Children of Poseidon: Rann (11 page)

“But what about Maya?” Jewel asked. “Won’t she . . .?”

Rann laughed. “Maya’s not scared of Damnam. When Lykos and Lila rescued her, she told us he was hot.”

“Really?” Jewel’s mouth twitched in amusement.

“Really. She didn’t tell you?”

“She went on about him a bit. I don’t think she used the word ‘hot’ though.”

“She was yanking Lykos’s chain.” Rann laughed again as he remembered.

“Do you think she’ll be okay?” Jewel’s face had returned to its worried kitten expression.

“She’ll be fine. She’s got you for a sister.”

Jewel stared at him then buried her face in her hands. “Oh God.” She looked up again. “This day’s gone on too long. I’m going to bed.” She eyed Rann then looked at the opposite sofa. “Do you want my bed?”

“Only if you’re in it.” He allowed his lips to curve into a smile.

Jewel flushed. “You’re bigger than me. The sofa isn’t long enough.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“I insist.” She jumped up, hands on hips. “Tomorrow we’ll sort something out, but tonight, I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

Rann shrugged. The sofa looked pretty comfortable, at least for someone of Jewel’s size. He’d have a problem fitting on it, but then he was a foot taller than her. “Okay. Let’s get you a duvet.”

He watched Jewel fussing in the bedroom, sorting out something to wear, and then opening a wooden chest to pull out a duvet. She’d always been an organised little thing. She hooked the duvet over one arm and picked up a couple of pillows. He followed her back out to the sitting room where she dropped the duvet onto the sofa and looked at him sideways. “Aren’t you tired?”

“I’m the son of a god. I don’t get tired.”

“Lucky you.” Jewel’s voice had an unusual note of sarcasm in it, and her eyes were weary.

She’d had a horrible day, and Rann itched to comfort her. She wasn’t going to be receptive in her present mood, though. “I’ll say goodnight then.” He touched her shoulder. She glanced at him again as he pulled her round to face him.

“What—”

He pulled her against his body and kissed her. A real kiss this time. Blue eyes widened as he lowered his head, giving her the appearance of a Siamese cat. Tense against him, her hands stiffened against his chest, but then she sighed and slid them to his shoulders. He rubbed his mouth softly across Jewel’s, and as she relaxed, he opened his lips and tasted her sweetness. She sucked his tongue into her mouth. His hand slid under the cropped sweater and caressed the warm skin of her back. She closed her eyes and moved against him restlessly, and he pulled his head back slightly and nipped her lower lip, before rubbing his face against hers and stepping back.

“What was that about?” She grasped his arm as her breath steadied. “I said no kissing.” Her tired eyes were huge and slumberous, but she moved to put a little more space between them. “I told you I wasn’t interested in becoming one of your playmates.” Her voice rose.

He raised his hand to stroke her cheek. “That was goodnight.” He forced himself to release her.

Once in his room, he took a deep breath and wandered over to look out the window, which faced out into the row of small back gardens. Nothing moved in the darkness, except for the shadowy shape of an urban fox. He stared out, regaining his balance. He hadn’t wanted to leave Jewel, and if she’d been anyone else, he might have tried to persuade her into a night of pleasure. It had been over a year since he’d taken a lover, and that wasn’t normal for him. Strange that he hadn’t considered it much, but Jewel had stirred his senses in a way he’d almost forgotten.

He stretched out on the bed and thought.

Should I give up my casual ways and try fidelity?
He had to be sure. Jewel wouldn’t take any less.

Chapter 12

Jewel woke from shallow sleep as Maya came into the room and flung back the curtains. She blinked and squinted against the light before memories of the previous night swamped her. Her spirits sank. She pulled the duvet over her head.

“Here.” Maya’s footsteps approached from the direction of the kitchen.

Jewel peered out from the corner of the duvet. Maya carried a couple of mugs of coffee in one hand. She put one down on the table next to Jewel.

Pushing the duvet away, Jewel wriggled into a sitting position. She kept a cautious eye on Maya, unable to read her mood. The coffee had to be a good sign. Picking it up, she took a sip, closing her eyes as she imagined the caffeine hitting her bloodstream.

“What are you doing on the sofa?” Maya sat down on the opposite one, pulling her yellow silk robe over her knees and balancing her mug.

“I gave Rann my bed,” Jewel told her. “He’s far too big to sleep out here.”

“We’re going to have to sort out sleeping arrangements if he’s planning to stay for a while.” Maya sipped her own coffee, and Jewel wondered if she should bring up the subject they were both avoiding.

“I think he is.” He’d given the impression that he’d stay until the seawitch mystery was sorted at least. She cast another sidelong glance at Maya.

Maya slammed her mug down on the coffee table, sloshing liquid over the sides. “Will you stop looking at me as though you expect me to start tossing death spells about?”

“I’m not,” Jewel protested. “I was only wondering—”

“Well don’t.” Maya leaned forward, elbows on her knees. “Kara’s behaviour isn’t your fault. I still can’t believe she’d have done a thing like that. That was twenty-seven years ago.” She wrinkled her forehead. “She was sane then.”

“So says you.” Jewel had her doubts.

“Well, no one had a clue otherwise, but there must have been something going on.”

“I think she’s always known exactly what she’s doing.” Distance had given her a much clearer view of her mother. Kara viewed other people as fodder for her single-minded determination to shape the world into her plan. A word existed for people like her.
Sociopath.
Jewel doubted she would have been treated much better even if she’d been the ultra-powerful witch child her mother had wanted.

“I’m going to go and talk to her.” Maya frowned. “She’d better have a good story. If not, I’ll teach her who the most powerful witch in the coven is. As soon as I’ve had another cup of coffee.”

“Maya, you shouldn’t—”

“What?”

“I think you should be careful. Don’t just walk in and confront her.”

“You’re telling me I should let her get away with cursing my father and maybe murdering him?” Maya’s careful voice suggested she was not as calm as she looked. Her amber eyes had deepened almost to gold, and her fiery ringlets almost bristled with temper.

“Of course not. But I think you should wait.”

“Wait?” Maya sounded disbelieving. “I’m not going to wait. Why should I?”

“So you can think about exactly what you want to say. Make sure she can’t wriggle out of answering. Or rustle up a packet of lies.” Jewel couldn’t see any sign that Maya agreed. “And I told Rann last night I’d wait a day or two before going back to see my mother. I thought it was probably a good idea. Let things settle a bit.”

Maya’s generous mouth settled into a thin line. “I’m not waiting. I want to know what happened. And I want to know now.”

“Maya . . .” Jewel didn’t know what she was going to say, but fortunately, the door opened and Rann walked in. She had no confidence that anything she said would have stopped Maya from doing exactly as she wanted.

“Lykos just called back.” He rested one hand on the back of Jewel’s sofa. “He and Lila are in Glasgow. They’re going to get the first flight down here.”

Jewel gave a sigh of relief. Lila would sort Maya out. “That’s good. When do you think they’ll get here?”

“They’ll call just before they board.”

Jewel’s skin warmed as she remembered his kiss. He wore his familiar faded jeans but hadn’t bothered to dress properly. His chest and feet were bare. Jewel, after a quick glance at the expanse of muscular chest, stared at his feet.

“I think you should at least wait for Lila.” She returned to her conversation with Maya.

Maya scowled.

After what appeared to be a quick assessment of the situation, Rann spoke to her. “Any chance of coffee?”

Maya grunted and pushed herself off the sofa. She disappeared into the kitchen in a swirl of yellow silk, and Jewel took the opportunity to whisper her plans to Rann.

Maya came back in with a mug in her hand, passing it to Rann before sitting down again with a stubborn scowl on her face. She didn’t look at all persuadable. “I know you were talking about me. I don’t care what you think. I have to know what Kara did. It’s about my father. It’s my duty.”

Rann sat down on the sofa. Jewel pulled her feet up to make space for him.

He patted them absently. “I think you should wait until Lila’s here. Fergal was her father as well.”

Maya’s face froze as though she hadn’t thought of that.

“She might not take it well if you do anything without speaking to her first.”

“Lila doesn’t make all the decisions.” Maya’s sulky expression made her look like the teenager she’d once been. She sounded cross, but the note of determination had gone from her voice.

Thank goodness.
Even if Rann managed to stop her, it wouldn’t have led to improved relations between the three of them.

“I’ll wait.” Maya sounded as though she’d granted them a huge favour.

“Did you tell Maya about the private investigators?” Rann nudged Jewel through the duvet.

“Not yet. I’ve barely woken up.”

“What about a private investigator?” Maya looked from Rann to Jewel.

“I called Annis last night,” Rann said. “She and Connor are coming round at ten.”

Maya opened her mouth, but Rann cut her off. “You remember them?”

Maya nodded.

“I wanted them to take a look at the seawitch, but I told them about Fergal, and they said they would look into his disappearance as well.”

“At ten? It’s nearly nine now.” Jewel pushed the duvet off and dragged her fingers through her new fringe, thrusting it out of her eyes. “I’m going to have a shower.” She pulled her nightdress down over her thighs and headed for the bathroom. Rann could tell Maya about the plan, while she dressed.

When she came back into the sitting room, the duvet had disappeared and a fully dressed Maya stood by the window, looking out. Her hands dug into the back pockets of her jeans, and her back pokered with tension. She didn’t turn round at Jewel’s approach. “Rann’s gone to get some pastries from down the road. I’ll make fresh coffee when everyone arrives.”

“How are you?”

“Furious.” Maya kept her voice expressionless. “Either Kara lied to you, messed with your head, or she’s responsible for my father going missing.”

“I’m sorry.” Apologies were completely inadequate, but Jewel didn’t know what else to say.

Maya spun round, eyes still gold with emotion. “It’s not your fault. So will you stop saying sorry.”

“Sorry.” Jewel giggled nervously.

Maya stalked back to the sofa.

“Really.” Jewel sat opposite her. “I’d completely understand if you never wanted to speak to me again.”

“Don’t be stupid.” Maya sounded a bit more like herself. “You can’t help having a mother like that. And I allowed her to mentor me all through my magic training. Even though I never liked her much and I know she was horrible to you.”

“She did say you should have been her daughter,” Jewel said. “Frequently.”

“Right.” Maya rolled her eyes. “She’d have been sorry. She’ll be sorry anyway.” Her voice held menace. “I want to make her sorry now.”

Jewel shivered.

Although Maya kept it hidden most of the time, she had a wide streak of the ruthlessness that characterised the most powerful witches. She was a good friend, a good person to have on your side. She would make a bad enemy.

“If Fergal was your father, then we’re half-sisters.” The menace had leached away from her voice.

“I suppose.” Jewel had thought of that, but it hadn’t seemed tactful to bring it up. “We don’t look anything alike though.”

“No.” Maya sounded thoughtful. “But you look a bit like Lila. I’d never thought of it before, but you’ve got her build and bone structure. She always said I looked like our mother, while she took after our father.”

“Did Lila ring yet?” Jewel asked. “Do we know what time they’ll get here?”

“Sometime about eleven. They called just after you’d gone to shower. They must have gotten a flight pretty quickly.”

“Are you all right with waiting a day or so to confront Kara?” Jewel asked. Maya did seem to have calmed, but she didn’t want to take anything for granted.

“I’ll have to be.” Maya pointed a finger at Jewel. “Don’t think I don’t know that Rann would stop me if I tried to go now.”

“He doesn’t want you taking risks.”

“I’m better than Kara now.” Maya’s voice rang with confidence. And a note of arrogance. “I could outspell her any day.”

“But there’s Alberic as well,” Jewel pointed out. “And he’s got power and talent. We just don’t know how much.”

“I’m not afraid of Albert.” Maya scowled.

“No. But if you have to take him on, you don’t want the embarrassment of being defeated because you’ve been reckless. And if he and Kara joined their power, you don’t know what the result would be.”

“I don’t think I’d live long enough to be embarrassed.” Maya’s mouth stretched into a smile that resembled the snarl of a pit bull. “Albert strikes me as the all-or-nothing type. We’ll just have to see if his all is enough.” She sounded eager for a fight. Maya had always run head first into confrontations. Lila and Jewel were probably the only people she bothered being tactful with.

Rann arrived back at Maya’s flat at the same time as the investigators. A motorbike slowed down as it approached him, and he waited while the rider parked it neatly at the side of the road. His passenger dismounted and pulled off her helmet. She fluffed up her flattened mahogany hair and held out her hand. Rann juggled his bag of pastries and took it.

“Annis,” she said. “And I remember you well.” She turned to her companion who took off his own helmet and opened his top box. He held out his hand for Annis’s helmet and stowed both away before focussing on Rann.

“Rann. Good to see you again.” He smiled, but his gray eyes were cool and wary.

Rann nodded. Werewolves had a tendency to view the rest of the world with suspicion. It probably gave Connor an advantage in his line of work. “Come on up.”

Connor took the patisserie bag without being asked, as Rann took out his key.

“We’ll talk about things when everyone can hear.”

“Did you speak to Lila?” Annis asked.

“Yes. She and Lykos are on their way down. They set out as soon as they got my message.” Rann pushed the door open and held it for her to pass. “She’s quite keen to find out what happened to her father as well.”

Jewel and Maya were deep in conversation, heads close together. They looked serious and intense, but fairly peaceable. He hoped Maya had been persuaded that it would be wise to wait before confronting Kara. No one led a coven for as long as Kara without developing a deep vein of cunning as well as a strong sense of self-preservation, and while Maya probably outclassed her in spellcasting, Rann was pretty sure that Kara would have taken that into consideration.

He turned to the investigators. “Annis, Connor, you remember Maya don’t you?”

Both of them nodded.

“Good to see you again,” Connor said.

Maya grinned. “I remember you. You howled like a banshee in that cage. I’ve never heard anything like it, since.”

Connor shrugged.

“And this is Jewel.”

Jewel stood up and held out her hand. Annis shook it, while Connor inclined his head in acknowledgement.

“I’ll bring coffee through,” Maya said. “We thought this might take a while. Do you want to have a look at Seawitch, while I’m making it?” She glanced at Rann. “She’s still in my bedroom.”

Rann led the two guests through to view the seawitch. She sat on the daybed in the window of Maya’s room, staring straight ahead. He almost thought he saw expression in her eyes again.

“I’ve never seen a seawitch before.” Annis watched as her partner knelt in front of the statue-like figure.

“As far as I know, no one has,” Rann said.

Connor moved his head forward as though he wanted to sniff her. His nostrils flared.

“How do you know that’s what she is?” Annis asked.

“My mother found her. That’s what she said.” Rann gave her the details of the circumstances whereby he’d acquired the seawitch. “She remembers better than I do what they were. She had more to do with them.”

“And she’s been used as a familiar?” Annis watched her partner’s movements as he circled the still figure, his mouth slightly open. He breathed short huffy breaths through his nostrils.

“That’s what we think,” Rann told her. “A vessel for some fairly unpleasant magic.”

Connor rose gracefully to his feet, and Annis glanced at him. “What do you think?”

“I think she’s still in there. I can smell the stench of death magic.” He wrinkled his nose in disgust. “But underneath that, there’s her scent. Faint, but definitely there. If she’d been expelled from her body, it would just reek of black magic. It doesn’t.”

Rann relaxed, relieved that Connor had confirmed his opinion. There was awareness there. It made it much less likely that he’d have to kill her. “Come on. Let’s go back to the others. You can tell them what you think.”