Witch & Wizard 04 - The Kiss (7 page)
Read Witch & Wizard 04 - The Kiss Online
Authors: James Patterson
I sigh, feeling like an idiot as I see the wounded looks around the table. “I’m sorry, guys. I know you’re all doing the best you can. Just ignore me.”
“Always do,” Wisty grumbles.
“No visions. Just some bad dreams.”
“I’M SO RELIEVED you brought up the issue of security, Mr. Allgood,” Matthias Bloom thunders into the microphone as Whit retakes his seat in the Council. My brother just presented his concerns about the threat of the Mountain King, but I’m not sure I completely understand his recent obsession with the guy.
“What’s the
deal
?” I whisper to Whit, but he shakes his head maddeningly and hushes me as Bloom continues.
“Protecting our citizenry is our highest priority, as you’ll see from our first agenda item today,” Bloom says, and nods to a jowly man in the corner.
The man reads from the agenda: “ ‘Sanctions for magic makers
.
’ ”
Whit jerks his head back toward Bloom.
“What?”
Before I know what I’m doing, I’m on my feet. “What kind of sanctions? The City is free!”
“Exactly.” Bloom stares down from the new raised platform he’s had installed in the chamber. The Seat of the Speaker, he’s calling it. “And by requiring magic makers to register their powers with the Council, we ensure it will remain free and safe for all.”
“So… it’s just a registry?” Whit asks guardedly. I gape at him like he’s crazy.
Just
a registry? This is the first sign of a police state if I ever saw one.
Bloom shifts in his high seat. “Yes. And in addition, as a courtesy, we will also ask that no acts of magic be performed at this time, at least until our City becomes better able to defend itself. Magical behavior is just too unpredictable. Too dangerous.”
I clench my jaw.
Behavior?
It sounded like he was talking about a bunch of un-potty-trained toddlers. No one messes with my M. “And if we refuse?”
“Why would any magic makers refuse to comply with such a code, unless they planned to do harm? Steps would need to be taken to control the situation.”
“Control?” I feel a scowl searing my face, and I don’t even have to look at Whit to know that he’s got on that face that’s pleading with me not to do something rash.
“How’s this for
control
?” My anger is tingling through my body, and as I work my M up into a spell, I see a uniform look of shock rippling across the room on the Council members’ faces.
Here’s what they saw: my mouth, and then the rest of me, dissolving into thin air as I disappeared from my seat. It feels kind of like needle pricks all over me.
“How exactly are you going to control us?” My voice echoes around the room. “Forcibly? Like The One did?”
I make myself reappear in the rafters for a brief instant, but by the time Bloom’s eyes flit upward, I’m dissipating again. It’s a lot of work—but absolutely worth every uncomfortable look shared among the Council.
Unfortunately Bloom’s wit is sharp. “The One was truly evil,” Bloom agrees. “Naturally, we recognize that not
all
magicians pose a threat to society, but without regulating such power, how do we know we won’t end up with another person exerting their unique powers over society like The One did?” A tense hum of whispers builds.
But I’m about to make Bloom’s golden words disappear, too.
In an instant Bloom’s toupee soars off his head onto the floor, hit by my invisible hand, and the room erupts in snickers.
That was priceless. I can’t believe I didn’t think of doing it sooner.
Bloom finally loses his cool, and his chins quiver with his booming voice. “
Ms. Allgood!
This is an official Council meeting in the sacred Hall of your City!
Will you kindly return to your seat?
”
I can’t resist one last retort. Instead of taking my seat, I materialize right next to him, smirking. This time, he flinches.
With the last of the magic energy I can muster right now, I return to my brother’s side. I can tell Whit isn’t all that amused by my performance—but he’s still fighting the good fight.
“These are our rights, and you don’t have the right to change them, Mr. Bloom,” he says. “You don’t speak for all the people.”
“I am the Speaker. I absolutely speak for our citizens,” Bloom says irritably as he smoothes the few remaining wispy hairs across his head. “Each of us is an elected Council member, and each of us has an equal voice.” He looks like a fat cat about to pounce. “So, let us take a vote, then, shall we? All who oppose that magic makers should disclose their potential to do harm to the general public?”
From the way Bloom worded it, I see uncertainty written on every face in the room. Still, the hands start to rise, one by one. Most of them are kids who were elected to be on the Council because of their extreme bravery, but they still look terrified.
“Come on,” Whit says under his breath. “Come on, come on.”
The revolutionary from the Gutter raises his hand, and the journalist from the suburbs casts her vote. I hold my breath as I wait for more, hoping, hoping…
But as I look around, the rest of the hands are folded. The voting is done, and it’s not enough. Eight out of thirty-four.
“All in favor of the proposed sanctions, to secure the safety of the citizenry of the City?” Bloom asks cheerfully.
The speed at which the rest of the hands shoot up takes my breath away. I clutch Whit’s arm as I gaze around the circle of the room, and I feel dizzy and nauseated.
We’re surrounded by a wall of hands, every one of them ready to grab for our throats.
“WHAT DOES The
Book of Truths
say?” I shout, my voice carrying through the chamber. “I believe
The Book
wouldn’t allow for such sanctions.”
Bloom looks up from his agenda, surprised. “And what makes you believe such a thing, Mr. Allgood?”
I step into the center of the chamber, my shoes echoing on the marble floor. I look around, trying to catch the Council’s eyes, spark their trust, remind them why they are here.
To serve the good of the community. To fight for free will.
“As free citizens, we all have the right to see what Council member Bloom sees in
The Book of Truths
. I move that we reprint the book and distribute it to all citizens immediately.”
There are collective gasps and excited whisperings around the chamber at the suggestion. Bloom’s eyes appear stone cold from his high chamber seat. “And I move to table this issue for further review. Next agenda item?”
I hear Wisty’s sharp intake of breath.
The Book
was supposed to be the property of the whole Council. “What is there to review?” she shouts, starting to reach her breaking point.
Bloom flicks his wrist absently, as if the answer is obvious. “It would be irresponsible to rush into reprinting. In such perilous times,
The Book of Truths
could be dangerous in the wrong hands.”
Exactly
. Wisty and I share a look. Bloom’s hands are starting to seem a lot less clean.
“If we’re facing possible war, the community needs that information now more than ever,” I point out.
“I agree,” Bloom allows. “The community needs to be protected, and they need someone to interpret the insight that
The Book of Truths
offers.”
We parry words back and forth like swordsmen matching blow for blow. The other thirty-one Council members look on, their heads swiveling between us as we each try to gain ground.
But my head starts to throb from the effort, and I know Bloom can out-talk and out-twist and out-sell Wisty and me any day. Everything’s riding on this debate, and it’s only a matter of time before we fail to block.
There’s only one final weapon to pull from our arsenal. Wisty sighs and finally says what everyone has been thinking.
“Look. I killed The One Who Is The One myself. My brother and I saved this City when no one else could, and we deserve a little respect. We demand to see
The Book of Truths
, which foretold of our power!”
She’s played our ace.
The faces around the room are nodding in agreement. But they’re still looking at Bloom the Speaker, Bloom the interpreter, Bloom the Keeper of
The Book of Truths
, to see what he’ll say.
The general clears his throat with a guttural hacking. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible.” Bloom shakes his gray head sadly. “Regardless of your achievements, as magic makers, you’re subject to the recently passed sanctions. No wizard may see the sacred words, lest they twist them into spells for their own power.”
“By whose authority do you deny us our most basic right?” I shout.
“By the authority of this Council, elected by the people,” Bloom answers mildly. “I’m afraid that unless
The Book
decrees, the Council’s ruling must stand.”
Bloom strikes a large bell and it echoes around the chamber’s high ceilings like a wail of frustration. Then he allows himself a rare, self-congratulatory grin as he says, “This meeting is adjourned.”
“WISTY?” WHIT LOOKS at me with concern.
I start to heat up. My color is rising with anger, my ears and cheeks flushing red. After all we’ve fought for, our rights as free citizens are going to be revoked in ten minutes by one well-spoken man in a room of cowards.
And they’re
ignoring
us. Papers are shuffling, the doors are opening. They’re all leaving. Feeling steam gathering in my head and lava flowing through my veins, I place one of my muddy sneakers onto my chair and push myself up, rising above the Council floor.
“Wisty,” Whit repeats, “I really don’t think it’s a good idea to—”
“
Wait!
” I yell at the dispersing officials, just as my hair bursts into flames.
All the members stop in their tracks at that moment to stare at the burning girl in the center of City Hall. A few of the suits closest to me start to back away as beads of sweat pool on their foreheads. I even manage to singe Bloom’s eyebrows. I smirk with satisfaction… until he points a long, bony finger in my direction.
“Fellow Council members, Ms. Allgood wishes us to consider the plight of magicians,” he crows. “But
this
is the face of magic—dangerous and out of control. It is the common citizen who is truly at risk.”
“I’m perfectly under control,” I scowl, letting my flame fizzle out.
But Whit is shaking his head at me, his jaw tight, and I see it’s too late.
Bloom’s flinty eyes sweep the chamber, connecting with each person in turn. “Remember The One, friends. Remember how unrestricted magic makers remain in power: through trickery, intimidation, and fear!”
I can’t believe he’s actually comparing me to The One. “Are you really listening to this lunatic?” I ask everyone. But I see few sympathizers here, and even fewer friends. No one moves, no one speaks, and even the kids on the Council won’t meet my eyes.
“Fine,” I croak, feeling the tears start to brim. I jump off my chair and hastily grab my belongings, my fingers shaking with hurt and anger. Bloom’s mouth stays tight in a smug, thin line.
Whit tries to put a hand on my shoulder, but I fling it away, furious he didn’t support me up there.
“Prejudice is prejudice,” I shout as I storm out of the chamber. “No matter how you spin it.”
I can’t believe I trusted Bloom, or any of them.
To Shadowland with them all!
I BANG THROUGH the doors of City Hall in a blind rage, papers slipping from my grasp as I try to shove them into my bag. I take the steps two at a time to get away from this corrupt place, full of liars and word twisters and bigots.
But I don’t get out of there fast enough, because guess who I spot waiting for me, leaning against a pillar, looking suave as ever?
Yeah: the Demon himself.
Oh, that’s just great. I’m sure I’m looking totally stunning right now, with my face flushed with anger and my eyes puffy from tears. My hair is probably still steaming.
I veer away from Heath, hoping he hasn’t spotted me, but luck just doesn’t seem to be on my side this week.
“Wisty! Wait!”
“Not now!” I yell, but I can hear the sound of his shoes on the pavement as he runs after me. He’s at risk of getting as bad as Byron. But at least I can turn Byron into a rodent to shut him up. Heath… well, I just couldn’t
do
that to him.
“You dropped this.” He holds out one of the papers I dropped—where I’d doodled a cartoon of Bloom getting crushed by a book. “Nice,” he smirks.
I snatch it out of his hands.
“Look,” I snap. “I’m warning you, I’m seriously not in the mood for any games right now. I’ve already burned one person today, and I’m
thisclose
to bringing the heat again. So just—give me some space, okay?”
“Did
inflamed
tempers
spark
debate with our cherished Speaker?”
I’m not in the mood for stupid puns, either. I storm off toward the square, but Heath keeps pace with me, totally unfazed by my threat. He actually hasn’t stopped smiling, and I’m not sure if I want to kill him for it—or kiss him. Because I know he’s trying to make me laugh.
“No need to get
fired up
, Wisty,” he says playfully. “Don’t have a
meltdown
.”
I glare at him. Leaning toward
kill
.
“You’re so
hot
when you’re mad.” He grins. “No, seriously. You’re
smoking
. There’s no
match
for you.”
I shake my head, feeling a laugh building despite my anger. “Your puns are really awful.”
“But accurate!” he shoots back. “You can’t argue with anything I’ve just said, can you?” He raises an eyebrow and I roll my eyes, but I can’t resist a grin.
