Rachel, Marshal said, and I looked up at the pure delight in his voice. Id forgotten how much fun you are to be around. That was a fairy, right? Why is she making Jenks clothes?
I swallowed back a heavy sigh before it came out, wondering how this new wrinkle was going to iron out. No one could take Matalinas place, but Belle had begun to see where there was a need and did what she could. Shes keeping an eye on me, I said. Shell murder me in my sleep if she thinks Im going to betray her or her surviving family, now living with Trent.
Still laughing, Marshal set his cup down. Slowly his smile faltered as he realized I was serious. Is this them? He looked at the charms, obvious on the counter between us.
I pushed myself from the counter, feeling more space fall between us. Yup. Let me get you a finger stick. I really appreciate this.
Not a problem. Marshal took the tiny blade as I held it out, and he broke the safety seal with his thumb in a practiced motion. How is Jenks doing? I talked to Glenn yesterday, and he said his wife died. Is that why Belle is here?
The scent of redwood blossomed as Marshal massaged his finger and three drops of blood soaked into the first disk. A feeling of relief swept over me, and a slight headache I hadnt realized I was fighting began to dissipate. Id spelled the charms right, and now I had something to use to find these bastards.
Jenks is doing okay, I said. He has his ups and downs, but he smiles a lot more.
Good. Marshal looked at me, then back down at the next amulet. How about you?
Me? The shunning? I said, flustered. Okay. Its been nice not having to go to the ever-after every week. Kind of weird. The demons think Im dead, and I want to keep it that way. I shook my arm to show off my charmed silver, adding, I dont even mind that I cant do ley-line magic. But I did, if I was honest.
Marshals eyes were outraged as he straightened from over the amulets. The coven of moral and ethical standards is making you wear that?
This? No. I put this on myself. You think I liked going to the ever-after every weekend? Al would friggin kill me if he knew I was alive. If the demon hated one thing, it was being broke.
Marshals eyes became worried, and he looked back at the amulets. He invoked two more, and I started putting them in my shoulder bag, one by one.
Thanks again, I said, not liking the silence. If Marshal was silent, Marshal was thinking, and that made me uneasy. I can still do earth magic. The higher spells can tell the difference in my blood and dont invoke, is all.
He looked up as he finished the last, his expression brightening with understanding. Oh! Thats why the ones you made last year . . .
I nodded. Yes. I thought Id done them wrong . . . but its my blood.
Marshal knew I wasnt a witchhe was there the week I figured it out for myselfbut I could tell by his suddenly sick expression that he hadnt really believed it. He thought that Id taken a label to get the coven to back off. Then you really are . . .
His words faltered, and I slumped, tired beyond belief. Im a demon, I said, looking away. A demon with no demon magic. Well, thanks, I said as understanding, and even worse, pity, cascaded over him. I dont know any other witches I could have asked to do this. Isnt that stupid? I tried to laugh, but it came out wrong, and the silence afterward was worse.
The amulets were invoked, and still he stood there, four feet and an entire chasm of unspoken thought between us. No, he said softly, and I looked up, seeing his pity, his fear, and his reluctance all wrapped up in one terrible expression. Rachel, Im sorry this happened. And Im glad you got your shunning removed. I didnt like the way things ended.
Me neither, I said, backing slowly away. My stomach hurt. This was such a bad idea. I couldnt go backthis proved itbut what hurt wasnt Marshal as much as it was me grieving, letting go of the hope that I could be the person Id always thought I was. It was going to be harder now that I couldnt pretend.
Thats why I came over today, he said, but I didnt know if I believed him. Not because I wanted to start dating again or anything. I just wanted to see that you were really okay and not just surviving.
I leaned against the sink, wishing he would go away. I hadnt invited him over here to see if he was available, but now I felt even more alone. Im doing okay, I said, wishing I could say it louder.
Youre doing great! he said, but it sounded flat. I jumped when he touched my elbow, and his hand fell away. Youre doing great, he said again, softer this time. Im glad that no one is telling me I cant talk to you anymore, because you are a very special woman.
My gut hurt, and I made a fist, jamming it into my side. Thanks. Youre not so bad yourself. I was not going to cry, damn it.
You deserve good things, Marshal said, but he was still wearing that damn pitying smile. Theres someone out there for you. I really believe that.
Me, too, I lied, then swallowed the pain down where it could fester. Im glad youre doing okay, too. And thanks again. For the amulets. I was never going to call him again.
Marshal reached out and I shook my head, unable to look at him. The soft slap of his hand meeting his leg was loud. Bye, Rachel, he said, and I closed my eyes so I wouldnt cry when he leaned in and gave me a chaste kiss on the cheek.
Bye, Marshal, I said, my voice surprisingly firm, though my chest felt like it was caving in. It wasnt Marshal, it was everything else.
Ill let myself out.
Thank you, I said softly, and I looked up as he walked away. I took a deep breath, gazing at the ceiling as I shook my hair out. It was almost dry. I wasnt looking for someone to complete me, but having someone to do stuff with would be nice. And I didnt think I could even have that anymore.
I have to get out of here, I said softly, feeling the walls close in on me. If I didnt do something, Id explode in a puff of self-absorbed pity. But not with Wayde watching me. Yes, he was right that I was vulnerable without my ley-line magic. Yes, Trent was right that I was putting those I cared about at risk by not accepting my full abilities. But I was not helpless. I had survived an I.S. death threat, banshees, Weres with guns, and political witchesall without demon magic. It wouldve been an entirely different story last night if I had been prepared and had had my splat gun. Perhaps Wayde needed to know that.
I heard the front door shut, then stuffed the last of the amulets into my bag, sliding them next to my restocked splat gun. I was so out of here. Wayde still had my keys after driving me home last night, but I could take the bus to the FIB. He kept telling me he could keep me safe, but he wasnt taking this seriously if someone hed never met had come into the church and left without Wayde checking him out. The Were needed a wake-up call, and I was frustrated enough to give it to him.
Ivy? I called out, knowing she had probably been listening to the entire conversation. Im going to take the bus to the FIB. Ive got my splat gun and phone.
There was a hesitation, then through the walls came, What about Wayde?
I think hes still sleeping, I said loudly, knowing he couldnt hear us, and not caring if he did. Id been afraid to hurt him last night. The stakes hadnt been high enough, and Id been showing restraint, not cowardice. Today it would be a different story.
Again the hesitation, followed by Call me when you get there!
I felt a surge of gratitude. Ivy knew I wasnt helpless. Feeling better, I grabbed my jacket, shuffling into it while slinging my bag over my shoulder. Phone in my pocket, I strode through the back living room to the porch door. Id spent almost an entire year taking public transportation, and I knew the schedule. If I hurried, I could catch the next bus into Cincyeasy.
Catch me if you can, big boy, I thought as I scuffed my garden shoes on and opened the back door. I owed him a little grief for last night if nothing else.
Chapter Eight
Garden shoes did not make the best getaway attire, and I was leaving little clumps of dirt as I eased the door shut behind me. Exhaling, I turned, taking in the sunny but wet garden. The trees had lost most of their leaves, but the sun was warm. All the vegetation looked tired and worn, kind of like how I felt, and I tugged my jacket closer. The soft hush of a passing car disturbed the Sunday afternoon, then silence.
Some bodyguard, I said sourly, thinking he should have been on to me by now. It wasnt as if I was trying to sneak out. I was prepared for trouble and would be fine.
The church sat on an entire city block, the graveyard taking up the lions share of it. A shoulder-high stone-and-wrought-iron wall encompassed the property, helping separate the living from the dead. A low stone wall divided the mundane witches garden from the gravestones, but I used almost every inch of the place for my plants. From where I stood on the porch, I could see over it to the homes and cars on the street behind the church. There was a bus stop, too. That was where I was headed.
Arms wrapped around myself, I stomped down the wooden steps and into the witches garden. Ivys grill was covered, and the picnic table, scarred by a past curse, was soggy from last nights rain. Rex, Jenkss cat, was sitting on the knee-high stone wall where Jenks had made his new summer bachelor home. Her tail was twitching, and figuring that her tiny master was inside the wall, I gave her a wide berth. But the stupid cat stood, her back arched and her tail crooked as she minced along the top of the wall to me, and I waved for her to stay. Rex had avoided me like the plague for our first year together, but now, when I wanted her to stay, I was her favorite toy. Figures.
Stay there, you stupid cat, I whispered, then froze when I heard Jenkss voice, faint on the still air. Its a beautiful coat, Belle, I heard him plead. Im sorry. No one has ever made me anything except my mother and my wife, and I didnt know what to say when you gave it to me. Let me see it again.
No, Belle said, her lisping voice harder to distinguish above the whispering of the leaves. I have my pride. Ill give it to my brother. Oh, thats right. You killed him.