Divided

chapter FORTY-TWO

Vittorio and Samuel fought, though from an outsider’s view they simply stood staring at each other. Their cries of pain seemed out of place if one didn’t know what was going on. I was afraid Vittorio would lose the fight.

When Samuel’s next attack subsided, Vittorio thrust as much power as he could at him. It threw Samuel against a wall, where he hit his head and was left unconscious.

“He will not be out for long. We have to hurry.” Vittorio found Elizabeth’s knife near my feet and cut me free, then went to Kevin.

“Get Kevin out first. He won’t be able to fight with his arm, and has no defense against their power. I’ll be right behind you.”

Vittorio helped Kevin stand.

I realized we were in the middle of nowhere with no car. How would we get out of here?

A quick search of Samuel’s pockets gave me his keys. I handed them to Vittorio. “Start the car. I’ll be out soon.”

“Be careful, mio amore. Please hurry.” One short glance told me he did not want to leave me, but knew he must.

Elizabeth stirred on the ground.

“Go!” I shouted.

They ran as quickly as they could with Kevin in such bad shape. Elizabeth pushed herself to her knees, then started to stand. I hoped Vittorio and Kevin were a safe enough distance away. I had no idea what my power would do now. I took the amulet off and shoved it in my pocket. It might come in handy later. The instant it was gone from my neck my power flared to life; anger not a strong enough word to describe it. It ripped through the room, devastating every living thing in its path. The magnitude of my power was physically staggering, but I had to get out of there.

Elizabeth clutched her head and let out a primal shriek unlike anything I ever heard. Neal was still unconscious, so I had no idea what my power did to him.

Running from the room, I left Elizabeth writhing on the ground in pain, relieved she was still alive. I didn’t want to be responsible for anyone’s death.

I reached the top of the stairs, then made sure no one was following me. When I was certain I was alone, I tried to call my power back to me. It fought, still longing to damage those who had hurt me. I didn’t have time for this. I finally put the amulet back around my neck, which forced my power back to me. It felt like it was tearing holes through my body, angry at being called back without completing its job. I screamed in pain.

Then, it all stopped.

Leaning on a table was all that kept me upright, then I saw Samuel at the top of the stairs. I stumbled for the front door, weak and weary, then dove into Samuel’s Range Rover. “Drive!” I shouted.

Vittorio floored the gas pedal, tires spinning on the gravel driveway. I pressed the automatic lock button as Samuel ran out the front door. Finally, the tires caught, and we tore down the driveway. Vittorio focused on the road, for which I was thankful. He hadn’t realized the full extent of my injuries, and I wanted us to be far away, someplace safe, before he could worry about me.

“Kevin, can you get your shirt off? I need to wrap something around my arm.”

He struggled, but eventually managed to squirm out of it and handed it to me. I wrapped it tightly around the arm Elizabeth had paid the most attention to just as Vittorio turned to look at me. “I’ll be fine, just concentrate on getting us someplace safe.” Already the shirt was soaked with blood.

“You do not look fine, mio amore. You and Kevin need a doctor.”

“I don’t want to go to the hospital if we can avoid it. Too many questions to answer.” My head swam from blood loss, though I tried to hide it from Vittorio.

“I agree,” Vittorio said.

We thought for a few minutes, then Vittorio sighed.

“I will call Dr. Fandazione. I have not talked to him in years, but hopefully he will help.”

“Why haven’t you talked to him?”

“We had a falling out when I started working for Porter Industries. He did not like Samuel and tried to tell me there was something malicious about him, but I would not listen. I suppose now he can tell me ‘I told you so.’ I hope his number has not changed.”

Vittorio’s hands shook as he put on an earpiece and dialed a number on his phone.

I wondered what Samuel had done to him. That would have to wait though.

“Julian. Please do not hang up. This is Vittorio. I know it has been long since we spoke, and we did not end our last conversation on the best of terms, but I desperately need your help. I do not know who else to turn to.” There was silence on Vittorio’s end, then he explained briefly what happened. “Yes, you were right. I am sorry. Please, will you help us? I will tell you more when we get there if you agree.” More silence. “Thank you so much, my old friend. I am forever in your debt.”

“He’s going to help us?”

“Yes. He was not entirely pleased to hear from me, but as a doctor, he cannot turn down someone in need. He will meet us at his office.”

I glanced at Kevin, who appeared to be sleeping. “I hope Kevin will be alright. He’s never been much of a fighter, but don’t tell him I said so.”

“I am most worried about you, mio amore.” He glanced at the arm not wrapped up, at the burn marks. “How are you?”

“Not thinking about it. I can’t think about it right now. Please.”

“I am sorry. I hope you will be able to talk to me about it later.”

“Later, yes, but not now. I can’t handle it right now. Whose house was that?”

“It is Samuel’s father’s. He couldn’t stand to stay there when Samuel’s mother died, so he moved, but never sold it.”

“What did Samuel want from you?”

Vittorio told me the same thing Elizabeth had.

“But why wouldn’t he just ask us?”

“Nothing good ever comes of spells hidden in the ancient language. He would have known I would not willingly help him, or in this case, help you to help him.”

“I had a feeling it was something like that. But how does he even know I can read it? What if I can’t?”

“Samuel must be desperate. I do not know what would cause him to go to these lengths.”

“That’s not very comforting,” I said.

“I am sorry, mio amore. It seems I have gotten you into yet another dangerous mess.”

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