I found FireSouls, and skimmed for our names. When I came upon Cassiopeia Cleraux, Pheonix Knight, and Delphine Hally, my shoulders slumped.
I’d hoped our original names would be written. I didn’t know if I’d recognize them, but process of elimination would help. They could have led us to our parents or information about our past.
I ignored the names of the other FireSouls and skimmed the information below our names. Physical descriptions and a list of our powers. I was described as a Mirror Mage, Nix as a Conjurer, and Del as a Transporter and Phantom half-blood.
Whoa. I rocked back on my heels. That was news. I packed the info away for later examination.
I looked for Aaron’s name and found it. Lightning Mage. No mention of fire or telepathy abilities. As I’d thought. Stolen powers didn’t transfer.
My hands trembled with exhaustion as I rolled up the scroll and put it back in the gym bag. I pushed the bag into the small space and shut the door, then replaced the boots.
By the time I staggered back down to Ancient Magic, Aidan was being loaded into an ambulance. The flashing red and blue lights lit up the night. I ran the last few steps toward the stretcher.
“Ma’am, ma’am! You need to move,” a paramedic said.
“I just need to see him,” I said, fear tightening my throat. He’d been alive when we’d brought him back to Ancient Magic. He still was, right?
“It’s fine,” a gravelly voice said from the stretcher.
I nearly collapsed in relief. I’d been operating on instinct to protect my deirfiúr and myself when I’d left him at the shop, but now I wanted to see him.
I leaned over the stretcher. His face was wan and his hair singed, but the corner of his mouth kicked up in a smile.
“You don’t look so bad, considering you got hit with about a million volts.”
“I feel great,” he said wryly. “I recommend it.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Did you get the scroll?” he asked.
My brain blanked. I didn’t want to lie to him. I spent my life lying to everyone around me except my deirfiúr. For once, I wanted to be honest.
But I couldn’t be.
I shook my head and pushed the lie past my tight throat. “No. It was destroyed by the lightning the thief was throwing.”
His brow lowered and skepticism flashed on his face.
He didn’t believe me.
A paramedic hustled up to the other side of the stretcher. “Time to get you to the hospital, Mr. Merrick.”
He pushed the stretcher toward the ambulance. I stepped back, grateful for the reprieve.
“You don’t need to pay me,” I called after Aidan. “I failed, so we’re square.”
I couldn’t hear if he responded. It might not be the last time I saw him, but that was my last word on the matter. As the ambulance pulled away from the curb, I turned toward Ancient Magic.
The lights were on when I entered, casting a harsh glow on the damage that Aaron and his master’s demons had caused. Nix and Del sat on the floor, leaning against the counter.
“You look better,” I said to Nix.
“I’m conscious and upright, so yeah, I feel better,” Nix said.
“They didn’t want to take you with Aidan?” I asked.
“I wouldn’t let them. He was zapped by a full bolt and was too weak to stop them. I just got knocked out when I touched the side of the cage.”
“I told her not to,” Del said.
“I never listen,” Nix said.
“Aidan will be okay, though, right?”
“Yeah,” Nix said. “The paramedics just said they were taking him in for monitoring and rehydrating. They said all his limbs worked and stuff, and he was talking.”
“Good.” I sank down next to my deirfiúr and stared at the wreckage of our shop. “Man, it’s been a shitty week.”
Del laughed. “Understatement.”
“I could eat a horse and sleep for two days.” My head dropped back onto the counter behind me.
“Connor and Claire came by when they heard the ambulance. They’re coming back with pasties.”
“Awesome.” I hoped they’d bring a lot.
“Del said you found the scroll. What’d you do with it?” Nix asked.
“Stashed it in my trove, but we need to put it somewhere no one will find it. And that can’t be traced back to us.”
Nix blew out a breath. “That’ll be tough. Can’t exactly take out a safety deposit box.”
It’d work, if only we could trust the bank not to look in our box. It wasn’t a risk I was willing to take.
“So, Del,” I said. “That scroll said that you are part Phantom.”
“Whoa.” Her forehead creased. “I have no idea what that means. Or what to do with that info.”
“We’ll figure it out,” I said.
She sighed. “Yeah.”
“Anything about me?” Nix asked.
“Nothing we don’t know.”
“I guess I’m kinda relieved,” she said. “So what happened back there—while I was passed out?” Nix asked.
I heaved out a sigh. Where to start?
Aaron. “The thief who destroyed this place wasn’t actually a bad guy.”
Nix’s head whipped toward me. “What?”