Embracing Magick: an Urban Fantasy Novel (The Witch Blood Chronicles Book 3) Page 7

  I held up a hand, index finger and thumb an inch apart. “Maybe just a tad.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Do you know what I do to people who make fun of me?”

  “Roast them with your dragon breath?”

  His tongue peeked out from between his teeth. “No. I tickle them to death.”

  Tickle? Had I heard—

  Oh, God! He was doing it, tickling me, and shit, I was going to wet myself laughing. “Okay, okay, please. I promise I won’t...won’t make fun...again.”

  He stopped with the tickling, his body half covering mine. His expression when looking down on me was wondrous and hungry in equal measure. My lungs struggled to function under his regard.

  He swallowed hard and slowly shifted his body off mine, before gently pulling me up into a sitting position.

  “Please be safe, and please...come back to me.”

  My throat was suddenly tight, and the urge to reach out and caress his jaw was almost overwhelming. But now wasn’t the time to make moves, or decisions. I had a case to solve and to do that I needed to be on the ball.

  “I’ll come back all right, but first we need to work on some moves.”

  He nodded. “Very well.” He hauled me to my feet as easily as if he were lifting a feather. “Let’s get this lesson started.”

  12

  Everything for the mission was in place. The family Varuna’s division had picked were safely relocated in the dead of night, and in a less than half an hour Mira and I’d be getting picked up and moved in. It was almost three in the morning and pitch black outside. The IEPEU would be instituting a black out on the street at precisely three thirty, and we’d be smuggled into the house. The family they’d chosen weren’t overly friendly with the neighbors and had no family who lived locally. Better for the mission if no one dropped by and questioned who the fuck we were.

  Mira was in the bathroom sulking. Being in Gemma form did not make her happy, despite her desire to help. She’d obviously become used to her Caro skin.

  I stared at the cuff on my wrist. “Mira, do I need to take this off? Does it give off a magickal signature?”

  “No.” She appeared in the bathroom doorway. “The cuff merely acts like a psychic communication device. Humanity has discovered many kinds of waves, but there are thousands you still haven’t tapped into. Like psychic waves.”

  “Psychic waves?”

  “Your waves travel through the cuff to Paimon. He wears a similar cuff.”

  “I didn’t see it.”

  “That’s because he masks it. Probably afraid of offending his beloved Alara,” she said bitterly.

  Psychic waves. Who knew? Ha. “So, it’s more tech than magick?”

  “It is tech. But to humans it would seem like magick.”

  “Because we’re so primitive.”

  “You said it.”

  I rolled my eyes before checking my pager for the address one more time. “Looks like we’re headed across town to join your fake dad in our fake home.”

  Mira fingered the back of her neck where the tracker and power muting device was implanted. “They will remove this?”

  “Yes. They’ll remove it once we’re back.”

  She’d kicked up a fuss about the chip being inserted. Mira having a paddy in her twelve-year-old pigtailed avatar had been pretty impressive. But once I’d explained its importance she’d reluctantly allowed it. It had still taken three attempts to embed it. Her skin was like a rhino’s hide.

  “Lucky for you, I’m formidable with or without my shifting ability,” she said with a sniff.

  God she’d been testy all last night and it was beginning to get on my tits. “Are you deliberately in arrogant mode?”

  She shook out her hands and bounced on the balls of her feet, looking particularly peculiar in her kiddie form. “Just antsy. Being stuck like this makes me feel claustrophobic. Knowing I can’t shift out if I want is suffocating.”

  My annoyance evaporated. “I get it.” I patted her shoulder. “And you have no idea how much we appreciate what you’re doing.”

  Even though it had been like pulling teeth. Signing the non-disclosure document was a mini drama in itself, as we’d learned that sentinels weren’t taught to read or write. Although Paimon had educated Mira on the basics of reading the lessons hadn’t progressed to writing. Presented with a pen and a document to sign had sent her into an embarrassed anger strop.

  In the end, we’d settled for a fingerprint. And then there’d been the family photo shoot to replace the pictures in the home we’d be borrowing. And now it was time to go.

  A horn signaled our ride.

  My phone rang as I slammed and locked the front door—probably Aaron hurrying us along. I answered it as we clattered down the stairs.

  “Hey, I’m on my way.”

  “You are?” The voice was feminine and sultry and most definitely not Aaron.

  I froze at the bottom of the steps, my hand still gripping the rail. “Malina?”

  “The one and only, baby. I’m back and dying to see you.” Her voice faded as she turned her head to speak to someone else.

  “Carmella why are you awake at three in the morning?” Garuda said down the phone.

  “She’s probably out,” Malina said to Garuda. Then to me. “We just got back from Nagalok and damn, I missed you. Are you on your way home from a night out? Come crash here, pretty please. Garuda will come get you. Where are you?”

  My heart lifted and then sank like a stone. She was probably still running on naga time, wired from her journey and fuck I really wanted to see her too. “Babe, I can’t.”

  “Yes, you can.”

  “You have no idea how much I’d love to, but I have to go away for a few days. IEPEU case. I can’t tell you more than that, but I promise I will come see you as soon as I get back.”

  “IEPEU? You retook the exams?”

  “No. It’s complicated. Look. Speak to Melody, she’ll fill you in on what she can.” I cradled the phone. “Damn, you have no idea how much I’d love to drop everything and be with you right now. I’m so glad you’re back.”

  “Carmella,” Malina’s tone was serious. “How dangerous is this mission?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know. But I have Aaron with me so—”

  “Fuck! If Aaron is with you then it’s bad.”

  “I can handle it.” My tone was firm and filled with confidence.

  She was silent for the longest time. “I leave for two months and the whole world changes, huh?”

  “The whole world may change, but me and you...we’re for keeps.”

  “Love you chick.”

  My eyes misted up. “Love you too. Speak soon.” I ended the call before my emotions could get the best of me.

  The operative in the blacked out vehicle bipped the horn again.

  It was time to step into the unknown.

  ***

  “Well this is nice,” Aaron ambled around the large living room and ran his hand over the mantelpiece before ducking out into the hallway again.

  Mira threw herself onto the nearest sofa. “I’m hungry.”

  “For food right?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Yes. Don’t worry, I made sure to hunt and feed before this mission.”

  “Back in your world, right?”

  “Yes. I went back.”

  “Did you see...him?”

  Her gaze slid away. “Just a peek.”

  This must be so hard for her. He’d been her world. Even though she’d been his sentinel, I got the impression he’d also been a guardian of sorts to her—someone who gave a damn what happened to her, until he’d thrown her out to make his betrothed happy. Losing that connection, that purpose must suck. The urge to give her a hug was almost too strong to fight, and I took a step toward her.

  Her eyes widened in panic. “Don’t even think about it.”

  I clasped my hands together. “Think about what?”

  “You know what. It’s unnecessary and unwanted.
”

  Aaron strode back into the room. “Did you see the photographs on the stairs?” He chuckled. “Bloody awesome.”

  The whole house was awesome. It was a far cry from my pokey flat or my luxurious suite at Shaitan Enterprises. This place was a real home, like Malina and Garuda’s house. If only it were really mine. A pang of yearning for something more shot through me, a desire for something warm, cozy and comfortable.

  “I’d better set up the computer,” Aaron said. “Once I turn the internet back on we’ll need to go into family mode.”

  Varuna had asserted it was best to play the part fully. We had no idea how much power our adversary from another dimension commanded. What if he could listen in at will? Creepy much?

  Aaron grabbed the box with the tech supplies then headed upstairs to do his thing, and Mira wandered off, probably to snoop through the real owner’s things. What would a mother of a twelve-year-old do? The woman who lived there was a thirty-three-year-old housewife and her husband was an insurance broker. Several cook books lined the kitchen shelves, and the cupboards were stocked with a ton of baking ingredients. The oven was a state of the art affair and my fingers itched to turn it on. Now this, I could get on board with. Mums baked, right? Well, this mum obviously did, and it had been way too long since I’d had some fun in the kitchen. The Bakery had been a pit stop, and my skill a happy fluke, but during my time there, a love for the craft had taken root in my bones. Mandarin coconut cookies would be nice for after dinner.

  I set to work mixing and beating. The watch on my right wrist felt strange and clunky. Part of the IEPEU issue. They expected all personnel to wear them when on active duty. The device acted as a watch, a compass, and a thermal radiation detector.

  Footsteps thudded down the steps.

  “Hey. Mum,” Mira said with a sly grin. “What’s for dinner?”

  Looks like we were operational.

  Time for some acting. “How about a take-away? I’m knackered.”

  She shrugged. “Can I get ice-cream?”

  “You can, or you can have some of my mandarin coconut cookies instead.”

  “And will you run me a bath? You get the water just perfect, Mum.”

  “I think you’re old enough to run your own bath, sweetheart.”

  “But, Mum, I’m so tired. My legs ache so much.”

  So, that’s what it was going to be like, was it? “Of course, sweetheart.”

  She smiled impishly, flung herself back onto the sofa, and flipped on the television. Some gory crime drama was playing. Ha, time to get my own back. I plucked the control from her fingers and flipped to a kid’s movie channel.

  “This is much more appropriate, sweetie.”

  She opened her mouth to argue, and I arched a brow. Clamping her mouth shut, she folded her arms and glared at the screen.

  Yeah, she’d get me back for this at some stage. But it was so worth it.

  ◆◆◆

  Mira was in bed. She hadn’t liked that, but we were playing the family and this was how it was supposed to be. Kevin had set up her computer to connect to certain sites which he’d identified off Ben Finch’s notebook laptop. Mira merely had to log in and let the program do the rest.

  Aaron and I snuggled up to watch a movie.

  He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me against him. “I love spending time with you,” he said.

  I rested my head on his shoulder. “Yeah me too.”

  It was the closest we could get to telling each other that we’d missed one another and were happy to be reunited, even if it was on a case. And we were finally getting to watch a movie. But my muscles refused to unknot. How long before we were taken? Would we even be picked? No human families had been taken since the Finches. What if it was over? What if Kevin’s program failed? Gah.

  Aaron put his lips to my ear. “Just watch the movie and relax, babe.”

  I exhaled, willing the tension to seep out of my body and I focused on the screen. My body relaxed. Damn, I was tired.

  “Mum. Carmella.”

  I sat up and almost bumped heads with Mira. Aaron stirred and stretched. We’d conked out on the sofa. Mira held out her laptop, her eyes bright, and there is was—the Cosmic Nirvana site with the sign-up button flashing.

  My heartbeat kicked up. This was it. Aaron and I exchanged glances and then he gripped my hand and nodded.

  Mira sat beside us on the sofa and hit the button.

  The screen flashed bright white and the power died.

  Long seconds ticked by and nothing happened.

  “Maybe we were wrong,” Mira said.

  And then the room was filled with dazzling light, searing my eyes and burning through my brain until there was nothing but darkness.

  13

  “Mira, wake up.”

  Mira stirred and groaned, her hand going to her head. “Hurts.”

  Yeah, I had a corker of a headache too.

  “What happened?”

  “We’re here.” Wherever here was.

  I’d come to a few minutes ago. We were in a bare white room, but we weren’t alone. Other women and children sat curled up on the floor, some still unconscious. Mira sat up and took stock of our situation.

  “Where’s Aaron,” she asked.

  “Not here. I’m guessing they segregate the women and children from the males.”

  “Do you know what’s going on?” A young woman with bed head asked. A little boy about seven or eight clung to her as if she were a lifeboat.

  “No. But we’re going to find out. Just stay calm.”

  “I was sleeping,” she said.

  “I can tell.” Mira pointed to the woman’s bedhead.

  Typical.

  “I was working,” someone else said.

  “Watching television,” another voice piped up.

  “I clicked on this link on my computer,” someone said. “Then there was this bright light.”

  “Yes, the light.” The bed head woman nodded.

  Everyone began to talk at once, trading stories. Meanwhile, Mira was on her feet, examining our surroundings.

  “No windows, no visible vents.” She padded to the door. There was no handle. She placed her ear to the wood and then growled in frustration. “Damn this chip. I should be able to hear through it.”

  If we’d had our powers, we’d have been out of the room by now, but the objective wasn’t escape, it was data collection. If everything was going to plan, the IEPEU would be on their way right now, tracking us using the chips embedded beneath our skin. All we needed to do was sit tight and observe.

  The door opened and Mira stumbled back. I pulled her into my arms, playing the frightened parent role. A man stood in the doorway, clean shaven and dressed in long white robes.

  He smiled warmly. “Please, do not be alarmed. You will not be harmed. Please do not try and run or fight, we do not wish to hurt you. We merely wish to enlighten you.”

  “Just let us go!” someone shouted.

  He inclined his head. “Once you have heard what we have to say, you will be free to leave, if you so wish. You are not our prisoners. You are captives of your own fears. Come with me and be liberated.”

  Sounded awfully cult-like to me.

  The man stepped back and swept his hand out to indicate we exit. The bed-head woman was the first to step out of the room with her boy, she glanced back at us and then she was gone. Literally gone.

  “What the f—ow!” Mira rubbed the spot where I’d pinched her.

  I smoothed her hair, playing the perfect parent calming her frightened child. The man’s gaze lingered on us for a moment.

  “What happened to them? What did you do?” someone asked.

  “They are safe. I simply transported them to the auditorium.”

  His voice was warm and soothing. Slowly the others picked themselves up and shuffled toward the door like wary cattle. I grabbed Mira’s hand and joined the queue. The woman and little girl in front of us stepped through the doorway and
vanished, and then it was our turn. We stepped over the threshold into a huge room packed with people—males, females and children. How many had they taken? We had ten reports on file but either they’d taken a bunch of people tonight or we’d missed a ton of disappearances. There were rows of seats available, but everyone was too busy reuniting with their loved ones.

  I craned my neck to peer above the people blocking our path. “Aaron? Can you see him?”

  Mira placed her hands on her hips. “Seriously?”

  Ah, shit, she was even shorter than me. We wove our way through the frightened crowd. Most people seemed to have found their loved ones, but there were some who were still searching like us. A booming voice filled the air, blasting from intercoms stationed above us in the walls.

  “Please, be seated.”

  In times of chaos and uncertainty, any instruction was something people grasped, because taking some kind of directional action was better than floundering. The seats began to fill up, and I kept scanning the room for my best friend.

  Mira tugged on my sleeve. “We should sit down. He isn’t here.”

  Then where was he? But Mira was right. We didn’t want to draw undue attention to ourselves. We dropped into the nearest seats and waited. The hum of conversation died down and the lights dimmed. The stage lit up with an amber glow and a figure was revealed.

  His dark hair was shorter, his face slightly more angular and then there was the stupid white robe, but I’d recognize him anywhere.

  It was Banner.

  Mira sat up straighter, and I gripped her thigh to warn her to keep her mouth shut, while my mind did somersaults trying to grasp how the heck this could be possible.

  “My dear humans,” Banner said. “You have all been chosen because you are special. You are the future that should be saved, because you are the only ones who see the damage, the corruption and the greed of this world.”

  A low murmur skittered across the crowd.

  “Tell me,” Banner said. “How many of you are truly happy? How many of you are content with your lives?”

  There was silence.

  “Timothy Whelan, please stand up.”

  Now everyone was searching the room for the singled out person.