by Linda Wisdom
“That I’m more than willing to do as long as she stays out of my way too.” She was relieved her punishment wasn’t worse and she had to wonder why not. Of course, she could tell that Eurydice didn’t think too much of the vampire any more than she did. So maybe she should count her blessings.
“Life for you and your sister witches will be not easy. Things are brewing. I suggest you watch yourself carefully, young Griet, and don’t appear before us for some time.”
If Jazz expected to be zapped back to her bed, she was sadly mistaken.
This is that nightmare where I walk naked through the mall and not a credit card to my name.
She still wore her lilac robe, but now the hood covered her hair. She gritted her teeth not to shift back and forth on a stone floor that was freezing to her bare feet.
Jazz stared straight ahead. Power the likes of which she’d never seen before wrapped the ten throne-like chairs that lined the red carpeted dais. Two wizards, two witches, one of whom was Eurydice, two vampires, one of which was Angelica and so not a good thing for Jazz, two Weres, and two Faeries sat there with a tall vampire on one end and a Were on the other. Torches flared to life along the stone wall, adding yellow-orange light to the dark room.
The vampire bared his fangs at her and the Were merely stared at her as if she looked like a nice snack.
She stood in the presence of the Ruling Council.
Remembering her training, Jazz slowly inclined her head, making sure to bow to each member. Forgetting one was a slight that usually meant a limb chopped off.
“I do hope this means this child will be properly punished.” Angelica was the first to speak. Her dark eyes gleamed red with malice and more than a hint of bloodlust.
“You were the one to call us together, Angelica.” An ancient vampire named Mazcot idly inspected long yellowed nails. Jazz noticed his fangs were equally yellow.
“If anyone wanted to bring the witch before the Ruling Council, it would have been us,” one of the Weres spoke up. “After all, she did destroy one of us.”
“The spell used to destroy the Wereweasel was not of Griet’s making,” Eurydice corrected him.
Angelica turned to the two wizards. “She killed one of your own. Dyfynnog was a great and powerful wizard. Why aren’t you demanding her death?”
Jazz practically ground her teeth together to make sure she didn’t open her mouth and say the wrong thing and end up burned to a charcoal briquette in seconds. With all the suffocating power in the room it would be way too easy to happen. But then, Jazz wasn’t known for keeping her mouth shut.
“Dyfynnog was a sadist of the first order,” she argued. “He didn’t work for the good of the magickal community. He preferred inflicting pain and death on those who didn’t deserve it. He enslaved creatures, forcing them to do his bidding.”
Angelica smiled, allowing a hint of fang to show.
“Ah, yes, your precious little slippers. The ones who have been accused more than once of eating either magickal or mortal.”
“There was no proof they ate that squirrel!” Jazz barely held back her snarl. “They’re not dangerous. They just get into mischief sometimes. But I keep them under control.”
“How lovely, the uncontrollable witch controls equally uncontrollable slippers,” Angelica sneered. “I demand Griet be tried for her attack on the great wizard Dyfynnog and her crimes against magick.”
Jazz felt her legs turn to liquid. Talk about an automatic death sentence! Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Reinhold’s broad smile.
“Griet of Ardglass, why did you seek out Dyfynnog and attack him?” Eurydice asked.
She wet her lips and forced her brain into gear.
“I didn’t purposely seek out Dyfynnog,” she said slowly. “I was looking for the one who was behind a series of nightmares and a plot to accuse Fluff and Puff of eating a member of the Were-pack. It wasn’t until I confronted Dyfynnog and Angelica that I knew just who was behind it.” She faced the cold-faced vampire with a steel resolve she didn’t wholly feel inside.
“Lies!” Angelica half-rose out of her seat. “How dare you!”
“How dare you!” Jazz retorted, forgetting her intention of remaining calm. “I don’t even know you and you worked with Dyfynnog to ruin my sleep, a spell was cast to rob me of my power for forty-eight hours, and you fixed it so Fluff and Puff had to be put in bunny jail! So if we’re keeping score, I’d say you’re way ahead on the bad meter.” She froze the minute the last words left her lips. Open mouth, insert both feet and the slippers too.
Both wizards turned to face Angelica, whose normally translucent skin was a mottled shade of red and purple.
“Is this true, Angelica? Did you work with Dyfynnog?” Pithias, the eldest wizard asked in a breathy creaky voice.
“I did not know it was a crime for a vampire to befriend a wizard.”
“It is if you use that friendship to attack members of the magickal community,” Eurydice said. “We must work together, Angelica. You know how important it is for us to remain united.”
“Griet does what she wishes,” Angelica argued. “If anyone doesn’t understand the meaning of united, it is she.”
“Is this personal, Angelica?” Jazz asked. “Because I honestly don’t understand why you despise me so much. After all, look at all you’ve done. You’re now the director of the Protectorate. The first female to ever attain that right. So why would a lowly witch such as myself be considered a threat to you?”
Angelica sat up straighter in her chair. “You’re right, you’re nothing to me.” For a moment, red flared up in her eyes. “But your actions have worried many of us. Bringing you here shows that I am merely doing my duty by bringing those deeds to light.”
Eurydice fingered the large emerald ring that graced her slender fingers. “Are you intending to file charges against Griet?”
For a moment it looked as if Angelica would grind her fangs down to nubs. “No,” she said finally and very reluctantly. “Although I would like there to be a warning given.”
“That shall be done.” Pithias agreed. He turned to his counterpart and a silent conversation took place. After the second wizard nodded his head, Pithias turned to face Jazz. “Griet of Ardglass. While your manner of dealing with your foes could be considered unconventional, I must say that you show a strong loyalty to your friends and the need to protect those who might not be able to protect themselves. It is strongly suggested you do not meddle where it is not safe. If there is to be punishment, that will be left to Eurydice.” He nodded toward the head of the Witches’ Council who inclined her head in response. “Angelica, as one of our leaders, you must remember that we all hold ourselves to a much higher standard. While your dealings with Dyfynnog may have been beyond reproach.” He glanced at Jazz who started to open her mouth then clapped it shut. “We still must be cautious.”
Angelica’s smile was as cold as her non-beating heart. “The director of the Protectorate is invulnerable to any sanctions.”
“Not so,” Fergus, one of the Weres spoke up. He glanced at Jazz and waved his hand.
“But—” Just like that Jazz was back in bed.
“Damn it!” She pounded her pillow. “And just when it was getting good too! I wanted to see her get what’s due her.”
That would not be a good idea. Eurydice’s voice rang loud and strong in her head. Just be grateful that you were spared.
So that means I don’t have to write I will not try to kill Angelica one million times? She winced as pain flared against the back of her head as if someone had thumped her.
Be grateful no one cared for Dyfynnog and they all knew what he was truly like. And for once, behave yourself!
The head witch left her head as easily as she had entered.
Jazz jumped out of bed and dressed in record time.
“I can’t believe we’re all still in one piece,” Krebs greeted her as she danced into the kitchen and hugged him
“Neither can
I.” She poured coffee into a travel mug. She stopped to glance at paperwork littering the table. One printed word stood out and she squealed, hopping into Krebs’s arms and hugging him tightly. “Thank you! Thank you!”
“Don’t think the spa is just for you. I’ll be using it too and I’ll expect you to be totally gone when I have company over.” He laughed. “But I still want your input in what we want for a design.”
“Yes, yes, yes, and the duckies will be sooooo happy. They get cramped in the tub sometimes. They can use the sun.” She kissed him on the cheek. “And I promise they won’t invite over their friends.”
“You know what? After what I saw last night, I’ll pretty much believe anything. Are you sure he’ll be up after last night? It’s daytime, you know,” he told her, knowing exactly where she was heading.
“He’ll be up.” She wondered if he had been called before the Vampire Council for his part in defeating Dyfynnog. Angelica hadn’t said anything about Nick, but Jazz knew the fangy shrew wanted to create trouble. If Angelica did manage to make trouble for Nick then Jazz would get all witchy on the female vampire, no matter what the Ruling Council said.
When Jazz entered the carriage house she found Irma cooing nonsensical words to the dog whose tail wagged madly while Irma used a grooming brush Jazz had conjured up for her.
“How about a trip to the boardwalk?” Jazz asked.
“I’m sure Sirius would like that.” Irma beamed.
“Sirius, huh? The dog star.” Jazz skimmed her hand over the top of the dog’s head. He looked up and panted happily as if he enjoyed the pampering. “It suits him.” She waited as Irma and Sirius climbed into the car. “It’s a gorgeous day and we’re going out to enjoy it.”
“I only wish you could have killed that evil woman and man. What he did to me was very unnerving,” Irma confessed. “It was as if his hands were all over me.”
“Okay, not a picture I need to have in my head,” she muttered. “But I agree with you. I wish I could have killed them too, although Dyfynnog was the only one in the cavern and killing Angelica’s image just wouldn’t have been the same. And if I did kill them, I’d then be dead. Those two have connections in high and evil places I don’t. I’m hoping what happened there will have others on alert and maybe Angelica and Dyfynnog’s power will suffer for what they did.” She revved up the engine while Queen’s Another One Bites the Dust blared from the radio.
Jazz left Irma and Sirius on a bench at the edge of the boardwalk where they could enjoy the ocean view while she hurried toward the two-story building that housed Nick’s apartment and office for his private investigations work.
The moment she stepped into the lobby, she felt a shift in the energy. Nick was in the building. And she was positive he knew she was coming.
For once, the elevator behaved as she ascended to the second floor.
She stood in the open doorway, holding a sultry pose. “Don’t you look all Sam Spade.” She kept her voice low and sexy.
Nick sat behind his desk with his feet propped up on the scratched surface. As if he knew of her intent, he wore dark slacks, a white shirt, and suspenders. A battered fedora sat rakishly on his head. “Hey doll,” he growled. “You look like trouble on showgirl legs.” Nick leaned back his chair, allowing his gaze to roam over her. There was no doubt he liked what he saw.
Jazz perched herself on the edge of the desk.
A blur of movement was Jazz’s only warning before she found herself in Nick’s lap.
“Isn’t it amazing what happens when we work together?” She looped her arms around his neck. “Specifically, I didn’t end up in jail and neither one of us ended up in trouble.”
“Only because no one liked Dyfynnog all that much.” His hold on her tightened, bringing her closer to him. “So what do you think? You think a vampire like me and a witch like you can…?”
“There would have been a time I’d tell you not on your unlife, but I feel generous today. Still, you know it won’t be easy,” she warned him. “I’ve got Irma and the slippers. And even if Dweezil makes me crazy I won’t give up driving for him. And I want romance.”
Nick grinned. “Anything else?”
“You know if we were in a fairy tale, there would be only one ending.” She lowered her face until her lips brushed his.
“And what would that be?”
She laughed merrily and threw her hands up sending a shower of pink and gold sparkles down on them. “That we’d live happily ever after.”
Acknowledgments
Writing is a solitary business, so friends are important. Those friends that understand you best are real treasures. I couldn’t have done it without the help and support of some fantastic people.
My husband, Bob, who understands that I “hear” voices in my head.
My mom, Thelma Randall, who always told me I could do it.
My agent, Laurie McLean of the Larsen/Pomada Literary Agency, aka, Batgirl, who has totally gone way beyond the call of duty.
My editor, Deb Werksman, who loves Jazz and her witch buddies as much as I do.
Mega thanks to Terese Daly Ramin who kept me on track.
To Yasmine Galenorn and Lisa Croll Di Dio for making sure all my witchy stuff was right.
The Witchy Chicks, Yasmine Galenorn, Terese Daly Ramin, Lisa Croll Di Dio, Madelyn Alt, Candace Havens, Kate Austin, Annette Blair, and Maggie Shayne. Your support is much appreciated and I love you all.
About the Author
Linda Wisdom was born and raised in Huntington Beach, California. She majored in journalism in college, then switched to fashion merchandising when she was told there was no future for her in fiction writing. She held a variety of positions ranging from retail sales to executive secretary in advertising and office manager for a personnel agency.
Her career began when she sold her first two novels to Silhouette Romance on her wedding anniversary in 1979. Since then she has sold more than seventy novels and one novella to four different publishers. Her books have appeared on various romance and mass market bestseller lists and have been nominated for a number of Romantic Times awards and has been a finalist for the Romance Writers of America Rita Award.
She lives with her husband, two dogs, two parrots, and a tortoise in Murrieta, California.
When Linda first moved to Murrieta there were three romance writers living in the town. At this time, there is just Linda. So far, the police have not suspected her of any wrongdoing.
