Free Mathieu by Irene Ferris

of them to the other. He then did something that he would have never considered in any other situation.
    It was a small pulse of power, barely noticeable. Hopefully. If there was a Demonic presence in the area, it might be picked up if something was looking at the right time in that direction. But it was worth the risk in his eyes.
    Mathieu examined the machine inside and out with that small pulse. There were no traps, no circles, no containment. Nothing that could harm him, in any case. The doors would open and allow him to escape if needed.
    Only then did he climb into the back and sit in the farthest possible corner from his new companions
    Flight was a sickening sensation, unnatural to say the least. The clearing shrunk behind them and the hills below hurtled towards them with frightening speed. Mathieu had traveled in such ways before, but always with Gadreel and always hidden within himself.
    It had been so much less terrifying when he’d been trapped in that small, safe place within with only a small window on the world.
    They landed at a small airstrip not a moment too soon, at least for Mathieu’s taste. Jenn had enjoyed every moment, looking out the window and pointing out every vista while both Mathieu and Marcus had nodded in surprisingly similar detached acknowledgement.
    A large dark vehicle was waiting for them at the airstrip, as well as a familiar face.
    “Eddie Chan. I don’t know if you remember him.” Marcus introduced the young man with golden skin and almond eyes when they’d gotten out of the helicopter and away from the swirling blades.
    “I remember you.” Mathieu leaned forward in a slight bow. “Well met, Eddie Chan. Please forgive me for hurting you before. It was not my intention.”
    Eddie looked as surprised as Marcus looked indignant at the greeting. “I understand,” Eddie said. “Things were all FUBARed that day. We’re lucky we’re all still alive after that mess.”
    “FUBARed?” Mathieu rolled the word around and then raised his eyebrows with a question.
    “Oh.” Eddie smiled and giggled. “Messed up beyond all recognition. But worse.” He smiled and giggled again. “Guess you wouldn’t know that one, would you?” Eddie’s smile was as bright as his laughter and Mathieu could only smile back.
    “No, I wouldn’t.” Mathieu looked towards the vehicle and then longingly back over his shoulder at the mountains. His peak was obscured by clouds. With a sidelong look at Jenn, he then laid his hands on the side of the SUV and once again released a small pulse of power. Hidden symbols and words flared to life on the side of the vehicle, reflecting the power back long enough to be read.
    “You placed a charm on this vehicle.” He said it calmly even as his heart beat a little faster.
    Eddie patted the side of the vehicle with visible pride. “Yeah. I put a concealment on it so that we could travel without being noticed. I worked on it all night.”
    Mathieu read the symbols and followed the pattern of the spell back to its inception. There was nothing hidden, nothing that was a threat—at least nothing that he could detect. “I can see that. It is well wrought.” The compliment was genuine, even if it worried him that their spellcraft had improved from the last time he’d encountered it.
    With a shake of his head, Marcus opened the back door and motioned to Jenn, who stood patiently on the tarmac but silently radiated pain all the same. “Get off your feet, sweetheart. I know you’re hurting.”
    Jenn nodded at the seats in the back. “Mathieu first. I can’t possibly get back there with my feet like this and he’ll need to sit by himself if I’m judging correctly.” Eddie reached around cautiously and pulled a lever that tilted the middle seat forward.
    Mathieu studied the seat. It was a small space. There was no easy way out. He could blow out the windows and escape if need be, but that would require him to use power. That power could attract unwanted