Keepers & Killers (The Alchemy Series)

by Augustine, Donna

  "What?" the reporter asked her.

  Please, please, don't be what I think it's going to be, was all that ran through my mind as the witness rambled on about how strange it all seemed, but still not saying what he said. I pulled my knees up to my chest and half hid my face, as if I'd somehow be able to shield myself from the horrible truth I was afraid I was about to find out. Finally she said, "He said 'the senator says hello'. It was the strangest thing."

  I closed my eyes and rested my forehead on my knees, frozen and immobilized, as my reality became a living nightmare. I didn't cry or scream. I did nothing. Some logical part of me reasoned that I was in shock.

  Why me? I know people ask that all the time when bad things happen. I also thought I was done with that question and accepted life for whatever it handed me. It hadn't been all sweet and perfect but I'd gotten some good things too. When the senator had talked about payback that night, I hadn't thought it would come like this. My pain I could handle. This? No. I knew me and I knew my soft spots. I couldn't hold up under too much more of this. Just not the way I was built.

  The door in the hallway shut and we all turned to see Cormac strut into the room.

  "Any progress?" he asked and tilted his head in the direction of the book, still sat on the table.

  Dodd rattled off a list of our futile attempts but when I looked over at the two of them, Cormac only seemed to be paying half attention, his eyes glued on me. He made a not so subtle gesture of telling them we're through for the night and ushered everyone out. I fell in with everyone, as they headed through the door.

  I'd put one foot into the hallway when Cormac's voice called from behind me, "Jo, wait up a minute."

  Shit. I knew what I had to do and didn't want to discuss it with him. I hesitated for a few seconds then forced myself to turn around. Act natural.

  "What's up?"

  He walked over with purpose to where I still hovered in the doorway. His predatory nature was sometimes overwhelming and if it had been even a month ago, I would have run away screaming. We had a dark past, the two of us, but I didn't think he'd hurt me. Sometimes I thought I saw something else lingering in those predatory eyes that gave me a chill. But it was of a completely different nature and promised a whole different kind of hurt.

  "Come in here."

  I sauntered back in as if nothing were amiss other than what he already knew. I watched him close the door and then stand in front of it.

  "You're acting weird."

  "No I'm not."

  "Yes, you are, and you aren't leaving until you tell me what's up."

  "Cormac, we were just almost killed by a pack of human wolves, ran through a wormhole to be dumped onto the casino floor in front of an audience. How normal could I be right now?" I watched his face, waiting to see if he was going to buy my story, but he was so damn hard to read sometimes. I saw a twitch in his left cheek but that could mean I was fine or maybe the guy was hungry. He was pretty solid, I imagined he had to eat a lot.

  "I think you should stay here. I don't feel comfortable, with everything going on."

  Nope, that wasn't good. It would be a lot harder to do anything under the Cormac microscope. As it was, I was going to have to figure a new way out of the garage.

  "So, is everybody going to be staying here?"

  "This is different."

  "Why?"

  Now his muscle definitely was twitching. "It just is."

  "We are supposed to be partners, correct?" I didn't wait for an answer and he didn't give one. "It's bad enough you moved my trailer to your garage, but that's where I'm staying." And now came the big test. He stood like a statue in front of the door as I squeezed around him. He didn't move, but he didn't stop me either.

  Chapter Seven

  It was nine o'clock in the morning when I stood and stared at the building that housed the senator's office. That morning it had been tougher than ever to get out without a tail. I'd made it all the way down the car ramp to find a guy sitting at the bottom, drinking coffee and reading a paper in a lounge chair. No one ever tried to stop me from going anywhere, but didn't anybody realize a girl needs some privacy sometimes?

  I'd turned around, made my way back in and headed to the main kitchen area where they received deliveries. I got a couple of strange looks from the kitchen staff but no goons followed.

  Now, here I stood, a knife in one pocket and a gun in the other. Even if I couldn't kill him, maybe if he killed me he would stop trying to murder everyone I knew. Yes, that was me, always the optimist.

  My hands were in my pockets so no one could see I was shaking like a leaf. I strolled up to the front reception desk, dressed in my black pants suit, trying to act the part of someone politically involved. Someone who should've been here.

  "I'm here to see the senator," I said as I approached the blond receptionist who looked even younger than I did.

  "What's your name, Miss?"

  "Josephine Davids." Why bother to lie? There were at least four cameras aimed at me anyway.

  "Do you have an appointment?"

  "No, but the senator knows me well."

  That seemed to catch her attention and I realized the word 'well' might have given her the wrong impression.

  "If you could just take a seat, I'll see if he can see you."

  The chill in her voice confirmed she now thought I was a call girl. If this kept happening, I might need to get cards made up.

  The upholstered chairs in the waiting area were quite comfortable for what it was worth. I watched the receptionist make a call and then greet another man that walked past and through the door that would lead to where I needed to go.

  It wasn't long before a different man walked out through the same door. I saw his eyes scan the waiting area and lock on me, but he didn't approach. Blood pumped through my veins so hard and fast it dulled my hearing. Game on, I thought to myself.

  Then he handed a white envelope to the receptionist and left. The receptionist stood and walked over to me with a forced smile on her face.

  "The senator asked me to deliver this to you and apologizes but his schedule is too busy to see you today."

  I accepted the envelope as I sat there befuddled. He wouldn't see me? We were arch enemies. This isn't how it happened in the movies. Where was our big confrontation? I get a card? I felt kind of cheated, to be honest.

  Looking down at the sealed envelope in my hands, I counted her retreating footsteps, gauging her distance before I tore the seal open.

  It was so nice of you to visit me today, but you'll need to reschedule.

  The debt must be paid.

  I was lost. I couldn't figure out the Senator's angle. Was this a personal vendetta but why go through all, this? Just kill me already. I sure couldn't figure out how this had anything to do with taking over the world. Then there were the wormholes we knew he was behind. What did they have to do with anything? My head spun with all the variables, nothing fitting neatly together like I thought it should.

  I shoved the note in my pocket, half crumbling it as I did. All decorum was gone as I raced from the building, not caring what I looked like anymore. It was either that or storm the door that led to him. In my current mood, I'd end up killing innocent people in my efforts before I died a bloody death.

  The second I got outside, I pulled the jacket off and undid another button of my blouse. The heat of Vegas felt oppressive as I walked away from the showdown that hadn't happen. How silly I'd been to think I'd be able to end it today. After all, when did things ever work according to plan?

  I stumbled blindly away from the building in search of space. When I finally stopped to look at where I was walking, I saw Cormac waiting by the curb. The crossed arms and look in his eyes told me there would be a showdown after all, just with a different adversary.

  When I had anticipated this moment in my head, either the senator or I was supposed to be dead. If it was dead, then I'd have nothing to really worry about with Cormac. If I made it, how could anyb
ody be pissed at the person that killed the bad guy?

  He stood there in front of his newest Ferrari, which happened to be white. I didn't bother ignoring him, I had my own pent up anger and if he wanted a fight, so be it. I'd give him one.

  "What?" Some words in life are very versatile. What could have sounded defensive, shocked or nonchalant. The way I just said it was more along the lines of What the fuck is your problem? This was definitely a cursing what.

  He opened the car door and trumped my what, with his in. I was silently impressed with the amount of anger he was able to infuse into in. Yes, quite impressive.

  Neither of us said anything on the way back to the casino. Nothing on the way upstairs either. When we walked into his penthouse, Dodd was there with Ben, but one look at us and they left without saying a word.

  I heard the door shut and I counted off in my head, one Mississippi, two Mississippi…

  "What the hell did you just do?"

  I relayed a short account of what had occurred, seeing no reason to lie about it at this point and threw the senator's note on the table, for him to look at or not. Just when I thought he was going to be fairly calm, he blew.

  "What the hell do you think you were doing!"

  And there it was. He started pacing the room. Cormac has two types of paces: one type was the 'let me release some anger,' the other was 'I might kill someone.' They looked similar to the novice, but I'd started to determine the difference by the speed and heaviness of his step. We were definitely teetering into the latter variety.

  "I was handling things," I replied, perhaps too calmly because my attitude seemed to be aggravating him more by the second. I'd never seen a third upgraded version of his pacing and I was slightly curious. Would he start to float in between steps or something equally as interesting?

  "You think this is a joke?"

  "Of course not."

  "Did you just roll your eyes at me?"

  "You have to admit, that was a dumb question."

  Uh oh. He stopped pacing. I hadn't factored in him not having a third speed. He stood deathly still, all energy focused on me intently. Too intently.

  "Do you want to die? Is that your deal?"

  "No, that's a stupid thing to even say."

  "Then why would you go there with no plan, no backup and no idea how to even kill him?"

  "When did I become so important? You shut down the portal; you don't need me anymore anyway."

  "I just don't get you. There are billions of people on this Earth, all dying to be special. You are, and I watch you run from it every day. If that wasn't bad enough, now you practically throw away your life like it's nothing."

  I thought I was ready for a fight, even itching for one, but now I just wanted to leave. "You know nothing about me and I don't have to sit here and listen to your bull!" Slamming the door behind me, I left his penthouse. I should have realized then that he'd let the fight go too easily, but I wasn't thinking that clearly.

  His men followed me all the way to the garage but I didn't care. They could follow me to Hell if they wanted, as long as they stayed out of my way.

  The minute I stepped into the garage a rage I didn't even think I was capable of consumed me. My trailer was gone.

  I swung on the two goons that had followed me. "Where. Is. My. Trailer?" If I could have blown steam through my nose, I would've.

  The two of them just shook their heads, looking baffled. I broke into a run, heading right back to the only person that would've messed with my stuff. It took me less than a minute to barge back into his penthouse, and only that long because the elevator could only climb so fast.

  He was sitting on the couch, reclined and waiting.

  "Where is my trailer?"

  "It's in a safe location."

  "Where?!"

  "I'm not ready to divulge that information."

  My whole body was shaking with rage as I stood over him where he sat. "You better tell me where it is."

  "Or what?"

  I lunged for him, prepared to inflict as much bodily harm as necessary to find out where my trailer was being hidden. My fists swung and connected but my glory was short lived as I found myself on my back with Cormac lying full on top of me, pressing me into the couch.

  "I want my trailer back," I demanded, as if I still had leverage.

  "I tried to do this the nice way. I tried to be partners. Unfortunately, you have issues working as a team and seem to need some incentive." He settled in a little closer and I started to wonder what incentive he meant. "So, your trailer will be held in an undisclosed location until I feel comfortable about your participation level."

  "This is complete bullshit."

  "Yes, that is exactly how I felt this morning when I was trying to track you all over town, to find that you had gone to find the senator."

  "This is unacceptable and I won't tolerate it."

  "Really? What do you plan on doing?"

  Well, this was humiliating. I couldn't even get him to let me off the couch. What kind of brilliant threat did I pose? Lacking any adult response, I turned my head and refused to speak.

  Then he shocked me. He kissed my cheek, ruffled my hair and stood, telling me he had ordered me a turkey club for lunch.

  "You need serious meds. I really think you might be bipolar."

  He paused at the door where I thought he was going to argue with me some more. "I had your clothes and things moved back as well. Hope you don't mind." Then he smiled, because I obviously did, and the bastard strolled from the room.

  Chapter Eight

  "We need to get a wolf," Buzz said.

  "I told you, they won't cooperate," Cormac said.

  "No, I mean a real wolf."

  Cormac, Dodd, Ben, Dr. Sabrina, Kever and I all stared at him as we stood around the book in Cormac's penthouse.

  "It's magically spelled somehow, but maybe if we used a real wolf, took his paw and used that to open it, it just might work."

  It was either completely ridiculous or the most brilliant thing Buzz had ever said.

  "But I thought they aren't really wolves? Aren't they just weird, mutating aliens?" I looked around, waiting for anyone other than Cormac to answer what I thought was a simple question.

  Of course, Cormac was the one that did answer. "They are and they aren't. We've done some tissue sampling from them. We don't know how, but there is some sort of DNA link there." He turned toward Buzz. "Okay, big guy, you're up. Find us a wolf." We all stared at Buzz; I assumed everyone was thinking the same thing I was, why hadn't someone else in the room with a slightly higher IQ thought of it?

  We watched as Buzz left the room, full of excitement over his idea, and Dodd sidled up next to me.

  "What's up with you two?"

  "Nothing."

  "It's not nothing. You won't even look at him."

  "I took her trailer," Cormac said, having come up behind us.

  Dodd didn't speak, just made an 'oh' shape with his mouth and looked up at the ceiling.

  I crossed my arms, refraining from clawing at Cormac's face.

  "What happened?" Ben asked as he walked over and stood next to us.

  I was still pissed off and having everyone here know he took my trailer made it all the worse. It was humiliating having my trailer stolen.

  "Cormac stole her trailer," Dodd said in a hushed tone.

  "Dodd, I'm not deaf. What is the point of whispering to Ben if I'm standing closer to him than you are?"

  "Hey, I was just trying to be sensitive. Don't yell at me. I'm not the one that stole your trailer."

  "I didn't steal her trailer. I simply took it for a while."

  "Boss, why'd you steal her trailer?" Ben asked.

  "I took her trailer because she needs to learn to work with others."

  Dodd simply shook his head, disagreeing without words.

  "Why do you think he took it then?" Ben asked.

  "I can't disclose, but it wasn't the nicest way to go about getting it."
r />   "Do you have something to say?" Cormac questioned Dodd.

  "Nope, not saying another word." Dodd turned back to me, "Any word on Hammond?"

  "No. I think he's lying under a mountain of rubble right now," I told Dodd. I wasn't sure how I felt about it either. I'd never known him and wasn't sure if I would've wanted to, but it might have been nice to have had the opportunity. It didn't matter now anyway. Even if he was alive, he would only be another target for the senator.

  I looked around the room and realized every single person in there had a target on their back because of me. And there wasn't a single thing I could do about it.

  "What about the portals? Are they all shut down?" I asked, directing my question at Dodd.

  "Yep, everything. He's breaking the contract tonight," Dodd said, motioning toward Cormac, who now stood across the room.

  "I don't get it. Is it magic or science? As soon as I think I've got my brain around how something works, I'm stumped by something else."

  "Magic or science…sometimes I'm not sure there is a difference. Maybe magic is simply something that hasn't been scientifically explained yet."

  I looked at the man I viewed as a carefree gigolo most of the time and I realized, like most people, there was a lot more under the top layer than he showed.

  "I think I like the idea of magic. It's romantic somehow. I'm not sure I want everything to have an explanation."

  "You are such a girl." And just as quick as that, the gigolo façade was firmly back in place. "I wouldn't worry about it if that's what you want, because unless that book on the table has thousands of years of our history, you aren't getting too many explanations."

  I looked back at the book with the one inch thick binder. Nah, not likely. I wasn't going to complain though. Right now any information was better than what we had. If we could just open the damn thing. The most anyone had been able to do was move it; opening it had proved impossible.