Avilien

Evil wears green

Fire engines, police cars, and ambulances hurried across Islington to the burning high school as smoke funnelled into the once-clear sky. Green flames spread like a disease and consumed most of the roof. The colour of the flames frightened and terrified the locals, who could see the burning building from all the way up in the hills. Luke and Brit had to make a quick getaway through the school gates as four police cars turned up at the school, all skidding to a halt within the bus zones.

Officers bolted out of their cars leaving the doors wide open as they hurried down the path towards the main entrance. Brit dragged Luke towards the brick wall surrounding the school, and held his hand to make it look as if they were two students out on a date and by chance happened across the bizarre school fire. The officers didn't pay them the slightest bit of attention and kept their focus on the engulfing green flames, wondering what could cause a fire to change colour. Luke doubted it could even be put out by real water, as the entire second floor had become consumed in green. Cast by a level-seventeen snake, the firefighters would have a real problem on their hands.

"Brit, I had hoped that Nate wouldn't go through with this whole 'delete the town' thing. Seeing as he is, I need to protect and save my brother. Something is also bugging me about what Mock said in the lobby." Luke couldn't understand what Mr. Mock was going on about regarding his dad. Too much was going on, too much he had to deal with, and his head wasn't coping with it.

"We can put a stop to his plan before the attack begins. I know where Nate stays. He frequents the graveyard on the hill," said Brit as she let go of Luke's hand once they were out of sight of the emergency vehicles.

"I can't take the chance that we may or may not succeed. I am with you in helping you as much as I can. For now, as a bigger brother, I have to get Ethan out of this town." Luke watched Brit's face twitch as she began to use her brain for more than cloud drifting.

"Have you got somewhere we can take your brother? I may know of a safe place, but it is within this town. Nate wouldn't get in there, not with his army of bones, either, and he'd be a fool to try to attack it himself. Let's get your brother and take him there." Brit smiled at Luke. Luke had expected her to go crazy and feel betrayed.

"Listen, Brit. I've been told by Anna that Nagori and Cissy are no longer allowed to help us with Nate, so we are back to square one. Also, those strange GTs Mock wears...they are the same colour as the ones that bald man wears who is seeing my stepmother. I don't think it's a coincidence anymore. You may be dealing with more than just Nate, and somehow my dad is also involved in all of this—"

"Green GTs are government-standard augmented shades. They come with facial recognition and all sorts of features that would be illegal in a normal person's hands. My dad showed me them; my pink GTs had the same features, so I could tell when some mooch was trying to dupe me. From the sounds of it, you are right and that Nate is not alone, he's working with the government—meaning the Court of Bones is one of the secret government guilds and have guild mates in town. For whatever reason, Nate appears to be against them and he's not the type to call for aid." Brit stuffed her hands in her pockets as Luke sizzled with the metaphoric lightning bolt that jolted his system.

Brit must have known all along—ever since she had seen Mr. Mock with the green GTs—and she had done and said nothing. There was a limit to how carefree or dense a person could be.

"Why did you not say anything about Mock? You must have seen him wearing the green GTs, right?" Luke asked as he and Brit came upon the traffic lights towards the library.

"I thought he was nice. Not my fault he turned out to be a bad guy." Brit puffed up her cheeks and folded her arms. Luke shook his head; of course he would be a bad guy. A level-seventeen dark mage wearing green GTs was like a warning label the size of the town.