Page 86 of These Witches Don't Burn
“Absolutely not.” I can’t lose anyone else. I rush out of the living room and throw on my shoes. “Call the police and ask for Detective Archer. Tell him the Hunter’s at Veronica’s house. Gemma, call my mom. I’m going after him.”
“You’rewhat?” Morgan chases after me and blocks my path to the door. “You can’t go after a Hunter alone. It’s not safe!”
“Get out of my way.” Power ripples across my skin. “Now.”
Morgan holds her ground. “Take me with you. I can help.”
“Move.” I grab hold of the air’s energy. The wind picks up, pulling at Morgan’s hair. “I won’t ask again.”
“Hannah...”
She doesn’t get a chance to finish. I tug on the air’s current, pushing Morgan away from the door and shoving her into the living room. I’m through the door a second later, slamming it closed behind me. Outside, the earth hums beneath my feet. I turn and urge the bushes to grow around the door handle, blocking them inside.
And then I’m gone. My heart lurches as I jump inside Dad’s car, but I force the emotions away and slam the key into the ignition. I race to Veronica’s house, trying to send air messages as I go.Veronica doesn’t respond, and worries scream through my head on an endless loop.
Don’t be dead. Don’t be dead. Please, don’t be dead.
As Veronica’s house comes into view, I’m surprised to find it smoke-free. The house looks empty. Untouched. I don’t hear any sirens in the distance, but I’m sure Morgan has them on their way.
Guilt tries to rise up, tries to drown me in panic, but I push it down. I push everything down until there’s only vengeance. Only power.
I park and leap from my car. Lady Ariana must have pulled the protection detail from Veronica’s house now that her binding tattoo has worn off. I don’t see anyone I know parked on the street.
Worry flames the embers of my magic, and it hurts too much to keep it locked beneath my skin. So I let it out, let my power tug at the air and shake the earth as I race up the steps. All my worst fears have already come to pass. Why should I care about the rules?
The front door is unlocked, and I slip inside. Every sense is on high alert, yet there’s nothing but echoes in the house. Echoes of power. Echoes of fear. The air reacts around me, dancing with my hair, swirling around my skin. If the Hunter is here, I’m ready.
I check the first floor. Each room is vacant but clearly disturbed. Chairs knocked onto the ground. Picture frames shattered, glass sparkling on the carpet. Dirty footprints that lead upstairs.
Air swirls tighter, curling into my hands, ready to attack the Hunter if he leaps out of one of the bedrooms. My feet lead me to Veronica’s room, pulled by the gravity of all the time I’ve spent inside, of all the memories.
There’s a bullet hole in her doorframe. The door itself is smashed inward, hanging on broken hinges.
I force my magic away when I see what’s inside.
“Savannah.” I rush into the room, sidestepping a pool of blood that I refuse to look at. She’s tied to Veronica’s desk chair, a gag in her mouth. “Are you okay?”
Her reply is muffled, and tears stream down her face. I reach for the gag first, untying one of Veronica’s scarves. She gasps when her mouth is clear. “He took her. He took Veronica.”
“Was she alive?” I reach for the knots tying Savannah to the chair. “Who did this to you?”
“I don’t know.” Savannah winces when her broken arm, still in its cast, is freed. “He shot her. In the arm I think. She was still conscious after, but then he hit her with the butt of the gun. I didn’t see his face.”
Sirens wail in the distance. “It’s going to be okay, Savannah. The police are on their way.” I kneel before her and work at the ropes holding her legs. “Do you remember anything else? Did you hear a voice? See hair color? Anything?”
She shakes her head. “He was wearing all black. A mask and gloves and everything.”
“There must be something. Even if it’s small.”Come on, come on. Before the police get here.I grip her arms, squeezing tight. “Anything else? Please, try to remember.”
Savannah shakes her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. “You have to save her. We’re supposed to go to college together in the fall. And I...”
“You what?” I snap, losing patience when she trails off.
“I’m in love with her.” A sob catches in her throat. “I’ve beenin love with her since we were freshmen. You have to get her back. Please.”
“Then help me. There has to be something else.” I kneel in front of her. “Give me something, Savannah. Veronica’s life depends on it.”
That, at least, gets Savannah to nod. To close her eyes. While she thinks, I pace the room, stealing glances out the window. Police cars race down the street toward us. We’re running out of time.
