley had left to check things out in the prison.
I glared at him. “For someone who needs help, you need to take your tone down a notch. Who do you think you are to me? And, are we going to help your brother or not?”
Joseph wasn’t ready to let it go. “We came to you with the information that someone was stealing magic and you downplayed it—acted like it wasn’t possible, that it was just a binding spell—but the whole time you knew it was something else entirely!” He was angry enough to drop his Irish accent entirely. Or scared enough.
I quirked an eyebrow. “Are you suddenly suspecting me of doing all of this?”
“When you’re one of the only people that seems to know these kinds of spells, then yeah, I am.” Joseph stared me down. “The Old One sure as hell isn’t doing it.”
I couldn’t believe this. “First of all, the spell the Reincarnist used on me wasn’t the same thing at all. He ‘borrowed’ some of my magic; he didn’t steal it. I’ve recovered by now. Also, you heard Cyrus—the spell that attacked you and your brother was an Afieral spell that uses technology. When have I ever used technology for anything?”
“As much as I hate to admit it, she has a point,” Cyrus said.
Joseph glared at me. “If you’re the cause of all of this, Fantazia, I’m going to kill you.”
“If I’m really the cause, Joseph, you aren’t powerful enough,” I retorted. “Now, do you want my help or not?”
Joseph stared at me for a few more moments, then sighed. “Yes. Donald may need every bit of the help I can get. If you know borrowing spells or whatever you want to call them, who knows what other talents you’re hiding in your dirty little bag of tricks.”
“I make a mean dark chocolate cheesecake,” I retorted. “But that’s probably not what you mean. If we’re doing this, let’s go.”
“I’m ready,” Cyrus said.
I turned, surprised. “Since when are you invited?”
He frowned. “Since a techno mage got involved. This is my area of expertise, Fantazia, not yours. Unless that’s another one of the secret talents you’re not telling us.”
“Wesley didn’t ask you onto this caper, and—”
“I can call him up and ask, but you’re only going to look ridiculous,” Cyrus said.
As if it weren’t already ridiculous that we were arguing.
“I want him to come along, too,” Joseph said. “I don’t want to be alone with you.”
I rolled my eyes. “After all of the times we’ve been alone together before, Joseph? You wound