Page 56 of Fatality on the Field

The dragon laughs, shaking his head. “Also, breaking a mirror is seven years of bad luck. Seven classical planets. Ruled by Saturn. That’s a big number for supes, too, Morgana.”

“Definitely,” Iggy says. “But we’ve also seen two fives, which are the points on a pentagram and prime. It’s… interesting, but I don’t know yet if it’s notable. It could just be convergence.”

Wolfie gives him a serious look. “I don’t know, Professor. After all the things we’ve had goin’ since Jolene came home to the Hollow, I just can’t ignore patterns or odd things or even small changes. It feels like a whole damn orbit of trouble follows her like a pig to shit. You guys havin’ that issue? Your friends, too? If so, that’s a larger pattern when put together.”

“Haggerty is making you paranoid,” Prez says with a rueful look. “Don’t let Lucy convince you to watch behind bushes every second. I doubt you have as much bullshit in the city as we do down there.”

Kaspar smirks. “This is our third attack, of which two had dead bodies, on campus since school started. Are you sure about that, Doc?”

“Merciful Minerva.” Presley adjusts his glasses and frowns. “And the other people you’ve met? Same thing?”

Sighing, I consider how I’m going to say this without betraying anyone. “I believe the two families we’ve run into are having very similar experiences, but in other realms and cities. And we… may know some things you don’t. But I think that may be a longer conversation that can be had when everyone is present. Can I go see the students now?”

Zuszanna mutters, “Thank goodness. I was beginning to age as I waited.”

Everyone chuckles as the docs step aside and make room for us to go see the patients.

This may be the only time I get to see living results of the villain attacks and I’m going to make the most of it.

thirty-four

LIAM

When my phone buzzes on the crowded table, I just know it’s Kaspar. He’s one of the few people to call rather than text in this age, and he definitely is not in a place where he wants a written record on some server. I pause, index finger marking my place in the open tome—a third-edition compendium on turn-of-the-century Fae flora—and tap the screen to answer.

“You have news?” I say as I click the speakerphone button for everyone to hear.

He skips pleasantries as always; it’s the dragon in him. “The two doctors Thorne sent arrived a bit ago. One Presley Hamilton, caladrius for Whistler’s Hollow, and his partner, Wolfgang Fletcher, who is a vet and a Dark Fae. Do you know of that town, Li?”

Only by reputation, is the answer, as people say it’s a tiny, cultish hybrid enclave with a reputation for being watched by powerful people.

Kas continues before I can tell him that, obviously wanting to relay everything as quickly as possible. “They somehow stabilized the three kids, but fuck if I know how except they tapped a goddamned ley line. The professor and his colleague are handling the fall out health-wise with those two newcomers. Morgana’s running point with the rest of it, but it’s a bit of a mess.”

“Oh thank goddess!” Kimiko says breathlessly and I can’t help but smile. One hand comes up to the bridge of her nose while her other hand goes limp, letting her legal pad fall flat on the table. The tension in her posture dissolves, as relief clearly floods her frame.

Lucas, who has spent the last half hour hunched over a notepad with his tongue stuck out as he read a thick book on poisons, whoops and slams both palms on the table. His chair teeters back, and for a second I think he’ll hit the floor, but his shifter reflexes bring him down safely. “Hot damn, that lawyer is good, Li. He found people to save those kids!”

“That’s—” I start, then realize Kaspar’s not done spinning his tale.

“We’ve got good data from the quarantine team for the professors to use to develop something to fight this without that kind of dangerous, last-ditch effort. The doctors want to talk with whoever handled the initial containment, so they can rule out cross-exposure. I’m staying with the kids after this call so they aren’t alone, but there’s a lot of shit to take care of. If possible, Nakamura should prepare a sample for the docs here to inspect at some point.”

“We’re coming to help,” I say, then look at the room to make sure nobody is already out the door. To my right, Slade is silent, his hands steepled under his chin and eyes bright. Kimiko’s breathing again, and Lucas is flexing his hand open and closed, like he’s working out the aftermath of a punch. No one argues, so I turn back to the phone. “Once we clean up here, we'll be there. Can you send a text if anything changes, or⁠—”

“I’m not leaving the room since Morgana has to deal with the med center admin. Just get here, and come in a back entrance so you’re not seen by any press that could gather in front. The hospital will be overwhelmed with them and Council-types soon enough. Your father will not enjoy seeing your face in that quagmire.”

Of course it is—tapping a ley line probably leveled an entire floor.

“Got it. Keep your head down and help Morgana as much as you can. See you soon.” I end the call and snap my heavy tome closed, careful not to take a chunk out of my finger. I look up and realize everyone else is staring at me like I’m about to solve the rest of their lives. That’s disconcerting, but I’m used to it at home, so I can work with this.

“The students will make it because Thorne’s doctors are… unconventional, but effective. Kimiko, will you need to stop by the greenhouse for a sample or do you have one you shouldn’t have taken from earlier?”

Blinking, she looks surprised at my guess and then pulls a tissue from her sleeve and dabs her forehead, the professional mask sliding back into place with the click of a switch. “I have one. It’s contained in a magical cage box in my bag. I knew they’d ask for it eventually and was unwilling to risk anyone else’s life to obtain it if this proved fatal.” She says this like it’s no big deal, but my family members all look properly awed.

She took it knowing if it was fatal, she might die and doing so would save another supe the same fate; it’s brave and stupid at the same time.

Lucas grins and stands so fast the table shakes. “This is awesome, Li! We get to meet dudes who definitely just made history or something.” He gives my shoulder an affectionate bump as he walks over, his face full of young enthusiasm. “Nana’s gonna be so jelly when I can finally tell her about it. She missed some big moment in history ‘cuz she was leading the bears in… things… and regrets it. I’ve always been taught not to let shit pass me by like that. So let’s go, man; I want to see these docs before they make headlines.”

Blinking like someone surfacing from a deep pool, Slade says, “What do we know about Hamilton and Fletcher, besides their resume? I’m never fond of going into things blind and we’ve been doing it quite a lot lately. It’s making me edgy.”