Power Play (Amanda Byrne Book 1)

by Kimberly Keane

  I stood in the lush meadow I usually came to in the Hill Realm. It was dotted with yellow flowers and bordered on all sides by pine trees, elm trees, and any number of other varieties I couldn’t name. The air smelled of rain and life.

  Suzanne like Sleeping Beauty lies

  Not to rise

  Without aid from gods of old

  Healing help from stories told

  Of one fair strong

  Airmid, I call with this song

  “Well met, Amanda.” Airmid appeared, as always, dressed in a simple emerald-green dress covered in a woolen cloak. Her auburn hair, usually loose and flowing around her shoulders, was pulled back at the nape of her neck.

  “Well met, Airmid,” I said as I always did when greeting her. But she didn’t greet me in her normal, graceful manner.

  “You must come and see.” She rushed forward and grasped my hand, tugging me.

  One moment I was in the meadow, the next, I was in a glen. The surrounding trees cast shadows, the sunlight playing with them. A mound of earth stood in the middle of the glen, but it was barren of grass. Plants sprouted about the mound. Airmid knelt and gently cupped the leaves of one of them. She smiled up at me.

  “I’m sorry.” I shook my head. “I don’t understand.”

  “Maich lies here,” she said.

  I recalled the story of her twin brother’s death. Healing herbs grew where he was laid to rest. Airmid had gathered the herbs, but her father, Dian Cecht, scattered them to the wind and much of the healing herb lore had been lost.

  “The herbs are growing again?” I said.

  “Yes, Maich speaks to me through these.”

  “But he’s been gone for centuries.”

  Airmid laughed and the sunshine speckling the forest around us seemed to sparkle brighter. “We are gods.”

  “Will Maich rise again?” I said.

  “Perhaps.” She held her hands together in front of her and clasped them tightly.

  “I shall hope for his safe return,” I said.

  “We shall both hope,” she said. She tilted her head to the side and her auburn hair cascaded over her shoulder. “The curse you once carried is gone.”

  “Yes. A long story I hope to save for another day. I have news.”

  “Speak of it.” She rose and dusted off her knees.

  “Your father knows of our dealings. He visited me.”

  “And yet, you stand before me.”

  “I think I amused him,” I said. “I have agreed to request his services when patients suffer from internal injuries and can be moved to the Well of Sláine for healing.”

  “Has he repaired the well?”

  “It appears so. Even though your father isn’t happy with me, I wish to continue our work with the soldiers who have lost limbs.”

  “As do I.”

  “It would be prudent to gain additional protection,” I said. “I have Scáthach’s agreement on an arrangement.”

  “Tell me.”

  “Suzanne is a young woman who was injured and fell into a coma a number of years ago. Her father hopes that you can heal her. Scáthach would provide protection for you in return for the worship of Suzanne’s father, who would honor Scáthach in return for your gift of healing.”

  “If you haven’t presented this opportunity to my father first, you may risk his anger again in coming to me.”

  “I’ll have to approach him with the next one. Suzanne’s father shot him not too long ago and I believe putting the two of them together again wouldn’t be prudent.”

  She pressed her lips together, nodded, and then tilted her head. “I’ve healed some of these shot-wounds before, correct?”

  “Yes. I’ve called them bullet wounds.”

  “Ah, yes, I remember. Why would this man shot my father?” I didn’t correct her mispronunciation. She preferred it that way. I also thought that she liked to watch how people handled such missteps.

  “You father wanted . . .” I looked at her feet and blushed. “I hired Daniel, Suzanne’s father, to protect me and he tried to protect me from Dian Cecht’s advances.”

  Airmid rolled her eyes and shook her head as if rape were just one of those things men did. It reminded me that, despite my fondness for her, she was still a goddess. One that could be as dangerous as the next deity.

  “Take care. Even though your logic is sound, my father isn’t known for his patience. He is known for his temper.”

  “I will. What about Suzanne and the agreement?”

  “Scáthach’s battle skills are legendary, and as you suggested, one can’t have too much protection.”

  “I don’t know the extent of Suzanne’s injuries as my sight is limited. I am visiting her and my body rests where she does.”

  “Shall we have a look at her?” Airmid said.

  “Más é do thoil é.” I curtsied.

  I returned to the hospital room and Airmid stood beside me. Daniel stood quickly and kicked his chair away from him. I could tell when he realized that she was another deity by the tension leaving his body.

  “Daniel Geist, meet Airmid, healing goddess of the Celts.”

  “Nice to meet you.”

  Airmid smiled and inclined her head, acknowledging his greeting. She stepped to the bed and looked down upon Suzanne. “She is a beautiful young woman.”

  “Can she be healed?” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Do you favor the agreement with Daniel and Scáthach?”

  “Yes.” She looked down at me and the lines in her face smoothed. “You have thought of a deal involving two mortals and two goddesses that benefits all. I will have to remember your negotiation skills should I need them one day.”

  I curtsied. “Shall I work with the doctors here and verify that the time of their choosing to heal Suzanne is to your satisfaction?”

  She nodded once. “Slán agus beannacht leat. Goodbye and blessing upon you,” she said and was gone.

  In a daze, Daniel righted the chair, sat down, and took Suzanne’s hand in his. “You’re going to be okay.” His voice cracked, and he bowed his head.

  I found myself behind him and wrapped my arms around him, leaning forward and resting my head against his. I thought he might pull away. Instead he grabbed my forearm with his free hand. We sat like that for a long while, almost like we were the family in the picture.

  Shirley arranged to have the doctor meet Daniel and me at his next opportunity. She suggested we wait in the lunch room; it was a busy day and the doctor would be more likely to meet with us if we were near coffee. A man after my own heart.

  I went back to Suzanne’s room. Daniel’s eyes were closed, and he was stroking her hand, saying something under his breath. I couldn’t make out the words, but I could tell it was the same thing over and over. I said Daniel’s name twice before he looked up and in my direction.

  “Suzanne’s doctor will meet with us as soon as he can, which Shirley suggested would be quicker if we go to the cafeteria. We should probably get something to eat anyway.”

  “I can’t believe it,” he said. “I just . . . It has to work. This time it has to work.”

  “It will.” I took his arm and coaxed him to stand. Daniel seemed to be a shadow of the man I’d met in Ethan’s apartment. He didn’t even stand straight, but hunched as if he were Sisyphus watching the boulder roll down the hill. I now understood what Daniel was trying to tell me about separating bodyguarding from everything else. I doubted he’d even notice if Rick were in the room, and thanked the gods and goddesses that this was a surprise trip. I hoped that Rick found it impossible to follow us here.

  “Suzanne,” I said, “we’ll be back soon. We’re going to get something to eat.”

  Midnight blue flowed around her and spoke of her sadness.

  I let go of Daniel’s arm and picked up Suzanne’s hand. “It’s okay. Your dad will be back. And soon, you can come back to him.”

  The blue faded and her aura became a deeper peach than I had previously
seen on her.

  * * * * * * *

  Daniel sat in a plastic chair in the cafeteria. His bodyguard skills had returned, and we sat in the corner, our backs to the wall. I had a cup of coffee; Daniel was empty-handed. So much for getting something to eat.

  “She’s coming back,” he said again. Maybe he wasn’t completely back.

  “Yes,” I said. “We only have to figure out when.”

  “How long will it take?”

  “I haven’t seen Airmid heal this type of injury before, so I’m not sure. But based upon the other healings I’ve attended, I would say it would be no longer than two hours.”

  “Why do we need to talk to her doctor?”

  “He should be made aware of the situation. Also, I’ve found it’s easier if the doctor witnesses the healing. It saves time, questions, and a whole slew of tests,” I said. “That and usually they want to attend.”

  “A miracle,” he said.

  “That it is.”

  Daniel slipped back into terseness, and I drank my second cup of coffee in silence. I was just about to give in and break it with some inane comment about cafeteria food when the doctor finally joined us. Daniel introduced us, and the doctor took a seat.

  “I understand you’d like to try a new procedure with Suzanne,” Dr. Amnet said.

  “Yes,” Daniel said and looked at me. “I’m not sure how to describe it.”

  I took the hint and jumped in. “I’m a psychic who is able to work with the gods and goddesses of old. One of the goddesses has agreed to heal Suzanne.”

  Dr. Amnet froze. He sat silently for a moment and then looked around the cafeteria, his eyes a bit wide. I was familiar with this look. It was one that I always interpreted as saying “someone, anyone, help me get away from this lunatic.” I sighed. One day I hoped to meet with a doctor for the first time and not have that reaction. Even so, I couldn’t blame them. I’d heard the same things from pseudo psychics and what I had to say still sounded as unreal and fantastic to my own ears as what the fakes spouted.

  “Before you think I’m crazy”—I rummaged through my purse, looking for my business card—“please contact Dr. William McElvane in Las Vegas. He’s the doctor with whom I most recently worked and can vouch for me. If you’d like more references, I can provide them.” I pulled a card from my purse, borrowed the doctor’s pen that stuck up from his shirt pocket, and wrote Dr. McElvane’s contact information on the back.

  The doctor nodded slowly, his eyes still too wide.

  “If you’re available, the goddess and I would like you to be present for the healing. Now, if you’ll excuse me for a moment.” I set the card with the contact information next to his pen and picked up my purse. “Would you please point me to the nearest ladies’ room?”

  The doctor pointed, and I thanked him.

  “Daniel, I’ll meet you in the waiting room outside of long-term care.” I left and headed in the direction the doctor had indicated. I didn’t need to use the ladies’ room; I needed an excuse to get the doctor alone with Daniel. I wasn’t sure what Daniel would say. I didn’t think he’d admit to sparring with a goddess and seeing her realm for himself, but I was sure he could convince the doctor of our plan one way or another.

  The fact that I pulled this off spoke volumes to Daniel’s emotions and his need to help his daughter. He’d been more than diligent at every opportunity. Hell, it was the first time outside of a bathroom that I’d been by myself for more than a minute.

  The waiting room was small. Chairs lined the walls, and an ancient television was mounted in a corner near the ceiling. I drifted off to sleep despite how uncomfortable the chairs were. I awoke to the sound of trumpets, barely keeping myself from falling off my chair.

  “Huh.” Daniel was standing in front of me, holding the magical dog tag in his hand. “It does work.”

  I hadn’t drifted to an alternate realm, but the calling spell worked wherever I was; it used the sound and feeling to let me know I was wanted, and apparently it was strong enough to wake me from sleep.

  Almost falling on my face was not a nice way to wake up. “I told you it does.” I stood and stretched, took a couple of deep breaths, and then sat back down.

  Daniel sat next to me. “The doc’s on board. He told me Suzanne may be disoriented if she wakes. She’s going to need me around for a few days until she gets adjusted. And . . . if she asks about her mother.”

  Daniel hadn’t said that much to me since before we boarded the plane for Sherman, and I gaped at him for a moment. Then I gave in to the need to ask. “What happened to her mother?”

  “She died in the same accident that put Suzanne in a coma.”

  “I’m so sorry.” I fell back on my inadequate condolence. “When is the doctor available for the healing?”

  “I haven’t asked him yet.”

  “Why not?”

  “Have you forgotten about the nut case that’s after you?”

  “No.” My voice was flat. I hadn’t forgotten, but I had tried not to think about it.

  “We’ll have to schedule it after . . .” Daniel’s voice trailed off.

  Heat crawled up my body and into my face. He was postponing healing his daughter to protect me; he was putting me before his daughter. I pulled at my collar. A long time ago I swore that I’d never allow my needs to be put before those of a child and I’d never broken that promise. I’d seen too many children hurt by the selfishness of their parents. In the news, down the street, in my own home. I launched out of my chair and stalked to the coffee pot that sat in the corner of the waiting room. I poured myself a cup and grimaced at the taste of the lukewarm sludge. “We need a permanent solution to my problem with Rick.”

  “I know.”

  “We need one quickly.”

  “I know.”

  My heart raced at what I was about to do, but I still had to do it. Even if it cost me my life. “Schedule Suzanne’s healing for two weeks out.”

  Daniel furrowed his brow. “I can’t. Not until you’re safe.”

  “I’ll find another way to be safe.”

  “How?”

  “It didn’t occur to me at first, and I don’t want to have to resort to this, but I’m aware that magic can be used offensively. I’ll try to get creative, and if I can’t come up with something, I know a few people in the psychic community. I’m sure they can.”

  He raised an eyebrow at me.

  “What?”

  “You don’t seem the type to . . . hurt someone.”

  “If it’s a choice between that or not helping your daughter, I’ll do what needs to be done. Rick and Mr. Bradley have hurt me, and I’ve already done something I’m not proud of because of that. I won’t run away if it means someone’s child will be hurt. I won’t let him take that from me too.” I straightened my back. My head tingled, and I thought I could feel the blood tear through my veins. Had there been a sword handy, I would have held it up, shook it, and bellowed.

  “I’m not going to let him hurt you again.”

  “I’m not going to let him stop us from helping Suzanne.”

  Daniel nodded slowly and pursed his lips. “There’s another way.”

  “What way?”

  “It’ll be dangerous for you.” He shook his head. “No. It’s wrong. I can’t do that to you.”

  I stepped closer to him and tilted my head so I could look at his face. “This has to end. Everything’s dangerous to me now. I can’t do it forever. And I won’t do it if it means Suzanne has to be in that coma longer. I’ll give it another couple of weeks and then I’ll fire you. I’ll find someone else or handle the matter myself.”

  He pursed his lips. “You shouldn’t handle it yourself. That kind of thing . . . changes you.”

  “When it comes to children being harmed, especially if my actions are contributing, you’d be surprised what I can pull off. So, it’s your plan or mine. If we go with yours, what do I need to do?”

  “Nothing.”

  I furrowed my
brows, confused.

  “Rick will come to you. We have to wait, and I have to give him some planned openings.”

  “What do I do?”

  “You don’t do anything. You’re the bait.”

  My heart skipped a beat, but steadied when I remembered Suzanne’s face. I knew enough to know that this wasn’t foolproof. That it could go horribly wrong. That I might end up at the lunatic’s tender mercies and have to figure something out. And the alternative was keeping Airmid from healing Suzanne. Keeping her separate from her father and from her life. Because of me.

  If it worked, it would solve the problem. If it didn’t, well, let’s just say I had some calls to make. It was a good thing to be prepared should the entire thing go south, even if it were only a last resort. I’d never hurt someone like that before. Like Daniel suggested, I could only imagine what it would do to me. And then it dawned on me what he was offering.

  “You’re thinking of doing what you’re advising me not to.”

  He nodded.

  “It won’t change you?”

  “I won’t let him hurt you. Not when I can stop it.” His eyes slid from mine. “And I’ve been down that road before. Enough times that one more won’t mean much.”

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  The plane trip to Las Vegas was blessedly uneventful and quiet. I closed my eyes and thanked the universe that there hadn’t been any crying children on the plane. And, wonder of wonders, there had been a few moments where I had been by myself. It may have only been to go to the bathroom on the plane, but I’d take it.

  The short respite and the fact that I was going to live my life, despite the risk, gave me a renewed sense of control and power.

  Before we checked in to the hotel, I glanced at Daniel from the corner of my eye. He’d rested his back against a wall and was surveying the room. I had tried to forget how his lips and body felt against mine, but I was fighting a losing battle; sleeping in a bed scant feet from his wasn’t going to help the situation. I may have been willing to live my life, but Daniel was right, taking stupid risks wasn’t the way to do it. I was safer if he were in the room with me, even if I was struggling with my attraction to him.