"I don't think so." His amber eyes searched my face. "It probably happened because I was having intense feelings about Mona." Ira tapped my hand. "Everything you touch turns magic?"
I felt a connection to Ira, an energy flowing between us. Although I enjoyed the buzz, I needed to remember he was involved in Keegan's case. "It's inevitable that I consider you a suspect. You could have returned and killed Felicia when you were wandering around in that flashback. Tell your relatives to back off. I have to protect Keegan's interests."
Turning away from me, Ira grabbed a yellow scarf and tossed it at the one undecorated mesh frame of a woman's form. The filmy fabric draped itself loosely over the neck and shoulders. I waited for Ira to wave his fingers and float the scarf artistically around the model. He moved his hand in a circle. The ends of the scarf wrapped around the neck to form a high collar that tightened so strongly the frame twisted inward. Ira charged forward and pulled at the scarf, but it was embedded in the mesh. He clawed at the fabric.
Jake ran across and gripped Ira's shoulder. "Have your familiar help you."
Ira fingered his serpent tattoo. The snake lifted off Ira's forearm and slithered up the dummy.
"Niko," Ira said, "release the scarf."
The snake wrapped itself around the material. The yellow scarf shimmered and then faded away. It seemed to melt into the snake, whose colors now shone brighter. Niko slipped back onto Ira's arm and became a tattoo again.
"I don't like to lose control and need rescuing by Niko," Ira said.
Jake moved close to him. "I trust you to seek help if you need it."
"I need to think." Ira pressed the tattoo to his heart.
"Petra is releasing rogue bursts of power. It may have touched you."
"I don't blame Petra." Ira hid the damaged form under the counter behind a curtain. He glanced at me. "Did I scare you?"
I had clasped my arms around my waist. "No, it's more that I scare myself."
"I'm taking a break." Ira flicked his hand and released a curtain that covered the front of Iradescences and moved into the crowd.
Jake pulled me into the walkway. "I need to check on him. He may be on the point of exploding. He's always been strong but wild."
We followed Ira's flow, going left, right, straight, circles. I marched through the crowd, blind to the displays. I needed to be repaired. This was no way to live, always afraid I'd set something off. As I turned a corner, I braked when a circular stairway appeared abruptly in front of us. Without asking Jake's permission, I hurried up. I'd never seen anyone refuse the gift of entry onto the second level. Surveillance of Ira would have to wait. In the two years that Eduardo and I had attended the market, the stairs had appeared three times for us. Each time, the second floor had been a labyrinth. Only once had we found the center. On that day, it was a hall of mirrors that reflected Eduardo and me entrancingly entwined. The other two times, we had given up and swirled our hands through the filmy walls of the maze. The Wizard Artist had opened the stairway and allowed us to descend.
As soon as Jake and I reached the second level, the circular stairs disappeared. I stepped ahead of him, moved through a tunnel of clouds, and put my feet down slowly, not able to believe the filmy substance would support me. The damp air absorbed the market noise. A breeze made the clouds circle around, taking me along so that I ended up upside down on the top of the tunnel. Blood rushed to my head, and I flapped my arms, expecting I would fall, but I kept walking. The tunnel brought me around right side up when I reached the first curve.
"I want to go to the center of the maze today. Will my magic cause a problem?"
I looked behind me because Jake didn't answer. He had disappeared. Going forward made sense. I could always escape by pushing my hand through the side of the tunnel, but I wanted another beautiful vision in the maze's center. Clouds swirled around my head and cut off the sight of my body and the path. Waving my hands made the clouds darken and cling to me obstinately. I couldn't tell if I was going straight or walking an S curve. When the thick air stifled me, I whispered, though no one could hear, "I leave on the count of three. One, two, thr—"
Wind slapped the clouds away. A bright light blinded me. After I recovered my sight, I grasped a metal rail that guarded the top of a narrow chasm. On the opposite side, Mona and Ronan Flynn waltzed along the edge of the ravine. No barrier held them back. Dancing smoothly, they glided up to the rim. She arched back over the abyss, dropping her hands from his shoulders, supported only by his arm. Her hair flowed down, rippling in the wind. Ronan tightened his hold and spun her around, away from the fissure.
Music vibrated the air. Fascinated, I focused on Mona, who never checked on her footwork. She kept her eyes fixed on Ronan's face. He gazed across the chasm at Ira, who stepped up to me, placing his hand next to mine on the rail.
"You've had tough times. Come with me to the other side and dance." Ira's voice was low and husky.
His aunt and uncle, a middle-aged couple, moved as one person to the steady rhythm. I wanted to be like them, whole and harmonious in dance. Surrender to impulse and feel a man pressing close. I raised my hand to reach for Ira.
From behind me, another man's tanned hand clamped on to my wrist. Jake had reappeared. "Now is not a good time." He snapped his fingers. The top of the circular staircase appeared next to us. Pulling me down the first step, he nodded at Ira. "I expect you to get help today. Otherwise, I'll have to intervene."
I descended into the market flow. People flocked to the staircase, which faded into air behind us. I tightened my hold on Jake's hand. I had that uneasy feeling of awaking from a dream. "I must have been crazy. I was going to hook up with Ira, a guy I barely know. And somebody who has as many problems as I do."
Jake drew me into a space between a T-shirt vendor and a potpourri booth. "If we keep holding hands, I can easily shield you. That way, you won't cause any magic disruptions."
I breathed in the cloying scent of the potpourri. "I have to get out of here. Too much is happening."
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
With my hand in Jake's, I felt safe, like a kid hanging on to a parent. He had a nice grip, firm but not clinging or moist. Overloaded by the sights of the market, I tuned out the displays until we reached the crystal bird booth at the exit. The proprietor of the stall held up a blue jay to a man who had blond hair, just like Mark's. I squinted and pulled my hand away from Jake's, moving close enough to touch the man. He turned, disclosing a tanned face and dark brows. I couldn't understand how I'd mistaken him for Mark Turner, a man I knew to be dead.
A chime rang out. I searched for the source, my eye caught by a ruby glow from a row of birds on the highest perch next to the proprietor. Half of the birds were red all over. Half were pale brown with reddish markings noticeable on the wings. Male and female cardinals. A second chime sounded, high and sweet. When I lifted my hand, one of the brown-red birds came straight to me. It didn't spread its wings but remained a solid figurine. As it reached me, its feet did extend and wrap around my forefinger. I admired the bird's sparkling eyes until its feet pinched my skin. For a panicky moment I wanted to shake it off my hand.
The proprietor, a chubby man with a pale face, hurried over. "Master, my apologies, my creations never act out. I'll retrieve this one from the lady."
Relieved, I shoved the bird at him.
Jake stepped between us. "Andreas, you're witnessing a rare event. A familiar has chosen an adult mistress. Miss Rakowitz, my trainee, may have latent magic talent just released."
"I'm honored that Ruby has chosen your student. Accept her as a gift." The proprietor bowed. A metallic chirp from above made him raise his voice. "Her mate doesn't want to lose her. I'll create a new female for him, and he'll quiet down."
Jake pulled out a card that had gold swirling over it. "I owe you a blessing. Redeem this at your pleasure."
Andreas handed me a pamphlet stored by his cash register. "Thank you, Master. Young lady, he
re are Ruby's instructions. My creations start as glass figures. When they select their wizard, they develop all the inner and outer parts of a real bird. You can fool Mother Nature. May you and Ruby have one heart."
He beamed at me, obviously expecting me to be overjoyed. The bird's talons cut into my finger. Her black beady eyes bored into me. She may have chosen me, but it didn't seem to be out of fondness.
I held my hand out to put her as far away as possible. "Are her mechanical parts already working?"
Jake tugged at my elbow. "Andreas, Miss Rakowitz is oozing magic and may be speeding up Ruby's development. I'll put a shield around you, Petra, and the bird. Let's go."
When we left the crystal bird booth, all the figurines chimed at once. The sound echoed after us. An answering ping came from my bird, along with a flash of red light.
I stood in front of the exit door with Ruby's eyes fixed on me. I had the urge to remove her, but her steady gaze mesmerized me. "I don't know what made me reach out to her. Should I be afraid of what's going to happen next?"
Jake pulled me off to the side so people could get to the door. "Have you ever been to an imprinting ceremony between a wizard and his or her familiar?"
"I saw one last month on some reality show." I flinched, remembering the two anguished parents holding down a screaming child. "I've never been invited to one."
Jake guided me back to the main aisle. "Afterwards, the relief and joy are enormous."
I pushed open the exit door and held Ruby up to the sun. "I expected her to be clear, but there are lines forming inside her."
Jake peered at her. "The beginning of her skeletal system. I think she activated as soon as you touched her."
I couldn't take my eyes off the intricate pattern. "You mean she's coming alive?"
"As much as a perfect mechanical reproduction is alive, yes."
I tried one-handed to leaf through the pamphlet but gave up. "I hope this owner's manual has some words of comfort because I'm at a loss."
"When we get back to the ranch, you can do research. Lots of books to help parents teach children to meld with their familiars. Of course, these texts are written on the assumption you attach to the familiar around puberty."
"Which I'm way past." I pushed Ruby at him. "Can I put her in your backpack? I'm afraid she might get broken in my sweatpants pocket. And she's making me nervous."
Jake paused at the row of cars where mine was parked halfway down. "You need to carry her." He pulled a wooden box out of his backpack.
I used the scarf Ira had given me to cushion her in the box. Cramming it into my pocket, I called out, "Hey," when I saw a man walk up to my car and fumble at the trunk. "That's Ernie, the street person who put the spell on me."
I charged ahead. Ernie turned toward us and waved his hands wildly in the air then took off. When I was ten feet from the car, a boom erupted from the trunk that shook the ground. Clothes, tools, and books flew out and got caught in a whirlwind that formed above the car. The funnel, loaded with debris, moved toward us.
We scrambled backwards. Jake yelled, "Stop!" and thrust out his hand. The whirlwind advanced no closer but increased in size from three to six feet. Growing wider, it reversed to the back of my car. The roaring cloud of dust surrounded the car and lifted it, rotating it crazily inside a twister now twenty feet high. As the funnel spun, it flung out rocks and dirt. To our left, a man and woman ran around a van for cover. I raised my arms over my face.
Jake pushed me behind a truck. "Stay down."
He faced the twister and pulled a ruler-sized pole out of his backpack. With a snap, it extended into a long wand decorated with carvings and jewels. Lifting the wand above his head, he flourished it in circular motions. Wind whipped his hair around his face as he squinted in the dust.
"Watch out," came shouts from around the parking lot. "Get down."
The car was high in the air, twirling and bucking at the top of the whirlwind. If released, it could crush us or the gray-haired couple who backed away, dropping their bags.
His head thrown back, Jake howled, a full-throated cry that vibrated the air. His skin flushed, and the chords in his neck popped out. He called out again, loud enough to overcome the noise of the wind, which paused, silenced for a heartbeat before it roared faster.
Inspired by the power and energy in his voice, I joined him. I had to hook my hands in his belt to keep my footing in the wind. I took a deep breath and cried out with him. When the whirlwind swelled, I howled again, echoing the rise and fall of Jake's calls. Desperate, I abandoned myself to a scream that mingled with his sound and drowned out the whirlwind.
As our voices reached their highest pitch, Jake waved the wand in a circular motion, as if he were stirring the wind. The funnel lowered and narrowed, bringing the car down so that it hovered ten feet above us. Then, with a thud that shook the air, the car dropped to the pavement, where it made the ground shake.
The whirlwind, now a yardstick high, spun above Jake's head. It had two dark patches like eyes that stayed in the same place.
Jake struck the ground with his wand. "Submit."
The whirlwind subsided to the ground, throwing around loose rocks that pelted our legs. The dark spots headed toward us. Startled, I threw out my hands. Jake slashed at the dark shapes with his wand. They stuck to the wood and turned into black jewels.
The dust settled. People peeked around cars at us.
"It's safe. Did anyone call nine-one-one?" Jake shouted out to them.
Two people raised their hands. Jake coughed. Sweat streamed down his crimson face, and orange flecks shone in his eyes. He tapped the wand on the ground, shrinking it to its original size.
I let go of his belt. My throat was raw from the howls I'd made. I looked at the group. "Is anyone hurt?" My voice came out husky.
People moved toward us. Fortunately, nobody bled. Two uniformed security guys ran out the main door of the Markesa. Another security team pulled up in a golf cart. A bulky man with grizzled hair jumped out of the cart and hurried to Jake. "Master, what happened?"
Jake cleared his throat. "A wind demon erupted from the trunk of our car. A homeless guy was standing next to the car fooling with it right before the demon appeared. He took off. I was able to take down the demon."
The guard gestured at the crowd. "Anybody injured?"
"I don't think so." Jake wiped his face, leaving it streaked with dirt. "The whirlwind concentrated its attention on me and Petra. Some damage to cars." A siren whined in the distance. "Let's move the crowd inside, in case any other bad magic is present."
The guard beckoned the other security guys over. "Have people go inside. Tell them we can't let them drive out until the area is screened."
Jake handed the guard a wad of cash. "Provide refreshments while they wait."
After the security guards moved through the crowd, people walked to the entrance, some grumbling, some chattering excitedly, many stealing glances at Jake and me.
"Let me take a look at my car. I don't suppose getting dropped like that did it any good." Because my legs were shaking, I wobbled in my walk.
Jake moved in front of me. "You'll have to wait until the police clear it for safety."
"How did you subdue the wind demon?"
"I became the wind. I took over the voice of the demon and then conquered its spirit. Once my mind became dominant, it was done for."
I felt as if I'd worked out too hard at the gym. "I kind of went crazy and started making sounds with you. Was that a problem?"
"When you joined in, the demon definitely weakened."
"Do you think Ernie created the wind demon on purpose?"
"Hard to say. I've consulted at County Hospital with similar cases. It's difficult to trace the workings of their magic."
I rubbed at sore spots on my legs from being hit by rocks and trash. Running to Jake and screaming my head off—I'd never behaved that wildly before. "I'd like to know why he was lurking around my car. He could've recognized it becau
se I saw him hanging out in the park across from my office."
"He may have been attracted by the notice that it's a Master Wizard parking space. People do get mad at Master Wizards for our enforcement actions, like me taking you into custody."
"Yes, that could make somebody outrageously angry."
Three cop cars pulled into the lot, lights flashing.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
After a two hour wait for the cops to interview us, Jake and I were picked up by Vidoc since the police had impounded my car for safety tests. I collapsed in the back seat. I was tired of the argument between Jake and the cop wizard about whether Ernie should be prosecuted for violations of the Magical Code. Apparently, Ernie, who was well known to the cops, couldn't be medicated to understand legal proceedings and always ended up back on the streets, so what was the point of a criminal case against him or a procedure before the Council, which had already forbidden him to use magic?
I'd filled the time by talking with Rusty, who awaited me at the ranch. She informed me Salvador Morlatti absolutely had to see us today. When we reached the main house, Jake agreed Rusty could supervise my meeting with Salvador. As I entered the living room, she bounded out of a beanbag chair.
She pulled me into the center of the room. At a tap of her foot, a row of beanbags formed a circle around us. "Are you okay after last night? Julie and I started the morning doing healing rituals. We'll do a spell to center ourselves till Sal gets here."
I hesitated. "I haven't had time to be upset or think straight. Give me your honest opinion. After what I told you on the phone about the bird coming to me as a familiar, do you think it's still possible the magic is temporary because of what that street person did? Or is it repressed magic power I've had all along?"
"I've never heard of anybody except a real wizard attracting a familiar. Did you ask Jake? He's the expert."
"I'll ask him later. I wanted a spontaneous opinion from a normal person."
Murder Casts Its Spell Page 15