Gabriella hurried out the back door and down the alley. She peeked around the corner but didn’t see anyone suspicious. Dashing across the street, she began to make her way back to the metro.
§
“Garrett, wake up. Come on, man. I can’t carry you out of here. Garrett.”
Garrett heard a voice that seemed to be coming from far away. Someone jostled him, and he moaned when his arm shifted.
“My arm. It hurts like hell. I think it’s broken,” Garrett mumbled, trying to force himself back to consciousness.
“You’ve got a pretty nasty bump on your head, too. Rat bastards. They must have been members of the blood cult. Hard to believe that somewhere in time we have a common ancestor with those idiots.”
Garrett opened his eyes and looked up right into Damek’s lit wand. Garrett groaned. “Could you get your wand out of my face?”
“Sorry, I wanted to make sure you were all right. Let me help you up.”
Garrett sat up and immediately experienced nausea and light-headedness. He felt terrible.
“Give it a minute. I called for backup. We’ll get you to headquarters, and Elise can heal you right away.”
Feeling around on the ground for his wand, Garrett instead found a cell phone lying on the floor. “Here, one of the rats left this behind. We’ll have to check his contact list. Wait until Mabel hears about this. We let them get away. She’ll have a few harsh things to say, I’m sure.”
“Yeah, Mabel never pulls any punches. All right, let’s see if we can get you on your feet.” Damek grabbed Garrett’s belt and helped steady him as he rose to his feet. Garrett swayed a moment, his arm hanging down, useless at his side.
“Grab my wand, will you? I didn’t see where it fell,” Garrett asked, leaning against the cabinet.
“Sure, just don’t fall while I’m getting it.” Damek reached down and picked up the oak wand and slipped it into his belt. “Come on, one step at a time. Let’s go.”
Garrett winced as he took a step. His head hurt so badly, it was difficult to see, or maybe that was because the only light came from Damek’s wand. Each step seemed like a mile, and there were many more to take before they would get to the exit.
Step after step, they made their way down the hall. Finally, they stood at the foot of the stairs. Panting, Garrett leaned against the newel post. His arm felt on fire, and his head pounded with each beat of his heart.
“Garrett? Damek?” Elise’s sweet voice floated down the stairs.
Garrett’s breath hitched as his eyes closed in relief. Thank the Goddess, the cavalry had arrived.
§
Garrett held out his arm and moved it up and down before bending it at the elbow. “It seems fine now, Elise.” He sat on one of the beds in the infirmary at Guardian headquarters.
“Mother will want to check it. She’ll be here in a few minutes.”
Garrett grimaced. Clara Delaire, Elise’s mother was a council member and head of the Luften healing guild. She had quite a reputation for being politically savvy and rising to the top of her house. Rumor also said she had a terrible bedside manner. How the woman could be Elise’s mother always confused him. Elise was soft and compassionate. She had all the good traits of the air witches.
The air witches were also Master energy healers. They ran a healing center along with the earth witches, who specialized in potions and tonics. Because of her expertise in making healing potions, Garrett’s half-sister Meadow had recently been made a member of the guild.
The last thing Garrett needed was a council member checking up on him, even to make sure he healed completely. “Elise, I really need to get back to work on this case.”
“I’m sorry Garrett, but as head of the guild, mother has every right to check on your healing. It won’t take long, and I can’t release you for duty until she does.” Elise smiled at him, her blue eyes soft. Her long dark hair was tied up on top her head, and a few soft tendrils had escaped and brushed against her neck.
At one time, he thought maybe there was something between him and Elise. But after one date, they both admitted the chemistry wasn’t right. They became good friends, instead, and Garrett always knew he could depend on Elise for good advice.
He took her out to celebrate when she made Master at school, and she had accompanied him to more than one family gathering when he needed a date. But now there was Gabriella, his Destined One. He glanced at his watch and was surprised to see several hours had passed. He needed to get back to the house and check on her.
He stood up and moved to the door as it opened. Mabel Avery and Clara Delaire walked in, followed by Damek and a frowning Calder. Calder was a water witch, and Garrett had assigned him to guard Gabriella.
“What are you doing here? Where is Gabriella?” Garrett demanded.
“Sit down, Garrett, and let Clara have a look at you. There’s been a development, and you need to be at full strength before we continue,” Mabel said, waving him back to the bed.
“I don’t know why those lug heads insisted he cuff her, his Destined One,” Clara said, making her way to the bed. “I warned them it wasn’t a good idea to cuff an innocent. You don’t create trust by maiming a person.”
Garrett flinched. He should never have used that nullifying bracelet on Gabriella.
“But no, Finley Luften had to insist. Sometimes, I think he wants the witches to rise up against the council. How will we stay in the shadows then, I’m asking you.” Clara waved her hands over Garrett and frowned momentarily when she reached the bump on his head. Then, she placed her palm over the wound.
Garrett felt the area heat and any remaining soreness disappear.
“All right, Garrett. That should do it. Elise, check him again after twenty-four hours.”
“I will Mother,” Elise said, coming up beside him.
Garrett ground his teeth in frustration. “Will someone tell me why Calder is here instead of guarding my Destined One?”
“She escaped, Garrett. The little witch tricked me,” Calder said.
§
Gabriella ducked into a coffee house and purchased a drink before sitting down to rest. She needed to get out of town. But she also needed her wallet. The purchase of the coffee left her with only a few pennies. She couldn’t get to her money without some identification. Did Garrett find her wallet that was hidden in her office at the bar? It wouldn’t be hard to do. She always kept it in the bottom drawer of her desk with her cell phone.
Sipping her coffee, she pondered how to proceed. She could port into her office without a voice to guide her in. The space belonged to her and would have her energy imprint to lock onto. However, the Guardians might have the place watched.
Setting her coffee on the table, she swirled her finger over the liquid, cooling the temperature with her magic, until ice began to form at the top of the cup.
It might be better to wait until sundown and port in at night. If they weren’t in the building, they might not catch her.
Then, she swirled the coffee again, making the liquid heat, and steam began to rise from the cup. She smiled. It felt so good to have her magic working.
She’d need to get some clothes, too, and her wand, which meant going upstairs to her apartment. Where should she go to hide out? What should she do about Brenna?
Chapter Four
“I’ve got her,” said Seth MacDonald, lycan and Guardian. Garrett hurried over to the desk and the wall of monitors Seth was working on. Not all their work involved magic. Sometimes technology could give them a hand. “I used the traffic cams around the metro stops. See, there she is walking out of Morden Station about an hour ago.
“All right, let’s go pick her up. Has Elise finished preparing the tracking spell?”
“I’ve got it right here.” Elise handed Garrett a tuning fork. “The closer you get to her, the purer the tone. I’m afraid I ruined her tarot deck. I used the queen of cups to represent her energy. You’ll have to buy her another deck.”
Garr
ett nodded and slipped the tuning fork into his pocket. “What is the range of the spell?”
“Only a few kilometers, I’m afraid. After that, you won’t be able to hear a difference in the tone.” Elise patted his arm.
“All right, it’ll have to do. Damek and Josiah, you’re with me. Get one of the cars and meet me in front. What did you find out from her financials?”
“Not much. Gabriella lives comfortably but not lavishly. An account had been set up with her sister. But the money was withdrawn the night of the raid. Four thousand pounds. Brenna will be able to hide out for a while on that kind of money.”
“Not what I want to hear. Where might Brenna be hiding?”
“I haven’t found anything yet.” Elise sighed and her shoulders sank.
“Get Seth on his computer and find me as much information as you can about the Ross sisters and their family. Ella said her mother died. But where did they live, what schools did the girls go to, did they go to Magic school, who were their friends? Get me as much as you can.”
Elise nodded. Garrett turned back to Seth. “Which way did she go when she left the tube station?”
“She headed south, along A24.”
“Before you go, Garrett,” Mabel said, walking in the door, “You might like to know what the council decided. With Clara and your father’s help, we swayed the council away from nullifying Gabriella’s powers. But she is still a person of interest and needs to be brought in.”
“Letting her get away was never on my agenda. Tolya and Haytham should be back soon from canvassing the area around the apartment. With Tolya’s sense of smell and Haytham’s air magic, they would know if someone is lying.” Garrett’s cell phone pinged with a text coming in. “Damek is downstairs. I’ve got to go. Let me know if they found a clue as to where Brenna is hiding.”
Garrett ran down the hall to the elevator, and then hurried out the front door. No one would believe that behind this plain office-building facade, the Witches Council and the Guardians did the everyday business of governing their people.
Damek and Josiah waited in a black sedan by the curb. Garrett hopped in the front seat, and Damek pulled into traffic.
“All right, cousin,” Josiah said, leaning forward to speak between the seats. “What did you want to talk about?”
“How did you know?” Garrett asked.
“Well, I admit that earth magic defends well against water magic. But normally your teams include more than one element. So what’s up?”
Damek looked over at Garrett, his gaze worried.
“It’s Gabriella,” Garrett said, running his hand through his hair. “Finding my Destined One is messing me up. I wouldn’t admit that outside the family. The case is to find Brenna and the missing coven members. But all I can think about it getting to Ella. I need you guys to help me stay focused.”
“I’m sure it’s normal to be a little obsessed with Gabriella.” Damek glanced over at Garrett. “What are the odds of finding your Destined One? Your own father never found his, and he’s the most powerful Earth Master alive.”
“I’m curious why the number of blood-cult cases rose so dramatically this last year?” Josiah asked. “Do you think maybe someone is orchestrating the incidents? It used to be a couple of misled wackos who thought it would be fun to sacrifice a cat. But now, we have whole covens willing to sacrifice people. First, your half-sister’s old coven and now the coven that your Destined One’s sister belongs to. How many other sacrifices have involved you or the Amhurst house?”
“You think this is personal? That someone is out to ruin our house?” Garrett asked.
“The Amhurst house has always been the voice of reason,” Josiah said. “Your father has quite a hold over the council. What if someone wanted to take that control away? Or better yet, take over the council entirely. Maybe, someone is whispering into the blood cult’s ear and suggesting targets—people who are important to our family.”
“I don’t know, Josh. It seems kind of farfetched,” Damek said. “I’m almost to the tube station. Should I park?”
“No, head south down London Road. Let me see what the tuning fork picks up.”
§
Tingles ran up and down Gabriella’s skin. She looked out the window and saw a black sedan driving slowly down the road. It double-parked, and the doors flew open. Garrett stepped onto the sidewalk. Their gazes met and locked. She could hear him yelling at her as she turned and ran to the back of the store.
“Ella, Ella wait.”
Doing magic in front of the non-magical was strictly forbidden. She slipped into the restroom, glad to find it serviced only one person at a time. Turning the lock, she concentrated on centering her breath before she visualized her office in the Blue Dolphin. The feel of the wood floor under her feet. Her desk covered with files. Her leather chair that had a permanent dent where she rested her butt. The woodsy smell of the room with the aroma of a sea-spray candle she liked to light. Holding those images in her mind, she didn’t let the sounds of Garrett turning the door handle and banging on the door break her concentration.
She whispered the port spell under her breath, and the next moment, she landed in her leather office chair. The room was completely dark, but Gabriella knew where she was. This was her space. She picked up the pack of matches next to the candle and lit the wick.
Quietly, she slipped the bottom drawer of her desk open. Her cell phone and wallet were gone. “Damn him,” she whispered under her breath.
Pushing her chair back, she walked over to the small floor safe in the corner. Quickly spinning the dial, she unlocked it. When she opened the door, she was glad to see the cash that should have been deposited in the bank on Friday. She slipped the cash into her pocket, knocking several papers to the floor. When she reached down to pick them up, she saw the old deed to the beach house her mother owned before she died. The little cottage had stood empty for years. Rapidly putting the papers back in the safe, she closed and locked the door.
Next, she pictured her living room upstairs and once again ported. Glancing around, she noticed a bag sitting next to the door. When she opened it, she found clothes and toiletries. Garrett? Had he come to pack a bag for her?
She hurried into her bedroom and opened her underwear drawer. Reaching to the back, she found her silk-covered willow wand. She quickly added it to the contents of the bag. Slinging the strap over her shoulder, she walked over to the phone next to her bed. She needed to get out of town. And there was one person who might help, her mother’s best friend Venetia Ainsworth. Venetia owned an inn near where her mother’s beach house was located.
She faltered as she tried to recall Venetia’s phone number. She had programmed the number into her cell phone, so she hardly ever used it on the landline. Reciting a quick spell for focus, she pulled the number from her memory. After dialing the phone, she waited. What if the number wasn’t right? A creak on the stairs leading to her apartment warned that someone was coming. Her breath caught.
“Beach House Inn. How can I help you?”
§
Garrett called on his magic to make the lock tumblers move. A click let him know the door was unlocked. He threw the door open and stepped into the ladies’ room. It was empty. The summery, sweet smell of his Destined One still floated in the air. Garrett breathed deeply. Goddess, how he missed her, yearned for her. He wanted to apologize for putting the bracelet on her, to hold her close and beg her forgiveness. He listened to the tuning fork tone go flat, telling him Ella was no longer in range.
“Did you get her?” Josiah asked from the hallway.
“She’s gone, probably ported somewhere. Call Tolya. If he’s still in the neighborhood, have him check the bar and her apartment.”
“Will do. What’s our next step?”
“We find Brenna and the other coven members.”
“You can’t leave your Destined One out there alone. You heard Mabel. Her sister’s coven will want to get rid of her.”
“Then, t
he quicker we find Brenna, the quicker Gabriella will be safe. Come on. Let’s get back to headquarters. I want the team assembled. We’re going to hit this case and hit it hard.”
§
Gabriella sighed in relief and stepped into Venetia’s embrace. “How have you been, my dear?”
They stood in a cheery yellow kitchen with windows facing the water. Copper pans hung on the wall next to the stove. A turquoise-blue table and chairs sat in the corner. A white tablecloth embroidered with dolphins covered the surface.
“Well, not so good lately, Venetia. Brenna is doing blood magic, and the council wants me to help them catch her. I couldn’t do it, so I ran away.”
“Oh, dear. That is troubling news.” Venetia took Gabriella’s arm, led her over to the table and offered her a chair. Then, she went to the stove and put a kettle on to brew.
“There’s more.” Gabriella rubbed her temple. “Garrett Amhurst is my Destined One.”
“But that’s good news, darling girl. Every woman hopes to find her Destined One. When you bond, your magic will grow stronger, and you will be able to use his earth magic as well as yours.”
“But he’s a Guardian, and he’s insisting I give in and help them find Brenna. You know they will strip her of her magic. She’ll lose everything, including her sanity. He put a nullifying bracelet on me, hoping it would force me to help him.”
“Really? Arethusa Trevain’s boy? He must have been forced by the council. I know his mother taught him the importance of finding his Destined One. Before she died, that is.”
“Garrett’s mother was a Water Master?”
“Well yes, dear. I believe her brother Kuval is the second council member for the Water-House.”
“So, Kuval Trevain is Garrett’s uncle.”
“That’s right. Here is your tea, dear.” Venetia put a cup and saucer in front of her. “The Earth and Water Houses have always been intertwined. The Earth is the Goddess’ bones and Water is her blood. Of course, there must be a balance. But our elements complement each other, in the same way that Fire and Air complement each other. Earth needs Water to grow, just as Fire needs Air.”
Destined Magic Page 4
