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.Jack and Ellen and Jeremiah followed, weapons blazing, driving the wizards back toward the outer wall.Wizard fire spewed into the air, setting the treetops ablaze.How long before the fireworks and sounds of battle drew Anaweir past the inner barrier and into the hands of the Roses?Weaponless, Jason sprinted after the warriors as two wizards closed in on them from behind.Jason tackled one of the wizards and disabled him by wizard’s grip, thrusting his fingers under his chin and applying power directly to that vulnerable place.Ellen leveled the other one with the flat of her blade.“What is going on?” Jack demanded, smashing back a bolt from Hays’s fancy staff.“It looks like all hell’s broken loose.”“Big trouble,” Jason gasped “There’s an army waiting out there.They’ve put up their own wall.They’re planning to trap people and take hostages.We’ve got to go back.”Reluctantly, the warriors left off chasing wizards and retreated, spraying flame in their wake to discourage pursuit.Once inside the gate, Jason helped slam the locks into place while the walls shuddered under the wizards’ assault.“Where’s Seph?” Jason gasped.“We can’t wait any longer.We’ve got to do something about the Anaweir.Right now.”Chapter Twenty-SevenA Deal with the DevilThe radio in Min’s old pickup only got three stations.You could listen to whatever you wanted as long as it was country and western or classic rock and roll.Madison turned up the volume and sang along, making up the words she didn’t know.She rolled down the windows, and her hair whipped around her shoulders.Now spring peepers and the low growl of thunder competed with the radio.The taste of the air said it would rain before morning.As the hills crowded in on both sides, even the most powerful stations began to break up.So she switched off the radio and practiced her lines.“I’m Madison Moss.I go to the Art Institute of Chicago.” And then her stomach did that little flip again—half fear, half joy.Sara had found the money through a scholarship program for disadvantaged students.Who would’ve thought that living on nothing but dreams all her life would pay off? But Sara said it wasn’t just based on need.“The scholarship committee loved your work, Maddie,” Sara had said.“They said you had a unique perspective that appeals to those who like both primitive and high-concept art.They can’t wait to meet you.”That part made her nervous.What if they saw her wild mane of hair and thrift-shop clothes, and heard the way she talked and decided they’d made a mistake? What if they treated her like some kind of awkward, backwoodsy charity case?Never mind.The work was what was important.She’d find a way to survive the committee.And attend the Chicago Art Institute in the fall on scholarship.Her portfolio rode alongside her in the passenger seat.Sara had been a bit bewildered by some of the more exotic images.But she thought they would play well in Chicago.Chicago.Madison had never been there.There would be libraries and museums and theaters.She could sit in cafés and talk about books and art and music.Things nobody ever talked about in Coal Grove.Every day she’d see thousands of people who knew nothing about her.Who hadn’t already made up their minds about Madison Moss.She could hardly wait.She was scared to death.One dream could lead to another.Maybe she could still convince Seph to attend Northwestern.If it was too late for fall, he could come as a transfer student in the spring.It could work.He was at home anywhere.Plus he was comfortable in cities.He had a way of organizing the world around him so it fit him like a skin.Knowing that she had one friend would make all the difference.Knowing it was Seph.She was ambushed by the image of his face: his gray-green eyes, like smoke layered on still water, hiding secrets.His rangy frame filling a doorway.His smile: so worldly-wise, yet not full of himself.The way he switched into French when English just wouldn’t do.His kisses.She had to stomp on the brake and wrench the wheel around to make the turn-off to Booker Mountain.You’re hopeless.Just like Carlene.Seph will never come to Chicago.Not on your account.Not while the fate of the world hangs in the balance.And who knew what would happen if he did? She let go of the wheel and examined her hands.Since the day she’d touched the Dragonheart, there had been no sign of the hex magic she’d absorbed at Second Sister.Was it really and truly gone, or was it just that she’d been away from Seph?Falling in love was like falling off a cliff.It felt pretty much like flying until you hit the ground.The road plunged back into dense forest and rippled through several hairpin turns, crossing Booker Creek on the stone bridges her great-grandfather had built.The first big splats of rain hit the roof of the pickup as she pulled into the yard.It was pitch dark by now and Carlene hadn’t even turned on the porch light.Madison pushed open the driver’s door and slid to the ground.She grabbed a bag of groceries from the seat, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and shoved her portfolio under her arm, meaning to make one trip to the house before the deluge.By the time she made it up the steps, it was pouring.She hesitated under the imperfect shelter of the porch roof, thinking Hamlet and Ophelia might come to greet her.But no enthusiastic wet dogs came splashing onto the porch.No Grace or John Robert, either.Guess they know enough to stay in out of the rain.As soon as she shouldered open the front door, she could hear the television going in the front room.She set her portfolio and backpack down next to the door.“Mama?” she said.“Grace? J.R.? I have the best news.Just wait till you hear.”“Hi, honey,” Carlene said from the other room.“I’m watching my shows.”Madison put the eggs, milk, juice, lunchmeat, and cheese into the refrigerator to join a jar of Miracle Whip, moldy bacon, four bottles of beer, and a pitcher of Kool-Aid.She threw out the bacon.It was dark in the living room, too.Carlene was slumped in a corner of the couch, her face illuminated by the changing images on the television screen.Madison switched on the table lamp.“You sitting here in the dark, Mama?”“Hmmm?” Carlene blinked up at her.“I guess so.” She looked kind of sleepy and out of it
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