“Shit!” came from more than one person. People scurried over to the man lying on the ground with the camera in pieces next to him. He hadn’t fallen from much of a height and appeared to be okay, just a little shaken up. The camera, on the other hand, wouldn’t be recording anything for a while.
“Wow. That’s like the fifth time something like this has happened,” Anne said from behind me. “And every time it has to be something magical, but I didn’t feel a thing. Did you?”
I shook my head. “No, but I’m far enough away that I wouldn’t have picked up on anything subtle and it doesn’t take a lot just to move some dirt. I read in the paper they think it’s ghosts. If that’s the case, there wouldn’t be anything to pick up on, would there?”
“No, but I honestly don’t think it’s ghosts. I’ve lived in New Orleans all my life and this house has never been haunted. I doubt they’d start now. You must be Earth. I couldn’t move dirt without attracting attention to save my life. Unless I just created a mudslide or something.”
So she was probably Water. In a way, that made sense. My “textbook” said most Water element folks tended to be really sensitive to emotions, meaning they’d pick up on sexual vibes. And…anger and animosities.
“So, if this has been happening and you think it’s got something to do with magic, who do you think is responsible for it?” I asked.
“Oh, hell. Any number of them. Probably a third of the crew are witches or wizards and I saw at least one elf hanging around which, by the way, was weird. And just like any workplace, there are romances, broken romances, jockeying for positions. Except for the main players, we’re all local and have worked together more than once.
“Why are you so interested?”
I shrugged. “This whole movie thing fascinates me. There are so many people behind the scenes that you just don’t think about when you’re watching a film, you know? And there’s all the problems this one has encountered. I read the entertainment magazines and haven’t ever read of a movie being cursed like this one seems to be.”
At that moment, Gregory touched my shoulder from behind. “May I have a cup of coffee, black, please?” he said to Anne.
After he’d been served, he gently turned me around. “Take a walk with me.”
“What’s up?” I asked after he’d guided me to a secluded spot, away from the hubbub of the latest catastrophe.
“Vincent saw our mysterious elf hanging around just a few minutes ago. Shortly before the camera accident. And although it’s not publicly known nor does he look like it, the assistant director who was mentioned in that article you read is half elf. I think we may have found our connection to the incidents here but that still doesn’t explain what happened to Ev.”
“So now what do we do?”
“We don’t do anything. Since I can’t track Ev, I’m not able to do anything here. I’m going to call Nelion when we get back to the hotel and tomorrow morning, we’re headed home until someone tells me something I can work with.”
“But…”
“But what? No one here that I can find knows anything about his disappearance. Until someone, probably Alberon, gets close enough to remove the masking spell, I can’t find him. And if they’re that close, they’ve found him. We’re just spinning our wheels. Unless you have other ideas?”
I didn’t. I felt so helpless. I’d had no dreams that could help someone with way more experience than me bring my boss home. I sighed.
“I guess you’re right. I just don’t like leaving finding Ev in someone else’s hands, you know?”
“I feel the same. His safety is my responsibility and even though this solo trip was his idea, I feel as if I’ve let him down. But the elves are involved and they are nothing if not resourceful, with a magic much more powerful than mine.
“Come. I’ve called for a taxi to take us back to the hotel. It should be out front shortly.”
I waved at Anne as we hurried past the catering tent. Perhaps if we’d been able to stay longer I would have made a new friend, but such is life.
Back at the hotel, Gregory once again warded the room and I listened in on his side of the conversation as he told Nelion his suspicions.
“There is nothing more we can do here so I am leaving it in your hands and returning home. Please do call me with any updates,” he closed, hit the “end” button and immediately dialed other numbers to arrange for our flight home and then hotel checkout.
The following morning was a flurry of activity. Gregory gave Fudge a shove through the ether to send him home and immediately followed with Fudge’s accoutrements. We hurriedly packed everything else, checked out of the hotel and climbed into a cab for the relatively short ride to Lakefront Airport where we boarded one of those teensy jets that scared the bejeezus out of me for the flight home.
Fudge stayed in my mind the whole trip, keeping me from wigging out. His “voice” did not diminish with distance. “I do not understand why you seem calm during some flights and not others,” he complained.
“You’ve never flown in an airplane before yesterday, have you?” I asked.
“No. When I have needed to travel long distances in a short period of time, which has only been during this lifetime, there has been a suitable Air element to help. Why?”
“I don’t know if I can explain it, then.”
“Try.” He was making an effort to distract me, but it wasn’t working. I was still making a conscious effort to ignore my stomach.
“Large planes, what we usually call jumbo jets, fly higher and don’t encounter as much turbulence. These small jets don’t have that advantage.”
“I understand they tell you this turbulence is just potholes in the air. You do not have difficulty driving on uneven roads. What is the difference?”
I heaved a sigh, which got Gregory’s attention.
“Are you okay?” he asked me.
“As okay as I can be in a small jet, yes,” I replied with a grimace. “I’m trying to explain the difference between flying in a jumbo jet and one of these deathtraps to Fudge.”
Gregory chuckled. “Good luck with that! We’ll be safely on the ground in less than an hour. I know you can hang on until then.”
I turned my attention back to Fudge with another sigh. “I know it’s irrational. I know it. But I haven’t been able to convince myself there’s nothing to fear.”
“Meditate? I hear humans love to do that. Ommmm…”
I snorted. To myself – and Fudge, that is. Out loud would have brought stares from the other five passengers. “When have you ever known me to meditate?”
Fudge continued. “Or how about mad, passionate sex? That would definitely distract you.”
“With whom? And in front of everyone else on this contraption? I don’t think so. Next idea?”
“You like the wizard, do you not? And you have read stories about sex in those tiny bathrooms, so that would give you privacy.”
I’m ninety-eight percent certain I turned beet red. “FUDGE! This is not a conversation I want to have with you!”
“I am just trying to help.”
“Well, sex, especially with Gregory, isn’t on the agenda. Think of something else.”
“Word games? I will say something, and you say the first thing you think of. I’ll start. κάνω σεξ.”
“What? What the hell was that?”
“I am sorry. I forgot you do not speak Greek. At least not yet. In English. To have sex…”
Gregory nudged me. “What are you two talking about? You’re blushing.”
I elbowed him back.
“Fudge, what the hell got you on this subject? And drop it!” I thought back and immediately said “Nothing” to Gregory. This was a conversation I had no intention of repeating.
I felt the plane lose altitude and the flight attendant told us to prepare for landing.
“You were distracted, were you not? Your irrational fear did not upset your stomach any further. I believe I can count myself
a success.”
I’m sure he was preening himself back in the apartment. “Yes, okay. You’re right. But next time, can you pick a different subject, please?”
I heard a snicker and felt him withdraw as the wheels hit the tarmac. Now that his job was done, it was more than likely naptime.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Two cabs,” Gregory said as we left the plane. “You go back to the office. I have to go to MSP to get the car.”
I left my suitcase at the bottom of the stairs to the office. If we had a visitor who wondered about it, so be it. I couldn’t think of a single reason to haul it up and back down again.
“What are you doing back? Did you find Ev?” Sally asked as I walked in the door. Shit. I’d forgotten to call her to tell her we were coming home.
“Hang on. I need more coffee,” I said over my shoulder on the way to the kitchen. I emptied the pot into a mug and started a fresh batch before walking back into the reception area and sinking into one of the ogre-sized guest chairs. Feeling somewhat dwarfed, I scooted my butt forward so I was sitting on the edge and proceeded to recount what had happened over the last few days.
“Wow. That’s all I can think of to say,” she told me.
“Yeah. I’m not feeling too good about the situation, but I don’t know what else to do. So, anything earth-shattering happen?”
“Nothing you don’t know about. I was just going to send you an email about starting payroll but since you’re here…”
“You go ahead and do it. I’m sure you left a huge pile of crap on my desk and I may as well start whittling it down. But once you’re done, go home for a couple of days. You’ve earned it.”
She grimaced. “Nah. Jack’s out of town again and I’d just be bored to tears sitting at home. I’ll see you again tomorrow. I can at least catch the phones for you.”
I once again thanked the Universe for sending Sally to me. She was good enough to completely take over my job if needed but didn’t want or have to work full time. It was a perfect arrangement.
The afternoon passed swiftly as I started getting caught up. By four-forty-five, I’d signed off on the payroll, cut the to-do pile in half and was yawning. I was thinking about calling it a day when I heard the outer door open and a dreamy baritone voice intone, “Good afternoon, Mrs. Morgens. I understand Miss McCollum is back. Might I have word with her?”
How the hell did Perchaladon know I was back? Did he have a bug planted in the office or something? And what did he want with me? Time to find out.
I rose from my desk and walked into the reception area. “I heard my name,” I said. “Is there something I can do for you?”
“Why, yes!” he turned to me with a smile. “I was wondering if you would accompany me to dinner tonight.”
What the actual fuck! Dinner with him? Why?
My confusion must have shown on my face because he continued, “I enjoyed our dance the other evening and thought we might get to know one another better.”
“Dance?” Sally mouthed at me from behind him, her eyebrows nearly up to her hairline. I was reminded I’d forgotten to tell her about that evening.
“Ummm,” I spluttered.
“I cannot protect you against elven magic,” Fudge said, obviously awake from whatever naps he had taken.
“Not now,” I thought back. “I can’t have two conversations at once.”
“Please.” Perchaladon said.
What the hell. Maybe I’d be able to find out something useful. “Of course. That sounds lovely. Just let me shut it down for the night and get my purse.”
He smiled and leaned against the wall, obviously ready to wait for me.
“I repeat. I cannot protect you against elven magic from a distance.”
“I understand,” I said as I powered my computer off. On an impulse, I quickly sent Gregory a text as the screen told me it was shutting down.
“Elf P here. Wants to take me to dinner. I said yes. Any suggestions?”
I turned the phone to vibrate only, slid it in the back pocket of the jeans I was wearing, grabbed my purse and walked back out to the uncomfortable silence between Sally and Perchaladon.
“As always, forward the phones to me when you leave,” I told Sally and with a grimace, “Sorry, but with Ev out of town, I have to be on call,” to Perchaladon.
She still had a quizzical look on her face but nodded. He said, “I understand. Shall we?” and opened the door for me.
On the way down the stairs, I said, “I’m sorry I’m not dressed for going out. I came directly from the airport.”
“Don’t worry about your attire,” he said, and “I presume this is yours?” as we passed my suitcase.
“Yes. There was no time to go home so I just left it there. There’s nothing I need in it, so I’ll get it later.”
A liveried chauffeur was standing with the limo door open as we exited. The guy obviously wasn’t an elf – he wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous and I could see the rounded ear tops sticking out of the sides of his head. No long, silky hair, either. Just a buzz-cut under the uniform cap. Once we were ensconced inside, he returned to the driver’s seat with his shoulders held in an expectant pose and his head cocked toward the passenger compartment.
“I confess I do not know your food preferences. Is there something in particular you crave, or something you abhor?”
I tried to at least look relaxed. “I really am a basic-food kind of girl. Nothing fancy, nothing really too spicy. I’m the type that eats to live rather than lives to eat. If that helps.”
“Excellent. I concur,” he exclaimed, then gave the driver instructions to drive to Lord Fletcher’s, a restaurant on Lake Minnetonka known for its relaxed atmosphere and good food. The privacy glass slid closed.
Perchaladon leaned against the window and stretched his long legs out. “So, Miss McCollum, Amy, if I might, why are you, an attractive witch, working for an ogre?”
“You asked me that question once before, remember? My answered hasn’t changed. It’s a good job. Why are you, an elf, so interested in me, a witch? I was told elves don’t normally go outside their own species.”
“And I answered that question, too. I find other species interesting and don’t feel the need to be as insular as many of my kind do.”
Okay. Another tack. “Why are you still hanging around? Ev told you he wasn’t interested in investing in your company. Most people do take ‘no’ for an answer.”
He chuckled. “That company has been fully-funded. I do not need your ogre’s money. But is not the fact I find you attractive reason enough to keep ‘hanging around,’ as you put it?” He used air quotes so really was up on the latest human(ish) things.
Well, shit. That didn’t work, either, except to make me blush. Just at that moment, my butt buzzed. “Excuse me,” I said, trying to hide my discomfort. I pulled my phone out to see I had two text messages.
“Do not bring up father. Or New Orleans. Have a good time?” said the first, Gregory’s reply to my earlier.
“Charlie said you got into a limo with an elf? Call me when you can!” This from Cassandra. That one I would answer later.
“Sorry. Business,” I said as I slid my phone back into my pocket.
“Of course. By the way, where is your employer? And did you enjoy your days off?”
“He is out of town on business and my trip was also business, so no, it really wasn’t enjoyable.”
Perchaladon seemed to muse on this last. “But you were seen dancing in New Orleans with that wizard, your boss’ guard. Wasn’t that fun?”
I got even more uncomfortable. First, he knew I was back. And now this. “Are you keeping tabs on me? I hadn’t announced my arrival home to anyone and now you knew I was in New Orleans. That’s kind of creepy, you know?”
He lowered his eyes. “My apologies but I am not watching you. A business associate saw you in New Orleans. I happened to be at Flying Cloud to meet another associate when you disembarked from your flight.”
“And how did your business associate know it was me?”
Perchaladon cleared his throat. “He is more than an associate, he’s also a good friend. We keep each other updated on our personal as well as professional lives so he knew of my interest in you and your connection to Evander. Both you and the wizard were known to us from our research on Evander prior to my approaching him. My friend put two and two together. Nothing more.”
So, there was no keeping New Orleans under wraps as Gregory had hoped. “This friend of yours wouldn’t happen to be blond, would he?”
His eyes widened. “Why yes, he is. How did you know? He said you didn’t see him while he was in the bar.”
Before I could answer, the car stopped and the chauffeur opened the door for me. Phew. That would give me time to think.
My thoughts were diverted. It may have been mid-week, but it was the height of summer. How were we going to get a table at such a popular spot? I needn’t have worried.
“Good evening, Perchaladon. Your table is waiting,” the maître d’ greeted us. “This way, please.”
We followed him through the dining room, where His Handsomeness turned a few ladies’ heads, out to a screened-in porch with seating. I sat in the chair held for me and Perchaladon seated himself across the table. The view of the lake was spectacular and the music drifting in from their completely-outdoor seating area was pleasant but not deafening.
Admiring the view and ordering drinks gave me a little more time to get my thoughts together. He appeared to be genuinely surprised I knew his friend was blond. Therefore, he probably didn’t know of Ev’s connection to the movie. Perhaps not even of his friend’s involvement there.
“Do not trust him.”
“Well, duh,” I thought back. “I don’t know him that well and you know I don’t trust easily anyways. Take a chill pill.”
“Why would I take a pill? Is there something wrong with me I am not aware of? Tell me. I can fix this body easily.”
“It’s an expression. It means ‘relax’.”
Transformation! Page 9
