The Magic Of Betrayal

by Britt Andrews

  "Back off ladies, Saige has a headache. Let her drink this first before you make it any worse with your ramblings!" Frank ordered. The two women had the good sense to look slightly apologetic, even though I could still feel their excitement from the way their bodies were trembling which was causing their gaudy, dangling earrings to clink together like some sort of miniature wind chimes.

  Frank slid the glass tumbler to me, the color now a glowing purple with blue steam rising from the top. Shit, at this point, I'd drink a jar of pickle juice if I thought it would cure this hell. I downed the whole thing in three swallows, it was delicious. Surprisingly, it had a raspberry taste with a cut of citrus.

  Arlo stood on the other side of the counter watching me closely to see if the concoction was going to provide me with any relief.

  "Well? How do you feel?" Frank hedged, his hands clasped over his rounded belly.

  "These things don't work immedi- oh. Ohhh, gods, that's some good shit, Frank." I sighed, a bright smile taking over my face. Whatever he'd whipped up had done the trick because not only was the headache gone, but I felt wide awake and more alert than I had all day. "What the hell did you put in there? I need that spell, that's almost better than coffee."

  The men chuckled, but Frank pulled out a notepad and scribbled down the spell. "This isn't something you can use daily though. If your headaches continue to be a problem, you'll need to see the healer. Magic only goes so far."

  "Got it. Thanks, big guy!"

  "Okay, now it's our turn! To the back room for privacy. Move it, girl." Roberta poked me in the side to get me moving and I felt like a sheep being herded by a pack of shepherds.

  "Fine, fine, okay!" I scolded so they'd quit jabbing me to move my ass.

  We filed into the tarot room and took the exact same seats we had the last time they'd cornered me and spouted their craziness about the prophecy. Turned out that it wasn’t as crazy as it seemed seeing as how everything went to shit afterward. They exchanged a look and then turned to me in synchronicity that was creepy as shit.

  "You must be careful, dear girl. Trouble has come to Emerald Lakes and more is on the way," Matilda said ominously.

  "Betrayal. There will be betrayal and everything you know will be called into question. A transformation will soon happen. Lies will be exposed," Roberta shuddered visibly.

  "So many lies," Matilda spat.

  "Who is going to betray me? What lies?" I questioned, despite not wanting to take them seriously, I had to admit that there were a lot of strange things happening and the guys were taking the prophecy to heart so I should do the same, but it was hard.

  "We haven't seen that, just that it will happen and you must stay true to the path," Roberta explained, like I should know what that meant.

  "What path? I'm sorry you guys, I don't know what that means and there's not much I can do when I am only given cryptic messages. If the stars were really so concerned, they'd be more forthcoming with information!" I snapped, but I couldn't help it, I was getting so frustrated with all of this nonsense.

  Roberta looked sad, her mouth frowning as she told me softly, "They didn't mean for it to happen like this. Just know that."

  "The stars? Who didn't?" I leaned forward, but there was nothing more to be said.

  "Just be on alert, child. That's all you can do. What's going to happen is already written," Matilda sighed, and with that, they stood and stalked from the room, leaving me sitting there wondering what the hell was going on, and how much worse could things actually get?

  Letting their words sink in, I stared at the dead cactus in the center of the table. The same one that had bloomed so beautifully for me the last time the three of us had sat in this room, was now a spiky black blob and the petals were strewn on the table, shriveled up little blackened wisps of what once was a work of natural art.

  Hopefully, that wasn't going to be a metaphor.

  After seeing the Seers out of the shop, I flipped the open sign to closed and told Frank and Arlo to take the rest of the day off. There were only a couple hours left until close anyway and I just didn't feel like dealing with anything else today.

  I put on some music and made my way back to my office to hopefully get some work done. So much for a productive day. Frank's drink was still in my system, and I felt fantastic aside from my sour mood. Wonder if he could mix me up something to fix that?

  Worst part of owning my own business was all the stupid math. I'd been meaning to get an accountant to handle all of this but I was still dragging my feet in pure Saige fashion. Once I was positive my eyes were going to stay crossed if I did one more calculation, I pushed away from the desk and stretched, my eyes catching the clock on the wall. Holy moons, two hours had just gone by like nothing.

  My evil inner witch took that opening all too smoothly; you should stop by the grocery store and get some ice cream, and not look at another number for the rest of time.

  Couldn't argue with that logic. Hmm, do I want peanut butter chocolate swirl or mint chocolate chip?

  "If I could turn back time, if I could find a wayyyy."

  I jumped when Cher's voice started blasting from my phone and my initial shock faded to amusement when 'Thunder Daddy' popped up as the caller.

  "Why hello, Thunder Daddy," I cooed, stifling a giggle.

  "Is this some kind of new kink you want to try, baby girl?" Cam sighed, like he was no longer shocked by my bullshit.

  "Ask Kai, I'm positive he's the one who came up with the nickname."

  "Fucking Kai..." Cam huffed, and I could picture him running his hand through his hair with exasperation.

  "What'd you say, Thunder Daddy? You wanna fuck me?" I heard Kai shout in the background and I laughed so hard, tears were making an appearance.

  "Ignore him. I'm not even going to acknowledge his ass," Cam told me.

  "You want my ass, Thunder Daddy? Is that what you just said?"

  "Just one moment, little witch," Cam said calmly, and then I heard Kai shrieking dramatically and sounds of a scuffle. Hopefully Thunder Daddy didn’t hurt my little pussycat.

  "Sorry about that, had to deal with something," Cam apologized.

  "Mmhmm. Sure. So, what's up? You called me this time."

  "Oh, right. Well, we finished our workout and we have a few other things to take care of, but I forgot my backpack in the apartment. If you're still at The Pig, do you think—"

  I cut him off. "I can grab it. Are you coming to get it?"

  "No, not me. Sloane is on his way through so he'll just get it from you out front so we can finish up some things today."

  Great. "Sounds good. You guys should come over tonight, I miss your faces."

  Cam's deep chuckle came through the line and I grinned like a goofy ass.

  "I'll see you later, little witch. Thanks for your help."

  "Bye, Thunder Daddy."

  Click.

  I was excited to get to see all of them tonight. Maybe we could just drink and watch movies together in the living room, I was craving something normal. That was something people in relationships did.

  My feet quietly carried me up the stairs to their apartment, Maven charged ahead of me, his sniffing loud as he no doubt scoured the new to him area. The apartment was surprisingly clean for a bunch of men living in it. I scanned the room quickly, seeking the backpack in question and a very clear thump had me freezing in my tracks. What was that?

  "Maven?" I called out, approaching the hallway. His soft chittering was coming from Cam's room. "Did you break something?"

  Pushing the door open, I spotted Cam's backpack on the floor beside his bed and Mave's head was buried inside, the distinct crinkling of some kind of snack wrapper told me all I needed to know.

  "Maven! Get out of there. You can't just steal people's snacks," I scolded, dropping to my knees to pull him out of the bag.

  "Cheetos? Really?"

  His face was dusted with orange Cheeto dust. He looked ridiculous. Mave just snorted at me and gave me the e
vil eye for taking away his precious treat, but I didn't know how Cheetos mixed with fox's bellies, and I'd rather not deal with a fox who had a case of the shits.

  "Go wait in the living room, you've caused enough trouble."

  He huffed and walked slow as all hell out of the room. I swear, he was a vindictive little creature.

  Some of Cam's stuff had of course fallen out of his bag, so I started picking up all the notebooks, loose change, hair ties... dear gods, he has a lot of them. Wonder when his birthday is, I should get him a little accessories bag to keep his hair stuff in. Laughing at the thought of his face receiving such a gift, I snatched a folder that had fallen open and was halfway under the bed.

  Glancing down at the papers tucked away inside, I was about to close it up and shove it in the bag when something caught my eye. I did a double take so hard I felt my brain bounce. What the fuck?

  A grainy photo was printed on a standard sheet of paper and I almost didn't recognize the face staring back at me. Why the hell does Cam have a picture of my mother?

  Falling back to sit on my ass, I pulled out the rest of the stuff in the folder and right behind this one was another. Laurie was much younger, standing beside an incredibly handsome man, both of them dressed to the nines. What is going on here? I flipped over the photo and scribbled on the back in Cam's writing, 'Laura Walker, Khol Larson, Christmas 1991, last known location: Emerald Lakes, bring in alive.'

  A drop hit the paper and I realized I was crying. More fell, tracking down my face and blurring the ink from his pen. My heart felt like it was going to explode, my insides were twisted up so tightly, my throat felt too small to get a deep breath.

  He... he was using me? "No, please no," I begged, a sob breaking free.

  Was it just Cam? Or were they all in on this? Oh gods. My stomach rolled and I staggered to a stand, rushing for the toilet where I made it just in time to heave. How could he? How could they? This can't be happening...

  Somehow, I stumbled back into the bedroom, gathered up the papers, the only damning evidence being the two photos. Nothing else that alluded to why they were really here. I had to get out of here. Now. I zipped the bag closed and carried it out to the living room. What the hell am I going to do?

  I didn't get much time to think about that because the door opened and footsteps came up the stairs, Sloane stepping in and seeing me as soon as he entered the apartment. His face paled and he moved toward me, but I stepped back, nearly stumbling over the coffee table.

  "Red, what's wrong? Why are you so upset?" He reached for me, but I didn't want him touching me. I'd wanted to scream and yell but when I opened my mouth all that came out was the sound of a heartbroken woman. Words wouldn't work, my voice was broken. Hurt. So much hurt.

  Collapsing back onto the couch, I hid my face as the tears felt like they would drown me at any moment.

  "You're scaring me, woman. I can't handle tears. What. Happened?" Sloane demanded and I dropped my hands so I could slip the backpack off and hurl it at his stupid fucking face.

  "Was it just Cam, then? Or have all of you been lying to my face the entire time, Sloane!?" I screamed, standing up and charging him.

  The bag fell from his arms to the floor just in time for him to catch my hands and wrap his arms tightly around my body.

  "What the fuck are you talking about? Would you settle the fuck down?" he hissed as I squirmed and fought against his hold like a wildcat.

  "Fuck. YOU! Look in that folder, Sloane! Tell me what the fuck that is!" My breaths were rapid and shallow, my body temp heating up with the anger that was taking over the sadness.

  "I'm going to release you and you're going to sit your ass down so I can look. Now, sit!" He barked, pushing me down onto the couch. I scowled at him as I wiped away the tears that just wouldn't quit. Not these guys, please, stars.

  Sloane's face remained emotionless as he opened the folder and flipped through the papers inside.

  "What exactly am I looking for here?"

  My mouth dropped open because either he was a damn fine liar, or he really didn't know anything about those pictures. Deciding I didn't have the time to work out which one it was at the moment, I stood and pushed past him.

  "I'm out of here," I muttered, proud that my voice didn't crack that time. I just sounded sad as shit and tired.

  "Red, I'm going for a ride on the bike. How about you come with me? I don't know what you saw in here that has you all fucked up, but a ride can be therapeutic," he offered, his voice soft and deep.

  Halting my progression to the stairs, I considered it. Something reckless right now sounded like a horrible idea, but what else could really go wrong? And a healthy dose of giving zero shits was just what the doctor ordered.

  "Fine. But you better drive like the devil's chasing you. Maven will stay here."

  His voice was so soft, I wondered if I'd imagined it. "I am the devil."

  Fuck. Fuck. FUCK!

  Saige was stomping down the stairs with enough anger radiating off her that I feared she was going to turn green and hulk out on me any second.

  She'd seen the pictures of her mom. Gods, I could murder Cam right now. The fuck was he thinking leaving those in his bag like that? They should've been destroyed.

  The door slammed downstairs and I whipped my phone out, my fingers flying across the keyboard in the group chat with the four of us.

  Me: Saige knows we're lying. I covered, but she's on a warpath. Taking her out on the bike.

  Messages started flying in immediately and I skimmed them as I bounded down the stairs after her.

  Cam: She WHAT!

  Kai: Oh shit. How?

  Fischer: What did you tell her? How does she know?

  Cam: Where are you going? We'll meet you.

  Cringing, I silenced my phone and put it back in my pocket. They couldn't meet us, because I was taking her to Larson.

  Saige's arms were wrapped tightly against my waist as we flew through the back roads out of town in the direction of Kingstown. When I'd gotten outside, she hadn't said a single word. When I'd straddled my vintage motorcycle, she silently slid onto the back.

  Her silence disturbed me. She was never quiet. Her sassy mouth never quit.

  She'd get some answers soon, though. The cover was blown and we were out of time. Larson had texted me earlier after my argument or whatever the hell that was with Red. I'd gone with the guys to work out and I knew I needed some excuse to head back to the apartment so I could get her. Without them.

  Larson informed me that he was going to be in Kingstown within a few hours and he wanted to meet Saige to ask her himself about her mother. After some hesitation on my end when he asked me to come alone with her, he'd assured me he didn't intend to harm her. I trusted him. He'd brought me into his training academy and turned me into something worthwhile. And I had never seen him harm anyone who wasn't scum. Red was sweet, almost sickeningly so. And I was a soldier. A hired gun. Larson gave the orders, and I followed them. We all did. That was our fucking job.

  Why does it sound like I’m trying to convince myself I’m doing the right thing?

  We drove around a little longer than necessary, I'd been hoping that some extra time on the bike would bring her anger down from a boil to a simmer at least.

  The wind was picking up and thunder rolled in the distance. Saige and I both flinched at the sound, knowing what it meant and who was causing it. I could only imagine how many texts and missed calls I'd have by the time we arrived at the warehouse.

  It looked exactly the same as it had when Fischer and I came here weeks ago. Nobody had bothered to pull the weeds or clean it up whatsoever. Pulling the bike up alongside the aluminum siding, I killed the engine and Red's arms fell away from my body, taking her heat with her. Sometimes she ran almost as hot as I did and that wasn't really natural for someone that didn't have some kind of fire magic.

  "Where are we?" Her voice was absent of all emotion as she got off the bike.

  "This is the buil
ding we've been scouting for our boss. Thought you might like to see it?" I questioned, putting the kickstand down and swinging my leg over the seat on the opposite side of her.

  Wrong thing to say. Her eyes narrowed on me.

  "Sure, Sloane. Show me this building that you came to Emerald Lakes to buy. The one that you haven't bought yet," she sneered, turning on her heel and speed walking to the entrance.

  Choosing to ignore her, I followed and when I got to the door, I entered the code that the realtor had given Fischer the first time we were here. She didn't even comment on that. Holding the door open, I gestured for her to enter and she flipped me off as she brushed past me.

  Well, at least there's that.

  I wasn't sure where Larson would be, but it was safe to assume he'd make himself known at some point.

  "So, this is the elusive real estate?" she mocked, her eyes flitting over the lobby area, arms crossed over her chest.

  "Yep. This is it."

  "And what a wonderful piece of real estate it is," Larson's deep voice came from a hallway just off the front desk and we both turned to look. He stepped into the space, commanding it. That was just the kind of man he was, when he was in the room, everyone noticed. Everyone shut the fuck up and listened.

  "Who the hell is this?"

  Well, almost everyone.

  "This, Red, is Mr. Larson, our boss. Head of Radical Inc." I told her, the title a warning. Watch your smart mouth.

  "You must be Saige. It's nice to meet you," Larson addressed her, approaching her with his hand out in invitation.

  "I'm sure it is, Mr. Larson. Sloane, I want to go home. I'll call Miranda to come pick me up," Red told me, digging her phone out of her pocket.

  "Saige, I was wondering if you'd answer some questions?" Larson asked, looking pretty calm given the situation. Too calm. Everyone knows a predator goes still before the kill.

  "What kind of questions would the head of Radical Inc. possibly have for a green witch from a small country town?" Saige questioned, slowly making her way toward the door, ready to make her escape.