“Yes, Jasper,” said Tamara with heavy sarcasm. “See, normal people, who aren’t psychopaths, don’t automatically assume the worst of everyone.”
Jasper crossed his arms. “Oh, really? Then tell me: Where are you going?”
“It’s none of your business,” said Call. “Go away, Jasper.”
“Is this about a certain someone’s dad who’s gone on the run?” Jasper quirked an eyebrow at Call. “The mages wouldn’t be happy at all if they knew you were going after him. Master Rufus —”
“Let’s kill him,” Call said. Havoc growled.
“Master Rufus?” Aaron looked alarmed.
“No, of course not Master Rufus! I meant Jasper,” Call said. “Bury his body under a pile of rock. Who’d know?”
“Call, stop being ridiculous,” said Tamara.
“Havoc could kill him,” Call suggested. Havoc turned at the sound of his name, looking interested by the prospect. Although the Chaos-ridden wolf had grown over the summer, Call wasn’t sure he could actually kill anyone, but he could sure take Jasper outside and chase him around the Magisterium a few times.
“And I’m supposed to be the psychopath?” Jasper grumbled.
Call wasn’t sure what it meant that he’d gone full Evil Overlord on Jasper yet still couldn’t manage to impress him.
Aaron raised his hand. For a moment Call thought that Aaron was going to settle them down, say that Call should quit threatening Jasper and they should all just go back to their rooms. Instead, black fire sparked between Aaron’s fingers, a web of darkness. “Don’t make me hurt you,” he said, looking right at Jasper, chaos burning in the palm of his hand. “Because I really could.”
Call was so astonished he couldn’t even react.
Jasper blanched, but before he could say anything, Tamara slapped Aaron none too gently on the shoulder. “Stop that,” she said. “You can’t just summon chaos whenever you feel like it.”
Aaron closed his hand into a fist and the darkness winked out, but he didn’t look any less terrifying.
Tamara pointed at Jasper. “We’re going to have to take him with us.”
“Take him with us? You’re kidding,” Call said. “He’ll wreck the whole thing!”
She put a hand on her hip. “It’s not a party, Call.”
“And I’m not going anywhere with you,” Jasper interrupted, starting to sidle along the cave wall. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t even care anymore. You’ve lost your minds. I’ll forget I ever saw anything. I swear.”
“Oh, no you won’t,” Aaron said. “You’ll tell the mages on us the first chance you get.”
Jasper looked mutinous. “I won’t.”
“Sure, you will,” said Call.
Tamara took a stone out of her pocket and tucked it into Jasper’s uniform. “Let’s go.”
“Agreed,” said Aaron. He grabbed at the back of Jasper’s collar. Jasper yelped and windmilled his arms. Aaron’s expression was grim. “You’re coming with us,” he said. “Now march.”
TRAVELING AWAY FROM the Magisterium was no easy task. They had to navigate through the forest to the highway, Tamara using the map on her phone to help. On the way, there was the possibility of running into elementals and Chaos-ridden animals. Plus there was the possibility of getting lost.
Still, the weather was nice, and with the sound of cicadas and Jasper’s complaining ringing in his ears, Call didn’t mind the walk. At least not until his leg started to stiffen up and he realized that, once again, he was going to hold the rest of them back. Even on a quest to save his own father.