Endless Magic (Stella Mayweather Series Book 6) (14 page)

I now had three talismans in my possession, some fresh air in my lungs, and a spring in my step as I searched The Amethyst for Étoile. I was so ready to tell her the good news. But instead of finding her, I found a cross-looking Clare. She informed me Étoile was booked in meetings all evening and didn't want to be disturbed. Ignoring that, I threw her a telepathic message, telling her of my latest acquisition. Moments later, I received an
Excellent!
from her in return, along with a warm, fuzzy feeling. At least, someone was happy with me. I hoped that wouldn’t change when Matthias filled her in on the details later. With a shudder, I shrugged off my ominous concern. I was fine, and now I had the third talisman, bringing me closer to the mission’s objective.

During my mission, my phone vibrated with a text message, only for me to forget about it. Now it vibrated again and this time, I checked. Both messages were from Evan, telling me to meet him for practise. Tucking the pendant safely into my pocket, I quickly tapped out a message, saying I was on my way. I didn't need to add I was pleased to hear from him.

I took the stairs up, exiting on the eighteenth floor, and my thoughts turned to the other two remaining talismans. Finding the vampire pendant had taken a bizarre path. It wasn't owing to my research or connections. How did the old vampire know exactly what I wanted? How could I find the other two?

The magical ball of energy surging towards me as I exited to the stairwell knocked the curiosity clean out of me. I dropped to the floor, rolled, and jarred my shoulder against the architrave as I summoned a protection bubble to surround me, and deflect the energy. It bounced off my shield, doubled in size and rebounded, aiming straight for me. Hitting the shield a millisecond before I thrust a blast of energy at it, I shoved it back with enough force for it to hit the wall at the far end of the corridor. Pushing myself onto one knee, I dropped and rolled out of its path before it ricocheted back into me. The energy refused to dissipate, I realised. It was using my own power against me, feeding off the magic I produced to deflect it. I had to get inside it, in order to disrupt and eliminate it.

It hovered briefly, twisting and growing in the air. Gathering my magic, I pulled it toward me, feeling it tickle my palms as I readied it. The energy ball shot back to me. Instead of giving it something to feed from, this time, I sent a sliver of magic directly into the center of it, like a shard of glass slicing through a vortex, searching for the epicentre. There it was, a fizzling mass of a spell. Once I had it, I held it so that the ball couldn't move. I picked at it, pulling apart the strands of spell holding it together. It was self-powering, and deadly. Someone concocted this thing to kill me! Fury bubbled in my chest as I recognised my name. Someone wired this spell to specifically target me. Shredding it would be a pleasure. I barely saw it combust as my eyes glazed over while I focused on eradicating the spell.

A slow clap dragged me back to reality.

"You did this?" I yelled, waving at the air as my protection shield evaporated.

Evan, standing at the end of the corridor where the magic was destroyed, nodded.

"What the hell for?"

"This was your lesson."

"You spelled it to kill me?"

"I didn't spell it. Seren did."

I breathed heavily, still afraid of what could have happened if I hadn't thrown up my shields on instinct before tackling how to unpick the spell. "Tell her she's off my Christmas card list too. There was no failsafe in that spell. What if I hadn't unpicked it? What if I couldn’t work out what that piece of magic was doing?"

"You did work it out."

"What if I hadn't?"

Evan folded his arms and fixed me with an annoyed look. "Are you going to ask the enemy that when we're in combat with them?"

"I..." I sputtered to a stop, feeling stupid. Of course, I wouldn't do that. How dumb did he think I was? But this was different. I knew The Brotherhood would try to kill me. They'd already tried and failed. I was ready to fight them. But I wasn't ready to fight my friends.

"It was a test, Stella. We can't stand in a room and practise. I told you that. This isn't Hogwarts, Harry. This is real and dangerous and you need to think on your feet, just like you did then."

"I've never even seen a spell like that," I said, rubbing my shoulder. It didn't feel dislocated, but I definitely expected to get a bruise. Maybe one on my knee too.

"Then consider this an excellent lesson." Evan clapped his hands together and smiled. "Guess what's scheduled on your next lesson?"

I rolled my eyes. "Don't taunt me. I need some ice for this." I tapped my shoulder. "I banged it against the door frame."

"Here. Let me see." Evan stepped closer, tugging my top to one side. "I don't see anything."

"It's throbbing."

"I have some salve in my room. It'll be better than ice. C'mon."

"Fine, but only because you owe me, and I'm cold already without the ice."

"How come... you've been out, haven't you?" Evan stopped, grabbing the arm that didn't hurt. His eyes smoldered with worry and something else, something far more intense. "Why didn't you tell me you were leaving the building? You know how dangerous it is. What were you thinking?"

"I had protection."

"Who? Why didn't you ask me to come with you?"

"It wasn't something you could have helped with."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Evan paused at the elevator, jabbing the down button. "You know what I am."

I pondered the wisdom of turning up at a vampire meeting with a daemon in tow. I was pretty sure it wouldn't have been received very well. "That's pretty much why you couldn't have helped," I told him.

"Are you going to tell me or not?"

We stepped inside the elevator, and I flashed a brief look at the small camera blinking red in one corner, probably monitoring my every move. Clearly, they hadn't thought ahead to send someone to help me a few minutes ago. "I will, just not now."

Evan glanced upwards with the slightest movement of his eyes, then nodded shallowly. "Fine. Let's get that shoulder looked at." We rode the elevator in silence, stepping out into a quiet corridor on the residential floor. It took some nerve not to look left and right to see who else might be observing us, but Evan slipped an arm around my waist, guiding me to his room. He only let go long enough to slide his key-card through the door lock. "Take a seat. I have it in the bathroom."

"What does it do anyway?" I called after him as he stepped into the room.

"It's like one of those muscle rubs humans use for minor strains, only a hundred times better. You won't bruise at all after this. Take off your sweater."

"I hope you're right. It really aches," I said as I eased my sweater awkwardly over my head. I poked at my reddened skin, wincing.
Doorframe, one. Me, zero.

Evan returned with a clear tub filled with something blue, that smelled curiously of nothing as he unscrewed the lid. He ran his fingertips over my shoulder, tracing the developing bruise. I held perfectly still, willing myself not to shiver at his tingling touch. He slipped two fingers under the strap of my top, tugging it to one side. He lingered for a moment too long as I turned my head, looking up at him. His eyes glinted purple before fading to their familiar dark irises. "Hold still," he said, looking away as he lifted his fingers. Moments later, the cool salve hit my skin and I shivered. I watched him rub a thin layer of the blue mixture into my skin.

"What is that stuff?"

"I have no idea. I buy it from a witch in Washington. There is nothing in this world or the next that would compel her to reveal the secret ingredients."

"Nothing?"

"Not a thing."

I wondered what he offered her as I tried to temper the jealous pang that streaked through me. I hoped she was eighty and toothless, which instantly made me feel mean. "Why do you trust her?"

"Because the stuff works. You'll see. Now tell me about your trip."

"I went to see a vampire."

"Why the hell would you do that?"

"I told you, I had protection."

"Who?" I hesitated and Evan's eyes narrowed. "Matthias?" he guessed. "I should have known. I couldn't think of any other vampire you would trust. I assume Étoile knows about it?"

"Yes, sort of." I hadn't exactly asked her permission.

"Why did you go?"

"You remember that horologican we got from my house?"

"Hmmm... I don't know. It was so long ago. Let's see..." Evan paused, tapping his chin and pretending to look thoughtful.

"Okay, fine, sorry. The horologican told me to ask the vampire for their talisman. It was right." I fished the pendant from my pocket. "He loaned it to me."

"Loaned?"

"Just a loan. I'll return it when I'm done. I have the horologican, the talisman itself, and a pendant. I just need to find the other two. The prophecy says a superwitch needs them to defeat The Brotherhood. I'm looking for the talismans to find her... or him," I said, quickly filling him in on what else I knew.

"What if you find them for nothing? What if there's no superwitch?"

"That's why you're training me."

"Some backup plan." Evan sighed. I waited for him to finish applying the salve before he screwed on the top. "You won't need a dressing, but don't put your sweater back on in case the salve stains."

"I don't want to leave blue on anything I touch. I'm freezing and it looks like a Smurf melted on my shoulder."

"Hold on." Evan moved away, walking into the bathroom. I heard the water running and then shutting off. Footsteps moved around and then he was back, holding a robe in his hand. "Take your top off and put this on before we tackle your other problem."

"My knee?"

"That too, but I meant the talisman problem."

I stood, considering how I could pull my tank top over my shoulder without smearing the salve. Glancing at Evan, I had to wonder if I were supposed to be all blasé about pulling it off in front of him, or act coy by turning my back. Sure, he'd seen me naked, but not for a long time; and I wasn't sure about stripping down to my bra. I bit my lip, wondering what to do.

"I'll help," said Evan and I had to keep my jaw from dropping open. But instead of the thought that just ran through my head, he gently turned me around. His fingers grazed my hips as he caught the hem of the fabric, easing it up, brushing past my bra straps, then over my head.

"I know you can magic my clothes off," I said, remembering a particularly fun day when he played with his magic.

His lips were next to my ear as he whispered, "You could have asked."

Before I could regain my breath and reply, he slipped the robe around my shoulder. "How do you feel?"

Hot. Bothered. Confused. Excited. "Fine," I squeaked.

"Good. Sit down. Let me check your knee."

"I have my jeans on."

"You want me to do the magic thing?"

Another squeak caught in my throat at the thought of him magicking my jeans off. "I can manage," I gulped, sitting and wriggling out of my jeans. Trying not to wince at the stab of pain I pushed my knees together as Evan bent to look.

"Your knee looks fine. I can put salve on, but I don't think it'll bruise even if I don't use any salve."

"I think it'll be fine too," I said, looking down at it. There was the tiniest scrape above my kneecap and I immediately felt foolish, like I made a big fuss about nothing. It didn't even break the skin. A yawn climbed up my throat, building until I had to clamp a hand over my mouth. "Sorry," I gasped through the second yawn. "Long day. Lots happened."

"Put your feet up," said Evan, placing a hand behind my knees, and lifting my legs onto the bed. "Let’s put the TV on and chill out. We can talk later."

"No, I'm fine." I stifled another yawn. "You said something about my other problem."

Evan made a noise of acknowledgment as he moved around the bed, grabbing the remote control from the desk before approaching from the other side. He toed off his shoes, dropping onto the bed, and plumped the pillows behind his head before he crossed his legs. I couldn't help smiling at the picture we made.

"Long time since we've done this," I said.

"Shame."

I yawned again. "I could go to sleep."

"Want me to magic you back to your room?"

Another yawn had my eyes drooping. "Nope. I need to ask you about the demon talisman."

"About that..."

"Is this salve making me sleepy?" I mumbled as radiant heat spread from my shoulder through my torso. "I feel so warm. What about my problem?"

"I think I can help you."

"You can find the talisman?"

"Yes."

I yawned again, reaching for his hand. Sure, I wanted the talisman, but I really wanted to sleep. Warmth and comfort drifted over me. The feel of Evan's hand in mine was so familiar, and so welcome. I missed it. I missed him. He didn't seem angry anymore, and that was good. "Tomorrow. Let's save the world tomorrow," I whispered as my eyes finally closed.