The Girl and The Raven (7 page)

A blonde man rushes over to me. “Are you okay?”

Several more people appear and hover over me.

“Let me through!” A man in a navy suit with salt and pepper hair elbows his way through the small crowd. He kneels beside me, his eyes wide as he yanks at his tie. “Are you okay? Is anything broken?”

“What the hell?” The blonde man yells at him. “Don’t you watch where you’re going? She had the walk sign! You blew the damn light!”

I push myself off the ground, gritting my teeth against the pain radiating from my tailbone. Several horns blare at once—we’re holding up traffic. Everyone is talking at once and I can’t make out what any one person is saying.

“Do you need an ambulance?” the blonde man asks. I flinch as he touches my arm.

“No…I’m fine,” I say, but he’s already turned away to debate with two others what actually happened.

The driver of the death mobile leans in close. “I’m so sorry about this. What’s your name?”

I frown, taking a step back from him. “Lucy Walker. What’s yours?”

His eyes bulge and chords stand out on his neck. I wonder if he’s going into shock. “W…what?” He chokes. “I’m sorry. My name is Pierce Douglas. Here.” He pulls a business card from his wallet and hands it to me. His hand is trembling. Why’s he so rattled? I’m the one who was nearly run over. I shove his card into my purse.

Mr. Douglas glances from his car to the stoplight, scratching his cheek. He turns back to me, his expression clouded. “Lucy, are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital? I will take you.
Please
let me take you.”

“No, thank you. I have a meeting with an attorney that I need to get to.”

“Attorney?” Mr. Douglas’ voice raises an octave. “You’re getting an attorney involved? I asked if you needed to go to the hospital. I can take you. I’ll pay for it.”

“What?” I’m unable to hear him over the angry horns. “You really need to get your car out of the street.”

He turns from me, moving quickly to his car and climbs inside.

I go to check my map, but it’s no longer in my hand. I search the street for my scrap of paper. It’s gone. Panic starts to bubble inside of me as I try to figure out which way to go. I force myself to take a deep breath and calm down. I was walking east when Mr. Douglas almost hit me. The building should only be a block or two away.

I leave the crowd. The pain in my tailbone makes it impossible to rush. I confirm with a woman at the corner which way is east and continue on my way. Two blocks more, through people and cars and a broken sidewalk which I tripped on jolting my tailbone again, and I have just about decided to turn back when I see the tall glass building Sheldon described just ahead on my right.

Ten minutes later I enter the law firm’s office on the twelfth floor. Harris, Klein and Tortorich is spelled out in large silver block letters high on the wall. The reception area is fancy with glass tables and expensive artwork. Attorneys move past me purposefully. I’m the only teenager here and I feel totally out of place.

After giving my name to the woman behind the desk, I walk over to the floor to ceiling windows and look out over Chicago’s famous skyline and further out, Lake Michigan. It’s an incredible view full of skyscrapers. Just last week Sheldon told me Chicago has the tallest skyline in the nation and the third tallest building in the world. All at once I feel dizzy. I turn away from the window just in time to see Henry Klein, decked out in a dark gray suit and an emerald green tie, approaching me.

“Lucy!” He takes my hands in his, a huge smile on his face. “It’s wonderful to see you again.”

Mr. Klein. Gram’s friend and a fellow witch, according to Persephone.

“It’s good to see you, too.” His reddish-blonde hair is heavily flecked with gray. Mr. Klein’s green eyes shine brightly behind his delicate gold-framed glasses. He isn’t particularly tall, but has broad shoulders. I’ve always found it strange how quick and soundless he moves.

“We’ll make this fast.” He winks at me over his shoulder. I limp after him through a maze of hallways.

His office is large with files and piles of paper everywhere. The only items not covered with paper are the telephone and computer. I stare wide-eyed at the artwork on his walls. Cats. The wild kind. Four different framed prints: a snow leopard, a panther, a lion and a white tiger. I’ve never been a fan of art, but these are nothing like the boring Norman Rockwell scenes and the gaudy collectable plates my neighbors back in Lexington bought on late night TV.

“Stunning aren’t they?” I hear the pride in Mr. Klein’s voice.

“They’re amazing!” Not at all what I expected to see in an attorney’s office. Is it a witch thing? Persephone has a pet raven. So did Gram. Maybe Mr. Klein has a pet…lion?

Ella’s annoying voice in my head reminds me to hurry. I turn my attention back to Mr. Klein.

He gestures to the two chairs across from his desk and I sit down. Mr. Klein takes a seat behind his desk and grabs a thin cream-colored file. He is about to open it, but changes his mind and sets it down. “I’d like you to tell me about the incident last night.”

So I do. He watches intently as I speak, his green eyes studying me as he absorbs every detail. “Marcus, Persephone and Aiden know—or at least have an idea—who was in my room last night. Do you?”

He leans forward in his chair, his voice calm—the exact opposite of Persephone—yet full of warning. “It was a demon, which you already know. Let us find out who and then we’ll let you know. Fair enough?”

“Yes.” I’m still freaked out that that someone—particularly a demon—broke into my bedroom. “Um…Mr. Klein?”

“Please, call me Henry.”

“Henry.” I clear my throat. My hands twist in my lap. “Do you know a lot of demons?”

“None that are close, personal friends. No.” He chuckles.

I stare at him blankly.

“Sorry,” he says. This time he clears his throat. “I know of several in the Midwest.”

Several?
My skin starts to crawl. I feel dizzy again.

Mr. Klein…Henry…fixes me with an intense stare. “You need to listen to Persephone. Whatever she tells you to do, you must do. Is that understood?”

Another person telling me what to do, yet keeping me in the dark. I nod reluctantly.

“You need to pay attention, be mindful of…everything. Even the small things.” His gentle voice rings with authority. “If anything out of the ordinary occurs, you must tell Persephone, Aiden or Marcus immediately. You will have my card, so feel free to call or text me any time as well. However, one of them should be your first contact, given they live upstairs.” Henry removes his glasses and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Lucy, a demon broke into your room. He was after something. This is serious, and I’m trusting you to treat it as such.”

“I will.” I don’t realize my hands are clenched into fists until I feel the pain of fingernails cutting into my palms.

“Here’s the legal stuff in a nutshell.” Henry puts his glasses back on and flips open the file. “As you know, Sheldon and Bernard have been appointed as your legal guardians. What you may not know is your grandmother established a trust for your benefit. The primary purpose of the trust is to pay for your high school and college education.”

Henry sees the look of confusion on my face and smiles.

“Private high school is expensive.”

I recall Ella’s comment at the mall and wonder if Gram’s trust can afford St. Aquinas.

“Oh,” I say dully, stuck on the fact that there are several demons in the area. 

“You are allowed to request distributions from the trust in case of emergency.” I push away the unnerving thoughts and instead focus on Henry. As he explains the terms of the trust, I glance at the wall behind his desk, covered with diplomas, awards and photos, all in nice wooden frames.

“I plan to get a job. I’ll be sixteen soon,” I tell him when he finishes. “I’m not looking for handouts.”

“That’s responsible of you.” He rises from his chair. “Just make sure school is your top priority. Your grades over the next three years will determine what college you’ll get into.”

I nod. I’ve taken too long. Ella and Caroline are going to kill me.

“Lucy, your grandmother wanted you to have a good life, to be happy.” His green eyes narrow as the light comes through the window, bouncing off the metal blinds and illuminating his face. For a moment his gaze matches that of the white tiger on his wall. “But her goal was always to keep you safe. Now that she’s gone…”

“I know…I know…if anything unusual or scary happens, I’ll let Persephone, Marcus or Aiden know right away.” I don’t mean to sound disrespectful, but I get the message. Besides, Ella’s a more immediate threat to my wellbeing.

Henry hands me a business card, which I stuff in my purse. Then he takes my hand in both of his. “Call me if you need anything.”

“I will. Thanks.”

I try to pull my hand away, but he’s got a tight grip as he stares into my eyes. Is he trying to put a spell on me?

“I…I have to go.” I tug again. He lets go.

As I leave the building, I pause to figure out which way will take me back to Clark Street.

“Lucy?”

I jump and look over my shoulder. Mr. Douglas stands at the curb next to his car. It looks expensive, something I hadn’t noticed when it nearly took out my legs.

“Mr. Douglas?” I look at him suspiciously. “What are you doing here?”

“I want to make sure you’re okay.” He nods at the building I just exited. “How did it go with your attorney?”

“Fine. Why?”

“Did you tell him about our little incident? Am I going to get a call from him?”

I shake my head and wonder if he banged his head on the steering wheel earlier. “You didn’t hit me. You know that, don’t you?” 

“I feel terrible. I still don’t understand how it happened. One minute the street was clear and the light was green and then you were there. It doesn’t make sense.” He stares off.

“I’m sorry, but I have to meet my friends and I’m late.” At the rate I’m going Katie, Cloe and Suzie are going to be mad at me, too. Then it hits me. “I’m not going to sue you if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Thank you.” He smiles sadly and takes a step toward me. “I really do feel bad that I almost ran you over. You seem like a nice girl.” He opens his mouth to speak, then closes it. He shakes his head. I’m beginning to think he’s a little cuckoo. “Do you have any experience taking care of children?”

I wasn’t expecting
that
. “What?”

“Have you ever considered being a nanny?”

“Mr. Douglas…” 

“I’m in a bit of a jam and want to offer you a job.”

“As your nanny? But you don’t even know me.” The sudden change of subject throws me.

“My wife and I would need to interview you further, of course, but I can tell you’re a good person.” He smiles and shoves his hands into the pockets. “We have two children and our nanny is moving back to Poland unexpectedly.”

“Your nanny’s from Poland?” I regret the question immediately. I sound like a dumb hick. “Why is she leaving?” Maybe his kids are rich, spoiled brats and chased her off.

“She has a family matter to attend to back home.” He coughs into his hand and averts his gaze.

I’d never met anyone from Poland before and no one I knew could afford a fancy babysitter. Besides…why does Mr. Douglas want a complete stranger to watch his kids? My spider senses start to tingle.

“If you’re serious, you’ll have to come by my house and talk this over with my uncles.” I shuffle to the right, hinting that I need to go.

“I’m sorry. You look old enough to work. I would have thought you were old enough to make your own decisions.” He pulls out another business card and scribbles on the backside. “Here is my home number and my wife’s cell. You can call her and talk this through with her.”

I refuse the card. “I’m sorry. I don’t know you and without my uncles meeting you first, forget it.”

“Very well, then,” he says through clenched teeth.

“Should I call you after I talk to them?”

He runs his fingers through his hair again as he squints at me. “Call me tonight. I’ll be at the office late.”

“Okay.” I wave and then pause mid-step. “Mr. Douglas? Can you point me in the direction of Clark Street?”

He points to the left. “That way.”

As soon as the light changes, I half-run half-limp all the way to Caroline’s car, despite my throbbing tailbone. Sure enough, Ella gives me an earful. I decide to keep quiet about the accident and share the details with Katie later. As a peace offering, I buy everyone a soda from a nearby drug store before we head to the beach.

* * * *

By the time we get there, the beach is crowded. Ella shoots a nasty glare in my direction as we search for a spot. I try to keep up, but I can’t move as fast as the rest of the group.

Cloe slows down to walk with Katie and me. “You’ll get used to her.”

“Who, Ella?” I grimace as I struggle to walk normally. “I doubt that.”

“She’s used to being the center of attention and now you’ve come along, the new girl. She feels threatened.” Cloe smiles. “You’re getting to her and I, for one, love it.”