by T. G. Ayer
Kai’s eyes widened as she looked at Logan and then at my face, curious and amused. I said nothing, and he eventually let out an impatient sigh.
“Fine. I’ll take point.” I grinned at his words, but Logan continued, “But you’re still in charge. You don’t get off scot-free.”
He looked at Kai. “Was she just waiting for me to arrive so she could hand the mission over to me?” he asked, smiling as he curled his arm around her waist.
Kai looked at me and studied my face for a moment. Then she smiled. “She wasn’t waiting. We never knew for sure if you’d come. But seeing as you are here, and this is your forte, you may as well get your ass moving.”
Logan muttered something rude then jerked a chin at Drake who was standing a few feet from us. “What about Drake. He’s Gargoyle military. Surely he’s capable.”
“Hey, dude. I’m the medic in this outfit, okay. I may dabble in weapons but no way you’ll get me taking charge, especially with you around.”
“See,” I said brightly. “Now, I can give you a recap after the meeting’s done.”
Logan nodded, although something told me that he’d been lurking in the shadows for far longer than he’d let on.
I headed back to the fire and said, “Okay, I think we have everything sort of lined up. We’ll text you all the final plans and groupings before we meet tomorrow. So, just before midnight, tomorrow, right here. We meet at my place in the evening first. Please don’t be late.”
Everyone was nodding, and I glanced over at Ivy who was watching Logan and Kai, the expression on her face sublime, as though the sight of the two of them together filled her with joy. No doubt it did; what grandmother wouldn’t want her grandchild to be happy. And rumor had it that Grams adored Logan, so there was that.
As the team began to disperse, I nodded at Ivy whose shoulders curved in a defeated sigh. She stalked over and muttered, “Fine. Do you want to do this now?”
I glanced over at Kai who looked a little lost. Only until she’d stared at Ivy and then at me for a moment, did she pause and nod then turned and yell out, “Darcy, Nerina, Cassie. You are summoned.”
The three woman looked over at us, all bearing almost identical startled expressions.
“Whatever it is, I didn’t do it,” said Cassandra as she strode over, her long-legged stride emphasizing her height.
Ivy chuckled, and I bent to look around her to wave at Natasha. The witch flipped her hand in a wave that said, “don’t worry,” then pointed up at the house. I nodded and smiled as the rest of the team followed her into the darkness.
As I turned, Logan was already sprinting toward them, leaving us alone with Ivy.
I was curious as to how this was going to happen. How was Ivy going to ask the delicate question?
So glad it wasn’t going to be me.
Ivy clapped her hands and smiled, “Ladies, you can all stop looking so worried. I have a question to put to you three, one that I believe I should have asked a while ago. I’ve just been a little reluctant to step in where I didn’t belong. But after what Celeste has been through, I believe it’s time to talk about it. I only hope that the answer to my question is going to be yes for all three of you because if not, then we have a little problem.”
Darcy shrugged. “If you want to do this one on one I’ll be fine with it?”
Ivy looked over at me. “That sounds like a good idea.” She waved a hand at Cassie and led her off into the shadows while Kai seemed to naturally gravitate toward Nerina. I agreed with that choice, given that Darcy was potentially sister-in-law material which would make things a little uncomfortable if the mage’s answer was no.
I walked off toward the water’s edge with Darcy, and gave her an apologetic smile. “Sorry about the whole cloak-and-dagger thing.”
“No worries. Seems like this is something important…”
I nodded. “Well, I guess I may as well ask the question instead of wasting time.” Darcy gave me a squeeze of the forearm and smiled. Taking a deep breath, I asked, “Have you received a letter?”
Darcy’s eyebrows rose, and she gave an uncomfortable smile. “I guess I have to say yes if you refer to a paper in an envelope kind of letter?”
I smirked. “This one does this mysterious thing where it appears out of nowhere and often lands inside one’s bedroom or personal space.”
Darcy swallowed although her features remained bland.
I frowned. If she’d read the letter, she’d have at least suspected who the other members of the Ni’amh were.
Then she shook her head and gave a murky smile. “If the letter you are referring to references a prophecy than the answer is yes.”
I let out a sigh of relief and then gave her a quick hug. “You have no idea how glad I am you said yes. Until I asked the question, I hadn’t really thought what it would mean if you didn’t yet receive the letter.”
“Why? Did you wonder if the MindMelder maybe turn out to be Wade?” she asked with a delicate shudder.
“Nah. He’s got the wrong bits. Grams and Celeste both confirmed that the prophecy is talking about women.”
Darcy smiled. “Sorry about my reticence. I’ve been in a position before where I was interrogated regarding the Ni’amh, and I wasn’t sure I could trust you. I was told that there were too many elements out to obtain control of either one or all the members of the group.”
“And you would be right about that,” said Ivy and she closed in on us with Cassie in tow.
Kai was also returning with Nerina, and I wasn’t sure how I refrained from uttering the groan of relief that wanted to rip itself out of me.
“So you’ve all received the letter, which means we are at least on the same page. What I need to find out is what each of you knows about the Ni’amh and your roles in the prophecy.”
Nerina nodded, but before she could speak, I said, “But we may have to wait until we get back from the mission tomorrow night. There’s still a few things to do, and we all need to get some good rest in.”
Everyone nodded, and Kai smiled. “I’m really relieved we didn’t have to deal with you guys being clueless. Even more glad that we’re all friends.”
“Yeah, whatever is in store for us will definitely work out a little easier since we already know we gel,” said Cassie. Her smile though was a little tense, and I had to wonder what she wasn’t telling us.
Unlike the rest of the women around me, Cassie was the only one who I was yet to get to know. Yes, we’d worked together a few times, but never under circumstances where we could get to know each other on a more personal level.
There was still time for that though.
I stifled a yawn and grinned as I set off a chain of yawns. We chatted as we headed up to the house and said our goodbyes, everyone departing to leave Steph and Drake with Natasha and me.
This was a team we were already well familiar with, so we gathered around the kitchen table as Natasha pulled out cookies and made tea and coffee.
Natasha and I took our drinks and cookies to her study where she closed the door and gave me a searching look. “Are you sure you’re up for this? I don’t think you’ve rested at all since you woke up.”
I steeled myself against rolling my eyes. “I’m fine. I’m going to crash as soon as I get home and if I sleep until sunset, I’ll be good.”
She snorted. “As if you will.”
I shrugged. “Nothing much to do now until sundown. Logan will give us a rundown of tactical plans before we leave, and that should be enough. I mean, it’s not as though we have much of a choice considering Aisha refused to join us. I have no idea what is going on with her.”
“Must be something big if you ask me.”
I stilled for a moment and considered that. “Whatever it is, it must be big. Or else I’m not sure I can forgive her for leaving us in the lurch.”
My lids were heavy now, and I took a deep breath. “Are you coming with us?” I hadn’t meant for the question to be so abrupt, but it was too lat
e, and Natasha wouldn’t care anyway.
She sighed. “Considering the seriousness of this mission, I hardly think I could remain behind, even if I wanted to. Who knows what you are up against, you’re going in mostly blind. Seriously, you need all the help you can get so stop fussing and go home and have a rest.”
I obeyed and shimmered away, remembering a little too late that I’d forgotten all about Steph and Drake.
I was asleep before I could think about messaging them an apology.
Chapter 37
I wasn’t kidding Natasha when I predicted only waking up at sundown. When I finally cracked open my eyes, I found myself staring at the window which was currently filled with the orange and blue glow of the setting sun.
My throat was parched, and I was so hungry that my stomach hurt. Ignoring all need for sustenance, I stumbled into the shower and then dressed in my battle gear—blue jeans, black boots and a dark skin-tight sweater beneath a leather jacket.
My weapons were downstairs in the study, so I gave the room, one last check, made the bed and, headed downstairs where the sounds of voices and glass clinking filtered through to me.
“And here she is back to the land of the living,” said Steph as I entered the kitchen, glaring at her.
“Shush. You’re way too loud for this early in the morning,” I muttered and made a beeline for the coffee pot.
And I sat with my cup, and I stared around me at Kai and Logan, Steph in the corner chatting with Baz and Lily, Nerina and Darcy to my left, Natasha and Drake to my right. Only Cassie and Ivy were yet to arrive.
Logan tapped the table, and the low murmurs of conversation petered to silence. “So, I’ve sent you all the preliminary plan of attack. We enter using the key, the jumpers make their way to the palace with their passenger, and I’ll take those who remain. Everyone’s been assigned weapons and ammo—please keep them locked and loaded at all times. I’m thinking it’s a little too late to be asking if everyone’s familiar with handling firepower.”
A round of snickers filled the room, and Logan grinned. “Yeah, I get it. Firepower. You guys are so hilarious.”
I grinned along with the team and then said. “So what do we have to eat. I’m famished, and I will die of hunger if I don’t at least have two full meals before we leave.”
“Two?” asked Lily her eyes wide as she tried hard to look serious.
I nodded. “One now, and the next one at eleven before we leave. I’m not taking any chances. Who knows how long we’ll be in Mithras and even then I have no idea what type of food they have there.”
“Mel, it’s the djinn realm not some deep dark corner of Wrythiin or something,” said Cassie shaking her head. “Now that’s a realm you need to sample if you want to taste bad food. Whatever those steaks were, they certainly weren’t grass-fed, four-legged anything.” She sighed and shook her head, ignoring everyone as they teased her about her taste in red meat and how significant the number of legs a beast had was to the flavor of its flesh.
The meal progressed as Logan outlined the route we would take, using what he could recall of Saleem’s descriptions of the city of Kamsin.
“It’s a pity you can’t project and ask him for details.”
“Too risky,” said Darcy. “Even if she connected with him in a dream the chances of Ward spotting her are high. The dream state is accessible to a MindMelder at any point in time. So when Saleem first contacted you, it was likely that Ward hadn’t yet begun his treatments.”
I nodded, not really wanting to think about Saleem’s pain. “My hands are tied until the agreed time. I wish I knew what he was planning.”
“Are you thinking we’re all walking into a trap?” asked Drake, his eyes glittering.
“No,” I replied slowly, rolling my eyes. “But now that you mention it, there is a possibility that we need to take into consideration. Which is why I think we need to make sure that no more than two of us are ever in the same place at the same time.”
Logan nodded. “Yep. I’ve paired everyone off, and we’re all good to go. Natasha wanted to go over wards and spells and stuff?” He glanced over at the white witch who nodded and leaned forward.
She reached down to the floor beside her and lifted a small satchel onto the table. “I’ve prepared a talisman for each of you. It will give you some protection against any kind of magical attack. It also has a semi camouflaging power which will help if you get too close to the enemy.”
She pushed the bag toward Kai who retrieved one small pouch and passed the rest on. The satchel made its way around the table and returned to Natasha empty.
“Now, inside the pouch, you will find a pin. It’s not just there for the contribution of the protection of iron. The potion within the talisman needs your blood to be complete and to initiate the protection of your body. Also, please add a strand of your hair to the pouch as well.”
Drake chuckled. “Next you’re going to ask for a single drop of tears and a glob of spit.”
“Eww,” said Lily and she withdrew her pin and proceeded to draw a few drops of her blood.
“He’s not too far off,” said Natasha. “We do need some form of a bodily fluid, so tears or spit are fine. I won’t recommend you pee into the pouch though. They tend to obliterate the effect of the spell.”
“So what you’re saying is all I have to do to break the spell is to pee on the hex-bag?” asked Kai, attempting an innocent expression and failing.
Natasha snorted but didn’t bother to reply. The team proceeded to complete the blood, and spit ritual then added their hair and tied the knot on the pouch, three times according to Natasha’s instructions.
All done, we hung the pouches around our necks, and I tucked it inside my sweater. “Good thing we didn’t have to pee on these things,” I muttered as and pulled up the neck of my sweater and settled the bag against my chest.
Kai said, “Yeah, I don’t think I’d have handled a bag of pee so close to my boobs.”
Chapter 38
“Shut up, Kai,” said Lily and Baz at the same time, which sent the rest of us into peals of laughter.
We completed the meal and retired to the study with Logan and Kai and Ivy while the rest of the team went to the living room.
Ivy took one of the chairs in front of my desk and sank into it with a sigh. “I’ve got the plans, but bear in mind, we may encounter changes if any were made in the last two years. I’ve also done some digging into Mithras and what’s been going on there recently. From what we know, they’ve been huge suppliers of wind energy. They discovered a method to harness energy and store it for a limited time, which is quite a deal breaker in the Earth realm.”
“That’s an understatement,” Kai muttered.
“There does appear to be a clear link between Omega and Division 7, after what you told me about Aisha’s captivity and Omega’s manipulations and then Agent Blake’s presence in Mithras, it was easy enough to parse what was being said between the lines. Sentinels files were coded above my clearance level, but it didn’t take a genius to figure it out.
“Plus, the details of the investigations into Omega’s underhanded dealings over the last decade have uncovered a lot of unsavory transgressions.”
Logan’s expression was hard as he stared off into space and said, “Omega has a lot to be accountable for. The only problem is I find it hard to see how they can be held to account for any of it. I mean, even if they are found guilty, what justice would any of us see for what they’ve put us through?
Ivy smiled sadly. “I know my dear. But the Immortal Council is well aware that the individuals hurt by Omega and now Division 7 no doubt, will not likely be compensated. The hope now is that they bring their crimes to a public forum, so the supernatural realms and peoples know what will happen if anyone attempts to emulate or duplicate their efforts.”
Kai folded her arms. “Do you really think this show of justice is going to be making any difference? Omega’s been on a totally different track all along. And The
Supreme High Council had to accept the blame for their gullibility; they really believed that the members of the Council of Enoch were no longer subverting the laws of the DarkWorld. Pretty naive if you ask me.”
I nodded in agreement. Kai pretty much hit the nail on the head. “I’m not really sure how the council was convinced they were towing their line. Depending on how you look at it we could all hold the Supreme High Council responsible for what happened to us.” I glanced over at Logan and Kai. “Logan, Saleem, and even Kai? Who knows who else has been affected. I’m only surprised I wasn’t either.”
“And how do you know you weren’t?” Asked Ivy, her eyes glittered as she met my gaze.
I scowled. “What’s that supposed to mean? I’m not the one who’s had my mind violated, who’s had my memories and my reality stolen, who’s almost been killed more than just a few times by random people including Division 7?”
Ivy’s smile had disappeared by now, and I paused. “Do you know something? Does it have to do with Ari?” I whispered.
Ivy shook her head. “Well, not exactly.” She reached into her large purse and set down a stack of photographs onto the desk, fanning them out for us all to see.
I gasped though it came out more like a choked squawk. As I stared down at the crime scene photographs of Detective Pete Fulbright. I shook my head. “I haven’t even given him a moment’s thought since I found him,” I said softly as I studied the images.
Logan grunted. “You don’t owe the man a thing. He stalked and persecuted you for almost half your life.”
“Don’t mean I get to be happy he’s dead.”
Ivy broke in, preventing Logan from saying anything further. “While I was reading through the investigative notes, I came across some communications between an agent from Division 7 and Fulbright. He’d been encouraging the detective to keep hounding you, implying that one day you will break.”
I stared at Ivy shaking my head slowly. “Are you saying that whatever he’s done to me in the past was because some agent was twisting his mind?” I wasn’t sure I liked the idea of Fulbright getting off scot-free. I still had it in for the guy, dead or not.