Page 48 of Dragon Compelled
“The best,” Blossom agrees. “Have you given any thought to what we talked about?”
“Using my magic?”
She nods.
I sigh. “I don’t know how to do it. And even if I could, do I really want to? Last time it was used, monsters got into the library, and Hoc was taken. Maybe I’m better off leaving it alone.”
“Mag was right, Paige. Magic isn’t good or evil. It’s based entirely on the user.”
“Fair enough, but Constantine wanted me to use it. Doing so feels like I’m giving into what he wanted.”
“Except you’ll be using it to bring Hoc back,” she says. “Not to destroy the library.”
“And if I accidentally do destroy the library in the process?”
“You’ll have your team to build it back, brick by brick.” She sighs. “Now, I need to go check on Mag again. I came down to get him one of those cups of noodles he insists on eating.” She rolls her eyes. “You good?”
I nod. “Aries still patrolling the stacks?”
“He is. And trying to keep tabs on our least favorite council member.”
“Tawny is a handful.”
“Not Tawny,” she replies, eyes narrowing. “Oliver.”
“Oliver? Why?”
She arches a brow. “Tawny is predictable in her hatred of you. But Oliver keeps doing things that leave me questioning his motives. Sorry, Paige, but I’m with Aries on that one.” She takes the stairs quickly then pauses to look back at me. “Do you want me to send the gnomes or Bingo down? They can help until I can get back.”
“Nah. They need to be patrolling. I’ll be fine. These are all sealed.”
Blossom nods. “Well, I’ll be back to help you shelve them. Don’t try to do all of it alone. You already have too much on your plate.”
I smile, though I imagine it looks as hollow as I feel. As soon as she shuts the door, I turn and face the stack of books again. No better time than now to get started, I suppose.
Crossing the floor, I bend and lift the book Mag was attacked in. I stare down at the simple-looking journal, looking for a title, but see none. It’s likely the handbook for a dark sorcerer or some curse manual. Still, it would have been nice if Hoc had been inside.
If he’d been in any of the ones they’ve already searched.
“Magic is neither good nor bad.”
The words ring out in my mind as I set the book on top of the stack. I stare at them once more. This is our last chance. After today, these books will be re-shelved on the main floor of the library in their own stacks. In their own rows.
I close my eyes.
And even though my fear tells me not to risk it, I can’t help but give my magic a shot. I’m not even sure what else I have to lose. “Okay, Paige,” I whisper to myself as I reach down inside myself to feel that still alien part of me. Power that I don’t quite understand and, frankly, terrifies me.
It’s always there, though. Lurking deep within.
Once, I’d thought it was my keeper magic or some wellspring of the library’s alchemy inside me. But now I know it’s all mine—whatever it is. For a moment, I hesitate, unsure what to do with it. But then an idea forms. Reaching back through my memory, I picture the spell book I’d read through the other day and the words written for a locator spell. I’d tried it and failed, but if I’m being honest, I’d only pretended to call on my magic. I hadn’t been willing to actually engage it.
Here goes...
Almost silently, I whisper the spell aloud now.
“Near, far, through time and stars. I command these worlds by thought and sound, let the one whom I seek finally be found.”
Once. Twice. Then on the third time, power unlike anything I’ve ever felt surges through me. Like lightning in my veins, it snaps through me then crackles in the musty air of the basement.
