“Not here.”
“What about some history on them, maybe?” Alice asked, changing tactics.
“We have nothing like that here.” The woman’s voice was getting sterner.
“You didn’t check your computer,” Alice said sardonically, starting to lose her temper.
The old woman tapped one button. “Nothing.”
“I don’t understand why this is so difficult, we’re only interested,” Sam interjected.
“We don’t practice black magic.” Alice had never had to defend herself so much. “It’s just for a project we’re working on.”
“I have already said we do not have those types of books here.” She sniffed unpleasantly.
“Then where are they?”
“Not here. You shouldn’t even be looking at that sort of stuff. It’s dangerous.”
“What’s so dangerous about books?” Sam growled. “This is ridiculous.”
The woman’s eyes slowly bled into panic, the pulse in her throat beating visibly against her skin.
“What do you know about Daemons?” Alice asked as a heavy hand landed on her shoulder. Turning slightly she eyed the security guard. “Is there a problem here?”
“I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” the guard grumbled, his fingers digging in.
Sam swore in the background, snarling at his own personal security guard.
“Why? We haven’t done anything wrong.”
“If you don’t vacate the premises immediately, we will remove you.”
Alice removed the hand from her shoulder. “Fine. Sam, we’re leaving.” She pulled at an angry Sam before they were escorted through the door.
“What a load of bullshit,” Sam shouted at the guards, flashing them some interesting hand gestures.
Alice looked behind her shoulder, three security guards standing ominously near the entrance. The clerk spoke in hushed tones into the phone at her desk, trying desperately not to make eye contact.
“What was that about?” Sam asked, turning his attention back to Alice as they stood under the alcove.
“She knows something.” Alice knew it, the look in the clerk’s eyes was pure panic as well as guilt. But what could make an old woman react in fear like that?
The Tower was busy as they made their way up to the forty-second floor, the noise and chaotic rumblings of her colleagues a pleasant comfort.
“It’s getting late.” Sam looked around the large room into all the different cubicles, eyes lighting up when he noticed the cat-themed novelty gifts he had gotten her over the years. “You have a date, remember.”
“It’s not a date.” Alice just sighed. “I’m not going to be long, you could have waited outside.”
Sam had dated a few of her colleagues over the years, and not one ended well.
“Oh, Alice,” a shrill voice called from beside her. “I see you haven’t been fired yet.” Michael swanned over wearing a green velvet jacket over an off-white shirt, his ginger hair had been recently cut just above his ears. “Shame,” he sniggered.
She didn’t have the patience. “Bye Mickey.”
His arm snaked out, pulling her against his chest, close enough she could smell the coffee on his tongue. She immediately turned and broke his hold, stepping back just as Sam snarled past, his arm extended as he forced Mickey against the wall.
“SAM, NO!”
“Now we’re gonna have a little chat,” Sam hissed directly into Michael’s face, claws erupting from his fingertips as he kneaded them across the sensitive skin of his throat.
“Alice,” Mickey choked, sweat dripping into his eyes. “Control your pussy.”
“Aye, pussy.” Sam purred low in his chest as he rubbed the side of his face against his. “You want to see what this pussycat can do?”
“Sam, please.” Alice caught his eye, the amber glowing to the point she could almost see the leopard looking back. He always reacted badly, ever since they were kids he took it upon himself to be her protector, as if she couldn’t protect herself.
Don’t do this. He isn’t worth it, she begged with her eyes, not wanting Mickey to understand.
He hurt you, Sam replied in the same way.
There was only a handful of people she could have a wordless conversation with, have a strong enough bond to be able read their expression. Sam more than a brother to her, regardless of blood.
No one should be able to touch you like that. Years of abuse flashed across his eyes, uncontrollable pain before he calmed himself. She had never asked for details about his past, knowing only a small amount based on the history of scars decorating his body. A long time ago she decided she never would.
I’m not breakable.
No you’re fucking not. His eyes lost their electricity, the leopard still present but not running the show.
With his face still pressed to Mickey’s he gently nipped his ear, purring at the flinch. “If you wanted my number precious, you should have just asked.” Pushing away he turned back towards the lifts, a cigarette already placed between his lips as he disappeared through the metal doors.
Mickey made an unrecognizable sound, sweat still pouring down his face. “I’m going to report him for that, assaulting a Paladin is a criminal offence.”
“I’m sure you will. Make sure to note how you grabbed me first.” Watching his face turn various shades of red she turned towards Dread's office, happily noticing the absence of his secretary, Barbie. Lifting her hand she knocked against his closed door. “Dread?” she called.
“Alice? What are you doing here? I haven’t released you from medical leave.”
“Oh, yes, well I have had some time to think and wanted to ask some questions.”
“What questions?” He gestured to a chair before his own. The room bright from the window behind him, the blackout blind he normally preferred rolled to the top to show the amazing view of the city. “Why is Sam here?”
“Sam?” How does he even know that?
“He didn’t make a scene did he?” Dread raised a dark eyebrow, his bottomless eyes almost laughing as if he knew exactly what had happened. He probably did, knowing him.
“He’s waiting outside.”
“Hmm.” He tapped his ring against the table. “What can I help you with?”
“I wanted to know more about druids.”
Dread paused. “Why?”
“I realised I didn’t know much about dad’s heritage. I was hoping you could tell me.”
“Why the sudden interest?”
“The anniversary is coming up again.” She didn’t have to fake the emotion clogging her throat. “I want to remember them better than blurry memories or old photographs.” Which wasn’t a complete lie.
He nodded, accepting her explanation. “Well, what do you want to know?”
“I want to know how often druids practiced dark magic?” She watched his face tick, his expression remaining unchanged as he took a few seconds to answer. “I was just at the library and I read about some druids choosing dark magic compared to earth.”
“What have you been reading?”
“Just a book.”
He glared at her for a few seconds. “Anybody can choose dark magic, regardless of their Breed, background or religion.”
Pretty much what the Professor had said. “So they weren’t more prone to dark magic?” She bit her lip, waiting on the answer.
“Not any more than anyone else. Your father was strictly clean, high in The Order, as you already know. A respected man.” She knew little about The Order, Dread having explained to her it was an organisation strictly of druids for which her father worked. He never told her what they did exactly, always saying it was ‘top secret stuff’ when she asked as a child.
“Would anybody from The Order be willing to talk to me?”
“Stay away from them Alice, they’re dangerous people.”
“Then why did dad work with them?” Alice pointed out.
Dread just continued to glare, the vein
in his forehead pulsing. “You need to drop this, I don’t know what you have been reading, but it is clearly inaccurate.”
“Fine.” She leant back in her chair, staring out the window. “I saw something interesting at the library today.”
“Interesting?” His fingers tapped against the top of his desk.
“While I was there someone asked about Daemons, but they were escorted out by security.” Only a small lie.
Dread narrowed his eyes to slits, akin to a python watching its prey. “Whom have you been talking to?”
“No one.” She tried not to react to his gaze. “I just thought it was weird.”
“Daemons are dark magic, so the media has represented them as mythological tales since The Change. All literature based on black, dark or death magic was removed around the same time to stop mundane people becoming infatuated.” He shook his head as if remembering something.
“So they lied to the public and said Daemons weren’t real?”
“Nobody has ever said they weren’t real, it was always up to the general public to make their own decision. Admittedly those decisions were persuaded along the way. Daemons are rare enough that in all my years I have only had to deal with a handful. It is believed that the process to become a Daemon has a high failure rate. The Council doesn’t want people going around trying to summon Daemons to gain access to ancient dark knowledge.”
“What even is a Daemon, exactly?”
Dread tapped his knuckles against his desk. “Those who choose dark magic. Alice I’m very busy, you should be at home resting.”
“Okay, but what about the literature, was it all destroyed?”
Dread shook his head. “To my knowledge they were just moved from the public floors. Only a select few have access to the restricted section of the library.”
“Restricted section? How comes I didn’t know there even was a restricted section?”
“Because you don’t have access.”
Touché. “Thanks Dread.”
Chapter 23
Sam mumbled to himself as he paced across the kitchen, his movements agitated as he took his usual seat on the kitchen counter, his legs swinging. He had been uncharacteristically quiet on their way home, a scowl carved onto his beautiful face.
Alice eyed him warily as she prepared the circle she had used earlier, the marking still perfect. She checked each candle separately, making sure the carvings were all still clear.
Sam’s voice broke through her concentration. “Did Overlord give you anything to go on?”
“Maybe.” She placed the candle marked with fire back down, setting it delicately into its place. “I have a plan.” When he just frowned she continued. “There’s apparently a private wing in the library.”
“How do you expect to get into this private wing? We just got kicked out.”
She folded her arms. “Go in after hours. It’s a library, all I have to do is dodge some security guards, open a locked door, look around and leave. Easy.”
Sam opened his mouth to reply.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“That’s not exactly a detailed plan. We’ll sort this out later,” he murmured as he opened the front door.
“Evening Alice. Sam.”
Sam nodded a greeting to Alistair before sitting in his usual spot on the counter, out of the way.
“Hey, I’ve already set up the circle. I wasn’t sure what you would need.” Alice awkwardly scratched her head, desperately trying not to embarrass herself with her lack of knowledge.
“It looks perfect.” Al smiled wide as he placed his backpack on the floor. “Impressive circle.”
“I used it earlier.”
Sam huffed something underneath his breath. She glared at him until he looked away, his poor mood starting to grate against her. He was always dramatic, sulking for hours when he was annoyed at something, or someone.
“It’s really well done, I thought you weren’t used to this sort of thing?” He walked over and checked out the placements.
“I’m not.”
“Impressive,” he said again. “Right, do you have the crystal?” He took off his coat, revealing a dark blue shirt neatly buttoned to the top. His sleeves were rolled to his elbows, grease smeared along his arms.
“I do.” She lifted it from under her t-shirt. The instant it was in the open air it started to hum.
“It will stop making that noise once we activate the aegis.”
“So, what are we actually going to do?”
“We are going to put a little of your aura within the crystal, once you say the invocation it will create an aegis, a molecule thin shield created from your aura.”
“Should I be taking notes?” Alice joked.
Al continued as if he hadn’t heard her, instead getting his own chalk out of his bag and scribbling symbols around her own. “Are you ready?” His eyes lit up in excitement.
“Sure…” Alice took a step into her pentagram, her bare feet cold against the hard floor.
Al began to whisper, the runes and symbols beginning to glow as he rummaged through his bag. “Light the candles,” he said as he handed her a small mirror.
Earth, fire, water, air then spirit. The circle cracked into place around her. A gasp, her smile dropping as she noticed Al’s shocked face.
“What? What?” Alice panicked. “Did I do something wrong?”
How could I fuck this up?
“No, I’ve never seen a circle like yours.” His eyes glazed, a sign he was looking through his third eye. “Flaminco.” A larger circle erupted around them both, eclipsing her own.
Sam looked at her at that moment, his eyes easily readable. Someone wants to show off.
Shut up. She looked through her own third eye, noticing how Al’s circle was an unappealing orange. “Okay. What do I do now?”
“Put the crystal onto the mirror, then push your aura from your hand onto the crystal. The mirror will act as a catalyst, a block. It stops your aura from leaking into other objects and helps the concentration on the pendant.”
“How do I do that? You can’t see your own aura.”
“Just concentrate, I will tell you how it is going.”
“Okay. Okay. Okay,” she whispered underneath her breath.
Sitting down onto the floor she crossed her legs, using her knees as a table with the mirror balanced between them. She carefully placed her crystal on the mirror’s glass, hovering her hand over it before she began to chant loudly in her head.
Move. Move. Now. Do something. Anything.
She let out a frustrated growl. “It’s not working.”
“Alice stop overthinking it. Close your eyes.”
She obeyed.
“Now envision a cloud around your hand, imagine the cloud flowing over your fingers and towards the mirror.”
Pins and needles over her elbow, flowing down her right arm into her palm. Uncomfortable.
“That’s it, keep going.”
Alice wiggled her fingers, the tips aching without the warmth of her aura.
“Okay, now hold your aura over the crystal, and say this phrase, followed by the word you will use as your incantation. In hac sphaera absorbet meam commisisse.”
“Okay…” She concentrated on holding her place, her eyes still closed. “In hac sphaera.” Numbness swept across her fingertips. “Absorbet meam.” Sudden pain through her hand. “Commisisse.”
Her hand spasmed closed over the pendant.
“ARMA!”
Her aura rebounded back like an elastic band. With a yelp Alice jumped up, knocking the mirror from her lap with a crash. Her step back brought her in contact with her circle, breaking the dome with a pop.
“Shit, are you okay?” Al walked over, careful to not break his own circle until she was ready.
“I’m fine, it was just a shock.” She looked over at the shards on the floor. “Your mirror,” she cried.
He laughed “It’s okay.” He picked up the necklace through the broken glass,
handing it to Alice.
“Did it work?” she asked, eyeing the crystal suspiciously. It didn’t look any different.
“I’m going to drop my circle, once it’s dropped put the necklace on and say your incantation.” He pushed against the invisible wall surrounding them, another soft pop signalling his circle had opened.
Alice held the necklace carefully in her palm, the raw stone warm in her hand, familiar. Slipping it over her head she placed it neatly in the hollow of her throat.
“Arma.” An instant circle formed around her, the whole three-hundred and sixty degrees. A thin shield made of a mixture of green, blue with specks of gold.
“Wow Alice, that’s really cool,” Sam said with awe, his mood suddenly changing. “Is that what your aura looks like?” He jumped off the counter to press his hand gently against the opaque surface. With a hiss, he pulled his hand back. “Ow.”
“Erm,” Al mumbled. “It shouldn’t be that big.”
“What do you mean?” Warmth drained from her face.
“An aegis is only supposed to be a shield in front of you. You have made a complete circle, and without a drawn pentagram.” His eyebrows creased as he walked around it, touching the barrier in different areas. “I’ve never seen anything like this.” He poked the circle again. “Have you studied arcane magic?”
“No.” She eyed the dome. “Is this not normal?” She touched the barrier to drop the circle.
“There’s nothing wrong with it, I’m just surprised is all.” He clapped his hands together. “You should really practise with arcane energy, I think you’re a natural. Can you manipulate a ball of energy?”
“Yeah.” Sort of anyway.
“Great.” He grabbed his coat and rucksack. “By the way, I get to choose our next date.” With a wink he let himself out.
“See, I told you it was a date.” Sam padded across to her, his fingers playing with the crystal at her throat.
“Hardly a date.” She rolled her eyes. “Now let’s get back to planning.”
From the radio came an eerily detached voice. “Check. One. Two. Three. Check. Alice, can you hear me?”
“Hear you loud and clear, over,” Alice replied, holding down the little button on the side. Placing the walkie-talkie radio back on her belt she looked around the empty street, checking to see if anyone was looking.
Witch's Sorrow: A Witch Detective Urban Fantasy (Alice Skye Series Book 1) Page 21