Misplaced Magic (Book 8)

Chapter 12

"You know, life fractures us all into little pieces. It harms us, but it's how we glue those fractures back together that make us stronger." ― Carrie Jones

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The first thing Amy felt was pain. She opened her eyes and saw debris from the explosion all around her. There was a large panel of wood trapping one of her legs. She sat up slowly and felt a pain in her head. Her fingers touched her scalp and brought away blood. She took a deep breath and looked down at the panel. She lent forwards and pulled on it until it was off of her ankle. She let out a painful breath as her ankle was freed. 'Shit.' She winced, looking at her ankle. It was black and blue and swollen. As she dropped the panel to the side she saw a hand. She began to crawl towards it and moved another plank of wood and other debris from the body. 'Katherine!' She cried. 'Kath wake up!' Katherine was lying motionless. It seemed her barrier had no effect on the power and she was struck on the head. Almost her entire face was covered in blood. Amy felt for a pulse, which she found, and let out a sigh of relief before trying to use her powers. It worked but it was a slow process due to Amy's weakened state. After a nerve-wracking five minutes Katherine's eyes fluttered open.

'Aimes?' She said, pushing herself up.

'Hey, you're okay now.' Amy smiled.

'But you're not.' Katherine said, looking her over. Katherine thought for a moment before rummaging around in her pocket. Once again, she pulled out broken vials. 'Damn it!' She said, frustrated as she launched the broken glass across the room.

'Kath it's fine. We just need to find the others.'

'They were right here when the explosion happened.' Katherine recalled, looking around.

'Which means they're under there.' Amy noticed the many planks of wood and other household items strewn around the room. There was a small fire in one corner and smoke coming from somewhere at the back of the room.

'Can you stand?' Katherine looked to her.

'If you help me, yeah I can.' Amy assured her. 'It took me a while to heal you Kath, if they're all as hurt as you were, I don't.....'

'It's okay.' Katherine said. 'We'll find them, and make a decision on who you should heal first.'

'If they're alive.' Amy said sadly.

'They're alive.' Katherine said firmly.

'I hope you're right.' Amy held out her hand. 'Get me up.' She said. Katherine pulled her up gently and put her arm around her waist for support. 'Thanks.' Another loud crash made them jump. They turned to see Dani moving the remnants of a chest of drawers out of her way.

'Oh thank God.' Dani bent over and let out a breath.

'Dani, are you okay?' Katherine asked as their youngest sister came over to them. She was limping slightly and there was blood running down one of her arms all the way from her shoulder, but at least she was conscious.

'Just peachy, you?' She asked.

'Amy healed me but all of my potions were destroyed.' Katherine said. Dani fumbled around in her own pockets and found all of her vials destroyed as well. She held them up and showed them to her sisters.

'Sorry.' She said, letting the pieces fall to the floor.

'It's okay.' Amy said.

'Hey!' They heard a muffled voice. They looked to each other. 'Hey! Anyone!'

'That's Lauren.' Dani said as she began frantically searching. She was aimlessly throwing floorboards aside when Katherine stopped her.

'Dani hang on.' Katherine made her stop. 'Lauren, call out again.' She shouted.

'I'm here!' Lauren called. Katherine turned her head to the left. 

'Over there.' They moved closer to the stairs and saw a large wardrobe that crashed down from one of the bedrooms. Dani moved around it and saw more debris, including planks and a mattress.

'Shit.' Dani said. She tried to move the mattress but her arm protested. 'Ouch!' She complained as Katherine set Amy down and came over.

'Dani use your other arm.' She said. Dani complied and put her right hand on one corner of the mattress. Katherine took another corner and they lifted. They saw Lauren, lying under the mattress with one of her arms trapped under the wardrobe.

'Oh God.' Katherine knelt down and took a closer look.

'It's not.... that bad.' Lauren said, swallowing and closing her eyes.

'Of course it's not.' Katherine said. Lauren's arm was turning blue at the bicep. The wardrobe hadn't crushed it, but it had been trapped for a while. 'Amy.' She looked up and saw Amy start to hobble over.

'The blood isn't flowing to her arm properly.' Amy said, looking over the injury.

'Can you fix it?' Dani asked.

'Yeah but we need to get this off first.' She motioned to the wardrobe.

'Dani can you use your power?' Katherine asked.

'Crap, why didn't I think of that in the first place!' She scolded herself.

'It's fine Dan, just get that thing off of her.' Katherine stood and took a few steps back. Dani planted her feet in the ground and focused. She raised her good arm and they watched as the wardrobe began to levitate. Lauren let out a painful scream when the pressure started to return to her arm. With one final push of energy, Dani sent the wardrobe flying. It crashed into pieces as it hit the fire place, one of the only solid structures left standing.

'Did you need to make more mess?' Katherine said, smiling a little.

'Sorry.' Dani shrugged. Amy was kneeling by Lauren, who had almost passed out from the pain, and began healing her arm. After a wile, her colour got better and her arm returned to it's normal state. Lauren opened her eyes and looked up at them.

'The house blew up.' She said.

'It did.' Amy confirmed.

'You're hurt.' Lauren noted as she sat up.

'I'm okay for now.' Amy assured her.

'We still have two sisters to find.' Dani reminded them.

'Lisa and Chris were closest to the stairs.' Katherine said. 'Which used to be over there.' She pointed to a gaping hole in the side of the house.

'That's not good.' Dani commented.

'They have to be around here somewhere.' Lauren said. 'Hang on.' She closed her eyes and focused, trying to get a lock on them. She opened her eyes a moment later.

'Anything?' Amy asked.

'No.' Lauren confirmed.

'No as in, they're dead?' Dani asked.

'No. No as in, I can't sense them at all.' Lauren said.

'What do you mean?' Amy asked.

'Remember when Chris and Kath were in Natalie's van? Like that.' She told them.

'Like there's magical interference?' Katherine asked.

'Exactly.' Lauren confirmed.

'From what? And where are they?' Dani asked.

'What about Jonathan?' Amy added. 'That was his power so where did he go?' Sirens began to sound in the distance.

'We need to get out of here.' Katherine said, looking at where the sirens were coming from.

'What about Lisa and Chris!' Lauren protested.

'You said it yourself, they're not here.' Katherine said. 'Let's go home, make healing potions for Amy and Dani and then figure it out.'

'Yeah, okay.' Lauren sighed as Dani pulled her up. They left the ruins of the old house and made their way back to their car.