My body is numb at first, then pain begins to blossom from my torso. Blood fills my mouth with a cooper tang. Disoriented, I blink hard to get my eyes to open. It takes a minute to realize I’m pinned against the wall. The metal sticking out from my stomach is buried into the wall behind me. I swallow hard as I note my blood circling the bar. My feet are still on the ground, but I have to work to keep from sagging and causing myself more damage.
Hansel staggers to his feet, his hand stretched out as he unleashes it on Rap who is now grasping at her own throat.
The energy mage sends Cinder and Goldie back with a blow, and they crash into the ground.
Red’s eyes meet mine through the chaos. My advanced healing is good, but it’s not this good. Blood dribbles out of my mouth as I try to convey with my eyes all my regret and the love I hold for her.
I’m sorry, little Red.
“Looks like the Hunter did kill the Big Bad Wolf,” Hunter gasps from where he clutches onto the bar countertop. He’s used too much of his power and it’s drained him.
Red's face twists in anguish and tears drip down her cheeks. Then her eyes flash white, but this time it doesn’t ebb. They grow brighter and brighter until she is nearly blinding. A scream rips its way out of her.
Her honey cinnamon scent intensifies far beyond its usual potency. It oddly helps me breathe a little easier.
Energy explodes from her, forming a massive white wolf’s head. The magic avatar is a vicious visage that hovers over the room like a ghost, filling it with a terrifying power. A howl sweeps through the bar and everyone stumbles, staring up at Red’s projection.
Red also looks up at it, but her eyes are unseeing. As I struggle to hold onto consciousness, I find myself both fearful and in awe of her.
The wolf face howls and surges up, then dives back down. It opens its massive jaws as it descends on Gretel. The spirit snaps its jaws, closing down around her body. Gretel twists and contorts. It releases her and she drops to the ground, unmoving.
The scent of spoiled milk disappears.
“Gretel,” Hansel cries out in anger. He trains his hand on Red, who has yet to move. Before he can unleash his magic, the wolf spirit whooshes over him, closing its massive jaws around Hansel. He screams and like his sister, he struggles against the avatar, falling to his knees. The layer of spoiled meat evaporates until there isn’t even a whiff of it left, and I can breathe a little better.
Werewolves can nullify a mage’s magic, but Red is devouring it. Gretel’s magic is gone.
The avatar makes quick work of the energy mage who is left passed out on the ground. Then the wolf turns its attention to Hunter.
Hunter attempts to stumble away, headed toward the door, his face stricken with terror. The wolf dive bombs him, and Hunter hits the ground. The remnants of diesel lingering in the air fade away.
The wolf spirit withdraws back into Red. She blinks rapidly as if coming back into her body.
If it weren’t for the crackling pop rock sensations in my lungs, I would smile. She’s a Level Five mage. One of a handful in the world.
Red is suddenly at my side.
“Don’t you leave me,” Red says, holding my face. “If you do, I’ll let Bangs and Bombs piddle all over your apartment.”
“They love me too much to do that,” I say before dissolving into a coughing fit. A weight presses on my chest until it’s as heavy as an elephant. I fight to breathe against the pressure.
Red reaches into my pocket, pulling out my phone. Frantic, she takes my hand and presses my finger on the screen to unlock it. She thinks she can save me. She always was ridiculous. Ridiculously kind, ridiculously smart, ridiculously beautiful.
“Red,” I say, but end up coughing more.
“Shut up, Brexley. I’m trying to save your life,” she says, still focused on my phone.
A chill spreads through my veins. I want her to touch me again. I’m so cold.
“I have to tell you something,” I rasp.
“You can tell me later,” she says, tears falling faster down her face.
“Red,” I say, putting as much power as I can into it. Consciousness is a losing battle, and I don’t have much time here.
Her head snaps up. I finally have her attention, so I attempt to smile, though I can feel blood coating my teeth.
“My, what big powers you have.”
