Everyone jumped to their feet, guarded against the deadly newcomers. Lily pushed through the crowd to stand at the front. She wanted to protect her friends from the lunatic standing in front of her. Gran, Jacquelyn, Ms. Birch, and Duncan joined her to fill the archway. "How did you break through our protection spells?" Gran asked.
Smiling like a child who'd just done something they knew was wrong, Mia raised her hand. "Sorry, Gran. I hate to disappoint you. But nice to know you aren't dead." She gave a thumbs up. "Wish somebody would have rung me up to share the good news." Mia placed her hands on her hips, pouting. "You're a terrible parent, Mom."
"Excuse me?" Jacquelyn asked, looking so confused. Lily supposed it was one thing to know about the clone. Seeing her was a whole other issue.
"Not you, silly." Mia chuckled. "My life-giver, whom I would be nothing without. Unfortunately, without me, she's so much duller."
Another figure materialized out of the shadows. Sebastian stepped forward to grab his father's shoulder. "This was not the plan." he argued.
"Oh, my dear, deluded darling," Mia clicked her tongue. "We came to play. So, shut up and step in line."
Sebastian didn't respond. He just took a step back, standing behind his father and his Bride of Frankenstein creation.
Lily used their bickering to take care of an important matter. She grabbed Duncan's and Gran's hands, drawing on their power to cast a spell. "To protect my loved ones from dangerous trouble, send them to safety on the double."
In a flash of brilliant light...
Absolutely nothing happened. Lily was confused, wondering why her spell hadn't worked. With the possible exception of Dianna, the room should be empty.
"You didn't think it would be so easy, did you?" Mia asked. The gloating made Lily grind her teeth. She wanted to strangle the girl who'd stolen her face.
"The feeling is mutual." Mia made kissing motion towards her.
Lily raised all of her mental barriers to keep the copycat out of her head. She noticed that Mia's hands were surrounded by red light. Lily's fingers twitched at her side, ready to defend the people behind her. She felt the warmth growing as her connection to the Source was opened.
Both Gran and Duncan looked down at their hands that Lily held.
"Leave this place." Lily warned. The lights overhead flickered and the ground underfoot rumbled. "Before you can't."
"That's amusing." Maxwell said. "Did you think I would be stupid enough to underestimate you again?" He chuckled. "I have had a long time to plot my revenge, thanks to you. After all, an idle mind is a terrible waste."
"I've had a lot of time of my own since our last encounter." Lily reminded him. "I'm not that same terrified girl you met last year."
"Then this should be fun." He cracked an amused smile. He handed the cane he carried to Sebastian so he could remove his overcoat, which he tossed over the banister. He straightened the lapels of his pen-striped, dark blue suit jacket. "Shall we begin?"
Pulling her hands free, Lily held them up, casting out a shield of light to block the trio from advancing. Mia held her hand out, blasting Lily's forcefield with a stream of ruby-colored energy. Lily was surprised how strong her copy's magic was. Lily winced, trying to stave off the attack.
YOU ARE READING
Fateful Signs (Ballad of the Seer, Book Three)
Fantastik[COMPLETED] Lily Bishop is in trouble in Book Three of the Ballad of the Seer series. She is on the run with her boyfriend and soulmate, Duncan, attempting to clear her name of the charges that have been brought against her by the Council of Witches...
