The Naughty List (10 page)

“Losing The Book is worse than murder. The lives of millions of humans and Integrals are affected. The punishment is to strip your powers and never see the light of day again…” His voice trailed off.

David’s eyes narrowed. “You know something else. What happened?”

“David, I…” Billy took a deep breath. “Your dad was arrested and thrown in prison.”

The E.L.F. looked as if he had been punched in the gut. “They couldn’t. He did nothing.”

“Dominic’s doing,” Billy spit back. “Sticking to the letter of the law is his right, of course. Administering the code falls under his jurisdiction.”

“What code?” Rosalie demanded.

“Integral law, dating from the old times when clan wars were the norm. Heads of families are responsible for the actions of their members.”

“That’s crazy!” Rosalie blurted out. “You can’t punish one person for t K pe actions ohe crime of another.”

“Ancient justice is hardly ever used, but still legal.”

David paled. “What about my mom?”

“She’s safe for now, since humans don’t fall under Integral law. Aunt Sadhri’s with her in case anyone gets any ideas. No one will get past a shiva with her temper on.”

“The punishment is not justice,” Rosalie sputtered in anger. “The real thief is still free. You should talk to this Dominic person…or do something…or…or…something. Well, what are you both gawking at? You have powers. Use them to…to…”

“Do what?” David prodded gently.

“I don’t know, but something. It’s not right. It’s not fair—”

Amusement flickered over Billy’s face. “Is she always like this?”

“Yup. That’s my Rosalie.”

His Rosalie.
She stared at him in anguish. “David, don’t give up.”

“There’s nothing left to do. If I stay, other hellhounds will come and they won’t worry about pushing anyone out of the way to get to me.” He turned to Billy. “Your car?” The hellhound motioned to a late model sports car at the far side of the lot. “Give Rosalie your keys. You can come back later. I know manacles are proper procedure for transporting a prisoner, but I’ll dash-away us back to New York. I swear I’ll put them on as soon as we’re at headquarters.”

“You don’t need to say anything else, man,” the hellhound interrupted brusquely, fishing out the keys. “You’re word is good enough. Rosalie, leave the car at the airport with the key under the mat. I’ll return when I can.”

Rosalie stared numbly at the keys in her hand, all the while feeling like the ground slipped away under her feet. David was leaving. She’d never see him again. Everything happened so quickly. She had to stop him. She had to make him see he needed to stay. “David,” her voice broke, “you can’t…The Book is here…we need to find it…I need…I need…” What was it she needed?
I need magic in my life, David. Don’t go.

He touched her cheek. Warmth flooded through her. “Despite, your over-fondness for yelling and pepper spray,” he te
ased, “you’re right at the top of the Nice List. I wish we’d met before.”

“David, I—”

“Close your eyes,” he whispered.

Rosalie did as requested. She felt a soft kiss on her lips followed by a rush of air. Her eyes opened. David and Billy were gone.

Chapter Six

The young men materialized on a New York sidewalk in front of a nondescript high-rise office building.

Billy raised an eyebrow. “Pepper spray?”

David grinned. “She has some attitude.” He glanced around to take in the sights and smells of the city one last time. “Billy, keep an eye on Rosalie for me. She had nothing to do with any of this, but you know how her actions might look to others.”

Billy clapped a hand on his shoulder. “I will. I swear.”

David straightened up. He refused to face the wardens cowering or begging for mercy. He held out his wrists. Without a word, Billy slapped on the manacles. David betrayed only a slight grimace as the burning pain ripped through him. Together they walked inside.

Once David set foot over the threshold of Integral headquarters, word spread quickly. By the time he and Billy arrived in the great hall, all the w Nfailu teased, ardens were seated around the massive table. The official procedure was no more than a formality.

Dominic rose from his seat. “The prisoner will step forward.”

“Does the E.L.F. offer anything in his defense before sentence is passed?” asked the Odin.

David pulled himself up. “No. I accept the judgment of the wardens. As I turned myself in, I ask for the release of my father.”

The Baal’s face was impassive. “You didn’t turn yourself in, you were hunted. The prisoner has no right to request anything.”

David glared at him. “My father did nothing wrong! You can’t punish him—”

“Legally, I can. The prisoner will remain silent for the reading of the judgment.” He unrolled a scroll. “The offenses are clear. The accused held sole responsibility for safe keeping of The Book. The Book vanished from the repository. No evidence of the location surfaced. By ancient law the penalty is imprisonment for the remainder of the offender’s life. Due to the severity of the crime, the penalty will also be imposed upon the head of clan, the Santa.”

A low murmur rippled through the spectators. Not everyone agreed with the Baal’s decision.

“No!” shouted David. He threw himself toward Dominic. The Baal grabbed his wrist. At the first touch, searing pain raced out from the manacles bringing David to his knees.

The Baal flinched and let go, rubbing his stinging palm. He loomed over the E.L.F. “Don’t blame me for your incompetence. You brought this on your family.”

David gritted his teeth against the pain. “How does punishing my father help any of us?”

“The law is the law.”

“Enough,” the Odin thundered. “Judgment is passed. The prisoner will be escorted immediately to his cell until such time as The Book is recovered. At that point, the judgment for both the prisoner and the Santa will be revisited.” He cast a sweeping glance around the room, daring anyone to argue. No one did. To David’s surprise, even the Baal didn’t protest.

David staggered to his feet. As Billy escorted him to the door for an instant, the E.L.F.’s eyes met the Odin’s. Stephen gave a nearly imperceptible thumbs up. The small gesture cheered him considerably.

Grace and Carlos waited for them at the entrance to the prison. David could barely look at his mother. “Mom, I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t,” she scolded. “I know you didn’t have anything to do with the robbery.”

“I must not have locked the vault after the Odin’s party.”

“Do you remember leaving the door open?”

“No, but—”

“Then, you didn’t. Don’t doubt yourself, David. The loss of The Book involves more than a lapse in memory.”

Carlos cleared his throat. “I have to take him inside, Grace.”

“May I walk with him?”

He smirked. “Does escorting him piss off the Baal? Let me think…hell, yeah, it would. Sure, go right ahead, but don’t—”

“I know.” Her eyes saddened. “Don’t touch my son.” She murmured to David. “Walk slowly and tell me what happened.”

David blurted out the whole story from discovering the open vault to the final search at Penrose’s.

“You’re certain The Book is there?”

Carlos opened an empty cell a S emted nd David stepped inside. “I was. The Book may have moved again. I-I’m not sure I sense the location anymore.”

“The link is still there,” a voice from the next cell confidently announced.

“Dad!” David cried out. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, son. Did anyone speak at the judgment except Dominic?” David relayed the Odin’s words. “We still have friends at least.”

An angry voice bellowed down the hall. “After sentencing, visitors are not allowed without my approval.”

Carlos stiffened. “She escorted her son, Baal.”

“Now you escort her out.” Dominic strode up to the cell. “If you wish to see either of them, Grace, you need to make arrangements from now on through me.”

“Then I want to schedule a visit.”

“I’m afraid it isn’t possible, at least for a while. Prison is, after all, supposed to be a punishment. If I let you in every time, people wouldn’t understand.”

“Then when?”

“We’ll discuss visitation after the general council meeting next month. Until then everyone needs to settle down. Tempers get out of control easily.”

Grace glared at him, but said nothing. David was amused by her fierce expression. Dominic had no idea of his mother’s temper when dealing with the idiocy of Integral law. The head of the baal clan just came within a hair of being dragged over the coals by a slight human female.

The Baal addressed Carlos. “See that the prisoners aren’t disturbed.” He held out his hand. “Give me the key. I’ll secure the cell.”

Once their footsteps disappeared down the hall, David snarled, “The judgment against my father is bogus and you know it. What’s the matter, Dominic? Had to do something to prove to your uncle you’re not completely worthless to the clan baal.”

Dominic’s eyes narrowed. “Watch your mouth.”

“When The Book shows up everyone will know what a bunch of cowards you are—hiding behind the rules, afraid to step into the twenty-first century.”

The Baal grabbed his arm. Pain encircled David’s limb like a binding made of angry bees. “Bet you wish you could teleport away now, don’t you?”

David elbowed the Baal in the stomach. Dominic doubled over. David wrapped the manacles around the demon’s neck and pulled tight. “I don’t like my father punished for something he didn’t do.” He tried to hold on, but the pain overtook him. Within a few seconds David sunk to his knees. Dominic wriggled free rubbing his neck. An angry red welt appeared where the manacles had touched his skin.

Carlos strode down the hall. He shot a troubled glance at David. “Is something wrong?”

The E.L.F. leaned against the wall. Although, pale-faced he forced a jaunty grin. “Nope. Everything’s great.”

Dominic pulled the collar up tight to hide the marks on his neck. He locked the cell and then tossed the key to Carlos. Without a word, the Baal stormed off down the corridor.

****

Rosalie slipped behind the wheel of Billy’s car and sunk back into the upholstery with a sigh. The key turned with a soft click. The engine purred to life. Driving back to her apartment, a sense of despondency grew with each passing block. She would never see David again. She had no way to reach him. Other than somewhere in New York City, she didn’t even know where he lived.

Chinese f Sfy"h paood cartons littered the dining table. She dumped them in the trash and then collapsed on the couch. Unexpected tears sprang to her eyes.
You’re crazy. You barely knew him.
The tears rubbed easily away, but the tightness in her chest wasn’t headed anywhere.

Exhaustion sunk in. Rosalie considered crawling into bed, but rising off the couch took too much effort. Instead she rested her head on the same pillow David recently used and fell asleep.

The phone call from Marissa jerked her awake. “Alex and I are headed over to Ross’s. Do you want a lift?”

Rosalie had completely forgotten about the Thanksgiving party. The last thing she wanted was a celebration. Rosalie hunted for a good spur-of-the-moment excuse, but came up empty. She told Marissa, she’d meet her there and hung up.

Rosalie stumbled into the bathroom, hoping a shower would wash away the sinking depression. The hot water did nothing. She dressed and grabbed her purse and then noticed Billy’s keys on the table. She picked them up and felt the tears again. The car was a constant reminder David had exited her life. The sooner she dumped the car, the better. She could drop it off at the airport after dinner and then catch the bus home, but if she showed up with a new car at Ross’s people would ask questions. His house was only a five minute walk from Penrose’s. Rosalie decided to park there instead. In the far corner of the lot no one would notice one stray vehicle.

As Rosalie walked up to Ross’s door, she saw Marissa’s car parked out front. Pausing on the stoop, she took a deep breath and forced a smile. Marissa had enough problems of her own. She didn’t need to hear Rosalie’s tale of woe. Besides, she thought grimly, how could she possibly explain she spent the night with an E.L.F. and not sound like a lunatic?

The house was crowded. Ross always held an open door policy for the holidays. His two oldest kids were home from college and each brought friends, not to mention all the people from Penrose’s who dropped in. Rosalie was delighted to see Mittens helping Miss Lu set out pies on the sideboard.

Alex spied Rosalie and his pale face lit up. He scampered over with arms wide, demanding a piggyback.

“Alex,” Marissa scolded, “at least let Miss Rosalie get something to eat first.”

“I’m fine,” she maintained, bouncing Alex up and down. “I’m not hungry.”

“Nevertheless,” Marissa insisted. “She isn’t your horsey, Alex.”

He scrunched up his face. “Yes, she is. I said so.”

Rosalie chuckled. “How do you argue with logic like that?”

Marissa gave him the mom-look. “Young man, get down this instant.” Disappointed, he slid to the floor.

“May I sit next to Miss Rosalie at supper?” he pleaded. “I promise not to blow bubbles in my milk.”

“We’ll blow them in mine,” said Rosalie with a straight face. Alex burst out in giggles.

“Neither one of you will blow bubbles—period. Alex, Miss Lu brought her grandson. Why don’t you find Jonathan and play?” The boy scampered off.

“He looks better,” Rosalie stated with a show of optimism.

“Alex always rouses some after the start of a new treatment.” For an instant the wan, distressed expression of an anxious mother eclipsed the calm self-possession of the assistant store manager. “The medicine is so expensive. What with the mortgage and all the other bills...”

Rosalie draped her arm around Marissa’s S Mae. Wshoulders. “Sell the house. Then you and Alex can live with me and we’ll all eat beans together.”

“You have barely enough space for yourself.”

“We’ll be cozy.”

“You’re crazy.” Marissa’s voice dropped as if she was afraid someone would overhear. “I have relatives in California. We’re not close, but they’ll take us in.”