by Lee Roland
“The Mother’s First Law binds witches, though. It’s carved into our souls. It is absolutely forbidden to use earth magic to force a person to take any action against their will. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve recited the mantra of the First Law since I was six years old.” I blew out a breath.
He had relaxed a bit. His hands had dropped to his knees, but he tensed again when I shifted in my seat. “What happens if a witch is . . . bad?”
“I was born with my power. It’s in my body and comes from the earth itself. The only way to stop a witch is destroy her. When the Earth Mother finds out a witch has been using spells in a truly evil manner she sends the Sisters of Justice to send the offender back to the cauldron of death and rebirth. Minor transgressions might be overlooked. Witches are human after all. But willful intent to harm? The Mother knows. It may take a while to get the details, but then . . . There’s no trial. No mercy. It’s not negotiable. When the Sisters arrive, it’s usually for an execution.”
He nodded as if he understood that part. “What did you just do to me?”
I sighed. I hated to admit I was wrong. “I acted with bad manners and bad judgment. I did something very rude. I was curious. Laudine said you were immune to magic. I couldn’t see a spell around you that gave you that immunity, so I very gently touched you with magic. Just a tap.”
I held up one finger. “The equivalent of a single drop of water in a twenty-acre lake. That tiny tap bounced back like a lightning strike. You are immune to magic. I don’t understand why. Do you know?”
Etienne gave a brief shake of his head, which was not a convincing denial. I didn’t blame him for not wanting to spew his secrets and leave himself vulnerable to me.
“So,” I said, as perky as I could manage. “Are you my chauffeur? Or are you going to kick me out on the street? I don’t mind. The street, that is. I completely understand. I’ll walk back and get my car.”
“No, I’m still with you.”
“Well, damn.” I didn’t know whether to be pleased or irritated. I leaned back and flexed my shoulders. Every muscle in me ached. “If I’m stuck with you, I need to go find Dervick. He and I need to continue the conversation you and Darrow so rudely interrupted yesterday. But first I need to talk to Laudine.”
Etienne shook his head, but he headed toward River Street. “I hope you know what you’re doing. You’re a walking disaster.”
“Oh, how sweet. I love it when I’m surrounded by supportive people.”
“Of course I’m supportive. I haven’t tried to kill you yet. Magic isn’t your only weapon.”
Not my only weapon? Now what did that mean? It made me smile. I think maybe he liked me, or wanted to like me, but we probably had too many obstacles between us and a truly satisfying relationship.
“Tell me about the men at Aiakós’s place,” I said. “Alcides Spaneas I recognized. Am I to assume the others are in the same class?”
“Definitely. I can tell you what’s going to happen. It happened with some others about six months ago. They’re wanted all over the world.”
“Like you.”
“Like me. Aiakós is going to offer them sanctuary, use them, then steal all their money. If they happen to have any other skill he can use, he’ll let them live. In the meantime, the Barrows is their haven.”
“Yes. This meeting is one of the first stages of his plan.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. I hadn’t realized how tense I was. “And you know this plan? How?”
“He told me. He regularly reminds me that I’m as much a prisoner of the Barrows as he is. I betrayed him once. He’ll keep me as long as I keep his army sharp. As long as I’m useful.”
“You betrayed him?”
“Yes.”
“And he didn’t kill you?” That sounded a little out there.
“No.” His voice was smooth and dark without a trace of fear. “I screamed a lot for a few weeks. Did I mention he’s fond of torture? I survived.”
“Great Mother.” That came out as a prayer.
“I told you, Nyx. I’ve earned most of what I have received. One way or the other.”
Of all the thoughts and conjectures running through my mind, one thing stood out. Etienne feared Aiakós for good reason. That was healthy, given what he’d told me. But damn it to hell, he feared witches more.
Chapter 17
Two cars were parked in front of Laudine’s. Apparently the lull in harassment by Etienne’s men continued. I didn’t know if he called them off, Darrow intervened, or they were now afraid to approach. Two elderly women came out as we entered. Laudine stood alone behind the counter. She stared at me with her typical stony expression when we entered. As usual, she didn’t look at Etienne.
“I see you’ve joined the demon,” she said. She glared and contempt filled her voice.
“I haven’t joined anyone, Laudine. Stop making assumptions about me. I only have bits and pieces of a puzzle to work with here. My options are still open. Right now I’m simply taking advantage of a free ride.” And without my credit cards or money I couldn’t go anywhere. Etienne would probably give me money, though, if I’d leave.
I approached her, but Etienne hung back, maybe giving me some space.
“Talk to me about Dervick, Laudine. He’s really pissed at you. What did you do to him?”
“The toad. That weasel. He came here and . . .” She sneered.
Toad? Weasel? Now, there was an odd image to get stuck in a mind. “What did he want you to do?”
“That’s not your business.” Laudine’s hands shook. She noticed them and clasped them together tight to still them.
“Okay. The toad-weasel. The one you won’t talk about. Where can I find him?”
“I have no idea. Now take your lackey and leave. You’re a disgrace to witches and your sister’s memory.” She flipped a dismissive hand at me.
“You’re sure she’s a memory?” I felt myself grow colder. “Why is that?”
Laudine hissed between her teeth. “Get out!”
I left. Etienne followed me.
“Damn.” I smacked my fist in my hand. “I should have grabbed my clothes.” We climbed in the SUV. “I guess I can do it later. Since you’re my friendly neighborhood lackey, do you know where I can find Dervick?”
“I might. Unless you call me a lackey again.”
“You would prefer minion or subordinate. How about—”
“How about you shut up.”
I laughed. “Okay, does that mean we’re best friends again?”
“No. It means if you stop talking, I won’t try to maim you in the next ten minutes.”
His mouth twitched in a smile. Had he forgiven me for my little magical transgression? I’m not sure why I even cared. Except that it felt good sitting in the car next to him. I still hadn’t had time to process his words about guilt. He didn’t seem to feel sorry for himself, so I doubted he would want sympathy from me, even if he were able to find it. I watched him as he maneuvered a massive vehicle through the ruined streets of what had once been a vibrant part of a city. He was barely able to skirt around some buildings that had crumbled. It seemed as if we might come to something impassable, but we didn’t.
I saw them ahead, the so-called Bastinados. About thirty of them lounged on abandoned cars, boxes, and broken benches in what had once been a midblock park. A few scraggly trees still reached desperate branches to the sky. Copious piles of garbage littered the ground and many of them held enough beer cans to build a small aluminum house. Etienne parked the car in front of a three-story building not far from the congregation of badasses. The Bastinados all leaned forward toward what might be a threat. Several drew weapons.
When Etienne stepped out, those sitting stood and stepped up, ready to rumble. When I did the same, they sat back down.
How incredibly odd.
Etienne stared at me with suspicious and curious eyes. “They’re afraid of you.” His words said he wasn’t happy about that.
&nb
sp; “Of me? Surely not. You’re mistaking something else for fear, Etienne.”
“Like what?”
“Indigenous cultural hospitality? Indigestion?”
Some of the Bastinados had probably been watching when I’d taken their boss’s fire and thrown it back at him. All men were wise to beware of fire, but these were also armed with guns. Herschel was lying asleep on the backseat with all four legs in the air.
“That’s disgusting,” Etienne said, nodding at the dog.
“It’s okay. He’ll guard our ride.” Herschel did look disgusting, but I’d never admit it out loud.
The building we entered was mostly open on the first floor, except for some massive steel columns. Carpet had covered it at one time; I could see the remnants around the edges of the room. Now we walked across bare concrete.
“Hey,” I said to Etienne. “If Dervick starts shooting fire, I’m going to stand behind you. You being immune to magic and all.”
“Shooting fire?” He drew his gun. I noticed that the ready firearm had become a semipermanent accessory when I was around.
I snickered. “Damn. You forgot the extinguisher, didn’t you? What were you thinking? Don’t worry. I can handle a little fire.” I walked on into the building. “Dervick? You here?”
“What do you want?” Dervick stepped from behind one of the massive columns. He sounded absolutely sulky. His baggy suit looked like he’d been run over by a truck. I paid no attention to his sullen attitude. “We need to finish our conversation from yesterday. I think we ended it at the part where you said something about your men dying after Laudine refused to work for you.”
Dervick came closer. He didn’t seem frightened. More like unsure of how to deal with me. “After I spoke to Laudine, the men began to die. They’re still dying. You saw them out there.” His voice sounded as pretty as his face.
“I’ll admit they weren’t very energetic. There aren’t many of them, either.” He had a point. The Mother might be upset with Laudine poisoning his men without immediate threat. “Why are you here? This derelict chic show seems like a pretty unlikely lifestyle for you.”
Dervick grimaced. “My mother wanted me to come. I was supposed to take control.”
“Control of what?” I really tried not to laugh at the farce. Under the circumstances humor was difficult to restrain.
He shrugged one shoulder. “Control of . . . everything. The Barrows, I guess. I made them afraid of me, those men. I do own the ones you saw, but a lot of them left town. And there is that creature.” I presumed he meant Aiakós. He rubbed his hands together as if washing them. “I thought if I could persuade Laudine to join me . . .” He rubbed a hand through his hair, then vigorously scratched at one point. This boy had a problem.
“Your mother is a witch and you don’t know how incredibly arrogant they are? You should have known better, Dervick.”
“You don’t know that Mother is a witch.”
He was right. I’d made an assumption that because he had power, he had to be related to the keepers of magic. He spun quite a tale. Most of it probably lies. Could a witch’s kid be that naive?
“Dervick, you’re the first person I’ve ever met, except for myself, who plays with fire like we did.”
“Huh! What world have you been living in?” He cocked his head and smiled. His voice softened with his words and hinted at something else, something far stronger than his demeanor implied. He continued. “I’ll tell you something, even if you don’t believe me. The world of witches is new, only a few thousand years old. There was a time before then when the Earth Mother had other servants. Servants far more fantastic and powerful than men or witches.”
“Really? Where are they now?”
“She hides them, keeps them away from us.”
“And you know this because . . . ? And it’s important to me because . . . ?”
He gave me what I would call a smug, shit-eating smile. “I just know. And you’ll find out how important soon, I think.”
He was right about some things. It had been a long time since I lived in the world of witches and when I had, it was in the most backwater isolated town in America. I had purposefully rejected any deep, informational lessons on the cultural diversity of the Earth Mother’s children. My knowledge of the differences came from the people I’d met in my life. I had no clue why he’d given me a lecture on ancient history. I dealt with the now.
“You sent those men to attack Laudine the other night?”
“Yes. I just wanted them to harass her. They failed, thanks to you.”
“Harass?” The little shit pissed me off. “They were shooting real bullets.”
“You burned—”
“They burned. They threw a firebomb and I tossed it back at them.”
This was bordering on unbelievable. The word ludicrous came to mind, too.
I plunged on. “So, you have these men, these Bastinados. What do you plan to do with them?”
“I have no idea.” He was hiding something, of course.
“Maybe you should call your mom and ask her for advice.”
He didn’t answer me.
I had to go. “I’ll see you later, Dervick. Try to stay out of trouble.”
As I turned, he called me back. “Nyx?”
“Yes?”
“Are you . . .” He made one step forward. His pretty face wrinkled in a frown. He glanced at Etienne. “Could we talk? Sometime? We can find an impartial place.”
“Yeah. We can talk. Not right now, but as soon as I can.” I did need to talk to him after I found Marisol. There was still something familiar about him, and he was the only person I’d ever met who could play with fire.
When Etienne and I walked back outside, the Bastinados remained where they were. Well, I walked out. Etienne staggered because he was laughing so hard. Oh, I understood the humor. Dervick, the insecure and slightly pathetic fire mage, leading a bloody gang. Doing stupid, childlike things in the worst possible places.
I threw my hands up. “This place is paradise. We have a demon who acts too kind and sophisticated to squash a bug and a militia leader on the whole world’s most wanted list.” I poked his ribs with my finger to see him flinch. “There’s a pretty boy gang leader who probably calls Mom every night, and a malicious earth witch who . . . well, the Mother only knows what she wants. It’s imminent Armageddon.”
And I was no closer to finding Marisol.
Chapter 18
Herschel didn’t wake when we climbed back in the SUV. The assembled Bastinados had relaxed and gone back to their tedious pursuit of absolutely nothing. Once we were rolling again, I opened my phone. I called the office in San Francisco. On River Street I had service, but I spiked it with a little magic to upset anyone trying to track me.
“Single-Eye Investigations,” Karen answered all bright and perky. “You lose ’em, we find ’em.”
I laughed. “You sound happy. Your boyfriend of the week pick you up for a nooner? Not in my office, I hope.” Karen changed boyfriends like I changed socks.
Karen sighed loudly. “In the absence of all managerial authority I have adopted a new attitude. It’s called, I don’t give a shit. I have also decided to give myself a raise. One of my bosses is camping out on the golf course and the other is wanted by the police. They did come by—the police, that is. FBI, actually. I did what you said. Told them you were in Duivel, but I didn’t know exactly where.” Her voice softened. “Are you okay? I didn’t really give myself a raise BTW.”
“I’m okay. Need something else. Run a deep search on Anton Dervick. Not totally sure of the spelling. I’ll take care of the raise when I get back. You’ve earned it.” I loved that girl.
I hung up and turned to Etienne. “You know what I want. I want to find my sister. What do you want? You insist on following me around. You won’t tell me why.” I tried to ask with some honesty. He’d attached himself to me for no apparent reason other than possibly a feeling of mild attraction.
He
didn’t speak for a moment. Then he said, “I value Darrow. He, however, seems to value you a bit too much. As long as I keep you around and safe, he won’t leave me. Or turn on me.”
Now, that was an interesting bit of logic. It was also absurd. This man walked in red-hot danger zones and had most of his life. If you had doubts about one of your men’s loyalty, for your own safety, you fired and replaced him. Darrow didn’t mean that much to him. Oh, had I actually thought his interest in me was personal? Had I wanted it to be? I wasn’t sure about that yet.
Darrow greeted us when we parked back at the compound. He moved in close when Etienne opened his door. “You got a cop waiting for you in the office. Told him I never heard of you, but he didn’t buy it.”
Etienne glanced at me. “Why don’t you go upstairs and—”
“What? No way. You stick like chewing gum on my boot when you’re messing in my business. Payback is hell, buddy.”
He jumped out of the SUV and slammed the door. I was right behind him. Darrow chuckled. “Damn, girl. I’d forgotten how stubborn you can be.”
I gave him a one-finger salute and stayed on Etienne’s heels.
Etienne’s office was on the ground floor under his apartment. The man waiting there introduced himself as Captain Flynn of the Duivel Police Department. He produced a badge and ID. The next thing he said was, “Abby sent me.”
Etienne raised an eyebrow at that, but said nothing. He went to sit behind a desk and Captain Flynn sat in front of him. Flynn had a firm voice, a nice pleasant face, and a strong body. The tone in that voice said he’d seen more than he wished to see of the Earth Mother’s world. I sat in a chair at the side of the room so I could see both of them.
Flynn started the conversation. “Abby called and asked that I check into something that happened the other night. Someone supposedly spotted a fugitive at a license check. It’s not my case, but I told her I’d find out. She said the Mother . . .” He stopped, bit his lip, then continued in a steady voice. “The idea that an internationally known felon, Etienne Durand, is in Duivel is interesting. The only proof they have is a fake driver’s license with the picture of someone who looks a bit like Durand. Unfortunately, the officer who swears he saw Durand is a crime-buff rookie who has memorized a lot of wanted posters.” Flynn glanced at me. “Are you Nyx Ianira?”