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The power flowed easily, the square alone determined that, but living power liked to move, it was not a stationary element. As slow as it had been to build the bank, to charge it, it wasn’t taking a fraction of that time to pull it all out and cleanse it. I kept funneling it, eyes on what I was doing, as getting distracted at this stage was equivalent to juggling hand grenades and letting one slip.

Jon let out a low whistle. “Truly insane what you’re doing there. Very cool looking, though.”

I smiled, but didn’t look away, eyes fixated on that blood red energy flowing through my salt crystal. It was coming out nice and clear, translucent, which was what it should be doing. “I’d make a great special effects grunt.”

“You really would.”

Phew, almost there. Getting towards the tail end of it. “Please do not approach even after I step away. The bank needs to be handled in a specific way. I’m going outside briefly to let all this energy safely out.”

There was the last of it now. Finally. I felt beads of sweat building at my temples, which wasn’t pleasant, as it added to the sweat I’d been fighting off all day. I carefully moved, not bumping into anyone or anything, and I felt more than saw Lachlan shadow me, acting as a guard against any accidents. Which I truly appreciated, holding this much energy unbalanced me. Physically speaking, it felt like I was tipped forward even though the energy didn’t weigh anything.

I moved steadily even though part of me wanted to rush up the stairs. Tripping on stairs with this bomb in my hand was a gigantic no-fucking-thank-you and very much a life experience I’d be happy to skip.

Finally, the door to outside. The nearest one was the front door and I paused, let Lachlan open the door for me, then carefully maneuvered my way through, not letting the energy touch any surface. It would destroy it with just a graze, that was how powerful it was right now.

When I finally stood in the front yard, with nothing around me for a good ten feet, I finally drew in a full breath. All right, now, here was the easy part. I lifted my wand toward the sky and let the energy shoot harmlessly into the air. My arm vibrated, I could feel the energy picking at my skin like static shock goosepimples, but I held steady.

Until finally, “Done! Oh my god.”

Lachlan gave a clap. “You did good, leannan. All right, now, what about that glyphy stone?”

Loved how he gave problematic objects these fun little nicknames. “Just like the other one, it’ll be wrapped in lead foil and an iron box to sit in afterwards. Different iron box, mind.”

“Easily managed, then.” He nodded in approval, already half turned to re-enter the house. “What’s the plan for after?”

I thought about it, and then said, “I’d rather drop it into the deepest part of the ocean, but there’s a chance we can stack enough iron on it destroy it. Either way, they can’t have it.”

“Might want to talk that over with them.”

“Yeah, let’s do that.” This wasn’t something they were equipped to handle. Even leaving it in the iron box long term was a risk. I didn’t feel like making such a gamble.

We went back in, and I felt much more at ease now. Once I had the last problem dealt with, I’d be a happy camper. I re-entered the basement to find everyone had very nicely waited on me, which I appreciated. Loved people who could follow instructions. Made all of our lives easier.

I paused in front of Borrowman. “I know the glyph stone is evidence, but I have to warn you, even with it drained it’s dangerous for you to keep it. Just like the other one.”

Poor man looked so exhausted, but his eyes were sharp on my face, and dismay tugged his mouth down at the corners. “Why?”

“I’ve got the energy purged, that part’s done, but it’s designed to suck in living energy. Anyone who touches it bare handed will drop dead on the spot.”

Quite a few people softly cursed and I grimaced at the techs. “Sorry, there’s not much I can do about that on the spot. Now, I can wrap it in lead foil, and I’ve got a little iron box I can put it in, so I can transport it safely. But once it’s in that box, you can’t take it back out.”

“If I can’t take it back out, its useless as evidence,” Borrowman pointed out.

“Yes, so it is.”

He thought about it, eyes on the ceiling. “I don’t want to take the risk of keeping either one of them.”

“I can write you an Order of Collection,” I offered him.

It was something unique to certain psychics, a way for us to collect something that was inherently harmful, something that we couldn’t trust in any other hands. It would safeguard the chain of evidence for the case, as it proved this element was here, and was part of the case. With the video evidence he had, it should be enough to show in court. Part of the order would also explain why it was too dangerous to leave behind, in case anyone challenged it.

Borrowman clearly knew what an OoC was as he blew out in sharp relief. “Yes, please.”

“All right, let’s do that. Once the power column is safely in the box, the area is yours. I can type up that Order and get it to you by tonight.”

“Good enough for me. Thank you, Seiji, truly. You’re really saving our asses.”

“You’re quite welcome. Now, I will need to drain that basin in order to remove the rest. If you’ll hand me vials? I can fill those safely enough.”