Desert Magick: Phoenix Lights

by Dana Davis

  “You’ve walked with death, yes?”

  “If you mean did I go to the afterlife, then yes I did.”

  He nodded in thought, as though trying to decide how much to tell her. Or maybe how to explain what he saw. “Something has attached itself to you.”

  Daisy frowned but part of her was relieved because it wasn’t something new. “Yeah. A hitchhiker.” Damnit.

  “No.”

  Her brows climbed as her heart hammered against her ribs again. “Not a hitchhiker? Then what?”

  “What?” Mitchell looked like his attention had drifted. “Oh, yes, you let hitchhiker through. My sister’s told me that. But there’s something else.” If the news of a hitchhiker on the loose bothered him, he didn’t show it. “You went to the afterlife? You died?”

  “Yes. A Charon reaper had my mom’s soul trapped and I went to find her. I died for a few minutes before they brought me back.”

  “During Samhain?”

  “Yes.”

  He nodded and pursed his lips in thought as his eyes roamed the edges of her body again. “What about the other time?”

  “What other time?”

  Mitchell squinted at her, sniffed, then brushed a knuckle across the tip of his nose. “You went to the afterlife another time, not just at Samhain.” His tone sounded like a father admonishing a child to admit to a falsehood.

  Daisy thought a moment. “Well, it was a three day ritual.”

  “No. There was another time.”

  “With me?” Zoey said.

  Daisy got to the same conclusion as Zoey spoke. “Oh, right. I went to the underworld. Sort of.” At Mitchell’s questioning gaze, she added, “It was different than the afterlife trip. I was entirely conscious in this world the whole time and only part of me was there.”

  Mitchell waved a dismissive hand. “Doesn’t matter. I won’t ask why you were in the underworld. You probably couldn’t tell me anyway. But by going there, you touched death. Like a necromancer. And it expanded the darkness in your aura. Spirits sense that connection. Now that you’re a medium, more souls will be attracted to you. Not very nice souls.”

  Shit. Her heart thrummed in her ears. So Paul Manny was right. Fabulous. She leaned forward. “Mitchell, just how and why did I become a medium?”

  He shrugged. “Why were you born in this time in history? Why are you a woman and not a man? Only the Fates know those answers. But your combined trips to the afterlife and the underworld had something to do with igniting this new power.” His gaze moved to Zoey and the girl shifted in her seat. “You’re the Dream Catcher.”

  Dark eyes shot to Daisy and she held her palms up. “I didn’t tell him.”

  “It’s in your aura,” Mitchell said. “Don’t worry. It won’t go beyond this room. It can’t.” He smiled. A rugged, yet handsome, face with skin tone slightly darker than his sister’s and humor in those dark eyes. If he’d been born as something other than an aura reader, he’d probably be married with children by now instead of a hermit living alone. “You’re family line isn’t as secret as you might think, Zoey Vega. Oh, mortals and most paranormals don’t have a clue. But you can’t hide from those like me and my sister here.”

  Zoey gave a wide-eyed look to Scarlet. “You mean you knew about me even before we met?”

  The medium shrugged. “Like you, I know a lot of things others don’t.”

  Zoey sniffed and licked her plump lips. “Um, Mitchell, I was told I have to be with Daisy when she confronts the hitchhiker.”

  The man scrubbed at his face a moment before looking at the Dream Catcher. “Yes, I was getting to that. You’re connected to the darkness I see in Daisy.”

  “Connected? What the hell does that mean?” Zoey’s voice came out like a frightened girl now.

  Daisy felt for her. She went from normal college girl to a Pandora in a matter of one birthday. She’s had to fight off darkness in her own world. Now, she’s connected to mine? The Fates can be so cruel sometimes. Daisy wanted to cross to Zoey and put her arms around the girl but she decided to wait and see what Mitchell said next.

  “You said Daisy helped you in the underworld.”

  “Yeah. So?”

  “So, you created a bridge from this world to that one.”

  “But we sealed that bridge.” Sincere panic touched Zoey’s voice now.

  Daisy sucked in a breath. “Please tell us we sealed it, Mitchell.” I can’t deal with another evil getting through to the living world, especially knowing I had something to do with it.

  Mitchell held up a palm, much like a wizened teacher with a green student. “The bridge is sealed. That’s not the problem.” His dark gaze moved back to Zoey. “What I’m seeing is a connection between you and Daisy. A thread that twines part of your aura with hers.”

  Zoey’s gaze moved to Daisy. “What? How? Why don’t I see it?”

  “Good questions, Zoey.” Daisy leaned toward Mitchell, waiting for his answer.

  “You probably do see it. You just don’t recognize it.”

  Zoey’s brown eyes studied Daisy like a lab rat, moving around the edges of her body. “I see the blackness that means she’s connected to death. The same type I see around Scarlet and Kali. But I don’t see her aura connecting to me.”

  Mitchell leaned elbows on his knees again, half-closed eyes focused on Daisy now. “Look closer. It’s not something you’d normally see when looking at a medium’s aura. It’s thin, nearly invisible. More like a strand of a spider web.”

  Daisy forced herself to remain still, while being scrutinized by the Dream Catcher and a powerful aura reader at the same time. Not to mention Scarlet’s intrusive gaze that studied her with curiosity and what looked like a touch of worry. Of the three gazes, she preferred Zoey’s, so she focused on the girl. Come on, come on. Somebody say something.

  “There,” Zoey said with excitement in her voice. “Now it’s gone. No, wait. I can’t see it straight on. Only when I move my eyes to a certain area just beyond her aura.”

  Mitchell nodded. “But you do see it?”

  “I’m pretty sure I do. It’s so fine it’s almost invisible. I think it reaches out toward me but I can’t see where it connects us.”

  “Yes, that’s it.”

  Zoey moved her gaze from Daisy to Mitchell. “What does it mean? How can we be connected like that?”

  “You two are related by blood, right?”

  Daisy nodded. “Third half cousins. Is that enough to connect us?”

  “Any shared blood makes you special to each other. And I’m guessing the two of you were linked through the Dream Catcher box somehow when you went to the underworld. It’s all right if you can’t tell me anything. I know all about having to keep secrets. Anyway, whatever you did, it stuck. You two have shared a connection ever since you returned from the underworld.”

  The implications of what he was saying seemed unrealistic to Daisy and she gaped at him. “You mean we’ve been connected this whole time? Even when I crossed into the afterlife to help my mother’s soul?”

  “Yes and no.”

  Zoey shifted in her chair. “This cryptic shit is starting to bug me.”

  Sometimes the girl sounded just like Bridgette. I’m going to have a talk with that redhead. She’s a bad influence.

  Mitchell seemed unfettered by Zoey’s anger. “Yes, you’ve been connected that whole time. But, no, that connection wouldn’t have taken part of Zoey to the afterlife. But it would have added to Daisy’s strength while she was there. Like an extra anchor in this world.” He smoothed the top of his head. “Zoey, have you been more tired than usual? More exhausted at times? I mean since your underworld trip?”

  She stared at him open-mouthed for a moment then nodded. “I thought it was my new job getting to me.”

  Mitchell actually laughed. “A Dream Catcher is one of the most powerful paranormals in the world. Your job might make you tired but it wouldn’t drain you to exhaustion.”

  “How do you know that?”
/>
  He smiled. “I just know.” Those bloodshot eyes moved to Daisy. “You said you died for a few minutes before they brought you back.”

  “Yes. At the hospital.”

  He squinted and nodded so many times it reminded her of a bobble head. “I think Zoey saved your life.”

  “What?”

  “This connection you have to her. I think it’s the only reason you came back from the afterlife.”

  “You mean I was supposed to die?” Daisy suddenly felt lightheaded. Holy shit!

  Back to Top

  * * * *

  Chapter 27

  Livin' on a Prayer

  “Put your head between your knees, Daisy.” Scarlet’s hand pushed her head down and held her there. “Damnit, Mitchell, get her some water.”

  There was a rustle of leather and cloth, footsteps leading away. A moment later the feet returned and Scarlet held a glass of water to Daisy’s lips. “Here.”

  She brought her head up slowly and drank until the lightheadedness went away.

  Scarlet frowned at her brother. “Jesus, Mitchell. Can’t you ever give bad news without causing people to faint?”

  “Hey, it’s not my fault. You brought her here.”

  “Cut it out, both of you,” Daisy grumbled. “I’m fine.”

  “Like hell you are.”

  “Anyway,” Mitchell said, ignoring his sister’s glare. “To answer your question, Daisy. If you were destined to die – permanently, I mean – then you wouldn’t have come back. Things happen for a reason. Your connection to Zoey is just one of many mysteries the Fates like to deal out.”

  Great. “Am I putting Zoey in danger? By being connected to her?”

  “Nothing permanent that I can tell. But you have been taking energy from her. Not all the time but it happens.”

  Daisy studied her younger cousin closely. The girl had dark circles beneath her eyes, which she often hid behind sunglasses. “That’s why she’s getting exhausted.”

  Zoey shifted in her chair, causing the rawhide leather to creak. “Daisy, I’m tired but I’m not hurt.”

  “If I’m draining you, then I’m hurting you.”

  Mitchell shook his head. “I can’t see any danger to her aura.”

  Well, that’s a relief. “But you see something in mine.”

  Mitchell gave her a long, suffering gaze. “You need to sever this connection. The longer you stay connected to her, the more death you attract.”

  “How do we sever it?”

  “I don’t know. But whatever it is, you must do it together.”

  He said I brought back something else. The shadow twin? The words wouldn’t make it out of her mouth. “What about that other thing, Scarlet? That we took care of.”

  “That wouldn’t have anything to do with this.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yes.”

  “What?” Zoey said.

  Daisy offered her younger cousin an apologetic look. “Sorry. Can’t tell you.”

  The girl narrowed her eyes and crossed her long legs. “Is this how you guys feel when I keep Dream Catcher secrets?”

  Daisy smirked. “Pretty much.”

  “Well, it’s damn uncomfortable.”

  “You’re telling me. Mitchell, is there anything else you can tell me? Or us?”

  “Sorry, no. But I think you two will know what to do when the time comes. I would suggest keeping in touch until you figure it out.”

  “We will.” Daisy stood and held a hand out. “Thanks, Mitchell. I know this wasn’t easy for you.”

  He gave her hand a quick shake, like it might burn him if he held on too long, then smoothed his shoulder-length hair. “Just helping out Scarlet’s in-laws. And if you could forget where I live, I wouldn’t be disappointed.”

  “You got it.” Daisy gave him a smile as she led Zoey outside. I can’t believe I’ve been taking her energy. I will find a way to sever that connection. She turned when Scarlet lingered by her brother’s door.

  “I’ll be just a minute,” the medium said.

  When Daisy got to the van, she gave Zoey an apologetic look. “I’m really sorry.”

  Zoey shrugged and offered a tiny smile. “I’m fine. Really.”

  “You better be.” She climbed into the driver’s seat and gave her husband a warm smile. Something shimmered in her rearview mirror. Zoey’s Dream Catcher box. Okay, box, if we’re connected, I hope you can hear me. I want to end this. I wish to send that hitchhiker back where he belongs. I won’t let the bastard kill my family. Please, help me keep my family safe.

  * * * *

  Daisy pulled into the Cactus Marina Grill’s parking lot near Saguaro Lake, so Zoey could call her fiancé’s Aunt Tessa for further instructions. The girl stood several feet away from the van, talking softly on her cell phone. Daisy couldn’t hear the conversation but the way Zoey kept turning back, she guessed Tessa was asking about each of them. The petroglyph was located just near the woman’s home, less than two miles from the spot where Daisy had met the Council. Called Titans in ancient times, they had communicated through a giant trio of saguaros. Today, they were tantamount to an interactive, yet fading, encyclopedia of ancient knowledge.

  Only we’ve been forbidden to call on them again in this lifetime. She doubted the Council could help her, even if she had the ability to communicate with them. Which I don’t.

  “Thanks, Aunt Tessa,” Zoey said as she walked toward the van. “She says to meet at the gate and Uncle Sebastian will take us to the petroglyph.” She climbed in and took a seat next to her bag. That bag now hid the Dream Catcher box she’d brought with her for the day.

  “Wonder if that cowboy will be at the gate again,” Bridgette said.

  Daisy eyed her in the rearview mirror then chuckled as she started the engine. “Is your mind always in the gutter, Cousin?”

  “Hey, I can’t help it. I’ve got eyes and he’s a looker.”

  Daisy shook her head. “I know we follow the lake around but, and I hate to admit this, I don’t remember where the turnoff is.” She might not have gone to an Ivy League school but she had a better than average memory. Not as good as her father’s had been, but she thought for sure she would remember a simple thing like a turnoff. It’s a dirt road near a lake, not a mysterious island in the middle of the ocean. I should remember where the hell it is.

  Zoey gave her a bright smile as she leaned into the bench seat behind Daisy. “Yeah, Aunt Tessa and Uncle Sebastian still won’t tell me how they do that. I’ve been here a dozen times since that night with the Council, and it wasn’t until the sixth trip that I finally found it without Jason’s help. You did notice I called them aunt and uncle, didn’t you? Now that Jason and I are engaged, I’ve got all the family privileges.”

  Daisy offered a genuine smile. It was good to see her young cousin so happy. “You don’t sound disappointed with those privileges.”

  “You noticed that too, did you?” Zoey chuckled and pointed a thin arm. “Just follow the road around the lake. I’ll let you know when we get to the turnoff.”

  “You got it.”

  “And don’t bother using your GPS, Bridgette. The cabin’s invisible to it.”

  The redhead frowned and shoved her phone back into her purse. “I should’ve known.”

  Daisy hid a smile as she turned out of the restaurant parking lot. She drove around the lake a couple of miles before snaking onto the dirt road Zoey pointed out. Just like last time, she would have missed it if she’d been out here alone.

  Wonder if I could find it after six visits? Probably not. She wasn’t related to that side of Zoey’s family tree, the side where the girl inherited her Dream Catcher skills. The secret powers she hadn’t known anything about until recently. I’m lucky they even let me come here. Most paranormals had no idea Zoey’s family abilities even existed.

  The road grew rougher, jostling the van, and she kept her eyes forward so as not to hit any potholes.

  “I forgot how bumpy this road
is.” Noah held the dash with one hand.

  Bridgette groaned. “Blame it on this hippy-shit car your wife insists on driving.”

  “I told you, she’s a classic, Bridge.”

  “Yeah, a classic piece of shit.”

  A sea of desert trees and shrubbery lined the dirt roads out here and one could get very lost unless familiar with the area. They traveled close to a mile before they reached the second dirt road, this one gated and sporting a “No Trespassing” sign just like last time. Sebastian and Tessa stood near the gate, waving.

  “Aww.” Bridgette clicked her tongue. “No hottie cowboy?”

  Zoey laughed. “I’ll talk to Aunt Tessa. Maybe she can get him to come out and pose for us when we leave.”

  Daisy grunted. “You’re a bad influence on her Bridgette. You’ve both got men so behave yourselves.”

  That got a chuckle from Scarlet, and Daisy caught sight of the medium’s raised hand in the rearview mirror. “I don’t have a man.”

  “Hush. All of you. Or you’ll get a time out.” She pulled off the dirt road and parked to one side of the gate.

  “I really need more male friends,” Noah uttered as he opened his door.

  “Maybe you should call one of your brothers. You guys haven’t spent any time together in a while.”

  “Great idea, honey. You haven’t seen your sisters-in-law for a while, either.”

  “Yeah, honey,” Bridgette said as she stepped out of the sliding door. “You can invite them over and tell Noah’s brothers all about their faery ancestor.”

  “Very funny,” Daisy said. Noah gave her a guarded look. “We won’t tell them, babe. Not unless there’s a life or death reason. They’ve been living as mortals for too long.” He relaxed and nodded and the two slipped out of the car.

  Tessa, a lanky woman in her forties and about the same as Bridgette’s stature but with short hair and much larger boobs, immediately took Zoey into a hug after the girl got out of the van. “My favorite niece-in-law.”

  “And it’s not even official yet. I feel so spoiled.” Zoey chuckled as Tessa handed her off to her husband, Sebastian. Daisy got the feeling they did this little skit every time they got together now.