Chapter 55: Chapter 55: All My Fault

I tried not to shiver but was losing the battle. Something about that much negative magic along with a chilly late April night proved enough to cut me to the bone and I was so wrung out I didn't have enough energy to even really care.

So I gave up the effort and stood and shook, hugging myself and clenching my teeth against the steady rattle as I watched Mom, Uncle Frank and Sunny do a tour of where the party had so recently been.

I was right they already knew and didn't need us to tell them we were in trouble. In fact, Quaid and I just barely caught our breath when Uncle Frank, carrying my mother, landed next to us.

"Syd." Mom had been breathless despite the fact Uncle Frank had done the flying, panting with the need to reach me. She crouched close and hugged me hard. "Thank goodness you're all right." She latched on to Quaid and drew him in as well. "We came the moment we felt it."