by A. Blythe
“Not yet. I was with her when she bought the dress, though. Funny story.”
Serena’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, I heard about the unfortunate mall incident. What is the world coming to?”
I sipped the champagne, letting the fizz tickle my nose. “People seem to be out of their minds these days.”
“Indeed,” she said carefully. She knew I was up to something and that was fine. I wanted her to know.
“Nice dress,” I told her. “White is such a good color on you. You’re the picture of pure innocence.”
Although she smiled, her eyes remained cold and focused. “I’m just relieved you didn’t wear something from that shop below your apartment.”
“I was a little disappointed that she didn’t,” Reed said, and gave my waist a squeeze.
“Later,” I said, and kissed his cheek.
“Delightful,” Serena said. “If you’ll excuse me, I have other guests to attend to.”
I watched her maneuver through the mostly uniformed guests. I had the feeling she just moved up the start time to her product launch.
Tell Greer he’s on, I said to Reed.
Reed was silent for a moment as he communicated with his brother.
Your telepathy really does come in handy, I said.
Especially when I want to know your real thoughts about how good I look in this tux.
I squeezed my eyes closed and tried to shield my thoughts. Damn telepathy!
It was time to hunt down the launching pad for the New Horizons canister. “I’ll meet you inside the house,” I said, and began to walk away.
Reed’s fingers encircled the fake cuff on my wrist and he pulled me back toward him. “Not without a proper goodbye.” He kissed me so hard and fast that my knees nearly buckled.
“Wasn’t expecting that,” I said, composing myself.
“Like I said before, I’m full of surprises.”
We went our separate ways in search of the canister. If Serena’s minions managed to set it off before we could locate it, it was going to be disastrous for every person and supernatural in the house.
Any luck upstairs, Reed? I stood silently for a moment, awaiting his response.
The team swept five bedroom so far, he replied. Exactly how many bedrooms does this place have?
More. Keep going.
I maneuvered through the crowd and a man at the bar caught my attention. The scruffy beard and round glasses were familiar. Then it hit me. Dr. Joseph Frankenheimer was at the bar, sipping what appeared to be a margarita. Jackpot.
I shifted gears and sauntered over to the bar, wearing my most vacant expression. I sidled up beside him and offered a flirtatious smile. "Now you don't look like a police officer. A benefactor, perhaps?"
He eyed me appreciatively. "Your powers of observation are spot on. Not a police officer."
I pretended to appraise him. "Not a security guard. A friend of Mrs. Edwards?"
His face lit up. "Do you know Serena?"
"I'm friendly with her daughter," I said.
He sucked down half of his margarita in one go. "Yes, young Seraphina. The two of you on the town together must turn quite a few heads."
I brushed imaginary lint from his shoulder. "What a sweet thing to say. What's your name?"
“Joseph Frankenheimer. Doctor."
My mouth formed a tiny oh. "You’re a doctor. Now that is far more impressive than any police officer here."
He chuckled softly. "I'm a scientist, not a medical doctor."
"Still. You must be pretty smart." I had to steer him into a room where I could properly interrogate him. As much as I hated to do it, I was going to have to channel my inner Luciano.
"Would you like a drink?" he asked, gesturing to the bar. "The margaritas are excellent. Just the right amount of salt."
I lowered my eyelids seductively. "Tell you what. You order me that drink and I'll wait for you upstairs."
Dr. Frankenheimer stared at me like I had just offered him the keys to the kingdom. "Upstairs where exactly? It’s a large house.” His Adam's apple bobbed up and down. I had to imagine this was the first time he was being propositioned by a young, attractive woman.
“I hope the house isn’t the only thing that’s large,” I said.
He coughed and sputtered his margarita all over his shirt.
"Third bedroom on the left," I said, and traced my fingers down his arm. "Don't be too long."
When I glanced over my shoulder, I saw him signaling desperately for the bartender's attention. I hurried upstairs to make sure that the third bedroom on the left was available. I didn't have much time. I ran into Reed as he emerged from one of the bedrooms further down the hall.
"What are you doing up here?" he asked. "We were supposed to be downstairs."
"New plan," I said. "The New Horizons guy is here. He's on his way up with a drink for me."
Reed inclined his head. "Dr. Frankenheimer?"
"The one and only. I'm going to find out where the canister is in the house and how to disable it."
"And how do you expect to convince him to tell you? Your powers of seduction?"
I smiled. "No, my powers of seduction get him up here. My powers get me the answer." I heard footsteps on the stairs and pushed Reed inside. "You hide in the bathroom. When we get the information we need, you can send a message to the team."
"I don't want to listen to you seduce some scientist," he objected.
I pushed him further into the bathroom and closed the door. "I told you. Seduction time is over. Now it's time for violence."
He laughed softly. "Is that how it works? I'll have to remember that when this is all over."
The bedroom door opened and Dr. Frankenheimer appeared, holding a fresh margarita rimmed with plenty of salt.
"What took you so long?" I asked.
I waited for him to set the drink on the bedside table before I made my move. No point in spilling a perfectly good margarita.
“Apologies. The bartender was slow.”
“Okay, listen up because the clock is ticking. I need information, Dr. Frankenheimer, and I need it now." I dispensed with the vacant and wanting expression. This Alyse Winters was all business.
He gave me the once over. "You’re not going to have sex with me, are you?"
"Not today. Not ever. And if you don't tell me what I want to know, you will never have sex with anyone ever again." I made a show of fixing my gaze on his groin area. He got the message.
"What kind of information are you looking for? My company is called New Horizons. We’re a nonprofit."
I strutted toward him. "I know all about New Horizons. I've even been in your office. My friend had a good time playing with your photocopier."
His eyes widened. "You’re a djinni? I don’t understand. Why can’t I see your aura?"
"Here's the thing, Doc. I've spent the better part of a year in copper cuffs. Nobody could see my aura. And I need Serena to think that these cuffs are still real. So a good friend of mine performed a little magic to douse my blue flame. Just for tonight, you see. When this is all over, I'm going to be an out and proud djinni. No one is ever going to stifle me again. Do you understand?" I gripped him by the throat, squeezing my fingers into his windpipe.
He nodded profusely.
"Okay, Joseph. Where is the canister and how do I disable it?" I released him and took a step back.
He rubbed his neck and glared at me. “Do you really think I'm going to tell you that? There are a hundred police officers in this house tonight. In the next half an hour, all of them will be gifted with the Sight. It's going to change the way supernaturals operate in the city."
“You're willing to give your life so that these cops can target supernaturals? Exactly how many of us do you think are criminals?”
“It’s not about whether you’re criminals. It’s about the superiority of the human race.” He raised his chin a fraction and I punched him square in the jaw. He cried out and covered his face.
&n
bsp; “Superior how?” I challenged him. “I can show you superior.”
I didn’t want to hurt him—not really—but I did need to scare him into a confession. I summoned a gust of wind and sent him flying across the room. He slammed against the dresser, shattering the mirror behind him. Before he could stand upright, I grabbed him by the throat and lifted him into the air.
“I can kill you slowly or quickly,” I said. “Your choice.”
“The air conditioning unit," he choked. "Through the vents."
"How many people are down there?" I demanded. "How many guards?"
"I don’t know. There was a mage down there earlier."
A mage. I could guess who that was.
The bathroom door flew open and Reed appeared. I craned my neck to look at him. "Did you get all that?"
He nodded. "I'm on it. What about you?"
I glanced back at the mad scientist. "I'm going to take care of our friend here, then I'll join you downstairs."
Reed winked. "Don't be too long. Wouldn't want you to miss all the fun."
He rushed from the room and I released my hold on Dr. Frankenheimer.
He adjusted his glasses and whimpered. "What are you going to do to me?"
"Keep you out of trouble," I said. I held out my hand and summoned a dog crate. It was big enough to house a Rottweiler, so it would be big enough to contain Dr. Frankenheimer until the threat was over. I couldn't risk his interference.
His jaw dropped open. "You conjured that crate out of thin air."
"Yes, I did. I'm a djinni. That's what I do."
He shook his head in disbelief. "Imagine what you could accomplish…"
"I don't have to imagine," I said. "I'm doing it right now." I grabbed him by the collar and ushered him into the crate, locking the door from the outside. I sealed it with a protective spell for good measure. With a flick of my wrist, I sent the crate sliding into the bathroom and closed the door behind it. I ignored his muffled cries and went to find the canister.
20
The air conditioning unit was located at the southeast end of the house. Serena's basement wasn't your typical basement, of course. It was fully designed to match the rest of the house. Even the floor was marble. I had no doubt that she spared no expense. Unfortunately, the basement was as large as the entire footprint of the house, so it wasn't easy to locate the air conditioning unit.
Reed, where are you?
I'm having a bit of an issue, he replied.
Where?
When you come down the stairs, turn left and then follow it to the end. There is a small, barn-style door.
I crept along the corridor, listening intently for any movement. How many?
Two with guns. Don't kill them, though. I think they’re under a spell.
Right. I reached the barn door and knocked loudly. "Anybody order a pizza?"
The door jerked open and I was greeted by a police officer in his dress blues. His dazed expression confirmed Reed’s theory. Serena had them under a spell.
“No one ordered a pizza,” he said.
I summoned a box of steaming pizza and held the box aloft. “Are you sure? I have half pepperoni and half plain.”
“I am hungry,” the other cop said. “We’ve been down here for hours.”
“What are we even doing down here?” the first cop asked.
“Guarding that bowling ball.” He gestured toward a black sphere in the corner of the room. It was the larger version of the canister. The one Mix and I had seen the designs for. If they activated it, the hundred cops plus everyone in the neighborhood would have the Sight.
“Let me guess,” I said. “You’re supposed to shoot anyone who tries to come in.”
“That’s right,” the cop at the door said. He studied me. “You’re not trying to come in, are you?”
“Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin.”
The cop laughed. “Pretty and funny. That’s a nice combination.”
Beside me in the shadows, Reed rolled his eyes. What’s your plan? Put them in a food coma?
No. We don’t have time for them to eat a whole pizza. I summoned a handful of sleeping powder and blew it right into the cop’s face. He sneezed.
“Bless you,” I said, as he dropped to the floor.
His friend came over to investigate. “What the hell?” He pointed his gun at me. Before he could shoot, I summoned a lasso and wrenched the gun from his hand. He stared at me, gobsmacked. “Like Wonder Woman.”
“And you’re like Sleeping Beauty.” I blew the remaining sleeping powder into his face just as Greer entered the room.
“Where is it?”
“In the corner,” I said. “Do you know what to do?”
“My brother explained,” he said hurriedly. “You take care of Serena. She’s about to give a speech and I have a feeling it’s her shining moment.”
“Where’s Pinky?” I asked.
“Thompson has her locked in the library, but Pinky’s asking a lot of questions. Farah and Mix are headed to the ballroom.”
“Thanks, Greer.”
Reed and I ran upstairs to the ballroom in time to see Serena step onto the stage with a microphone. The music had stopped and I assumed this was the time she expected to distribute her gift. I spotted Farah, Mix, and Luciano in the sea of uniforms.
“Shit’s about to get real,” Luciano said.
Serena gently tapped the top of the microphone. “Good evening officers and honored guests. My name is Serena Edwards and I am the host of this year's gala. Some of you may be aware that there are strange events that sometimes happen in our city. As police officers, many of you have come up against these oddities without realizing it. Tonight is going to change all that. Tonight I will present my gift to law enforcement."
I couldn't imagine how Pinky would feel right now. Her mother had basically referred to her as an oddity and thrown her to the wolves. I couldn't let Serena continue. The Sight bomb was disabled. There was no need to enlighten the assembled police officers. I threaded my way through the sea of blue uniforms until I reached the base of the stage. Serena’s blue eyes narrowed when she saw me.
"It's over," I said. "Your gift has been returned to its original packaging."
She scowled. "I should have known you'd find a way. Don't think you're the only one with a plan B." She produced a small silver whistle from her cleavage. I wasn't sure if she intended to summon a pack of wild dogs with it or referee a football game. I guess I'd find out.
She raised the whistle to her lips and blew. I waited for a shrill sound but heard nothing. The police officers in the room, on the other hand, seemed to snap to attention.
"Holy Plasma Plane," Farah said, appearing beside me. "What now?"
Serena placed the whistle back in her bra and resumed her speech and the microphone. "My darling officers. It has come to my attention that there is a serious threat in the ballroom tonight. I ask you as your host this evening to eliminate this threat." She pointed directly at me. "You can start with these two and their dates, Captain Grayson Reed and Jeremy Mix.”
"Luciano is my date," Farah said.
I elbowed her in the ribs. “Not the time to quibble.”
"Deal with them however you see fit," Serena continued. "But be careful, they are armed and dangerous."
I didn’t see where Serena went. I was too busy fending off the advancing police officers.
“They’re under a spell,” I said. “Try to keep injuries to a minimum.”
“Mine or theirs?” Farah asked.
“Should I shift?” Mix asked, backing away slowly.
I worried that a large tiger would draw gunfire more quickly. “To mist only.”
“What about me?” Luciano asked.
“I’ll protect you,” Reed said. “I can’t shift, but I’m fast.”
“And strong,” I added. “Don’t forget strong.”
Farah broke into a smile. “If I didn’t already know you two were having sex, I’d know now.”
Her smile quickly faded as the cops opened fire. I stepped in front of my friends and held up my hands, conjuring an invisible wall. The bullets stopped in mid-motion and dropped to the ground. The cops stared at their guns, baffled.
"Please put down your weapons," I implored. "We don't want to hurt you."
Some idiot laughed. I suppose he thought I was a one-trick pony. They raised their weapons and fired again. This time, I summoned a giant magnet and secured it to the ceiling. It sucked the bullets upward and the guns quickly followed suit.
The cops stared at their empty hands.
“Reed and Mix, find Serena,” I said. “Farah and Luciano, go to the library and get Thompson and Pinky out of here.”
As I spoke, I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure on the balcony outside. Dragon Mage stood overlooking the gently rolling acres, as though there was no tempest behind her.
“Go,” I shouted. Then I shifted to mist and drifted out to the balcony.
"Since when do you miss an opportunity to throw down?” I asked, rematerializing.
She didn't bother to look at me. "Not my fight today."
“Isn’t it?” I thought all of Serena’s fights were her fights.
“Like you, I have made mistakes. My choices are sometimes questionable.”
"Then why be here at all?"
"Because the Dragon commanded it. Years of obeying someone…It is a most difficult habit to break.”
I leaned against the banister. "That's your spell on the whistle, isn't it?" It was far too complicated to have been created by anyone else.
She nodded. “They are all my spells. I did not ask her intentions. Much like Solomon’s ring."
So Dragon Mage was still steamed about that incident. Not that I blamed her. I felt a wedge between master and servant. There was only one thing to do. I whipped out my emotional crowbar and yanked.
"Did you know what her intentions were tonight?" I asked.
"You mean giving them the Sight?"
"Kind of a big deal for you, I would think."
Dragon Mage pressed her lips together. "I knew she wanted to release some kind of chemical. She convinced me that it would be for our benefit."
"I'm pretty sure she meant for her benefit. Surely you figured her out by now. You've worked with her long enough."