Lead Demon

High Prospects

Matthias would always know where they were. So long as Seven was around, none of them were safe.

*

Seven had become used to thwarted plans, so when they stopped by an abandoned traffic jam a little after sunrise, he expected the worst. Stephanie scouted the area with Air while they sat in the parked car, the engine rumbling and the CD still on repeat.

“All clear,” Stephanie said, Air winking out in his throat. Seven turned off the ignition, and the sudden silence was deafening.

“Are you sure this is smart?” Seven asked. Now that he knew Matthias was on his heels, rest was the last thing on his mind. No matter how much his body and Spheres craved it. The Spheres normally gave the body power as energy centers, much like chakras were said to do in Eastern philosophy, but when they were used too deeply, they needed rest or nourishment to recover.

Not even magic was abundant in this world.

“There’s nothing around for miles,” Stephanie replied. “I’ll take first watch. Gods know I got enough sleep—I forgot how easily driving knocks me out. You guys rest. You need it.”

The twins didn’t need any more coaxing, even with the knowledge of Matthias’s watchful eye. It seemed like nothing could disturb them. They both reclined their seats and curled onto their sides. Like true warriors used to the road, they were asleep in moments.

“You, too, Seven,” Stephanie said. “You’ve barely slept at all the last few days.”

“I’m not tired,” Seven said. His yawn betrayed him.

“Like hell,” Stephanie replied. He smiled.

Seven wanted to tell him about Matthias haunting his dreams. He wanted to say he didn’t feel safe, that it was better for everyone if he stayed awake, but before he could say any of that, Stephanie had gently pulled him down, resting Seven’s head once more in his lap. Stephanie ran his fingers through Seven’s hair. Chills curled down his skin while heat flowed in his chest.

“Don’t worry,” Stephanie whispered, looking right into Seven’s eyes. Seven could stare at those blue eyes for eternity. “I’ll protect you.”

And maybe it was stupid, but that was enough. Seven closed his eyes and said nothing.

He knew Stephanie couldn’t protect him from Matthias, but there was a comfort in Stephanie believing he could.

He’d let them both hold on to that dream for as long as possible

Seven didn't dream. By the time he woke, the sky had darkened to slate gray, and the twins had already prepared a scant dinner of warm tea and biscuits. Seven wolfed it down; it wasn’t enough to assuage Earth, but it was something. By the time they were on the road again, he was beginning to feel more human.

They switched SUVs and drove for a few more hours, navigating around stopped cars and overturned semis, while a new collection of CDs played. Finally, they passed into Michigan. The sky outside had gone from gray to pitch-black almost as swiftly as his mood had when they saw the welcome sign.

Then it began to snow.

Slow, at first—big thick flakes that drifted slowly in the evening haze. Then more, heavier flecks of white streaking like falling stars in their headlamps. With every mile, the snow grew thicker. With every mile, the ground cover became worse. Clearly this wasn’t the first snow this area had seen and, without plows, the road quickly became treacherous. Seven slowed the car, but even that wasn’t enough to keep him from slipping around on the asphalt like a drunken teenager. He managed to avoid the stopped cars that hulked like igloos. Seven gripped his fists tight to his lap, tried to keep his breathing calm and his jaw relaxed. After everything they’d been through, he would have found it terribly humorous if he died in a car crash.

Seven slowed the car to a crawl. Seven wanted to beg the guy to clear the snow with Fire or even Air, but to use magic out here would give them away quicker than the dull thrum of their engine.

Seven kept his eyes on the horizon, on the trees that loomed pitch-black in the deepening dark.

The headlights caught on a graffiti’d billboard. He knew it before the words resolved through the swathes of snow.

Silveron Academy

Empowering Youth

for an Empowered Future

Water surged at the sign, at the familiar crest, at the pictures of campus. Water surged, and even though he wrestled it down, he couldn’t keep it from spilling between his fingers.

“Your father and I went to school around here,” Mom says.

Dad had stayed back home—couldn’t get the day off work—so it’s just the two of them heading up to Michigan to check out Silveron. He still can’t believe his mother had not only agreed to let him apply, but had offered to drive him the eight hours to check it out when he was accepted.

Hell, he still can’t believe he was accepted.

He doubts he will ever forget seeing that large white envelope on the kitchen counter, his name printed in royal blue. He will never forget the feeling of his heart in his throat and his hands shaking as he opened the envelope and pulled out the letter. Congratulations! You have been accepted to Silveron Academy. Together, we will create a magical future.

A magical future.

So why does he feel—even now, even as they drive—like he’s giving something else up? He’s supposed to be excited...and he is. He just didn’t realize how excited he could be while feeling terrified at the same time.

He stares out the passenger window as the cornfields roll into evergreen forests and the air stops smelling like pollution and starts to smell, well, green. It makes his heart swell a little bit. It’s also a reminder that even the scents here will be new and different.

“You’re going to love it out here,” Mom says. She reaches over and puts a hand on his shoulder.

“Mom?” he asks. His voice sounds small in the silent car. Why does it sound so small? He has the opportunity to learn magic.

“Yeah, sweetie?”

“Do you think I’m making the wrong decision?”