The creature jumped at him with a vicious snarl, but Star Catcher was faster, smarter, and more powerful. His cloud materialized under his feet and launched him into the air, slamming itself into the wraith’s face as he flipped up onto its head. In his free hand he summoned one last powerful blast of golden-white sparkles, ramming his hand down in a vicious palm-strike against the top of its head.

With a final strained screech, the wraith collapsed, Star Catcher riding its head down to the ground where it fell. He casually stepped off, the hand holding the sphere lifted smoothly to the side and the wraith dissolved into a stream of weak, pale light, collecting in the orb.

The wraith gone, Star Catcher tucked the item into his poncho somewhere and turned to look up at the other young witches. “What’s going on here?” he asked, stern.

Blue Machine landed with a cool smirk, brushing his electric blue hair from his eyes. “Nothing,” he lied, “We’re just here to watch a good show.” He strolled towards Alexander, but Star Catcher stepped between them.

“I don’t think so,” he said flatly.

“You gonna stop me, Star Catcher?” Blue Machine growled.

“Don’t think I never heard about that recording you made,” Star Catcher offered. “Just because someone is thinking of joining the hunters, doesn’t mean he will.”

“He attacked us!” someone piped up from the crowd.

Star Catcher raised an eyebrow and looked down at Alexander skeptically.

Alexander was struck dumb, unable to move any further. All he could do was blankly shake his head.

“That’s right,” Blue Machine continued coolly. “He used your cloud back at the school.”

Star Catcher turned his attention back to Blue Machine. “Nonsense. No one can use another’s power—even someone with a copycat skill would have to have seen it first. It would only be a weak imitation at that.”

“We all saw it,” Blue Machine said, “didn’t we!?” he turned to the group, arms open wide. The murmur of agreement seemed to please him and he turned back to Star Catcher, smug. “And one more—White Fire.”

Star Catcher froze.

He looked over his shoulder at Alexander coldly. “Are you certain?”

“Willing to drink on it,” Blue Machine puffed up his chest.

“I might hold you to that,” Star Catcher growled.

“Since he attacked us, you have to take him in!” someone from the crowd called out, followed by more shouts of agreement.

“Yeah, the O.E. will deal with him!”

“He broke the rules!”

“Hunters should all just die!”

Star Catcher sighed heavily at the chorus and turned to Alexander. “Alexander Evans, you have been accused of breaking treaty, how do you plead?”

Alexander looked up at him, bewildered, in shock, in indescribable pain and confusion. “I—I… what the fuck is going on?” he whimpered.

“What are you waiting for Star Catcher,” Blue Machine grunted, “Those hunters were already up at the school. Surely they were coming to help him take us out. You know as well as I do how unsafe this thing is.” He gestured to Alexander when he said ‘this thing,’ as if Alexander was something foul.

Alexander lowered his head, trembling, eyes wide in shock, muttering nonsense to himself, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Star Catcher frowned, “Very well, I’ll call Northern Lights to pick him up. The Office of Enforcement will be able to determine his guilt or innocence.”

A smug smirk touched the corners of Blue Machine’s lips. “How reasonable of you, Star Catcher. I hope they won’t even bother, not with this many witnesses,” he gestured behind him.

Star Catcher clicked his tongue disapprovingly and turned to Alexander, “Evans, I’ll be arresting you now and taking you to—.”

“STAY AWAY FROM ME!” Alexander roared, blue light flaring up around him to form a sphere of ice, shielding him from the witches.

“What the—!?” Star Catcher took a step back in surprise. “I thought you said he used white fire!?”

Blue Machine scoffed, “White fire; that pathetic flame from the Inferi; your cloud,” he waved dismissively. His anger seemed to grow the more he listed.

A metal tin bounced into the middle of the group from the tree line.

Star Catcher’s eyes went wide. “HUNTERS!”

Smoke exploded from the container and the witches took to the skies—scattering into the night—but Star Catcher remained standing next to Alexander’s ice sphere. He felt something press against the back of his head, his poncho gripped at the base of his neck. He closed his eyes, taking in a breath as the smokescreen cleared. “Ghost,” he said flatly.

“Star Catcher,” Erik replied in kind, his gun pressed against the back of Star Catcher’s head. “What are you doing with my patient?”

“He attacked us,” Star Catcher parroted.

“Bullshit.”

Star Catcher scoffed, “I was thinking the same thing. Regardless, he’s used my powers openly—and White Fire’s,” he added.

Erik flinched ever-so-slightly. “What? How is that possible?”

“I’m surprised you’re helping him,” Star Catcher said, changing the subject. “By all rights,” he carefully turned his head to look down at the ice sphere, Alexander crouched within it, hugging himself and rocking back and forth. “By all rights, he’s our jurisdiction.”

“You think someone like him will just simply accept he’s a witch?”

“He’ll turn Inferi if we leave him.”

“He’ll lose his mind if you push him too hard,” Erik replied. “I’m taking him. Your side doesn’t deal with Inferi fast enough. He’s cursed. If we don’t treat it, he’ll die—or is that what you want?”

“What we want, is for you to not get your hands on a witch,” Star Catcher hissed.

“Commander!” Marcus’ melodious voice chimed as he and Anna arrived from another path. They both had their guns drawn, lowered but ready.

Erik exhaled stiffly, “I’m going to let you go now, but we’re taking Alexander.”

Star Catcher frowned darkly. “What grounds do you have?”

“White Fire.”

Star Catcher’s mouth set into a line. He was silent a moment. “Fine,” he grunted. With an annoyed flick of his poncho, he stepped away from Erik, turning to face the man, his eyes icy. “If I hadn’t just taken down two fierce wraiths tonight I would definitely fight you for him—but seeing as the cowards have already fled and I’m alone, I have no choice but to concede.”

Erik sighed and holstered his gun under his coat. “I thank you for your cooperation, and apologize for pointing my gun at you. Eden Society Branch One-one-seven will be willing to accept penalty from the Office of Enforcement later.”

Star Catcher eyed him suspiciously and then turned away in a huff. “I won’t report it, just take care of him,” he muttered, walking away.

Erik waited until Star Catcher was gone before he crouched next to sphere. “Alex,” he called through the ice. He knocked on it. “Alex, it’s alright, they’re gone now. You’re safe.” He put his hand against the glassy blue surface. “Come on now, I promise we’ll help you.”

Alexander carefully looked up from where he hid his face in his knees, his arms wrapped around his legs. Witch hunters. Witch hunters knew he used witch powers. He trembled, lowering his head back down to hide his face. “Evan…”