by Becca Andre
The lid slid closed, casting us into darkness—except for my flashlight—and leaving me completely at Ian’s mercy.
“But no one ever found the Formula.”
“Until you.”
“I have access to things those old alchemists didn’t.” Like the blood of an Element. “I’m sure there have been some very talented alchemists over the course of history. Take Paracelsus for example. He was supposed to have found the azoth.” The universal cure all—or that’s what the layman called it. Within modern alchemical teachings, it was referred to as the universal ingredient. How cool would that be? An ingredient that would take the characteristics of the designer’s choosing. I’d love to have a flask of that sitting around the lab.
“There are stories among my kind, all but gone now, but faint whispers still existed when I was a young man. Stories of how he used his formulas to command the dead. He could even open a doorway into their world.”
“Like you can.” I studied his expression in the beam of my flashlight. “And you could do that before you died?”
“Yes.”
I remembered Xander claiming that such an ability was a myth. “Go on.”
“Those stories inspired me to delve into alchemy, though the study was well past its heyday even in my time.”
“But you could already command the dead and open doorways. You weren’t stunted. Why study alchemy?”
“The lure of immortality, of course. That’s the reason every alchemist gets started in the field—well, every alchemist except you.”
I’d only been out to prove myself the best and find the Final Formula first. Immortality hadn’t entered into it. “How do you know that?”
“I’ve heard stories about you for years. Neil was very pleased to have found you. He even went so far as to imply that you were a descendant of some great alchemist.”
“Really?” Now here was an area of my past I wouldn’t mind learning more about. Who was I before the Alchemica? “Did you believe him?”
“Neil is a stunted necromancer who repeatedly left himself open to possession. Granted, there are truths to be learned, but there are also a lot of lies. No one ever claimed spirits were honest—the opposite, usually.”
“But…” I drew out the word.
“You have no trouble traveling the land of the dead.”
“But I made myself immortal via the Formula. Who’s to say that my ancestry had anything to do with it?”
“The very fact that you found the Formula.”
Ian had opened the portal. “Come.” He offered his arm, knowing that I wouldn’t want to hold his icy hand.
“I’d like to learn more.” I took his arm, the silk fabric smooth and cool against my hand.
Ian led me through to our lab and the portal winked out, a gust of warm air stirring the curtain to the storage room behind us.
“Do you know—” The words died in my mouth as Rowan stepped through the door from the front room.
Rowan stopped in front of us, his gray eyes shifting from me to Ian and back again. My heart pounded so fast that a wave of dizziness passed over me. Had Rowan seen the portal?
“Why didn’t you answer me?” he demanded.
“I—” His words sunk in. “What?”
“You didn’t answer when I knocked, so I let myself in. I called out three times.”
“Oh. I…was in the back.” I had to release Ian’s arm to wave at the curtain. “What do you need?”
Rowan gave us a frown. “The staff said that Era gave you a ride here this morning.”
“She did, but she left around noon. Why? What’s wrong?”
“She’s not answering her phone.”
I glanced at the clock. It was almost three. My stomach knotted. Rowan’s eyes met mine and for the first time since I met him, he looked a lot closer to his true age. Yes, Era had only been gone three hours. She was probably fine, just pouting. But after what happened to her before, Rowan needed to do something now.
“I’ll find her,” I said. “I just need a compass and something of hers.”
“Donovan is bringing those now.”
Ian grunted. “The scrying potion?” He lifted his pale brows in question, the interest clear on his face. “I’ve been wanting to learn more about that.”
Rowan’s frown deepened and without another word, he turned and started for the door.
“She’s like a daughter to him,” I whispered. We stood in silence, and I heard the front door open and close. I swallowed. I’d been the last one to see Era, and now she was gone. If something happened to her on my watch, he’d never forgive me.
“What do you need me to do?” Ian asked.
I forced my mind back on task. “Let me make you a list.”
Donovan arrived half an hour later with the compass and Era’s hairbrush. The foundation for the formula was finished, so all I had to do was add the hair and apply the formula to the compass needle.
“I’m coming with you,” I told Donovan as he replaced the glass covering the face of the compass.
“You’d better grab a coat,” he said without looking up. “The wind has picked up.”
I went to get my coat, pausing to stick my head in the back room where Ian was sorting through the massive antique armoire he’d found to hold his wardrobe.
“Hey, I’m leaving. Will you lock up?”
“Yes.” He lifted a dark suit with tails, clearly admiring it.
“Going somewhere?”
He looked up and something in his eyes made me regret the glib words.
“Thanks for the help today,” I added.
He returned the suit to the armoire before he faced me. “Stay alert out there. The world is not a kind place.”
“I noticed.” I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring smile and returned to Donovan. He stood waiting for me, the completed compass resting on the counter.
“Ready, little alchemist?”
I gave him a nod and picked up the compass, then followed him outside where his big green SUV waited at the curb.
“We’ll swing by the Offices and pick up Rowan and James.”
“What are they doing there?”
“Rowan had an afternoon meeting with Waylon.”
“The PIA director?” I guess Rowan’s job didn’t stop, even when a member of his family was missing. “What did he want?”
“I think he had the ballistic results back from the last murder.”
“Oh. Okay.” I climbed in the front seat and reached for my belt.
Donovan slid in behind the wheel. “Something wrong?”
“The shorter list is what isn’t.”
“So, what isn’t?”
“You’re still nice to me.”
“I assume you’re not upset about Cora being mean to you.”
I snorted. “Uh, no. That’s just the status quo.”
“Then…”
I opted for honesty. “It hurts, you know? My best friend and…whatever the hell Rowan and I were.” Lovers qualified, but I’d hoped to be more than that.
Donovan didn’t start the engine, instead he rested his arms atop the steering wheel and looked over at me. “They still care,” he said. “Both of them.”
I played with the seam of my jeans to avoid looking at him. “I don’t know how to make it right.”
“Just keep doing what you’re doing. They’ll come around.”
I frowned out my window, looking back at the shop. What happened when they found out about Ian? Over the past few days, I felt I’d been making progress with Rowan and James. If I confessed to lying, to working with a necromancer—
Donovan gripped my knee and I jumped.
“Just be yourself, Addie,” he said.
“Who I am is the problem.”
“Is it?” Donovan started the engine, then pulled away from the curb. “The problem is who you fear you were. It’s not the same thing.”
I wasn’t so sure about that.
We arrived at the Elemental Offices about ten minutes later. This late on a Friday afternoon, I expected the place to be deserted. I didn’t expect the news van or the crew on the front lawn.
Donovan parked at the curb, and I unhooked my seatbelt, scooting forward on the seat to better see the scene. James stood on the front steps, arms crossed and frowning. The reporter moved closer to the stairs, and I recognized her.
“Crap.” It was that bitch from the wreck site. I opened the door.
“Addie?” Donovan stopped me. “What are you going to do?”
“Run them off.”
“How?”
“I haven’t decided.” I stepped out of the vehicle and looked back. “You coming?”
“I’d rather not have my face on TV, but I’ll be here if you need me.”
I considered arguing. No one would know who he was. Then, too, guys his size weren’t that common, and everyone knew the Earth Lord was a big man.
“Okay,” I agreed.
“And Addie?”
I’d started to shut the door, but hesitated.
“Your actions reflect on us. On him.”
Rowan. In other words, don’t piss him off even more.
“Got it.” I closed the door with a little more force than necessary. Great. Now Donovan was nagging me. I didn’t cause that much trouble.
Did I?
I walked across the front parking lot, moving toward the sidewalk that led to the front door. James’s eyes flicked in my direction, but the reporter had yet to see me.
“I can show you the footage,” she was saying to James. “He hasn’t left.”
“If you wish to speak to the Flame Lord, you’ll need to call the Offices during regular business hours and—”
“I saw him return around three. I want to speak with him now. I deserve that much. He issued a formal complaint.”
“He did?” I asked, flanking her to join James on the steps. “With whom?”
The reporter gasped, her shock turning to a frown as soon as she realized who I was.
“The station,” James answered me.
“Really?”
“What are you doing here, alchemist?” the reporter demanded. “Come to throw another potion at us?”
“If not, I’m sure a little clever editing can make it appear that way.” I turned back to James. “His Grace called. He wanted us to lock up and—”
“The footage was only edited to meet time constraints,” the reporter cut in. “Nothing was—”
“Save it for your audience; I’m not interested in your lies.”
“What were you saying?” James asked me. His eyes twinkled with amusement.
“His Grace wants us to lock up here and meet him,” I hesitated, glancing at the reporter, “you know where.”
“Of course.” James turned back toward the door. “I was out here and must have missed his call.”
“That’s what I figured.” I walked with him toward the door. “You really need to keep your cell phone in your pocket.”
“I got out of the habit after I washed the last one.” The corner of his mouth twitched as he fought a smile.
I was having the same problem. James always did a great job following my lead on these little fabrications. It had been a source of endless amusement when we lived with his brothers.
“What are you, his lackey?” the reporter called after us.
I turned and found her eyes on me. “Excuse me?”
“You’re not magical; His Grace will never let you in his club.” She smiled when she spoke, as if she’d figured me out.
I grinned right back, but before I could comment, the front door opened. I expected Rowan, but it turned out to be an older man in a cheap suit.
He stopped when he saw me. “Ms. Daulton.”
“Hello, Director Waylon.” I hadn’t seen him since one of his PIA agents brought me in for questioning last fall. They’d wanted to locate my Grand Master, believing he had found the Final Formula.
Gray robes filled my peripheral vision, and Cora stepped out on the porch with us. To my surprise, she stopped beside me.
“Compass,” she asked, voice pitched low.
“Yes,” I whispered.
Her hood hid her expression, but I still caught the nod. “Go inside.”
“Addie said His Grace called,” James spoke up. “He asked me to lock up.”
“Of course.” Cora turned to Waylon. “Let me give you a ride.”
“Thank you.” Waylon turned toward the stairs and hesitated.
Cora halted beside him. “Ms. Fields. I see you are still here.”
“It’s Megan.” She lifted her chin. “I want to see His Grace. He—”
“He’s not here. You’ve been told that.” She waved a hand toward James.
“Then I’ll speak to you. I—”
“Your conflict is not with the Elemental Offices. Your conflict is with him. I encouraged him to sue for slander, but he felt a reprimand with your employer enough.” Cora didn’t wait for a response. She started down the stairs, Director Waylon at her side. No one spoke as they climbed into the Elements’ silver limo and drove away.
The reporter glared at me and then addressed her cameraman. “Let’s go.” She turned and marched back toward the van, taking her crew with her.
James opened the door and held it for me as I walked inside.
“Nice job,” he said after closing the door behind us.
“I think Cora deserves most of the credit.” I fell in beside him as we started toward the library.
“What happened?” Rowan asked, stepping out of a doorway to our right.
I jumped and spun to face him. “Most people say boo when they do that.”
Rowan’s brows rose, but he didn’t comment. “Did you run them off?” he asked James.
“No. Addie did.”
Rowan frowned. “Explain.”
James recounted the events on the front steps. I tried to keep him honest when he gave me too much credit.
Rowan didn’t seem overly impressed. “Cora and Waylon left without problem?”
“Yes,” James answered.
“Good. If a camera crew followed them to Xander’s, I’d hear about it. It’ll be bad enough to listen to him whine about my absence.”
“Your absence?” I asked.
“Tonight is the memorial for Xander’s grandson. Cora went in my stead.”
“Oh. Well, I don’t think that reporter would have followed her even if I hadn’t shown up.” I smiled, remembering the way Cora had handled her.
“I want you to stay away from that reporter,” Rowan said.
I crossed my arms. “She lied. She made you look weak and me crazy. I’m not going to let her get away with it.” I’d pushed the news story from my mind, but seeing the woman again brought it all home.
Rowan studied me with cool gray eyes. “I’ve already withdrawn my sponsorship of the station. I do have some clout in this city. The station owner was not pleased.”
“It’s great that you’re exercising your arrogance, but it doesn’t do a damn thing to help me redeem alchemy.”
“Redeem alchemy or you?”
“I don’t see the distinction.” I turned back toward the lobby. “Donovan is waiting across the street.”
“She’s still out there.” James had turned toward the front of the building, his eyes on full glow. “Or someone was. They moved out of range as I watched.”
Crap. “Can you take us elsewhere? Then Donovan could meet us there.” I didn’t relish another visit with Gavin, but I’d take one for the team.
“No.” Rowan’s answer was abrupt.
I remembered Rowan refusing to go through the portal after our swim in the river. “Why not? You stepped in that night at the clinic.” Rowan hadn’t even hesitated to follow me into James’s hell dimension.
“But I held the portal open and we didn’t travel,” James said. “It’s where the dead go. The living don’t fare so well.”
“I’m not dead,” I pointed out.
“No, you’re not.”
I remembered what Ian had told me and how he could travel that realm even before he died. I also remembered Gavin’s comments about the brightness of my soul, comparing me to a necromancer.
“I’m not magical,” I said. “And anything the Formula did was…Elemental.”
I didn’t like to remind them of that, but they were both watching me closely.
“The other grim implied necromancy,” Rowan looked at James as he spoke.
It felt like I’d been punched in the gut. I stared at James. “You told him what Gavin said?”
“He asked why traveling that way hadn’t affected you the way it did him.” James met my eyes, and it was clear that he still had his doubts about me, too.
“I’m pretty sure it was you who told me Gavin is nuts.”
“Be that as it may,” Rowan spoke up, “you still traveled through the land of the dead without consequences.”
No, there were consequences. I was staring at them at this moment. “I’m not a necromancer. I’d think James would know if I were.”
Rowan actually looked at James for conformation. I wanted to kick him.
“She’s not a necromancer,” James said.
I released a breath, but didn’t get to speak as he continued.
“But the brightness of her soul rivals any I’ve met.”
“What does that mean?” I demanded.
James shrugged. “I don’t know.”
I rubbed a hand over my face. “That’s not very helpful.” I glanced between the two men, forcing my mind back to the problem at hand. “Give Rowan your clothes,” I said to James.
