"How's that?" I asked, wondering if I'd missed a beat somewhere. I was distracted with my own thoughts about the dead werewolf and whether Gage's investigations had turned up anything. He stayed in my spare bedroom one more night, and over breakfast told me that there was no news. I checked in just before I left and the situation remained the same. Now that I forced myself to pay attention to Étoile, I decided I'd never seen my friend looking so agitated. The strain was beginning to show in the new frown line that recently popped up on her otherwise flawless face.
"Our plans for a High Council," she sighed. "So much for a coordinated effort to govern our world. Half of us are on the same page, the other half..." Étoile shook her head and took a deep breath. "Well, they just want to know who gets to be in control like it's an autocracy. And the demons..."
"The demons?" I prompted when she trailed off with an angry shake of her head.
Étoile shrugged and threw her hands upwards, revealing her exasperation. "Don't get me started on the demons!"
Crossing to the window, I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Étoile, attempting to offer her the briefest comfort of solidarity in some small way. Okay, so it might not have been much of a gesture, but I was with her, at least, and on her team. That had to count for something. "What's going on with the demons?" I asked, partly from curiosity about their game plan, and partly because I wanted to know if Evan was into something bad. Besides, like Étoile, I still thought Georgia was caught up with them somehow.
"They are so unreadable, and their magic... they give me the creeps, you know?"
"Have you spoken to Evan?" I asked cautiously. "Can he help? I'm sure he wouldn't support anything less than a democracy." Now that I said it, I wasn't so sure. Could he have changed more than I ever imagined since we broke up?
"No, his hands are tied as much as mine. More so, even, because of his damned father."
"Is Hunter giving you trouble?"
"You could say that... Oh, Stella, it's hard to know. I suspect that he is probably stirring things, but Hunter has done nothing outright against me or the Council; and even if he did, what could I do? He's powerful and continuously surrounded by his guards. Nothing and no one can get to Hunter."
Privately, I doubted that; but what could I say out loud? Even in the privacy of Étoile's apartment, voicing certain things could result in inciting tensions that didn't need any help to blow up. Besides, what could I say? Of all the creatures in the supernatural world, Evan was probably the only one who was close to his father now that Hunter had absorbed him into the fold; but I couldn't be sure Evan was on our side anymore. Not since our breakup. I thought I'd been doing him a favour by not being his Achilles' heel, but instead, he chose to work for his father following Étoile's election; and did so in a very public manner too.
No, I couldn't guarantee his loyalty to my witch brethren, not when he was so obviously aligned with his own kind. Even amongst the demons, he was an anomaly. His father may have been Hunter, but Evan was born and raised by a human mother, making him a rare breed of half demon, called a daemon, and not exactly one species, but not quite the other either. It probably didn't help his position that I was not only his ex-girlfriend, but a witch too. It was quite a complicated web that Evan wove for himself, but he was his own leader and he followed his own path. Until now, anyway. I wondered if he knew what his path was anymore. The whole wondering thing was giving me a headache, and again, I thumbed the ring he gave me and tried not to think about why I still wore it.
"Will Hunter be a problem?" I asked finally when all my thinking began spinning in circles around and around in my head.
"He is a problem," Étoile confirmed. "But, like I said, until he does something publicly, there isn't much I can do. I've championed the High Council. I've gone to great lengths to ensure we're all working together so far. I can't pull out of it now just because of some in-fighting, or in case some of our members have designs on the High Council for their own means."
"Then what do you plan on doing?" I asked, knowing the answer was far more complicated than the question.
"I don't know. I just don't know."
"You can count on me." I nudged her with my elbow and gave her a smile, which she returned, albeit weakly.
"Thanks." Étoile seemed as if she were about to say more, but the door opened and Kitty bounded in, so whatever Étoile planned to say was lost. Kitty navigated her way through the furniture to throw her arms around me.
"Two visits in how many days?" Kitty asked as she tossed her curls behind her shoulders and held me by the shoulders. "Don't you like the quiet in the house?"
"It's too quiet," I confessed, remembering how, not so long ago, there was music, conversation, and the doors opening and shutting at all hours. I missed it. "When are you coming home?"
"I'll be there for the baby’s naming ceremony. I was hoping to stay with you." She arched an optimistic eyebrow.
"You don't even have to ask. You still have a key."
"Thank you." Kitty hooked her arm through mine and drew me toward the sofa. "I have so much to tell you. I barely told you anything yesterday when you were here. So this evening, a proper catch-up? New York is amazing. I love my job!"
"Will you two excuse me while you catch-up?" Étoile tossed the question casually towards us as her phone buzzed from the small home office situated off her living room. "I know you have lots to talk about." She barely waited for an answer before raising the phone to her ear and pushing the door shut behind us.
"I never see Étoile," Kitty told me, softening her voice so only I could hear. "The Council have the monopoly on her time. Honestly, I thought living here with her would be more fun, but I kind of feel in the way."
"I'm sure you're not."
"I doubt Étoile would say anything, but she's so busy with meetings and paperwork while spending all her time at the Council offices. Or with Matthias."
"How's that really going?" I asked, glancing at the closed door.
"He came by last night and I think they had some kind of argument. At least, Étoile didn't seem very happy, and Matthias stormed out like he couldn't wait to leave here. When I tried to ask, she just went back into the office and stayed there until I went to bed." Kitty pulled a face just to show me exactly what she thought of that. Listening to the soft murmurs of Étoile's voice as she carried on her side of the conversation, I had to wonder if her worries had as much to do with Matthias as they did today with the Council. I was very curious about what was tearing the carefully orchestrated High Council, the governing body that was supposed to bring us together, apart. "What brings you here anyway? It’s a social visit this time, isn't it?"
"Étoile asked me to do her a favour."
"I should have guessed. Do I even want to know?"
I gave her a puzzled face and a half-shrug. "I don't even know what it is."
"Then let's catch up while you wait." Kitty grabbed my hand, pulling me into the kitchen; and for a little while, all my troubles faded away. She told me about her job and the things she'd seen, the potential new guy in her life, that she missed Wilding, and how much she was looking forward to the naming ceremony, and finally, would Ryan, her ex, be there? All I had to do was nod every once in a while and let her do all the talking.
~
"Stella, about that favour." Étoile's voice was all business again as she opened the office door and re-entered the living room. Kitty had left already, returning to work, and I was reading a book I found on the bookshelf while eating the toast I helped myself too.
"What do you need?" I responded promptly as I took a bite, a trickle of butter landing on my lower lip. I licked it, enjoying the flavour. The simple things in life really were the best.
"I'm so glad you agreed!" Étoile sounded lighter, amused even. My stomach dropped and the toast felt like lead when it hit. When would I learn? It never occurred to me that refusing Étoile was an option, but now I thought about it, shimmering back to the city was translated as tacit agre
ement simply by showing up. Agreeing to something was one thing, agreeing wholeheartedly to do a favour for the most important witch in the world without asking what it was first, was quite another. At least, I could count Étoile as a friend. Besides, how horrid could the favour be? "I need you to take a package to Evan's house."
"Oh." That horrid. No, that was a lie. Taking a package to Evan wasn't horrid; but just seeing him had the potential to be. Since our brief encounter, I was fairly certain I would be persona non grata at Casa Evan.
Étoile filled the silence with, "I wouldn't ask; but, well, you've seen each other now. Awkward moment over!" I huffed and gave her an eye roll as I headed out to the kitchen, dumping my plate in the sink before returning. "Plus, I don't have anyone disposable at the moment," Étoile admitted.
"Disposable? Just how disposable?"
"I'm not sending you to your death, dummy. I meant, I don't have anyone to spare. Actually, that's not strictly true. I don't have anyone I can trust." Now trust was a different thing altogether; and once again, I had the uncomfortable feeling that all wasn't right in Étoile's world. Despite the obvious problems with the High Council, I had my suspicions that our own Witches' Council wasn't running as smoothly as it could. Indeed, my friend seemed distracted during my previous visit, and over the last few months, she barely called unless it was for a business matter. The lead feeling in my stomach morphed into worry. What was so urgent and important that Étoile needed to call in an outsider? Not that I was an outsider, strictly speaking, but I definitely wasn't one of the inner circle of witches that ran the Council... however, I was someone Étoile trusted.
"What's going on?" I enquired, my voice full of cautious concern.
Étoile's voice was guarded even though she was being purposefully soft and vague. "Nothing."
"Can you speak?"
Étoile hesitated. "Here, yes." I paused, contemplating that, and wondering if Étoile was concerned about being overheard. Étoile pointed to her eyes, then turned her fingers on me. Being watched; got it. I nodded my understanding, and wondered if Étoile suspected we were being listened to as well. Spying on Étoile could be considered a crime, and I couldn’t imagine who or what would risk such an action. "Listen, Stella, I don't have much time. I asked you to come here where we can't be observed. I wouldn't ask if I didn't have to. I need to get this package to Evan and I can't risk sending it by magical means. I need someone to take it personally and make sure it gets into his hands. You know both of us, you're loyal, and you're not..."
"No problem," I decided. It wasn't like Étoile ever asked much of me, and the Council did pay a large chunk of my salary. Plus, I must admit, I did want to see Evan, despite that it made me uncomfortable. I missed him terribly and even if we couldn't be together now, well, in the future... who knew? The feeling that I had when I saw him after so long surged through me like a wave of raw emotion, cresting, and crashing somewhere around my heart. Perhaps the trip would give us an opportunity to talk? "When do you need me?"
"Right away. I want you to get this package to Evan today. He's at his home."
"I'll need to shimmer all the way across country," I pointed out. "I'm wiped out from all the long distance trips I've been making."
"I figured as much, so I got you an extra power boost..."
"What's that?"
"The question is 'who?' and seeing as you sort of asked. My sister."
I beamed. "David can spare Seren from the shop?"
Étoile paused. "Other sister. Astra."
"Oh!" Surprise tinged my voice and the smile on my lips faded. Astra and I first met under dire circumstances, but lately, she'd gone a long way to make up for her past mistakes. Part of me was still wary of her, although another part admired the effort she made in rehabilitating herself from the cruel manipulation she endured at the hands of my first real foe. "Okay..."
"It'll be fine," Étoile cut in. "Astra will aid you with the power you need to travel that far. With her help, you should both get there and back again just fine. It's important no one knows either of you are gone. You've been seen here, so that will get around."
"That's why you had me meet you at The Amethyst? You wanted me to be seen, otherwise, I could have come straight to your apartment," I realised. "You wanted people to think I was thousands of miles away from Evan."
Étoile nodded. "Stella, things aren't altogether safe here right now. I trust you; and I need you to do this for me. I really wouldn't ask if it wasn't totally necessary."
"Is there any reason Astra can't go alone? Not that I mind," I added, hurriedly, "but..."
"If I'm asked, or Evan's home is being observed for any reason, there's no way I can explain Astra being at Evan's house alone," Étoile explained, "But if she went with you, it's because you wanted to visit. I can explain that. That's plausible. Astra is merely a smokescreen and a power boost so you can get your job done. This job is yours, not hers."
"It's not a problem," I assured her, trying not to dwell on the thought of Evan. "I'll do it."
"Good. Thank you. I can't tell you how... This is very important, Stella. When I give the package to you, do not open it under any circumstances; and do not let it out of your sight. Astra will be here in a few minutes. I hope you have a successful trip."
"I can hardly wait," I said, feeling anything but excited. What was Étoile getting me into?
Chapter Six
I don't know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't the large padded envelope that Étoile extracted from the safe in the wall only minutes after Astra's arrival. It just looked so ordinary in its manila hue. So innocuous. In the time it took me to visit the bathroom, brush my hair, and check to see I looked decent, prior to Astra's arrival, the package had grown into some, enormous thing without real parameters in my mind. Of course, it was a large envelope, only half an inch thick. It had to be something like that. It wasn't like she would ask me to collar a dragon and fly it to Texas... I hoped.
"Do dragons exist?" I asked.
Étoile gave me a puzzled look. "I hope not." She placed the package on the coffee table in her elegant and neat-as-a-pin living room, and the three of us stared at it wordlessly.
"So, what's in it?" I asked finally, surrendering to curiosity when it became apparent Étoile wasn't going to say anything. I chanced a glance at Astra to see if she were any the wiser, but all the youngest Winterstorm sister did was lift her left shoulder slightly, then let it drop as she gave a small shake of her head. Interesting. Astra didn't know what the package contained either.
"I can't tell you," Étoile said.
"Why not?" I asked, trying to keep my voice light.
"It's best if neither of you know. I'm risking a lot just taking it out of the safe and it cost me a hell of a lot to get the contents."
"It's valuable?" asked Astra.
"Not like cash or jewels." Étoile gave us a small, tight smile. "but it's quite valuable to... some."
"Witches?" I guessed.
"Like I said, it's best that you don't know." Étoile picked up the package and held it in both hands, staring down at it. "I've magicked the package so that only Evan can open it. You must make sure it gets to him; but you must first make sure it is him. I know you have the skills to see past a shapeshifter, Stella. As far as I know, only he has been alerted that it's coming, but not how, or when, or even who it’s being delivered by, since one can never be too sure these days."
I nodded my understanding. Having had an unfortunate experience with a shapeshifter once, I knew how to recognise a being for what it really was. It had once taken a lot of effort for me, but now it was simple. Like with all my magical skills, this one became natural in no time. I tried not to think about the day Evan taught me the skill, in case I blushed. "I'll make sure the package gets into his hands and no one else's," I promised.
"You sound paranoid, sister."
Étoile glanced up at her sibling. "Like they say, just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me
."
"What's really going on?" I asked, taking in her demeanour, as well as the opportunity to ask. It wasn't her clothing - which was impeccable, as always - but something about her eyes, like she hadn't been sleeping well of late. Of course, I wouldn't be sleeping well if I thought someone was out to get me either. At least, with the Brotherhood hopefully now a distant memory, I'd been managing to sleep rather well. At least, I was until someone decided to slay a werewolf on my porch.
As for the other problems that I encountered since my inauguration as a witch, and my formal introduction into the strange, supernatural extra layer of the regular human world… well, let's just say I'd had my fair share of sleepless, worry-filled nights from time to time. Yet, things like that never seemed to affect Étoile before. Whatever was going on was clearly serious, and it worried me that she seemed so reluctant to talk about it. It worried me much more, however, that she couldn't.
"I've put you both in enough danger just by asking you to do this for me; and I don’t intend to imperil your lives any further by telling you what's in the package. Just trust me, please, Stella, Astra. It's very important. That's all I can say."
"Okay," I replied. "I won't ask again. Do you have any other instructions for us?"
Étoile pursed her lips as she thought. "Take an indirect route," she suddenly said decisively. "Shimmer to a few other locations, maybe three or four, before you arrive at Evan's house. Just in case anyone is following you, or tracking your movements from my apartment."
"And when we get there?" Astra asked.
"Give the package to Evan and forget you ever saw it. If anyone asks why you came there, say you just wanted to visit an old friend with Stella, emphasising that it was just a social call. Stella can make something up and you can play ignorant. Simple as that." Étoile turned her gaze on me. "If you get stumped and can't think of anything, just burst into tears. That always makes people uncomfortable."
Arcane Magic (Stella Mayweather Series) Page 6