by Lynn Collins
“Home sweet home.” Pru leaned forward, checking out the area. “This place gives me the creeps and, honey, nothing creeps me out.”
Derek thought it looked more abandoned than creepy and he hoped Beau hadn’t just sent him on a wild goose chase. Hell, maybe Beau was the one who had sent that man to follow them. Derek would be glad when they got home and he knew the enemy. Right now, he felt like a fish out of water. “Let’s see if this girl lives here and what she can tell us. Then we’ll get to Baton Rouge and I’ll buy lunch.”
“Okay. But take your phone with you. We may need backup.” She checked her hair and makeup in the mirror.
Derek found himself staring at her face. Her skin was perfect. Her eyes sparkled in the bright sunlight. And her hair, it made his fingers itch to touch the curls. He turned away from her, unsure of what he might say. It was Pru in the car with him, not some naïve witch he typically dated. What was wrong with him? Blocking the thoughts and feelings running through his body, he focused on the phone in his hand. Holding up the phone so she could see, he smiled. “No service. We are off the techy grid.” He sent up a mental link with Parris. One of her talents was mental telepathy. At least it had worked with her and Ty. Derek hoped his visions would get through.
As an answer, he heard her in his head. I’m watching.
Climbing out of the car, an old bluetick hound greeted him and sniffed his hand. Derek paused to see if the hound would let him continue walking. When the dog was satisfied, he left Derek and circled the car to check out Pru. They made their way to the edge of the steps when an old woman of about eighty years came out of the house.
Dressed in jean capris and a button-down shirt, she looked like she lived in a suburban neighborhood rather than here. “What do you want?”
Derek watched her. “I think you know.”
“What if I don’t want to release her?” The old woman brought her arm to the front, exposing a small revolver in her hand. “Maybe you should just go back to those people who sent you and say she doesn’t exist.”
“Not sure who you think we are, but do me a favor and put down the gun. I just want to talk to her. I’m not working for anyone. Or at least not the people you’re thinking.” Derek turned toward Pru who had been unusually quiet. What does she think I’m after?
He heard Parris’ gasp as the door creaked open and a girl of about ten or eleven stepped out. She wore shorts and a tank top, and if Derek didn’t know Parris was actually north in St. Louis as well as in his head, he would have thought she had used a glamor spell to look younger and zip down here.
Pru nudged him. “Look at the stone around her neck. It’s glowing.”
The girl picked up the pendant and smiled. “My birth mother left this for me. I’ve never seen it glow before.”
“It’s not what you think.” Derek’s head throbbed in reaction to the untapped power in the girl. He stepped back, feeling the weight of the shock Parris was feeling miles away. The girl didn’t just look like Parris. She had the same power. The same feel as Regina. They’d found another one. “She’s the jewel, not the necklace. She’s an Original. Like Parris.”
“You know others like my Opal?” The woman studied him. “People not of The Council?”
He nodded. As he did, he heard Parris tell Ty, “This is impossible.” Then the connection broke and the four of them in Louisiana were alone again.
Derek leaned against the railing, feeling the tiredness from the mental link overcome him. There would be no need to go into Baton Rouge to complete their mission. What they sought stood in front of them. And would need at least one more seat on the airplane or maybe two for the trip back to the safe house. “We need to get you somewhere safe. There’s a war going on and both sides are looking for you.”
“Go get our suitcases. I knew this was going to happen soon.” The woman nodded to the girl. Then she turned to Ty and Pru. “I’m Mandy Price and that’s my Opal. She came to me with that name. My daughter, well, she left after giving birth and I didn’t feel like it was my place to give her a more modern name. The poor child has been teased for years because of her powers so I took her out of school. The tarot cards said we weren’t going to be here long anyway. And now you’re here to take us to the next stop. Bless you.”
“We’ll wait for you at the car.” Ty took Pru’s arm and led her back to the car, opening the trunk and trying to arrange it to fit more luggage. “I’m not sure what we’re getting into here, but this Mandy is certain we’re part of a bigger plan. I hate people who see everything as a matter of fate. What if we had been here to kill them? From what I know about Originals, they don’t like having them around. One, like Parris that they could train and use for their own benefit, sure. But two? The Council is probably going get rid of them anyway.”
“Did you see who she looks like?” Pru lit a cigarette, leaning against the car. “And why didn’t they say the jewel we were searching for was actually a little girl. Are you sure it can’t be that stone around her neck?”
Derek thought about the shock Parris had emitted when the girl had stepped out. She hadn’t known or hadn’t realized. “I guess no one knew, except maybe someone on The Council. The jewel of the bayou looks enough like her to be Parris McCall’s sister or daughter. I think someone has some explaining to do when we arrive back in St. Louis.”
4
Pru glanced back at the two new travel companions and studied the girl. She was reading. A stack of thick books sat between her and her grandmother. The woman smiled at Pru.
“Opal loves to read. She’s already into the adult library in town and we have to order books through interlibrary loan. According to her online teacher, she’s reading at high school and college level now.”
Pru reached back and grabbed one of the books. “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare? Have you seen any of the plays performed live?”
Opal’s gaze moved from the book’s page to meet Pru’s gaze, then back down again. “We don’t leave the cabin.”
“That’s not true. We go to town once a week to pick up food and more books. And you have your activities. Like swimming?” Mandy gave Pru an almost apologetic glance. “There’s just not a lot to do in town. She’d have to ride a bus two hours a day to get to the school. I just didn’t think it was safe for her to be alone so much.”
Opal snorted at that but didn’t say anything. Pru shook her head and turned back around. She caught Derek’s gaze. “It’s going to be a long trip.”
He slipped on his sunglasses and turned up the music. Clearly, his solution was to just ignore everyone in the car and drive. “Baton Rouge is only an hour out. I’ve decided to follow up on Ty’s lead, just in case there’s more we need to know. We’ll get this stop taken care of and then see if the plane can pick us up there instead of us going back to New Orleans.”
Opal leaned over the back of the front seat; eyes bright. “You came from New Orleans? Can we just go back there to get the plane? I’d love to see the French Quarter, and could we eat at The Commander’s Palace? Did you know Emeril used to cook there?” Opal leaned back again, glancing around the plush interior. “With you driving a car like this, you can probably afford a place like that, right?”
“Opal, don’t be rude. These people have been sent to deliver us. They don’t have time to go to some fancy restaurant just because one of your famous chefs used to work there.” Mandy pulled out a pair of knitting needles and a projected and focused on the activity.
“It’s not a problem.” Derek chuckled. “I can afford it. If this stop doesn’t take us somewhere else, I guess we can go back to New Orleans. Pru, why don’t you call the hotel and get us another room for the night?”
“Seriously? We’re going to stop to eat?” Pru shrugged when Derek shook his head, warning her off. “Whatever you want.”
She picked up the phone and watched Derek as he watched the girl. Opal had gone back to reading, but now she smiled as she flipped through the pages. Pru wondered what g
ame Derek was playing.
He could see Parris in the girl’s eyes. If she wasn’t her daughter, she was a close relative. He hadn’t found any siblings in the genealogy research he’d done for her and Robert and Matilda. But Parris had been as shocked as he’d been when she’d seen the girl. Not resigned like her secret had come out, but truly shocked at the resemblance. Now, men could be totally unaware of a child they’d fathered. But women? Typically, if a woman gave birth, they knew about it. Unless The Council had spirited Parris away one day and took what they’d needed. Mandy had said that her daughter had given birth to Opal. Had she been artificially inseminated with Parris’s eggs? And if so, who had been the sperm donor? So many questions.
The Council would do crap like that and not give it a second thought. He’d have to talk to Mandy and see what kind of family tree she’d pulled together. He’d hate to go into a custody battle with the grandmother who’d raised the girl, but they would if they needed to. This girl was important. That he knew.
He pulled onto the highway and kept an eye out for the Ram truck. He glanced at Pru who’d just finished talking with the hotel.
“Sorry, they don’t have another room. I guess one of us needs to give up our room.” She narrowed her eyes. “And you’re going to say me. What am I supposed to do, sleep in your room?”
He smiled that slow, sexy player smile that worked on so many women. “I guess so. Please tell me you don’t snore.”
“How would I know? It’s been a long time…” She paused as she realized Opal was listening into their conversation. “Fine, but I get the bed. You can sleep on the couch. What now? Do you want me to make dinner reservations as well? Maybe a cab?” She snapped at him.
Okay then, he’d ticked her off for the second time. “That would be great but we shouldn’t need a cab. And while you’re doing that, keep an eye out for that truck.”
Pru glanced around. Apparently, she’d forgotten about the guy who’d been trying to follow them just before they turned off the main road. “Maybe he was just love-struck. I can be known to be a little heavy handed with my spells.”
“Maybe,” Derek said, but he didn’t believe it was true. No, the guy had been sent by someone to watch them. Maybe follow them. Maybe even stop them from finding Opal. His gaze moved over where she sat reading. He glanced back to focus on Pru. “Better to be safe than sorry though, right?”
She nodded and Derek wondered if she could feel the worry in his tone. She dialed the number of the restaurant and made reservations for tonight at seven. When she hung up, she tucked the phone into her pocket. “Look, it might be a long night so I’m taking a nap. Wake me up when we hit Baton Rouge. I’ll play navigator again.”
“You’re expecting a lot out of me for a first date. I’m used to just leaving the girl at the door with a chaste kiss.” He glanced at the rearview mirror and caught Opal’s gaze. She dropped her gaze back to her book and her face turned beet red.
“What are you…” Pru rolled her eyes when she realized what he was saying. “I meant if there’s trouble, we may want to take turns being awake all night. Not what you were thinking, Mr. Gutterbrain.”
Opal giggled but kept reading.
“Go to sleep. I’ll wake you if there’s an issue.”
He focused on the two-lane road in front of them. They were alone on the highway. No cars going either way. That was either a blessing or The Council was protecting them. He’d felt the gentle magic flowing around them all day. On any other mission, he’d be ticked at their heavy handedness. Today, he was glad for the assist. He wondered, not for the first time that day, what in the world they were doing picking up a book-addicted child from a house on the swamp. And why no one had found her before.
After a few miles, Mandy touched his arm. He glanced at her through the rear-view mirror. Opal lay with her head on the seat, mouth open, deep in sleep.
“I’m very good at glamour and enchantment spells.” Mandy said. “That’s why I chosen as the house mother for Opal. My daughter, she was just an incubator. Whoever you think this girl is, you’re probably right. My job was to protect her. To raise her. Now it’s time for her to go to her kind. I appreciate you letting me ride along. I can help with the transition.”
“You’re a mind reader too?”
She nodded. “That’s another one of my talents. My daughter couldn’t handle this world. A world where her powers had to be hidden. Once she’d given birth, she took the money and ran. I don’t even get Christmas cards anymore. Opal has been mine for all these years. I’m not sure how it will feel to have to share her.”
“We’re not here to split you up.” Derek knew the decision wasn’t his.
So did Mandy. “You have that much pull with The Council? I’m impressed. I must be in the presence of high council.”
He knew she was kidding with him so he just snorted. “You don’t know the group I work with. We might not have as much power as The Council, but once you’re part of our tribe? No one, and I mean no one is going to mess with you. Somehow, we always seem to fix things.”
“I hope so, wizard. I really hope so.”
The car was quiet the rest of the way to Baton Rouge. No one followed them. No one talked. The music played, Pru slept, Opal, awake now, read, and her grandmother watched for danger out the window.
They pulled in front of the large house at the address the Council had sent. The gate in the front had been opened and a man at the guard house had waved them through. Pru sat up and yawned. “Nice digs.”
Derek reached out his senses and ran straight into a well-designed block. He could see the web bend, but then it just bounced him out and away from it. “They must be expecting us.”
Mandy frowned as she looked up at the house. “Much power to cover just a house. Should we stay in the car?”
Derek shook his head. He didn’t want to risk separating from them, not now. “No, come in with us and stay alert. Pru? Watch the girl. Don’t let them separate you from her no matter what.”
Pru climbed out of the car. “You know, I’m certified in battle magic. I probably can fight better than you can.”
“Which is why you’re in charge of the girl. If we get into a fight, get her out of here. I’m leaving the keys in the car. Leave and reach out to Parris. She’ll be able to hear you. She’ll send Ty.”
“You’ve thought this through.” She walked around the car and stood next to him, watching the house. She looked at him, and he thought she looked impressed. She turned her face away quickly and dropped her voice. “Are you sure she’s worth the risk?”
“I know she has power. And we could use some more power on our side if Ty’s plan ever gets put into place. Fate is leading us this trip, Pru. Can’t you feel it?”
She stared at him for a long time and he assumed the fate comment had ruined the positive impression he’d earned a few minutes ago. Then she reached up and kissed him lightly on the lips. Heat coursed through his body as their lips met. She started to walk away, but he grabbed her arm.
“What was that about?” He’d felt a charge run through him, like she’d passed on some spell of protection or maybe just strength.
She touched his face with her fingertips. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you for a long time. This seemed like a now or never event.”
He watched as she walked away and joined up with Opal and her grandmother. Just a kiss? No spell? Was that even possible? Why would he feel such a jolt if it was just physical?
He shook his head, not liking the answer that came back. Even a casual relationship with the woman was out of the question. She was impossible to deal with, and that was just on the professional side. A relationship would be rocky, and he wouldn’t know what was going on half the time. Not the way he liked to bed witches. He’d always wanted the control, the freedom of walking away. But now? He didn’t have an answer that made any sense so he set his focus on the job at hand.
He took a deep breath and joined the others on the front steps. �
�Let’s go meet the neighbors. Stay close and don’t go taking any wooden nickels.”
Opal looked up at him, confused. She wrapped her fingers around his hand. “What are wooden nickels?”
“Old joke.” He paused to look at her. “Stay close to Pru and listen to what she says.”
“Whatever.”
But he felt the worry, the anticipation. She didn’t know what was behind that door and it had her scared to death and excited at the same time. Just like Parris when she was studying her lessons to become a full-cloaked witch in The Council rolls. “The neighbors aren’t going to wait all day. Let’s get going.”
As they climbed the stairs, Derek kept his wizard sight and sound open. His most powerful gift was his ability to visualize the troubled ones. That had been his strongest asset as a witch hunter. He could see them. Their heart, mind. And soul. But there weren’t any troubled ones around. Well, besides the ones in his own group. Maybe this was a joke. A prank Ty had played on him. No runaway witches, no grumpy trolls, no wandering shapeshifters, no blood thirsty vampires, just happy humans. People, he corrected himself. Just people.
The door opened as they walked up. Derek saw that a tall slender woman held it open for them. “Welcome. We’ve been expecting you.”
Derek tried to see past her, extend his senses into the expansive, richly decorated foyer, but he felt only warmth and love and compassion. Yes, this was definitely a different kind of place. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know we had an appointment.”
The woman laughed and the sound echoed through the open hallway. “I didn’t mean to imply you were late. It’s just when your colleague back in St. Louis started making inquiries to our, ahem, practice, we knew someone would arrive sooner or later.”
“Well, we’re here.” Pru stepped around Derek and into the house. “Come on, let’s find out what’s behind the green curtain.”
“That’s a Wizard of Oz reference, isn’t it?” Opal asked as she followed Pru inside.