The Apprentice's Apprentice

Part 44

Cora wanted to sob with relief when he pulled away a moment later. He looked at her face and gently tried to wipe away the tears still streaming from her eyes. "I'm sorry, chérie, I shouldn't have done that. It's too early and you're still so confused. I just...we've been apart for a long time and I've missed you so very much."

She looked away as much as she was able, moving her eyes so she was staring over his shoulder rather than at his face. She couldn't believe how stupid she'd been, how absolutely idiotic she was for not noticing anything sooner. Cora wished she could go back in time to smack past her upside the head for not listening to the warnings practically everyone had been giving her. Maybe then things wouldn't have gotten so bad.

Movement in her line of sight drew her attention. A shadow was moving slowly across the grass, hard to see against the greater darkness of the park. It took Cora a second to realize what she was looking at, and when she did, her eyes widened. Doubled-over and with one arm held tight against his chest, seeing Warren moving alone was enough to give her hope again.

He seemed to sense her gaze and looked over at her. He motioned carefully with his free hand, holding a finger to his lips and jerking his head in Philippe's direction. She didn't need to be told that. She knew how dangerous he was.

Out of the corner of her eyes she could see Philippe beginning to turn his head. Cora blanched, losing at the colour she'd regained at the sight of Warren. If Philippe saw him... Desperately, she made the weird scream-whimper sound that was all she could manage. It worked as she looked back at her. "What's the matter?"

Cora just stared at him. It wasn't like she could do much else given the spell. He sighed. "I'd like to take the spell off you, I really would, but I can't trust you not to do something dangerous. I wish we had the time to just talk this through, but it's only a matter of time before more mages are called in. I'll probably have to borrow us a car so that we can get away."

As she continued to just stare at him, hoping all of her disgust showed in her eyes, Philippe stroked her cheek again. "I know you're upset with me, but this really is for the best."

She didn't relax her eyes the slightest, especially because a new feeling had joined the magic around her. It felt kind of like bubbles. Like someone was continuously pouring a can of pop over her. It slid down along the cold bonds that were Philippe's magic and began enveloping them.

Philippe put both hands on either side of her head. Again his face loomed in her vision but this time he only laid his forehead against hers, his eyes shut. "You'll see in time. You'll understand why I had to do all of this. I promise you, I will do my best to make you happy, once we're settled and you understand things."

Cora could feel the bubbly power eating its way through the cold, the bonds shattering in several pieces. They felt like shards of glass as they slowly fell away, bit by bit. With his eyes shut, Cora prayed that Philippe didn't notice. And that he stayed that way a while longer, as gross as it felt to have his breath against her face.

The spell on Cora was coming off in flakes now and she did her best to remain still. Already she was fairly sure she'd be able to move one arm and her feet but didn't dare test it. Philippe pulled slowly away from her, his eyes on hers. Cora stared right back as she felt the last few pieces of the spell fall away.