When Gloriana returned, she picked up the picture of Annie and Cham. “Is he your boyfriend?” she asked.
“His name is Bobby Chamsky. He and Samantha’s husband John are brothers,” Annie said.
“Oh. They’re magical too?” Gloriana put down the picture and took up the one of the Pearce family. She touched Emily’s face.
“Yes. Bobby and I are engaged.”
“Congratulations. I suppose it will be another event for me to miss.” Gloriana dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. “I’m sorry. I would have liked very much to see you grow up. You’re a beautiful girl, as is Samantha. I’m sorry I missed so much.”
“I’m also brilliant and strong.”
Gloriana laughed. “And mouthy like your mother.”
Annie walked to her and took her hands again. “I don’t know what caused the riff. We weren’t told. There is time. But for now, you have to understand. I work as a wizard guard—” Annie stopped when her grandmother looked upon her with a look of horror.
“How could he allow you to take up that career?” she murmured.
“Cham is the Wizard Guard department manager. We know what we’re doing and we know that you need to be kept safe. I can do that, but for now, you need to state your business and go back home.” Annie pointed to the man in the suit.
“That’s Sawyer Brown, my lawyer. I was going to have him give you and Samantha your inheritance. It’ll have to wait, seeing as my daughter is still alive.”
Chapter 22
Annie sat with Rathbone’s copy of the Inferno open in her lap; she had gotten as far as finding the letters SNAKE H. She was fairly certain the letters would spell “Snake Head Letters,” though she had no idea why Rathbone would lead her there on September 1. She pushed the book away and stared into the trees. Kidnapping her own mother had left her restless and anxious.
“You saw Emily today?” Zola put her arm around her charge; Annie leaned against her.
“Yeah. She was happy to see Sami.”
“She thinks you’re evil. Give her time.”
Annie chuckled and summoned a map of Illinois.
“What are you doing?” Zola asked.
Annie set the map on the table and sat down. “I need to keep myself busy. The itching is getting worse. My skin is burning with pain.” She wrapped her scrying necklace around her hand and let it hang above the map.
Zola wiped away the tears as they slid down Annie’s cheeks. “None of this can be easy. You should sleep. I’ll make a strong potion so you can’t feel the itching.” She placed a cool hand on Annie’s warm one.
“As pleasurable as that sounds, I need to do this.”
Annie let the crystal swing from Chicago to southern Illinois in large swift circles. It landed in the middle of farmland in central Illinois.
Annie scried a second time for Sturtagaard, to ensure his location was correct. It wasn’t long ago that his preferred hiding location was an abandoned building in the city, close to a good selection of victims. She wasn’t expecting to find him in an empty barn in the country.
“You’re not going after the vampire, are you?” Zola asked.
Annie dropped the fabric, which had been ripped from one of his items of clothing. “Good guess,” she said as she wrapped up her map and crystal. “Yes. I need something from him.”
“Don’t let him get to you. You look ill.”
Annie kissed her friend. “I need to go. I’ll be fine.” Zola squeezed Annie’s hand before Annie pulled away and teleported to the vampire.
She gave up believing stealth was key to sneaking up on him; Sturtagaard knew her scent and would smell her before he saw her. Unafraid of him and knowing he was unafraid of her, she landed beside the barn and surveyed the landscape as she walked around the perimeter of the building. She found a small door and let herself in.
While it and the land appeared abandoned, the barn was still fully stacked with boxes, farm implements, and, surprisingly, a car. Sturtagaard had cleared a small patch of floor and “decorated” it with a sofa, a refrigerator that buzzed, and a bookshelf. She hadn’t realized until this moment that he was a reader.
“You didn’t make it difficult to find you,” she said as she squeezed herself between a pile of boxes and the car, rubbing against years of dirt.
A low light was cast from a small lantern beside the sofa. The vampire glanced up and matched Annie’s gaze. He said nothing.
She pulled up a crate and sat across from him. “Something’s been bothering me since I found you in Louisiana.”
“Yeah, what’s that?” He placed a book of Shakespeare sonnets on the table and looked at her. For a short moment, Annie could see the human face she had left in the past.
“How coincidental it was that you were at the same portal at the same time as me,” Annie said.
“Interesting. No stake?” Sturtagaard jeered, but Annie saw something different in his face, in his eyes. He looked as though he had no more fight left.
“I’m fairly certain I could, with a flick of my wrist, cut your head off. It’s a lot cleaner and a lot less work,” Annie retorted.
“Fair enough. So, that was the question. What do you think the answer is? Because I’ve known you for a long time, girl. I’m pretty sure you already know.”
“The name is Annie. Anne, if you’d like to keep it all business.” Annie summoned a stake to appease him. It was so sharp at its point; she could easily push through a breastbone and pierce a heart. His heart, to be precise. “Robin Price has a contact who occasionally passes on information and I’m fairly certain you told that contact to tell Robin.”
She watched Sturtagaard closely. He made no expression of agreement or acknowledgement.
“Am I close?” she asked. She hated when he played games.
“I’ll miss doing your job,” he said. It was the first time he acknowledged his impending death. She almost felt sorry for him and then she didn’t.
“How did you know about the market?” Annie asked.
“I’ve been alive for many generations. I have contacts,” he said and winked.
Annie’s stomach roiled at his levity. “Do you know where the other three portals are?” she asked.
Sturtagaard raised an eyebrow. “And how do you figure there are only four portals?”
Annie stood at the bookshelf, reading the titles of his library—Shakespeare, Milton, Chaucer—impressed by his selection. “Four quadrants that represent the four corners of Earth. We expect they’ll be a portal in each hemisphere, north and south. It’s a shame when I have to do your job,” she said.
She pulled down The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It was a first edition and yet it looked pristine, as if it had never been used. “Where do you keep all of your personal items? I don’t remember this at the warehouse.”
“I have secrets that are none of your business.”
“Whatever. Ask your contact if he knows anything about the other three portals.” She looked at the vampire, sitting there, an old man in a young man’s body. He was filled with so much wisdom and so much evil, and yet he holstered his anger. She tossed the stake and let it slap against her palm.
He jumped slightly. “Gir—Annie, that’s still not funny.”
Annie smiled. “Yeah. It kinda is,” she said as she placed his book back. Still, she didn’t leave.
“What now, Annie?”
“What do you know about my powers?”
Sturtagaard smiled to himself like he was remembering a funny joke.
“You do know something.”
“Oh, girl. The things you don’t know. What will you do without me?” He walked to his small kitchenette and pulled out a pouch of blood. She watched with disgust as he microwaved the entire package.
“What do you know about the powers?”
He turned and faced her, still holding the now-heated blood packet. “I know you turned your father into a corporeal ghost in the past. That’s what I told the Fraternitatem.”
An
nie frowned. “And that was enough for them to wait centuries to kill me?”
Sturtagaard laughed deeply. “I lied to them girl. I. LIED! I’m a vampire. It’s what we do.”
Annie flipped the stake; Sturtagaard jumped. “What did you tell them?”
“I told them you could control the elements: water, fire, earth, and wind. You know, tornadoes, hurricanes…”
“Volcanoes and earthquakes. Yeah, I’ve heard that recently. In otherwords, you’re just an ass and know nothing.” She crossed her arms against her chest and glared at him.
“Why are you so surprised, girl? I lied to them and told them all that junk. But you can turn a ghost corporeal. Have you done anything else odd?”
Annie looked at him. “I have, but I’m not telling you. As you say, you’re a vampire and you lie. Just for the record, you really are an ass.” She tossed him the stake and left him alone, curious as to what other powers she might now possess.
*
“Sturtagaard knows his time is almost up,” Annie remarked as she climbed into bed.
“You saw him tonight?” Cham asked as he changed his clothes.
“I was curious about something and he basically corroborated it. I won’t miss him.” She pulled the blankets up around her to remove the chill. “Are Arden and Ariana adjusting okay?”
Cham glanced at her as he took off his watch and lay it on the dresser. “Now that she’s not being drugged and has her memory back, she’s a whole new person. She actually had a bunch of stuff for us. Names, places, a hidden entrance into the Cave of Ages.”
Annie raised her eyebrows. “That could change everything. I’m glad she’s willing to share.” She lay her head on her hand as she reclined on her side. “I also saw someone else tonight.”
“You had a busy night. Who else?” He climbed in beside her. She shivered against his chilly skin.
“My grandmother showed up at the door.”
He matched her position and looked into her eyes. “Really? She saw the protection detail around the house?”
Annie nodded.
“You sure it was her?” Cham touched her hair that hung across her chest.
“Looked like Mom and me, just with white hair,” Annie said. “I didn’t use a crystal to be sure, but… she looked like me.”
“Hmmm. So, what did Grandma want?”
“After seeing the protection detail, I guess she decided it was time to give us our inheritance.”
“It belongs to Emily.”
“I told her Emily was alive. Surprisingly, she took it well. I explained how we thought she might be in danger. Especially if Emily wants the money.” Annie closed her eyes as Cham touched her head, her cheek. “Gloriana wants to come to the wedding.”
“She’s missed out on a lot, for whatever reason.”
Annie rolled to her back and stared at the ceiling. A crack was growing at the center. “Sturtagaard didn’t know about the four corners of Earth in relation to the portals. I told him he should ask his contact for the other portals.” She yawned. The late night was getting to her. Cham lay beside her, pulled her into him, and held her. “He also lied to the Fraternitatem about my powers. He doesn’t know what they do.”
Cham chuckled into her hair. “It’s almost over,” he whispered. She kissed him gently and let the sleep come and take her away.
Chapter 23
From the fifth-floor conference room, Annie overlooked the busy street. Traffic started and stopped, and a steady stream of people entered and exited the surrounding buildings. As it was a warm summer day, several tour buses zoomed down the street.
The magic flowed strongly through her this morning. She leaned against the cool glass for some relief. For a short moment, the coolness eased the itching across her forehead. She refrained from scratching the rest of her body until she couldn’t stand it anymore. Her arms and legs were red and patchy, stinging when she touched them.
“Hi.”
Annie turned. Ryan stood at the entrance. “What are you doing in here?” he asked, taking a seat beside the window.
“Itchy. I needed a break,” she said.
Ryan could see the red patches she no longer hid. “Everything else okay?” he asked.
“Yeah. Is that why you’re here?” She pulled at her legs, never taking her eyes from the street below.
“I wanted to make sure you’re okay. It’s been a lot this week.”
“Now that the first-line spies are all locked away, we can concentrate on the rest of the plan.” She absently scratched her thigh, which was so red it burned at her touch.
“Go home and take a potion for the itching. You’re entitled,” Ryan said.
Annie glanced at him and smiled. “Not yet.” She returned to the window; the flow of the city seemed to calm her. She was safe here.
“Emily banned Gloriana from seeing you. Jason was just honoring that after she died,” Ryan told her.
“It doesn’t matter now.” Annie scratched at her hands.
“No, I suppose it doesn’t,” Ryan said thoughtfully. “Go home and take care of yourself.”
Annie moved her hand and watched the magic trail after it, shimmering and popping like bubbles.
“It’s going to send you back to the hospital,” Ryan said.
Annie looked at him and shook her head. “No. The magic builds up, the itching starts, and then I pass out. Unless I…” She held her hand in a fist and quickly released it, letting her fingers fly out. A burst of magic flew from her palm.
“You can release the magic buildup?”
Annie raised her eyebrows and smiled. “Everyone needs to stop underestimating me. I’m kinda smart, you know.” She clenched her hand into a tight fist again and released her fingers. Another burst of magic flowed from her palm.
“Sorry. You’re no longer a kid.” Ryan produced a rolled scroll, officially closed with the seal of the Grand Marksman, and passed it to Annie.
She looked at it and then at Ryan before peeling the seal from the parchment. It was a contract for Annie to take the position of Manager of the Educational Liaison Department.
“It’s all set if this is what you want to do.” Ryan smiled broadly.
“I’ll miss the Wizard Guard. I was born to do that,” she said as she looked at the contract.
“Bigger salary as a department manager. More money as a teacher. You’ll be safe,” Ryan said.
Annie sighed and sat at the table, signing her future into being. She always knew this day would someday come. She always knew she’d do something different when she had children; she never wanted to risk leaving her kids without parents. She held her breath as she signed her name and blew on the ink to dry the parchment. She passed it back to Ryan; the magic trailed behind her hand when she moved.
“It looks like the magic’s building again,” Ryan noted.
Annie looked at her hand, formed a figure eight by swishing her hand in a quick motion, then shook it quickly. “I’m heading to the gym. I need to expel this energy. I think it time to bring in the Middle Eastern group. A plan needs to be created.” Annie gave Ryan a hug and headed to the basement.
*
Target hung from the ceiling like piñatas. Body forms stood in a haphazard pattern across the gym floor, waiting for an attacker. Annie walked the obstacle course of sorts, whipped out her palm, and cast a spell, exploding the first dummy. Fuzz and fabric flew all over. Her itching decreased.
Annie prowled as if she were stalking a magical creature. She turned and shot another spell, concentrating on the practice dummy’s head only. It blew apart with such force, fuzz landed on the ceiling beams, twenty feet up. Annie smiled and watched golden bubbles of magic billow from her palms, float upward, and pop.
She cast a spell upwards at the ceiling target. The cartoon character blew apart and paper in multiple streams of color rained down, covering her. Annie left behind a scorch mark across the ceiling.
“Whoops,” she said as she shot successive spells upward, kno
cking out the remaining five targets.
“You were right. This could be an effective training method,” a voice said.
Annie walked out from the group of practice dummies. Perkins Abernathy stood beside the headless dummy.
She summoned an ash stake and plunged it into the dummy beside her. “I have ideas,” Annie said. “What’s up?” At the window separating the gym from the morgue, Annie saw a familiar face staring back at her.
“Fabien Arnault is waiting for you. Are you ready or still letting off energy?” Perkins asked.
Annie glanced at her hand, magic still billowed. She glanced back at the window and waved Fabien inside. “A little more magic, I think,” she said.
Fabien entered the lab; he and Perkins watched Annie strike several more dummies, blowing more cotton and fabric across the gym.
“Hi, Fabien. Sorry about that. Just burning off the magic,” Annie said. She enjoyed this new Fabien. He seemed relaxed, dressed in jeans and a collared shirt. The only difference she could discern quickly was that he now had a large scar across his chin.
“I see. It’s pretty impressive,” he said.
Annie cast another spell, blowing apart the farthest practice dummy. With the itching decreased, she finally felt relief. “Sorry. This magic is very difficult to deal with sometimes,” she admitted.
“No problem. Just here with an update,” Fabien said.
“Great. Give me a sec to clean up my mess and I’ll walk you up.” With both palms out, Annie waved the debris to the side.
“Leave it, Annie,” Perkins shouted out.
“You sure?” He nodded and Annie led Fabien out of the gym.
*
“It’s an impressive Wizard Hall,” Fabien said as they entered the fifth floor. Annie took him straight to her desk and offered him a seat.
“You’ve been here before.” She sat across from him and folded her hands on the desk.
“I know. It’s just so clean and big, and you haven’t been duped by one of your own,” he said.
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