“This is a pain,” Tinniel said, referring to a pretty amulet that hung from his fingers.
The midnight blue crystal was shaped like a heart, encased in silver wired angel wings. It hung from a long silver belcher chain, twinkling from the florescent – frankly unflattering – lights above.
“Aw, pretty.”
Coming closer, I felt the urge to reach out. Tinniel hissed, batting my hand away and frowning at me.
“What are you doing? You never touch a magical item that doesn’t belong to you.”
“You’re touching it,” I grumbled, rubbing my hand.
Rolling his eyes, Tinniel put the amulet back in the holdall and passed it to his brother. “I’m a trained sorcerer. You’re…”
“A stupid woman who has no clue?”
Staring at me, Tinniel did nothing. Nope, he literally kept his expression blank and his stare cold. Okay, I got it, he was probably wondering how the hell he’d been lumbered with a woman who had the tendency to never know what she was doing.
Naz cleared his throat. “As touching as this little standoff is, we’ve got work to do. Has Tinniel showed you the basics?”
“Wait,” I interrupted as he took the holdall and shoved it to the corner of the room. “Don’t I get to know why the amulet is a pain?”
Running a hand over his face, Tinniel got to his feet and joined Naz beside me. “Firstly, you’ve not agreed to become a bounty hunter, which means your initiation into the Federation hasn’t taken place.”
And his point was? “Minor detail.”
“Secondly,” Naz said, “you’ve got a lot more to learn before you’ll be considered a member, even if you do decide to join us.”
Opening my mouth, I tried to speak. Tinniel held up his hand, pointing at the weapon I leant on. “And thirdly, are you seriously considering the sword?”
“Okay, you don’t have to be a double act.” Picking up the sword, I cuddled it to me, holding it close. “I get it. I’m a novice, the newbie, the human who didn’t know she was a witch. Yep, I couldn’t get any more stereotypical if I tried. Wait… do witches really have familiars?”
It had been a bit of a whirlwind; I hadn’t had much of a chance to do my witchy research. And yet, the doubts crept in every single time it felt like something could be sparking in my brain.
“Let’s start with a simple tracking spell,” Naz said, ignoring my tirade.
Tinniel grabbed a leather journal and thrust it into my arms, almost making me drop Beauty. I managed to keep hold of both at the same time as scowling in his direction.
Glancing at one another, the twins shared a look. I hoped it was an isn’t-she-cute kind of look, but really, it would’ve been a how-did-we-get-stuck-with-her look instead.
Taking their shared glance as a challenge, I leant the sword against the table and put the book on the surface. Fine, they wanted me to be a tracker witch. I would play along for now, in an attempt to find out what the Federation was all about. If my mother had been a part of the weird cult, I would surely be able to uncover some juicy gossip, er, info.
Yes, some juicy information.
Cracking open the book, I spread the pages with my fingers. The crisp brown edges reminded me of the old style journal my mother used to keep hidden under her bed. It had been similar to the grimoire I found, except it was written in modern language and much more private.
“My mother kept a journal,” I whispered, staring at the blank page.
“She kept a grimoire, too. We’ve tried to find it, but it’s not at your house or her office.”
“She has an office?” Letting the book close, I turned my attention to the men. “What trouble did she get herself into? Surely, she must have been working on a case when she disappeared a month ago?”
A twinge of guilt deep in my gut made me clench my hands. I had been so wrapped up in my own woes, I hadn’t allowed myself to worry about my mother. Yes, we had been estranged when I’d hit my head, but shouldn’t I be more interested in her role as cult leader?
“This isn’t a cult.” Naz’s eyebrows were raised in amusement. Instead of berating me, he pointed at the table. “We’re more like a guild for the unwanted, working to earn money and bringing in the bad guys.”
“There’s so much I don’t know,” I muttered, wishing someone would give me a manual for everything. Like, everything. It would be incredible to have someone guide me through life every day. I would never have to make any decisions or come up with the perfect chat up line. Not that I was the chat up type of gal, but still… the option would be nice.
“Your mother,” Tinniel said through clenched teeth, “she was working on a high profile case trying to track down a healer who had been missing for ten days. He was one of our own, undercover to find a warlock released by bond two years ago. When he went missing, your mother went undercover, too.”
“Undercover? My mother?”
“Yes. Being the leader of the Federation, she kept a low profile, which was why you had no money growing up. She didn’t want to be showy and only worked set hours, rarely taking on her own bounties after she had you. When the healer couldn’t be traced, she knew she had to get involved. It wasn’t long after, someone clearly turned up at your house and took her.”
Swallowing, I blinked back the tears that shot into my eyes. “That’s when I was knocked out.”
Nodding, Tinniel tapped his finger on the blank journal and indicated that I look down with a nod of his head. Glancing at his handy work, I opened the book, gasping when words written in black calligraphy started to reveal themselves on the page.
“This is a tracking spell, a simple one. One day, we’re hoping you’ll be strong enough to track her. In the meantime, read the words at the same time as feeling them. We’ll give you the name of someone from the Federation just before you start the spell. Once you’ve recited it, just close your eyes and tell us everything that you feel, see, hear, smell and taste.”
Tinniel’s calm voice helped my muscles to relax. It still wasn’t very clear what his main skill was. It was obvious that Naz could read minds, but Tinniel…
“Concentrate.”
Naz’s order couldn’t be ignored. I had agreed to at least try to see if I could yield magic. They had helped me to clean up the body count at the gym, leaving me free to go about my life without going to prison.
“Concentrate.”
Shuddering, I nodded at Naz and picked up the book. I was about to read out the words when Tinniel slipped a picture of an older woman with bobbed grey hair and wide brimmed glasses on the table in front of me. Absorbing her features, I recited the spell.
A breeze of cold air tickled my skin as I closed my eyes. Vibrations unlike anything I’d ever felt, shot through my muscles, making me twitch. Was this magic?
“What can you feel?” Tinniel asked, his deep voice penetrating my foggy brain.
“Sensations rushing through me.”
The book disappeared from my hand, the empty feeling making me reach forward and grip the edge of the table. One of them must have taken it from me, suspecting I’d drop it or something.
“I’m cold,” I whispered as shivering overtook.
“Focus on the woman in the picture, bring her to your mind.”
When I did what Tinniel asked, a flash of the greyed haired lady popped into my third eye. I was about to gasp when the scene moved and my perspective changed. Wait, what had just happened, I… was looking at myself.
Lifting my hand, I studied the wrinkles on my long thin fingers. A diamond ring glistened in the overhead light. Looking up, I squinted, unable to focus as the bright white light blinded me.
“What do you see?”
“I’m her.” My voice shook as I looked around desperately. “I’m tied to a chair, a rope wrapped around my torso. I can’t see much. Jeez, my heart is pounding loud.”
A hand briefly touched my arm, making me jump. “Don’t get too dragged in,” came Naz’s voice. “Stay disconnected so
you can do your job.”
“My job? This is freaky as hell.”
“Trust me,” Tinniel said in a slightly amused tone. “You have no idea how freaky hell actually is.”
The woman I was tracking gasped as a noise sounded in the distance. I turned to look towards a dark corner. There was a faint outline of a door, the light around it growing bigger when someone opened it.
“Someone’s coming in. I’m trapped, and I can’t see much. I’m afraid, my chest’s tightening.” My breathing grew laboured as fear squeezed me, and I struggled against the binding rope.
“Come back now, Lyla.” Tinniel’s voice was soft, echoing in my ear. “Release the spell.”
Shaking my head, I tried to look into the shadows. I had to find out where she was so I could help her. That’s why they had got me to do the spell in the first place, wasn’t it?
“No,” Naz said. “This is just training. Time to come back.”
Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I unclenched my hands as I closed my eyes. A snapping sensation made me jolt back into the training room, my eyelids lifting quickly. A hand of each twin was resting under my armpits, forcing me to stay upright.
“That was brilliant.” Naz let me go and patted me on the back. “You tuned in straight away.”
“Shouldn’t we be searching for her?” I asked.
Tinniel shook his head as he released me, leaving a cold imprint of where his hard fingers had pressed against my skin. “It was a really great start, however…”
Standing, he clicked his fingers towards the doors of the kitchen. They opened, revealing the woman in the photo.
She smiled as she marched in, Donald, the cleanser, beside her. “How did she do?” The woman held her spine straight and her face soft. And yet, I could feel the power radiating from her. With a slim figure encased in a woollen grey skirt suit, she approached, radiating an air of authority even I couldn’t ignore.
Naz leant forward on the table and tapped the book. “Really well.”
“I’m confused, you’re here,” I said, waving a hand around my head as if a fly was trying to attack me. “But, you were trapped in a room.”
Her eyebrows rose as she came closer, her arms crossing over her chest as she studied me. Tracing my ratty lace up boots and jeans, she blinked several times before her gaze landed on my very plain cami top. Okay, I probably wasn’t dressed for the role of tracker witch. Not that I was completely down with the idea of becoming part of a cult. However, a thrill ran up my spine as I looked down at the photo of the woman in front of me. How had I seen her? Had that been magic?
“My name is Klarita Verity. I’m standing in as head of the federation. What did you see in your mind?”
Licking my lips, I looked into her eyes. “You were in a room, bound to a chair by a rope. There was a bright light above your head, making it hard for you to see.”
A smile lit her lips as she nodded at Donald. He glanced at me, his little features stretching into a grin.
“You saw one of my memories. That’s a great start!” Clicking her fingers, Klarita came closer. “The twins tell me you’re reluctant to work with us and that’s fine. Although, if you’re able to hone your incredible magic, you’ll be one of our highest paid bounty hunters. Just saying.”
“Don’t tell her that,” Naz interrupted. “She’ll get a big head, and she’s not even going to be a hunter.”
Waving away his protest, Klarita took out a snazzy folder and handed it to me. “This is some information about us. Your mother asked me to keep an eye on you when you were young. I’ve known you a lot longer than you realise.”
Creepy. My shudder made her smile even more. No, lady, that wasn’t a good shudder, it was a what the hell? shudder.
“I can’t believe my mother kept all of this from me.” Tucking the folder under my arm, I retreated, unable to look at them when they stared. It was embarrassing to feel so vulnerable in front of strangers who thought they knew me because of who my mother was. I didn’t even know myself.
“We’d like to invite you to work on a case,” Klarita said as I gathered up my bag and jacket. “No strings attached.”
Inclining her head, she turned and left with Donald.
Naz went to the table we’d been working at and took up the leather journal.
Tinniel stood still, watching me closely. My cheeks warmed at his attention. Didn’t the guy know I was having a bit of a pity party inside?
“Want to know anything about the case?” Naz asked, seemingly choosing to ignore my thoughts, which was kind of him.
Nodding, I took the offered journal and tucked it into my bag with the folder. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to know something.”
Tinniel moved closer, joining his brother to tower over me. He looked at Naz, who nodded a silent agreement to whatever had been asked with a glance.
“We’re hunting a man who has vital evidence for a trial. He’s a vampire who was arrested for aiding and abetting. Released on supernatural bond, he was allowed home.”
“And, as you can imagine, sweet cheeks,” Naz said, flicking my hair, “he didn’t go home. He passed Go, collected two hundred, and sailed off into the sunset with the evidence needed to take down a criminal warlord.”
Ah, crap. My senses were on edge, my insides tingling in a rush I’d never experienced before. Adrenaline pumped in my veins, making me curse under my breath.
“She’s getting it,” Naz said, clapping his brother on the back.
Holding up my hands, I backed away. “No, no. J-just because…” Not able to understand the rush of energy that slipped through me, I stuttered, unable to articulate my thoughts. “Wait, a vampire?”
My whole body tingled at the new information. Why was I so excited? Why did the idea of the paranormal, and trying to find them, not fill me with dread?
Tinniel’s hand wrapped around my wrist, his squeeze gentle. “This is normal. You’re a tracker witch, one who can use her magic for good. Finding that man will be easy for you once you’ve honed your skills. That feeling inside right now? It’s your calling.”
Why did the handsome one have to be all-knowing, too? His sermon caused excitement to trip through me even more. My hands shook as I pulled my jacket tighter around me.
“If you have any friends, practice tracking them.” Releasing my hand, Tinniel went back to the table and tapped his fingers on the surface.
Naz threw an arm around me and guided me towards the door. “Make sure you ring them once you know where they are to check if you’re right.”
“Unless you don’t have any friends,” Tinniel called.
Looking over my shoulder, I clasped my chest. How dare he say such a nasty thing? Especially when it was true.
“Do it with us, then.” Turning me away from his brother, Naz pushed open the door and led me through the club. “Try to find us and then call to see if you’re right.”
Although it was early, several paranormal beings were gathered here and there, drinking coffee and discussing their cases. They passed around pieces of paper or a tablet, reading before quickly offering their opinion.
“Ignore Tinniel,” Naz said, bringing my attention back to him. “He’s a little frustrated with this case. His main magic is empathy. He feels everything and uses it to his advantage.”
“In what way?”
The twin had my full undivided attention. I was desperate to know about Tinniel’s power. If he was empathetic, it made sense why he was always moody. I would cry if I had to absorb everyone’s emotions every day.
“It’s not quite that simple,” Naz said, releasing me as he waved at Synthia.
She stood by the bar, twirling a dagger in her palm, over and over. Zac was nearby, chatting away to her about finances.
“Tinniel can manipulate emotions, but he can also manipulate time.”
“Time?” I spluttered, giving Sythnia a little wave when she grinned at me and flapped her hand in our direction.
Coming to the
exit, Naz navigated me out to the hall and into the cool daytime air. “Yes, time. It’s pretty trippy, but he’s got a good hang of it now.”
“That’s certainly not something I expected,” I muttered, trying to imagine how amazing it would be to turn back time. Or go to the future.
I would so visit the future to see if I became an agent, or even better, famous. Although, being famous for being a bounty hunter probably wasn’t going to help me catch the bad guys.
“So, you want to become a bounty hunter?” Naz’s facial expression was actually serious for once.
Dropping my gaze, I watched my fingers as they played with the hem of my denim jacket. “Sometimes we’re drawn to certain people for a reason. I get a strong feeling…” My breath came short as he watched me, his gaze intent. “… that you weirdos actually care about what happens to me. I know…” Holding up my hands, I took a step back. “… I’ve got a ton to learn, but…”
Smiling, Naz folded his arms across his chest, his biceps bulging. “But, you’ve got nothing to lose.”
“Exactly.” The air rushed out of my lungs as he reached forward and ducked his clenched fist under my chin, nudging me gently.
“Keep your head down and trust no one. Except us, we’re awesome sausage.”
I didn’t even bother to reply to his randomness. Instead, I offered my hand and shook his when he accepted it. “Thank you, Naz, I appreciate all your help. In the meantime, I better go and train to become a bounty hunter!”
Chapter Eight
The tiniest sound lurched me to attention. My arm reached out for the switch of the lamp before I paused, listening. The darkness usually greeted me with a warm hug, but tonight, something had woken me up. Something out of place that sent chills dancing across my nerves.
Moving slowly, I picked up my phone from the floor. The blanket that covered me fell away as I pushed up from the mattress. A tiny squeak made me stop, my ears prickling on alert. It wasn’t Jamie, he was usually noisy in the night, bashing into things and cursing under his breath. No, a sixth sense told me that someone else was in our apartment.
The Witch & the Bounty Hunter (Federation of Magic Book 1) Page 8
