Page 42 of Illusory

Drainingthem? Jesus. Knowing my luck…

Well, there wentthatplan.

I looked down at trembling hands and then shook my head. “If this is what using fire magic does to me, I think I’ll stick toneverusing it again.”

It seemed like an easy enough solution to a problem I really didn’t have time to deal with right now. In fact, something told me it would be best to put acease and desiston all of the elements until I knew exactly what I was getting myself into and had the proper time to dedicate to each of them.

“Yeah…I don’t think that’s really going to be an option anymore,” he informed, his voice tight.

My gaze snapped to his and then narrowed. “What do you mean?”

There was a long pause before he answered. “Once you invoke an element, it’s kind of like opening a door that can’t be closed again. The ability can pretty much manifest at any time, especially when you’re under duress.”

I stared at him, my mind processing the words he had just spoken “I’m always under duress, Caleb! Are you telling me that instead of accidently blowing up a few light bulbs here and there, I’m going to start lighting actual fires all over the place instead?”

“No.” He paused briefly. “I’m saying it’s a possibility.”

My stomach churned with a rogue wave of nausea. “Well,how do I make sure thatdoesn’thappen?”

“The only real way to put a leash on it is to learn to control it. The more you practice, the stronger your ability becomes and the less likely you’ll be to accidently set the house on fire the next time you get ticked off about something. Magic is tied to our emotions and an erratic mind will almost always produce erratic magic.”

“For fuck’s sake, Caleb. Don’t you think this is something you should have told me about beforehand? Like before I invoked the ability?” My mind was already reeling from the implications of his words. “What if I start shooting fireballs out my eyes the next time I get pissed off at someone?”

“Maybe try taking up some yoga and meditation,” he suggested coyly.

“Caleb!”

“I’m kidding, Blackburn, relax,” he said, his palms up as if to halt the firing squad. “Besides, you have me. I’ll help you practice as much as you want. Twice a day if you need me to.”

“That’s really nice and all but you still should have given me a heads up.”

“Hey, in my defense, I thought you knew. I told your mother it wasn’t a good idea to do this with everything you have going on when she called me, but she said you guys knew what you were doing and to mind my business.” His cheeks picked up color, like he was embarrassed to have been scolded by Jaqueline. “I was just trying to be a good friend and do what I thought you asked me to do.”

My anger simmered down at his words. Frankly, I was too exhausted to keep up the emotion anyway, but mostly because I knew Caleb well enough to know that he’d only been trying to help me. That his intentions were nothing but pure. Whether it was conjuring up charms for me, exorcising demons at All Saints or spelling prison cells for my vampireboyfriends, Caleb hadalwayshad my back.

Despite his cocky attitude and jock persona, Caleb was one of the real ones and I knew he’d never let me down. At least never on purpose.

Jaqueline, on the other hand, would not be getting off as easily. Between her masochistic training sessions and random disappearing acts throughout my life, this was just about the last straw for her. Having me invoke elemental magic when I had zero time to put into mastering it was just plain dangerous.

One thing was for sure. That psychopath was going to have some serious explaining to do…just as soon as I figured out a way to get my spent ass off the dining room floor.

* * *

Caleb left for hockey practice shortly after helping me over to the living room, leaving me with clear instructions to rest up and give my magic time to recharge.

On any other day, I would have basked in the chance to spend the day being roadkill on the couch, but with the Roderick sister’s heading into town any day, the dial on the pressure cooker had been turned all the way up. I needed to be ready, and I needed that damn book, and I really couldn’t afford to waste an entire day sitting on the couch doing nothing.

Not to mention the fact that every time I tried to close my eyes and rest, all I could think about was Nikki and her damned baby and the growing urge I had togoto her.

Clearly, I was far sicker than even Caleb knew.

What I needed was a pick-me-up; a way to heal quickly without having to unplug from the rest of the world or energy-drain another Supe, and there was only one way I knew to do that.

Desperate for relief, I pried myself off the couch and took off in search of Gabriel. If Revenant’s blood could bring people back from the brink of death, surely it could help with a little magical flu. I wouldn’t need much. Just enough to help ease the pain and get on with my day.

Gripping the banister, I gingerly made my way down the basement stairs, careful not to miss a step and accidentally tumble over my already shaky legs. Between the music blasting at full volume and my heart jackhammering between my ears, I could barely manage to hear my own thoughts.Importantthoughts. Thoughts that were telling me to get back upstairs and wait it out like Caleb told me too. That this was a bad idea.

That I needed to just deal with the pain and take the loss.

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