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Chapter 18
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2022-04-05 23:46:10My alarm went off early the next morning, but it didn't matter. I was already awake. It felt like christmas morning, but on top of being super excited, I was also insanely nervous.
Liam wasn't as thrilled with the wake up call, but he stirred, crawling out of his makeshift bed to pull a shirt on and escape out the door. I rolled myself deeper into the blanket, taking a few extra moments to myself in the comfort of warmth. Avery's mother kept the house cold. And even with my powers to keep me warm, I didn't want to leave my bed.
A knock on the door frame drew me out of my circling thoughts of what I was about to do.
"Ezra." Dad's voice was soft, and when I didn't answer, he repeated himself louder.
"Yeah?"
"There's coffee and breakfast in the kitchen; it's time to get up and get ready."
I groaned and debated snuggling down further into the covers for another few moments, but I threw the blankets off instead and grabbed a handful of clothes.
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Avery stepped away from me and followed the other Family Heads into the trees. An anticipation had gathered in the crowd behind me, a collective hush over all the members of the Manser family.Mom came up to stand next to me, gently taking the ribbon from my hands and folding it without undoing the knot."How long-" I started to ask, but talking at the moment felt wrong.She shrugged. "With your father it was only a few minutes, but from what he's told me it can take all day. It seems to depend on the family." Mom kept her voice low, and she glanced at the others standing between us and the house. All the Mansers stood still, staring into the trees like they were in a trance."What's happening?" I'd never seen anything like it.Liam answered, "It's a calling. It reaches out to all those with the Manser blood in their veins. The Heads of the Family do more than just lead us, they tie us together as a whole. Right now, they're helping Avery establish
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I stepped through the portal and on to the sand. The ocean's roar was deafening after the quiet evening in the grove. I moved away from the portal and crouched low in the underbrush of ferns and reeds that grew between the dead end road and the surf.Liam stood off a little ways, looking disoriented. I grabbed his hand and pulled him down next to me. The last thing we needed was for someone to spot us before we even had a chance to get started.The portal started closing, shrinking in on itself. At the last minute, Poe came flying through, circling in ever larger arcs."Okay, I didn't think that was actually possible." Avery took a deep breath, still looking wild. "What now?""Now," I said, "we go hunting. Can I see the letter again?"She handed it to me as I dug out my phone and used the light from the screen to read the directions Avery's cousin listed in the letter. I glanced around in the darkness. The moon was already lower in the sky. We'd ha
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Liam opened his mouth to argue more, but was cut off by the sound of a door opening on the other side of the warehouse. It echoed through the darkness.Avery and Liam switched off their lights as we rushed back towards the open window. I glanced back once to see another beam swing through the darkness.We reached the window and pushed it open slowly; now wasn't a good time to squeak.Liam held the window open as I helped Avery through, and then climbed out after her. I held the window steady as Liam climbed through, and then lowered it again. We crouched low under the window, our backs against the corrugated metal siding.My breath and pulse were racing, and I tried to steady my nerves. That had been close."We need to leave. Now." Liam's whisper came just inches away from my ear.I shook my head. "We've got to see the other warehouse. Maybe grab one of those plants."The window above us creaked, and I froze."Stupid windows,"
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I awoke to something sweet in the air, almost as if I'd been sleeping in a bakery. But that didn't make any sense. Why would I be sleeping there? I tried to move. My arms were pinned behind my back somehow. The floor was cold and hard."Set him up."Hands grabbed me, pulling me upright as the world spun around. I tried to catch myself before falling to the side, but I soon figured out that my arms were tied. A hooded figure caught me instead, steadying me until they were sure I wouldn't fall again."What is your name, Necromancer?"It was the same feminine voice that spoke before, coming from the figure standing in front of me. Her robe was different, made of a finer cloth in a bright shade of green. Delicate stitching of the same color scrolled along the cloth edges. A Priestess, maybe?"Your name," she demanded again, but this time pain shot up my arms.I gasped, trying to think. I couldn't give them my real name. "Asher," I breathed. "Ash
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I awoke slowly, fighting to regain consciousness. Pain was the first thing I noticed. My arms felt like they were on fire, the chains tighter than before. The sun was brighter against the windows, the warehouse so silent I could hear the roar of the ocean faintly in the background. Was I still alone? How long had I been out?The arm I was laying on started stinging with pins and needles as I shifted. I must have been out awhile then."You shouldn't have reached for your power. It's the worst thing you could do in a Binding."The voice came from behind me, but that wasn't what surprised me. What caught me off guard was that I recognized it. I struggled to sit up, turning to face John. My roommate from college, John.Now I remembered what was bothering me before - it was his face in the darkness of the hood as he knocked me out with the vial."How? Why are you here with the Witches?" I asked, still bewildered by my old roommate's presence. He sat cro
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The swirling vortex of the portal surrounded me and I was ejected out the other side, rolling in the dirt until something hard stopped my momentum.I hurt. My arms screamed at me, the scars from my challenge weeks ago felt fresh on my skin and added to the painful wounds from the chains. I kept my eyes closed and tried to breathe. At first I couldn't hear anything, but then sounds started coming through. I heard bird song, frogs, and insects that weren't those of home or even from the grove close to Avery's house. I groaned. They sounded like I was somewhere much further away.I shifted, putting my back against the trunk of the tree that had stopped my roll. I opened my eyes. We'd ended up in the Half-world.The air was cooler than last time, but I still peeled off my hoodie to keep the humidity of the jungle from suffocating me. My vision blurred. As tired and exhausted as my Talent was, I wanted more than anything to focus on the back of my eyeli
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The old man, who introduced himself as Tamner, led John and me into the last hut on the edge of the village. It was bigger than the others, but still modest. Rough glass jars and vials filled shelves against the earthen walls. Woven rugs and furs lined every inch of the dirt floor not taken by the large fire pit in the center."Set him over there," Tamner said, pointing to a mound of furs built up into a bed. "Hasim, I will need you close. Please do not go far."I followed his directions, setting Poe on a bundle of furs as the Tamner hurried to search the shelves. He selected a few vials and one of the jars, and a bunch of things I couldn't recognize. Keeping my promise to the old man would be simple. I wouldn't leave until I knew Poe would be alright."You, friend of Hasim," Tamner called over to John. "Come. Hold."John stood inside the doorway looking awkward and out of place, before walking over to accept the handful of items the old man held out for
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I laid back and closed my eyes. I don't remember trying to sleep, but the next thing I knew, John was shaking me, roughly. "Ezra, wake up. Something's wrong."I shot up, instantly alert. Tamner knelt on the other side of Poe, trying to hold the bird down. Poe shrieked, the sound piercing."What's wrong?" I reached out, intending to help the old man hold him. As soon as I touched Poe, though, I could feel his power building."I don't know, Hasim," Tamner said, struggling."Let go," I said, stepping back. John stepped forward to help as well, but I grabbed his arm. "No, stay back." Poe continued to thrash about."Hasim, he'll hurt himself."I grabbed Tamner as well and pulled them both away, back towards the fire."Just wait. I think he's-" I didn't even get the words out of my mouth before feathers exploded across the room. Then there was a groan of pain.Poe's human form was very still against the furs he laid on, his clothes t
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JOHNThere was none of the dizzy vertigo like when I travelled through Ezra or Benji's portal. It was more like a long step through a doorway that led me right back where I was only weeks ago. The freshly cut grass left a thick scent in the air that brought back many memories of family barbecues and parties.I turned back to the portal. Cameron and the other Witches still appeared awestruck, but Hunter looked as though he wanted to jump through after me, the pain clear on his unhappy face."I'm sorry," I said, and shut down the portal.My chest throbbed. Part of me had wanted Hunter to come, because I didn't want to face this alone. What if we were caught? On my own, I would at least have a chance to escape again, but after what'd happened after they'd caught Ezra, they probably would kill Hunter on the spot.Facing the house, I distracted myself by focusing on the details. New cushions covered the patio furniture and ne
