Shut up, Ren frowned wishing Nick would stop thinking so loud at him.
Nick wanted to laugh so bad but held it in also wanting to hear what was going on inside the room.
By the time Gypsy was finished catching her up, Lacey was rubbing her temple with her free hand and her face was in a heavy frown like she had a bad headache.
All of that and youre still alive? And here grandpa thought that hed given me the dangerous job. Is there anything else I should know about? Lacey asked crossing her fingers there wasnt more to tell.
Gypsy thought about it for a moment and then slowly shook her head, No, I think that pretty much covers all of the important stuff.
Its a wonder The Witchs Brew is still standing, Lacey whispered and tightened her grip on her cousins hand before bringing it up between them. And you tried to shoot a demon with a wooden bullet, she shook her head in amazement and sympathy. Brave and dumb seemed to be something they both had in common. Im so glad that this Michael person had the power to heal you. Id have died if Id come home only to find both you and Grandpa gone.
Im fine and youre home now. You are staying right? Gypsy asked letting the hope shine in her eyes.
Lacey started to say no but paused, biting her bottom lip as she tried to wrap her mind around something her cousin had said. Raising her chin, she locked her gaze with Gypsys wondering if shed just found the safety net shed been searching for. If it kept the demons from finding her for a little while longer, then she wasn't going to complain.
Wait a sec were you serious when you said that demons cant come into this building without your permission? she asked knowing when something sounded too good to be true it usually was.
Its true, Gypsy confirmed with enthusiasm. We even tested the spell just to make sure that it worked, and well it works brilliantly. She tried to keep herself from grinning as she remembered Nick and Ren being sucked out of the store.
Now that is the sweetest thing Ive heard in hmmm about a year, Lacey said truthfully and felt some of the tenseness drain out of her shoulders and back. Maybe if she stayed, she could buy a little more time before facing the grim reaper. And you say this was one of the spells that has been in the safe all this time?
She silently wondered if it had come from the same spell book that she knew held the spell to counteract the power of the demon mark she was now wearing. The way she understood it by casting a distortion spell over top of her demon mark, it would be near impossible to track her. It wouldnt remove the mark but it was the next best thing.
She needed to find out where theyd taken that book. Her next step would be to locate the most powerful witchs coven in the city and convince them to help her perform the spell. Problem was someone had moved the damn book.
Gypsy tilted her head to the side in concern when the relief in Lacey's eyes faded back to worry. Lacey, where have you been for the last year? What happened to keep you from coming home?
When Lacey didnt answer right away, Gypsy lowered her gaze to where their hands were still locked together around the crystal. You have to know that Grandpa was worried sick when you vanished. He tried to hide it from me, but you stayed away for so long that he was finally convinced you were never coming back that something terrible had happened to you.
Lacey made a slight face knowing Grandpa was the last person responsible for the mess she was in. This one was all on her.
They had always kept Gypsy out of the loop but now that Grandpa was gone, there didnt seem to be anything stopping her from telling at least part of it. Besides, when her past caught up with her, then at least Gypsy would know what really happened to her and maybe even place a grave marker next to Grandpa in memory.
She felt herself calm as she made up her mind to let her cousin in on the familys extracurricular activities.
Grandpa always sent you to the auctions and safe places to get the artifacts he wanted for his collection or needed to appease his clientele. That was your job and you were very good at it. She smiled fondly at her cousin before adding, But me I was good at something completely different.
What are you getting at? Gypsy asked with a frown. She had a suspicious feeling that she wasnt going to like whatever it was Lacey was about to tell her.
Lacey shrugged as if it wasnt that big of a deal, Grandpa sent you after the things that were available and easy to get a hold of just make a few deals in secret, with the help of a highly sought after trade or huge wad of cash. He sent me after the things that were not so easy to obtain.
Like what? Gypsy asked.
Like things people did not want to part with, Lacey supplied and watched as her cousins jaw dropped.
Chapter 2
He sent you to steal things? Gypsy's voice rose in bewilderment. I cant believe Grandpa would encourage you to do something so dangerous.
How do you think he got into this business in the first place? Lacey asked with a slight smile.
Ive only heard rumors, Gypsy whispered more than a little amazed by the confession. Some of the highest ranking people at the underground auctions had been throwing her hints for the last couple years. Shed just nodded politely at them and smiled, then bleached the rumors from her mind not wanting to think too hard on them.
She sighed as she admitted, I just shrugged it all off thinking they were picking on me because we often got a hold of things the others wanted very badly.
They had every right to be jealous. Grandpa was a notorious cat burglar in his prime and he was able to get his hands on a lot of valuable items during those years, Lacey confirmed with pride in her voice.
His specialty was supernatural items old spell books, journals, paintings, and various magical items. Underground rumor mills say that he actually found the Holy Grail and hid it from the man that hired him to find it. I seriously doubt he did, but it only adds to the myth that surrounds Grandpa.
Gypsy frowned, How did he stay alive all these years going after such dangerous items?
Lacey shrugged, Who knows? Grandpa made a lot of enemies before he retired from his favorite pastime. No one could prove it was him because he had mastered the art of thievery. One of the first things hed stolen was a cloaking device that rendered him completely undetectable. His shield against most of those enemies who did suspect him was the fact that a lot of the things they thought he might have stolen were powerful enough to be used against them if they retaliated.
A cloaking device, Gypsy repeated with wide eyes. Like Harry Potters invisibility cloak?
I dont know I never got to see it since it disappeared before either of us was born, Lacey answered. I guess someone else was an even better thief than Grandpa.
No wonder whats left of our family moved out of the city and warned us about hanging out with Grandpa. I thought it was just because they assumed that he was a nut for believing in the supernatural and running a store like this. Gypsy shook her head remembering all of the times shed stood up for him. She still didnt regret it though. She had loved him and that was all that mattered to her.
Oh no, Lacey contradicted her. The family has no idea. He wanted it that way. He would always act strange around them on purpose so that they would label him as a weird outcast and stay far away. He didnt want to put any of them in danger if someone did come after him.
Lacey's lips hinted at a sad frown as she thought back to when shed first moved in with Grandpa right here in this store. When shed been nine years old, her parents had been killed in a freak accident and her grandfather had showed up to claim her within hours. He had no way of knowing if the accident was truly an accident or not and had confessed that secret worry to her after shed learned the truth about him.
It was the theory that her parents might have been murdered over some paranormal trinket that had eventually made her want to seek revenge against anyone hording supernatural items in hopes that shed run across the one that had killed them. Nothing had ever turned up though and shed quickly become addicted to the thrill of the job. That and the money wasnt bad either.
It was my idea to follow in his footsteps and he was against it from the start, She reminisced. But after a while, I wore him down by going out and thieving on my own. I made sure he caught me doing it so that he had no choice but to train me on how to get in and out without being detected. It wasnt his idea but I left him no other choice. It was either let me do it on my own and get myself killed, or teach me all of his tricks and hope for the best.
I see, Gypsy shook her head at her devious cousin and almost felt sorry for her grandfather. Poor Grandpa didnt have a chance.
Yeah well I got in way over my head with this last job, Lacey confessed. It was my fault and Grandpa shouldnt have blamed himself. He knew I was headstrong and hed done the best he could.
Oh no, Gypsy whispered making a face. You were gone for more than a year. What exactly happened to you? She reached out and touched Lacey's cheek with the pad of her thumb, wiping away a smudge of the dirt there. Is that why youre dressed like a dirty boy and sneaking around? Are you running from something or someone?
A little bit of both Im afraid. I shouldnt even be here right now and the less you know about whats been going on the better. She glanced toward the door knowing she should follow her grandpas lead and protect the family by keeping her distance. I was supposed to be in and out of here without anyone noticing, but your guard dog had to go and ruin everything.
Gypsy noticed Lacey starting to fidget and the way she was now looking longingly toward the door like she wanted to leave. Not wanting her to go, Gypsy quickly blurted, There is a clause in grandpas will about you he never gave up on you coming home.
Lacey smiled fondly, He always did look after us.
Gypsy nodded earnestly, Yes he did and thats why he left half ownership of the shop to you in his will. The Witchs Brew is half yours and half mine. Even though you werent around, I still had them fix the deed exactly like Grandpa wanted it. Were business partners now, and we can run this place together if youll just stay.
I dont know, Lacey whispered. Her days were numbered. Even if she had gotten the spell book and damaged the demon mark they would still eventually catch up to her and that would be the end. She started to pull her hand away from Gypsy's but her cousin kept a firm hold. You dont know what youre asking. If I stay it could be dangerous for the both of us not just me.
I have very powerful friends now and they can help you keep you safe from whomever or whatever it is youre so scared of, Gypsy said raising her chin. After whats been going on around here Im a little tougher than you remember and can handle it.
Lacey closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The store shed always loved was half hers bless Grandpas soul. Hed always said that she reminded him of himself when he was younger and had eventually took pride in that instead of thinking it was a bad thing. Of course, she could also remember his long lectures about getting herself killed. Yep if he could see her now, the first words out of his mouth would be I told you so.
Gypsy could tell she was winning and added, You can even tell me what you wanted out of the safe, and Ill ask Ren to return it for you if itll help you feel safer. Shed been so lonely since Lacey had disappeared and Grandpa had passed away. Shed been convinced Lacey was dead and had even mourned her. Seeing her here now the last thing she wanted was to lose her all over again.
Lacey's mind was going a mile a minute. She wanted to stay so badly, but did she dare underestimate the demons chasing her by letting her guard down? On top of everything else, one of Gypsys friends was a demon or a superhuman, or something and it made her a bit jittery. That was when something Gypsy had said made her think and a devious smile spread across her lips.
Gypsy, she began thoughtfully, you said the spell you have on the shop that only the owner can invite people in right? Im half owner of the shop, so if I tell someone to leave they have to leave?
Thats right, you get to say who can come in and who cant if they are not one hundred percent human, Gypsy confirmed with a quick nod then gasped when Lacey suddenly leaned forward and gave her a tight hug.
That means I can tell anyone that bothers me to leave including your overbearing bodyguard, Lacey said with a giggle, feeling nervous now that shed convinced herself that the smartest move she could make was to stay right here where she had a demon shield around her. Maybe she would just become a recluse, or at least have a heads up on when it was time to face her demons.
Oh please dont evict the boys, Gypsy said and pulled back almost laughing at the disappointed pout on Lacey's face. If it wasnt for Ren and Nick, I would either be dead or the slave of a demon and you wouldnt have had a shop to come back to. I owe both of them my life. And as far as Ren goes, you cant use the spell he helped put on this place against him. She hid a guilty smile knowing shed already done that once in the name of testing the spell.
Lacey nearly rolled her eyes but nodded to let her cousin know she would behave as best she could anyway. Can you at least keep my secret? The less people that know about what I have been doing the better. To be honest, I shouldnt have even told you. Besides, Id rather get along with your harem instead of fighting with them.
Gypsy was about to answer when they heard the large wheel on the door turn, making both girls jump in surprise. She sighed heavily knowing that the boys had either decided that theyd waited long enough, or they had heard everything shed rather it be the former.
The girls watched wearily as the thick steel door swung open and Ren stepped in, followed by Nick. Ren didnt look happy at all, while Nick had an understanding expression on his calm face.
Im afraid its a little too late for secrets, Ren stated in satisfaction. Weve already heard everything.
Lacey just stared at him knowing they had only heard what shed just told Gypsy and that was just the tip of the iceberg. If they truly knew everything, they would have already tossed her out the door and locked it behind her.
Nick noticed the intense look Ren was giving Lacey and wondered if the idiot was actually going to lay into the girl for being the thief hed originally accused her of being. In the deepest part of his mind, he hoped Ren did do something stupid so that the girls could put him out on his ass.