An Odd Sort of Magic

Chapter Twenty-One

"We have to keep going," Beta mouthed. Jayan just shook her head.

"If we keep going, there'll probably be no way back," she responded. Jayan hoped Beta could read lips. She must have been able to, because she shrugged and turned around. There was just one problem. They had no idea which way was back. They had shifted positions a few times, meaning they didn't know who had been in back.

"Not good," Beta mouthed.

"Let's just try going that way, Jayan gestured down one end. She started off, Beta in quick pursuit. The tunnel seemed just as long, and it didn't seem to be getting any lighter. Then, by some miracle, the hallway brightened just a little bit. Jayan tried her voice, "I think we're going the right way." Her voice rang out in the condensed space. They walked farther, until they no longer needed Jayan's light.

And then it opened up into a room. Not a room with a door, just a room. "I don't think this is the way we came," Beta said.

"I think you're right," Jayan agreed, "that section must have been to deter anyone from coming down here." They stepped into the room. The first thing they noticed was the power generator.

"That's what we're looking for," Beta said as they stared up at the column of swirling purple, blue, and white energy.

The second thing they noticed was the fact that all of their other team members were in the room, tied up. Jasmine included. Rachel stood, as clam as ever, in front of them, "all roads lead to the same place. Ever heard that expression?"

"As a matter of fact, I have," Beta narrowed her eyes, "and from the look of it, you're going to learn a new expression. It's called, no pain, no gain." And with that, Beta threw a punch at Rachel.

Rachel sidestepped it easy, "I'm not as weak as Jasmine. I doubt you could scratch me." This really ticked Beta off, and she kicked. Rachel grabbed her foot, and used one of her own to slide Beta's foot out from under her. Beta fell, landing hard on the ground. Rachel pulled out a new length of rope, and secured Beta to the wall. Then she turned to Jayan, "you turn."

"Quick question?" Jayan asked.

"Go ahead," Rachel rolled her eyes.

"Um, I can't help but be curious," Jayan muttered, "any particular reason for tying us all up? Or is this just a spur of the moment, temporary insanity thing?"

"This wasn't any of your business," Rachel explained, advancing on Jayan, "this was for the magic world to deal with. You had no right to get involved."

"But we're trying to help," Jayan protested, dodging Rachel's first blow, "why would you want us to stop?"

"Because," Rachel grunted, blocking a punch from Jayan, "Ms. Shelling got one thing right. You people are mistakes. You don't belong with us. You don't belong anywhere."

"Oh, I would disagree," Jayan said calmly, avoiding a kick and throwing one of her own, "I think we belong in both places. And I'll bet you don't even know that some of us aren't misfit magic casters."

"Really now?" Rachel stopped a punch by wrapping her hand around Jayan's fist, "like who?"

Jayan grinned, "like me." She let her powers flow over Rachel, shocking her. Rachel couldn't drop her hand, and it was at least thirty seconds before Jayan let go. Rachel crumpled.

Jayan walked over to the power generator. Experimentally, she gave it a little zap. Her powers did nothing. The generator just absorbed them. She nodded, "okay, seems pretty straight forward."

Jayan turned and untied Drew. He blinked, looking around, "huh? What happened?"

"Rachel turned out to be just as bad as we should have expected," Jayan explained, "she wanted to do it all herself, with out any help. But now, I need your powers."

"Why?" Drew asked, confused.

Jayan waved a hand at the power generator, "it just absorbs my powers. I figure that would be consistent with everyone. Except maybe you."

"Oh," Drew caught on, "because I block powers, you think I might be able to shut it down?"

"Bingo," Jayan said. Drew nodded, and stepped a little closer to the generator. The light dimmed considerably. "Keep going," Jayan murmured, and Drew took another step.

The closer he got, the more it dimmed, and the more the spiral stopped swirling. When he was about a foot from it, it stopped and dissipated completely. He didn't move, "there's a sort of high-tech mechanically thing in here."

Jayan stepped forward, "I see it. If I get close enough to destroy it, I won't have my powers. But maybe.." She trailed off, looking back at Beta. Sure enough, when she checked, Beta had her rock in her pocket. It wasn't that big, but it was probably good enough. Jayan hurried back over to the power generator, and smashed the device. There was a blast of white, one that blinded Jayan and blew her back.

But then it cleared up, and Jayan was standing on the sidewalk. Beta, Kiya, Jasmine, Vanessa, and Drew all stood near her. Rachel was still unconscious. The entire house was gone, and every student that had been in it stood on the empty lawn, most of them looking confused. Arianna made her way over to Jayan, and hugged her, "You did it!"

"That we did," Jayan grinned, "that we did."