Page 73 of Black Hollow: Awakening

“Because I know what I heard,” Blake answered firmly. Right. Mr. I’m-never-wrong. Now Will was forced to admit he had a point. “Besides, I was aware that such magic is possible.”

“Meaning?”

“Space-time bending.”

“You mean someone could… for example… go back in time?”

Blake nodded.

“Fuck, that’s terrifying,” Will stated, feeling uneasy.

He thought of all the times he’d wished he could repeat a day, to do something completely different… If he had the power to do that, he would use it recklessly. And if others were using it… How could he know how many times he had been misled, robbed of moments that had taken place in another reality, or entangled in situations he didn’t originally take part in?

“I wouldn’t worry too much about it,” Blake said dismissively. “It’s exceptionally powerful magic. Far too powerful for someone like you,” he stated pointedly, and Will glared at him resentfully. “Besides, magic draws from nature, and nature always seeks balance. Spells of that kind have a price.”

Will was about to ask how high, adding that he himself had performed this exceptionally powerful magic, but he let it go. Not because arguing with Blake under the circumstances seemed inappropriate. It was simply that he remembered how he had managed to free himself. That power… He really didn’t feel like he had any control over it. He had the impression that something was wrong with him.

“Is this the only door to the outside?” Blake muttered, glancing in the direction they had come from.

“No, there’s one in the kitchen too.”

Alden walked to the indicated room. Liam followed him, so Will did the same, though he wasn’t quite sure what was going on. As soon as he crossed the threshold, he saw the bloodstain. The memory of the unconscious, wounded Liam sent a cold shiver down his spine.

“We need to patch you up,” he announced, and Liam looked at him in surprise. “I have a first-aid kit here somewhere…”

Will began to search the cabinets while Blake examined the side door.

“Why did you leave the house when I explicitly told you not to?” he asked suddenly.

“I didn’t leave of my own free will!” Will retorted with a hint of irritation, digging through a drawer. “He dragged me out.”

“But he didn’t break down the door. So how did he get inside?”

Will froze. He had been deliberately avoiding this aspect of the story. He glanced at Liam, not quite knowing what to say, then straightened up and, clearing his throat softly, admitted, “I don’t think I locked the door.”

“Excuse me?” Blake scoffed in disbelief. “You didn’t lock your door at night? After I made it crystal clear someone was out to kill you? Besides, even without that…”

“It’s my fault,” Liam interrupted. “Will didn’t lock it after I came over. We got to talking and it just slipped our minds.”

“Uh-huh,” Blake muttered, narrowing his eyes menacingly. “Remind me, when I asked you to come here and check if he was still in one piece, did I mention anything about leaving the door open?”

“No,” Liam answered calmly, shrugging. “But if we’re going down that road, you also didn’t mention that it should be closed.”

“Because it’s obvious!” Blake immediately shot back at his friend’s playful jab. “I didn’t expect you to demonstrate such incompetence! Besides, you were only supposed to check on him, not pay him a social call!”

“It’s my house, my doors, and my responsibility, okay?” Will interjected, feeling guilty that Liam was taking the heat for his carelessness. “I was just stressed and distracted.”

“Mhm. I know exactly what you were distracted by,” Alden hissed. “I’ll remember to send Norma next time, just in case.”

“That’s not what I meant!” Will grumbled, while Liam just chuckled softly.

“The pathetic way you let yourself get knocked out…” Alden continued, glaring at his friend, whom he clearly had no intention of letting off the hook.

“You know I don’t have a head of steel in my human form.”

“Really? It seems to me you have one in every form.”

Liam remained unfazed by the comment.