I looked up at the silence. Ivy had her arms over her middle as she stood with the counter between us. Jenks is right. It wouldnt hurt you to sit this one out.
Frowning, I jabbed my finger with a finger stick, massaging three drops of blood onto one of the finished amulets. Trying not to look like I was, I breathed deep for the telltale scent of redwood, but there was nothing. It just smelled like wet wood. Damn it, either Id done them wrong or my blood was too far from the witch norm to invoke it.
In a pique of bad temper, I threw the now-contaminated charm into my salt vat, sending a splash of water up to spot the cabinets. Id have to ask someone else to invoke the rest.
Jenks landed close, his expression as worried as Ivys. Glenn wont mind handling this on his own.
Im not sitting this out, I said dully, wiping the tiny spot of blood from my finger into nothing. The I.S. will pin it on me if the FIB doesnt catch them.
No they wont, Jenks whined, but hed seen the bag with my hair in it, too.
Its a demonic crime, I said, head down. Im a demon. Perfect fit. Why blame a hate group they dont want to admit is still active when they can blame me? I looked up, seeing Ivy frowning. No offense to Glenn, but the FIB cant bring in a magic-using human or HAPA without help, and the I.S. would rather have me take the blame than admit HAPA even exists.
True, Ivy said, Glenns muted conversation sounding loud from the other room.
I can find them without much risk, I said, looking down for something to do. If theyd really wanted me, they wouldve taken me already. I think theyre scared. I brought my head up and gestured flamboyantly in the air. Look who theyve snatched. Teenagers, a businessman, and some college kid. None of them had a lick of real magic.
Yeah, but your magic sucks right now, Jenks said, glancing at the vat of dissolution saltwater, and Ivy frowned at him to shut up. From the living room, Glenns voice continued.
I moved the empty potion bowl into the sink and closed my eyes. If I didnt find these jokers, they were going to keep killing innocents by twisting them into that goat thing. Is that what Al really is?
Rachel?
My eyes opened, and I remembered Algaliarept sitting at a table, his skin almost black and a fuzz of red fur on him as he tried to remember what he used to look like.
I took a deep breath and let it out. The worry in Ivys and Jenkss eyes shook me, and I forced myself to smile. Yeah, I mean, yes, I said softly. Im okay. We have to find them. Fast. Ill be careful in the meantime. Its time for Wayde to earn his keep.
You got that right. Jenks dropped down to the finished amulets, easily handling a wooden-nickel-size disk of wood and stacking it on the next. Who you going to get to invoke these little babies?
I turned my back on them as I untied my apron and hung it up. I dont know. Maybe walkie-talkie man has a witch for a secretary. Neither one of them said anything, but Ivy was frowning when I turned back. I didnt trust the undead vampire, either. Now that Keasley is gone, the only witch I know who isnt in jail, dead, or on the West Coast is Marshal. You want me to call him?
Not really, she said softly, then shifted to make room for Glenn, coming back in. He was smiling, but it wasnt a happy expression.
Ill have an answer for you about the medical records in an hour, he said, taking a slice of pizza and dropping it on his plate. Whatd I miss?
Jenkss wings clattered. Rache overcompensating for you two lovebirds cooing in the corner by going through her little black book.
My brow furrowed. I am not! I said, and Glenn and Ivy put space between themselves without a word. Im not trusting the I.S. to invoke them. Marshal is the only witch I know well enough to ask to do this for me, I said as I moved the dirty spelling equipment to the sink. You could have these invoked before the next shift, or you can wait until the I.S. gets around to it. Whats your choice, Glenn? I wasnt looking to rekindle anything between Marshal and me. But now that I wasnt shunned, it was a real possibility.
Even as the idea appeared, I dismissed it. Id been in trouble, and Marshal had left. I didnt blame him. Dating a shunned witch would get you shunned in turn. Id told him I had control of the situation. Hed believed me. I hadnt and things had gone wrong. He had left. No hard feelings on either side. But to go back now? No. I didnt blame him, but he had left.
Jenks hovered before me as I rinsed out the pot, a devilish smile on his sharply angular features. The chrysalis that Al had given me last New Years lay behind him on the sill, safe under an overturned brandy sifter. Methinks she doth protest too much, he said, and I threatened to squirt him.
Knock it off, I said as I dunked the rinsed pot in the dissolution vat to get rid of any lingering charm. Im good with Ivy dating Glenn, biting Glenn, whatever with Glenn.
And Daryl? the pixy needled me. You good with Daryl, Rache?
I stiffened, and from behind me, Ivy said, Wheres the glue? And your cat, Jenks?