Magic Runes

by Devyn Jayse

  “You knew I wasn’t.” Mateu smirked.

  “I was being polite.” Natalie grinned at him. “And you’re right. Life is more interesting when you’re surprised.”

  “So are you saying you’re bored most of the time?”

  “No. Even when I see what will happen, I don’t know how it’s going to take place so that keeps things exciting.”

  “Psychics.” Mateu rolled his eyes.

  “Are you sure there isn’t something you can help me with?” I tried again from where I stood.

  “You’ll have to work with the agents and figure it out. He’s a good-looking one isn’t he?”

  “I don’t know what you mean.” I tried to ignore the heat rushing to my face.

  Mateu perked up. “There’s a good-looking agent? Is that why you went back? It is, isn’t it?”

  “Now look at what you’ve done,” I said to Natalie crossly.

  She let out a low laugh, which she quickly changed to a cough as I continued to glare at her. Mateu looked back and forth between the two of us. “Well? Which one of you is going to tell me about this agent?”

  “Gargoyles and gossip,” I muttered. I ducked back inside to get Natalie’s tea. By the time I stepped back outside and reached them, I surmised that Natalie had updated Mateu on Agent Adrian.

  I placed the cup of tea on the table across from Natalie and sat down in the opposite armchair. She took a slow sip of the tea and grimaced at how hot it was. I felt the upper corners of my mouth lift in a smile. For a psychic, I would think she would have learned not to do it by now. Yet she still took the early sip every time I served her tea and burned her tongue.

  “Will this Agent Adrian be visiting the store?” Mateu asked.

  “I thought you didn’t want the SBI to come sniffing around.”

  “I thought you didn’t, but it seems I may be wrong.”

  I shook my head. “You’re not wrong.”

  “So how good-looking is this Agent Adrian?” He asked me with a false look of innocence.

  “It’s a little distracting,” I admitted. “He has this magnetic pull. I can tell he has a tremendous reserve of power but I don’t know what it is he that he can do. He’s really annoying.”

  “It’s going to be interesting,” said Natalie.

  “What do you see?”

  “I could answer you but I don’t think you want me to.”

  I felt my cheeks flush again. I had never really thought about what kind of visions Natalie saw. I wondered at the moment if it involved more than a little voyeurism.

  As if she could read my thoughts, Natalie laughed and said, “Don’t be so embarrassed. I don’t get to see many naughty bits.” She attempted another sip of her tea. This time she managed to drink enough of it to drain half the cup.

  Mateu chucked. “It’s about time Carmen went out on a date. It’s been too long, I think she’s forgotten how to do it.”

  I glared at him. “You’re always nagging me to date but do you think it’s easy finding a normal guy?”

  “You don’t need a normal guy. You need a different kind of guy.” Mateu smirked.

  “What does that mean?”

  “You’re asking a lot of questions today.”

  “That’s because you say a lot of things that need to be questioned.”

  “Whoever you wind up with is going to be a match for you. That I can tell you,” Natalie inserted.

  “Have I met that person?”

  “Maybe.”

  I wished I could see what Natalie saw developing between Adrian and I. I didn’t want to result in wasted time and another heartache. I shook my head. I couldn’t afford to have these thoughts. I couldn’t be in a long-term relationship because it would mean having to tell the truth about my family. And the second any man I was involved with knew about them he would disappear in a heartbeat.

  “You’re worth fighting for,” Natalie said over the rim of her teacup.

  For what seemed like the millionth time, I wondered if she had the ability to read minds.

  “No, I don’t have telepathic skills. Your face is pretty expressive.”

  I stuck my tongue out at her.

  Nine

  “Why do you keep going on and on about my needs today?” I asked Mateu the second Natalie left the store.

  “Because you’ve been alone for far too long now.”

  “How does my being single affect you? Why does it bother you?”

  “I don’t make it my mission to get everyone coupled up but I’ve seen you. You need to be with somebody or you become very dark. You don’t have to go through life alone.”

  “I’m enjoying my single life.”

  “You’re burrowing yourself into your work so that you don’t have a personal life. That’s no substitute.”

  “I’m not going to just date the first guy I meet. And I’m not about to date that agent. You said it yourself, it’s best to stay far away from the attentions of the SBI.”

  “Depends on what kind of attentions they are,” the gargoyle snickered.

  “You’re insufferable. I’m old enough to know what I need in my life and it doesn’t matter that he’s good-looking. He’s obnoxious and arrogant and if it wasn’t for the case I wouldn’t go near him.”

  Mateu’s expression became blank in what I liked to call his gargoyle pose.

  “What? Tired of arguing all of a sudden?”

  A cough sounded from behind me and I whirled around. We had been arguing so loudly I hadn’t heard the bell jingle that normally announced a visitor. My mouth went slack and I wished the earth would open and swallow me whole.

  Adrian stood there, a bemused expression on his face. “It’s annoying when gargoyles pretend not to hear you, isn’t it?”

  I opened and closed my mouth a few times struggling to string words together. My mind scrambled to recall what I had said. I wondered how much he had overheard. My cheeks felt like they were on fire. He must have heard that last bit.

  “Uh…yeah.” I was so eloquent. I resisted the urge to kick myself.

  He raised an eyebrow. “The gargoyles I know are unusually chatty.”

  I threw Mateu a glance but the traitor was as still as the stone he was carved of. I had been so taken aback at Adrian’s entrance and what he may have heard me say that it took me a second to realize what was different about him. He didn’t have his trademark frown on his face. He almost appeared pleasant. Then he opened his mouth and my illusions shattered.

  “You need to come with me,” Adrian said.

  “Now?”

  “Yes, now. Is there something else you need to do?”

  The dismissive tone he took raised my hackles.

  “I can’t just leave because you showed up and told me to go.”

  “We have an appointment with Professor Forsberg at the university. I want you to explain what you did with the girl to unravel the spell. Maybe he can help us shed some light on the spell.”

  “Isn’t he the professor that hasn’t been helpful?” I remembered Rafael saying something about that.

  There it was. The frown was back on his face. “He has helped us with some information. You told us more about the rune marks but he’s been a useful resource.”

  He waited for me to say something. When I didn’t budge he said, “You offered to help, but then you didn’t. I’m giving you another opportunity. Do you want to be an SBI consultant, or not?”

  “Not,” I muttered.

  He raised an eyebrow.

  “Fine! But I don’t have to like it.” I moved around the store and collected my handbag. Adrian watched me in silence until I was ready. We headed to the door and he pulled the door open and waited for me to pass. I looked up at him surprised at his gentlemanly manners. His eyebrows furrowed further together. “Are you going to leave or will I have to push you out?”

  I bit back a snarl and stomped out.

  The last thing I heard as I left the store was Mateu’s low chuckle.

  Te
n

  Adrian walked confidently through the university building through the hordes of students. It was the first time I had been there. Even though I had passed it many times on my walks around the city, I had never once set foot on campus. This was the one university that was openly supernatural. Every student was either a supernatural or had family that were.

  We made our way through the halls and up the stairs until we finally reached an office. The door was open and Adrian walked in without knocking. I followed him to see a man sitting behind a desk. The man had dark-rimmed glasses and talking sedately to a young blond woman. Her backpack was on the floor by her feet.

  The woman glanced as us when we entered but the man didn’t look at us, so focused was he in what he was telling her. It wasn’t until he finished giving her instructions that he looked up at Adrian.

  “Agent Adrian, you’re back again.” He got to his feet and nodded at the two of us. “Please have a seat. Petrine was just leaving.”

  The woman in question picked up her backpack and stood up. “Thanks, Professor.”

  As she walked past me I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had seen her before. She looked familiar, but I was pretty certain I didn’t know her. I wondered if she had passed the store on an occasion when Mateu and I people-watched out the window.

  Once the two of us sat down, the professor returned to his seat. He looked at the agent. “What can I help you with today?”

  “Another girl has died,” Adrian said without preamble.

  The professor’s eyebrows rose. “When did this happen?”

  “Yesterday.”

  The professor glanced at me. Adrian followed his look and introduced me. “This is Carmen. She’s working with us as a consultant.”

  “Carmen, this is Professor Sven Forsberg. He’s been integral in helping us assess the type of magic the girls have been subjected to.”

  “Hello.” He extended his hand and I shook it, leaning over the desk to reach him. “I’m pleased to meet you. I only wish it were under better circumstances.”

  “Same here,” I replied. I let go of his hand and settled back in my chair.

  “Are you familiar with rune magic?”

  “A little bit,” I hedged.

  “She helped unravel an active spell. Unfortunately the girl subjected to it left so we didn’t have a chance to study it further.”

  “Oh?” The professor narrowed his eyes as he looked me over again. Academics were strange when it came to territory. He probably felt threatened that I was encroaching on his role in the case.

  Adrian placed a folder on the professor’s desk. The professor pulled back the cover and removed the photographs from within. After a brief glance, I looked away preferring to study the contents of the professor’s office. I didn’t need to see the body of the girl to be reminded of how I had failed her.

  The office had two bookcases. One was filled with books, lined up in an orderly manner. Various trinkets were strewn across the shelves. I was surprised to recognize a few from my time in Iceland. They were symbols. I wondered if he had visited the same institutions I had. I think I would have known if he had gone, because it had been a small institute. I pushed the thought away, it would be too dangerous to ask. The other bookcase had more books but these seemed to be from the professor’s own work. Copies of his books filled up the shelves. I guessed he assigned his own readings in his classes.

  The wall behind the professor contained several framed diplomas and certificates. I could see that he was an expert in rune mythology. I wondered if he incorporated the magical side of runes in his teachings. It was a tricky line to share knowledge but ensure not too much was given to those without supernatural abilities. I wondered what his talent was.

  He almost looked Scandinavian himself. He had the height and coloring. He had the ice-blue eyes native to the northern hemisphere, from behind the dark lens. His scruffy beard helped me imagine him as a descendent of Vikings.

  “You couldn’t reach this one in time?”

  The professor’s question made me realize I was staring at him. His eyebrows were raised. I felt the telltale flush rise to my cheeks. One of those days I had to create a spell that would stop my face from giving away my embarrassment.

  “No, we couldn’t.” Adrian didn’t mention that he could have with my help. I was grateful for that kindness.

  “May I ask how Ms. Carmen is helping you out? In more detail, perhaps?”

  “Call me Carmen, Professor.”

  “Then I’ll have to insist you call me Sven.” He smiled at me. He had nice even straight teeth. I returned his smile.

  Adrian frowned. “She’s offering additional insight. What do you think of the photographs in the folder?”

  “From what I see here, the killer remains persistent and may I say consistent in his methodology. He has a system and from your inability to capture him, it is working.”

  “He marks them in different places but they are always the same runes.” Adrian said.

  “Are you any closer on finding out what his ultimate goal is?”

  Adrian shook his head.

  “Well, my guess would be is that he’s trying to feed off the power from these girls to grow his own.”

  “But to what end? What’s the ultimate end-goal?”

  “That you’ll have to ask him, I’m afraid. You’ll have to find him first.”

  I didn’t know how to interpret the look on the professor’s face. If I had to guess, I would say he looked impressed at the killer’s ability at outsmarting the SBI.

  “Oh, we’ll find him.” Adrian’s expression was stormy. I didn’t need to wonder what he was thinking.

  “In the meantime, I advise you to keep a lookout for pockets of power. I know you have divisions that are devoted to that in the SBI.”

  “They haven’t detected any unusual activity.”

  “How do your magicians search for that?”

  Adrian shook his head. “I can’t disclose that, but rest assured that we are constantly on alert for unusual supernatural activity.”

  “That’s kind of your job,” I muttered under my breath. It must have been a trick of light but I could have sworn that for a split second the agent’s lips turned up. I blinked but the dark expression remained on his face. I must have imagined it.

  “I’m sorry, Carmen, it seems we strayed away from our initial topic. Can you explain to me again what it is you do?”

  I opened my mouth to answer him but Adrian quickly said, “She provides us with help when requested. She’s acting as a consultant on the case.”

  “I see,” Sven said. His eyes watched me curiously. I could tell he wanted to know more and realized that the agent was stonewalling him. I wondered why Adrian wasn’t giving the professor more details about what I had seen but I didn’t speak up. I’m sure he had his reasons. After all, he was in the SBI and I was not. I was just the consultant.

  Adrian reached for the photographs and returned them into the folder. “Thank you for your feedback. The SBI appreciates your help in this matter. As always, we would also appreciate your discretion in the matter.” He got up and I followed suit.

  “Of course,” Sven murmured with a nod. His eyes were still watching me and his unfathomable look was beginning to make me uncomfortable. I resisted the urge to cast a ward of protection. “If you hear from your colleagues please let us know.”

  “Colleagues?” The professor dragged his eyes away from me.

  “You mentioned your colleagues in the north.” Adrian reminded him.

  “Ah, yes. As soon as any of my colleagues in Scandinavia respond you’ll be the first to know.” He promised the agent. “I hope I managed to help in my own way.”

  “You have, thank you.”

  Adrian turned and walked toward the door. I turned my back to the professor and followed the SBI agent out.

  Eleven

  “Do you think he's right?” I asked Adrian, as soon as we stepped foot outside the university
. I hadn’t felt comfortable saying anything as long I was still within the university walls but the second we left I asked the agent the question on my mind.

  “I don't know.”

  I nearly missed a step, so taken aback at Adrian's reply. I had expected him to bluster and come up with another theory.

  He glanced sideways at me. “What are your thoughts?”

  “I think there’s some element of magic hoarding to what’s going on. Is it someone pooling his power for some nefarious purpose? Is it a group of people doing something I can’t imagine? I don’t know. What’s the ultimate goal?”

  We walked down the street. The weather was beautiful. It was difficult to discuss evil deeds as the sun shone and birds chirped in the trees. We were surrounded by humans ignorant that there was a serial killer magician targeting innocent girls.

  “What do you know?” I asked him. Maybe listing everything out loud would help.

  “We know the girls appear to be of Scandinavian descent. We also know that you’ve managed to successfully unravel one spell. If we could only locate the girls before the curse killed them, then maybe we would be a step closer to solving this and identifying the killer.“

  “You need to find the girls before it’s too late.”

  He nodded, his expression glum. “How do we find them while they’re still alive? We need to figure out how he was reaching them. That’s the only way we would be able to get a viable list of suspects.”

  We reached my store. We stood there awkwardly.

  I opened my mouth, hesitated, then closed my mouth. Adrian’s eyes narrowed. “What is it? What were you going to say?”

  “It’s nothing.”

  “You were about to say something.” He folded his arms. I knew he wouldn’t budge until I told him what it was.

  “Yes, but I don’t think it’s relevant to the case.” I admitted. It was a crazy thought and it would make the SBI wonder exactly how I knew what I knew.

  “Why don’t you tell me and I’ll determine that for myself.” Adrian waited for me to continue.