Spellbinding Starters

by Annabel Chase

  “Can we buy them?” I asked. “We should buy something, right? To look legitimate.”

  Gray looked at me askance. “Do you have any idea how much money those stones will fetch?”

  “Not a clue.” But those stones had a connection to my parents—to me—and I wanted them. Badly.

  “More than either of us has,” he said, his gaze fixed on the proceedings.

  I watched closely as the bidding increased. My insides were screaming for the stones to the point where I began to feel ill.

  “Morrow?” Gray queried.

  “I’d really like those stones,” I said, my voice barely audible. I couldn’t explain why to him. Hell, I could hardly explain it to myself. My mother severed all connection to my father for a reason.

  The bidding ended, and Martha claimed her prize.

  “Why?” I asked in a ragged whisper. “Why would she want them?”

  “Because she can afford them, and they’ll be a good talking piece in her home,” Gray said. “Martha and Jeffrey have more money than they know what to do with.”

  Tears welled in my eyes. Gray noticed, but mistook the reason.

  “It’s not over yet,” he said. “We still might find the sword. If it’s not in the auction, I have a Plan B.”

  I blinked away the tears. “You do?”

  “I always have a Plan B,” Gray said. “Old AMF habits die hard.”

  When the last item came up for bid, we knew the sword wouldn’t make an appearance.

  “Let’s move,” Gray said quietly. He took my hand and guided me away from the auction room. “Act like you’re interested.”

  “Interested in what?” I asked.

  He frowned. “Is it really that hard to imagine?”

  Oh. “No, I just didn’t understand…”

  He leaned me against the wall as two fairies fluttered by. His breath was hot on my neck. “We’re looking for a place to enjoy each other’s company. Got it?”

  My throat went dry. “Got it.”

  He snaked an arm around my waist and steered me through a maze of rooms until we reached a staircase.

  “Down here,” he said.

  “You think the sword might be down here instead of in the auction?”

  “It’s a good possibility.” He stopped in front of an arched doorway. “This way.”

  He pushed open the door and we stepped inside.

  “Wow. What is this place?” I asked. The room was heaving with antiquities and artifacts.

  “Technically, it's his vault,” Gray replied.

  “How did you know it was here?”

  “I trade in information, remember?”

  The space was easily three thousand square feet. “How is this a vault? It’s almost a whole floor.”

  "Anton is a vampire," Gray said. "He’s had plenty of time to amass his collection."

  I crept forward. “Shouldn't it be warded?” If the outside of the property was heavily defended outside of auction hours, I could only imagine what Anton used for his precious vault.

  “I’m sure it is," Gray said. "We just haven't tripped the alarm yet."

  I didn't like his use of the word ‘yet.’ “Do you see a sword that fits the description?"

  Gray shook his head and continued along the perimeter of the room.

  "Why are you searching there when all of the good stuff is in the middle?” I asked.

  "All the collectors I've ever known keep their best items around the perimeter," Gray said. "Especially a newly acquired item. The best place to show it off is on the side, not dumped in the middle next to the hundredth yellow diamond.”

  “In that case, I'll check out the other side of the room." I separated from him, and crossed the room to the far wall. Most of these items seemed like weapons, although I didn't recognize half of them. They were certainly more ornate than any weapon I'd seen in the human world.

  The longer I searched, the more I realized that the sword wasn’t here. As a new acquisition, we likely would’ve found it by now.

  I arrived at a marble pedestal, where a small wooden box was on display. “The pedestal looks more exciting than the box." The carvings on the box were intricate and beautiful. The image was of a woman emerging from a jar. I had an overwhelming urge to open the box and see what was inside.

  “Looks can be deceiving,” Gray said. “Especially in the paranormal world.”

  I ran my hands over the carvings, marveling at the incredible detail. Before I could stop myself, my fingers pressed the lip of the lid.

  "Don't touch anything," Gray warned. “Any one of these items can be booby-trapped, if not all of them.”

  Oops. Too late.

  The lid popped open and blue smoke poured into the room.

  Gray whirled around. “What did you do?"

  "I touched something," I yelled. I slammed the lid closed and backed away from the pedestal, but the blue smoke continued to fill the air until it coalesced into a solid figure. An ugly, angry figure.

  “Get back here, Morrow,” Gray said tersely.

  I ran toward him, nearly tripping over a variety of treasures along the way. “What is it?”

  The figure’s eyes sparked with rage.

  “Remember that alarm I mentioned?” Gray said. “This is it.”

  I clenched my fists in an effort to calm my nerves. “It’s not that big. Between the two of us, we can take him.”

  I watched in horror as the figure swelled to a larger size.

  Gray cast me a sidelong glance. “You were saying?”

  “What kind of paranormal can do that?” I asked in a hushed tone.

  “A spriggan,” Gray replied. “It’s a guardian of fairy treasure.”

  “But Anton’s not a fairy,” I objected, taking another step backward.

  “No, but he must have fairy treasure somewhere in the room. The spriggan protects the treasure, not the fairy.”

  The spriggan lunged forward, toppling statues as he barreled toward us.

  “Not subtle, is he?” I asked.

  Fangs spiked from Gray’s mouth, and I gasped. He looked at me, but said nothing. He picked up the nearest weapon—a double-headed battle axe—and began swinging. The spriggan responded by swelling to an even larger size. Any bigger and he was going to have trouble clearing the ceiling.

  “How can he do that?” I asked.

  “Spriggans are allegedly the ghosts of giants,” Gray said, taking a swing at the guardian. The spriggan moved nimbly for a creature of its size. “They can grow to enormous sizes without the use of magic.”

  “There are probably a lot of guys that wish there was a spell for that,” I shot back.

  Gray yanked a spear off the wall and danced back toward the spriggan. “A little help would be nice.”

  I glanced around for a weapon of my own.

  “Your hands are probably good enough, Morrow.”

  Oh, right.

  Pieces of treasure flew at us, courtesy of the spriggan. I ducked as gold bars sailed over my head and smashed against the wall behind me.

  “If he’s a ghost, how do we kill him?”

  “This one’s corporeal,” Gray said. He bolted for the spriggan with unnatural speed and wrapped a thin, white thread around the guardian’s neck. Gray pulled hard from the other side, and the spriggan began to choke.

  “What is that?” I asked.

  “Angel’s hair,” Gray replied.

  “Does it matter that the spriggan doesn’t actually need to breathe?” I asked.

  “He doesn’t remember that,” Gray said, as the spriggan increased his size once again. His head scraped the ceiling and the angel’s hair grew tighter around his neck, slicing through the skin. The spriggan struggled and nearly lost his balance. Gray managed to slip out from behind him before getting stepped on.

  “I have magic, but I don’t know any spells.” I wanted to help, but I had no idea what to do.

  The spriggan lashed out at Gray. He picked up an armless statue and flung it a
t the vampire. Gray moved swiftly, gracefully avoiding contact.

  “Can you freeze him?” Gray asked. “That would really help me out.”

  That I could do. I held out my hands and called to the power within me, summoning my magic. I felt the energy flow to my fingertips as freely as the blood flowed through my veins. The only problem was—there was no water source nearby.

  “Come on, Morrow,” Gray called, dodging the spriggan’s blows.

  I racked my brain for another type of magic. Water was my go-to, but I wasn’t a one-trick pony by any means. “Get out of the fallout zone!”

  Gray gave me a curious look. “How am I supposed to know where that is?”

  I closed my eyes and focused on the air in the room. I gathered the energy to me, calling for it to obey me. I used to play this game in the park on lonely days, when my mother was working mornings in the ER. I liked to make the leaves rustle and swirl around me.

  “Watch the treasures,” Gray shouted.

  The air wrapped around the spriggan at a rapid pace, sucking weapons and other items into its orbit. I kept up the pressure until the spriggan was entirely contained within the mini-cyclone.

  “Well, well. What new treasures have we here?” a voice said.

  My eyes popped open. A man stood in the doorway, flanked by the two fairy bouncers. Anton Harrington, I presumed.

  “You do realize this area is restricted, don’t you?” Anton said. “Be a darling and let my spriggan go. You’re making quite a mess in what was previously a very tidy room. I can’t abide mess.”

  I locked eyes with Gray, uncertain what to do.

  Gray didn’t have a chance to react before Anton held up a hand. “No sudden moves, Mr. Mappleworth. Your date’s life depends on it.”

  Gray’s weapon slid from his grasp until it clattered onto the floor.

  I drew a deep breath and quieted the air around the spriggan, releasing the pressure.

  Anton cocked an eyebrow. “A fascinating display of showmanship.” He grinned at Gray. “Where did you find her?” The vampire didn’t wait for a response. Instead, he snapped his fingers and the fairies fluttered toward us.

  The spriggan shrank until it dissolved into blue smoke and drifted back inside the wooden box.

  “Let’s talk in my study,” Anton said. “Like the civilized creatures we pretend to be.” He turned on his heel and left the room.

  Chapter Twelve

  “This way, miss,” the fairy bouncer said, gripping my arm.

  “I can walk without help, thanks,” I said, trying to wrench myself free.

  “Don’t bother to struggle.” The fairy’s fingers dug in deeper until I winced in pain. We returned to the main floor where Anton’s sumptuous study was located.

  “Now, tell me what you were after in my cave of wonders,” Anton said, seated behind an oversized mahogany desk.

  “Hardly a cave,” I muttered.

  “It is when you live in a mansion like this one,” Anton replied smoothly.

  “We’re looking for a sword,” Gray said. “We heard it might be part of the auction. When it wasn’t, we decided to take a little tour of the house.”

  Anton steepled his fingers. “I see, and which sword would this be? I come across many in my line of work, as I’m sure you realize.”

  “Skofnung, the legendary sword of the Danish king, Hrólf Kraki,” I said.

  Anton’s brow lifted a fraction. “I am familiar with the legend.”

  “Are you familiar with the sword?” I asked. “Because that’s what we’re more interested in.”

  Anton laughed gaily. “Oh, Mr. Mappleworth. She really is quite a treasure. I’m inclined to add her to my collection.”

  Gray’s fangs made an appearance and Anton’s smile quickly faded.

  “Where’s the sword?” Gray demanded.

  “I have no earthly idea.” Anton seemed annoyed. “I can tell you, however, that I received an inquiry about it last week.”

  “What kind of inquiry?” Gray asked.

  “Someone wanted to know how much it would go for at auction, or in a private sale,” Anton replied. “Aperitif? I always enjoy one after a successful auction. Those healing stones were quite the coup.” He laughed. “Get it—coup? Because of Moldark’s death?” He sighed impatiently. “A tough crowd, I see.”

  A servant entered the room with a tray of small glasses. The liquid was a deep burgundy color.

  “None for me,” Gray said.

  “Feeding later, perhaps?” Anton asked, his eyes fixed on me.

  “No,” Gray said coldly. “She’s under the chancellor’s protection.”

  Anton studied me. “Is that so? A new recruit? Since when do you dabble in academy affairs, Mr. Mappleworth? Moonlighting as an adjunct professor, perhaps?”

  Gray scowled. “I prefer to keep my distance from anything AMF-related.”

  “That was my understanding,” Anton said. “I worried that I was possibly mistaken.”

  “I hired him,” I interjected. “To find the sword. Someone stole it from the academy museum and murdered the Master at Arms in the process. Right now, I’m the only suspect.”

  Anton appeared delighted. “That explains it. I’m sorry for your trouble, of course, but tonight’s business is now much clearer.” The vampire directed his gaze at Gray. “Next time, you might consider simply asking me about the sword. I have a healthy respect for your family, Mr. Mappleworth. No need to break into my private rooms.”

  “Duly noted,” Gray said. “Why don’t you tell us who inquired about the value of the sword, and we’ll be on our way?”

  Anton clucked his tongue. “Such manners. Your parents would be so disappointed. As it happens, I don’t know the identity of the inquiring party, only the intermediary.”

  “And who was that?” Gray asked.

  Anton took a sip of his aperitif. “A pixie I’ve dealt with before. Lorelei. She lives in Moonlight Junction. Sacred Grove condominiums. I doubt you’ll get any information from her, though. It’s her job to be discreet.”

  Gray stood, clearly ready to leave.

  “Thank you,” I said, rising to my feet.

  Anton seemed surprised. “You’re quite welcome. I suggest that you ask Chancellor Tilkin to move you into the advanced elemental class. Your display was quite impressive for a first year.”

  He pulled a small red object from his pocket and placed it on the desk.

  “What’s that?” I asked, but I already knew what it was. I recognized it as though I’d owned it for years.

  Anton smiled. “I tend to keep mementoes of my auction items, when possible.”

  “It’s one of the healing stones from Moldark’s collection?” Gray queried.

  “It is,” he said proudly, and stroked the stone. “I removed it before the auction, of course. I’m not a cheat.”

  I stared at the red stone. “What do you plan to do with it?”

  “Do?” he echoed. “Add it to my collection, of course.”

  “You won’t use it?”

  “Of course not. It’s for display purposes.”

  My fingers itched to touch it.

  “How much would you want for it?” Gray asked.

  “I’m afraid it’s not for sale, Mr. Mappleworth. Otherwise, I would have included it in the auction.” His eyes narrowed. “I suggest you leave now, before your swans fly off without you.”

  The two fairies escorted us to the front of the house. The crowd was long gone, and the pixie cleaners were hard at work erasing all traces of the guests.

  The same servant stood beside the reflection pool, and I wondered whether he’d ever left. The swans were unharmed, swimming around like they owned the place. I didn’t blame them. It was a very nice reflection pool.

  Thank the gods. I was beginning to worry, Icarus said, swooping into view. I was all set to call in the cavalry before I remembered we don’t have a cavalry.

  It was touch and go for a bit, I said, but we made it.

 
; I waited until we were airborne to ask the question that had been on my mind. “Why did you say I was under Chancellor’s Tilkin’s protection?” I asked.

  Gray paused. “I had to give him a reason as to why I wouldn’t feed on you.”

  “That’s the only reason you wouldn’t feed on me?”

  “No, but it was the best reason to give Anton. I have a reputation to keep intact,” he said. “Which reminds me, good job on telling him you hired me.”

  “Well, I kinda did.”

  “I guess so.” He glanced at me in the darkness. “What do you have on Robin anyway? I know why I’m helping him. Why is he helping you?”

  “Out of the goodness of his heart?” I suggested.

  Gray laughed. “I’m not convinced library guy has a heart. As far I’ve gleaned, everything he does is in pursuit of his own goals.”

  “He wants to be a justice,” I said.

  “No surprise there.”

  “Let’s just say I know something about him that might pose a problem for a future justice.”

  Gray’s laugh deepened. “You’re full of surprises, aren’t you, Morrow?”

  We landed back on Mercer Lake with nary a splash.

  “I’m sorry we didn’t find the sword,” Gray said.

  “That’s okay,” I replied. “I have a lead, right? I’ll go find this Lorelei and see what she knows.”

  Gray frowned. “You can’t do that on your own.”

  “Of course, I can,” I said. “I’ve been on my own for four years, Gray. Just because I’m polite doesn’t mean I don’t know how to defend myself.”

  “I know. I saw you fight the spriggan.” Gray hesitated. “Even so, I’ll take you to Moonlight Junction.”

  “You don’t owe me anything,” I said. “Your favor was to Robin, and it’s been paid in full.”

  “This is for self-preservation,” he said. “Chancellor Tilkin would put a stake through my heart if anything happened to one of her students on my watch.”

  “She’s tougher than she looks, huh?”

  Gray whistled. “You have no idea. Trust me, you don’t want to end up on the wrong end of her staff.”

  I didn’t doubt it. “My last class ends at three. Meet me here tomorrow.”