Chapter 36

Erica sat in the courtroom looking at her watch. Her client was thirty minutes late. Not to mention, the defendant was not there either. The judge looked at her annoyed.

"Your honor, I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for my client's whereabouts," Erica said.

The judge looked at the defense lawyer. "Where's your client?"

"He said he was on his way," the lawyer said. They gave it another ten minutes before the judge recessed for 9:00 the next morning.

Erica quickly left the courtroom and called Michelle. It went to voicemail. "Where the...where are you? We had court today." She hung up the phone. She got in her car and drove to Michelle's house.

As she made her way to the front door, she heard yelling. She noticed the door was ajar. She walked in and found Michelle cowering on the floor. She saw him about to hit Michelle and she sprang into action.

She jumped on his back. He struggled with her and he slammed her against the wall. He spun around and remembered she was Michelle's lawyer. "You," he said, his voice dripping in anger.

"Erica, leave," Michelle pleaded. She didn't want to see her hurt.

"No," she said never taking her eyes off of him.

"You think you can stop me," he taunted. He pulled out a knife from his back pocket and slowly went down Erica's face.

Erica's eyes showed defiance. She would not break this time. Neither of them realized Michelle had come closer. Michelle tried to jerk his arm but he shrugged her off and then hit her with the knife in hand. It created a small cut on her cheek.

Erica snapped at the sight of blood. Her voice deepened and she could her magic coursing through. "Leave her alone," she hissed.

The man just chuckled. "What can you do to me?" he asked. "I hold all the power."

"No you don't," Erica shot back. Her eyes grew cold but he thought nothing of it. He leaned forward and whispered.

"Time to teach you a lesson little girl." Those words. His words. She felt him jerk her forward and throw her across the table. She crashed onto the floor.

Michelle went to make a move but he kicked her. Erica felt the purple sparks flowing and as soon as he pulled her up she knocked him back into the wall. Michelle looked at her shocked.

Michelle was even more surprised when Erica created a fireball. She looked ready to strike. "Stop. You can't hurt Terrence!" Erica looked at Michelle with a mixture of pity and anger.

"He won't hurt you anymore Michelle," Erica said.

She heard him laugh. "I'm not afraid of you," he said but there was a hint of fear.

Erica extinguished the fireball. "Very naive of you to think you aren't in danger. You repeatedly attacked this girl. You know what your problem is, you haven't been challenged." Her voice resembled her mother's.

Terrence was now standing against the wall. "You are going to challenge me." He let out a bitter laugh.

"Yes," she responded.

"You're an idiot," he said. Terrence threw a vase at her but she disappeared in a puff of purple smoke. She reappeared in front of him. She reached inside his chest and pulled out his heart without a second thought.

She saw the fear and panic in his face. "I do have power. Now, I'm going to need you to do me a huge favor." She raised his heart to her lips. "You're going to turn yourself and plead guilty. You will confess everything you've done. You will have no contact with Michelle ever." She put the heart back in.

Her eyes were still cold. "Terrence, I suggest you leave." He quickly ran out. Erica turned to Michelle who backed away frightened. Her fear wasn't important to Erica right now.

"You're hurt," Erica said. She approached Michelle calmly and healed the cut.

Michelle whispered, "What are you?"

"Magical but you can tell no one what you saw," Erica said. "Do you understand?" Michelle nodded still trying to wrap her head around what just happened.

Erica's gaze softened and Michelle relaxed a bit. "I have to get you to the hospital." Erica walked out first but she didn't sense him. "We're fine." They got in Erica's car.

The drive was silent. The gravity of the situation hit Erica. She used magic...again. She gripped the wheel at her foolishness. But could she really regret it? She saved a woman's life. The consequences were not important right now.

They arrived at the hospital. Erica escorted her in and went to the emergency room. They went to the front desk. "My client needs medical attention." The nurse said she would have to wait. Erica sighed in annoyance. She was in no mood to play games. "Look, she got into a fight and may have a concussion. If anything happens, I will personally hunt you down," she whispered the last part dangerously.

"I'll...I'll get a doctor right away," the nurse said scampering off. Michelle looked at her but Erica didn't want to talk. A doctor came and examined Michelle. Erica was there when they questioned her.

Thankfully, Michelle excluded her using magic. Erica waited outside the room and she heard her name. "Mark," she said. His expression went from happy to concern. She looked like she'd just been through something.

"Are you ok?" he asked placing a hand on her shoulder.

She hissed at the pain and jerked away. "I'm fine."

"No, you aren't." Her eyes looked glossy.

"Erica, what happened?" She suddenly became lightheaded. She held onto his arm. "I...I...need to-

She couldn't finished her sentence because she passed out. Mark caught her and placed her on a gurney in the hallway. "I need help!" he yelled.

Michelle came out and saw Erica passed out. Her breath hitched in her throat. She prayed Erica was going to be alright.

Terrence was now sitting in an interrogation room. His mind flooded with images of Erica using magic. Now he was about to admit to battery because of her.

Detective Winters entered the room. "Terrence Michaels, charged with rape and battery. I thought you were supposed to be in court."

"I'm turning myself in," he said.

"What changed?" she asked. "That lawyer. She made me turn myself in."

Winters leaned back in her chair. "You mean Attorney Richards. How did she make you?"

He leaned over the table. "She used magic. She took out my heart," he said pointing at his chest. "She spoke to it and now I'm here."

Winters narrowed her eyes. This was the second time this girl and magic used in the same sentence. She would deal with that later.

"You understand that you are waiving your rights," Winters said.

"Yes."

Winters took out a notepad and pen. "Write." He confessed his life away.

Erica woke up in a hospital bed. She saw Mark and Michelle by her bedside. She sighed and they went over to her. "How are you feeling?" Mark asked.

"Alright I suppose," she answered.

She looked at Michelle. "I'm sorry," Michelle said. Erica nodded.

There was a knock on the door. All three of them looked to see Detective Winters at the door.