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“Pray?” That seemed like the least helpful thing to do right now.
“We have to wait for Claudia and have faith that she’ll get back in time to save him.”
“But that’s going to take time.” I tried to keep my cool, but I couldn’t stop the urge to head down the feral cages and punch those witches in their faces for this. How could they do this to a member of their own coven? “His skin is gray, his lungs are rattling, and it looks like he’s lost ten pounds since yesterday. He won’t last days.”
“Do you have a better idea?” Shane asked. He crossed his tattooed arms, and his biceps strained against his T-shirt.
“Not yet.” But we had to do something. “What are our options?” I asked Dr. Gonzales.
She shook her head. “Like Yvonne said, pray. Have faith that Claudia gets back in time.”
I chewed on my lip as I thought. “What if we move him closer to Claudia?”
“How? He can’t fly like this. What if he starts convulsing? What if he gets loose? The plane would crash and then…” Dr. Gonzales’ words trailed off. “No. We wait. In the meantime, I’ll do everything I can.”
That wasn’t what I wanted to hear.
Maybe one of my books was hiding a spell that could help. It was a long shot, but worth a try.
I started to leave, and Elsa called out to me. “Where are you going?”
“To figure something out. I can’t sit here and watch him die.” I strode down the stairs, and headed for the dorms.
Between the books I’d dug out of the library and the magic books Claudia had given me what seemed like ages ago, there had to be a few passages on demonic possession. I was ready to read every line if there was the smallest chance I could help Raphael.
***
The squeak of my highlighter against the page was the only noise in my room. Dastien had stopped by at lunchtime with sandwiches and snacks before heading back to the gym. He’d promised some people that he’d spar. He’d wanted me to go with him, but I was too busy to get my ass kicked again.
My eyes were burning as I switched books for the billionth time. All the ones I’d read so far had steered clear of any mention of demons or black magic. I needed more, but short of going back to the compound, that wasn’t happening.
I had no way to help Raphael. No way to def
end us against the demons that Luciana would conjure.
Fear made my pulse race, but I pushed that thought away. I had to focus on one problem at a time. The most immediate one was Raphael.
My best idea so far was somehow shipping him down to Peru. At least then he’d be with Claudia when she found the cure, and she wouldn’t lose a day of travel getting back to Texas.
But that was only saving her a day.
I was digging into a potion-making book when a ringing sound made me jump. It surprised me so much that it took a second to realize it was just my cell phone.
Yet another reminder how far I’ve come from normal.
Since I’d moved to St. Ailbe’s, I seldom carried it on me. Who was going to call? Axel was busy being all collegiate. My parents stopped by sometimes, but we’d settled into a rhythm. They knew where I was, and that I’d call if something came up. In turn, family barbecues with Dastien and the gang were mandatory on Sunday afternoons. It must cost a small fortune to feed all of us once a week, but they did it without complaint.
I reached to my bedside table and picked up my phone, but the number showed as unavailable. I wouldn’t usually answer, but with everything going on… It was better not to risk missing something important.
“Hello,” I said, more like a question than a statement.
“It’s Claudia.”
I sat up quickly. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine. I think.” She paused, and I let out a breath of relief. Even if the ‘I think’ was a little vague for my liking. “That’s not why I’m calling. You remember the guy I’m engaged to?”
I sure did. I clicked my highlighter shut as I grinned at the memory. When she first told me about him, she’d actually used a curse word. Very out of character for her. “The douchebag you told off the other night. Yeah, I remember. Why?”
