“Do you want to hang out at my place for a few minutes? We could brainstorm about ways to help them. Unless you have a date.”
“With who? Guys around here are so young and boring. I need someone my age. Just a minute while I tell Lavania where I’m going.” She engaged her runes and took off upstairs.
My eyes swept the foyer while I waited for her to return. Despite having fought Maliina and Grimnirs twice in this room, the foyer remained my favorite place in the mansion. The marble floor, the winding iron and wood staircase with a dark carpet runner, the soaring two-story ceiling, and the enormous crystal chandelier. Looking at the walls, you couldn’t tell they’d come tumbling down. Not even a ding was visible now. Mrs. Willow, the housekeeper Torin had hired, did an amazing job of keeping the place clean though. The floor was spotless, every surface polished.
I opened a portal and could see inside my room. When Ingrid returned, I led the way. Onyx was still sleeping when I entered my room, but as soon as Ingrid appeared, she opened her eyes and watched her, then got up and stretched.
“Ooh, what a beautiful cat,” Ingrid said, walking to the window. She stroked her fur. “What’s her name?”
“Onyx.”
Stupid name, Onyx said.
“But she thinks it’s stupid. Can I get you a drink? Something to eat?”
“Oh, I’ll come downstairs with you. I want to say hi to Femi.” Then she picked up Onyx and lifted her until they were face to face. “I’ve heard about you, but no one told me what gorgeous eyes you have. I would have named you Emerald because of your eyes.”
I like Emerald, Onyx said.
I suggested it and you hated it.
No, you didn’t.
Yes, I did, but you were being a real PITA at the time.
“Raine?”
I glanced at Ingrid. “What?”
“I said I think Onyx is actually perfect for her. I bet she looks amazing with glowing runes, like a real black onyx.”
I like her and she’s gorgeous.
The green monster reared its ugly head. Onyx and I had started off on the wrong foot. Literally. I’d Googled all the insults she kept hurling at me and most had something to do with a foot. Clumsy foot. Cow foot. A few bugs and rodents, things she could squash. I couldn’t help but feel jealous. It was petty and childish, but damn it, she was my familiar. We were supposed to be pals, not knocking heads at every turn. I had yet to thank her for saving me from that overzealous Draugr. Maybe that would change things between us.
“Yeah, she’s amazing,” I said, then led the way downstairs. Femi had already started dinner. Sometimes I wondered how long she planned to stay with us. Until Dad died? Even though she lived with us and helped take care of him, I doubted she got paid for it. Like Hawk, she was probably loaded and this was just a dot in her vast experience.
“How come you didn’t tell me about battling mummies?” Femi asked.
I grinned. I guess it didn’t matter what culture the Immortals were from, they’d all met the same monster and given it a name. Femi and Ingrid had more stories to add when I finished telling them what had happened.
“I was teaching her how to get visions, and now she’s using her elemental magic to destroy monsters. How fast she’s grown.”
“Better watch it,” Ingrid warned. “She hates being treated like a child.”
“Or being discussed like she’s not here,” I added.
“But you are a child, doll,” Femi said. “In Immortal years. I will remind you of this conversation five hundred years from now. When you’ve saved the world a few times and had torrid affairs with some infamous men and… Oh, never mind. You’re taken. But you’ll know what I mean some day. I remember meeting this young Romani when I was working as a…”
Femi and Ingrid traded stories about their past jobs. With her pale blue eyes and blonde hair, Ingrid could easily be a model, yet she’d been everything but. Most of her jobs centered around people—a teacher, nurse, social worker, marketing, lawyer, and a therapist. Femi was also great with people, but she hated institutions, which explained why she was taking care of Dad instead of working at a hospital. She had an unusual beauty that most men found intriguing: blue eyes, golden-brown complexion, black pixie hair, and a petite figure with a larger than life personality. I could see her wrapping some poor guy around her fingers.
“Every fifty years or so, I open a shop and sell magical trinkets,” Femi said. “It doesn’t matter where I live. And I’ve also worked with entertainers who need spiritual guidance before and after performing. Married a few too.”
Finally, we left Onyx downstairs with Femi and disappeared upstairs. Ingrid pushed her fur-covered blanket aside and took the window seat while I plopped on the chair. Beau wouldn’t be stopping by until seven.
“You’ve led a colorful life,” I said.
She smiled. “So will you. You’re just starting out.” She waited patiently for me to begin talking. That was something I liked about her. She wasn’t pushy. As I talked about Torin’s new assignment, she went pale. When I finished, she was pacing.
“This explains Andris’ weird mood since we came back from Florida. I thought it was because…”
“What?”
“I met this nice guy in Florida, but Andris thought he was a creep and made a big scene.” She shook her head, her bob cut brushing her cheeks. “He’s so overprotective it drives me crazy.”
“Do you think anything could ever happen between the two of you?”
She chuckled. “You’ve asked me that question before.”
“Maybe. I guess I’m hoping you two would one day wake up and realize you are meant for each other.”
“I don’t think so. Once, a long time ago, maybe, but I stopped hoping when I realized he’d never settle down. That’s why I wanted to go to New York.” She went back to the window, stared at Torin’s place, which was still in darkness, then turned and faced me. “Can you find out if Torin plans to get Andris another partner?”
“He mentioned it. Do you have someone in mind?” She raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. “Like you. I mean, have you ever thought of being a Valkyrie?”
She made a face. “Not really. I don’t like souls. But I wouldn’t mind helping Torin train new Immortals. I like to teach.”
And that could keep her in Andris’ circle. I didn’t care what she said about Andris. She liked him. He was the one hopping from woman to man to woman.
By the time Ingrid left, I was sure of one thing—our little group was slowly disintegrating. I finished my homework then went downstairs for dinner. Onyx sat on the counter and watched us. I fed her a few pieces of my steak.
Mom arrived while we were eating.
“Get off the counter, Onyx,” she said and shooed the cat down. Onyx wasn’t too happy. She disappeared upstairs. Mom went to eat with Dad, but left the den when I was taking care of the dishes. It was ten to seven.
“So who is this boy you’re tutoring?”
“A Mortal that needs help.” I was aware of Femi seated a few feet away.
“Why? Don’t you have enough on your plate?”
“He needs help, Mom. I don’t want him to fail.”
She studied my face and sighed. “How many times a week?”
“Today and tomorrow. Sunday. Next week too. If he passes on Friday, that’s it. If he needs my help until the end of the semester, that’s fine too.”
She sighed again. “Okay. Fine. Help him, but talk to Torin about it so you can use his place. We have too many things going on here without worrying about Mortals underfoot.”
I went upstairs to get my copy of The Scarlet Letter. Torin’s place was in darkness, but I wasn’t worried. Now that I knew the Earl was out of the picture, I could breathe easier. I’d bet he’d already been imagining Torin turning him into a Valkyrie or helping him form an army of Immortals. He looked like the type that would have delusions of grandeur and plot to take over the world.
Then there was Andris. I felt bad
for him. I bet there was something Torin could do to keep him here. We’d gone through so much together and he was part of our group. A group I might no longer be a part of if the Norns or the gods had their way.
Seven o’clock came and passed, and no truck pulled up outside our house. I alternated between checking my watch and outside.
Seven-ten. I started getting pissed. I had cleared my schedule for him. Blew off my boyfriend.
Seven-fifteen. Onyx hopped onto the window seat and sat on her hind legs. After a few minutes of feeling her eyes on me, I glanced down. “What?”
What’s wrong?
I really didn’t want to deal with her right now. “Thanks for saving me from that Draugr,” I said.
Your boyfriend told you?
“His name is Torin. Just like mine is Raine. Not cow foot. Or fish belly. Or mouse.” Hel’s Mist, I was taking out my frustration on a cat. “Sorry. I’m disappointed by someone and I’m taking it out on you.” I sat next to Onyx. “Yes, Torin told me. He said you shifted into a larger cat.”
Onyx nodded. I have to when I deal with larger prey.
“Can you show me sometime?”
If you promise to practice with me. You haven’t mimicked since the night the goddess left me here.
“Actually I have. I practice in the shower or bathroom, but it’s a deal.” I extended my hand, palm up and she placed her paw on it. How human-like she was. She curled up next to me. It wasn’t my lap, but we’d made progress. I glanced outside again.
Nothing.
I couldn’t believe Beau had blown me off. I’d even given him my cell phone number.
I can hear your teeth grinding. What’s wrong?
“I was supposed to tutor some guy from school, and he stood me up. I hate flaky guys. And then there’s the problem with Andris.”
Pretty boy?
“Andris,” I corrected.
What’s wrong with Andris?
Should I trust her? What had she told me before? The gods didn’t do anything without a reason. She’d been honest with me from the beginning. Even hinted that Goddess Freya and Odin’s wife might be plotting something. “Yes. He might be in trouble.”
She lifted her head, ears alert. What kind of trouble?
“He said something he shouldn’t have and everything is changing too fast for him to catch up.”
Are you going to help him?
“Yes.” Andris would do the same for me.
Can I help?
Only if she could convince Goddess Freya to make Andris an Idun-valkyrie too. “Do you know who promotes Valkyries to Idun-valkyries?”
The Council. It has Odin and Freya, and other gods. Why? What are you planning? She sat up.
I stroked her head. “I’ll let you know when I have a plan, Fur-ball.”
She didn’t push me away, and her voice wasn’t scathing when she said, you do know I hate that name as much as I hate Onyx.
“Would you prefer Emerald?”
No. I only know one Emerald and she’s a boyfriend-stealing, attention-hogging meinfretr!
I laughed. “Do tell. I thought you only reserved insults for me. When and where did she steal your boyfriend? And where is she so I can pull her tail?”
Your boyfriend is here.
The words barely registered when the portal opened and a barefoot Torin entered. His hair was wet and his sweatpants rode so low on his hips I could see the skin between his waistband and the white T-shirt.
“Where did you shower?”
He grinned. “I went for a swim at the mansion. Why? Did you want to join me?”
“I didn’t even know you were back. Onyx knew you were coming before the portal opened. How smart is that?” I stood and realized I was still holding The Scarlet Letter. I put it on the headboard bookshelf, careful not to knock over the blown glass gifts he’d bought me then walked into his arms.
He leaned back and studied my face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Definitely something.” He scooped me up, and we settled on the bed. He wrapped his arms around my mid-section and rested his head on my chest. “Hmm, you smell nice. I’m here when you’re ready to talk. And FYI, there’s no way Onyx can feel me coming. She’s linked to your energy, not mine.”
I tried to remember something the cat had told me about Torin’s energy. “Onyx, what was that you said about our energies?”
Don’t remember. I say a lot of things. Now can you zip it? I’m trying to sleep here.
“She’s in one of her moods.” Torin’s eyes were closed, his ridiculous lashes forming canopies over his cheeks. I stroked his hair away from his face. His birthday was next week on Friday. On prom night. “We forgot to talk about your birthday.”
“Not important. Can you turn off the lights? I’m exhausted.”
I ignored his request. “It’s only seven…” I looked at the clock. “Seven-thirty.” I glanced outside. “How old are you going to be?”
“Eight hundred and something,” he mumbled. “I stopped counting after five centuries.”
I lifted his head, but his eyes stayed closed. “I’m not going to let you go to sleep until we talk. We need to do something fun, and I want to know what you plan to do about Andris. He’s one of us.”
Torin opened one eye, then another. “I just spent the past several hours trying to talk to him. Several times. Each time, one of us ended with a broken neck. I’m exhausted. He’s impossible. Can you let go of my head now?”
I did. “What did you two fight about?”
“No idea. I tried to find out what’s wrong with him, and he kept acting like a douche.”
Men! “Do you know why?”
“Nope.” He was getting pissed. “I can’t read his mind.”
I sighed. “You two have been together for… what?”
“Almost seven centuries.”
“And you’re about to leave. Since he reaps for Goddess Freya’s Hall, they’ll have to find your replacement to reap for Valhalla. He’s having a hard time with that. Your relationship is going to change and he’s dealing with it.”
“By being a jackass?”
“No, by putting some distance between you. This way it won’t hurt so much when you finally go your separate ways.”
Torin sat up. “The idiot. Why didn’t he just say so?”
“Didn’t you realize your promotion would change things between you two?”
“Not really. I mean we’d still stay together and… Oh.” He cursed. “Okay. I’ll take care of it.”
“How?”
“I don’t know.” He planted a quick one on my lips and scooted off the bed. “Thanks, luv. I’m going to talk to him now. Idiot,” he murmured again before the door closed.
Shaking my head, I changed into my pajamas and went to brush my teeth. As I stared at my reflection, it finally hit me. I was the idiot. Beau might have blown me off. Or maybe he couldn’t come. Or maybe his car broke down or…
Crap! What if his stepfather had decided to forget about me and what I’d threatened to do three nights ago?
“Onyx.” I walked to where the cat slept and yelled, “Onyx!”
She jumped, hair sticking out, eyes wide. What? What’s going on?
“You’re coming with me. We’re going to check on our first case.”
Jace?
“No. Beau. Engage your runes, so he can’t see us.” I let Beau’s bedroom fill my head, then engaged my runes. In seconds, I was staring at his empty bedroom.
Sounds were coming from upstairs. Muffled voices. An awful sputtering sound and thuds.
10. First Session
If his stepfather was hurting them again…
Using Beau as my focal point, I created a portal. It led to their driveway. A one-eared dog rested on the steps, and several people sat on their porch. His mother stood to my right. She had a cast on her arm and was wearing a sling. His stepfather chugged beer with some guy a few feet away and sat on a rocking chair.
I was so relieved there was no fighting, I laughed. I looked around for Beau. His truck was in the driveway, and a man had his head in the hood. He must have been the one making all the ruckus. Despite the darkness, I recognized Beau behind the wheel of his Chevrolet.
The mechanic straightened and yelled, “Try it now!”
Beau cranked up the engine and it sputtered and coughed to life. It sounded like it was on its last breath. The mechanic laughed and slammed the hood shut, then walked to the window and bumped fists with Beau.
“Thanks, Uncle Heaney,” Beau said, then looked over his shoulder straight at me. The instinct to step back was natural. I always forgot Mortals couldn’t see portals. When he said, “Ma, my phone,” I realized he was looking at his mother, not me.
“I’ll try and find it. I hope you make it to your class.”
His uncle stepped from the truck and opened the door, and said, “In, boy.”
The dog trotted off the porch and hopped in the passenger seat. Beau took off with squealing wheels.
His mother entered the house. Before the door closed, the stepfather yelled after her, “Bring us more beer, Janice!” Then he reached into the pocket of his plaid shirt and removed something. I recognized the skull and crossbones on the cell cover. That was Beau’s phone. “That boy thinks he can lie and get away with it? Study group. At night? He’s probably late for a humping date with one of his girlfriends.”
The mother, who was still in the doorway and overhead him, went back and tried to snatch the phone from his hand. “How could you do that, Joe? Beau is not lying. He cares about school.”
“He cares about baseball and how many girls he can screw. But he’ll end up like all of us here. Yep, breaking his back at Chandler for a woman who doesn’t know how to listen. Where’s my beer?”
“Give me the phone first,” she said and reached for it.
He pushed her arm away, then for whatever reason changed his mind and shoved the phone into her hand. She left the porch and headed toward the kitchen, which still had dirty dinner plates on the counter. How the hell was she going to clean those with one arm? I checked my watch. It was going to take Beau ten minutes to get to my house, which was enough time to teach step-daddy a lesson.
Witches (Runes series Book 6) Page 17