by Brea Viragh
The warm heat of her power rushed through her from head to toe, infusing her with certainty, rightness. It ignited something inside, a cold hard ball she normally kept hidden. “This magic is mine,” she insisted. “I don’t intend to become a prisoner or a science experiment, any more than I already am.”
“You think you’re an experiment? Like little men in white lab coats are going to come to interrogate you, strap you down and cut you open to examine your parts and pieces?” Leo laughed.
“You don’t have to be so crude.”
He continued to stare at her. “Are you done with fantasy? I’d like to get back to reality.”
Taken aback by his tranquil façade, Astix released her magic. The obsidian piece became an inanimate object once more, though the warmth stayed behind. “Y-yes,” she stammered, eyebrows rushing together in a mild glare.
“Good.” Leo shifted forward until their knees touched and Astix jerked in the opposite direction. The goad had worked, and though he hadn’t gotten the laugh he desperately wanted to hear from her, at least he’d gotten her mind somewhere else. Away from her pain and anger. Off of the idea that she was nothing more than prey.
“May I?”
Astix handed over her prize. Both ignored the hole in the center of the glass and the cracks radiating from the chasm. Wind and icy rain continued to seep inside the car.
She watched Leo examine the piece of stone. “This was a good choice. Obsidian for protection and grounding. Purification, in some respects. You’re trying to figure me out, I see. It really is quite remarkable what you do. You can access the metaphysical symbolism, healing properties and powers, and spiritual meanings of stones. Use their souls, so to speak. Go beyond the physical. I can only imagine the depths of power you could control if you really bothered exploring it. I’m sure if you put your mind to it, you could discover a whole new side to your magic.” Suddenly the obsidian broke down into a tiny storm of black sand that billowed in a funnel shape above his palm.
“You’re showing off.”
“I’m doing what you did for me. A demonstration.” The sand gave way to a complex crystalline structure of intersecting hexagons. Leo continued to study the obsidian as he took it through varying stages of transformation. “Now I guess it’s time for me to stop farting around.”
Astix stifled a giggle. “Farting around. Is that what you’re doing?”
The obsidian reformed into its normal shape and he held it out for her. “I think we can work together. The two of us.”
As quickly as it appeared, her easy mood evaporated. She shoved her anxiety back down to her aching stomach and grabbed the stone. “Why would I want to work with you? I have no interest in helping the Claddium. I was separated from my family because of them. Told I was a freak of nature since the moment of my Awakening.”
“Okay, maybe not work together. Work adjacent,” he amended.
“Following in your daddy’s footsteps has warped your fragile little mind.” Breathing deep, she moved the stone to her pocket, energy flowing from the obsidian along her wrist and shoulder, the small hairs on her body rising and chest tight.
“If you would be quiet and listen to me—” He ran a frazzled hand through his long hair and sighed. “I’m not here for them. And I’m not here for my father. We’re talking to each other outside the Claddium sanction. My time today was supposed to be spent with your parents. Instead, I’m here with you. Which in my opinion is way better.”
“Why would God’s gift to women want to talk to me?” she asked. “Want my help?”
“Maybe you’re the only one who can help.”
“Sorry, no.”
Her bored tone was good. Her insides, on the other hand, were churning. On fire one minute and frozen the next. Her lady parts? A completely different story. They were jumping around, pointing at Leo, and screaming. Astix glanced down at his knee touching hers.
“I thought I’ve been the picture of a gentleman. I’ll have to try harder next time.” Leo smiled, and the motion had the cutest dimple she’d ever seen coming to life on the left side of his marvelous face. She wanted to reach out and—
“Tell me exactly what you want,” she demanded instead, leaning away and crossing her arms. The years alone had given her a keen eye for distinguishing fact from fiction. There was no guile in Leo’s gaze. His face appeared to be an open book ready for her scrutiny.
All part of his carefully crafted act, no doubt. There was one thing she knew, a fact she needed reminding of: Trust no one. Resentment spiked through her.
He spared a glance out the window as the city reeled by in shades of gray. “I love the city. Especially this time of year. The air is vibrant, alive. There’s a frozen fairy-tale feel to the lake.”
“Like no place on earth,” Astix agreed at last.
“I want to keep it this way. Beautiful and imperfect. The balance is tipping, the veil is fraying, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. Not alone. I don’t even know what it is. A feeling, I guess. The closer we get to the eclipse, the more on edge I feel.”
“The eclipse is two months away.”
“Each day is ticking down. It doesn’t help my anxiety.”
A chill moved through her blood; Leo’s statement echoed her mother’s eerily. “I know what you mean.”
Now that she’d tuned in, Astix did feel the difference. A bite to the air she hadn’t recognized before, nothing to do with the weather. Here they were in January and she felt a stirring out there, lurking. Stalking. Ready to make a mess of her life.
“We have to do something,” he continued.
“I’ve hidden who I am for a long time.” She twisted her fingers into a complicated knot on her lap. “I’m not sure I have the stuff to help you. Better to keep me under wraps and find someone more qualified.”
“You’ll help. For your family, if nothing else.”
“What do you know?”
“Nothing. Everything. I’m not sure anymore. I just had to see for myself.”
“See what?” The car slowed to a halt. When Astix looked outside she glimpsed the familiar exterior of her own house. She jolted, turning back to glare at Leo.
She wanted out of the car more than anything. Trapped in close confines with a man of Leo’s magnitude did not suit her well, especially after the morning she’d had. Astix scooted closer to the door and gripped the handle.
“If you know what’s best for you, you’ll leave and forget about me,” she said. “Disregard everything you think you know and walk away.”
They both knew the warning was empty. It didn’t matter. Leo nodded as if her words meant something to him. “Maybe. Have a good afternoon, Astix. We’ll meet again soon, I hope.”
Astix took great pleasure in slamming the door behind her. Not to be outdone, she shouted her last words to him as the car pulled away. “I’d rather not!”
Then the skies opened their full bounty, freezing rain pouring down on her. It dripped in rivers along the dark lines of her hair and wound down to flood her boots.
She clasped her hands together behind her head and told herself it was all right. Leo was being helpful. Not every man, every person who worked for the Claddium, meant to do her harm. She knew better.
She hoped.
CHAPTER 5
Leo tried not to watch her as they drove away. He couldn’t help a glance over his shoulder. She stood in the rain, her body slight, her complexion the paleness of a flower in spring, her hair dark and eyes darker.
“Did you get what you wanted from her?” Mack wanted to know.
“No, not nearly.”
“What are you going to do?”
Nothing, for now. “Back to the Cavaldi house, Mack. I have some questions, and hopefully they have answers.”
He then spent a harrowing hour with tea and four pairs of zipped lips. He didn’t blame them. Not really. Frustrating as it may be, the Cavaldis were worried about their son. Leo’s people had him. It made sense.
If the shoe were on the other foot, he wouldn’t say a goddamn word either. Although he had a hunch they were telling the truth when they pleaded ignorance. There was no way they would know about the omen heralding the arrival of the next Harbinger witch. How could they?
He had no clue what his next move should be, Leo thought as he returned to work. Although he knew what they said about all work and no play. All work and no play made Leo a dull boy and a boring robot of a man.
Unfortunately, his life was now a never-ending barrage of crap heaped down on him by the higher-ups. Going out to see Astix had been a whim, a snub of the nose to those same superiors. The suits and ties among which his father reigned supreme as the head crow.
Perhaps it had been a mistake, spending the vast majority of his time with her. It had been sheer dumb luck he’d managed to catch her exiting her family’s estate. He hadn’t counted on her being so damn cute, made even more so by the fact that she had no idea how cute she looked. It was nearly irresistible.
Shaking his head, Leo reached toward the compartment near the floorboard and pressed a lever. The polished wood popped open to reveal bevies of liquid libation, each in their own containers of crystal and glass.
Why not? He picked one at random and took a gulp straight from the mouth of the bottle, eyes watering as he swallowed the velvety smooth alcohol.
It had been a hell of a day.
“Anywhere else, Mr. Voltaire?” Mack called back to him. “You haven’t had your lunch.”
“I’m a big boy. I don’t need you looking out for me,” he said, quickly shelving the booze.
He would need all the fortification he could get before facing his father. The man could distinguish a secret with a look, as though he had the power to infiltrate thoughts. Orestes had an uncanny knack at ferreting out the truth. It certainly did not make growing up easy. Or fun.
Leo knew what his father would say about going to visit the girl. The same blank look on his stern face. The reproach, the instant wave of disappointment. Astix Cavaldi was a strict “observe and report,” yet Leo had involved himself.
Oh, how mad Orestes would be if he knew his perfect son not only talked to her, but planned to do much more.
What a woman to bring home to Mom. Leo saw her in his mind’s eye: Minerva Voltaire, raising a perfectly sculpted eyebrow in an unseemly arch while she silently slipped into the fermented depths of her favorite wine.
A real Southern lady once upon a time, her dream for grandchildren had died when Leo decided to join his father in the ranks of the Claddium instead of finding a nice girl to settle down with.
Too late now. But maybe not too late for grandchildren.
He chuckled as they pulled into the parking lot, getting ahead of himself. Who knew what the future held? First, he had to convince Astix that a date was a good idea. He might work for the people who banished her, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t have feelings for her as well. What would she say? How would she react?
Questions. His life was nothing but questions lately. An endless string of them and it didn’t matter which one he tugged, they all seemed to end up in the same place.
With the same person.
At the office, he forgot about being a member of the Claddium, forgot about his workload, even forgot about being the son of Orestes Voltaire. Jesus, what had gotten into him lately?
Hard work made him good at his job. Staying cool did as well, despite the oftentimes provoking circumstances. Yet his head was up in the clouds.
The question to be asked, Leo admitted to himself, was not what it was about Astix Cavaldi that made his father and the rest of the Claddium goons stand up and take note. The question was why a perfectly sane man, who was reasonably content with his life, would be half in love with a woman he’d just met. But the question had too many layers for a single, honest answer.
**
Exhaustion turned her blood to lead and her bones to dust. It was a terrible combination.
Between her impromptu family visit and the unexpected Leo Voltaire, Astix had had enough excitement. To make matters worse, she saw him. Leo. Every time she closed her eyes, he was there. The flash of brightness of his hair against the melancholy skies, the perfect white teeth behind those plump lips. She wondered at her reaction to him. He was literally the worst person she should be talking to. A single genomic step down from the head honcho who, with a snap of his fingers, could send her to the Vault. Right along with her twin brother.
The icy, wintry mix continued to come down hard and hammer against the walls of her house. Drowning or freezing to death felt like real possibilities.
Earlier, she’d stood and watched until the taillights of Leo’s car disappeared. The freezing rain soaked through each layer of clothing, the leather jacket, the t-shirt she’d bought at a garage sale, the thrift store long-sleeved flannel shirt and jeans she’d meant to wash and never had. Her socks and boots were saturated and every step into the house had her squelching and shivering.
Two days ago, she’d sat in her living room watching the rich blue of early morning, without any of these worries. She loved the time between dark and daylight, when the seclusion wasn’t quite as bad. She could pretend she wasn’t alone. Maybe pretend she was free to make her own choices.
DJ Tix made her choices. Astix, on the other hand, had a feeling it would be a long time before she again felt the freedom Tix offered. Funny, she’d never appreciated it until it was out of her hands.
The Claddium knew where she was. The Claddium had sent someone after her. A handsome, intelligent, incredibly attractive someone.
She brushed the hair out of her eyes and waved her crystals to life. She’d need all the help she could get.
The next several days passed without incident. Astix ignored and promptly deleted the messages left on her cell phone from a jubilant Bernardino.
“The show was a success, despite the police. Probably because of them,” his static-filled voice informed her. “You can’t imagine what we raked in, honey. Stop by the bar for your share and let’s plan another show soon. Give me a call back with your schedule.”
This was followed by: “Sweetie, come on. I’ve had at least 300-strong asking me when the next show is so they can pre-order tickets. People are throwing money at us. Call me back with a date.”
Finally, desperately: “You better call me back! There’s a ham sandwich in it for you if you can respond within the next hour. You know how my wife makes them. She sends her love, by the way.”
Astix deleted the messages one by one despite the lure of ham. Her family was in trouble. And she wasn’t sleeping.
Arms overhead in a stretch, she padded down the hallway toward the bathroom. She discarded her clothes and let them fall to a heap on the floor. Soon she would need to address the laundry issue, though she figured she could get at least another week out of her wardrobe.
The rusty pipes clanked when she turned the knobs in the shower. Soon the room filled with steam. She drew the mist into her lungs, coupled with the scent of eucalyptus.
She kept gemstones here too, scattered on shelves around the bathroom. The room’s size accommodated several larger pieces she’d acquired over the years. Spears of amethyst and quartz, selenite and tanzanite. Each one was treasured for what they represented—freedom, rebellion.
Aberration, her mind whispered.
Shaking off the unwanted thought, Astix stepped into the shower. Under the constant pounding of the water, she could forget all about the previous few days. Seeing her family had been bad, and she worried about her brother. She stared down at the unmarked skin on her wrist. There was more going on than they’d told her, for sure. It didn’t take an oracle to know her parents were hiding something.
Whatever it was didn’t matter as much as finding Zee and stopping the rune from stealing her family’s magic. What if they died? What if their bodies slowly faded back across the veil and she was alone? Really, truly, honestly alone?
She slammed her pa
lm against the tile and forced her mind into a straight line. Instead of doing as requested, her brain took a detour into Leo-land for the billionth time. She saw his golden cat-eyes staring her down and forcing tingles to life in her abdomen. And his body! Those long yards of muscle that would have made a bodybuilder fall to the ground in a fit of jealousy.
She’d never been one to fawn over a man. Period. She chose her one-night stands out of a crowd and made sure to never contact them again. It was better to indulge in a healthy sex life with no commitment. Somehow, Leo did not seem the type of man content with one night. She knew she wouldn’t be satisfied with only one night of his company.
All she could think about was what his mouth might taste like, how the casual roughness from the slight stubble might feel, and how good the two would feel pressed against hers at some point. If they made it past her terror of his father. It didn’t matter that, in her daydream, Leo came with a huge warning sign flashing above his head telling her to stay away.
She was still mooning over the things his hands could do when the shower curtain was ripped open.
Astix shrieked and leaped like an ungainly redheaded deer. Her arms instantly came up in a shielding position. Crystals flared to life and heat gathered in her abdomen in preparation for an attack.
When she finally peeked at the unwelcome visitor, her breath released on a cry. Magic whooshed out of her and the crystals went dark.
“Dammit, Karsia.” She turned the water off, twisting to hide her nakedness. Never mind the tremor that had her limbs shaking like a baby’s rattle.
Her youngest sister grinned repentantly before shoving a hand through her hair. “I’m sorry! I told you I was coming.” She held a red carnation out.