The Apprentice's Apprentice

Part 45

Her shields warm around her and with no trace of the cold magic that had imprisoned her, Cora continued to hold Philippe's gaze for a moment. Then she went along with her first impulse. She shot her hands out and grabbed Philippe's shoulders watching as his eyes went wide. She paid no attention to that as she pulled his body down even as her leg was rushing up. The combined force of her anger, kick, and pulling his body into it caused a devastating blow to his crotch. He went white.

Cora felt fierce satisfaction as he dropped to the ground, gasping for air and twitching. She didn't give him the chance to get up, already pulling her power out and shaping it into the same shield she'd used on the rogue. She hadn't had a chance to tell him about this one before this had all blown up so he shouldn't have had time to come up with any kind of counter.

As she concentrated on making the inside the smoothest, most reflective mirror-like substance she could, Cora heard footsteps shush through the grass ahead of her. She ignored it for the moment, far more concerned with making Philippe's temporary prison as perfect as possible.

Only when she felt it was as good as it was going to get did she anchor it around Philippe's prone body, giving him only enough room to stand up, just in case he tried anything. Then she looked up.

Warren didn't look very good. One arm was still wrapped around his chest, she could see a few cuts on his arms, and he appeared to have a split lip as well. Still, Cora was relieved almost to tears to just be seeing him on his feet. But she was out of tears at the moment so she settled for a shaky smile. "Thanks," she whispered.

He nodded. "Sorry," he said, his voice wheezing slightly as he spoke. "We should have taken that spell off as soon as we saw it. He'd corrupted it to give himself an in to you as long as it was on you. That's how he got past your shields."

She shrugged but frowned. "Are you alright? You don't sound good."

His smile was faint. "I don't recommend getting thrown into a tree. I think I'm going to sit down for a bit and spell Selena. You going to be able to keep him in there until help gets here?"

Cora's eyes slid to Philippe, who was just now struggling into a sitting position, and nodded sharply. "That shouldn't be a problem," she hissed.

Warren nodded himself before slowly sinking to the grass. Cora's attention was on Philippe, who was staring at her. "Why, chérie? Why can't you understand that we belong together?"

His words ignited the fear inside of her until it burned out, leaving only anger, disgust, and pain to storm inside of her. "Belong together? Belong together? Nothing's further from the truth you sick fuck! You were going to kidnap me, drag me across the country and keep me a prisoner while you tried to brainwash me! How the hell is that a relationship? How the hell is that belonging together?"

"You don't understand," he cried.

"I understand that you're messed up," Cora snapped back. "I understand that what I saw as friendship you saw as some twisted relationship that has nothing to do with any kind of natural emotions. I understand that all those years I spent playing with you, seeing you as my big brother and hero were years I should have spent hiding! I can only thank god that your parents noticed what a freak you are and moved you away, even if they couldn't stop you."

"No, no, ma chérie. They were working against us, you're still confused-"

"I'm not confused!" Cora screamed. "And I'm not your chérie! If I never have to see you again after this I'll be happy. I'm going to be having nightmares about this and you for years, I'm sure. I can only hope whatever Selena and the other mages do to you is painful enough to make you regret every coming near me."

Philippe shook his head but remained silent, his whole face twisted up. Cora didn't care. After everything he'd done to her, to Warren, to other people, he deserved every moment of pain. Her hands were balled into white-knuckled fists that had her arms trembling. "I hope you remember for the rest of your life that I hate you. I hate you in a way I've never hated someone before. I thought I hated that bitch Heather, but no, you proved me wrong. I just don't like her. You, I hate."

"There is a very thin line between love and hate. Your confusion has caused you to cross over," Philippe said, his voice quiet.

Cora's response was anything but. "I don't love you! I never did! I liked you as a friend and as a brother when we are kids but you've completely ruined that, destroyed it through your fucked up delusions and obsession. Now all I feel for you is disgust, hate, and anger. I didn't even know I could get this angry. If I didn't know better, if I didn't still have some sanity left, I'd kill you."

"And I'd help you," Warren wheezed. "But since help's on the way, and they frown on killing defenseless people, we'd both end up as rogues."

"Which is why we'll let them deal with him," she said, jerking her chin in Philippe's direction. "How long until they get here?"

Warren smiled. "Not long. Master was about to explode over the spell about what he's done. She'll want to get her hands on him as soon as she can."

"Good," Cora said, eyes going back to Philippe in case he tried anything. "The sooner this is all over, the better."