Out of Breath

Chapter 20

As we mosey into the parking lot, a blast of cold air hits me. There isn't cold air in Florida, especially not on a sunny day like today. I shiver. An ominous feeling precludes me. I look up as horror rocks through me.

It's the dark Skitler!

I shield Raven. "Ma," I squeak out in fear.

She looks up and sees him. She stands in front of me, sheltering both of us from the Skitler.

"Good try," he says as he seemingly glides to us. "I know he is here."

"Do you have your stone?" I whisper to Raven. He shakes his head, no.

What? Why didn't he grab it?

Oh no. Not good. Klabin can see Raven.

"Well, Mrs. Vandukel, how are you?" Klabin says, extending his hand out in an American greeting. I guess he doesn't know Ma changed her name to Mrs. Terry-wide-load.

Ma shakes and doesn't take his hand. Was he there the night Dad died? Maybe they have met before.

Somehow, I have to get us out of this. I stop breathing, and time stops.

"Doesn't work on me, boy," he says, towering over us.

The dark Skitler is not suspended in time. He is aware. I look around. The rest of the world has stopped, but not him! I don't want to be in an alternate timeline with just him.

"Don't you touch my brother," I warn. Time resumes.

"Ah, such misguided loyalty."

"Please don't hurt him," Ma bawls.

"If you are wise, you will not try to stop me," he says.

"Please. I beg you." At least she is sticking up for us, but this dark lord can annihilate her in a blink of an eye.

"Raven does not belong to you. He never did. He is mine. I made a trade with his father before he was even born. He was supposed to come with me when he was born. But your husband got in the way of that." The dark warlock says. Clouds of evil mist emanate off him and surround us. A whirlwind of darkness cuts out the light and chills the air.

"You can't have him," Ma cries, wrapping her whole body around Raven. I do, as well. We are all bawling.

Klabin raises his hands out, palms forward. A sphere of blue light radiates around him, swirling a pale and dark ribbon of magic, which unexpectedly shoots to Raven. The light engulfs Raven and pulls him out of our arms. We are utterly helpless. We grab for his legs, but we can't stop the force. I try to stop time a couple of times, but that does nothing to Klabin.

The light brings Raven right into Klabin's arms.

"Thank you," he says as he turns and glides away.

"Ma, you gotta stop him," I scream so loud it rips my throat raw. The Florida heat has returned, and it is brutal. I take a few hits of my inhaler.

In complete defeat, in pure helplessness, Ma drops to her knees.

You can't just quit when things get tough.

I have to do something. I refuse to just lay on the ground while that warlock takes my brother.

I pick up a long log and run after Klabin. My lungs scream at me, but I ignore them. Directly at his back, I swing the log, except it doesn't make contact. Klabin's light orb grabs the log out of my hands then sends it into to me.

The blunt force knocks me to my face. Pebbles dig into my already battered cheeks. Between him and Nutter, I will be disfigured for life. Nutter had given me two black eyes, a broken nose, and a swollen face. Who knows what this fall just did.