Spells & Magic

by Rachel Medhurst

  “Don't worry,” Jake whispered. “If we need to get out of here sharpish, I'll shift and cause a mass evacuation.”

  His chuckle was loud in the lift as the fake jester rattled on about the history of the Tower of London.

  The quicker we found Finlay, the better. The claustrophobic confines of the supposed entertainment venue didn’t make me feel safe. In fact, my palms were already slick, my heart beating rapidly.

  I was dead already, so some would say I had nothing to fear, but my friend was trapped and alone somewhere, being held hostage by an evil witch.

  “It's stopping,” Dave whispered in my ear, his hand briefly squeezing mine as we were let out of the lift cage. “Can I have some of your magic?”

  Nodding as we were guided onto a boat, I held his hand tight and smiled. Heat swept down my arm as my magic left me and went into him. He grinned as the others climbed in behind us, bickering between themselves about who would get the wettest on the ride as it took us to Finlay.

  “Shall we use scare tactics on him?” Dave asked as the boat started to move.

  The darkness was dense as the water squirted over us, causing Kate to screech out loud. A couple of people in the boat laughed as the spooks started. I ignored them, checking my phone to see if I had signal. None. Not that it mattered, I rarely had calls or messages anyway.

  “We need to do anything to gain information about Brianna. Time’s ticking. She might not even be...” I couldn't finish my sentence.

  The thought of what Brianna had been through made my stomach roll as the boat pulled up to the fake Tower Bridge.

  Climbing out, I searched the actors’ faces, looking for a man in his thirties with brown hair and piercing blue eyes. Dave had sent a picture to my phone so I could recognise our culprit. I remembered him from our brief meetings, but it had been a while.

  There were three men and a woman standing by the docks, waving us over to the fake Tower of London. The stocks held a man with bright blue eyes...

  “Finlay!” I said in a cheerful greeting. “It's nice to see you again!”

  The man's eyes widened as he went to thrust up from the stocks. Placing a hand on the end, I cast a spell to lock the metal clasps.

  A couple of his co-workers came over, a question in their raised eyebrows.

  “We just need a quick word with Finlay,” Jake muttered, waving them away.

  As expected, Finlay's colleagues protested, about to call a manager on their walkie talkie. Before we could intervene, Finlay called out, stopping them.

  “It's okay,” he said quickly. “I know them.”

  The human was being sensible. He knew who and what we were. It would be remiss of him to allow his friends to interrupt our little chat when there was something very important to discuss.

  “Will you behave if I let you out?” I asked him, trying my hardest not to shove my dagger into his throat where he stood.

  His gaze ducked as he nodded, his thin lips pulling tight as I released the locks and lifted the top of the stock. Rising slowly, he nodded for us to join him away from his friends as they played out a beheading by the fake tower.

  A woman caught my eye as I stood close to Finlay. Her stare was directed right at me, her hand moving gently by her side. Shit, she was a witch. That was the last thing I needed down in the dungeons. A quick escape wouldn't be possible, especially from a witch determined to capture me for the PFF.

  “I'm sorry, Gemma,” Finlay exclaimed as we went into a dark corner. “I didn't want to do it, I tried to fight it, but he spelled me. I couldn't help it!”

  “What didn't you want to do?” I asked as I got Jake's attention.

  Nodding in the direction of the small crowd, I indicated the woman with a discreet point of a finger.

  Jake inclined his head and stepped away from us, disappearing into the shadows. His instincts would tell him if there was a threat from those watching the fake beheading.

  “Your cat... Brianna...” His stutter was followed by a gulp.

  Dave got closer to him, his phone out and held towards him. It was in these moments that I remembered why Dave was such a good desk friend. In the past, he would've spoken through an ear piece while I scouted the field. He would have recorded everything through my ear piece but things had changed.

  My desk friend, turned lover, was now in the field with me. He had to improvise with recording devices, although he had tried to persuade me to wear my body cam several times. I was done with that annoying piece of equipment, much preferring not to have to worry about Dave's voice in my ear, always telling me what to do.

  “Who made you do it?” My hands clenched into fists as my stomach rolled.

  “Gemma,” Kate said from behind me. “Jake's got a problem.”

  Looking over my shoulder, I spotted him talking to the workers, ushering them onto a boat with the visitors. Two people remained, standing by the tower, glaring down at me. Both of them held their hands in the air, muttering something under their breath.

  “I need to do this,” I said to Dave, waving at Finlay. “Can you...?”

  Dave nodded as he handed me his phone and jogged towards the threating witches.

  Going closer to Finlay, who backed up to the edge of the fake dock, his heels almost touching the water, I grabbed his arm in a vice grip. Taking care not to allow my magic to filter from me, I got in his face and bared my teeth.

  “Who made you slaughter my cat? Who has Brianna? Where is she now?”

  The skin under my fingers started to burn, his whimper telling me that he felt it.

  Releasing him, I shook myself, trying to regain composure. He wouldn't get away with what he had done, he had to pay. I would take him back to Paranormal MI5 and arrest him. Well, my team would, anyway.

  “It was Xvair Harvey. He said that if you found me, I had to tell you that he was the one behind it all. He said that you wouldn't be surprised. I... I tried to...” His gaze was drawn above my head as a whooshing sound approached.

  Wrapping my arms around his torso, I tackled him, forcing us into the water. The shallow liquid engulfed us as we landed. A fireball exploded beside us, causing use both to thrust away from each other in an attempt to untangle ourselves.

  “I've got them!” Dave shouted as I spun to see him tackle one of the witches to the ground.

  Jake shifted into a wolf as the other witch surged into the water towards us. His leap placed him in front of the witch, his snarl rumbling up his chest.

  Trusting them to take care of the threat, I took hold of Finlay's shirt, picking him up from the water. It wasn't very deep, but if he didn't give me what I needed, I would be tempted to drown him.

  “Where did you take Brianna?”

  I didn't need to ask anything else, I knew full well why Xvair had ordered my cat to be slayed. Although he didn't want me disconnected from the line, he would want me weak so he could carry out his plan, whatever that was.

  Coughing, Finlay relaxed, allowing me to tug him into any position I wanted. Holding him close to my face, I looked into his. He was the same height as me, his eyes level with mine. Tears swum in them as he clenched and unclenched his jaw.

  “She broke up with me three weeks ago. I thought it was her at the door, but it wasn't...”

  A cry from behind made me look around. The fight was ongoing, both Jake and Dave scuffling with the two female witches. They were trying to get past the agents, their gaze searching for me.

  Jake lunged for one of their legs, just missing when she kicked out.

  Dave was physically wrestling with the other, trying to get her to the ground. He was being far too nice. Surely, he wasn't playing the ‘I couldn't be violent with a woman’ card?

  “Just tell me where she is!” I shouted at Finlay.

  A searing blast left my closed knuckles as I punched him softly with the hand that clutched the phone. My other hand still clasped his stupid medieval tunic, forcing him to stay standing. He grunted as a burn mark appeared where my knuckle
s had dug into him. The material singed away, leaving a gaping hole. A bright burn mark, covered in blisters, appeared instantly, forcing me to let go.

  He cringed as he clenched his hands by his side. I was about to speak when he raised his arm and pointed behind me. Ignoring him, I raised my fist again.

  “Okay!” he screamed, holding his hands over his face. “She's in the Hollybush Tavern near Moorgate. There's a flat beneath the pub. That's where he ordered me to take her after giving her the vervain.”

  A feminine screech followed by a canine growl made me wince as Finlay's eyes widened, his gaze following the sound. “How did Xvair contact you?”

  “He... he sent a young girl to my door. As soon as I looked into her eyes, I knew what I had to do. He must have cast a spell on her too.”

  “What did she say?” My hands shook as I ignored what was going on in the background.

  Rubbing his chin as it wobbled, Finlay shook his head. “She handed me a phone and a bag of vervain. Xvair rang at that moment and ordered me to kidnap Brianna. He then told me to kill your cat a few days later. Like I said, I tried to fight it. I would never hurt Brianna.”

  His attempt to make me feel sorry for him managed to work only slightly. It quickly wore off when an image of Smudge surged in my mind. I would have to let the agency deal with him, I was far too emotionally involved.

  Spinning away, I clicked the record button off on the phone as I took in the scene playing out in front of me.

  One of the witches was on the ground, clutching her leg as she cried.

  Jake stood over her, blood dripping from his canines. The other woman was face down, her wrists handcuffed behind her back.

  Kate was beside me, nodding towards Finlay. “Shall I take him in?”

  “For questioning,” I muttered, glancing over to the lift when it started to creek.

  “Questioning?” Frowning, she went over to him.

  Offering his hands, he waited to be handcuffed. I couldn’t exactly be ruthless with the human considering he was spelled to commit the crime. As much as my chest squeezed, I nodded when she secured him.

  “Yeah, Xvair made him do it.”

  Whistling, I caught the attention of the others. They looked up, their eyes immediately following where I pointed to the incoming crowd. When the humans saw what was happening, they would freak out.

  “We need to go.”

  Trotting over, Jake paused as he shifted, his long body stretching and bones breaking to form back into a man. I looked away from his crouched position as Dave joined us, reaching out to take my hand.

  Our palms warmed as I gave him some of my magic, prepared to flash us all out of there. Kate took Dave’s other hand, still holding onto our captive. Jake caught my free fingers just before I imagined us being around the back of the Paranormal MI5 building.

  As soon as we landed, I went to turn away.

  “Where are you going?” Dave asked.

  “To that pub,” I replied. “I have to find Brianna.”

  Taking my arm, he stopped me. Kate took my other hand.

  Jake turned as he dressed himself, his butt cheeks white against the tan line of his waist. Looking away, I blinked, shaking my head to clear the image.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, ready to fight if they refused to let me go.

  For too long I had ignored the people who cared about me. Smudge had been allowed to get close to me, or as close as I would let her. And yet, I still became complacent with my familiar. It was the same with Brianna. We had known each other for years, but I hadn’t made the effort to allow her in. She had tried to help me find love. She had wanted to be my friend. Why hadn’t I allowed anyone to get close?

  “Jake and Dave are going with you.”

  Kate took hold of Finlay’s sleeve, giving him a look of warning as she closed her eyes.

  “She’s a seer,” Dave explained when Finlay stared at the woman who clutched his arm. “She’ll find out all your dirty secrets, you-”

  “Stop,” I warned my partner. “He’s more innocent than we realise.”

  Spinning around, Jake held his arms out to the side. “Back to my normal sexy self, let’s get going.”

  A part of me wanted to demand them to stay at headquarters, but I had to admit that I needed their help. I had no idea who was holding Brianna. Would Xvair be there? Or, would he have hired someone else to watch over her? That’s if she was still alive.

  “Okay.” Taking their hands, I prepared to flash us again. “Let’s go rescue my best friend.”

  Chapter 7

  It wasn’t safe to land outside the pub, so I took us to the nearest underground station. The men followed me as we strolled out through the crowd, blending in with mostly humans as they went about their day. A couple of paranormal creatures looked in our direction, but we kept our heads down.

  “What’s the plan?” Jake asked.

  Dodging a woman with a pram, I smiled at her when she apologised. It was nice for someone to be polite for a change. Often, British people in London were less than friendly.

  Checking that no one was watching, I took out my phone. The map showed the pub, just down the street.

  “There’s an alleyway behind the pub. If we scope out the place, check the environment, we’ll be able to determine whether we need backup. If Xvair is there, you can ring it in and get my mother’s team to help.”

  Shaking his head, Jake mumbled under his breath. His eyebrows were pulled low over his bright blue eyes. The clench of his jaw added to his look of agitation.

  “What was that?”

  Smiling quickly, he licked his lips. “I was just saying that your mother is a pain in the arse. She should’ve let you stay on the case. It’s crazy to separate you from the people who will protect you from getting killed. Well...”

  His cheeks burned red as we passed a coffee shop, the strong smell of the hot drink filtering out to us. My head bent round when I spotted a dark haired man holding a copy of Pride and Prejudice in front of his face. It looked suspiciously like-

  “There’s a witch up front,” Dave interrupted us. “We need to get off the street. It’s too dangerous for you to be out here. Especially as we’re so close to the equinox.”

  The PFF was next on my hit list. Brianna had to be saved. I trusted the others to take Xvair down without me, if needed. Although I was going against my mother’s wishes having Dave and Jake with me. However, if Xvair was at the pub, they would be following a legitimate lead.

  Ducking into a side alley, Dave gestured towards a fence. “That’s the back of the pub.”

  It was strange having Dave on a mission with us. He had always been my desk friend and his favourite saying was that an agent never went in blind. In a way, I missed Dave’s insistent chatter in my ear, even though I could see him as I approached the fence. Wait, he was starting to talk in my ear anyway...

  “Why did you bring us here?” he asked, almost jumping out of his skin when something moved by our feet. “We’re literally in a run-down ally behind a crap hole of a pub. Is that a rat?”

  “Shut up!” I hissed as footsteps sounded behind us.

  Jake spun first, a low growl coming up his chest. When a homeless man sauntered past with a sleeping bag attached to his back, barely giving us a look, I allowed my shoulders to relax.

  There was a high fence closing off the tiny pub garden. No one was inside, it was too early in the day. The lunch rush would begin in an hour. My nerves were on edge, my teeth biting my lips in an attempt to calm them.

  “Those witches were after you,” Jake said, taking out a pair of binoculars.

  “I guessed that.” My reply was short and sharp. “Bastard bounty on my head.”

  Dave shushed us, his finger firmly over his lips as he frowned. He was right, we had to keep quiet.

  Jake searched the top windows with his binoculars as I searched for a hole in the fence. The alley was small, barely room for three people to stand close together.

 
“What’s going on?” A female voice interrupted us, making us all jump back.

  My mother stood with her hands on her hips, her hair uncharacteristically tied in a harsh bun. As I tried to think of an excuse as to why the others were with me, they both stepped forward.

  “We got a lead that Brianna might be here,” Dave said. “We thought it might lead us to Xvair, considering he’s the one-”

  “You’re not following protocol. You have to ring this in and ask permission to search.”

  Gently moving Dave out of the way, I faced my mother.

  Jake backed off too, both of them a few steps behind me.

  My throat tried to close as I looked into the eyes of the woman who was supposed to protect me. When she had helped me visit the ancestors, she had shown some regret. Why was she trying to stand in my way now?

  “Are you telling me,” I started, unable to help the sarcastic tone that laced my words, “that you have a new set of rules for my team because I’m not there? Since when did we stop following leads to ask permission?”

  Pressing her lips into a thin line, my mother blinked slowly. “You’re no longer their team leader. It’s not safe for any of you. I forbid you to go into that place.”

  “You what?” I snapped. “I’m on sabbatical, I can do whatever I like.”

  I had to tell myself that I would’ve behaved in the same way even if my boss wasn’t my mother, but the uncomfortable expressions on the men’s faces when I glanced at them told me otherwise.

  Clearing my throat, I turned back to my mum. “I was wrong to bring them with me. Please, take them back to MI5.”

  Inclining her head, she waved them over to her.

  Jake went willingly, but Dave held back. Pulling him away, I looked up into his eyes. My heart skipped when he ran a finger down my cheek. The soft look in his eyes made me lick my lips.

  Yes, I was in danger, but the longer we hung around outside a pub, the harder it would be to get inside. Any witch could have cast a spell on Brianna or she could’ve been moved. Either way, arguing with my mother wasn’t helping.

  “You have to go,” I said, cupping his hand against my cheek. “I’ll be fine.”