by Martha Carr
Tess laughed easily and leaned against her counter. "Now that's something I would enjoy. I can name the smells myself and then the next time you come, you can tell me if I was right." Tess moved quickly around her kitchen, putting the flowers in a clear glass vase with water, making them hot tea and putting cookies on a small plate. "It can be so damp in the spring here, even underground. Seems to just seep through the layers."
Turner knew better than to rush her and waited for the ritual to be over. She came back into the parlor carrying a tray, setting it down on the small table.
He took the mug that was offered to him as Tess settled into her seat, breathing in the smell of chamomile. She had worn away the edges of his impatience over the years, teaching him there was never a reason to rush headlong into anything.
"There is always a space between the reaction and the response." Tess turned her face toward Turner expectantly. He looked at the deep lines in her face. Her long silver hair was pulled back in a simple silver clasp.
"I suppose you're right." He took a sip of the tea, feeling like he was the student again.
Tess let out a short laugh. "You're a poor liar, Turner Underwood. Why bother? Tell me this, do you believe the world has ended while you've been sitting here with me?"
"No, I don't but if I'm going to tell the truth..."
Tess let out a loud whoop of laughter. "Lie if you care to the seer, it won't change the story I see."
Turner felt himself relax like he always did when he came to see her. "I've never been this fearful of anything in all my years as a Fixer. The darkest magic has been set loose and there is the potential for great harm from so many directions right now. I'm not sure where to start and I'm not sure how much time I have to fix it."
"Ah, I see your problem. You have swum out into the deep waters where you can not swim without help. Unfamiliar territory. The Fixer will have to ask for help from others and still you will not be sure of success."
"That is not unusual. It's the consequences this time if I make a wrong move and there appear to be a lot of potential wrong moves with consequences that could darken the world."
The seer blew into her tea, making images appear, rising out of the steam. Her eyes looked like they were following them, her brows knit together. The steam figures took on a life of their own, changing into two dancers, then two dogs and finally two birds, rising toward the ceiling and disappearing into thin air. "There were shifters in this world before. Hell, there's some who live in the shadows now." She made a face, wrinkling her nose, remembering unpleasantness from the past. "Once it's in a bloodline you can't get it out, but they quickly learn to hide."
"So, you know what's happened."
Tess covered her face with her hands, focused on the images inside of her mind. "I know some of it. I have been having troubling dreams of human beings twisting into great beasts, roaring at their captors. I cannot see how it will end if that's what you needed. That is being kept from me." She tapped her finger on the table hard. "The old families have been planning for longer than you realize. They fear the revelations of Oriceran. I suppose that's my part of this current trouble. I told them more than they needed to know and then gave them plenty of time to brood about it. Thousands of years. It's the gates opening that people fear even if it means magic will return to this world. The families can count how many years there are till the gates start to open just like everyone else. There is only one more generation before we will all feel the effects. Slow at first but things will gradually change."
Tess sat back and rested her hands on the table. Turner watched the veins in her hands and wrists color a deep navy blue and come to life, pulsing, standing out against her pale skin. The color spread up her body like a tree growing roots till her entire body was criss-crossed with the living web of darkened blood lines. It made her milky blue eyes stand out all the more amid the busy pattern of her skin.
Turner wanted to ask her if it was painful but held his tongue. He sipped his tea, waiting for Tess to speak.
"Human beings and their technology is a new wrinkle the old Wizarding families did not expect and they hate not having control even more than you. They are making assumptions that will not serve them well. Like the belief that shifters are new to this world or that the ones who do exist do not gather in packs, much like the old families." Her voice came out in a high-pitched squeak. "It's in their nature to travel with an alpha who guides them and that will be no different with the ones who have started out as human and been changed by an ancient ritual and powerful artifacts. The pack will sense their presence and even seek them out. It's not even the first time this has been accomplished." Tess sipped her tea, preparing to choose her words carefully. "They are playing with very old magic that originated from the world in between, brought into Oriceran by a being who was only darkness. That magic was banned centuries ago for good reasons and is even dangerous to contain in a vault."
Turner blanched, making himself breathe steadily to hide his reaction from Tess. Rhazdon stole some of that magic out of the vault.
"Unexpected consequences occur when magic is bent to our will."
"Is that why you can't see the ending to all this?"
"I believe I have told you this more than once, Fixer. We are not in the grasp of fate. What would be the point if everything could be known as if it was already decided? What I see are possibilities if we stay on the path we've chosen. But human beings are wonderful creatures who embrace their choices and even celebrate them at the beginning of every new year."
"The ones who are torturing animals are not so wonderful."
"No, greed and power have overtaken them, but they are still in the minority. They have the advantage right now because they know magic is real and here on Earth, but that won't last. The truth will be set free and it will do its own work. It can't be contained forever. For now, I will leave you with a warning and a hope. You are right to fear what the old families are up to and to try and stop them before they can really get started. An army of shifters to do their bidding is only the beginning of their plans and could create a new class of beings that want their own power. Squash the families before they get a taste of victory and the world learns of their plans. Find yourself a warrior who can fight them in the dark corners where the world is not watching. Someone clever at putting together the clues they will surely leave behind. Heed this warning. Stop them soon." Her voice shook as she pressed her hands flat against the table.
"That will have me staring out over my fucking lake later this evening with a couple shots of rye. What's the good news? Please tell me that wasn't the good news."
The seer gave a patient smile but her face was strained. "Darkness approaches that could spread like a virus. The good news is you have an unexpected ally that will seek you out. Don't be quick to judge. You want to turn them away, even banish them. That would be a grave mistake. You will need them just as much as they will need something from you. Give it freely." Tess smiled, pressing her hand to her chest as she lifted her chin. "The female energy is strong with you. A good sign. Both of your saviors are female. Interesting. Both cannot be contained. You will know them both when you lay eyes on them next." Tess started to rise, signaling it was time for him to go. "You have what you need, even if you don't see it yet."
Turner lifted his cane, pressing it against the floor as he rose. "You're talking about Leira Berens, aren't you? That's one of them."
"Look at you, the puzzle is already halfway solved. Seek her out and use her abilities. She will be uniquely qualified to stop this new menace. You will see." Tess smiled. "The human spark contains so many gifts."
"Why not give me both names?"
"I learned a long time ago not to overplay my hand with the cosmos. I'm not to tell so much it interferes with what's coming. I can only guide and then the rest is up to you. Now go, but don't take so long to visit me again." She grabbed his face with both her hands and kissed his cheek, tenderly as if she were kissing her own child,
sitting back down in the chair and letting Turner Underwood see himself out for the long walk back to the streets of Paris. He would make a point to pause and buy some cheese to go with the roll still in his pocket. This may be a longer war than I anticipated. Better to enjoy this moment now. Then I will find Leira Berens.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Correk and Leira walked across the large open area of Zilker Park to where Eireka and Mara were sitting on a blanket, quietly looking out over the city. The anticipation was making Leira tense and she wanted to run across the grass to her mother, get it over with and start dealing with whatever had gone wrong, but Correk held her back. "We will deal with whatever it is, like we always do. Together."
Leira got to the edge of the blanket and stopped, her hands on her hips. "Hi Mom, Nana, we're here."
"I can see that moment of Zen was wasted on you," whispered Correk. He sat down on the blanket and gave a tug to Leira's pant leg, forcing her to finally sit down. "I've never been here before. It's a beautiful park."
Mara pointed in the direction of Barton Springs. "There's a swimming pool nearby filled with water from natural springs. When it gets hotter we'll have to go there. Sneak the troll in for a dip."
Leira kept watching her mother, waiting for the news, still wired from everything else she had learned in the past few days. The troll was nestled in her pocket, curled up in a pair of silky underwear snoring softly. There were too many people around to let him out in the open.
First, I want some answers. "You were blowing up my phone all day and now you're not saying anything. And you want us to meet you out in public, which means you want us to keep the magic in our holsters." Leira narrowed her eyes, studying her mother. Can't be the psych hospital. No way I'll let that happen again. "Is someone bothering you?"
"Stop being a detective for five minutes and just be my daughter. Relax, it's okay."
Correk saw the look that passed between Eireka and Mara, and noticed Eireka's hand was tucked under her leg. This is good news. He felt himself relax and sat back, resting on his hands, only making Leira more suspicious.
She looked at her grandmother, tilting her head to the side. "You're being weirder than normal, too. Did you bring somebody else over from Oriceran? Some thing else? Spill it, it's already been a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious kind of week."
"I get it, kid. Good news is not exactly in your wheelhouse. Let's see if we can change that a little. Go on, show her." Mara hugged her daughter and sat back, giving Eireka a little space.
Eireka slowly pulled out her left hand, holding it out with her fingers spread wide, the ring shining in the late afternoon light.
It took Leira a moment to catch up with what was happening. This is good news? This is good news!
She leaned across the blanket to get a better look at the ring and leaned back, her mouth open wide but no words coming out. She looked at Correk and back at her mother, doing her best to switch gears. Every thought in her mind slipped away and instead for a moment all she could do was chatter like a delighted child. "You and Don? Well, of course you and Don. Are you happy? That's a really nice ring. Don is a great guy."
Correk placed his hand on Leira's knee. "Breathe," he said, demonstrating for her, an amused smile on his face. "There's no crime here for you to solve. I think this is the part where you just get to be happy."
Leira looked momentarily confused as she stayed motionless, resting on her knees looking around. I have almost lost each one of you... Some of you for years. Some of you in some deep shit holes. But we're all okay and here together... with good news. What is happening? Her eyes shined with tears as she started to laugh, slowly at first until the laughter took her over and she couldn't stop. She reached out and hugged her mother, enveloping her in her arms and holding on tight.
"Give me some of that," said Mara, as Leira let go of Eireka and wrapped her arms around her grandmother, the scent of lilacs filling her nose as the laughter continued to erupt out of her. She let go and went to sit back. "Oh, what the hell," she said, giggles escaping her as she wrapped her arms around Correk, holding him tight.
"Oh, okay, we're doing this." Correk put his arms around Leira, feeling the muscles in her back and the soft skin of her cheek against his. He smiled before he could stop himself and looked up to see Mara, a smile on her face and her eyebrows raised, wrinkling her forehead.
He let go just as Leira turned away, lunging back at her mother, taking her hand and moving it around in the light to see the ring from different angles. Mara kept looking at Correk and he glanced up at her, doing his best to remind her he was a Light Elf.
Not buying it, she mouthed. He rolled his eyes and looked away.
"When's the wedding? There'll be a wedding, right? Do I get to be in it? We can do it at Estelle's! No... okay, you have someplace else in mind? So, potluck is out." She sucked in her bottom lip, thinking of the possibilities.
The troll let out a soft trill in his sleep, rolling over in Leira's pocket and kicking his legs.
"Slow your roll, granddaughter or you'll get the bends. You have to ease yourself into being this happy. Could give you a really good charley horse if you're not careful." Mara gave her a nudge and a crooked smile.
"We haven't set a date or a place yet, but of course you're in the wedding." Eireka smiled in surprise as Leira hugged her again, finally sitting back, still holding on to her mother's hand. "You all are, if you want to be. We want something simple, we know that and we want to include everyone who's important to us. It'll be a celebration of everything we've come through as well as a wedding."
"And there will be cake."
"Yes, of course. Three tiers. Maybe even a candy bar in your honor, Correk. Jars of candy you can sample."
"Or a snack table..."
"Again, your wedding, not ours. We should celebrate. Go for pizza at the usual place or do that potluck! Let everybody celebrate with us. Of course, this is your news. You should pick! Where's Don? Shouldn't he be here?"
"It's like there's a string in her back that someone keeps pulling,” said Correk.
"Don and I thought it would be nice to have a dinner at his place this time. He wants to show off his nest, which is where we'll be living."
"My segue to launch into my news." Mara cleared her throat. "Don't give me that look, Leira. It's not the other shoe dropping. You can hold on to this bit of happiness. It's real, it's wonderful and it's lasting. But, I've been back in this world for long enough now and my roommate is moving out soon. It's time I got on with my life as well."
"Good for you, Mara," said Correk.
"Take a page out of the same book, my dear."
"What's that about? Correk has things to do. He's the new Fixer. You're projecting, Nana."
"Yes, that must be it. Well, in my search, I went to Oriceran to seek out the wisdom of some old friends and get some ideas."
Not Oriceran. Leira held her breath, preparing herself to be happy for her grandmother. Let her lead her own life.
"And that all led me back to this side of the veil. There are a growing number on Oriceran who want to prepare this world for the gates opening and they want to start with the younger generations of Oricerans who live here on Earth. They're looking for land on the East coast and putting together all the details but... they think I'd make a good headmistress... and I agree with them." Mara pressed her lips together, waiting... anxious to hear what they'd say.
"Yeah, they want you! You're staying here!" Leira lunged across the blanket again, swinging her coat pocket, disturbing the troll, who poked his head out to see what was happening. He pulled out the red underwear behind himself, and leaped across the divide landing in Correk's lap. Correk held open his pocket and stuffed the underwear inside, keeping it open till the troll climbed inside and resettled himself, curling back into a ball.
"Yumfuck will have to get used to happy Leira as well." For however long the coming battles let you be happy. May it stretch out for at least a little while. "Con
gratulations, Mara. You are the perfect combination of nurturing and badass to keep an entire school of hormonal children who can set things on fire with just their hands, in line." Correk gave her a nod of approval as everyone else looked momentarily surprised and concerned, stealing glances at each other.
Leira was the first to break into a wide grin and let out a whoop of laughter. "He has a point. You managed to raise me through my teenage years and I turned out okay." Leira gave Correk a preemptive pinch on his wrist.
He swatted her away. "And you hang with the troll and didn't end up online or get pulled into one of his ideas."
"Although, you got him to do a few of your card readings and you survived the world in between for ten years."
"Nothing I can put on a resume..."
"Well, unless you're dealing with folks from Oriceran, then it all counts and it spells out badassery in big, bold letters.
Correk pinched Leira back and arched an eyebrow at her, playfully rolling his hands together as if he was about to form a fireball.
"You can practice now, on these two."
"Yeah, suddenly this blanket is getting crowded," Mara whispered to her daughter. Eireka was surprised but looked at the two of them.
"You should really look up once in a while," said Mara.
Leira let a small seedling of energy sweep through her as she touched Correk's arm, sending a jolt through him.
"You are too competitive for your own good," he said, forming a pea-sized fireball and tossing it at her. "Got you last."
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that this would be my daughter's style of flirting," Eireka whispered back.
"Or that she wouldn't even know she is flirting. Classic Leira. On the hunt for a killer, she misses nothing. Tall, blonde and hunky hanging around well after the mission is over, hovering in fact. Can't see a thing," Mara said in a low voice, as Eireka reached out and rested her hand heavily on Leira's knee.