Charmed & Dangerous (16 page)

Tuesday, 4
A.M
.

Brussels

Perturbed witches: 1

W
oke up with a start and heard the wards protecting my room buzzing. Realized someone was standing outside the door. Ran across the room, threw it open. Nothing.

Peered down the hall but didn’t see anything. Someone had been there, I know it. Thought it might have been Wally, who I’m certain possesses the power to dissipate. The wards I had on the door were strong and no matter who might have been on the other side, no one would have made it through without experiencing a great deal of pain.

But the ringing of the wards isn’t what woke me. The presence in this room is what startled me into consciousness. In fact I’m sure it yelled, “Wake up, witch!” A strong, deep, bellowing voice.

Argh! I’m all wrinkled again because I passed out in my clothes. I’ve got to stop doing that.

I must make contact with this spirit, but I’m too tired right now. Need more sleep. And if the prime minister and Azir don’t need me, I’m turning into Detective Bronwyn. Enough with all this warlock subterfuge, I’m doing some sleuthing.

The tapestry in my room reads in Latin, “Know thy enemy.”

I damn sure will.

9
A.M
.

Sick twerps: 1

Miles the nerd came by. He had a flu bug and that’s why he missed dinner last night. The color of a swamp frog, he still didn’t look terribly healthy.

“It came on rather suddenly, right after I left your room yesterday.” The pale green of his skin gleamed ghastly with perspiration in the morning light. “I wondered if you might have some herbs or a potion to help with the nausea.”

“You should have come by last night. I’m sure I could have helped you through the worst of it.” I moved around the room gathering ingredients off of the massive mahogany desk where I worked.

“I would have tried but it hit me hard. I vomited for about an hour and then passed out. The next thing I knew it was four in the morning. I made it to your door but when I tried to knock something zapped me. I ran back to my room across the hall and passed out again.”

So it had been Miles outside the door. He must have run like a jackrabbit and I probably just missed him. I didn’t realize his room was so close.

It made sense. I couldn’t imagine why a warlock or witch would try to get past a ward. They would have felt the protection spell long before they came upon it.

Miles had been holding on to the back of the chair but moved around and collapsed into it. Didn’t want to scare him, but I feared he might be the victim of some dark magic.

“Miles, do you still have the charm I made you a few months ago?” I put the final ingredients, including chamomile and licorice, in a small glass and gave it a stir.

“I thought so, but when I looked for it this morning I couldn’t find it anywhere. In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen it since that night you fought the two warlocks in the street in Oslo.”

Gave him the potion and did a deep cleansing spell. Before he left he felt well enough to tell me that I had a meeting in twenty minutes with my charges.

Thanks for the notice, jerkwad.

Guess I’ll have to put off my plans to check out Lesha, Sphere, and Wally for now.

Oh, well.

3
P.M
.

That didn’t last long. The prime minister and Azir wanted to make sure I’m ready for their meeting this evening. We’re going into town for some bigwig get-together.

Need to check my wardrobe to make sure I have something business dressy to wear. Hope I remembered my jacket with the velvet trim.

The strangest thing happened when I came back to my room. I heard singing. A soft Irish lilt. Sounded like one of those songs my grandma used to sing when my brother and I stayed with her during the summers at the beach house on Block Island.

We’d spend hours searching for shells, staring into tide pools with magnifying glasses, and making sand castles. Every night my grandmother would fix a huge meal and let us help. Then we’d eat out on the back porch and listen to the black water hit the sand. The waves sang us to sleep each night. It’s one of the few times in my life when I can remember being at peace.

I couldn’t find the source of the singing here at the castle. I have a definite feeling it was meant for me. The sound gave me a strong sense of inner calm and made me feel comforted, even though I didn’t know I needed that kind of thing.

Curious, I cleared the room with sage and tried to meditate. Sent my mind out to the dead walking the castle and discovered a multitude of souls clustering around.

It’s more difficult to read the dead than the living. Mostly because they remember only what they want to. Flashes of light and then pictures moved through my head at an alarming rate. Then they all seemed to fade and focus on one scene.

Tiny wisps of memories trailed along, bringing pictures of a young servant lacing up her beautiful lady’s gown and brushing the elegant woman’s hair into an upsweep of shining blonde curls. I could smell lavender and roses.

A man, with a formal tuxedo coat, the one I’d had in my hand, bowed gallantly. He reached for the elegant woman and guided her to the ballroom. I may have been projecting, but he looked so much like Sam it was eerie.

They danced, twirling in circles. The glow from candles lighting the room blurred into a golden haze.

Then the man stood over her grave, the grief weighing heavy lines on his face. She had been a witch, but her potions couldn’t save her from the disease that wracked her body. His despair tore through my body.

He placed the jacket over the mound of dirt and walked away. His sobs echoed through the forest.

Another flash of light and he was laying the jacket on my shoulders as I slept. Someone came to my door and he turned an angry face to it. Protecting me. He wanted me to know he was there.

He needs my help. Something holds him here and he can’t move on the way he should.

Dark magic, the same kind that’s been causing me to feel confused and so tired. That’s what’s kept him here, along with many of the other souls.

I never did find the source of the beautiful Irish soprano.

But before I can get to the bottom of that, I have some testy warlocks to hunt down. Darn, phone’s ringing.

5
P.M
.

Sam called.

“How’s everything going?” He tried so hard to sound casual that I knew something was up.

“Good, but this place is weird.” I stared out at the snowy mountains and shivered. “I keep having déjà vu. There’s a lot of ghosts in the castle and I think some of them are watching me.”

“It’s not like you to be afraid of some spirits.” I realized he didn’t sound upset, so much as distracted.

“I’m not afraid. They’re trying to tell me something, and I’m not getting it. I’m good at making people dead, but not so much at conversing with the spirit world.”

“Is there someone you can call to help?” I heard him slam a file drawer.

Something wasn’t right.

“Yes, I’ve asked a friend of mine in New York for some info. Sam, what’s wrong? And don’t say nothing. I know when your voice gets like that, something’s up.”

He sighed. “It’s not really anything that concerns you, just my own little drama to play out.”

If it didn’t concern me, I had no business prying. But I’m not one to give up easily. “Maybe if you talk to me about it—”

“It’s not a big deal, just sort of hit me out of the blue.” I heard the papers rustle on his desk.

I sat on the bed and waited in silence.

“Bronwyn? Are you there?”

“Yes. Just tell me what’s going on.”

“It’s not like ghosts are watching me or anything as dramatic as that.”

“Okay, now you’re making fun of me.”

“No, no. I’m sorry. Look, it’s my ex-fiancée. I told you about her. Well, she just called and wanted to make sure that I’ll attend her wedding next month.”

“Oh.” What the hell was I supposed to say? What kind of woman would invite an ex, one she cheated on, to her wedding?

Did Sam still love her? That would be even worse.

He cleared his throat. “I can hear your brain clicking. Don’t go there, Bron. I don’t have feelings for her. Well, not like that anyway. But going to her wedding? Why would she even imagine that’s something I would want to do? Murder her, yes. Decapitate, perhaps. But attending her nuptials is last on my list.”

I’d never seen this darker side of Sam. It was kind of sexy. “Maybe she thinks you guys are friends.” Weak, but I didn’t know why either. Bad form if you ask me.

“I think the friendship part of our relationship ended when I found her in bed with my supposed best buddies.”

“Is that who she is marrying? One of your former best friends?”

“No, neither of us have seen those guys since that night. Well, as far as I know. The man she’s marrying works at the hospital where my father is building the new wing. He’s a neurosurgeon. She’s terribly happy and wants to share it with everyone she cares about.”

“Sounds more to me like she wants to shove it in your face, which hardly seems fair since she’s the one who betrayed you. Far as I’m concerned, you have every right to be upset. I’d just forget the whole thing.” The room grew cold again and I jumped up to stick the poker in the fire.

Glanced around to see if any specters might be hanging out. Sensed a presence close, but didn’t see a thing.

“Well, that would be the easy thing to do. Unfortunately, my parents are involved. They think I should do a bygones kind of thing.”

“Yuck.”

“That’s the smartest thing I’ve heard today. Yuck. Why do relationships have to be so difficult?”

Something told me we weren’t talking about his ex anymore. I wanted to mention that I was a proponent of the sex-only kind of couplings, but I knew he didn’t want to hear that.

Stretched my arms above my head with the phone crooked in my shoulder. The movement helped release some of the tension in my muscles. “Um, I don’t know. If I did, I’d write a book and be the next Dr. Phil. I could go on national television and tell everyone how to get along with their chosen mates.”

He laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound.

Checked my watch and grimaced. I had to get down to another meeting with the prime minister and sheik.

“Sam, I’ve got to run. Can we talk about this later?”

“Sure, sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, I’m just late for a meeting.”

“With the sheik?”

Uh-oh, here we go. “Um, he’ll be there but it’s primarily with the PM.”

He blew out a breath. “I’m trying, Bron. It’s hard when someone you love is halfway around the world with another man.”

He so loves me. And yes, I kind of like the jealousy thing.

“Well, take care of yourself and I hope you find out who’s haunting you.”

“You do the same, and hopefully I’ll have an answer soon. These spirits aren’t bad, but they need help. I’m just not sure I’m the right person for the job.”

We rang off and I changed into my suit with the velvet trim for the meeting.

Couldn’t believe Sam had almost married that bitch. He deserved so much better. Maybe I should throw some bad mojo her way. Nothing awful, just a big zit for her wedding day. Right on top of that perfect nose. Well, I’ve never seen her, but I’m sure she’s pretty if she was engaged to Sam. Or a third eye in the middle of her forehead.

But was I any kinder? Didn’t I pit him against the sheik in some way? The man loved me and I couldn’t even say the words back to him.

I remembered that kiss in the corner of the dining room that last night in Sweet, and wondered what would happen if I really gave in to my feelings for him. I liked that he’d made my legs tremble, and that his hands held me so tight I couldn’t breathe.

Would it be so bad to spend my life with a man who made me feel that way?

Checked my face in the mirror and saw the flush from the memory glazing my cheeks. Oh, well, no need for blush today.

Tuesday, 11
P.M
.

Brussels

Worried witches: 1

T
his castle is so frigid, but these days I never know if it’s ghosts or the drafty stone walls.

Still haven’t heard from Garnout. He doesn’t answer at the store or at home. Now I’m worried about him. I tried to locate him with my mind, but didn’t connect. That doesn’t necessarily mean anything. He’s a wizard and often blocks all incoming probes without really thinking about it. But I’d sure feel better if I could find him.

The meetings with the PM and Azir were more eventful than I could have ever imagined. We had to go into town to this old but elegant hotel where the summit took place.

About fifty men and women had gathered in a large ballroom filled with tables and telephones. Golden chandeliers with beautiful crystals hung from the ceilings. The one in the middle was so huge that it lit a majority of the room.

The walls were trimmed in gold. Anywhere in America it might seem over the top, but here in Brussels it gave an old European vibe that was comforting in a way.

Translators sat in the back of the room and those participants who didn’t speak French and English, the two languages used during the conference, wore headphones.

Azir and the PM asked me to sit in and read the group of dignitaries. Feelings were mixed over the topics at hand.

I noticed the room shifted to a more positive note when Azir approached the need for more worldwide funding for the human rights activists. This group appreciated the work he’d done over the last couple of years.

The PM nodded to me.

“He has them on his side,” I whispered.

He smiled. “That’s good. He’s going to need as much help as he can get later this evening. Watch the room turn when the subject of the energy crisis comes into play.”

A few hours later the prime minister’s prediction came true. A diplomat from Sweden talked about the depletion of fossil fuels, and a general feeling of ill will permeated the room.

These people believed that the oil-rich countries were responsible for the current shortage and were draining the smaller countries financially.

As far out as Azir’s ideas concerning solar power might seem at first, I knew this particular group would be amenable to his research. That is, if they could open their minds.

I mentioned it to him on the way back to the castle on the mountain.

“They want a new way of solving energy crises,” I told him and the prime minister. “I’m sure they’d at least listen to your ideas.”

“The prime minister and I have discussed this, and we may take a stronger approach to the subject in tomorrow’s meetings.” Azir smiled and touched my knee. “Your understanding how the room felt gave us the incentive we need to push forward.”

From the look in his eyes, I wondered if that was the only reason. On the trip to the hotel, Azir had found every opportunity he could to touch me. I wondered if he somehow knew I’d been talking to Sam.

The big problem was that I liked it when he put his hands on me.

“By introducing this idea to these men and women and gaining their support, we feel we can strengthen our momentum as we discuss it with other countries,” the PM added, oblivious to Azir’s blatant flirting. He also didn’t notice the energy that whipped around the inside of the limo like lightning.

After ignoring me for days, Azir had done a total change in attitude. He wanted me, and he didn’t hide it at all.

I couldn’t help staring into his eyes and I tapped into his mind.

I know you can hear me, Bronwyn. And yes, I want you.

Okay, well, no bones about that. The blush rose on my cheeks.

He laughed, and the PM looked at him like he was insane.

“What’s so funny, Azir?” The PM glanced around the limo trying to see the joke.

“Not so much funny as exciting.” Azir gave me one more sensuous glance and turned to the PM. “We have a great opportunity to take advantage of a situation that could propel us into a whole new adventure.”

Talk about listening between the lines. So he wanted to take advantage.

I’m not at all sure how I feel about that. I don’t like the idea, but I have to talk with him. In a sane and totally calm manner. He has to know that a relationship with me, no matter how damn sexy he might be, isn’t in the cards. I care about Sam, and every moment I am away from him makes me ache.

Closed my eyes and leaned back against the cool leather of the seat. I closed my mind against Azir’s and tried to think of a way to let one of the most powerful men in the world know I was in love with another man.

Ahhhhhh!

Wednesday, 1
A.M
.

Creeped-out witches: 1

In my line of business I see a lot of whacked things, but tonight is a new one for the top of the crazy list.

I’d been in bed for about an hour when someone knocked on the door and then yelped. After last night, I’d supercharged the wards on the door to act like an electric fence.

Opened it and found the sheik on the other side shaking his burned hand. He had a strange glazed look, not the I-want-your-body stare from the limo, but the I’ve-checked-out-and-don’t-know-where-I-am look.

“Sheik Azir?” I touched his arm and he cocked his head.

“Yes?”

“Um, Sheik, would you like to come in?”

He walked on stiff legs, almost as if he’d forgotten how to use them, and then stumbled into the chair next to my bed.

“Is everything all right? Have you been drugged?” I touched his chin and lifted it to check his eyes. Maybe he’d walked here in his sleep, but he definitely wasn’t coherent.

“Bronwyn?”

“Yes, I’m here.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” What the hell was he talking about?

“Azir, you’ve known me for months now.”

“Silly girl, I’m not this beautiful specimen of a man. I’m Darby O’Hurley, and I’ve come for a visit.”

Now it was my turn. “Who?”

Then it dawned on me: the sheik’s overly pronounced, haughty tone had been replaced by a soft Irish lilt.

“Your ancestor, Darby O’Hurley.” The sheik crossed his legs in a feminine motion. A deep contrast to the usual powerful moves of the sultan of sexy. It made me laugh.

“Surely you’ve heard of me?” If it was a game, he’d gone all out.

Darby? Oh, my God! Could this be for real? A two-hundred-year-old ghost had taken over the sheik’s body.

“Are you the Darby who left Dublin in search of adventure and never returned? The powerful witch, who had no match in the world of magic?” I scratched my head. No way.

“Yes, yes, that would be me. The witch who failed her mother and her country, and could never return to the shame she had caused.”

I’d heard the stories a million times from my mother and grandmother, but no one ever mentioned failing a country or anything about shame. The stories about Darby had been about a witch so powerful that she had few foes, and she had used that power to save Ireland from countless warlocks. She was the first in the family to be born a high witch.

“I don’t understand. I know the stories but never heard anything about you being a traitor to your country.”

“No, a traitor I wasn’t—but I betrayed my homeland just the same. For I broke my promise to my countrymen to protect them from evil.” The sheik’s eyes were downcast.

“I chose love and in the end disappointed a nation I truly honored. Ah, but I have no time to dwell on the past. I can only borrow your lover here for a few more minutes.”

I wondered what she meant about choosing love over her power. My mother had done the same. There was no shame in it.

Then it occurred to me that she thought the sheik and I were a couple. “Oh, he’s not my lover.”

Those brown eyes looked up and the right eyebrow rose. “You are mistaken, young lady. His heart beats only for you, and I couldn’t have taken him over had it not been filled with love for you.”

The sheik loved me? No friggin’ way.

“You may not know of his love, but it is strong within him. Can you not tell by the way he looks at you?”

“Lust maybe, but it has nothing to do with love.”

“You are wrong. But as I said before, I have no time to dwell. I’ve a message for you. The darkness is close, and he is set on destroying you.”

“What darkness? He?”

Darby looked confused.

“There are two warlocks at the castle. Could it be one of them?” I couldn’t decipher what she was trying to say.

“Only one wishes you harm. I’ve tried to protect you from his spells of enchantment. Your magic is quite strong but you can’t see him for what he really is.” She took a deep breath.

“Can you tell me if it’s Sphere or Wallace?” I sat down on the bed.

“I know not these names of which you speak. Sir William Blackstock is the evil you should fear. I fought him two centuries ago, and he has become more powerful since that time.

“But you, dear, you must prepare. He’s stronger than anyone you’ve ever faced. I know not where he dwells—he hides himself well—but he’s close. Ohhh…” Her voice sounded strained.

“What’s wrong?”

“I must go, but know, dear witch, I am with you.” Her hand rose to rest on my cheek. It felt odd to see the sheik make such an intimate and feminine gesture. “And tell my beloved Lance to come to me as soon as possible.”

“Who is Lance?”

“The jacket…” Her voice faded. “Blackstock’s final blow was to make certain we could not be together in eternity. Send him on his way, young Bronwyn, so that I can be with my true one.”

The sheik’s chin hit his chest so fast I worried he might get whiplash.

“Sheik Azir?”

His head lifted and he ran a shaky hand through his hair. Eyes opening slowly, he asked, “Where am I?”

“You’re in my room.”

“I don’t remember.” He focused on me and shook his head as if to clear the cobwebs away.

“What do you remember?” I didn’t want to tell him that he’d been possessed by a ghost. That freaks people out sometimes and it can take them years to get over it. I watched as he tried to think about the events that had transpired.

“I was working on a paper at my desk and felt tired. I put my head down for a moment…now I’m here.”

“My guess is a sleepwalking incident.” Well, it was sort of true. He hadn’t been conscious when he made his way to my room.

“You may be right, but I’ve never done this before.”

“It happens when people are under a lot of stress. You’ve only been here for a few minutes.”

“Did I say anything?” The worry frowns across his forehead told me he wanted to make sure he hadn’t revealed anything intimate in his altered state.

“No, you seemed confused and had to sit down.” The frown disappeared and his shoulders sagged with relief.

“My apologizes for disturbing you at such a late hour.” He rose and steadied himself with the chair. “I’ll lock myself in this time, so it won’t happen again.”

“No worries. But the lock isn’t a bad idea; it could keep the bad guys at bay long enough for the wards to work.”

He wanted to say more to me, but he was too embarrassed by the situation. Opening the door, he turned to me.

“You’re certain I didn’t say anything?”

Well, technically Darby had done all the talking so it wasn’t a lie when I told him, “No.”

He walked down the hallway to his room. I sat back on the bed and blew out a breath.

The sheik really was in love with me.

Huh.