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.Please go to our house and meet the community as they arrive.Tell them I ll be thereshortly. Like hell you will! The voice rang in the room, and Killian turned to look at theold Master.He hadn t thought Karonoff would take this lying down.Karonoff stood slowly.Lavender jumped up and grabbed Jimmy, pulling him upbeside her.Killian felt her move closer, felt her energy magnifying.Aloysius s growlrumbled through his neck.Five against three against four, counting Aloysius.AndJimmy was a novice.But maybe it wouldn t come to that.Karonoff pointed at Killian, his long, thin hand looking very clawlike. Youdegenerate half-breed! How dare you try to command this community? I am in chargehere.You will do as I say, and I say that you will marry Lavender, the community willbe happy and satisfied that the power of next generation of witchery is assured, andthings will continue as they are.Lavender shook her head. But, Papa.How can you say that? You wanted me tomarry Killian because he was pure witch.Now you know he s not, so why do you stillwant me to marry him?That was the real question, and Killian knew the answer.He nodded toward her,but never took his eyes off her father. He doesn t care about pure blood or the future ofwitchery.He just wants to be in charge.He s afraid that if we let in the mixed-bloodwitches, many will be more powerful than he is. He nodded toward her father, hishand gently stroking Aloysius on his shoulder. I mean no disrespect, sir, but I ammore powerful than you are, so how precisely are you going to stop me?It was at least part bluff.If the others didn t join in, he thought he could takeKaronoff.He was more powerful but the old Master was a hell of a lot meaner andvery determined.Karonoff smiled.Not a good sign. There are many kinds of power, Witch Master.In this case, my how do you Americans say? ace in the hole is one human physicsprofessor who will meet an untimely end should you not do as I require.184 Tara LainIce.Every nerve, every cell froze.Blaine.Could he have Blaine? Or was this abluff?Jimmy yelled,  You bastard!Karonoff glanced at the young witch but kept his attention on Killian. I assureyou, young man, my parentage is not in question. Thunder rumbled outside and madethe windows rattle.Lavender looked up. What was that?Karonoff stared at him, his eyes sparking. I think you know what I will do toyour friend should you refuse to comply.Now, Witch Master, here is what you will do.Yes, you will go to the gathering of the community, and you will tell them some fancy,made-up story about sharing your joy in the marriage.You will give a toast, and theywill go home smiling.No sound.No sight.Blaine.The witch had Blaine.The thunder crashed louderand closer.Karonoff looked up, but then returned his gaze to Killian. When this is complete,I will release your little human friend.But believe me, he will be watched until he endshis miserable, degenerate existence on this earth, and he will live that existence at mysufferance and without you.You will be a model husband and upstanding member ofthe community  he pointed at Lavender  with my daughter on your arm.The windows rattled like machine guns.Control? He didn t give a shit aboutcontrol.The bastard had Blaine.Karonoff pointed at Jimmy and raised his voice. As for you, I don t care whathappens.Cross me, and I will see to it that you and your family suffer far worse thanyou have to this day.Cross him? Cross him? Was the man deaf and blind? Did he not understand whatwas happening? Did he not see that the world could end in fire? Killian would not care.Time to understand who he was dealing with.Flames licked at Killian s eyes.Therumble of Al s growl became a roar filling his ears.The chandelier swayed like a palmThe Aloysius Tales: Spell Cat 185in a hurricane, and crystals crashed like cymbals.Power raced up his throat and out hismouth. Stop! The walls shook.He felt Aloysius s claws digging into his shoulder asthe great familiar screamed his anger, the blue eyes flaming like hell fire. Return himto me now!Karonoff s eyes widened, but he shook his head. Never. The old witch raised ahand to cast.Killian hesitated.The particle of sanity he had left didn t want to hurtLavender by harming her father.Suddenly a blaze of light streaked past him, and theold man fell back against the wall behind him.Killian glanced and saw Jimmy staring athis own hand.Lavender screamed,  Good job, Jimmy!Karonoff recovered instantly, his eyes narrowed. How dare you, crossbreed!White light hurled from his hand.Lavender threw up an energy block, and it fell,harmless. Daughter, you will pay for this.Killian glanced at the council members.His mother had inched her way to theback wall.The others seemed scattered, trying to decide which horse to back.Payattention, you conniving assholes.Look what you created!Karonoff raised a hand again, mumbling an incantation.The bastard had Blaine.What if he d hurt him? Wind blew like a gale through the room.Karonoff stared at Killian.Blue fire leaped from his hands.Heat seared up Killian s spine and reached for the sun.Who was he? He didn tknow.He didn t care! Crash.Lightning pierced the window and struck the table in frontof Karonoff, splitting it.Killian s hands blazed.The scream poured from his mouth. I.Said.Stop!Karonoff turned white and his eyes bugged, but still he raised a hand to cast anotherspell.186 Tara Lain Meeeerrrwaoooowww. Aloysius s shriek shattered a window behind thecouncil table.The council people jumped [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]