Chapter Thirty-Five

148 14 5
                                    

"It has now been twenty minutes, Zach," I said as I entered the library, each hand holding a steaming mug with a tea bag string hanging over the side. "You said ten."

"I'm sorry." Zach reached up to take the tea I held out to him, barely glancing up to avoid a spill before returning his attention back to the computer.

"Did you find something new?"

"No. Just got distracted reading the testing data. Or the profiles on those who were tested. I don't believe we have missed anyone."

"That's good, right?"

"Sure. So long as the list was what was used as a selection pool. There are always others in the community magic can be stolen from."

"Okay, but they wouldn't be as gifted."

"Not necessarily. This list is only on those who were tested."

"But Jacob is there. That means it's happened for a while."

"You aren't on it."

"Mom wouldn't have allowed that. Obviously."

"Islene and Luna and Maible aren't."

"Calin?"

"Not that I can see."

I brought my mug to my lips and blew on the liquid, then took a sip. As I lowered my drink, I said, "So you managed to match them up?"

"Yes."

"How many do you still need to obtain objects from?"

"None." Zach shifted his chair back a couple inches and bent. As he straightened, he lifted a duffel bag and set it on the tabletop beside the computer.

My eyes strayed to the computer bag where I'd left it with my mother's Book of Shadows and computer bag to Zach's bag. "You got one from each person who went missing."

"Even Jacob's," Zach nodded.

"Maybe we save that for last." I looked away and took another sip of my tea, not wanting to show my fear. Not of seeking who was responsible. No, I was terrified that touching something that would trigger a vision of my mom, and it would be heartbreaking to glimpse what she lost even though it lead to the possibility of my existence. The only thing that countered how much I didn't want to was the overwhelming desire to catch who had ruined my mother's happiness with Jacob.

"It will likely have the strongest connection," Zach said. "Jacob's things were in the Kingdom, so they have been the least contaminated by others—even items no one touches pick up vibes from the objects around it. Plus, as the first, the person who killed him was less experienced and likely didn't know how to conceal their identity. Their stamp and the amount of magic of their own would never be stronger."

"Didn't my grandparents and mom already try?"

"Sure. With other objects. Your mom maybe could have had the strength, but she was too grief-stricken. Your grandparents didn't have enough power to sense someone that strongly unless they had an attachment to them," Zach said and shrugged. "They were just getting to know Jacob when he died and sadness also skewed their abilities. That's part of why Vavila went to check out those they suspected. None of them had your abilities. Your mom never tried while channeling you, afraid of the sadness waiting with those answers."

"Your reasons are probably valid, but I'll still start with the others." I reached for the bag, then paused. "Can you take Jacob's item out?"

"Nora—"

"It's more prudent to sense the others first. At least if I can connect to their lost abilities, I can try syphon them from the thief so they can be restored. With Jacob, I have nowhere to store the magic. Unless you think we should wait until I figure out where they should be kept?"

Empowered (Unbound, Book 6)Where stories live. Discover now