Hot air rushed through the open window, adding to my misery. It had been a humid summer and it wasn’t getting any better. I glanced past the row of trees and light posts lining the side of the highway. The clouds glowed orange from the setting sun, obstructed only by the thick, black power lines that drooped slightly between poles.
A foot impacted the center of my back. I was fortunate the seat was there. It might have hurt otherwise, though it did little to sooth my rage. Twisting, I shot around and glared over the headrest. “Stop kicking my chair!” I demanded, feeling my anger grow in the sight of the mischievous smile plastered upon my sister’s face.
Out of spite, she kicked it again.
I raised my hand and drew back.
My mom’s voice carried over the sound of rushing wind and tires on asphalt. “Evan! Turn around and sit. Alexis, quit kicking your brother’s chair.”
“I didn’t!” Alexis demanded in an attempt to get me in trouble.
Sighing, I turned my attention to my other sister, fast asleep in her seat. How could anyone sleep in this heat? Shaking my head, I sunk back into the chair and stuck my hand out the window. The hot breeze caressed my arm, forcing it down slightly. I angled my hand in response, feeling the resistance fade. Breathing in through my nose, I focused on the air around me. I could feel it long before I saw it. A sliver of glowing blue appeared in my palm, growing larger by the moment. Within a few heartbeats a globe of energy swirled, hidden by my wrapped fingers. Though that didn’t matter. Normal people couldn’t see magic. They weren’t enlightened. And those who were rarely said anything about it. It was this little secret we kept to ourselves. A sect within a sect. Occasionally you could feel someone else’s energy. But you never spoke of it. Hell, even if you could, what would you say? Hi, I’m Evan. I can feel your magic. Wanna see mine? I can only imagine how that conversation would go.
I wasn’t always a sorcerer. Or, I don’t think I was anyway. Things started happening around me when I was about four. That was the first time I remember using magic. But it was far from the last.
Mom hit the exit ramp and turned onto a four-lane street.
Releasing the energy ball I’d been building, it expanded and faded to nonexistence like wisps of smoke in a breeze. I glanced at one of the reflective overhead signs. They were green with white lettering, and seemed to glow from the headlights. This one said E. Chestnut, though I didn’t need the direction to know we were headed West. That was one of the things I’d never been confused by, yet couldn’t explain. I always knew which direction I was facing. It didn’t matter if I was inside a building, in another state, or in the middle of a forest. I could always sense it. Or, I could sense West anyway. But if you knew that, the rest was pretty easy to determine.
I watched in earnest as she turned a few more times, making her way through the city. It was fairly simple, at least the sections I’d seen so far had been. They were laid out in block format, the numbers shrinking the further in town we got, though they got larger when we turned north.
Finally, my mom slowed to a near stop, and turned into a gravel drive in front of a large, gray house. The side facing us had two covered porches, one on each side, and a three-window design. The windows closest to the twin porches were wrapped at a forty-five, making the front wall appear curved. From this angle, I could see a single window on the upper level, telling me it was a two-story.
Mom turned off the ignition and pulled the door handle.
I saw the dome light come on, though I wasn’t ready to get out. My legs and back were sore from sitting for so long, yet I wasn’t sure I could handle walking just yet. Moreover, I wasn’t sure I was ready to begin my new life here. This city wasn’t home. And I wasn’t sure it would ever be.