Chapter 16
Hugoroared as the flames licked at his wings, and still he protected me within them. My heart pounded, my brain screamed in horror. We were trapped by a creature who was trying to burn us alive. I couldn’t imagine a more terrifying situation. To be trapped by fire…
Igulped. Fear wouldn’t help me, wouldn’t do anything besides incapacitate me.
AfterI recovered from the tremendous shock, I picked up the spell book again, determined to finish what I’d started while he shielded me from the flames.
“Hugo, I have a plan.”
Sincehe continued to shout at the phoenix, I didn’t think he even heard me. Waiting for a pause, I said, “You need to open your wings.”
“What?” His voice sounded shocked. “Absolutely not.”
“I know what to do. Can you distract him while I cast a spell?”
“No way. It’s suicidal!”
“Trust me,” I insisted. “I know what I need to do.” How exactly I was certain of it, I didn’t want to question too hard because then I sure as hell would talk myself out of it. But once I’d began performing the spell using my grandmother’s book, it hadn’t just been words flowing from my mouth. I’d felt the intention in them. The energy. The magic.
Whenthe phoenix had soared down at me, I’d cowered in fear. But that would ensure he won.
Fightingwith Hugo in this dire situation was better than delaying the moment in which we’d both inevitably burn. “Please, Hugo. I have to try.”
Afterseveral seconds, he swore under his breath and then murmured, “Okay.”
Igulped. ThenI gripped the book and ensured I had the correct page. “I’m ready.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, his voice clipped with uncertainty. “Fuck, I can’t let you burn!”
Dreadcurled around my spine again.
No, I refused to let it control me anymore. “Hugo, trust me!” I shouted.
“Yes,” he said in with a resigned tone. “Ready, I’m counting down—three, two, one.”
Whenhe opened his wings, Hugo launched at the phoenix, knocking him dozens of feet across the sky. I burst forward, holding the mirror out to face the phoenix. WhileI chanted the ancient words in the spell book, I directed the mirror onto the fiery bird and repeated the chant with more conviction than I’d ever heard in my voice. It didn’t even sound like me.
Sparksof light crackled from the pages of the book, rising from it and entwining like silvery strands before the wisps floated down and disappeared on the surface of the mirror. Entranced, I paused and gaped for a few seconds until I snapped myself back into the spell. Strands spread from the mirror’s surface, reaching across the sky like rays of warm sunlight. Glowing. Mesmerizing.
Iput all my being into the words of the spell and thrust the mirror forward, aiming it at the phoenix. When it recovered from Hugo’s blow, it turned toward me, opened its beak, and shot out flames. This time, I didn’t break the chant. I didn’t crouch. I held steadfast, holding it like a shield.
ThenI shouted the final word of the spell, “Reflect!”
Thefire reached for me, and my arms trembled as I braced myself for excruciating pain.
Itdidn’t come. The mirror vibrated in my outstretched hands as if anticipating the lick of flames. When the fire hit the surface, the mirror swallowed the flames and then trembled in my hand with such force, I barely held on to it.
Arumbling sound churned inside. What was happening?
Therumbling grew stronger and then suddenly, eerily—quiet.
Astreak of light burst out from the surface of the mirror as a single powerful glowing white beam edged with the licks of flames. It shot straight at the phoenix and struck with such speed and force I would have missed it had I blinked. The creature shrieked as it fell toward the ground, curling in on itself and wailing as it descended. Its fiery wings turned inward, shrinking with the diminishing size of the phoenix, and then completely extinguished.
Thesmall, scorched bird rolled on the ground as it reached out a single talon toward the sky. It erupted in a gigantic flash of fire that blasted me backward and off my feet.
Ifell on my butt and the book closed as it fell beside me. My breath came quick and hard as I gaped around at the surrounding darkness, now colder and darker than ever without the fiery glow in the sky.
Thephoenix was gone. All that remained was a pile of ashes. A fitting end.
Mygaze shot up to search for Hugo. He flew down, his wings clearly affected by the flames, but still intact. He landed near the ashes and stared down at them with suspicion. Then he raised his gaze to meet mine.
“Hugo!” I called out and ran over to him, careful to not touch any of the scorched areas of his body as I embraced him.
Hewrapped his protective arms around me. “Are you okay, LittleSparrow?”
Ipulled away just enough to stare up at him. “I was going to ask you the same thing.” I fretted as I searched for how to help him. “The fire. The burns. Your poor wings!” Emotion clogged my voice.
Heinhaled. “It stings, but I’ll be fine. Adelaide’s magic.” Then he gave me one of his lighthearted grins, as if attempting to ease my distress. It was soon replaced by an awed expression. “How did you do that?” His voice was full of wonder.
Ipursed my lips as I tried to pinpoint how exactly I knew what spell to try. “I’m not entirely sure. The only thing I could think to do was use the book. And when I went inside for it, I saw Adelaide’s mirror. I sensed—no, Iknew—which one was right. It was almost as if I heard her words, telling me what to do. I chanted a reflective spell that mirrored his action back to him, increasing it threefold.”
Hugostared at me with awe and then cradled me to his massive chest. “You’re more powerful than you know, LittleSparrow. More special than you ever believed.”
Ileaned back and searched his eyes. “But you knew. You believed in me, even when I didn’t.”
Hegazed down at me and then nodded solemnly. “Yes.”
Ileaned against his solid chest, comforted by the strong beat of his heart against my cheek. “Hugo, can we go home now?”
“Of course.” After a pause, he asked, “Where to?”
Ipulled back just enough to be able to look into his eyes. “It doesn’t matter,” I replied. “As long as I’m with you.”