Maddie didn't wait for another word from her father. She ran across the living room and attacked him with a hug, her arms wound around his neck."I was worried to death about you." She said, almost sobbing gratefully into his shoulder."It's fine. I'm fine." He said and pulled her away from him gently. "How was your party?"Maddie looked back at Ayesha, who gave her a look full of warning. "Uh, it was fine. Very boring, actually. I'm sorry I came this late.""I was worried something happened to you. I called you severally but you didn't pick up. I was about to come out to look for you after I cleaned up this mess." Maddie's hand went to the back pocket of her Jeans, where her new phone sat. "What mess?" She asked. The source of the smell seemed to be coming from the kitchen. Paul led her and Ayesha into the kitchen, which had been turned upside down. The large, almost unmovable kitchen table lay on its side. The chairs had been thrown around the room, and several plates and cups had

Maddie had packed her bags silently, not sparing her father another word or so much as a glance. She knew he could feel the obvious contempt from her, knew that he wanted to make it up to her in some way, but she didn't need his fake sympathy.She wanted to stay behind and fight her battle, not run away from it.For the rest of that day, she'd walked around the house in a silent bubble, totally ignoring her father. Over breakfast, he'd told her they'll start their journey to New Orleans in the evening. She'd stared at the piece of cold scrambled eggs before her, hating the sound of her father's voice as he'd said those words. She'd felt relieved when he finally finished his breakfast and left the kitchen.Ayesha had never come back with the Ravenwoods as she'd promised, and Maddie had felt a growing sense of betrayal fill her up. In the end she'd thrown her Celestial Blade against the opposite wall in anger, feeling a momentary satisfaction as the blade had buried itself in the wall.

Maddie slipped in and out of darkness as she was pulled up the stairs by frantic hands. She couldn't feel both legs anymore, and her breathing was growing slower by the second. She could feel her grip on consciousness slipping.She was going to die."Fucking fetch the Sword Sisters!" She heard a voice yell. It sounded like Jason, though she couldn't tell who was who anymore. She struggled to keep her eyes open. She knew if she finally closed it, there was no coming back. She would go forever, amd no Sword Sister would be able to bring her back.Behind her blurry vision, the starry night sky changed from bluish black to a pulsating, bright orange-red that reminded her of the fireplace in the Ravenwood's manor.She giggled like a deranged woman. "I'm in hell."There was more whispering, more indistinct voices, and then she was thrown rather unceremoniously on something soft and fluffy. Maddie giggled again and tried to turn to her side, but strong hands held her down."Are there clouds

"What the hell did they mean by that? My father cannot heal himself. He's going to die!" Maddie sobbed."I believe...the Sword Sisters know best." Jason said tentatively, then reached forward to pull Maddie closer. A soft gasp escaped her lips as her chest hit Jason's. The pull was unintentional, Maddie knew, but she felt a small satisfaction at seeing his eyes darken behind his dark lashes, at knowing that he'd felt what she'd felt."Pity I can't read your mind, but I can see enough from your eyes," Jason murmured, his breath warming her face."What can you see?" Maddie asked, her heart thundering with an emotion she couldn't name.He opened his mouth to say something, then seemed to caution himself. "Best leave your father to rest." He mumbled, but didn't move. His hand was splayed against her back, and she could feel the warmth of his skin through the fighting gear."Yes. We should...go—" Maddie whispered, eyelids fluttering as his scent hit her nostrils. Incense, she thought, the p

Maddie walked out of the drawing room silently, as the rest of the Caucus filed out. Her first instinct was to turn right and walk straight to the front door, open it and walk out as though nothing had happened. She wanted to leave her father behind and walk the streets of New York as though everything was fine with her world.She wasn't sure if what she felt was rage or sadness, or both. Everyone reminded her how powerful and special and unusual she was, and yet in situations like this, she felt ordinary. Usable.The Sword Sisters had decided her fate without even giving her a chance to decide it herself.She turned left morosely and continued walking down the halls of the manor, with no destination in mind. She hadn't wanted the Ravenwoods to kick her out of their house, and she'd gotten what she wanted. And yet, the look in Robert's eyes when he'd tolr her to stay away from his children was nothing short of murderous. He wanted her out of his house, and every minute she spent here m