Stained (20 page)

Sé pulled the blankets up around them. “Then sleep with me. Let me hold you tonight and we’ll face things in the morning.” He kissed her gently and snuggled her into him. Thorn closed her eyes and slept, until a loud banging on the door woke her up.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Elements of the sun, elements of the day, come this way, powers of night and day,
I summon thee, I call upon thee, to protect me. So shall it be.

Thorn felt Sé roll toward the bedside table and come up with his gun. He put his boxers on and went into a side stance, narrowing the profile of his body as he made his way to the door. Thorn immediately sent her senses out, trying to grasp what might be there. It wasn’t Caleb. She didn’t sense him or anything evil. The wards were in place. They wouldn’t let anything malevolent through easily. She glanced at the clock and saw it was seven in the morning. She hadn’t been up that early even with Uncle staying with her. She listened intently as Sé opened the door.

“Scettico, what the hell? Couldn’t you call or page me?”

“I have been. You haven’t answered.”

“Ahh,” Sé expelled his breath sharply. He groaned and turned his back on his partner. “I think I left them in the bathroom last night when I took a shower. Long story.”

“Yeah, I can see. There’s a raven in your kitchen, O’Bradigen,” Scettico said, smirking.

“That’s part of the long story,” Sé said. “You got a problem with it?”

“Nope, to each their own. I wouldn’t have tagged that shit with ten condoms on, though.”

The next thing Thorn heard was a loud smack and something banging into the wall.

“Jesus Christ, O’Bradigen. Why the hell did you punch me?” Thorn started laughing.

“Don’t ever talk about Thorn that way again. Do you hear me?”

“Calm down, Sé,” Scettico groaned. “It’s cool, you’re hot for her. I get it.”

“You’re a pig, Scettico. What do you want?”

“Well, besides the fact that you left me hanging with a double homicide yesterday, the Captain is looking for you.”

“I was at the scene of a demolition zone at Stained. It’s connected to our murders, by the way.”

“Well, how would I know that? You haven’t filed any reports or reported in to tell anyone.”

“I’ll be down there soon. Let me grab a shower and then I’ll check in.”

“Gotcha.” Thorn heard the door shut and Sé walking back to the bedroom.

“Sorry about that Neanderthal. I better get in the shower and check in. Are you going to be okay? I’ve have an extra key for you and the security code for you in the kitchen,” Sé said as he sat on the bed next to Thorn. He brushed her hair from her forehead. Thorn wondered if Agent Simms had ever had possession of the key. She could find out easily enough, not now, she needed all her energy focused in one direction.

“I’ll be fine. I’m going to check on Uncle and I need to take Raven out for a run and to eat.”

“Care to join me in the shower,” Sé said with a boyish grin.

Thorn swung her legs out of the bed and Sé took her in his arms, kissing her slowly.

“Thorn, you just might kill me, but it will be a good way to go.” Thorn smiled, grabbed his hand and led him into the bathroom. She turned the shower on very hot and climbed in. Soon she was covered in water and soap and Sé.

After a very satisfactory shower, Sé and Thorn got dressed and Sé made them breakfast.

“Noisy here,” Raven said. Sé laughed loudly. Thorn walked over and scratched Raven behind the eyes. The bird stretched his wings out impressively and bent into the scratch. “Love magick good, witchling,” Raven said.

“I know, Raven, it makes me strong. I can feel magick pulsing through me.”

“Wards stronger,” Raven said.

“Really? That’s cool,” Sé said. “Will they get stronger every time we have sex?”

“Yesth.”

“Thorn, let’s make this place impenetrable.”

Thorn laughed and Sé swung her up in a hug. Raven seemed to be disgusted by it all and turned his back to them. Thorn was going to have to buy him a proper perch and some new shiny toys to keep him from being bored. There was no time today, though.

Sé and Thorn cleaned up together. They set out in the sharp October air. The sun shone bright but the temperature was about forty degrees. Leaves blew across the sidewalk and with the wind came the smell of fall. Sé kissed Thorn and then left for work, and Thorn and Raven left to feed Raven.

Thorn took Raven out for a run on her bike. He hadn’t been able to stretch his wings and he was getting restless. Thorn revved her bike and cranked the engine as she vented some of her own discomfort. The vibrations from the motor resonated through her, like her fear and frustration. Just as Raven started to get impatient, she let the bike go and they sailed down the street and made for the hills. She planned to go to Tilden Park. Raven needed a good work out and she needed to think. Taking the switchback turns fast on her bike, she wasn’t paying attention to traffic except to weave when she could keep her speed. Soon she was parking near Lake Anza. She got off the bike to walk around and Raven commenced scouting for castoffs and carrion. She played back some of the more pleasurable moments from last night, smiling. Then she thought of Uncle Charles lying in the hospital and her anger roared back. She skipped the flat shore rocks across the smooth water. She heard another bike coming in the distance, but she was deep in thought about everything that was happening.

The bike got closer and pulled up about fifty yards behind her bike and stopped. She turned around quickly but not quick enough. Caleb sent a disarming spell at her that stunned her and knocked her to the ground. She recovered instantly. Much faster than Caleb expected. Thorn said a spell of protection around herself just as Caleb sent a retrieval spell at her. It bounced off. Meanwhile, Raven bombed him from the sky and attacked his face. Thorn gathered her power around her and sent a binding spell at Caleb. She missed and he laughed. She sent a stinging spell at him and hit him. He howled in rage and pain. He threw a foul-smelling spell at her, she didn’t recognize it. It disabled her protection bubble, now she was scared. Oh Goddess. She thought of Sé. She sent another binding spell at Caleb and this time it hit him. He could do no more magick. She took a moment to catch her breath and looked up at Caleb. She saw that her spell was starting to unravel.

“See, little sister, not so easy to keep big brother down, is it?”

“You’re no brother of mine,” Thorn spit out.

Caleb’s face contorted in anger. “Not for long at least.” He got on his bike, her spell still holding but weak. He sped off.

“Didn’t see that coming. We should have.”

“I know. I just didn’t expect him to attack so soon. I don’t think he was trying to kill me just now. I think he was playing with me.”

“I think you’re right. He was much too easy to subdue. We need to study, witchling. Study hard.”

“I know, Raven. Have you eaten? Go and we’ll go back home. We will see Uncle and then we study.” Raven flew off again. When he was done, they headed back to Sé’s.

She paid close attention to her surroundings as she made her way down the hills. Once back at Sé’s, she put her stay-away spell on her bike, and she and Raven headed to the elevator. Then she reinforced the spells surrounding the house. The love magick was still making them strong. She got Raven situated and then went to her backpack to find her phone.

First she called the hospital to check on Uncle Charles. She was told he was doing well. All his vitals were good and he had been resting comfortably. They had even gotten him up and walking already this morning. It was clear from the call that he had spread his charm to the nursing staff. Thorn felt better. She left a message that she would see him soon. Next, she called the number of Sé’s cell phone. He’d given it to her that morning. He answered on the second ring.

“Thorn,” he said, in his whiskey voice. It sent a shiver through her.

“Sé, Caleb surprised me in Tilden when I took Raven out. I’m okay, I think he just wanted to play with me.” Sé was silent.

“Are you home?” he said. “I’m coming there.”

“Not necessary. I’ve handled it and now I’m going to visit Uncle and then sequester myself and study.”

“I’m still coming over. I’ll meet you after you see your Uncle. I’ll bring lunch. I know this Vietnamese restaurant that is very conscientious about how they prepare their food. Good enough for the health inspector to patronize.”

Thorn sighed and then relented. It wasn’t that hard to do. “Fine, but be careful.”

“Always.”

“Raven, I’m afraid you’re going to have to stay here. I’m going to visit Uncle and they don’t allow birds in the hospital.”

“Say hi to the old bird for me,” Raven said.

“I will my, friend, and thank you for having my back this morning.”

“Alwaysth.”

Thorn got her bike and made the short trip to Alta Bates Hospital. She parked in the parking garage, putting a stay-away spell on it, and made the quick walk across the street into the hospital. She found her way to Uncle Charles’s room on the first try. The faint odors of the hospital followed her on the way. She knew she had to get him back into the fresh Irish air as soon as possible.

Thorn knocked gently on his door.

“Ach! What is it now?”

“It’s me, Uncle. I’ve come to visit you,” Thorn said, brightly, as she peeked inside the door.

“Oh, my dearest, you are a welcome sight!” Uncle said, as he put down his newspaper.

“How are you feeling today?” Thorn took his hand in hers. “I heard they had you up and walking already. And you’ve already got them eating out of your hand.”

Uncle raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. “In self-defense, I assure you.”

“Uh-huh, tell me more about this walking around you did.”

“Yes, it’s to keep everything working properly. Damn painful if you ask me. But I did it. Doing everything they ask me so I can get out of jail as soon as possible.” He smoothed down his blanket. His face was still pale and there were dark circles under his eyes. He still had the IV’s in and an oxygen tube under his nose, though he wasn’t using it.

“You look tired still, Uncle.” She kissed his forehead and he closed his eyes and sighed.

“A little. It’ll take more than being blasted by your brother to keep me down though,” he said, pursing his lips. “What are you planning to do about him?”

“After I leave here I am going to start studying. Sé and I moved all my books to his house. I need to stop on my way back there and get some herbs and candles but then I should be ready to do some practicing.”

“Good. Have you thought more about asking for Muirin’s help?” He turned his head and gave her a sharp look. Thorn turned away and ran her fingers through her hair and began to pace. “She would want it. You are just being bull-headed, you know,” Uncle said.

“I’m going to ask her, Uncle. I’m also going to ask another person for some help, too,” she admitted.

“Good, good.”

He was starting to get sleepy now.

“Uncle, I’m going to go so you can rest. I love you.”

“As I love you.” She kissed his cheek and left quietly. She heard his soft snore before she was out of the room.

Thorn stopped at a shop that sold botanicals, candles and some of her the other supplies she needed. The owner was a Wiccan but catered to a wide clientele. Her shop was nestled in between a famous bath and body shop and a comic store. The outside was painted purple and there was a Help Wanted sign in the window. Herbs hung from the doorway and a mirror hung on the wall across from the door. The whole interior smelled of herbs and beeswax. Thorn liked the soy candles that the store stocked and their herbs were fresh and wild-crafted when available. She picked up some rain water, lavender plants, and oil, lemon oil, sage, rosemary and wormwood. She didn’t know if Sé had salt, so she picked up some salt too. Then she got as many candles as she could carry in her bag on her bike.

The woman at the register was wearing a long flowing dress and had a small braid in a piece of her hair around her face. She wasn’t wearing any makeup and the laugh lines around her face gave Thorn a good feeling about her store.

“Will that be all for you? We have a special on Tarot cards this week. Twenty percent off,” the woman said.

“No, thank you.”

Thorn wanted to hurry and she didn’t feel like making idle chitchat. The woman’s friendly manner never faltered as she rang up the sale. After she paid for her purchases, she made her way back to Sé’s.

Before Thorn could work in Sé’s condo, she needed to cleanse it. She took the lemon oil and added a few drops to an empty squirt bottle and then added some lavender oil to the same bottle. She filled it up with spring water and began to spray it throughout the apartment, cleansing it thoroughly. Then she took her sage and smudged the apartment, making sure she got all the corners, chanting a spell of peace and protection. When she was done she could feel a difference in the air. The good energy fed her magick.

Thorn pulled her grimoires down off the shelf Sé had cleared and spread out a fine Irish woolen cloth across the floor. She set the grimoires upon the cloth, she said a cleansing spell, and lit candles. When she was done, Sé had arrived with lunch. The smell reminded her that she needed to refuel. She broke her circle and blew out her candles before meeting him at the table. They kissed when they met in the middle of the room.