When they landed back in Connecticut, Shaw checked the time. It was somehow still Monday, their 21-hour flight landing them home only 11 hours after they'd left. She felt disoriented from the time changes, and the fact that it was two days later, but so much had happened. Her dark sunglasses looked even more out of place at 9pm.
The plane ride back had been silent. Root had sat with the book in her lap, staring out the window. She hadn't said a word to Shaw since the night before, but Shaw hadn't tried to talk to her either. Despite the fact that they knew the truth now, had no more secrets, it felt like there were miles between them. Shaw didn't even know where to start.
She glanced at Root as they walked out of the airport, unable to see her eyes behind the dark sunglasses they'd bought her in Oslo. If Shaw didn't know what was behind them, she'd think that Root hadn't changed at all. Adjusting the straps on her backpack, she followed Root to the line of taxis.
The ride home would take an hour. Maybe by then Shaw could figure out what to say. They slid into a taxi and Shaw gave the driver Harold's address. She wanted to fill the boys in, knowing they would help. Whatever Root was doing, having her friends around to remind her that she wasn't alone could only help. Shaw buckled her seatbelt as they pulled away from the curb.
The first thing Root did was open her bag and put the book inside, hiding it away. Shaw was pretty sure she could read it now, but she hadn't given any clues about what it said. She hadn't even opened it as far as Shaw could tell. Maybe she spent the night looking through it.
The calm that Shaw had found in the small room in Norway still filled her and she was glad for it. She couldn't stop thinking about the future, about what Root was planning, about whether they'd ever have a normal life now. How could she plan for college when she knew they had magic? When Root was going to kill someone?
The thought of murder didn't really bother her. People died every day anyway. That was just life. It was the idea that Root could be a murderer that shook her. She wasn't sure Root could live with the guilt. Shaw looked across the backseat to where Root was staring down at her hands. She didn't really know Root anymore, though. Maybe this had been inside her all along, and she'd only needed a push to realize how much she didn't like people, or care about them.
Shaw hoped that Root still cared about her. If she went through this and Root didn't even love her anymore, then it would feel pointless. She supposed that she wanted to help Root either way. It was the right thing to do, even if they just went back to being friends. Even if they never talked again.
She sighed, and pulled her phone out of her pocket. When they'd landed, and she'd turned her phone on again for the first time since they'd left Connecticut, it had almost exploded with messages. Lionel had told the boys what happened. It was for the best; one less thing to explain. Harold's parents were still gone, off on their work trip.
Shaw licked her lips, frowning. John's parents had been away all school year, on a work trip. That's why he'd been living at Harold's. She realized now that they might never come back. She'd gotten no messages from Alicia or Nathan since they'd left. Had Harold heard from his parents? What would happen if they were all orphans now? Lionel and Harold were barely 16.
She looked through her messages from the boys. They were all asking where she was, where Root was, were they safe. Sending them a quick text to tell them that she and Root were coming, Shaw turned to the empty seat beside her.
Blinking, she realized that Root was gone. It was just her and the taxi driver in the car. Root's bag was gone, too, only her credit card sitting on the passenger seat. She slumped in her seat, annoyed. Why even pretend she was going with Shaw if she was just going to go off by herself? How was Shaw supposed to help her now?
She shook her head, looking out the window and seeing their town ahead. It wouldn't do her any good to run after Root alone right now. She would tell the boys everything she knew, and then they could find Root together. This was too much for Shaw to handle by herself.
The taxi finally pulled up to Harold's house, and Shaw used Root's card to pay for the ride. She climbed out, exhausted, and walked up the long sidewalk to Harold's front door. It opened before she got there, John pulling her inside and shutting it behind her. The three boys, and Bear, stared at her expectantly as she put her bag down.
"Well?" Lionel asked loudly. "What happened? Where's Root?"
"Lionel told us you had magic?" Harold said skeptically. "Are you starting a game of DnD or something? I didn't think you were the type, but Root could be a good DM, I guess."
Shaw pushed past them, heading for the kitchen. She was starving. The tiny meal they'd served on the flight was barely enough to fill her stomach and that had been hours ago. Footsteps echoed behind her as the boys followed. Bear trotted to her side and she patted his head absentmindedly.
"I'll make you a sandwich," John said quietly, walking to the fridge. "Sit down."
She did, almost falling onto a stool at the tall kitchen island. Bear sat obediently on the floor beside her, laying down like this was a normal day. John started pulling out sandwich ingredients and Shaw crossed her arms on the cold marble of the island, watching carefully. After almost a year, he knew her sandwich order well. Harold and Lionel took seats on the other side of the island, still looking impatient for information.
Shaw took a deep breath and did her best to explain what had happened since Saturday. She told them about the book that she and Lionel had found, about Root's theory that their parents were involved and Claypool's confirmation. There were still holes in the story. Why did Root and Shaw get separated as children? Where was Greer now? Why was Root's magic chaotic and Shaw's calm?
When she was done, John slid her finished sandwich toward her. She dug into it as the boys absorbed the information. When she'd finished half the sandwich, only a minute or so later, Harold took a deep breath.
"It's not that I don't believe you…" he adjusted his glasses nervously. "It's just… Magic? Our parents? I mean, my parents are scientists, I don't think they'd fool around with blood magic."
"I've always wondered why we lived in this town," John said thoughtfully. He took the stool next to Harold. "It's not exactly a hub of scientific discovery. They have to take trips for weeks at a time just to do their work."
Shaw swallowed her bite. "What is their work?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. I've never asked. Military Science Something? It's not my thing."
"My parents work with infrastructure," Harold said. "They go to New York to work with the city and find clean energy sources."
"So, they're in New York right now?" Lionel asked him. He smiled at Shaw. "I believe you. I was there."
Harold tapped his finger on the island thoughtfully. Standing, he headed out of the kitchen. "I'll be right back."
They watched him limp out of the room. She turned back to her sandwich, intent on finishing it. She didn't know how much time they had, or how far Root could go, so she was just going to focus on getting the boys on her side and eating. Maybe she'd have time for a shower.
"Can I see your eyes?" John asked. "Are they still black?"
She nodded, putting her sandwich down and taking her glasses off. John whistled, impressed. Lionel just shook his head, leaning away from her.
"It's still so creepy," he mumbled. He brightened. "Hey, can you use magic now, too?"
Shrugging, Shaw picked up her sandwich, ready to eat the last of it. "I don't know. I haven't tried."
"You have to!" Lionel thumped his fist on the island. "Do a spell! Where's that book?"
Harold reappeared with his laptop and took his spot at the island. "I'm going to track my parents' phone and see where it is. I don't think they'd lie to me, but I'd rather know for sure."
Shaw finished her sandwich as he typed, Lionel and John peering over his shoulder. For a few minutes, the only sound in the kitchen was Bear's panting and Harold's typing. Shaw pulled her phone out, setting it on the table. No new messages.
"That's strange," Harold muttered. He leaned close to his laptop screen. "It says they're in Pennsylvania, at a church. St. Simon & Jude."
"Oh, I know them," Lionel spoke up. "That's Judas and Simon the Zealot. They were apostles."
John raised his eyebrows. "Anything else, Father?"
"Oh, shut up," Lionel shot back, flushing. "When your parents study religion for a living, you pick some stuff up. There is more, yes. They were an evangelizing team, like… They went around preaching the gospel to people. Judas obviously betrays Jesus, and Simon… kind of fades away. I don't think there's a lot about him, other than being a zealot."
Shaw laughed dryly. "A fitting church for Greer. Where in Pennsylvania is it?"
"Blairstown."
Shaw looked over her shoulder, surprised to see Root in the doorway. She had changed into shorts and a t-shirt, nothing special, but Shaw looked her over, wishing that Root was dragging her to the beach, or a movie. Anything but murder and magic. Shaw gave her a tight smile and turned back to the boys.
"How did you get in here?" Harold asked, frowning. "The door was locked."
"Locked doors mean nothing to me now!" Root laughed casually. "Also, I used my magic to teleport. Hmm, I don't think that's the right word since there's no technology involved." She tapped her chin, and shrugged. "Apparated, maybe."
"Ok," he sighed, looking at John. "I'm not sure I'm sold on magic, but my parents did lie about where they are. I'd be interested in investigating that."
"Great!" Root walked into the room, stopping beside Shaw. "Pack your bags. We're going to Blairstown. I think that's Greer's headquarters anyway. He's had to go into hiding. I think Alicia, Nathan, and your parents have been going after him. I hope they're still alive."
Her tone was light and breezy, like she wasn't talking about the death of more people, of Harold's parents. She flashed Shaw a grin, her bad mood apparently gone. At some point she'd taken off her sunglasses, and now her eyes swirled like smoke, hard to look at. Shaw turned away.
"We'll come with you," John said confidently, agreeing for all of them. "How long will this trip take? Should I tell my parents, in case they call?"
Shaw's eyebrows drew down. "When was the last time you heard from them?"
He hesitated, frowning. "Well, I get letters from them usually. Harold's mom gives them to me when she gets the mail. I got one a few weeks ago. They haven't called me in… a while. Actually."
"John…" Harold laid a hand on his arm. "How long has it been?"
"Last August," he answered quietly. "It's been almost a year. I hadn't realized. It's been so busy, and I was getting the letters."
Lionel leaned around Harold to look at John. "Didn't they leave in August? Before school started?"
Realization dawned on John's face and he turned to Harold. "Find their phone. Tell me where they are."
Harold nodded and focused on his computer again. As he worked, Shaw turned to Root, avoiding her eyes.
"Should I drive? We all fit in my car."
"Yes, Shaw." Root smiled at her again. "I'm glad you're on my side now."
Shaw snorted. "I've been on your side this whole time."
Root's face slipped into a naked rage, teeth bared and eyes wide. The look was gone in a second, that easy smile back on her lips. She reached out to push a stray hair behind Shaw's ear, and despite her frustration, Shaw felt a little bit better. She met Root's eyes before looking away again.
"It's in Blairstown, too," Harold said, sounding nervous. "I'm pulling up their call history." He typed for a moment. "Nothing since April."
"That's only two months, though." John slumped with relief. "They were probably still fine, then."
Lionel spoke up, trying to sound positive. "They're probably fine now. We'll find them, and Harold's parents, and Alicia and Nathan. I'll take Bear next door and ask Mrs. Russell to watch him while we're gone."
"That's a lot of people to be missing," Shaw sighed. She climbed off her stool. "I need a shower before we go, and I have to pack a bag."
Root lifted a duffel bag from nowhere, holding it out for Shaw. "Here. I packed for you. I even threw in a bathing suit!" She leaned close to Shaw, lowering her voice, a teasing smile on her lips. "Might come in handy."
"How can you be so cheerful?" Shaw snapped. "You died yesterday, and now you're laughing and joking. This is serious, Root. Greer killed our parents, and we're going to kill him. I'm going to follow you, and do my best to keep you safe, so you can't play around. Don't make it any harder than it already is to be there for you."
Moving away, Root gave her a thoughtful look, dropping the duffel onto the island. Shaw's instinct, her magic, tugged at her, telling her to go forward and get close to Root. She resisted, not willing to forgive Root so easily. Root made her crazy, and she wasn't going to let herself lose control. A soft, hesitant smile pulled at Root's lips. When she spoke, she sounded like the same Root that had nervously asked Shaw for a kiss.
"My protector."
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Shaw drove for most of the night, hopped up on energy drinks and the need to keep an eye on Root. The boys fell asleep pretty quickly, Harold and John in the middle row, Lionel in the back. They'd had a lot of questions that no one could answer, and Shaw was glad for the quiet now.
Her GPS told her that they were still an hour away and she reached for the drink in her cup holder. It was 5am now, the sun starting to peek over the hills and trees around them, and Shaw was thankful that the drive was pretty at least. The land around them was green with summer growth and the sky looked like it was on fire, red and orange streaking upwards from the horizon. Shaw took a deep sip, leaning back in her seat. Her drink clattered when she put it back in its place
Beside her, in the passenger seat, Root snapped her fingers, a few sparks shooting wildly from her hand like a flint. They bounced around the car, only tickling when they landed on Shaw's skin. She'd been practicing this particular trick for an hour now. First, she'd taken her seatbelt off and floated in the car, weightless. Then, she'd messed with the car, changing radio stations and turning the lights on and off. She'd made Lionel sneeze with a ghostly feather under his nose, snapped a speed limit sign in half, and unclasped Shaw's bra with a wink.
It all seemed too playful. Shaw wished that Root would take this all seriously. She still seemed intent on acting like this was a game. It was definitely a front, covering how terrified she was. Even with all her practice, there was no way to ready yourself to kill. Shaw watched from the corner of her eye as Root snapped her fingers again, this time a small ball of lightning appeared in front of her, the size of a softball.
"There we go," Root breathed, grinning. She held her hand out, palm up, taking the ball carefully. It skittered and sent sparks dancing over her skin, and Root laughed. She glanced at Shaw. "Now we're cooking. I could do some real damage with this thing."
"Cool," Shaw said quietly. She glanced at the sleeping boys in her rearview mirror. "I'll let you know if I need a jump."
Root stuck her tongue out at Shaw, eyes swirling playfully. Shaw wasn't sure how she could tell it was playful, but she could. The more she saw Root with red eyes, the more normal they seemed. Shaw tapped her thumbs on the steering wheel, looking over the road. They were one of the few cars heading this way, and the world seemed only half-real around them.
Twisting in her seat, Root leaned her head against the window. She watched Shaw with half-lidded eyes, seeming sleepy. "Do you think we'll ever go back to normal after this?"
"I don't know," she answered honestly. She took a deep breath, sliding her hands down to hold the bottom of the wheel. "We never really made a plan, so I don't really know what we'd go back to."
"You want to leave our town," Root said. She pinched her fingers together. As she spread them, a small bolt of electricity danced between them. "Leave me."
Shaw just sighed and didn't answer. She knew she'd proven herself. Root was probably just testing her. Maybe it was the magic telling her that she was alone. Shaw didn't know how Root could sit in a car full of people who cared about her and think she had no one on her side.
"Do you still love me?" Root asked, her voice small. She folded in on herself, lifting her feet onto the seat and wrapping her arms around her knees. "Will you still love me after I kill Greer?"
"Yes, Root." Shaw's hands tightened around her steering wheel. "I still love you. I will for as long as I can."
"I guess that's all I can ask for." Her eyes dropped, and she took a deep breath. "I'm sorry that I've been so angry. It's in my head and… I know it lies, but it feels real. I get worked up so easily and then it gets me. I'm fighting it all the time, but it's hard."
Shaw looked at her, smiling. "It's ok. I can't understand what you're going through, but I'm here for you. Just keep telling the voice that."
"It hurts," Root whispered, closing her eyes. "The magic. My bones hurt. It's taking a lot to keep myself together."
She sounded young, and vulnerable, and Shaw stretched her hand and set it on Root's leg, trying to support her. Through their touch, she could feel vibrations. Root's body was humming, buzzing with energy. It started to spread up Shaw's hand and she pulled it away, returning it to the wheel.
"You're strong," Shaw told her. "Stronger than you think."
"But am I strong enough?" Root asked, eyes wide with fear. "What if it wins?"
"Wins?" Shaw glanced at her, splitting her focus between Root and the road. "Wins what?"
"Me."
Shaw saw Root's eyes flash, and then she seemed to come apart, a constellation of red light filled the car, the crystal heart hovering above the passenger seat where Root had just been. It was beautiful, terrifying and glorious. Shaw could feel Root all around her, warming her and comforting her. The heart pulsed, and Shaw felt watched by something much hotter. It almost burned her, the points of light that formed the constellation of Root spun in place.
A horn honked outside the car, and Shaw swerved, narrowly avoiding a car in the next lane. She looked around, getting her bearings again. When she looked at the seat beside her, Root was there, her eyes on Shaw's face.
"I'm scared," Root told her, shivering. "I'm so scared, and I'm alone."
The instinct in Shaw told her to lift her hand and take Root's, and she did. Their fingers laced together and Shaw could feel the uncertainty and loneliness in Root. It chased her blood through her veins, poked at her brain, pooled in her stomach. Shaw squeezed Root's hand, their hands cool in spite of the rest of their heat.
"We'll make it, Root." Shaw took a calm breath. "Neither of us is alone anymore."
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Shaw pulled into a Motel 6 five minutes from the St. Simon and Jude Church, slowly turning into a parking spot in front of the main office. She shut the car off, just sitting in silence for a moment. Her exhaustion was starting to catch up to her, but she knew that Root wouldn't want to waste a day so she could sleep.
Root had fallen asleep soon after their talk, and Shaw didn't want to wake her up yet. Root hadn't slept either and the magic was probably draining. Sighing, Shaw opened her door and stepped outside, dropping down out of the car. She closed the door as quietly as possible and went into the main office, sliding her sunglasses on to hide her black eyes.
The only person there was a teenage girl reading a magazine and playing music on a speaker. She looked up as Shaw entered, tossing her magazine aside and standing up. Shaw stopped in front of the counter and pulled out her wallet.
"I need a room for two nights."
"One bed or two?" the girl asked, taking in her dark sunglasses. She typed something into the ancient computer. "Both rooms have a couch bed, too."
"Two," Shaw answered. She took out Root's credit card. "Do you guys have breakfast?"
Snorting, the girl rolled her eyes. "No. I need your ID, too. Are you 18?"
"Yeah." Shaw sighed, trying to remember if she'd passed anywhere to eat. She gave the girl the credit card and ID. "It's my girlfriend's card. She's in the car."
"Whatever."
The girl booked the room quickly and gave Shaw the keys. Hurrying back outside, Shaw was glad to see everyone awake. The boys already out of the car, blinking at the daylight. Root glanced at her through the windshield, face unreadable, and opened her door.
"I got us a room," Shaw told them. She'd pocketed Root's card again, figuring that she'd be the one in charge of organizing their group. "We can put our stuff in there and make a plan."
The boys nodded and head to the trunk. John had brought his hunting rifles, and a couple of his father's handguns. They didn't know if Greer had any powers, but pretty much anyone could be hurt by a bullet. Root walked around the front of the car to her, pulling on a hoodie.
It was already hot at 6am, the summer shaping up to be brutal, but Root was shivering. She stopped next to Shaw, giving her a tight smile. Only the skin of her face and neck was showing, but Shaw noticed faint red lines, like the cracks that had appeared during the ritual. There weren't too many, and they were very faint, but she worried that Root was starting to lose her battle. Shaw didn't know what would happen if she did.
"That's everything," John said, closing the trunk. He had his bag of guns and Shaw's bag hanging from his shoulders. "What's our room?"
They found it easily, putting their bags onto the beds. The boys took turns using the bathroom, while Root and Shaw sat on their bed, the book open between them. Shaw stared down at a page of indecipherable writing, waiting for Root to tell her what to do.
"I'm not totally sure what Greer has in the church," Root sighed, tucking her hair behind her ear. "He has something in the basement that keeps me from seeing inside."
"Is the book telling you that?"
Root shrugged, closing it. "It's not written in the book, but I get… a feeling? It's like I'm remembering something, but it's somewhere I've never been or something I've never seen." Her eyes flicked over to the boys. "It talks to me."
"What is actually in the book?" Shaw asked. "I can see the maps, and the words, but they don't mean anything to me."
"It's ideas," she answered. Frowning, she shook her head. "No. It's more like… possibilities. This person might do this on this day. Something will happen here. It's always changing. I don't really understand it. I haven't had a lot of time."
Shaw put her hand on the book, but Root snatched it away, anger filling her face. She snarled at Shaw, clutching it to her chest with white knuckles. The thin red lines on her neck and face darkened slightly, pulsing like a heartbeat. They sat like that, Root furious and Shaw frozen, until the fog cleared and Root had relaxed again. She slumped, air rushing out of her.
"You two ok?" Lionel asked from across the room.
Root climbed off the bed, moving away from them, and put the book on the small table by the window. She kept her back turned. Shaw smiled reassuringly at the boys.
"We're fine. Just tired."
They didn't look like they believed her. Lionel and John sat on their bed, and Harold settled into the desk chair. They didn't have a plan of attack and Shaw didn't know what Root wanted to do. She licked her lips, turning to face Root's back.
"So…" Shaw picked absently at the bedspread. "What do you want to do? Go straight there?"
Root looked over her shoulder, face unreadable. Her eyes narrowed at Shaw. "How do I know you won't turn on me? You could have been working with Greer this whole time. Lowering my guard and then luring me here. It could be a trap."
Shaw frowned. "You really think I'm a spy?"
Jaw clenching, Root rolled her shoulders back. Her face softened and she took a deep breath. She shook her head. "No."
"A couple of us could always go scout?" John suggested. "Lionel and I can go there and see what we find."
"No," Root said again. "I don't want you guys going without me until we know if Greer has powers, too. I don't need you getting hurt."
"Then what should we do?" Harold opened his laptop, turning it on. "Maybe I could find the blueprints to the church? They should have submitted them when they got building permits. Hopefully the city has digitized them. If not, I suppose we could break into the office…"
Root smiled fondly. "That's a good idea." She slid the book back into her bag, put it on, and walked to Harold. "You always know what to do."
Lionel and John moved to Harold, standing with Root to look at the screen. Shaw stayed where she was on the bed, laying down for a moment. She was going to try and squeeze in a power nap while they figured that out. It's not like she'd be any help anyway.
Stretching out on the bed, she yawned, keeping an eye on the others. Root looked over her shoulder at Shaw and frowned. Something stirred in Shaw's stomach painfully, and she could feel Root thinking loudly, her thoughts almost visible on her face. Shaw's eyes drifted closed, and she fell asleep before she could figure it out.
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Shaw woke up slowly, warm in bed. She burrowed further into the covers, pulling them up to her chin, and blinking her eyes open. The room was so warm, and her bed so comfortable, that she didn't want to wake up. Her eyes landed on another bed, and she remembered where she was.
Sitting up, she looked around the small motel room. Lionel was laying on the other bed, staring at his phone. Harold and John were at the desk, doing something on the computer. Pushing loose hair from her face, Shaw flung the sheets off her legs, standing up.
"What time is it?" she asked, voice grumbly from sleep.
"Almost noon," Lionel answered. He lowered his phone to raise an eyebrow at her. "Do you know you snore?"
Shaw rolled her eyes. "Root's never complained. Speaking of, where is she?"
John leaned back in his chair to look at her. "She went to get us lunch. We found the blueprints, but she asked us to look for more information on Greer."
Frowning, Shaw turned to the table. Root's bag was gone, and that meant the book was, too. She took her wallet out of her jeans, opening it to see that Root's card was still there. How was Root planning on buying lunch?
"Did she take the car?"
"I'm not sure." John shrugged. "Are your keys gone?"
Shaw stomped across the room to where her bag was sitting on the floor. She squatted in front of it and opened it, digging around. Her fingers brushed against metal, and she pulled out her keys. There was nowhere to buy food within walking distance, but that church was only a few blocks away.
Standing, Shaw shoved her keys in her pockets. "I think Root went to Greer alone."
John stood, too, frowning at her. "I don't think she'd go there without back up."
"She's not thinking clearly right now," Shaw snapped. She shoved her keys into her pockets. "We have to go after her."
"Ok," John agreed. He turned to Harold. "Stay here and keep looking for information on Greer. It can't hurt to find out more. Lionel and I will go with Shaw."
Harold looked up at John nervously. "Be careful."
"I'll take care of him," Lionel snorted. "We'll bring him back. Root, too."
They hurriedly gathered guns, putting on the big t-shirts they'd brought to cover them. Shaw had to stuff a handgun into her pants. It wasn't as safe as she'd like, but she didn't really have a choice. She barely knew how to shoot it, but taking it was better than being unprepared.
When they were ready, she walked to the door, reaching out to open it. She froze. There was a red gleam around the door handle, the keyhole sparkling dangerously. Root had done something to the door.
Shaw grit her teeth, bracing herself, and grabbed the handle. Pain raced up her arm and she yanked her hand away, gasping. They'd been locked in. At least she knew now that she was right. Root had gone to the church by herself and she didn't want them to come along.
Shaw wasn't going to let that happen. They would find a way out of the room to Root. There was no way Root was fighting this battle alone.