The Man in the Box by Christina G. Gaudet

Author:Christina G. Gaudet
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781542318358
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2017-01-03T06:00:00+00:00

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Chapter Fourteen

A dark anger I’m usually able to keep deep within myself threatens to rise inside me. I’m forced to shove it down before I attempt to speak.

“You think I did this to her? Do I look like I’ve taken her magic?”

Ma studies me for a minute before her fear disappears and her normal stern look returns.

“I suppose not, but it doesn’t mean you weren’t somehow involved.”

“Oh, trust me, he was involved,” Cindy-Sin mutters.

“I didn’t do this.” The darkness keeps pushing in an attempt to overwhelm me as I’m forced to defend myself.

“You didn’t stop it,” she snaps back.

“Neither did you.”

“You could have stopped her from opening the bag.” She shoves a finger into my shoulder and I have to fight myself not to grab her hand and force it into a painful position.

“Right, I was in a great position to reach out and take it from her, wasn’t I?” The anger I’d developed during my time at the University is becoming nearly impossible to control. “What did you expect me to do? Throw my sword at her?”

Rose gives a little gasp at the idea. She’s well aware of the abilities of my weapon, though not aware of the situation we’re shouting about.

“You could have done something,” Sin says.

I’m done taking all of the blame “This isn’t my fault.”

“Oh, so what? It’s mine?” She’s shocked by the suggestion.

I don’t say anything, but she must know what I think from my expression.

“Oh please,” she laughs without humor. “How is this possibly my fault?”

It’s too easy to allow some of my normally locked cruelness out. “Her magic shouldn’t have been hidden from her. If she had known how to use it properly...”

“Then she’d still be like this. Though, it probably would have happened a whole lot sooner.” She’s no more willing to take the blame than I am. This argument isn’t going to come to a pleasant end.

“Enough,” Ma says in a low dangerous voice. “You two are bickering loudly enough I wouldn’t be surprised if the entire village can hear you, not to mention the wizard searching the area.”

“Sorry,” I mutter, though I continue to eye Sin, ready to pick up the argument if she persists.

She doesn’t, though she doesn’t apologize either. Her mouth clamps shut and her lips curl into a scowl.

“Your father will be home for lunch soon,” Ma announces when she’s sure we’re done, at least for now. “You’ll explain exactly what happened when he gets here. Until then, get yourselves cleaned up. You both look like you’ve been in a battle.” She dusts herself off as though she’s ridding herself of argument and turns her smile on. “Rose, dear, would you like to stay for lunch as well? Or will your Ma be worried about you?”

I don’t wait to hear what her answer is. Instead I shove my way out of the tiny room and into the much larger common area. It’s only when I’m in the middle of the space I feel like I can breathe.

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