Sorceress, Interrupted - By A. J. Menden Page 0,23
me.”
“I always knew you were a scary bitch, but that was part of the fun of flirting with you,” Joseph said. “Until now.”
“What, the fun of playing with fire went away? Makes sense to me.” Cyrus smirked.
I fought incredulity and fury. “I’d like to point out—again—that it was the Reincarnist who did the spell, not me. You two don’t seem the least bit scared of him.”
Both men shrugged. “It’s him,” Joseph said.
I tried to control my seething insides. Everyone automatically trusted my father and did whatever he said. He could suggest blowing up the entire world and no one would question him. I began to wish he would.
On that unpleasant note, we prepared to help Donald. I went through the motions of the spell to transport us to Joseph’s house.
“I’m surprised you’re letting me do this,” I growled under my breath. “You’re not afraid I’m going to transport you to outer space or to the center of the Earth or something?”
“Just shut up and do it,” Joseph growled. But I could see how upset he was, which was why I let it slide. “I shouldn’t have left him behind or wasted time arguing with you. I should have just come here and—”
“It’s okay, man,” Cyrus said. “We’re going to help him.” To me, he said, “Let’s go, Fantazia.”
I nodded and worked the spell. “Apri il portale.”
The portal opened and we transported directly to their house. Well, mansion. The Brothers of Power had multiple homes between them, all enormous, all on the outskirts of Megolopolis or beachside, mountainside and every other side you could imagine. The family had been rich for generations in two things: money and magic. Losing the latter was likely the last thing they expected.
The mansion looked like it had been evacuated in a hurry. We stood in the middle of the ballroom, where the party had been raging from what we could see in the dark. Glass crunched underfoot, as if people just dropped their expensive stemware and ran for their lives. Joseph went to the wall and flipped some switches but nothing happened. The power must have blown from the techno spell.
I called up a ball of energy. The room was cast in an otherworldly green light, making it look even creepier. There was the usual party debris, empty glasses and bottles and the like, but there were also a few other things that put me on edge: overturned chairs, and some that looked like they’d been thrown at the wall. The expensive art on the walls had been mutilated. A large mirror at the back of the room was shattered.
Donald was nowhere to be seen.
“I . . . I don’t understand. I left him right here,” Joseph said, pointing to a spot on the dance floor in between two large speakers and a DJ booth. He looked up at us. “Maybe that’s a good thing, right? Maybe he’s okay. Maybe he’s looking for me. Or maybe he’s with one of the other Brothers.”
“Maybe,” I said. But I wasn’t so sure.
“Donald? Where are you? Look, I’m sorry I left!” Joseph was yelling. Something about the whole situation was giving me the creeps. I could feel the hairs on my arms standing on end. Something wasn’t right here.
Cyrus must have sensed the same thing, since he put out a hand to stop Joseph. “Man, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” he said.
Joseph brushed past him, going out into the hallway. “Donald? I brought some help. Are you okay? Where are you?”
We followed him out into the other room. Cyrus and I both stopped short.
“What the hell?” Cyrus muttered.
“This is so not right,” I breathed, all of my senses on alert.
The massive chandelier that had hung in the hallway was shattered. Marble statues surrounding the staircase were overturned, like a massively strong toddler had thrown a temper tantrum. And that’s when I heard it: banging and clattering upstairs.
Joseph must have heard, too, because he abruptly started to run for the steps. “Donald!”
“Joseph, no!” I said, reaching out to grab him. “We don’t know who or what’s up there.”
“It’s Donald!”
“It might also be whatever went after you,” I said. “And we’re not charging up there into whatever trap it may have laid.”
“DONALD!” he bellowed.
I sighed. “Or bring its attention down here to us.”
The banging stopped. We all fell silent, listening to the silence. Then, another crash. We all jumped.
There came the sound of running footsteps upstairs, footsteps coming toward us.