Page 67 of Blood Currents
“Which is why the distraction needs to be substantial,” Raven interjected.“I’ve designed a cascading chaos spell.Each alarm triggers another in sequence, drawing guards through the entire academic building.”She flexed her fingers, and I noticed again how the shadows seemed to linger around them, clinging like thin oil.
“Clever,” Elio admitted, studying her with new interest, “but risky for whoever triggers it.”
“I can handle it,” Raven said, something hard entering her voice.“You’re not the only ones with power around here.”
Lucas cleared his throat.“I’ve accessed the archive security logs.I can create false alerts in the system showing potential breaches in the historical wing.That should pull at least two more guards away from the laboratory area.”
“How many guards?”Cyrus asked Aurora, refocusing us.
“At least six Shroud Guards on rotating patrol.Plus whatever automated defenses he’s added since you were there.”Aurora pulled out a sketch.“And they’ve brought in a magical nullification cage—portal delivered directly to the lab.Parker’s completely cut off from her magic.”
“Which means she can’t defend herself if something goes wrong,” I said.
“Or help us if we’re discovered,” Elio added grimly.
Keane stood abruptly, moving to the window.His magic shimmered silver around his hands, stable and strong.“I can get us down there.Short-range portals past the main security checkpoints.”
“Your magic’s stable enough for that kind of precision work?”I asked, concerned.
“It’s stable enough for anything we need it to be,” he said with quiet confidence.“I’m not broken anymore.And I know that lab better than anyone—including where Uncle would place additional defenses.”
Elio stepped forward, his illusions already beginning to weave around us.“I can mask our magical signatures.Not indefinitely but long enough.”
“How long?”Cyrus asked.
“Thirty minutes, maybe forty if we’re careful with our magic usage.”His expression was determined, no trace of his usual masks.“But if this turns into a fight…”
“Then we fight fast and we fight smart,” Cyrus finished, his flames brightening.
I looked around at everyone who had gathered to help—not just the three men who had become my closest allies but Raven and Lucas too, friends who’d stuck by me when no one else would.Even Aurora, risking her family standing to do what was right.
“If we do this,” I said slowly, “there’s no going back.We’ll be branded as terrorists, hunted by everyone we once trusted.”
“We’re already targets,” Keane said grimly.“They just haven’t made it official yet.”
“And if we don’t do this,” Elio added, “Parker dies for trying to help us.And the conspiracy continues unchallenged.”
Raven stepped forward, her eyes strangely bright.“We’re in this together now.No backing out.”
Something in her voice made Scout press tighter against my neck.Boris remained unnaturally still on her shoulder, his usual nervous movement completely absent.
As we finalized our plans, I felt the wellspring’s distress pulsing up through the academy’s foundations.Not just local corruption anymore but connections to other wellsprings across the magical world, all crying out as the poison spread.
“It’s accelerating,” I said quietly.“The corruption.It’s spreading to other wellsprings.”
“Which means we’re running out of time on multiple fronts,” Elio said.“The longer we wait, the worse this gets.”
“And the more desperate Alstone becomes,” Keane added.“If he’s willing to torture Parker in his own laboratory, he’s past caring about subtlety.”
“We’ll trigger the diversions at 11:30,” Raven said, checking the time.“That should give you the window you need to get in and out.”
I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on us.When I opened them again, I saw determination reflected in every face.
“Then we end this tonight,” I said.“All of us.Together.”
Raven and Lucas left first, slipping out to take their positions.As Raven turned to go, I caught her arm.
“Be careful,” I said.“If anything feels wrong…”
