Charmed & Ready (20 page)

I wanted to hug her, but figured I'd get a punch in the gut for trying.

We made it home without incident, but the whole thing at the club made me very uneasy.

That guy wanted me to notice him. His smile had been an invitation.

To what? That's the question.

3 A. M.

Zane woke me banging on the door.

"My amulet's glowing," he screamed. It was more of a panicked scream than anything else. I checked the wards on the house with my mind, but found nothing.

Then it dawned on me. "Zoë," we both said it at the same time.

I closed my eyes and centered on the child. She sat in the middle of her bed holding Turtles the elephant tight. "I can't remember your name, I can't remember your name." She kept saying it over and over, her eyes shut with fear.

"It's okay, Zoë, it's Bronwyn, I'm here. Open your eyes. Uncle Zane is here too."

Zane was staring into my eyes so that she could see us both.

"Zoë, look around the room. Is everything okay?" I kept my voice calm.

"It wasn't real. It felt like she was there but she wasn't. She tried to get my dream." Zoë looked at Zane. "I don't know who she is, Uncle, she says she's my friend. But she doesn't feel like it."

She saw the woman again, and she shouldn't have, because I had that child protected. The only people she could dream about were her family and friends.

"Zoë, honey. I know you were so scared, and I'm proud of you for being brave. But I need you to be quiet for just a second. Look at Uncle Zane."

She did what I asked. Her big moon eyes pleaded with his. I could feel his pulse through my hand. He was frightened for her.

I gently went through her mind, rewinding her dream slightly so I could see. The vision wasn't clear. The woman's silhouette was visible through a window. But I couldn't see her face.

Damn. I brought myself out and stared at Zane. I shook my head, so he'd know that I didn't find what I looked for.

"Zoë, who is this woman you told Bron about, have you ever seen her outside of your dreams?"

The little girl shrugged. "I don't think so. She doesn't want to be mean, but she can't help it, Uncle. She wants to be a good person."

"Luv, how do you know?" He squeezed my hand so hard it hurt. I don't think he realized it, but I didn't want to break contact with him.

"She told me a long time ago. A friend, she said she's always been my friend."

I didn't know what to tell him. The woman could be real, or she could be a character from a dream.

Saying a soothing spell, I calmed Zoë down. It was morning there and time for her
to get up, but
I didn't want her starting her day afraid.

Her breathing slowed and she smiled.

"The necklace worked. I couldn't think of your name but I grabbed it and yelled for Uncle Zane in my dreams."

"How very smart of you, Poppet." He smiled back at her. "I'm so proud of you."

Her eyes lit up. "Thank you, Bronwitch."

I smiled. I'd been called lots worse. One
of the boys
in high school used to call me Bronbitch. I grew to like it, especially when my powers came in. At our senior party his pants just happened to slip around his ankles and everyone saw him for the pencil dick he was.

"You're welcome, Zoë."

Zane said a few more words, and then I checked on the guards. They were alert and standing just outside her door.

It's five A. M. in Sweet. I'm sending Sam the picture I took of me and my beautiful new hair, in an e-mail. Maybe my curly tresses and glowing skin will incite him into forgiving me.

I know it's a reach, but sometimes a girl's gotta pull out all the stops.

Friday, 2 P. M.

Malibu, California

Backup-singing witches: 1 (Just kidding)

The concert rehearsals go into full gear today. We're headed out to an airplane hangar where Zane says they've set up a stage.

"We'll go through the show just to make sure we don't have any rough spots." Zane was downstairs early this morning. Well, ten, that's early for him. He's also changed his diet. Lean protein and fruits and vegetables.

"Hanging out with you hasn't done a thing for my figure." He pointed to his incredibly slim waist. There wasn't a speck of fat on his body. I'd seen him by the pool. He was slim but had a stomach most men would kill for, and his upper arm strength was evident.

I'd never tell him any of that. His ego had enough inflation. But if he thought eating healthy helped his performance, who am I to argue?

"That's fine, as long as you don't make me eat all that healthy crap." I pointed to the bowl of fruit, which actually looked really good. There was kiwi in there. Man, I love kiwi. Didn't dare eat it in front of Mr. Healthy, though.

"I'm going for a swim in the pool. Want to join me?" He walked toward the kitchen.

"Exercise and dieting. Forget it. I'm going to scrounge up some pancakes and take a nap."

That made him laugh.

Actually, I grabbed some kiwi, and came back upstairs to get charms ready. I also had to figure out a way to protect Zane, the band and the twenty thousand people at the Staples Center a week from now. I'm powerful, but that stretches even my limits.

I e-mailed Garnout and asked if he had any ideas. And checked my phone about a dozen times to see if Sam called. If he could resist my picture I sent him last night, well, I refuse to think about it. Maybe he hasn't checked his e-mail yet.

8 P. M.

I'm exhausted. This rock star crap is tiring. But fun. As soon as we got out to the hangar, I put wards up to keep any unwanted visitors away.

Zane was all business. I honestly thought he'd be a bit of a prima donna, but he isn't. The way he treats his band, backup singers and crew with such kindness says a lot about him.

One of his singers wasn't feeling well. I sent her a healing spell, but Zane insisted she rest.

That's when the fun began.

"Bronwyn, can you help us out?" He motioned me up on the stage.

If he hadn't said my name, I would have pretended not to notice him. I climbed up the stairs in the back.

I walked up to him. "You rang, master?"

"Cute. Here, stand in between Chris and Jenny so we can get this blocked. Follow along with them. They'll show you what to do."

I held up a hand. "Wait a minute, I'm not a singer."

"Then don't sing, but stand there and move around with them so we can make sure the staging and lighting works."

"Fine." I put my hands on my hips.

Chris and Jenny were quite lovely. They showed me everything, and I'll never tell Zane, but I had the time of my life. I even hummed along to some of the tunes I knew. By the third song, I caught on to some of the hand motions and dance steps. They repeat a lot, but mix it up for each song.

Can't wait to get home and show Kira and Margie. Maybe we'll have a private karaoke night and I can teach them all I learned.

I'm worn out, though. Still not exactly going full strength yet. I wanted to practice today and use my new power, but this being California, didn't think they'd appreciate me shaking the ground on a whim.

Haven't heard from Garnout. Or Sam.

I don't understand how he can love me so much and think the worst. As bad as it may have sounded, he had to know that I would never do anything to hurt him. Well, obviously he doesn't know that or he'd answer my calls and e-mails. Relationships suck.

11 P. M.

Had a voice mail from Garnout. He's sending some spells that will help with concert security next week. I also had an e-mail from Sam.

"Bronwyn, I can't do this right now. I'm sorry. I need some time to sort things out. Everything is such a mess.—Sam"

The thing is, I'm not really sure what exactly he's needing time for, and I know that sounds insane. Does he mean what happened with Zane? Is he still trying to get over that meeting with his ex?

Oh, the phone is ringing. Maybe it's him.

4 A. M.

I just thought I was tired before. Simone called from the road.

"I'm picking you up in ten minutes, be ready."

She pulled up on her motorcycle, and I ran out to the circular drive. I'd thrown on a pair of jeans and a blue T-shirt that says
La Merde se Produit
, which is Shit Happens in French.

"Simone, you know I can't leave the house. I've got to be here for Zane." I rubbed my arms to ward off the chill in the night air.

"I don't have time to explain. Do your hocus-pocus so no one can get in the house until we come back and grab some of your mojo kit. We're going demon hunting." Her face was a mask of calm, but her voice had an edge.

I ran back in and grabbed some charms and potions and stuck them in a small bag. Knocked on Zane's door.

He was surprised to see me. "What's up, luv?"

"I'm putting some wards on the house. Don't try to go out or let anyone in until I get back. If anyone tries to pass the wards, well, it won't be pretty."

"But—" He yelled as I ran back down the hall.

Simone pushed a helmet on my head and handed me a leather jacket. We took off down the highway.

Usually trouble finds me. Unlike Simone, I seldom go looking for it.

She reached back and pushed something on my helmet. No easy feat since we were going about one hundred and ten miles an hour.

"Bron?" Her voice came into the helmet.

"Yes?"

"Sorry, forgot to click your comm button when I put the helmet on you. Look, we're going into a nest of Arnoks."

"Arnoks?" Here? Oh, my God.

"Those acid-spitting demon assholes are going to die. I thought about going in on my own, but I'd have to kill them all. I thought if you were there maybe you could get into their heads before I destroy them."

Smart girl. Acid-spitting demons were rare. There was a chance they might be connected to the one in London.

"How did you find them?"

She cackled. "Bronwyn, I'm a demon slayer. This is what I do. But to answer the question, there's been a high incidence of missing persons and pets in this neighborhood. Something's been feeding."

Yuck.

Five minutes later we were pulling up at the end of a block of ranch houses. Except for the landscaping, every house looked the same.

"We walk from here." She pulled off her helmet.

I followed her and we walked about six houses down. I thought maybe she'd be a bit stealthier. Hiding in bushes, that sort of thing, but she didn't. She stood in front of the house.

"Damn." She marched up to the front door and kicked it open. I stood in the street not sure what to do. If something came at her, I could hit it with fire or one of the stunning potions I held in my hands.

She walked in and didn't come out. So, I decided to follow. The stench, a cross between rotting eggs and dead rats, filled my senses. It almost made me gag.

I put my sleeve in front of my face and moved inside. Except for a smashed coffee table, the living room looked exactly like what you'd expect in a home like this. Sofa, television in the corner and couple of chairs.

"Don't come in here," Simone yelled from what looked like the kitchen. "Fuck."

But I was halfway there by the time she said it and I saw them.

Piles of body parts and animal carcasses lying on the kitchen floor. The blood pooled and the smell was unbearable. I had to turn around. I said a healing spell to the spirits of the dead and kindly asked them to move toward the light of the blessed world.

I could feel their energy, confusion and anger.

So could my friend Simone.

Fury burned in her eyes.

She walked past and stopped to let me finish my chant.

"Make sure you tell them they will be avenged." She growled. I understood. We would find these evil things. We would kill them.

And we would enjoy it.

Saturday, 5 P. M.

Malibu

Spells: 1

Probably ex-boyfriends who have called: 0