And the Dark wizards just stared.
“Um,” Squat Wizard said. “What?”
I closed my eyes. I tilted my head to the side, stretching the muscles, popping my neck. Took a deep breath. Let it out slowly.
I opened my eyes.
The Darks took a step back as one.
“I gave you a chance,” I said. “You should have taken it.”
I could have killed them easily. It was well within my right to do so. They had attacked us first and there would be no repercussions for such actions. I would be justified and no one would say a thing against me.
My fingers tingled and I thought just how easy it would be. A couple of old words I’d never spoken aloud before, a flick of my wrist, and I knew their hearts would explode in their chests.
But I was not that person. I was not a murderer.
So I thought tae and dao and fie and raised my hands to conduct my symphony.
There was green. So much green because the earth was green and the earth was all around us. I moved my hands down, then up. There was a crack of wood as columns of rock shot up through the floorboards, molding up and around each Dark before they could move. I curled my hands into fists. The rock covered their legs and arms and went up to their necks and I almost thought to just keep going or maybe collapse the rock in on itself and it’d be over, all over for them. But then Ryan was right there and I could hear him breathing, could feel his hand coming to my neck and squeezing just once so I stopped.
The haze of green and gold faded.
I closed my eyes.
I took another breath.
Let it out.
Opened my eyes.
Everyone was staring at me.
“Huh,” I said. “I’ve never done that before.” I looked over at Ryan, who still had his hand on my neck. “Can you remind me to write this into the Grimoire when we get back? If Morgan doesn’t murder me first?”
Ryan said in a hoarse voice, “Ungh. Yeah. Yeah. I can do that.” His pupils looked dilated. He squeezed my neck again before pulling his hand away.
I beamed at him. “Thanks.”
He said “Ungh” again.
Squat Wizard said, “My gods. How did you do that?”
I shrugged. “I’m a wizard.” Ha, and Gary wasn’t even there to correct me. He was going to flip when I told him about this.
The Darks all gaped at me.
“Oh,” I said with a wince, “and can you totally just keep this a secret? Like, from everyone? That would be so cool of you. I’d owe you one.” I glanced around the room, trying to look each person in the eye so they could see how sincere I was.
They all just nodded.
I felt relieved.
It was going to be fine.
IT WAS not fine.
The next day, there were headlines being called out on the streets in the City of Lockes.