Free Waging War by April White Page B

I could find in my
arsenal. “It can’t hurt you now, Mom. It’s just a drawing in a
book. It has no power here.”
    She looked back at the page, but just
couldn’t keep her eyes focused on the ring. They kept sliding away
as if it was just too much to bear. “I can’t … Saira.” She said,
with effort. But it didn’t sound like she was saying my name, more
like she was talking about me.
    “I’m right here, Mom. The ring has no power
over me, and Seth knows it. I think it’s why he’s been after me.
I’m a threat to him when he uses that ring, because I can’t be
compelled by it.”
    Her eyes drifted up to mine, and after a
moment they seemed to focus. “You’re immune?”
    “Apparently.” I smiled. “You don’t have to
worry about the ring getting me, Mom. I’m fine.”
    Her eyes cleared even more, and Mr. Shaw
took her hand. “We’re all here, Claire. Are you with us, or do you
still feel as though you’re underwater?” He shot a quick glance at
Jeeves, who nodded. Yes, he was still with us. My mom took a deep,
shuddering breath and then looked around the room, focusing on each
face as she went. “Where’s Logan?”

 
A Voice from the Past

    Liz looked at my mom oddly. “Logan’s back at
the flat. Why?”
    My mom seemed to try to concentrate. “I
don’t know.”
    I didn’t like that, and neither did anyone
else. “Think, Mom. Did Seth mention his name?” The thought that
Slick might even think about Connor’s little brother made me
nauseous.
    She finally shook her head. “It’s gone.” She
looked at me with clear eyes. “I can’t remember.”
    “But you’re back, aren’t you?” I didn’t have
to ask because I could see it in her eyes.
    She looked up at Mr. Shaw, and he squeezed
her hand. “Yes, I think I am.”
    Liz turned to Jeeves and was about to speak,
but he was already rising to his feet. “I’ll just go to the flat.”
She gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you,” she whispered. Then she
spoke to her brother. “That still took longer than I like, but at
least we know how to break the ring’s effects.”
    Millicent shuddered. “It’s not an experience
I wish on anyone, much less twice.” She focused on my mom. “Are you
well, Claire?”
    “I don’t like the memory gaps, but yes, I am
well, thank you.”
    I stood and addressed the room. “A couple of
things came out of yesterday’s drama that we need to talk about.” I
knew Jeeves would get the rundown from Liz later, and I figured
we’d have to tell the Armans and Ms. Simpson too. But the group in
the library was sort of the core of my adopted family, so I told
them everything that Ringo, Archer, and I had been discussing about
Tom and about the missing mixed-bloods.
    We all agreed that it was even more vital
than ever that we find the mixed-bloods as soon as possible. No one
trusted Seth Walters, and everyone assumed he’d be in stealth mode
now that he’d been tagged as a person of interest by the police.
That could work to our advantage because maybe he’d stay so low
that he couldn’t do anything to the people he held captive. My mom
and Mr. Shaw decided to bring Ms. Simpson up to speed so maybe they
could all go to Ms. Rothchild and confront her about her
brother-in-law.
    “Hey, speaking of Mongers at school, how
come Raven usually goes by Walters and Patrick is always Rothchild?
They’re full siblings, right?” I asked.
    My mom answered. “Monger leadership comes
down the male line. As Raven’s father is a Walters, she uses his
last name most of the time, but when Patrick was born, Markham
Rothchild insisted he take his mother’s last name, probably because
he intends to stay alive long enough to pass the leadership
directly to his grandson.”
    Mr. Shaw spoke as if he suddenly remembered.
“I do believe the Rothchild children have been withdrawn from St.
Brigid’s.”
    Liz Edwards stared at her brother. “That’s
odd. I would think the Mongers would want to keep all of their
children