Read Online The Box Omnibus #1 (The Box, The Journal, The Sword) by Christina G. Gaudet - Free Book Online

barn as quick as he’d like causes his voice to be tight.
    “Yes, that time.”
    The heat and smoke is making an already messed up situation much more confusing.
    “Explain later.” The smoke is so thick the space between the others and me has become blurred. Even with the spell capturing her, I have no idea how Cindy hasn’t passed out yet. There’s no more time. “You said to stop the spell I need to break their eye contact, right?”
    “Correct.”
    “Perfect.”
    I dash forward, grab the keys and instantly shove them into my purse, which I also grab off the table. The heat’s done its number on it, turning the off white leather a dirty brown and making the metal clasp next to impossible to touch, but it’s better than holding the keys directly. Plus my cell’s in there. When I turn to face Borin and Cindy, I know there’s no way I can block the view of one but not the other. I’m going to have to make this quick.
    Something else catches my eye and at first I look away, thinking I’ve somehow gazed at the very item I’ve been trying to avoid. Little by little my brain processes what I’ve seen, and I realize it is the blue bag Stewart taunted me with, not whatever froze everyone. He must have dropped it along with the box.
    Above me something snaps and the entire roof on Stewart’s side of the barn succumbs to the fire and collapses. I have seconds before the rest falls, if I’m lucky. I dash forward, dip down to grab the bag and without any hesitation slam myself against Cindy, full force.
    All I can hope is whatever magic is on her doesn’t leave her prone to broken bones.
    The hit knocks her back and breaks the spell. Without waiting for her to regain her balance, I pull her forward and toward the exit. A coughing fit slows her down enough I know we won’t be able to outrun Borin, who is also now free.
    I spin around, using the motion to force Cindy forward through the door and giving Borin no time to react to my next move. As he reaches to grab my shoulder, I kick. Low and hard. He doubles over in pain and I know it’s going to take him more than a second to recover.
    Without another glance at the two wizards, I follow Cindy outside to the amazingly cool fresh air.
    “Keys,” Cindy says between coughs with her hand stretched toward me.
    “I’ve got them,” I tell her while racing to the driver’s side of the car.
    “Great,” she says. “Give them to me.”
    There’s no time to argue, and there’s also no way I’m giving her the keys. After standing still in the heat and smoke I know she’s not going to have the reaction time and clear head needed to keep the vehicle going. Plus, with my adrenaline as high as it is, I need to be doing something to get us out of here.
    Without another word, I jump into the car and dig for the keys. If only I’d taken a smaller purse.
    “You said you had them,” she says once she’s in the car and realizes what I’m doing. “Where are they?”
    I ignore her and keep searching. I hear her slap down the lock on her side before she reaches across to do the same to mine.
    “Now would be good.”
    She cringes away from the window and a loud thump follows. I force myself not to look up and instead focus on the keys. There. I shove the right one into the ignition, missing a couple of times because of my shaking hands.
    Whoever attacks the car gets one last hit in as the engine turns over and I throw the vehicle into gear. As I squeal out of the driveway, the tires digging up dirt and grass as I go a little onto the lawn, I look back to see Borin holding a large piece of wood. Stewart walks calmly from the burning building and watches us with a smile on his lips.

Chapter Eight
     
    “Breathe , Lou,” Cindy says once we’re well away from the barn.
    There’s no sign of anyone following us, but I’ve changed lanes and taken so many turns, I don’t know where we are. It’s no wonder they haven’t found us yet. I look out the mirrors and then glance