Chapter 9
The hawk pendant continued humming. Jacinda finally gave up trying to ignore her mother and locked herself in the bathroom to fill the sink with water.
She could have completed the spell in the kitchenette, but in the off chance someone came by to check on her, she didn’t want anyone to witness the scrying in progress or how she contacted her mother.
Once the basin was full and the water plugged, she began with the words her mother taught her long ago. The spell made any surface of water like a screen for a video call.
The flat surface of water showed bubbles rising and popping on the surface, then pasta was dumped in. Not on her side of the connection, but her mother’s side.
Mom squeaked, “Oh, Jacinda, there you are. Where are you? Hang on, let me move to a bowl.”
When her mother came back into view, she smiled. “Traveling.”
Mom sighed. “You’re in Wanatoga, aren’t you?”
“Why would you think that?”
“You’ve never blown off that question in the past. It’s the one place I dread you going. So tell me, are you in Wanatoga?”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes. Fine, I’m here. But there isn’t much you can do about it.”
“No, there’s really not. Just be careful, dove. I don’t want you hurt, and I don’t want you to run into trouble with that Monvoisin strigoi.”
“What?”
“About eighteen months ago, a foolish necromancer brought Josephine Monvoisin back from the dead. Her family owns most of Saint Morton. Anyway, the ritual used to reanimate a corpse, especially one dead for five years, changes a person. She’s lucky she’s Other, or she would have come back a zombie. Instead, her soul, her essence is left tattered, which means she had to have found a way to take magic from others. It’s how she’s still alive, if she is.”
“Oh, that makes so much sense.” Jacinda closed her eyes and let out a breath.
“Be careful, dove. Don’t let her find you.”
“Apparently, she can’t cross the border into the reservation, so as long as I stay put, I’m safe.”
“Yes, well, Thanatos can cross that barrier, so remember, when he comes, you go far, far away, in the opposite direction, no matter what.”
“Yeah, I remember. So, you aren’t going to complain that I’m here?”
Mom’s smile brightened. “You’re an adult, as you like to remind me. And honestly, I’m surprised you haven’t gone there yet. I hope you find what your father was looking for. I do. But I have no hope that you will.”
Jacinda smiled. “I have a guide. Chatan. He’s showing me around the area. He’s taking me to places Dad spoke of in the journal. And I think he can help me decipher the last few symbols.”
Mom smiled as she rubbed her chin. “Chatan? That name. I remember that name.”
“You do?” she asked.
“Yes, but not why.” She sighed. “Everyone I met there was very welcoming. But it’s been ages, and I only went once. The man he worked with moved away soon after your father died. I haven’t kept up with Mat.”
“Mat? You have a last name?”
She rubbed at her temples. “I’ll look through some of your father’s things. Maybe I can find it.”
“That could help immensely.”
“So, Chatan? Is he attractive?”
Heat raced up her face and she nodded. “Very. But don’t worry, I’m not falling for him.”
“Of course you are,” Mom bounced in excitement. “And it’s about time. In fact, hopefully, you’ll bring him to see me next time I’m spending some time in our old house.”
“Until I find the way to stop Thanatos, that’s not happening.”
“Oh, darling. Something you need to accept is that you may never find the answers. When you find love, you should hold on, no matter what. Especially if they are willing to follow you. Love you, dove. Good luck with Chatan.”
The image faded back to the water in her bathroom sink.
That was a conversation she never expected.
* * * *
Mason sneered at Butch as he walked to the truck. “You’re coming with me.”
Butch glared back. “You’re well enough to hunt down a witch?”
He unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it open to show his healed skin. “Perfectly fine. Josephine needs me. I don’t plan to fail her.”
“Good, because I don’t want to be on the receiving end if you manage to disappoint her again.”
Mason snarled. It wasn’t his fault he failed in capturing Wendy. The girl was so much more than anything he’d seen before. Her magic was powerful. Stronger than Josephine’s. Somehow, she turned the gas into water. Not even Josephine could explain that.
“Maybe you should attempt to find Wendy on your own.” Mason shot Butch a cruel smile. “She’s nothing like the witches we’ve gone after in the past.”
“Should have knocked her out,” Butch countered. “Then you wouldn’t have had a problem.”
Mason snorted. “She’s a fighter. I doubt you’d know what to do when a woman fights back, dirty.”
“I’ve always loved a challenge.”
He climbed in and slammed the door as Butch hopped in. Mason snapped his belt in place and threw the truck in reverse before Butch could get settled.
Butch’s hands slammed on the dash. “Fuck you, asshole. Let’s get there in one piece, yeah?”
“Fuck off,” Mason muttered, planning to prove his devotion to Josephine. Hopefully, the witch could knock Butch down a few pegs.
* * * *
Chatan crept through the woods, attempting to follow Loval. Bastard was faster and hid more easily among the brush. Thank fuck his vision was crisper, even if he lacked the range of color. It was dark. Shades didn’t matter much.
The fancy bus pulled into the truck stop and someone got out to fill the tank.
Chatan moved closer and felt the wave of power roll off the mage who stepped off the bus. Through the door, he caught a glimpse of the extravagant furniture, the big screen TV, and wine bottles. There were two more Others with him. Some sort of Fae filled the gas, and a seemingly weaker caster was on the bus.
The mage swerved on his feet as a truck veered into the parking lot. Mason drove with Butch in the passenger seat.
Fucking perfect. The two biggest assholes in town were going to have a dick measuring contest while attempting to abduct the mage and possibly whoever was in the RV. And with the amount of power the mage was putting out, Josephine probably hadn’t realized there was another caster with them.
Chatan flew behind a tree, shifted back to human, and hurried up to the guy who’d only made it a few steps away from the bus. “Hey, I know you need gas, but don’t get it here. Two assholes will attempt to rob you.”
He waved his hand on his way to the store. “No worries, my good man. No one will touch the bus once they get a good look at the driver.”
Chatan had the sense of one of the large Fae beings nearby, but he wasn’t worried about non-human casters. Seemed the Fae who had come through town had been fine, magic or not.
Mason slammed on his brakes, and Chatan stepped in front of the truck with a narrowed glare. Mason smirked as he stepped out of the truck, quickly approaching. “What are you doing here?”
“Went for a walk. Wound up here,” Chatan answered.
His lip curled. “I have a question for you. Have you seen a redhead? Pretty little thing. Innocent looking.”
“Can’t say that I have.”
Mason moved closer. “Sure about that?”
He nodded.
“Thought you knew everything that went on in your neck of the woods?”
He lifted a shoulder. “No redhead in Wanatoga. I’m sure she’d stand out.”
Loval joined Chatan, but quickly redirected toward Butch, who attempted to sneak around the bus. And things were about to turn into a giant mess.
The giant of a man, who must have been the driver, shot around the bus and gripped Butch’s throat, lifting him off the ground.
“What are you doing?” The big guy cast a sneer in Loval’s direction.
Loval lifted his hands, palms out, and backed away. “Hey, man, we’re just trying to help you out and warn you about these two thugs.”
Then it registered. The giant of a man was an ogre. Huge, fierce, could destroy anything in their path, and typically ugly. This one fit the bill.
Butch grabbed at the ogre’s hand while swatting toward Loval with the other. The scene would have been comical if Mason hadn’t lunged at Chatan.
Chatan shoved him back. “Why so interested in our friendly travelers?”
The drunk mage ran back from the store with fire burning in his hands. “Thanks for the warning.” The words slurred.
Mason landed on his ass and scrambled back, fear in his eyes. “You know Wendy Naughton?” he demanded, glaring daggers at the mage.
The mage shook his head. “Who?”
“Red hair. Fiery hands. Looks like an angel, but a real bitch.”
Chatan bit his tongue to keep from lashing out at Mason. Last thing he wanted to do was give him any inkling he knew her.
The mage’s brow quirked. “I do know of a young fiery caster. If it’s her, do be careful.” He disappeared and popped into place an inch before Mason. With a touch, Mason fell to the ground. The mage spun and stumbled toward the ogre and Butch. He did the same thing and Butch stopped struggling.
A smile formed on the mages lips as he walked to Chatan, his hands now down, no hint of fire. All hint of the being inebriated had evaporated. “Thank you for the warning. Do you know this girl they’re talking about?” The serious tone was a stark contrast from when he climbed out of the bus.
And if Chatan’s skin wasn’t crawling, he might have said yes. Instead, he shook his head. “No. Though we suspect these two wanted to take you to Josephine Monvoisin. She’s been slaughtering Others.”
“Not you or your friend?”
He shook his head. “The reservation is too close. She’s afraid of angering our elders. Though, we’re trying to find a way to stop her.”
His head cocked. “If I wasn’t due at the Seattle Headquarters, I’d offer my assistance. However, I’m already late.” He placed a card in Chatan’s hand and vanished, showing up at the door of the bus. “Come, Parker.”
The mage shut the door and the ogre glanced at each of them, huffed, and dropped his head as he moved back to driver’s seat.
Loval pulled Chatan toward the woods. He followed without complaint as the bus tore out of the parking lot.
“What the fuck was he?” Loval asked.
Chatan shook his head. “Not all mage. As soon as he started casting the air shifted around him. Something darker.” He glanced at the card. Olivier Montreux. Maybe Eddie would be able to find something on this guy. His cousin worked for Ward Tower Security, who kept an eye on all Others in the Western Hemisphere.
“I’ve never seen a mage pull anything that stupid in front of dumbass humans.” Loval glanced back at the two idiots. “Wonder what will happen when they wake up.”
Chatan took another glance at the card. “He’s with the Silver Council. Says special investigator.”
“Hmm, at least he got out of here.”
“Yeah, but what happens when the two asswipes wake up?” Last thing Chatan wanted to deal with was getting them off the pavement.
“Don’t know. Don’t care. I’m sure you want to get back to your girl.”
Chatan couldn’t help grinning. “I’d love to, but she’s not ready for that.”
Loval shook his head. “Why not? You spent the whole day with her.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “This isn’t just any girl. She’s never been with someone. And I really like her. I want her, more than I ever wanted anyone. But when I offered to call when I got done, she said no, she needed to work on something, and I don’t have any intention of pushing my luck.”
Loval chuckled. “Another one bites the dust.”
“Please, when are you proposing to my cousin?” Chatan countered with a smirk.
“Soon. Almost have the money saved up for the ring. I’m doing this right.”
Chatan nodded. “Taryn will be happy no matter what you give her.”
“She would. She still deserves the world.”
“That’s what Jacinda deserves.”
“Why is Mason so obsessed with her?”
“She got away. And her magic…shit, her magic made this dude look like a baby witch. Her handprints were melted into his chest.”
Loval’s eyes widened. “Let’s not piss her off.”
A snarl left Chatan’s lip. “Bastard left one nasty bruise across her cheek. He promised to do far worse. And you know what would have been left of her if Josephine got her hands on Jace.”
“Jace?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Feels natural to call her that.”
“God, I haven’t seen you like this in a very long time. I can’t wait to meet her.”
“You will. Maybe we should go to the lake, before dinner. That way Jacinda can get to know you both first.”
“Sounds good to me. Think Taryn will like her?”
Chatan nodded. “Yeah, I do.”
A phone rang. Loval pulled his cell out and took the call. “Hey, George. We’re good. The mage wasn’t exactly a mage, and he had backup. They’re gone. There was another caster with them. One we didn’t see.” A moment later he continued. “Yeah, an ogre was driving. We probably didn’t need to let them know anything. They seemed to have things handled.” After a pause he nodded. “We could follow, make sure Mason and Butch don’t do anything stupid, but I don’t know that it will help…Yeah, bye.”
Chatan tensed. “What’s the word?”
“We go back to Wanatoga. He doesn’t want us following. There’s enough of them. We’d only be in the way.”
“Fine. I want to make sure Jacinda stays put, anyway.”
“You afraid she’s going to leave?”
“The room, yes. Wanatoga? No. Not yet. She has a goal and I don’t believe she’s going to leave until she has the answers she seeks. I just wish I knew the questions, but maybe tomorrow.”
“So, you’re going to camp out by her place, aren’t you?”
“Maybe?” He wasn’t sure what he was going to do. He thought about renting the room next to her just to be closer, but figured that might scare her. He had a better idea, though.