He’d thought of moving the stone table inlaid with metal from Akasha. It was the first one he’d ever built, but he liked the centuries old stone arches and walls. They felt homey, especially in the firelight.
“Mr. Cartazonon, welcome back sir,” the doorman said, bowing his head as he walked by.
Cartazonon grunted, taking off his coat as the artificially heated and dried air hit him. “Are there any problems we need to take care of while we’re here?”
“Aren’t there always?” Lee said, taking his coat. He smiled inside as the secretary heard them, her eyes widening in fear. Her manicured nails clicked against her phone, a sure sign she would text as soon as they got in the elevator.
“You are so mean,” Lee said as the elevator door shut.
Cartazonon’s lips twitched. “I like seeing how hard my people will work to prove themselves to me when I visit.”
“You could let them be self-motivated.”
The elevator opened onto the thirty-seventh floor. Cartazonon pushed open the six foot high polished stainless steel doors. Floor to ceiling windows showed the heart of London, including the Eye and the Thames. His lion-footed mahogany desk gleamed. Stacks of folders sat on the left side of his desk set. Above the set lay invitations. The envelopes appeared tasteful, yet screamed expensive.
Sitting, Cartazonon flipped through the invitations, while Lee used the intercom to ask his assistant for tea, Darjeeling.
“Lee, we were invited to a gala Melusine gave to support a marine charity.”
“Interesting that she should send it here instead of to your email. One would think she didn’t want you to attend.”
Cartazonon said. “I have ignored her for far too long. Obviously, Melusine is more of a problem than we anticipated.”
Lee raised a scar-bisected eyebrow. “If you recall, I wanted to kill her the second I saw her.”
“I need a connection to Earth magic, and so far she’s the only one who’s willing, or was willing to work with me. Maybe it’s time to work more closely with those Zuni witches I helped in New York.” Cartazonon flipped through the other invitations. “The Equestrian Society is holding a gala and show tomorrow night, shall we attend?”
“Sure. Will I have to wear a tux?”
“You look very scary in a tux.”
A bookcase swung open, and his assistant backed into the room bringing a tea cart with him. Cartazonon’s eye twitched as one of the wheels squeaked with every turn. He opened his mouth to fire the boy, but Lee placed a large hand on his shoulder. Yes, better to demand he fix it. After all, Bradley had been with him for fifteen years, his loyalty proven through several emergencies and government inquiries.
“Send our RSVP to this event,” Cartazonon said holding the invitation out for the boy to take.
“Yes, sir. Shall I have your tuxes readied?”
“Yes, and then see to that wheel.”
“Of course, sir.”
“What is he again?” Cartazonon asked as the bookcase shut.
Lee sighed, why must they go through this every time? “He’s of Cerridwen’s line, about four generations removed.”
“Hmm, barely a snack, I suppose he is more useful as an assistant then.”
“At least for now,” Lee muttered under his breath.
Cartazonon opened the top folder. “At least for now.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Checking my phone, I wiped the sweat off my face. Gavin led the morning conditioning class and his excitement was infectious. My body buzzed from the workout and the energy of everyone in the room.
—Can you meet me this morning? Ramsey texted.
I looked around the room—ah, there he is.
“Gavin, Ramsey texted me asking if we could meet this morning.”
Gavin frowned. “We talked about this last night, I don’t want anyone going anywhere that there isn’t a protective shield until we know why the Sons of Belial are here. I’m not sure if we can even stay here through the holiday like I’d planned.”
Mental eye roll. I could feel if the Sons of Belial were close. I could feel them stronger than anyone else. This made me safer than anyone else, but arguing with Gavin’s protective instincts without Anali around was an exercise in futility.
“What if I meet him in the hotel?”
Gavin’s green eyes widened. “Not in your room.”
I held my hands up. Wow, overprotective much?
“Okay. I’ll meet him in the restaurant, not a big deal.”
Gavin’s jaw clenched, and he looked like he wanted to say no but couldn’t come up with a good reason to refuse. “Fine, but stay at the hotel, and he can’t come to your room for any reason. Are there other people going back? I don’t want you walking on your own.”
“We’re headed back,” Kayin said. Shin stood next to him.
“Perfect.”
Gavin sighed and nodded his head. “Okay then, but be careful and let me know if anything unusual happens.”
“I will, promise.” I sent Ramsey a message and grabbed my coat.
“So,” said Shin as we walked into the cold gray morning air. “What’s going on? Gavin is really tense. He asked me to teach you guys a martial arts class before lunch, which is fine, but it seemed extremely important to him.”
Kayin bit his lip and looked away, a fog of guilt floated around him. I guess he didn’t want to lie to his boyfriend. Understandable, but lying and telling certain parts of the truth are different. No, they are. I swear.
“A kidnapping threat,” I said. After all that’s what he told Shin when he asked him to train us. “I guess he got a note and saw some suspicious guys hanging around.”
Shin frowned holding Kayin’s hand, tugging him closer. “You should tell me when stuff like this happens. I’ll make sure I’m watching people more carefully.”
“Well, I’m telling you now,” I said. “And we’re not sure if there is a real threat. Gavin's people are looking into it.”
“You should sit with us during breakfast,” Shin said.
“We’ll see, Ramsey is meeting me.”
“Apparently he’s anxious to see you,” Shin said, a grin on his face.
Ramsey stood in front of the building. The breeze fluttered his kilt around his thighs. He didn’t feel excited to see me. Sadness, anger, guilt, and a cold suffocating helplessness emanated from him. Red-rimmed eyes looked at me through windblown curls.
I ran over to him. “Ramsey, what’s happened?” I asked as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
He gasped, his body shaking as he wrapped his arms around me. “Mindy, you met her at the party, she…she killed herself.”
“What? Oh, my god, I’m so sorry.” I held him tighter. I remembered Mindy smiling at the gala, showing me her necklaces for the silent auction. The mix of stones and sea glass was as whimsical and beautiful as she was. What had happened to make her so depressed so quickly?
“She,” he gasped. “She didn’t contact anyone else, just me, and I didn’t go over, and later when I texted and called she didn’t answer me but I thought … I thought she was okay, you know, wrapped up in a new project or busy with friends.”
Guilt pierced my heart and clung to me like weighted chains. This was my fault. If I had said goodbye to him . . . If I hadn’t kissed him . . . he could have saved her. “Ramsey, I’m so sorry. I …” I choked on the inadequacy of what to say. A breeze whipped around us. “Come on let’s go inside and get warm.”
He nodded and let me go.
I clasped his hand our fingers entwining. “Are you hungry?”
He shook his head.
Stupid question. “When was the last time you ate?”
“I don’t know—a day or so ago.” The fingers of his free hand wrapped around the strap on his yoga bag.
“Let’s go and get some breakfast, or at least some hot tea,” I said as he began to protest at the idea of food.
I guided him to a small table in the back. “I’ll get us som
e food and be right back.”
“Is everything okay?” Kayin asked as I filled two plates at the buffet.
I shook my head and forced back tears. “His friend killed herself.” And if I’d let him go instead of tricking him into spending the day with me, she’d still be alive.
Warm compassion flowed over me. “I’m sorry. If I can help at all, let me know.”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
“Where’s Shin?”
Kayin grinned. “He saw someone suspicious and went to follow them.”
“I’m sorry I lied to him.”
“No, don’t worry. Go back to Ramsey, he needs you right now.”
“Thanks, Big Brother.”
I set down two mugs of tea and two plates. I pushed the one with the kippers in front of Ramsey.
“It’s my fault.” Ramsey said, wrapping his hands around the mug but not drinking. “They all said it wasn’t, but not only was I not there for her—everyone who is depressed, they all went to that party and met with Melusine. That can’t be a coincidence. I mean I know artists can be moody, but more than half of my friends feel depressed right now.”
My brow furrowed. “Were they all magical?”
“Not like me, not full, but yeah they all had at least a little magical being in them. Their magic is what made them such good artists. They possessed this interesting connection and view of the world that came through in their art.”
“At the party the gnome had his magic sucked from him. Not his life just his magic, and he died, but …”
“What if they were mostly human, what if she took the magic part of them?” Ramsey groaned. “Bloody hell! They all said they couldn’t do their art. The technique was still there, but their passion their muse, gone. And I fed them to her. She wouldn’t have even known about them if I hadn’t sent them to her.”
I grabbed his hands hoping to calm him down. “You didn’t know. I didn’t know anything was wrong with Melusine until she touched me, and even then I wasn’t sure she was the one. We’ll sort it out. We can talk to my uncle and see what can be done. Maybe Miu can help heal them?”
Tears flooded his black eyes and fell down his pale cheeks.
I sat in his lap and wrapped my arms around him. A low moan rumbled in his chest as his shoulders shook. His arms wrapped around me. His fingers dug into my sides as he clung to me. I did my best to push aside my own guilt and breathe, sending calm energy to surround him. His breath began to return to normal, and his body calmed. I rubbed his back and his arms relaxed
“I’m sorry I must look a right wanker,” Ramsey muttered into my shoulder.
“No, you’re fine.” This was after all one of the few emotional things I was good at.
A storm of rage and fear crashed into the room. Gavin burst in like lightning.
“Uncle Gavin,” I said. I stood up, and my hand gripped Ramsey’s shoulder.
His red-rimmed eyes scanned the room not seeming to see anything.
I choked on his fear. “Uncle Gavin.”
He focused on me and rushed forward, his fingers digging into my shoulders. “They took her. I can’t believe they took her. Did you feel anything? Do you know which way they went, because she gone and she can’t be gone. She just can’t.”
My vision faded, and my body went cold. “No, Gavin, no. There has to be some mistake. Anali was in her room. She was feeling better, we were going to go out to lunch today.”
“They,” Gavin voice cracked. I swayed as his fear and pain crashed into me. “They took her from the room. Shin he tried, I mean I know he must have done his best, but …damn it, they never should have gotten her. I should have …”
“Uncle Gavin,” I interrupted. Ramsey stood behind me holding my hand. He was trying to ground my emotions but his own sorrow was too raw and sharp. My head began to throb. I had to do something. “Where is everyone else right now?”
Tears filled his eyes. “She’s gone. And the baby. Oh, God, the baby. I couldn’t keep them safe.”
I placed my hands on Gavin’s face and tilted his head down so I could meet his eyes. “Uncle Gavin, where are the others?”
“Upstairs in our room.”
“Let’s go.” I grabbed Gavin’s hand and pulled them upstairs. Gavin bounced on the balls of his feet the whole elevator ride up. His deep breaths seem to shove down his fear, and the rage became stronger with each floor.
Gavin strode from the elevator, his hands clenching into fists as he walked. His jaw clenched, and his red-rimmed eyes were hard. “I will get her back and kill everyone who touched her.”
“Do you feel them? Can you follow them?” Miu asked as soon as I walked into the door.
“Why would you feel them or be able to follow them?” Shin asked. His wrists were raw, the skin around his mouth red, and several bruises began forming on his face and arms.
“Good going,” Sasha muttered.
“No, I didn’t feel anything.” I led Gavin and Ramsey to the couch and made them both sit. Taking a few steps back, I tried to center myself. “Okay, this is chaos. We need to figure out what to do next. Shin, what happened?”
Shin raised an eyebrow and looked at Gavin, who was staring at the floor, then turned back to me. “I followed these two men in suits, they didn’t seem right. Too hard, too aware. I followed them up here. They took the stairs, and I stayed back so they wouldn’t see me. They knocked on the door, and Anali opened it before I could stop her. They injected her with something and shoved her into a laundry hamper. I tried to stop them.” He rubbed his purpling jaw. “They were good, professional. Under their suit jackets they wore hotel uniforms. Within a few minutes they had me bound and gagged.”
I stiffened as sharp anger came off of him. “Okay, anyone else see or know anything?”
“Da, but I’m not sure I should say right now.” He looked at Shin.
“Okay, so not the time and we need him.” I looked at Gavin and he nodded. I knelt in front of Shin and held my hand up drawing on Kayin’s power. I surrounded my hand in flames. “So, five-second explanation of our secret. We are magical beings who are hunted by the Sons of Belial so they can steal our power.”
Shin nodded, his eyes fixed on my hand. He reached out stopping before he touched the flames. “It’s hot.”
“Fire tends to be. Kayin can tell you more later.” I let the flames go and stood. “It could also be Melusine, the woman who put together the gala. Ramsey and I think she took the magic from his friends. One became so depressed she killed herself. Sasha, what did you Dream?”
“A mermaid is trying to get into Avalon,” he said, his gray eyes hard.
“Melusine,” Ramsey said. “Legend tells of a woman and her sisters, mermaids, cast out of Avalon because of their cruelty towards their human father.”
“We have to go to Glastonbury Tor.” Gavin stood and grabbed his jacket.
I shivered at the coldness of his voice. “Yes, but not yet. They can’t get in. I bet they’re hoping Anali can open the doorway for them.”
“Can she?” Gavin asked twisting his jacket so tight the leather creaked.
I had no idea. “Do we know anything more about Avalon?”
Gavin shook his head. “Philip sent me a bunch of links to different myths and stories, but nothing that would help me save Anali.”
Miu waved her phone. “The Tor closes at sunset, which is four o’clock this time of year.”
“They won’t go while people are there,” Shin said. “Not with how professional they seemed.”
I nodded. “Uncle Gavin, do you know if the Children of Fire know about the Tor being special? Do we have anyone watching it?”
Gavin looked at his watch, the muscle in his jaw twitched as his fear spiked. “Eight hours. I’m supposed to wait for eight hours? I have to know she’s safe. I need to go and get her now.”
“Uncle Gavin. I understand. I do, and if you know where she is we’ll go right now, but otherwise we’ll have to wait,” I said, holding his hands b
efore he tore at his hair. “Now do you know if there are any Children of Fire watching Glastonbury Tor?”
Gavin fell into a chair shaking his head. “I don’t know.”
I opened my phone and called Philip. He smiled at me from the picture I’d taken of him, his salt and pepper mohawk standing straight and his skin crinkling around his blue eyes. “Hello,” he said his voice thick with sleep.
“Philip, we have an emergency,” I said. “I’ll explain later. Do we have anyone watching Glastonbury Tor?”
“Yes, several people work there.”
“We need to have access to the Tor tonight after closing,” I said.
Philip cleared his throat. “It’ll happen.”
“Let them know it’s not the Sons of Belial but a woman with Earth magic. Her name is Melusine,” I said.
“The mermaid?” Philip asked.
“Yes, we think so.”
“She’s a bitch, be careful of her. I’ll let you know once I have everything sorted.” Philip hung up the phone.
“Now what?” Miu asked.
I had no idea. “How long does it take to get to Glastonbury Tor?”
“From here,” Ramsey said, “about three hours.”
Shin stood. His blue streaked black bangs covered half his face. “So we get ready, shower, eat, rest, and gather supplies for this afternoon.”
“I can’t eat.” Miu twisted her pony tails. “I’m too upset.”
“If you don’t eat you can’t come,” Shin said. “You’ll be a liability.”
“Hey,” Sasha began.
“He’s right,” Gavin said. “We need to be ready to fight and open a portal and you can’t do that when fainting from hunger. Go get ready, pack a bag for cold weather, and meet back here as soon as you’re ready, and no one is alone from this moment on.”
Ramsey touched my arm. “I’ll be back. I need to let the others know what’s going on. I’ll be back in an hour.”
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