"If you're so damn sick, where the hell are you?" Miles mumbled. "Your expertise is needed." And he hung up.
I rang the prime minister's direct line in hopes of bypassing snippy little Miles. It worked.
"Hello, Prime Minister."
"Hello, Bronwyn, how are you feeling?" He was always so polite.
"I'm much better, thank you." It was the truth. It'd been almost three weeks since the attack, and I felt stronger than ever.
"Do you think you might be ready for a new assignment in a week or so?"
Wow. Hadn't really planned to go back for another two weeks. I wanted to work, but I wasn't sure my body was up to it.
"I wouldn't ask so soon, but I need your help with Zane."
"Did something happen?" I realized I hadn't called to check in with Callie for a couple of days. The last time she spoke things had been quiet, and she promised to let me know if the spook squad got anything from the black sludge at the pub.
Usually I did mental checks on Azir and the PM on a daily basis. I hadn't been able to use my magic in so long, I'd gotten out of practice.
"No, it's just that he has to come that way to prepare for his new concert and Callie has to return to Australia. Seems there's a problem only she can deal with and they need her back."
"So do you need me to come to London on Friday?"
"No, this one is a bit closer to home for you. Zane is preparing for the new tour and it begins in Los Angeles. Would it be possible for you to meet him there at the end of the week?"
I thought about it for a few seconds. By the end of the week I'd be even better than I was now. I still get tired, but I'd been tired before on assignments and managed.
"When does his plane get in?"
"He's scheduled for noon. I haven't told him any of this. He seems to think that since Callie took care of those warlocks the threat is over, but I have a feeling it's only just begun."
"Why do you think that sir, if you don't mind my asking?" I moved around the office shuffling papers. I'd really let things stack up while I was sick.
"Just a feeling. Aren't you the one who always tells me to follow my instincts where threats are concerned?"
"Yes, that sounds like me. Okay, I can't be there before noon. Garnout has to check me out on Friday morning before I can leave. He wants it to be a full three weeks. But I'll have Simone, my friend the demon slayer, meet Zane. She'll take him to his home. I'll be there a couple of hours after."
"That's acceptable. Simone? Have I met her?" He sounded distracted.
"Trust me sir, if you'd met her, you'd remember. But she knows Zane. She's the one he asked about in New York."
"Oh yes, that's where I remember the name. I'll have Miles send the itinerary when we have it complete."
"Yes, sir."
"And Bronwyn, thank you. Sheik Azir and I will meet you there by the end of the second week."
"What?" I tried to ask, but he'd hung up.
I sighed. I have to build my stamina, my resistance to Azir, learn to use my new power and get myself into fighting shape in just one week.
That's when it dawned on me. I pulled my iPod out of my purse to check the addresses and phone numbers. Sure enough, there it was. The number on Sam's cell phone. It was Azir who had called him out of my bed.
I couldn't imagine any scenario other than Azir had asked for help with one of his humanitarian missions. It's noble of them both, but if Azir gets Sam killed, I'll have to hurt him in return.
It also explains why Sam acted so strange that morning. Whenever Azir is involved in any of our conversations things tend to get weird.
So they were off saving people. Azir does it all the time. He pulls women and children out of atrocious circumstances and gives them better lives.
I'd had a chance to meet a few of the women he'd saved when I visited his home in Dubai. They nearly worshipped the man for all he had given them. Their stories… well, that those women hadn't lost their faith in humanity was some small miracle.
Okay, so Sam's off saving the world. I do it all the time. I guess I have to give the guy a break.
9 P. M.
Kira's a friggin' genius. I swear she learns faster than anyone I've ever seen in my life. Well, with the exception of Simone.
Within an hour of showing her how to look but not look—that's the secret of aura reading—she was doing it. She could even see Casper's aura. And animals are lot more difficult than people.
We drove into town and sat in Lulu's eating chocolate cream pie. (I swear I'll start eating healthy tomorrow.) She read every single patron correctly. Amazing.
I don't know how I ended up with all of these brilliant friends, but I'm feeling a bit blessed today.
The good news is she's beginning to accept her gifts as a talent and not so much a curse. I explained that these things come to us for a purpose, and she'll soon discover what that is.
I dropped her back at her house.
She reached over and hugged me. "Thank you for being my friend." She smiled. "For the first time in weeks I don't feel like I have a hundred pound weight sitting on my shoulders. I can breathe."
"Thank you. I don't know what I would have done without you and Caleb these last few weeks."
It was just a big old lovefest and we both got a little teary-eyed.
She sniffled. "So tomorrow after work I'll come over and we'll do yoga and we'll work on the meditation thing. Then I'll watch while you practice making earthquakes."
I waved as she got out the door. "Sounds like a plan. See ya tomorrow."
Now, if Sam would call and let me know he's alive and well, this would be a great day. Not going to happen, but a girl can wish.
* * *
Chapter Sixteen
Saturday, noon
Beverly Hills, California
Drugged, pissed-off witches: 1
Whoohoo! I love L.A. Yep, been here twenty-four hours and so far I've slept twenty-three of them. Oh, and in the first half hour I was shot.
Okay, it was a tranquilizer gun, but still. Come on.
Garnout wouldn't let me take my own plane. He was worried about my power suddenly jumping out and making me crash or something. I'm also not exactly feeling my best. I was so much better until yesterday.
Caleb was still in New York, so I had to take a commercial flight. I get off the plane and since I flew into Burbank, you disembark outside. Being the lucky person that I am, I was shot by a tranq dart meant for some demon, in a human disguise. He was on my plane, but hadn't caused any trouble. The spook squad was after him and they hit me and three others, totally missing the demon, according to Simone.
She and Zane were waiting just outside baggage claim for me with the limo. When the demon came out, she captured him. When I didn't make it out, they sent security to find me. Long story short, they found me in the on-site medical facility, passed out.
I woke up about a half hour ago to find myself inside a bedroom decorated in gold and sapphire blue. Not me, but very elegant.
Turns out it's another of Zane's mansions. He and Simone had been waiting for me to wake up.
I found them downstairs in the kitchen eating lunch.
"Oh, look it's a witch." Zane did a fake scream.
"Cute." I poked him in the shoulder.
"What the hell happened to me?" I grabbed a roll and sat down in the huge breakfast room. Everything was white and black down here. A Zen kitchen and breakfast room. Only in L.A.
They told me the story about the demon and I rolled my eyes. "God, only I could be accidentally shot by a spook squad."
"Well, to be fair, Bron, you send off magic like a crazy person, even when you aren't trying to. I can see why they would get confused." Simone shrugged.
"Hey, you're supposed to be on my side, demon slayer."
She laughed. "Don't get all witchy on me, I am on your side. So, look, I've got appointments tomorrow for both of us with Sir David. And then we are going to Maxie to get our eyebrows done."
She walked around the table and hugged me. "I'm so glad you're here. We're going to have fun, but right now I have to stop by the university to run some numbers, then I'm off to find a demon nest in Huntington Beach. These assholes have been terrorizing swimmers for a week." She pushed on her sunglasses and headed out the door.
Zane sipped his wine. "Did she say university? I didn't think she taught anymore."
It surprised me that he knew so much about her. Simone's good about keeping her lives separate and secret. Her main job is as a demon slayer, but as I said before, she's brilliant with the math. She is Rain Man.
"She doesn't teach, but she's got a bunch of students helping her with research. Of course they have no idea she's having them search for demon nests."
Zane laughed, then turned serious. "I'm glad you're feeling better. I don't think I've ever been so frightened as when you passed out in the kitchen in London. I thought you died. Matt whipped out his phone, but before he could dial, that wizard was there and whisked you away. I'd never seen anything like it. I'm sorry your illness was caused by the demon that attacked us. I feel like all of this is my fault."
I reached across and patted his arm. "Don't worry about it. Honestly, it's a part of the job. If it hadn't been that situation it would have been another one." I yawned. I needed a shower, a serious meal and to rest just awhile longer.
"Let me get you something to eat." It was as if he read my mind.
I waved him away. "Sit down. I'll get it." And I did. The fridge was packed with lots of healthy choices. Fruit, fresh vegetables and about a hundred bottles of Fiji water. I went for the chocolate pudding and frozen White Castle burgers I found. Popped the burgers in the microwave and put them on a fancy china plate with black and white checks. If you stared too long, it would make you dizzy. The pudding went in a bowl with the same pattern.
Zane was at the table talking on his cell phone. I plopped down and dug in. The food tasted so good. I ate about six burgers before I looked up and saw Zane watching me.
"How do you stay so tiny when you eat such an atrocious diet?" He made a weird frowny face. "My God, woman, pudding and hamburgers."
I threw up my hands. "I was hungry, what's the big deal?"
"Most of the time when someone is trying to feel better they eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. If I ate like you I'd crash and burn onstage. I'd never build any kind of stamina or strength."
"Hey, you build your stamina your way, I'll build it mine. It's carbs, protein." I held up the bowl of pudding. "And dairy. Not a damn thing wrong with it."
He grimaced again. "I've got to meet the guys in the studio out back. Why don't you come around a little later?"
"Okay. Hey, I thought you said Zoë was going to travel with you for a while."
He turned back from the door and smiled. "She is, but she wants to finish out the school year. I promised we could hire a tutor, but she really wanted to stay. I know she's lonely, but I don't know what else to do."
I smiled at him. He really was trying. "I'm sure she's fine."
The day I met her was still a bit of a blur. It was just a few hours after that I'd passed out in Zane's kitchen. There was something about her, something I'd wanted to tell him when we were alone, but I couldn't remember what it was.
Oh well. I rinsed the dishes and put them in one of the two dishwashers. Then I came back up here for a shower. The sad thing is, I could take another nap. Damn dart. But I need to get back on Zane's case.
A little meditation might help me recharge. It's so hard for me to sit still and clear my mind, but I need to do it right now.
Saturday, 4 P. M.
I visited the studio out back. It's past the pool and down a little path through the gardens. This place is so big, you get lost. I did twice, just taking the wrong paths off of the pool. There's like six of them. One goes to the studio, another goes to a guesthouse, one to the front of the house and I don't know about the others. I finally found the studio on the third try.
Zane and the band were working hard, and I always feel like such an outsider. I decided to head back in and see if I could do a little mental work on his case.
First I wanted to check on little Zoë. After watching her mourn for her parents, it wasn't such a happy prospect tapping into her again.
It was late in the evening but she was awake. She looked up at the ceiling and said, "Hello."
Took me a minute to realize she was talking to me. She could see me in her mind, but projected it out. Interesting. Then I remembered. It was the magic. I wanted to research her birth mother to see if she'd been a witch.
"Hello, Zoë. How are you feeling tonight?"
"Well, thank you." Her polished English accent was polite and soft. "How come I can see you, but you aren't here?"
Good question.
"I'm in America but I wanted to check on you. So, I thought about you and now here I am."
"Oh, like magic." She smiled and it was a glorious thing.
"Yes, just like magic." I grinned.
"Is Uncle Zane with you? Can I see him too? Is he okay?" She sat up in bed and moved her head around as if she were trying to see behind me.
"He's not here right now, but we were just talking about you." That seemed to please her.
"You'll keep him safe, right?" She pointed at me.
"Yes, that's why I'm here. I won't let anyone hurt him."
"Promise?" She looked so sweet I wanted to hug her. Her concern for her uncle was earnest.
"I promise. I can tell you, he misses you terribly."
"Oh, I miss him lots and lots. I need to hug him."
And that made me think. She obviously loved him a great deal, why wouldn't she want to be with him?
"Zoë, why didn't you want to come to America with Uncle Zane?"
She bit her lip and looked down at the bed. A secret. I could probe her mind, but I wanted her to tell me on her own.
She fidgeted just a bit.
"I promise, whatever it is, you can tell me. I'm here to protect you and keep you safe. Even though it might seem like I'm far away."
"Can you do magic to keep the bad lady away?" She looked up at me. Her big doe eyes were saucers of hope.
"What bad lady, honey?" I thought maybe someone at school might be bothering her.
"She says she's my friend, but she's kind of scary. She comes in my dreams. I don't know why, but I think she's the one who hurt my mum and dad. She feels like a monster when she comes in my dreams, but she's nice to me."
I wasn't sure what to say. The child obviously had magical abilities, which would grow to be quite powerful when she was older. It was an amazing feat that she could talk to me as she did now. And she didn't have a clue about her talent.
"Zoë, I know it's kind of scary, but can you think about the lady and show me what she looks like?"
The little girl closed her eyes. And tried to recall a dream. It's hard for any of us, especially a child who is frightened of what she sees. I saw an outline and blond hair. And I got a feeling from the presence. She didn't mean the child harm, but I could see why it would make Zoë uncomfortable. But who would do something like visit a child's dream? Well, besides me. And that was to settle Zane's mind.
When she frowned, I told her to stop thinking about the lady. I didn't want to cause the poor thing any more trauma than she'd already experienced.
"Yes, I can keep the bad lady from coming into your dreams. I'm going to send you a very pretty necklace tomorrow and I want you to never take it off. It will keep anything bad away from you. And if anyone scary does come close, it flashes a big light that will make them go away.
"For tonight, I'll say some words that will help yo
u sleep without any fear of bad guys."
She snuggled down onto her pillow and yawned.
I realized she hadn't answered my original question.
"Zoë, why do you want to stay at school?"
She yawned big this time and stretched. Grabbing her stuffed elephant, she opened her eyes again. "If I'm here, the bad lady stays here. Then she can't get my uncle."
"You sleep tight, and I promise to check in with you every day. If you get scared, you say my name. And just like tonight I'll be there."
"Okay." She closed her eyes.
I whispered a chant and offered her protection. The poor baby thought she was protecting her uncle from the monster.
I hate monsters that prey on children. I'd find this one and destroy it. Zoë would live happily ever after, if I had anything to say about it.
* * *
Chapter Seventeen
Monday, 8 A. M.
Beverly Hills, California
Charms: 4
Spells: 2
I sent the charms to Zoë through a special courier. When Zane came into the house last night, I told him everything.
"I want to bring her here, she shouldn't be going through all of this alone." He pounded the table with his fist. "That child thinks she's protecting me from the monsters by staying away. It's wrong."
His eyes were shiny with unshed tears. Almost made me cry. Any guy who would feel so deeply about a child is okay in my book.
"It may be safer for her there at the school, Zane, at least until we get a better target. This whole thing is a giant mess. There are warlocks, neo-Nazis, and some strange woman invading Zoë's dreams. It doesn't make any sense." I shrugged.
"Well, you may be right about her being safer away from me. But I'm calling the school and sending a team of security guards to watch over her. No one is going to harm my niece."
I touched his shoulder. "On that we both agree."
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