Argentum (P.A.W.S. Book 2)

by Debbie Manber Kupfer

  Danny rose from his seat. “You suspect me?” he said angrily. “Why in the world would I do such a thing?”

  “I don’t know, Danny, but I can’t disregard the possibility,” replied Quentin, calmly.

  “Possibility! There is no possibility. It’s ludicrous! We’re wasting time. If we know that David Katz has the charm, it’s simple; we just go and find him and get it back.”

  “We have to tread very carefully, Danny. The charm is dangerous. If David were to put it on . . .”

  “How come you know so much about it? Maybe you passed the amulet to Katz.”

  “The amulet disappeared before I’d ever set a foot inside P.A.W.S., Danny, you know that. That’s why your mother sought me out. I have magic that could help neutralize the charm. But we have to get it back first.”

  “You didn’t answer my first question. How come you know so much about the charm?”

  “I know because I did something terrible, Danny,” replied Quentin, quietly.

  “Just one thing?” Danny laughed.

  Quentin ignored Danny’s jibe and continued.

  “I was weak and I carried out Alistair’s wishes. Alistair asked me to ‘adjust’ the charm, so that he could wear it. I created the monster that attacked Miri. I take full responsibility for that. I fear this terrible creature didn’t die when Alistair did. I suspect the monster still lives inside the charm. If David is wearing the charm, he could be in very grave danger, and he would be extremely dangerous.”

  Danny tried to take all this in. “So what should we do?” he asked.

  “I want you to choose a few members of P.A.W.S. whom you think the most trustworthy. Take your group, Danny, and go and observe Katz. Try and determine how much control the amulet has on him, and then come back to me and we’ll decide together how to proceed.”

  “What about Miri?”

  “For now, I think it would be better if she didn’t know what I’ve told you today.”

  “I don’t know about that. But I suppose for now she doesn’t need to know, she has enough to worry about. I’ll go and round up some folks; Josh would be good, maybe Andrew.”

  Danny started to leave.

  “One more thing,”

  “Yes?”

  “I know you don’t like me much and I don’t blame you, but there’s much more to the situation than you understand. After we’re done with this, I would like to sit down with you, explain some things, if you would let me.”

  “Maybe,” said Danny. “Maybe.”

  Danny found Josh in the rec room, playing a game of dominoes with Joey. Joey was enjoying himself and clearly showing off. Every time he placed a domino, he used his wand to float it through the air first and do a double somersault before it landed in place on the table. Danny smiled. He remembered playing the same way when he was younger.

  He waited for the game to be over and then took Josh to one side and explained what Quentin wanted them to do. Josh suggested they recruit Tessa.

  “It would be good to have a bird with us, in case we need to send back a message. You find Tessa and I’ll get Andrew.”

  “Good idea,” said Danny, and went to look for Tessa.

  Josh found Andrew sitting in the Jewel Box with Jenna. Poor kid, he thought. He glanced at her ballooning belly and then looked away. It’s good that she has a friend like Andrew. He apologized to Jenna for interrupting and took Andrew to one side and explained what they needed to do.

  “Sure, I’ll come. Give me a few minutes and I’ll meet you guys out by the cedar tree.”

  “Thanks,” said Josh, and he went back down into P.A.W.S.

  Andrew returned to Jenna on the bench.

  “I’m going to have to go out for a bit,” he said, “it shouldn’t take long.”

  Jenna gazed at Andrew, a look of panic in her eyes. Since the night of the full moon she’d left Andrew’s side only when she slept and even then his image filled her dreams . . . and the other image, the one she’d been trying to blot out: the man dying in the playground, the flavor of his flesh and blood coursing through her veins.

  Ryan was euphoric that night, and since then had been satiated, content inside her as if that meal was what he’d truly needed. And it disgusted Jenna. Sure, she’d witnessed the man force himself on the girl, but they should have just scared him away, not murdered him. Never again, she repeated to herself, over and over. I don’t care what Andrew says, taking that man’s life was wrong.

  She watched Andrew walk out of the Jewel Box and as soon as he was gone, tears began flowing down her cheeks. What had she become?

  Chapter 42

  There were four creatures watching at the window of the Katz family mansion in Town and Country: two wolves, a large Maine Coon cat, and a small robin perched on the windowsill. Inside the living room, David Katz was sprawled out on the sofa. There was an almost empty bottle of Scotch on the table and he nursed a glass in his hands, swirling its contents around, and every so often taking another swig.

  He’d hoped that if he drank enough, he could drown out the voice inside his head and fall into sweet oblivion. But if anything, it was getting worse. He longed to remove the amulet and to toss the silver charm away, but he couldn’t. His fingers would freeze up when he tried, and the voice inside his skull would insinuate itself.

  “You worked so hard for this, David. You are entitled. You cannot simply toss away the magic that is your birthright.”

  “What should we do?” asked Danny, peering into the room at David’s drunken form.

  “Maybe I can fly in and take the charm while he’s sleeping,” suggested Tessa. “It won’t be long now. He’s nearly finished the whole bottle.”

  “Possibly,” said Josh, “but something tells me it’s not going to be that easy.”

  “He looks so harmless,” observed Danny. “Quentin showed me a vision of him going crazy and attacking his wife, but now he just looks sad. Maybe we could just go in and ask him for the charm?”

  “You never know, that might just work,” said Andrew, thoughtfully. “Maybe I could give it a try. A single person would probably be less imposing than all four of us. But not tonight, he would think it was strange if someone knocked on his door at this late hour. This suburb is usually deserted at this time. And in any case, he’s too drunk, the alcohol may react with the charm somehow, he may lose control. Maybe tomorrow I can come back by myself and talk to him.”

  Danny looked at Andrew. Something in Andrew’s offer seemed a little off, but Danny couldn’t quite put his finger on it and Josh, normally very perceptive, seemed to trust Andrew implicitly.

  “That’s not a bad idea. Maybe we should go back to P.A.W.S. now and talk about it with Quentin and Jessamyn?” said Josh.

  “And Miri,” added Danny. “I know that Quentin said to keep her out of this, but I think she needs to know. It’s her uncle, after all.”

  The four friends made their way back to P.A.W.S., but later that night, Andrew snuck out again on his own this time.

  He made his way back to the Katz mansion. He knew what he was doing. He needed to talk, but not to David; he needed to talk to Alistair. In the brief time he had the charm in his possession, he had learned that deep inside it, Alistair was still alive. Alistair had charged him to look after his unborn child, and also to look after the amulet that would eventually belong to Ryan.

  David Katz played his part perfectly. It was dangerous to leave the charm at P.A.W.S. with Miri. Miri’s magic was formidable. If she ever understood the true nature of the charm, she could destroy it, and that could not be.

  Andrew returned to Town and Country and once more gazed in the window. David had finished the Scotch and had fallen asleep on the sofa and was snoring loudly. Tentatively, Andrew reached out with his mind.

  “Aha! I knew you’d come back, boy!”

  “What do you wish me to do, master? The meddlers at P.A.W.S. have discovered that David has the charm. They want to bring it back to Miri.”

  “What a d
elicious idea!” said Alistair. “Yes, let us bring the charm back to P.A.W.S.—temporarily, that is. It would be good to finally defeat my meddlesome daughter, and if we can get David to do it, well, all the better. Then maybe we’ll have two amulets to pass on to my son.”

  “Two seems a lot Alistair, maybe I can suggest—”

  “No, Andrew, you need to pay more attention in your classes. Then you would understand that Miri’s charm can only be worn by a girl.”

  “I was thinking maybe Jenna?”

  “That girl is merely a vessel, Andrew. I know you are fond of her, but you do understand that she won’t survive the birth?”

  “But, she partook in the feast. Surely she is strong enough?” protested Andrew.

  “No, Andrew, the flesh and blood went straight to my son. And I thank you for that. It was necessary and just in time. I predict the baby will be born during the next full moon. I want you to be there, Andrew. It is important that whatever happens, the baby survives.”

  “I understand, Alistair.”

  “Good, now in the matter of David, you may proceed as we have planned.”

  David Katz sat at the kitchen table. His head felt like a gang of marauding imps were trying to pull out his brain, piece by piece by agonizing piece. He sipped his coffee slowly and thought about Cynthia. Where could she have gone? He missed her terribly. He hadn’t been the most attentive husband, but he had never hurt her, had he?

  The doorbell rang and wearily he got up from the table and walked to the door. Maybe it was Cynthia? Maybe she had mislaid her key?

  He was surprised to see Andrew. He’d thought that after he gave him all that money he would never see him again. That was the plan.

  “What can I do for you?” How had he found his house? That’s why he’d insisted that they always met in the park, so he couldn’t trace him afterward.

  “May I come in?” inquired Andrew.

  “Of course,” replied David, and he led him back to the kitchen. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

  “If it’s no trouble.”

  David filled a mug and handed it to Andrew with shaking hands, trying not to spill it.

  The charm, which he still wore beneath his shirt, was getting warmer now. David noticed Andrew’s eyes flit towards the spot where the amulet sat. He knows I’m wearing it. How does he know that?

  “So how is your little purchase working out?” asked Andrew, smiling.

  “Fine, just fine.”

  “Good, I enjoyed doing business with you and it seems that it was profitable for both of us. I wondered, therefore, if you might be interested in procuring its partner?”

  “What do you mean?” asked David, suspiciously.

  “Well, as you know, your niece still wears her own charm. Are you really sure that your dear mother wanted her to have it?”

  David was sweating and fidgeting now. Andrew was right, he thought, it would be good to obtain Miri’s charm. But this was madness, the first charm had all but destroyed him; what possible use could he have for a second?

  And yet he found himself asking, “How much?”

  He was completely taken aback by Andrew’s answer. “Oh, no!” he replied. “You misunderstand me. I cannot get it for you in this case, but you could come and get it yourself. I could guide you inside P.A.W.S. or better still, lure Miri outside.”

  David considered this for a while and then finally shook his head. “No, no,” he said, “one charm is more than enough.”

  “Well, you still have my card if you change your mind,” said Andrew. “Good evening to you.” And he turned around and left.

  As Andrew walked away from the house, Alistair’s words echoed in his head.

  “Good, we did well, Andrew. We sowed the seeds. I will continue to water and nourish them. You should expect the call within a week.”

  The June air in St. Louis was hot and humid. During the day, David was already running the air conditioner, but at night he turned it off and instead opened the windows. The robin quietly pecked at the screen on David’s bedroom window until she had made a hole just big enough to slip inside.

  David was asleep in his bed and Tessa could just see the flicker of silver from underneath his pajama top. When Andrew had come back empty-handed, she had been Plan B. The boys were waiting for her outside in the yard.

  Tessa flew down and perched on the nightstand. She waited patiently for David to turn in his sleep. On his stomach, Tessa might have a chance to open the latch of the silver chain with her beak. She waited and finally he turned. Quickly she flew down onto his pillow.

  Stay asleep. Stay asleep, she begged silently. She reached her beak to the latch, but as she touched the silver, an electric current coursed through her body, knocking her away. David turned and his eyes opened, but his eyes were flaked with red! He stared at her.

  “Oh no, you don’t!” came the words directly to Tessa’s brain.

  David was morphing now, fur was growing on his face and huge claws were forming on his hands. He grabbed for Tessa, who screamed and tried to fly out of the window, but the monster, now fully formed, blocked her path. Desperately, she flew down the stairs with David in pursuit. As she reached the door she changed back into a girl and took out her wand. Silver sparks flew from it, but simply grazed off the monster’s nose.

  Somehow, Tessa reached the front door and opened it. She dashed from the house and there were the others. Danny changed back into human form, while the two wolves remained and surged forward to attack.

  “Get them out of here!” screamed Alistair, directly into Andrew’s head. “It’s too early. I need David to search out Miri in P.A.W.S.”

  Andrew came forward and took a swipe from the monster. This better work, he thought to himself. Danny had his wand trained on David, but did not attack. He was scared his spell would hit Andrew. In the meantime, Josh changed back from his wolf form and tended to Tessa who was bleeding profusely from a wound on her side.

  “We need to get her back to P.A.W.S.” he said, “to Mrs. Bumsqueak.”

  “Take her!” shouted Danny. “We’ll hold off the monster.”

  Danny watched Josh and Tessa move away and turned back to David, but something strange was happening. Despite having the upper hand against Andrew, he seemed to be backing away into the house.

  “He’s going back in,” called Danny. “Should we follow him? We still may be able to get the charm.”

  Andrew whimpered. Damn, thought Danny, that didn’t sound good. He made a decision.

  “Let him go back inside, Andrew; at least we know where he is. We can get reinforcements and come back another time and get the charm.”

  Andrew nodded and David retreated into his house. Exhausted and bloody, Andrew and Danny made their way back to P.A.W.S.

  David sat on the floor of his hallway, panting. His head felt like it was about to explode, though his body was rapidly returning to normal. What was happening to him and why? He needed to get rid of that charm, but didn’t know how.

  “I don’t understand,” said Quentin. “You just let him go?”

  “How do you know? Were you watching us in your scrying bowl?” asked Danny, angrily.

  “Of course I was watching. What do you think?” replied Quentin.

  “You don’t trust me? You think you can do better? You go down there, then.”

  “I might, but first I’m trying very hard to work out what’s going on. It just doesn’t add up. You almost had the charm and then you backed out. Explain it to me, Danny.”

  “It was only the two of us at that moment. Tessa was already hurt and Josh was taking her home. David had already swiped at Andrew and it looked like he was in pain. I thought it was better to cut our losses and regroup.”

  “But what if he disappears? What if he takes the charm and runs away? He has plenty of money, he could go anywhere. And even worse, what if he were to lose control and hurt someone? There could be numerous casualties before we are able to hunt him down.”

&
nbsp; “I don’t think he’ll go anywhere,” said Danny. “I think the power in the amulet scares him as much as it scared us. I think if he knew how, he would willfully dispose of the charm, but its hold on him is too strong. Miri said she had bad dreams when she possessed the amulet, dreams of Alistair, and that was without even wearing the charm. Sooner or later, I believe David is going to destroy himself, well before he can do any lasting damage on anyone else.”

  “Well, keep me informed,” said Quentin. “Okay, Danny?”

  “All right,” Danny said, and walked out the door.

  Danny found Miri sitting by herself in her room. Lilith had apparently gone out with Zamir that evening. He sank down on the bed next to Miri, exhausted.

  “He doesn’t trust me,” he said.

  “Who?” asked Miri

  “Quentin, and that’s crazy, right? If anything, I should distrust him. Hell, I wouldn’t trust him to tell me if it was raining outside.”

  “How’s Tessa?” said Miri, changing the subject. “I heard she was hurt.”

  “She’s with Mrs. Bumsqueak now. It was a nasty gash, but she should be okay. Your uncle sure makes a mean monster.”

  “I think David must be terrified,” reflected Miri. “He’s always been greedy, but now he’s really bitten off more than he can chew. I almost feel sorry for him.”

  “Sorry or not, we do have to get that charm back from him before anything else happens. Any ideas?”

  “I wonder where Cynthia went?” mused Miri. “You did say she wasn’t in the house?”

  “No, no sign of anyone but David.”

  “I hope she’s okay.”

  “Why do you care? I thought they treated you like crap?”

  “They did,” said Miri, “but I met Alistair in his monster incarnation and I don’t wish that on anyone.”

  “We can look, if you’d like. I have a scrying bowl in my room.”