by Viola Grace
I said something funny. Are you okay?
He was very strong.
He is a celestial smear now.
Good. When can we go home?
I am hoping that we will be on our way shortly.
Adrea settled and smiled. “This quartet had their bonding ceremony here. It was just after I had taken over and a nice way to start my life in this place. You might want to consider it when you and Argus want to tie the knot.”
“There is no proposal in the air.”
Adrea snorted. “I would have to be blind to miss the bonding with you two; now, eat two scones with cream and jam, and I will let you go. Until then, no one is going to make a move for the door.”
Imara looked, and the other four were frozen in time. “I hate it when you do that.”
“There is no other way for you to gain the skills you did. You got six months’ worth of training in six weeks. I had to slow time here to achieve it. And it was fun. Mostly fun.” Adrea winked and waved at her to load up the scones. “I wasn’t kidding. Two scones with cream and jam. Go. And then, I will let them loose.”
Imara put some clotted cream on a plate for Mr. E and set up her two scones. One was blackberry and one strawberry, both had cream.
She chewed her way through them with deliberation, and when the final bite was in her mouth, the other four were released from time.
Mr. E was sitting on the table and enjoying his cream, and the others looked a little disconcerted at her jam-stained face.
Benny blinked. “Did we miss something?”
“Nope. Just Adrea throwing her weight around.”
Adrea crossed her arms. “Imara doesn’t eat properly, and she burns a lot of energy. She’s the seventh child of a seventh child twice over. She’s got so much luck, it is dizzying.”
“Love you, too, Addy.” After wiping her lips, she blew Adrea a kiss.
“I can give you a ride home, Imara.” Argus’s voice was behind her.
She turned her head, and he set his hand on her shoulder. “That would be great. Mr. E isn’t really comfortable.”
Argus looked over her shoulder at her familiar. “Aw, he looks exhausted.”
Smith cleared his throat. “Argus, when were you going to mention your lady friend here?”
Argus squeezed her shoulder. “When it was any of your business, Smith. Argyle, Tremble, Benny, nice to see you all.”
Smith winced. “Right. Got it. Imara is an incredible choice. She deserves better than you.”
“Yes, I am aware, but she keeps saying that she got lucky.”
“I did. Well, this has been fun, but I have to grab my kitten and go. We both need a bit of rest before I get to meet my family tonight.”
That got everyone except Adrea curious.
Imara held up her hand. “Too long to explain. If we ever meet again, I am sure I will be happy to fill you in.”
She got up and cuddled a sleepy Mr. E against her chest. “Lovely to meet you. Have to run. Have a great day, and thanks for the ride.”
Argus put his arm around her, and he supported her very tired self out to his vehicle.
“So, everybody else is off shift?”
“Yeah, lucky for you I don’t need much sleep. You look haggard but lovely.”
She laughed softly and buckled in with Mr. E on her lap. She poured a bit of energy into him, and he sat up, stretching.
“Thanks, Argus. I want nothing more than my own bed. I have to brace for my family party this evening.”
“Do you need me there?”
“No, but be braced for a call if the Mage Guild can’t manage it. I am pretty sure that there is going to be a riot by midnight.”
She slumped over and leaned against his shoulder.
“You sound like you have had a long day. What happened with Iofer?”
“They came by the house and asked for my help. They used an emergency transport spell that spit us out in their home city. I am guessing that it was their mage component that had touched the stone, the stone started using living energy to propel the spirits, and she went down. I don’t know how long she had been there, but those mages were useless.
“Anyway, I get there, I take possession of the stone, get it contained, bleed off the extra energy and give it back to the XIA team members. From there, I was looking for a ride home. The XIA agents couldn’t manage it with their wounded member, the Mage Guild didn’t want to come near me because I had arrived with the extranaturals. Benny and her team came in just at the right time.”
“They are a solid unit. I don’t know what their assignment was, but I am glad that they were there.”
“As am I. I will get you home in one piece. Just rest. I will wake you when Bara is glaring at me out of the window.”
“Thanks, Argus. It has been a hectic few hours.”
“I gathered as much, but when Iofer sent out the call for help, I knew you could manage the job. Glad you made it, now sleep.”
She breathed in, breathed out, and the world went warmly dark.
Low voices surrounded her, and she was carried and settled down on the couch in the common room. She opened her eyes just enough to see Reegar, Bara, and Argus, and she could feel Mr. E.
“Wake me at six, so I can get ready for the party.”
Reegar frowned. “You need a healer.”
“That can wait until tomorrow. Today, I just need some rest.”
Argus sat next to her, holding her hand, and the other two disappeared.
She opened her eyes a little wider and sighed. “Thanks for getting me home.”
“No problem. I am happy to have been there.” He stroked her cheek.
“I still have to write that report on the spectres. Someone seems to be looking for something, and they aren’t waiting for the dissipated ones anymore. They are grabbing some really strong spectres and smashing them together. That isn’t good.”
“I know. I have learned that much from you.”
She sniffed. “Do I smell food?”
“It has been decided that you will get more of a boost from a large infusion of food than simple rest.”
She groaned. “Everybody is trying to feed me today.”
“Adrea?”
“Yeah, and she paused time to do it. That is one scary lady when she wants you to eat a scone.”
He chuckled and gave her a light kiss. “There are a bunch of scary ladies out there; you just have to find their triggers. Apparently, Adrea’s is knowing that you need food after magic.”
“Why do folks fuss over me?”
Reegar came into her field of view with a tray in his hands. “Because you are young, and you are fearless. It makes us worry.”
Argus nodded and helped her sit up.
“Oh, this isn’t for her. Mr. E looks a little weak, so we defrosted a pie. Imara’s food is still on the stove.”
Mr. E perked up and looked around. Reegar reached between them and scooped up the fluffy familiar, setting him on the tray, on the coffee table, next to the pie. It didn’t take long before the familiar and the pie became one.
Imara talked quietly with Argus and Bara while the kitten romped in the dessert; when her food arrived, it did wonders for her sense of reality and connectivity to the universe.
Bara finally asked, “How did the fabric work? I got it out of your room.”
Imara raised her thumb. “It was excellent. It should give you the grade you were looking for as well.”
Argus asked, “What fabric?”
Bara smiled. “It was a speciality wrap that could be worn while shifting. I am trying to find a way to make it in something larger than a five-inch strip.”
“Can’t you stitch it together?”
Bara sighed. “No. That is the problem.”
Imara smiled and felt the ripple of relief that she didn’t have to tell Argus what she was actually using it for. He was in law enforcement, and until she was officially invited into t
he home of Desmond Demiel, she had committed a crime.
No pressure.
Chapter Ten
Formal clothing was easy when you had someone still majoring in textiles under your roof. The gown that Bara had prepared for her took her breath away. Long, silky panels of black and blue wrapped in a five-inch wide belt studded with jet beads. The gown made her feel very adult, and it matched with her black Death Keeper robes.
The invitation to her father’s birthday and her niece’s family blessing had mentioned wearing honours. She was wearing her honours. The embroidery that Kitigan’s family had created was stunning. All she needed was a staff, and she would be at home in any formal death-related setting.
Imara tucked her phone into the pocket in her belt and looked at Mr. E. “How do I look?”
Excellent. I will be on guard this evening. You know they are going to try and trip you up.
She nodded. “I know. At least I have confirmation from my instructor that I passed with ninety-percent in the stealth magic course. Phone, email and the photo. It was nice of Argus to make him make those calls.”
You have the photo?
“On my phone and two copies printed. Bara has one copy and Reegar the other. Both are locked up and in a stasis field.”
Do you feel paranoid?
She nodded. “Yes, but I am going to see family. From my research, that is an appropriate feeling.”
He snickered and jumped to the shoulder of her robes. She had her invitation, the gift for the baby, she had her familiar, and she had her formalwear. She was ready to face the part of her family that had thrown her away.
A deep exhalation and she walked down to Kitigan’s car. She was her designated driver for the evening, and her vehicle was new and a nice SUV.
“So, Imara, when you want to leave, call me. If anything goes weird, call me. If Mr. E hacks up a hairball, call me.”
Mr. E lifted his head and made a cute noise.
“I promise. If I don’t get furious and fly home, I will definitely call you.”
“Good. Now, get in the car.” Kitty held the door open and made sure that the robes and the dress were safe and tidy.
The rest of the drive was basically silent with the exception of Imara making one call.
“Are you ready?”
The voice on the other end said, “I don’t sleep.”
She ended the call and tucked her phone back into her belt. “Whoo.”
“It will be fine. Everyone will be fine.”
Imara glanced over. “My family is going to hate me.”
Kitty chuckled. “They already hate you.”
“This is true. Thanks for that.” Imara grinned, and she relaxed and petted Mr. E the entire way to Demiel Hall.
“Call me when you want to leave. I will just be around the corner at that donut shop. I brought some homework with me, so don’t rush it.” Kitty grinned as she pulled into the circular drive in front of the wide and ancient hall.
“Will do. Happy studying.” She opened her door and slid onto the crunchy black gravel.
Mr. E popped up and perched proudly on her shoulder. I am going to be on alert tonight.
Thanks. Me too.
With her back braced and her robes hanging straight, she walked up to the double doors, and they were swung open by two trolls in uniform.
She smiled and inclined her head. “Good evening. I am here for the party.”
One of the trolls extended his hand, and she produced the invitation. He peered down and inclined his head. “Go through to the ballroom.”
She patted his hand and smiled. “Thank you. I think that is the most polite thing I will hear this evening.”
He looked surprised, and he gave her a slow, toothy smile. “Welcome, Death Keeper.”
She nodded and remembered that that is what she was here. She was a powerful mage invited to an event. That was all.
The huge archway in front of her was glowing with light. She tucked her invitation into her belt and walked through the security spell.
A human butler stood by and held out his hand for the invitation. She pulled it smoothly from her belt and handed it to him.
He frowned, looked at her robes, and then announced her to the room of strange but rather familiar faces in the room. “Master Death Keeper, Imara Mirrin Deepford-Smythe.”
Technically, it was her name, though Imara Mirrin was acceptable for legal purposes.
The man who had to be her father strode forward. He glared down at her but didn’t speak.
A young woman came to his side and clung to him. “Didn’t they take your coat at the door?”
Imara raised her brows. “This is my formal garb, just as every man here is wearing his own master’s robes.”
She blinked and frowned. “They don’t look the same.”
“They would not be. I am not a master mage.”
That seemed to satisfy her. “That’s it. What do you do?”
Imara inclined her head. “This and that.”
“What are you doing, calling yourself a Death Keeper? Their branch of the guild is exceptionally strict. Wearing those robes could get you bound by law.” Desmond was trying to intimidate her.
“I am aware of that. It is why I proudly wear the rank earned by hundreds of hours of work with spectres. There are four in this building alone, are there not?”
He blinked. “You can’t be serious.”
“I can. If you are my father, happy birthday, by the way.”
The young woman jolted. She might be four or five years older than Imara, but her attitude was much younger.
He extended his hand in greeting, and she knew it was to test her power.
She extended her hand, and their grip generated blue and crimson lightning throughout the room.
He released her and smiled. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you, daughter.”
“And you as well, Master Demiel. Now, may I bring out the spectres and have them join the party?”
He shrugged, and the doubt was still in him. “As you like. Your brothers are here and will introduce themselves and their wives. You are welcome at Demiel Hall.”
She nodded. “Thank you for your welcome; now, let the deceased join us.”
She powered up the spectres to the point where they appeared solid, and they began to migrate toward the party.
Luken smiled at her and came over. “Come on, let me introduce you.”
She leaned toward him. “I hope it gets less tense.”
“Probably won’t. Let’s start with the baby. She’s friendly.”
Imara laughed and walked with her twin to meet her oldest brother, his wife, and their new baby.
The baby was genuinely a newborn. “She’s adorable.”
Her brother, Michael, and his wife, Hannah, watched her for a moment, and then, Hannah seemed to act on impulse and handed the baby over.
Imara blinked and cradled the little one with the pink cheeks and rich blue eyes of a new baby. “Well, I am not technically your aunt due to fun family stuff, but every baby deserves a present.”
Imara cradled the baby with one arm and reached into the belt with the other hand, sticking her fingers into the pocket specially made for this purpose. With a light touch, she brushed a tiny smudge across the forehead and then the back of each tiny fist. “Congratulations on the magic, little one.”
Hannah smiled and whispered, “Imara.”
“What?”
“Her name is Imara Rose. We call her Rosie for short, but Michael felt this was right.”
Imara grinned as the smudges disappeared and the baby’s bright blue eyes got a little brighter. “In that case, this is a very good gift.”
Hannah asked, “What was that stuff?”
Imara chuckled. “Dirt from the site of the last local wave of magic. It will give her a grounding when it comes to learning and the ability to call on nature for what she needs. Perhaps we ca
n get another family member through the sky breaking course.”
Luken groaned. “Don’t tell me you got in.”
“I did. It was a fun course but hard as hell. You were never doing what you thought you were until you suddenly got it right.”
One of her nearest brothers walked over. “How did you get in?”
Luken made the introductions. “Edmund, this is Imara, Imara, Edmund. His twin is Edgar.”
Imara reached out for Edmund’s hand, but he didn’t take it.
“How did you get in?”
“I passed the aptitude test. It was as simple as that. If you didn’t get in, then the course would have killed you.”
Michael was frowning. “Edmund, why are you being rude?”
He hissed. “She doesn’t belong here. She’s stringing everybody along, making them think she is a true mage, a true talent, but we all know she was eighth. She is unlucky.”
Luken looked at Edmund. “Are you nuts? You know the truth.”
“Dad says it’s a lie. She was eighth. There was no doubt in his mind.”
Imara pinched the bridge of her nose. “Right. And he wasn’t in the room for any of the deliveries. Oh, and on my birth certificate, it lists my birth as a minute earlier. Oh, and our mother says I was seventh. For someone supposed to be unlucky, I do tend to be in the right place at the right time to help those around me. If you want to argue that, feel free, but you had better bring backup.”
Edmund flushed and spun around, stalking over to their father.
She looked to Luken. “Is there anyone else I can alienate while I am here?”
She handed the baby back to her mother after stroking her cheek one more time. “Bye, Rosie.”
Her married brothers were all fairly calm; it was the three in school that were tense. Michael, Alexander, and Desmond Jr. were all fine. They had achieved their Master status and were relaxed. Edmund, Richard and supposedly Edgar were all tense. Luken wasn’t, but he was lucky. That explained that.
The spectres came to her, and they all smiled and spoke favourably. Lord Demiel, Lady Demiel, and their two children, Halos and Nyxos, had been spectres since a plague had swept them away over a hundred and fifty years earlier.
Desmond came over. “Who are these folk? How did they get in?”
