Free Mine to Fear by Janeal Falor

as I come to the last hall. I peek
around the corner and dart back. There are two warlocks standing
outside Annabelle's room.
    Double foiled.
    Can I take these two down myself? And what
if there are more inside? They could hear if I'm not careful. It's
what I get for spending too much time spelling my nails. Do I try
it or not? Maybe it's too late. If I get captured with them, who
will know to bring help? There's nothing I can do for them now. Not
without endangering myself. I take a step toward the stairs, but
immediately pull back and blast a sleep spell, channeling all of my
energy and focusing on it just the way Cynthia would.
    They fall to the ground, out cold. Today is
not the day to be a wuss. At least, so far. There could be more
problems along the way. Besides, I can't bring help. I am the
help.
    I tiptoe down the hall as quickly as I can.
The guards are perfectly still on the ground other than their
breathing. Good. I'm not Cynthia though, so who knows how long
they'll be out.
    It's time to face whatever's in there. After
several deep breaths, I open the door and stride in, closing it
behind me like I'm supposed to be there. Not that guards would
believe a woman was sent to do anything important, but if I at
least pretend, maybe I could be another prisoner?
    As I take in the room, there's good news and
bad. No guard inside. Unfortunately, Jack is. He's sitting next to
Annabelle and Tawny as they all hold teacups, giving me a funny
look.
    Is he there for the Grand Chancellor, or
does he have some other purpose? There's no time to find out. I
raise my hands toward him.
    “ Waverly!” Annabelle shouts. “What are
you doing?”
    Too late. Jack is on his guard now, his tea
splashed all over the floor. His hands are up, ready to cast a
spell against me.
    “ Annabelle,” I say, trying to keep my
voice calm. “We need to go. Now.”
    “ What is going on here?” she asks.
“Both of you stop threatening the other this instant.”
    I don't take my eyes from Jack, and there's
not time to answer Annabelle. “Are you here because of the Grand
Chancellor?”
    “ What are you going on about?” The
confusion on his face looks real, but he could be a very good
actor.
    “ The Grand Chancellor?” Annabelle
asks.
    “ We don't have time for this,” I say.
“Zade and Daniel have been arrested and sentenced to death. The
council has been disbanded. There were guards outside your door,
and I don't know how long we have until more come.”
    “ Jack, check the hall.” Annabelle's
command surprises me.
    I keep my hands raised at him as he
moves toward me, but let him pass, taking the opportunity to get
closer to Annabelle and Tawny, who is remaining sensibly quiet.
Though insensibly hasn't tried to help me threaten Jack
y et.
    Jack turns his back to me, and
I almost hex him, but
Annabelle knocks my hands to the side. I glare at her. “I'm trying
to keep you safe.”
    “ So is he.”
    “ Two, of them,” Jack says. “I gave
them an extra sleep spell, but there's no telling how long it will
last.”
    Annabelle moves without hesitation, but
instead of toward the hall like I expect, to a wardrobe.
    “ We don't have time to grab anything.”
Even the bags I so carefully packed for Tawny and me are still on
the floor of our room. Drat my not grabbing them.
    She pulls open the wardrobe and slips the
back panel off to reveal a hidden path. “There's already some packs
ready.”
    They already have a plan in place for
something such as this? I should have known. “What about him?” I
motion to Jack.
    “ I'm coming with you.”
    “ I think not.”
    “ He's coming,” Annabelle says. “Don't
you dare hex him.”
    Why is this woman so attached to him? He's
rude. “He'll turn us in.”
    There's a shuffling out in the hall. Not
close, but not far enough away either.
    “ There's no time to argue. Everyone
get in, and I'll close it behind us.” Annabelle scampers inside,
waiting just inside the passage.
    She can't really be