Play with Fire

chapter Sixty-One


LIBBY CHASTAIN WAS focused intently on keeping her own spell going. She assumed that Theron Ware had already cast the spell to ignite the incendiaries she was certain were inside the church. If she relaxed her concentration for a second, Ware’s spell would get through and the conflagration would begin. Libby had another spell that was designed to put out fires, but it would take a minute or two to cast – and a lot can burn in a few minutes.

The part of her mind still attuned to her environment heard running footsteps approaching and closing fast. She had a protection spell ready, but to use it she would have to relax her protection of the building. She assumed that was exactly what Ware had in mind. On the other hand, if Ware’s creatures reached her, the spell she’d cast would stop with her heart.

Libby should have planned for this, but hadn’t, and it was hard to think while using so much of her mind and will to maintain the spell holding back the fire.

The footsteps were close now, and she could hear labored breathing as well. She had just decided to let the spell go and protect herself, hoping to quickly extinguish the blaze once it started, when she heard a wet sound of impact.

A man’s voice made a sound like “Uh!” and there was the sound of a body hitting the ground only a few yards away. The other footsteps slowed, and a moment later the “thud” was repeated and a second voice, also male, gave a loud grunt. There came again the sound of something heavy collapsing to the pavement.

Silence for a second or two. Then more footsteps, moving fast and very close now and a female voice screeching, “F*cking kill you!” and the wet sound came again and Libby’s back and head were spattered with something that could only have been blood. Something heavy fell behind Libby, practically at her heels, and there was a clanging noise as a metallic object bounced off the pavement and was still.

Libby tried never to exult in the deaths of fellow human beings – for death was surely what she had just heard occur, several times – but she was relieved that the spell was still in place and would not have to be lifted, even for a few seconds. She would mourn the dead later – her job now was to prevent more people from dying.