Witch and Wizard - James Patterson [45]
“The shaman,” Jamilla repeated. “In other words, another oddball. Kind of like you and your sister, only I don’t do magic myself. I just help other people do cantrips. Been working with a few witches and wizards, helping them hone their powers.”
“Hi,” said Wisty, joining us. “We know we have special powers—but sometimes they’re hard to control. Most of the time, actually.”
“It’s hard to master one’s magical endowments,” Jamilla reassured us. “We’re finding there’s a range, from people who know who’s calling on the phone to a few who can actually make small objects float in the air. Some can even say what’s in your pockets or purse.”
Jamilla smiled and raised her eyebrows to show how impressed she was with that.
Wisty and I exchanged glances. “We hear you.”
“But I’m curious to find out what you two can do. We’ve never seen the New Order spend such resources and time on anybody before. I mean, our sources tell us that they fitted that entire crazy-house mingus with magic-dampening materials just for you two.”
“I guess we should be flattered,” I said dryly. “But it’s like Wisty said—we can do some magic, but it’s hard to control.”
“Like what?” Jamilla said eagerly. Some other kids were starting to gather around us now.
“Well, like this,” said Wisty, and she burst into flames. Everyone started screaming and backing away, even the shaman.
“Show-off,” I said.
Chapter 73
Whit
MY SISTER JUST STOOD THERE, four-feet-long flames whipping out and away from her, her eyes blinking, unconcerned, in her fiery face. As you might imagine, everyone was shrieking like, well, kids watching somebody on fire. Before I even had a chance to figure out how to smother the flames, her fire went out.
“I did it!” Wisty punched the air with her fist. “I put myself out!”
“High five, sister!” I cheered. “You the witch!”
Jamilla looked a little sick. “Did you do that on purpose?” she asked hoarsely.
“Yeah, totally,” said Wisty. “Usually, though, it happens by accident, like if I’m really mad. But that was the first time I’ve been able to start and stop the fire on my own. Normally somebody has to get me really ticked off—and then get a fire extinguisher.”
Jamilla gave a low whistle of amazement. “What else can you do?”
“She floated,” said a boy who couldn’t have been more than five. He pointed at Wisty. “I saw her do it. She floated last night. Like a balloon over the bed.”
“Oh yeah,” said Wisty, embarrassed. “Sometimes I do that. Not intentionally.”
I heard gasping and murmuring from the crowd.
“Whit stuck his hand through a wall,” Wisty said. “And stopped a gavel in midair. And I threw a fork at myself—long story—and froze a bunch of guard dogs at the Hospital.”
“You… fro—,” said Jamilla faintly.
“I unfroze them too,” Wisty said defensively. “I didn’t leave them that way. I couldn’t do that to dogs. Ask Feffer. And I glow sometimes, kind of like that witch in town did right before she sent all those people flying in the diner. Don’t know what that’s about yet.”
Everyone might have been a lot more skeptical, but they’d just seen a human flamesicle.
“The leeches,” I remembered, nodding.
“Oh yeah,” said Wisty. “I made a bunch of horseflies, even though I was trying to make a giant cockroach.” She shuddered.
“And then there’s little ole me,” said a voice down by our feet.
“Your talking weasel?” said Janine.
“He wasn’t always a weasel,” Wisty admitted. “But this is his true form.”
“My true form was the lion,” he squeaked.
“That was probably your opposite form,” said Wisty, glaring menacingly at Byron, who glared right back.
“Oh my God,” Jamilla said, looking from us to Janine. Janine’s eyes widened.
“You think?” she said to the shaman.
“Janine, I think this is them!”
“Them who?” I asked. “Them what?” Did I really want to hear this?
“The Liberators,” Jamilla blurted, still staring at us. “The Rescuers. Check this out. There’s a prophecy—and it’s about the two of you.”
Chapter 74
Whit
JAMILLA TURNED AND RAN to