Blood in the Fire

Chapter Two: Luke's Decision

Elizabeth

What! I thought, breathless.

Mark didn't move. His lips were pressed together so I couldn't read his expression. Luke pointed a finger at me and emphasized his point. "From now on, you are forbidden using magic and from taking part in these missions of yours."

I found my voice. "What! Why?" It wasn't a question. It was a scream. I wouldn't obey. The thought of defying Luke churned my stomach, but I hadn't earned my Dark rank with a weak stomach.

On the other hand, I couldn't live with myself if I gave up my responsibilities. My roll was not abstract. Mark and Luke were alive and safe because of decisions I made. Earth as a whole could fall to the wizards. As if those reasons weren't enough, there was something else that compelled me too. My parents were fighting this war when they died. Continuing along the path they had started me on gave me a connection to them that I couldn't bear to lose. I didn't want to let Mom and Dad down.

Luke leaned across the table and looked me straight in the eyes. Determination was written all over his angular face as he started to explain.

      But I didn't need to hear his reasons. "Luke, if it weren't for Mom and Dad, you would have never let me cross the street by myself, never mind let me walk around town alone."

He remained still. The unwavering gaze of his green eyes scrutinized my every word.

"You thought some thug was gonna jump me and steal my cash. When you finally did let me out on my own, you saw that I could handle myself in in a fight. I wasn't going to bleed out on the end of some other guy's blade." My eyes looked to Mark for confirmation I was striking the right nerves. Mark always knew how to handle Luke better than I did. He nodded and I continued, "I can handle my magic too. What happened two days ago was an exception. Anton and I being so low on powers was a fluke due to a one-time event, like getting in a fight after getting drugged up for an operation; it doesn't happen." I was looking at Luke while I spoke, but when I finished, my gaze darted back toward Mark for more help. He gestured with his hand as if to say, "Keep going." Luke was listening but he didn't look convinced. What else can I tell him?

"Prove it to us," Mark suggested. "Today, you can take us on a mission with you. Show us you can take care of yourself."

Today? Mark knew that giving Luke time to consider would not work to my advantage. We can't. Anton and I still haven't recovered our powers, I told Mark telepathically. Our last mission had drained every operative in 1981. Two days ago, I couldn't even conjure a shield. Mark didn't seem phased. He just nodded as if to say, 'I know, but let's do it anyway'.

"Yes, let's go," I said, reluctantly. "I'll call Anton and the station and see what missions are available."

Luke still didn't respond. His gaze was calculating, scanning me as though I had some mystery to reveal. "Luke, I'm fine. People like me...I mean, people with powers, don't go to regular docs because they never diagnose us right." I looked at Mark for more help, but he just folded his arms and leaned farther back. "The doctor thought I suffered from exhaustion, but she was wrong," I continued. "I was just low on power, that's all." Come on Mark, give me something, my eyes beseeched. He gave me a wink and painted a smug grin on his face. Not the help I'd been hoping for.

 "Alright," Luke said at last but his eyes were still working some invisible equation in his mind. "But not today." My tense shoulders dropped as relief washed over me.

Thank you, Mark. My goofy brother had been right all along. Luke would have never let me out of the house the day after I broke out of the hospital. But if I hadn't been eager to go today, Luke would have said next week. By then, he would have made up his mind.

"Mark, you don't have to work tomorrow right?" Luke asked. Mark looked at me and I nodded. It wasn't nearly as much time as I wanted, but I couldn't take the risk that Luke would change his mind. Anton and I would not be fully recovered, but we would have more magic than we did now. "Yeah, I'm free," Mark said.

"Okay," Luke agreed. "I'd planned to take the day off anyways to stay home with Liz."

 "You won't be sorry," I promised as I got to my feet. It occurred to me that I shouldn't stick around in that kitchen one second longer in case Luke had a change of heart.