Worth Your While

by Connie Suttle

  "I'll call Jake back, then, and tell him we want to rent it for a couple of months. He may want a six-month lease, but we'll work around that."

  "I guess it's on the market, then?"

  "It is, but nobody's jumped at the exorbitant price tag, so it's been empty for nearly two years. The sellers won't mind the income, and it won't be like we're staying there forever."

  "I suggest renting a post office box while we're there," Cassie shuffled into my office. "I don't want any mail forwarded to a specific address."

  "Good idea," I told her. She looked as if the nap hadn't gone well, but I held that back.

  "At least it's furnished," Gina sighed. "We won't have to buy anything, and we can rent office furniture and equipment."

  "I can arrange to have some groceries delivered and waiting when we get there," I said. "I just need a list for the delivery service."

  "Living in a city has its perks, I guess," Cassie yawned.

  "I can put the list together," Gina told me.

  "Good. I figure we'll leave day after tomorrow; I doubt the Chancellor will want to be on the road right after a long flight."

  "Pack for heat and humidity," Cassie said. "Because we'll have that for sure."

  Gina

  "I have a few errands to run at the pharmacy—my med kit needs supplies," I told Cassie. "Want me to pick up soap and shampoo for you?"

  "Yeah. Let me make a list," she said, searching through kitchen drawers for paper and pen. "I need deodorant, lotion, hairspray, shampoo and conditioner," she pulled a small pad of paper out of a drawer, followed by a pen. "I'll write down the makeup list, too, if you don't mind."

  "I don't mind. Cliff is buying, so it's no trouble."

  "I can pay him back when I get my stuff from Seattle—if Parke remembers to bring my purse. You're not going out alone, are you?" She lifted her eyes from the list she was writing to study me.

  "No, Kent is picking me up. We'll grab a burger while we're out and bring back pizza for you and Cliff."

  "Oh, my gosh, I haven't had a pizza in—never mind. I'd love a pizza. Thank you."

  "You ready?" Kent walked into the kitchen. "Oh, hey, Cassie. Glad to see you," he said.

  "Likewise," Cassie told him. "I wrote down the kind of pizza I'd like," she added, handing me the list.

  "Good enough. We'll be back in two hours or so."

  Kent had a hand on the small of my back as he walked me out of the house. We climbed into his Chevy truck and buckled ourselves in. "Want food first, or shop first?"

  "Let's eat," I said. "I'm hungry and it's been a long day."

  Later, after we'd eaten three and a half double cheeseburgers between us, we headed for the twenty-four-hour pharmacy. I preferred to go at night; the drug store tended to be less crowded and my spots less pronounced.

  "Will you be okay here if I run to the liquor store down the block?" Kent asked.

  "Sure. Get a few bottles of wine, okay?"

  "I will. Cliff wants some Scotch, actually."

  He left for the liquor store; I headed for the makeup aisle on the far side of the pharmacy. That's where Rob caught up with me.

  "How is she?" he asked right away.

  "Physically, she looks a little thin. Well, gaunt may be a better term. No surprise, since it took three months for her to wake up after that debacle."

  "Emotionally?"

  "Defensive. I suppose that's no surprise either, since she was betrayed and nearly killed." I jerked two tubes of mascara off the peg in front of me, in the brand and color Cassie requested.

  "I'm searching for signs of Shakkor Agdah's regrouping, but they're lying low," Rob muttered, shaking his head.

  "Cassie says they're probably perfecting plan B, since plan A was thwarted, for the most part."

  "Under new leadership, too, and that could take time to put in place. Do you think she'll ever forgive me?"

  "Rob, a lot of people will have to forgive you, not just Cassie. She did say that there's a hole left behind, where you were—before. She said that she hopes there are holes in you and in Will, too, that are just as painful."

  "I can't speak for the wizard, but the hole in my heart feels as big as the sky."

  "It's funny how love works, isn't it?"

  "We try not to love humans, it's far too painful. It's mostly the same with other supernaturals, although they have extended lives in most cases."

  "But Cassie was different, huh? Especially since she pulled your ass out of the fire more than once. A few bits of jewelry are no consolation for betrayal, Robin. You'll be happy to know that those things didn't survive the fire that burned for two days."

  "I don't doubt it, since that fire was combined with a wizard's spell. The sprite kingdoms don't think much of the new Prince of Alabama."

  "Hmmph," I snorted. "Greenville couldn't defend himself against a class of angry third-graders. The human variety and not the other kind." I moved down the wall, finding the other items Cassie wrote on her list.

  "Averill feels the same. I informed him that Cassie survived. I received the information from the wizard. It wasn't a congenial meeting."

  "So. All that time, the solution against Shakkor Agdah was murdering a fire demon. Huh." I wasn't complimentary in my description. "You'd think that somebody, somewhere, would have been working on a different solution, rather than painting a target on every fire demon's back."

  "I know." Rob ducked his head and sounded guilty. "We're down to three fire demons, total, and that includes Cassie. Until she woke, that number had been reduced to just two."

  "Will needs to stay the hell away from them, then," I snapped.

  "I think he understands that, now."

  "Does he understand that the Chancellor has a kill-on-sight warrant out for him?"

  "It isn't easy to kill a wizard," Robin whispered. "The Chancellor should rethink that warrant. Perhaps he should issue an invitation to talk with him. I agreed to meet with Will so I could unload my feelings on the matter."

  "And how did that turn out?"

  "I think he feels guilt—and emptiness, too. I unloaded on him anyway."

  "Because he deserved it."

  "He said as much."

  "Is there something else?" I asked before heading toward the soap and shampoo aisle.

  "I have a letter for the Chancellor from my King. It's important that he read it, as we recognize the need to stand together to survive the next wave of Shakkor Agdah attacks. And, as Cassie lived, we hope she may be able to adjust the method used last time, to hunt for Shakkor Agdah."

  "In other words, you want to use her for a rallying point, like we did last time."

  "Her name is even more revered among the sprite kingdoms. They saw her as one who could save the Earth with her death. Now, she has become even more of an icon."

  "Please note my previous comment about bits of jewelry." I stuffed two bottles of lotion into the basket I carried.

  "Understood. If we cannot obtain her forgiveness, then at least we must beg for her cooperation. I don't see us surviving the next wave of attacks otherwise."

  "What about Will? Does the same go for him?"

  "In the spirit of truthfulness that I wish to carry forward, yes."

  "In the spirit of truthfulness, I'll tell you now that Cassie has agreed to see a shrink, because she needs the help. Tell me about Will's and your part in that."

  Rob went still with that news. "This—I am so sorry," he breathed while pinching the bridge of his nose. "She's had nothing but misery, since her mother's disappearance and her father sold her to Ross Diablo."

  "Have you ever been treated like that, General?"

  "No."

  "Nuff said, then."

  "I must go, Kent is returning. Please deliver this to the Chancellor." He held out a heavy white envelope that bore the crest of the Earth sprite King.

  "I'll give it to him, to honor a past friendship," I said, slipping it into my purse. When I turned to find the deodorant Cassie wanted, Rob s
lipped away.

  Cassie

  "Pizza's awesome," I bit off the point of a slice and chewed with satisfaction.

  "We asked for extra everything you wanted," Gina grinned as she unloaded the bag containing her med supplies into her kit.

  Two other bags, containing the items on my list, lay on the kitchen counter. I'd take them to my bathroom when I finished eating. Surely Parke knew to pack for Hotlanta, when he put clothes together for both of us.

  "Pizza is good; so is the Scotch," Cliff lifted his glass in a toast to Gina.

  "Kent got the Scotch; you can thank him next time you see him," she said.

  "I'd like for him to come with us to Atlanta," Cliff said. "I think I can wangle a leave of absence and pay his salary while he's gone."

  "Have you mentioned it to him? He didn't say anything to me."

  "I asked him not to until I could get clearance from his boss."

  "It would be nice to have him close by," Gina agreed.

  "I may be pulling others in as bodyguards, too. I'm going through a list of volunteers now."

  "Demon, werewolf and otherwise?"

  "Yes. I sent the word out earlier today to Packmasters, Princes and Princesses. I outlined lists of requirements and the types we'd like to hire. Names came pouring in shortly after."

  "Did Parke get the memo?"

  "He was on the list. He made a few suggestions of his own. The property is on three acres and part of it is wooded. We'll need three shifts of guards. Vamps, of course, are the most desirable for graveyard shifts."

  "No pun intended, I'm sure," I said.

  "Are you dismissing my tendency to do just that?"

  "Why no," I teased. "Why ever would I do that?"

  "Is Parke bringing your swimsuit? There's a huge pool behind the house," Gina said.

  "I have no idea what he's bringing, and I'm really too tired to call and give him a list of clothes that he can't find," I replied.

  "We'll get what you need that he doesn't bring," Cliff soothed.

  Zedarius

  So they were going to Atlanta. I stood outside the kitchen window, hidden behind a spell and listening to their plans. I still had a spell around the perimeter of this property; I'd place another one in Atlanta. And, while Cliff was eating in the kitchen, now was a good time to steal inside his office for information on the new location.

  I could get there in advance and set up as many protection spells as I wanted, without their knowledge. Whether they knew it or not, we were all targets of the next wave of attacks, and it paid to be as well-guarded as possible.

  Zedarius?

  I froze. I hadn't heard that voice in a very long time. Coming to me now meant only one thing—the limits placed on Shakkor Agdah's power were unraveling further. Two of us awake at once was a strong warning. Three would mean the situation was dire.

  Four of us awake meant the destruction of the bridge connecting Earth IV to Earth III was the only answer to saving those remaining worlds.

  Yosuke? I responded.

  Surely you feel the unraveling, he sent.

  I do. Much has happened, my friend. Tell me where I can find you.

  Meet me at the always open restaurant on the eastern edge of the city of Tuscaloosa. I am there, now. They do not have decent tea. Yosuke sent an image of a pancake restaurant off the highway.

  I will be there shortly, I told him. I had information to acquire, first.

  "I have never dreamed of such—that the population of fire demons would be destroyed, or that one could survive the immolation."

  "I helped gather her sparks, but she may have come back together eventually on her own. I cannot say that for certain, but the strength was there."

  "How long did she burn?"

  "Two days."

  Yosuke sat back against the leatherette booth, while a thoughtful expression touched his features. "Quite remarkable," he nodded. "I wish to meet her."

  "You have an advantage," I grumbled. "She doesn't know you, yet."

  "Ah. The betrayal," he nodded. "As this is the first time anything like this has occurred, I imagine it is quite enervating."

  "Before, I grieved and moved on, considering the necessity of it in my mind. Things are very different, this time."

  "Because we need her, do we not?"

  "We do. She brought the sprite kingdoms together and devised a way to remove a threat through them. The method was quite effective; we should build upon that innovation to find a way to eliminate Shakkor Agdah, should they step upon the ground."

  "Explain this method, and then tell me how she managed to get water and earth to speak to one another."

  "It's rather complicated, so I'll start from the beginning."

  Parke

  "Louise is interning at an animal hospital in Bellevue, as of two days ago," I answered Daniel's question. "She has an apartment, and two rock demon guards," I added.

  He considered my answer for several seconds before nodding his acceptance. "Where are we on getting Trey to help us?" Daniel asked his next question.

  "He's on board, and the Council is sending one vamp with him and two others after we arrive in Atlanta. Cliff says the wine cellar is more than large enough for four beds, two on each end."

  "Three acres guarded by four vamps at night? Sounds good. I hope it's enough."

  "The Council says they can supply more if they're needed, but I believe Trey is the one they'll depend on to tell them that."

  "Then I figure the supernatural FBI and the Council will expect updates on information as it comes in," Daniel sighed. "I'd do the same in their shoes."

  "That's the idea—to keep them informed. Are you packed and ready to go?"

  "Yeah. I had to buy a few things—when we were in Alabama last time, it was wintertime and the weather was close to what I'm used to. I'm not prepared for Alabama or Georgia in the middle of summer."

  "I had to repack after Mom reminded me of that," I confessed. "And I had to go through Cassie's stuff a second time."

  "Well, I'm going to turn in," Daniel ran a hand through his hair. "We have an early flight."

  "Yeah." I didn't mention what worried me the most—would Cassie be comfortable sleeping with me, or would she ask for a separate room?

  Zedarius

  Yosuke and I took our time laying perimeter spells around the property in Atlanta, leaving out a set perimeter of lawn and the portion where automobiles would drive in to park. Those would be set and modified for recognizable vehicles once Cassie and her entourage arrived. Yosuke and I would know if anyone crossed onto the property who shouldn't.

  We'd discussed the fourth pyramid, too. Like me, he'd double-checked it, making sure it was still safely buried.

  Cassie had the third one; Shakkor Agdah held the first and second. They could have found a way to destroy them—they were hidden behind so many dark spells that I couldn't feel their pulse any longer.

  All four were necessary to keep Shakkor Agdah fully in check. Now, two were expected to do the work of all four, and we'd seen already how they'd gotten around that limitation.

  "Tell me more about the ice demons connected to the fire demon," Yosuke said after we'd finished our last spells.

  "Murderous miscreants. I've considered tracking them."

  "If the situation here is contained, I'd suggest you look for them, too. It could perhaps ease your way into rejoining the fire demon's forces."

  "I hadn't considered that," I admitted.

  "I'm here to help," Yosuke gave me a rare smile.

  Rob

  Will's spell hadn't been altered to keep me out. I studied Cassie through the kitchen window. She looked gaunt, just as Gina said. I'd follow them to Atlanta, too; part of the grounds was just that—ground, and I could find any of them who stepped upon it.

  I'd pass the information to Averill, too. Perhaps he'd notify the other sprite kingdoms, so they could keep an eye on her. At least Averill and his son were speaking again, even if it was stilted conversation more
often than not.

  Re-Anne's frostiness had also thawed somewhat. Most likely due to the guilt that gnawed at all of us after Cassie's near-death.

  Of course, we hadn't known it was a near-death for three months. Earth sprite scholars were already searching records and writing new ones regarding this miracle and wanted more than anything to speak with Cassie and the wizard, to glean firsthand information.

  They kept asking me if Will did anything different with his spell, or whether Cassie was responsible for her own recovery. If that were true, they wanted to delve into the matter, to find the difference between her and so many other fire demons before her.

  I doubted Cassie was in the proper state of mind to answer their questions. I jumped when I heard Will's voice in my head. Sprite, we need to talk, he said.

  About what? I kept my reply even; I had no desire to let him know he'd startled me.

  About Dalton and Morton King, and how their capture could put us back in the Chancellor's good graces.

  That possibility hit me like a brick wall. That's a wonderful idea. Good thinking.

  It wasn't my idea. Yosuke came up with it.

  Oh, no. A second wizard had awakened. That meant even more bindings on Shakkor Agdah's power were loosening.

  Then we should get on the trail of those two quickly. Where can I find you, and where were they last seen?

  The last I heard was New Orleans, but I wasn't interested in tracking them while I was there recently.

  Understood. Is there any place in particular where you'd like to meet?

  Meet me at the Rue des Morts cemetery tomorrow at sundown.

  I'll be there.

  Cassie

  A part of me didn't want to see Parke. Another part wanted to run somewhere and hide—from him, from Alabama, from Shakkor Agdah and from my murderous relatives. Mostly I felt uncomfortable, as if my skin no longer fit what was left of me after the incident with Will.

  "The full moon is in three days," Cliff pointed out. He'd found me standing on the back porch of the house, staring at the lake behind it. He was right; the moon was certainly nearing full as it shone across the water. I merely hadn't paid attention until now.