Ember arched a brow. “But you were right.”
I shrugged one shoulder.
She screwed her mouth to one side like she wasn’t sure she wanted to say what she was about to say. “Dad can do that, you know. It’s why the mess in the library never bothered him.”
I shook my head. “He used location spells to find things.”
She grabbed my hand, stilling my drumming fingers. “He taught you the location spell to find things. He just knew where to look, and he was trying to help you realize that magic in yourself. It’s a rare power, Ash, and he was sure you had it. I’m sure too.”
Wait. What? That was why he kept the library in a shambles? He was naturally drawn to whatever he needed to find, so the mess didn’t matter to him. It mattered to me, though. It drove…it still drives…me crazy, but there was a method to his madness.
I gazed at the map, and tears gathered on my lower lids. All this time, I thought my dad was wasting his energy casting location spells to find books that could be easily organized, when he could simply sense them with his inborn power. Could he have been trying to bring out the same power in me? Could I…?
I swallowed the thickness from my throat. “We don’t know that I inherited it.”
Ember squeezed my hand, and I sniffled. If he had just told me what was going on, our relationship would have been so much smoother.
“I got into so many arguments with him over the mess. Why didn’t he tell me what he was doing?”
“Honestly?” She released my hand and gripped the steering wheel. “Your self-esteem was already so low because your fire magic isn’t as prevalent as mine and Cinder’s. If he told you he wanted you to develop another power, and you couldn’t, you might’ve never recovered.”
I laughed dryly and wiped my tears. That sounded about right. “Well, if I have that power—and I’m not saying I do—I have no idea how I tapped into it at the church. And dad’s not here to guide me.”
“I can guide you.”
“You’re a demon. Why do you think you can guide me?”
“Because I feel the power too. The tugging in your gut is your magic speaking to you. I can help you listen.”
Great. The parasite inside me was more familiar with my magic than I was. Figured. “Why the hell not? I’ll be dead in a day otherwise, so what have I got to lose?”
Ember grinned. “That’s the spirit, sis.”
I stared at the map, willing the gut tug to take hold, but nothing happened. I breathed deeply, relaxing my muscles and letting my vision blur. No tug.
Another deep breath. I rolled my neck, loosening the tension and allowing the energy around me to guide my thoughts.
Nothing happened.
Of course nothing happened. I knew it wouldn’t. “Well, what now?” I asked no one in particular.
“Give it time to build. Clear your mind of everything but the map.”
“Right. Sure.” With my elbow on the armrest, I pressed my fingers to my temple. “Let me not think about my impending death that’s looming closer by the second.”
Ember clasped my shoulder. “You can do this.”
I nodded and stared at the map again. “I can do this.” My life depended on it.
“Focus.”
I fixed my gaze on the pentagram, letting everything around it go fuzzy. Cinder was counting on me. Mom and Dad could still be saved. Maybe.
“Focus…” Chaos reminded me. “There. Do you feel it?”
The fact he felt it before me was a bad sign in the how much time does Ash have left before a demon takes over her body? department, but yeah. I felt it. I sensed a gentle tugging in my stomach, trying to tell me where to look.
“Think specifically about my skull. Mayhem’s can wait.”
Four possible destinations and only one of them could save my life. “It makes sense to go to the closest one.”
“You won’t find it by logic. Use your gift.”
He was right. I knew he was right, but my brain was battling for control. I always used logic. Wasn’t that my gift? Thinking rationally. Keeping things in order. Planning. Organizing.
“Ash…”
Grrr… I had to let go of my thoughts. Which one felt right?
My muscles tensed, my nails digging into my palms as I squeezed my fists. My first thought was clockwise. But counterclockwise would get us to a destination faster. Or maybe we should try the top point.
“What is your gut telling you?”
Without another thought, I dropped my finger onto the map. “Counterclockwise.”
“Are you sure?” Ember asked.
“Yes.” It was the closest point. It made sense to go there next.
