Free The Awakening of Ren Crown by Anne Zoelle Page B

deleting things through “magic,” but that didn't work either. The piece seemed creation specific.
    But what had happened to the items removed by the tentacles?
    “Maybe I need to buy a magical eraser?”
    He shrugged, but nodded. “Could be.”
    I suggested lifting the drape and shoving everything behind it, but Will wasn't willing to chance opening them even a little. As I moved everything to the corners, he started fashioning weapons by taking broken table legs and making clubs. The sword I had drawn for him was tucked in his belt, close to his side. He kept touching it.
    Will picked up his beret, and dusted it off, looking it over carefully.
    I chewed on my pencil top. “What's with the beret?”
    He looked chagrined for a moment. “It was the only garment in the cloaking closet at the checkpoint.”
    I couldn't stop a smile. “Seriously?”
    “It took a lot of wheedling to obtain it, so I can't really complain. The ironic thing is that I had to argue for it legally . People think this layer of the world is generally magic free, but today just proves how many illegal items are here.” He shrugged. “As long as the hat is on me somewhere, it hides me from ordinary sight, and initially, that is what mattered in this foray.”
    He tucked the beret into his back pocket again and withdrew a black trivet from his jacket. It appeared identical to the one that Mr. Versetti had used. Will threw it on the ground and tossed a piece of wood at it. He looked frustrated when the wood bounced off.
    I shifted uncomfortably, feeling cold. “What is that?”
    “Portal pad. Probably better that it doesn't work in here. Should something go wrong, it's doubtful you could get me to a qualified mage in resurrection time.”
    “What is resurrection time?” The words were almost incomprehensible, I said them so quickly.
    “Ten minutes post death is allotted for resurrection. Not enough time for the soul to separate.” He looked considering. “Akin to someone being paddle-shocked on an operating room table here.”
    I leaned forward. “Allotted? But can a person be resurrected later?”
    “Necromancy is considered a black art.”
    That wasn't a no.
    “Ren?” My Mom's voice jolted me from the conversation.
    “Coming!” I checked the defense measures I had put in place for Will. They were solid. I hurried to the door, cracking it open. “Yes?”
    Mom tried to peer behind me. “Ice cream?” She held up the cup.
    “Great! Thanks!” I took it, shut the door, then hurried back to my desk.
    “Ren?” She said through the door.
    “I'm doing great, Mom!” I was doing pretty well, actually. I was going to get Will out of there, and he was going to take me to a necromancer.
    I set the ice cream to the side and focused on the drawing. “So, let's get you out of there.”
    “Great.” Will gathered up a few things around him and leaned forward. “I'm ready.”
    Ten minutes later as flowers kept blooming beneath his feet wherever he walked, he looked less enthused. “You have no idea what you are doing.”
    I chewed on my pencil top. “Nope. I'm going to make it so you can do magic. Maybe then you can get yourself out.”
    He perked up. “Great!”
    Twenty minutes later as cheerful pixies circled his head and lightning bolts alternately flashed from his new “orb,” he stared at me in a manner that said I was dead to him.
    “Does Mr. Verisetti's magic work like yours?” A shudder went through me, and it took me a moment to realize it was the first time I had said his name outside of school. I had always followed my urge to call him Mr. V when I left the school grounds. Come to think of it, I had never heard him called Verisetti outside of school...ever. That freaked me out a bit.
    “Raphael Verisetti is a mage, if that is what you mean. An extremely dangerous one. Smack on the top of the ten most wanted list. Speaking of which...why do you know him?”
    Will asked the question in concern, but his gaze wasn't judgmental.