Free February Thaw by Tanya Huff

saw what was really there."
    "Rule one."
    He nodded. "If that's your toaster."
    Another fast food meal and an evening spent wandering slowly through alleys and access roads back toward Bloor. By the time they reached her building, Isabel could hold a single string of light between her palms for almost fifteen seconds. It wasn't much, but for those fifteen seconds she knew what she was doing and she knew that was the feeling she had to capture and keep.
    She'd have been happier about it had a previous attempt not arced up and plunged three city blocks into temporary darkness.
    "No shadows tonight?" she asked as Fred dragged out his sleeping bag and unfolded it under the table.
    "Now they know how much power they need to use to take yours so they're building it. Tricky for them. If they wait too long, you'll know what you're doing. They'll be back sooner than later." Hanging his CATS jacket neatly over the back of a chair, Fred smiled up at her. "But that's why I'm here."
    Isabel was surprised to find that comforting. It was the only thing that had surprised her in days.
    "One of the reasons I'm here," Fred amended thoughtfully. "Because you're my apprentice. That's the other reason. Not that I wouldn't protect you if you were. Or weren't."
    "Good night, Fred."
    "Okay."
     
    *
     
    There was no way the clock in her bedroom was right. Except that it was the same time as her watch. And the microwave. And the VCR. And her computer. One oh five. AM. An hour and five minutes too late to call her dad – who'd left three messages.
    He didn't sound happy.
     
    *
     
    Until five in the afternoon, Friday was pretty much a carbon copy of Thursday. At five, Isabel managed two lines of light for twenty seconds and was so close to knowing what she was doing that not being able to do it was driving her crazy.
    She wanted to yell and curse and throw things.
    "Why are we hanging around here?" she demanded, leaping off the concrete retaining wall that separated the parking lot from the alley. "What is he doing? "
    "What's it look like he's doing?"
    "Sorting through a dumpster!"
    Godfry spread his wings and methodically folded them again. "Good girl."
    "He's not teaching me anything! I'm learning all by myself!"
    "Hey, a few less exclamation marks and a little more remembering who taught you what you were supposed to learn in the first place."
    "And has he taught me anything since? No." A snicker pulled her attention off the crow to two boys about her age crossing the parking lot. "What?"
    "Weirdo," said one.
    "Brain fried," snorted the other.
    "Oh yeah, like you two are going to rule the world some day. You know, I don't need him to teach me how to be unpopular," she pointed out when the boys were gone. "I can do that on my own. I'm done for today. When he gets out of the dumpster..."
    "It's time."
    The crow and the wizard’s apprentice turned to see Fred holding an empty laser printer drum and staring north.
    "Time for what?" Isabel asked, searching the gathering shadows for flecks of red.
    "Chinese food. There's great garbage behind the noodle shop."
    "Forget it," she sighed. "I’ll pay."
     
    *
     
    By the time they finished eating, it was dark. Godfry had devoured half a bowl of noodles and left while he could still see to fly. They were walking through the tiny park on Bellevue Avenue, arguing the merits of egg rolls over spring rolls when the shadows attacked.
    "Fred!"
    Darkness reached for him, wrapped around him. He screamed and Isabel echoed it although none of the shadows had gone for her.
    "...they want everyone’s power but you’re the only one they can find."
    And Fred was with her.
    So they could find Fred.
    She could barely see him inside the shifting darkness although she could clearly see a dozen or more glowing red eyes swirling around him. He was confused. He'd expected her to be attacked and Fred didn't change gears quickly. By the time he did, it would be too late.
    She was his only chance.
    And when they finished with