The Getaway

by Sonya Bateman

  “Oh, yeah?” He stopped smiling. “Ani lo’ahmar nar—”

  “Stop!” Seth cried.

  A shiver went through Jazz, genuine this time. That was the destruction spell. Damn. Donatti had gotten a lot better at bluffing.

  Seth took a few staggering steps and sat down hard in the bucket seat. “Who are you?” he said hoarsely.

  “Hold on.” Jazz stepped out of the trunk and crossed the room to stand with Donatti, giving Seth a wide berth. “Before we get to the Q-and-A here, can’t you do something to make sure he doesn’t throw any magic at us?”

  “I don’t have to. He’s just about tapped.” Donatti almost looked sorry for him. “He would’ve had to transform to heal himself, and then change back. That takes a lot out.”

  Seth fixed him with an astonished stare. “How could you know that?”

  “Because I hang around with a couple of djinn. And I’m descended from one.”

  “Who?”

  “Gahiji-an, but we call him Ian.”

  “The Dehbei prince.” All the color faded from Seth’s face. “I’d heard...he was supposed to have been killed. Centuries ago, when he was banished here.”

  Donatti grimaced. “Oh, nice. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to hear he’s dead. I wouldn’t tell him that, if I was you. He might kill you for it.”

  “By the gods.” Seth looked away and slumped in the seat. “I don’t believe this,” he muttered. “All this time, and I...wait. You said there were other djinn. Who? Where are they?”

  “Wait. First, it’s your turn,” Donatti said. “Who are you really?”

  He looked at them with hollow eyes. “My name is Seti-el, of the Anapi clan,” he said. “At least, I was. I’m sure my clan’s disowned me by now.”

  “Just a guess, but I’m thinking Anapi means fox,” Jazz said.

  He nodded. “Tricksters and thieves, the lot of us. Some more than others,” he said with a healthy dose of bitterness. “That’s why I’m here, instead of in my own realm. I was tricked into an arranged marriage to someone I despised, someone who despises me and only wanted the bond so she could make me miserable forever. I couldn’t change things, so rather than marry her, I came here. I’m sure you noticed I have no windows or mirrors in this place. It’s so they can’t find me and force me to come back.”

  A glimmer of sympathy passed through Jazz, and she swept it aside with the image of the wrecked cars and the corpse. “Where you settled down and started killing people,” she said.

  “No! I’ve never killed anyone.” Seth let out a shuddering breath. “The dead man on the road wasn’t my doing. He crashed deliberately. Took his own life. I never came into contact with him.” He looked straight ahead, and his gaze unfocused. “No djinn would ever commit suicide. Such a terrible waste.”

  “Yeah, right.” She frowned at him. “Even if that’s true, it means you caused the other wrecks. And you tried to rip Donatti’s throat out.”

  He shook his head and looked at Donatti. “I knocked you down, yes. But I only nipped you, and you passed out from your other injuries. The blood was rabbit’s blood. I wouldn’t have let you die.”

  “So I didn’t heal myself? Damn.” Donatti raised an eyebrow. “That’s seriously fucked up. Why would you do that?”

  “To see how you’d react.” Seth stared at the floor. “I’d been here fifty years, alone, before humans started coming into the area. They were building that road. At first I only watched them, but when I realized whatever they were planning would bring them to my cabin, I...scared them off. Convinced them the place was haunted. And it was fun. The first entertainment I’d had in decades. Of course, after that it was years before anyone else came this way. A couple who’d gotten lost. So I decided to have some fun with them.”

  “Let me get this straight,” Jazz said. “You crash people’s cars and chase them around the woods because you’re bored?”

  He offered a miserable nod. “The first time, I didn’t play with them long. I healed their injuries before they woke from the crash, ‘miraculously’ unharmed. I let them see the fox, and turned myself invisible to play ghost. I created a few small illusions. Nothing too terrible. And when I’d finished, I brought them to the nearest town with altered memories and enough money to replace what I’d stolen. Your money is easy to reproduce.” A half-smile appeared and vanished. “But with each new arrival, I kept them a little longer, and played more elaborate tricks, until...well, you know what I’ve done with you.”

  “Yeah. You tried to make me think Donatti was dead so I’d sleep with you.”

  “I’ve been lonely,” he whispered. “I’m afraid that’s no excuse. But you are the most beautiful human I’ve ever seen, and I couldn’t resist trying.”

  Donatti made a disgusted sound. “Good thing it didn’t work, or I wouldn’t be able to resist trying to kick your ass. Not that I would’ve succeeded. But I’d try.”

  Jazz stopped herself from making a reflexive caveman comment. Usually she hated it when he went all defend-the-little-woman on her. Tonight, it didn’t annoy her so much. “If you’re so lonely, why didn’t you just move somewhere else?” she said. “You know, somewhere with a population bigger than one plus a bunch of rabbits and bears.”

  “Djinn can’t...I mean, it didn’t seem possible that a djinn could live with humans, or form relationships with them. I thought I’d be an outcast. I’m already shunned by one realm, and I wouldn’t do well if this one hated me, too.” He blinked a few times. “But it obviously worked for Gahiji-an, or you wouldn’t exist, Donatti. And the two of you are together.”

  “Yes, we are,” Donatti said with a little scowl. “Very together.”

  A smile forced itself across Jazz’s mouth. Damn, he was cute when he was jealous. “You’ll do fine,” she said. “There’s plenty of people more freaky than you.”

  Seth almost smiled. “I believe you. But then...I don’t know. It’s such fun here, and I’m hardly hurting anyone. There are so many of you humans. If I had access to more, the temptation would be great to—”

  “Don’t even think about it,” Jazz said. “I may be human, but I will kick your ass. And it won’t be so easy getting up again next time.”

  Donatti gave him a withering stare. If she didn’t know him, she’d be afraid of that look. “She will,” he said. “And when she’s done, I’m sure Ian’s gonna be next in line. He will hear about you, and he’s not going to like it. We’ll be watching.”

  “Well, if you put it that way.” Seth blanched and looked away. “I’ll stop. Really.”

  “So it’s settled, then,” she said. “You’re out of here.”

  “Maybe.” Seth spent a few minutes staring at the floor. Finally, his features grew resolute and he stood slowly. “I think I will,” he said. “Yes. I’ll join the world. There are so many things I’d like to see. Disney World. The Sahara desert. Strip clubs.”

  Jazz laughed, and even Donatti cracked a smirk. “I guarantee you’ll enjoy at least one of those things,” she said. “But you have to stop fucking with people. Trust me, that isn’t going to go over too great in civilization.”

  “I swear I won’t hurt anyone. Just a few harmless tricks now and then.”

  “Really. And what, exactly, do you consider harmless?”

  Seth grinned. “I was thinking of making Mount Rushmore disappear.”

  “Holy shit,” Donatti said. “That’d be awesome! It’d drive so many people crazy trying to figure it out. The brilliant scientists, the conspiracy nuts, the FBI, the—”

  “Donatti.”

  He coughed. “Sorry. I mean, don’t do that. It’s a bad idea. Very bad.”

  “All right.” Seth made a show of crossing his heart. “No vanishing national monuments.”

  Jazz sighed. “I really hope we’re not unleashing the eighth plague here,” she said, and turned to Donatti. “I don’t know about you, but I’m filthy, and starving, and exhausted.”

  “Ditto. Seth, please tell me you have someth
ing to get around with.”

  He nodded, headed for the back wall and stopped. “Before you go, could I please have my tether back?”

  “I don’t know,” Donatti said. “I’m thinking maybe I should keep it for a while. Maybe mail it to you, or send it up with the park rangers. What’s gonna stop you from fucking with us all over again if I give it back?”

  The corners of Seth’s mouth twitched. “You have my word,” he said. “You’re free to go, and I won’t harm you.”

  Donatti frowned. “What do you think, babe?”

  “I think he’d better show us how we’re leaving first,” she said. “Besides, we can always find it again if he screws up. Akila can track those things.”

  Seth went still and blinked rapidly. “The Bahari princess?”

  “Yeah. She’s Ian’s wife.”

  It took him a minute to recover. “You have powerful friends.”

  “We’ve got a few connections,” Donatti said.

  “Understood.” Seth moved to the bumpers mounted on the wall and said, “I had to have some way to bring the people off the mountain.” Reaching for the middle one, he grabbed it and pulled, and part of the wall swung out to reveal a recessed area with a tall shape draped in black canvas. He tugged the canvas away. Beneath it was a free-standing mirror. “I assume you know what to do,” he said to Donatti.

  “Yup. Blood, words, and poof. Instant portal.”

  His features contorted for an instant. “My tether?” he said softly.

  “Here.” Donatti handed them over slowly. “Don’t worry about the blood. I’m not contagious.”

  “Good to know.” Seth accepted them with a grateful nod. “I’ll get your bags for you,” he said. “I’m sorry for putting you through this. And I...thank you. For proving me wrong, and setting me free.”

  “Just don’t make us live to regret it,” Jazz said.

  “You won’t.”

  When he walked away, Donatti raised an eyebrow. “This guy’s a little nuts,” he said. “You really think he’ll lay off the sabotage racket?”

  “Probably. And like you said, we’ll be watching him.” She shivered and glanced across the room, where Seth was inspecting the trunk, grabbing loose items and tossing them in one of their bags. “I would’ve killed him,” she whispered. “If I had the magic, he’d be dead. But you were right. He doesn’t deserve to die.”

  “Hold on. Did you just say I was right?”

  “Congratulations.” She shook her head, smirking. Maybe a little of his optimism was rubbing off on her. And maybe that wasn’t a bad thing. There was room for second chances—for Seth, for her and Donatti. Starting now. “So, this wasn’t the getaway I expected,” she said.

  Donatti’s shoulders sagged like somebody just laid the weight of the world on them. “Some getaway,” he muttered. “Well, babe, I guess I’ll take us home. You ready?”

  “Home?”

  “Yeah. You’re exhausted, you’re worried about Cy, and...well, you never really wanted to come out here with me, anyway. I know you’re not big on romance.” He gave her a smile so forced, he might as well have had a gun at his back. “So I’ll take you where you want to go.”

  “Good. Because I want to go to a semi-secluded cabin on scenic Wolf Pond, for one remaining romantic night with the man I love.”

  If his jaw fell any further, he’d have to reattach it.

  She smiled. “Get me to a bed, Donatti. We’ll make all the magic you want.”

  * * *

  The Gavyn Donatti Series

  Book 1: Master of None

  Gavyn Donatti is the world's unluckiest thief. Just ask all the partners he's lost over the years. And when he loses an irreplaceable item that he was hired to steal for his ruthless employer, Trevor--well, his latest bungle might just be his last. But then his luck finally turns: right when Trevor's thugs have him cornered, a djinn -- otherwise known as a genie -- appears to save him.

  Unfortunately, this genie -- who goes by the very non-magical name of "Ian" -- is more Hellboy than dream girl. An overgrown and extremely surly man who hates Donatti on the spot, he may call the thief master, but he isn't interested in granting three wishes. Ian informs Donatti that he is bound to help the thief fulfill his life's purpose, and then he will be free.

  The problem is that neither Donatti nor Ian has any idea exactly what that purpose is.

  At first Donatti's too concerned with his own survival to look a gift genie in the mouth, but when his ex-girlfriend Jazz and her young son get drawn into the crossfire, the stakes skyrocket. And when Ian reveals that he has an agenda of his own -- with both Donatti and the murderous Trevor at the center of it -- Donatti will have to become the man he never knew he could be. Or the entire world could pay the price.

  (Keep reading for a free sample chapter!)

  Available everywhere books are sold

  Book 2: Master and Apprentice

  When stealing’s your only talent, it isn’t easy being a retired thief. Especially when you’ve graduated from thief to killer—and your partner doesn’t care if you die along with your targets.

  Luck has never been on Gavyn Donatti’s side. Anyone else with magic abilities inherited from a distant genie relative would have it made, but not Donatti, descendant of a cranky, shape-shifting genie named Ian. The prince of a murdered kingdom, consumed with revenge and driven by an unbreakable curse, Ian is determined to hunt down and destroy every last one of his enemies in the power-hungry snake clan—at any cost, including his life. Or Donatti’s.

  Obsessed by his own rage, Ian has never really taught Donatti how to use his abilities. So when a powerful cult of magic-users captures Ian’s wife, the princess Akila, and then Ian himself, the thief is left alone to take on dozens of half-djinn and their mysterious leader with designs on world domination.

  Facing an impossible mission, Donatti is forced to turn to an enemy for help—one who claims to know how to unlock the thief’s true potential. Trusting a snake might be the last mistake Donatti ever makes—but if he doesn’t learn to wield the power inside him, everyone will pay the ultimate price.

  (Keep reading for an exclusive free sample chapter!)

  Coming March 29, 2011

  About the Author

  Sonya Bateman lives in upstate New York, where there are two seasons: winter, and construction. Currently, the household includes her husband and son, her sister and two nephews, five cats (four of them are insane) and one dog who wishes to be a cat.

  In addition to spending a lot of time writing, she is attempting to learn how to speak Japanese. So far, she can say hello, thank you, and why don’t we go to your place for a drink? She does not plan to speak to any native Japanese speakers with her limited vocabulary at this time, as the conversation may lead in the wrong direction.

  Website: http://sonyabateman.wordpress.com/

  E-mail: sonyabateman.author@gmail.com

  * * *

  Books by Sonya Bateman, writing as S.W. Vaughn

  The House Phoenix series: Street fighting, violence, hostages, revenge... and tattoos.

  Available titles:

  Broken Angel * Devil’s Honor * Mask of the Serpent * Shades of Black

  All four novels are on sale now—just 99 cents for your Kindle!

  Visit http://housephoenix.wordpress.com/ to learn more

  * * *

  Keep reading for free sample chapters from Master of None and Master and Apprentice

  MASTER OF NONE

  Chapter 1

  Just once, I would have liked to get my shit together. Even accidentally. But I could already see that wasn’t going to happen tonight. After all, I am the world’s unluckiest thief. Ask anybody.

  Especially my ex-partners.

  The long-abandoned warehouse I’d stumbled across had seemed like a blessing, and the worn canvas bag wedged under my spare tire had been downright serendipitous. That was until I started stuffing my worldly possessions into it and the damned thing split down the seams. Ou
t came everything, all over the concrete floor covered with dust and oil and Christ knew what else. The gunk would wreak havoc with my instruments.

  As if that weren’t enough, one of the banded stacks of bills popped loose. The draft in the place snatched a handful of hundreds and whisked them off into the gloom in a flurry of papery whispers. Like the building was laughing at me.

  “Crud!” My voice echoed in the empty space. I froze, dropped to a crouch behind my car, and listened. Nothing yet. I’d ditched the tail half an hour ago, but they’d find me again soon. I figured Trevor must have had my ride bugged while he briefed me—which meant they’d been tracking me for a week. They knew I’d hit the place four days ago and hadn’t shown up with the score yet. I might have found the bug if I hadn’t misplaced my scanner on my last run.

  Since I hadn’t, my only chance now was to keep going on foot. I couldn’t talk my way out of this one.

  I kept my mouth shut this time and started stowing fistfuls of bills in pockets. The lost cash would have to stay lost. Next came the essentials: cell phone, Mag-lite, lock jock, cutter, scrambler, electric pick, Bowie, SAK, wire, Magnum—unloaded, of course. I was a thief, not a murderer. Couldn’t say the same for Trevor. He was a vicious bastard, for a fence. Hell, I’d met dealers who were calmer than Trevor. I did jobs for him because he paid decent, but I suspected I’d be looking for a new place to sell my scores to soon. One with a little less psycho in his veins.