Toil and Trouble (16 page)

“Very well, Poppet, I will see you at the airport.”

He opened the door and was about to shut it before it occurred to me that he’d have no idea who to look for as I hadn’t shown him the picture of my alternate identity.

“Don’t you want to know what I’ll look like?”

Sinjin smiled in that way of his. “I will know you by your scent, Love.”

* * *

It had been a day since the fight between Sinjin and Rand and I still hadn’t seen Rand. The barrier to his room remained in full effect and all of my attempts to reach him telepathically went ignored. I might have been concerned about his personal well being but Christa had said she’d caught him in the kitchen, noshing on an apple. So, he was just ignoring me. Fabulous.

Now, as I walked into the forest bordering Pelham Manor, I couldn’t escape my sadness and desperation to make things right. The war was looming closer and closer and time was slipping through my fingers like sand. Even though I’d be fighting alongside Rand, I wanted to set things straight before I boarded the flight to Aberdeen. But, now that wasn’t going to happen. I wondered if Rand would even say goodbye.

Oh well, I had to shelve such thoughts for the time being—now I had to focus on completing my transformation into my
Vogue
counterpart.

I stepped over a rotted tree trunk, covered in verdant moss and stood in front of a massive pine tree. It was the same tree I’d been using to enter Mathilda’s village. I imprinted my palm on the tree and closed my eyes, imagining the passage leading to Mathilda’s house. I opened my eyes to find the trees had disappeared, revealing the now familiar dirt path leading into the village.

I started the quarter mile walk that would take me to Mathilda’s doorstep. No one was in the village and that depressed me even more as it reminded me of the fact that very shortly many of this village’s inhabitants might never return. Upon reaching Mathilda’s cottage, I knocked once. She opened the door and greeted me with a placid smile. I tried to offer my own happy greeting but couldn’t disguise the fact that I wasn’t happy.

“Hi, Mathilda,” I said.

Her smile fell. “Jolie, what is the matter?”

“Everything,” I grumbled and entered her house, the smell of brewing tea welcoming. I took a seat at the wooden kitchen table. It was really the cross section of a tree, supported by four smaller stumps.

I reached inside my coat pocket and handed Mathilda the rose drenched with my magic. She reached for a mortar and pestle residing on her kitchen counter, placing both on the table before me. Plucking the petals from the rose, she dropped them into the bowl, grinding them until they were reduced to a red pulp. Then she faced me and held her palms up to my cheeks, closing her eyes as she did so.

“Do you care to explain, Child?”

I needed a shoulder to cry on. Christa spent all her time with John and I didn’t dare confide in Pelham—the ghost was the biggest gossip around. So, I could use some female advice.

“It’s Rand,” I said with a sigh.

Mathilda opened her eyes long enough to offer me a knowing smile before closing them again. “What is the problem between you two this time?”

“I broke Rand’s trust by confiding in Sinjin who betrayed my confidence and now Rand won’t speak to me.”

God, it sounded like an episode from 90210 or something. Had my life really been reduced to a Tori Spelling soap opera? I didn’t want to answer that question.

“And have you learned your lesson?”

Yeah I had learned it—don’t talk about boy problems with the competition. And, more importantly, never trust Sinjin again. I actually felt pretty stupid about the whole thing —what reason did I ever have to believe Sinjin could actually be trustworthy and not out for himself? Jealous, my ass. Sinjin probably just wanted me because he couldn’t have me.

“Yes, I have,” I answered.

“Then the event proved good for something,” Mathilda said. She didn’t open her eyes, but continued feeling around my face, chanting inwardly as she did so.

“I guess,” I grumbled, trying to see it more positively but failing.

“You must not focus on petty squabbles, Jolie. Not while you have much larger issues to face. Your focus must be on this war.”

I sighed. “I know.”

She opened her eyes and balled each of her hands into fists, as if she’d captured something. Opening each hand above the mortar, several opaline drops fell from the ends of her fingers into the mortar. Mathilda’s magic drops erupted into a display of flashes and spatters of multi-colored light as they fell upon the remains of the rose petals infused with my magic. She used the pestle to grind our magic together into a pink paste.

“I had a vision, Child,” she said very matter-of-factly.

I stiffened. “You did?”

She nodded but appeared to be putting entirely too much effort into grinding the pestle. Something had to have been bothering her. “Yes, I want you to carry something with you into battle.”

I didn’t have the chance to respond as she opened a drawer and pulled out what appeared to be a piece of amber. It was about the size of a quarter, but square rather than round and the thickness of my thumb. When she handed it to me, it warmed my palm. Unlike other pieces of amber, there wasn’t anything fossilized in it. It was just a pure honey color.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Amber.”

I frowned. So, it was just a piece of amber? I’d imagined it was some magical fairy stone or at least something more impressive than what it actually was. Well, maybe this was just a lesson in looks being deceiving. It had to have magical powers if Mathilda owned it. Maybe it contained the essence of a mighty dragon—like the one I’d fought when I was at Odran’s court. Or maybe it could turn the enemy to stone by chanting a charm over it. Or best of all, maybe it was a protection amulet!

“Will it protect me?”

“No.”

“Is it magical?”

“No.”

“What does it do, then?” I asked, finally giving up.

“Nothing.”

I glanced up at her in question. “Nothing? Why do you even have it?”

She shrugged. “It was given to me many moons ago.”

Hmm, Mathilda didn’t appear to be the type to believe in talismans. “Why should I carry it in battle if it doesn’t do anything?”

She shook her head. “I know not, Child. But, you possessed it in my vision and therefore, it must be necessary though we know not why.”

I shrugged and put it in my pocket—if she wanted me to take it, I’d take it. Maybe it would turn out to be lucky—like the Underworld’s version of a rabbit’s foot. Thankfully it wasn’t as gross. “Okay.”

“It will be of use to you.”

“Yep,” I said before changing the subject. “I’ll have to transform myself tomorrow night.” Tomorrow evening Christa would be flying to Australia and I’d be destined for Aberdeen.

“Our magic will be ready,” Mathilda responded.

“All I have to do is swallow the seed?” I asked, eyeing the seed pod that had doubled in size since the last time I’d seen it. “It’s way bigger now.”

Mathilda nodded. “Of course, it has more magic within it.”

Interesting. “So, once I swallow it, will it work right away?”

Mathilda nodded again. “Once it enters your blood stream, the magic will begin.”

“And how long will that take?” I’d have to be sure to time my metamorphosis just right.

“Perhaps thirty minutes.”

“And my new likeness will last two weeks?”

“Yes.”

Suddenly it dawned on me that even though my outer appearance would be altered, my aura would still give me away with its otherworldly blue, pointing to the fact that I was a witch. “My aura,” I started.

“Will appear human to any creatures capable of viewing it,” Mathilda interrupted.

I nodded, mentally filing all the information. The finale to my battle overture was nearing its end. Soon the night of reckoning would be on me. And that meant I’d be up against Ryder. A cold feeling of dread twisted in my stomach. Suddenly, the thought of Mathilda’s vision in which she saw me carrying the amber talisman reentered my mind. “This vision you had, did it reveal anything else?”

Mathilda seemed slightly agitated. “Snow.”

I was reminded of the vision I’d had when I’d touched Sinjin while attempting to locate the prophetess. “I had a similar vision. What do you suppose it means?”

Although England was admittedly chilly at times, at present, there wasn’t any snow nor would there be for at least the next three months. We were still in summer.

“I do not know, Child.”

She spooned the magic rose concoction into another bowl, this one with the seed pill resting in it. Then she emptied both the pill and the rose concoction into a pot of boiling water and the seed double in size again as it absorbed the last of our magic.

“I can’t swallow that. It’s too big.”

“You are not meant to swallow it. Just put it on your tongue and it will dissolve.”

Hopefully it tasted good.

Twelve

Christa and I had made it through security at Newcastle Airport, with no one the wiser to our false identities. Now, we waited for the flight that would take us to Heathrow airport in London. Well, Christa waited for it. I had other plans.

“Do you think we’ll see kangaroos and koalas?” Christa asked as we sat in uncomfortable chairs and she perused a Lonely Planet guide on Australia.

“Probably,” I answered, still trying to control the ache in my stomach due to the fact that I’d have to bewitch my best friend. Well, it also had something to do with the realization that I’d soon be transformed into another person while I hoped Rand wouldn’t suspect anything. And, as if that wasn’t enough to turn my stomach sour, I was also well aware that in a couple days’ time, I’d be in battle. Although I felt prepared, thanks to Sinjin’s training and his blood, it didn’t alter the fact that I was as nervous as a virgin on prom night.

Christa’s eyes narrowed as she continued to study the guide. I had to applaud her; she was handling the whole situation really well. I mean, if I’d been in her shoes and soon to be thousands of miles from John while a major war raged that would determine our future, I’d be a wreck. Don’t get me wrong, Christa had been emotional about it—her goodbye to John at the airport rivaled the death scene in Titanic. But, all in all, she was handling it amazingly well and I was proud of her.

“What exactly does it mean to ‘put a shrimp on Barbie?’” she asked.

I couldn’t help my smirk which turned into a frown as amusement morphed into heartache. I blinked away tears as I wondered if this would be the last time I’d ever see my best friend. If Bella won, would she keep me alive? Bella’s doctrine had alluded to the fact that she wanted me alive in order to bring back her dead but who really knew for sure? And, furthermore, I could die in battle. So, all in all, there was a very probable chance this could be the last week of my life. I was suddenly overcome with the urge to escape, to accompany Christa to Australia. The feelings raged through me like an angry elephant. But, I couldn’t give in to such thoughts now. Not when I needed to fight.

Glancing at my watch, I realized I was quickly running out of time. So, as I choked back a sob, I did what I had to do and grabbed Christa’s wrist, feeling like I’d explode if I didn’t get through this quickly. “Chris, I think I have something in my right eye, can you check and see?”

She nodded and dropped the Lonely Planet guide into her lap, innocence etching her features. If she only knew what I was about to do to her...

“Sure, just look up at the ceiling.”

I stared at the corner of the ceiling but the tears felt as if they’d bust through any minute so I clenched my eyes closed to restrain them.

“Are you okay, Jules?” Christa whispered.

I bit my lip and just nodded. My hand instinctively went to my neck, searching for the piece of amber Mathilda had given me. I’d magicked the amber into a pendant, suspended on a chain. I wasn’t sure how else to keep it safe. I rubbed the warm talisman and tried to talk myself out of the tears that already glistened in my eyes.

“Everything is going to be okay,” Christa said and took my hands in hers. “We won’t be in Australia long. Before you know it, Rand will fly down and pick us up and take us back to Pelham Manor.”

God, I hoped it would turn out to be true…well, the part about everything being okay anyway.

“I hope so,” I said bleakly.

Knowing I still had to bewitch her into boarding the plane, I squeezed her hands and pictured a flurry of energy leaving my body and surrounding hers until she glowed as if in the embrace of an ethereal being. I opened my eyes and found Christa’s eyes riveted on mine. There was no emotion or expression on her face; she was now a blank canvas.

I ignored the guilt and continued with my plan. “Christa, you are going to travel to Australia by yourself. I’ll come to get you in maybe a week or so,” I started. “And you won’t be afraid.”

She just nodded dumbly.

“When you arrive, you will get a taxi and take the taxi to the hotel, okay?”

She nodded again.

“I will come back to get you as soon as I’ve finished my business here. Where are your documents and where is your hotel confirmation?”

“In my purse.”

The charm was done. I released her hands, heaving a sigh as I began to consider the rest of my plan. I rechecked my watch and was shocked to find twenty minutes had flown by. I had to get going.

Christa looked a little dumbfounded but not suspicious. She stared at me with an addled expression as if trying to replay our last conversation. Getting bewitched is like being drunk since you lose track of conversations and sometimes, time.

“Did you see anything in my eye?” I asked, hoping to prod her memory.

“Oh, um no.” She exhaled and her whole body seemed to deflate with the effort. Then, as if she didn’t have a care in the world, she let go of my hands and grabbed her Lonely Planet, picking up where she’d left off.

“Okay, well thanks for looking,” I started. Now it was time to test the charm. “Are you okay to sit here alone and wait for your flight? I should get going.”

She glanced up and the breath caught in my throat. Would she go for it? Hopefully my magic had been strong enough and hopefully my visualization hadn’t left anything important out.

“Yeah, I’m good. I wish you could come with me though.”

Phew, the charm had worked. Thank God. “I do too, but I’ll see you soon enough.” I stood up, mentally checking off everything else I still needed to do before I could calm down. “Okay, so you’ve got everything right?” I asked, sounding like a mom sending her ten year old on her first solo flight. Actually, now that I thought about it, this was Christa’s first solo flight. Ergh…I wouldn’t make a very good mom.

“Yep. I’m good to go,” she chirped.

I leaned down and hugged her like I’d never hugged her before. Whatever happened to me, I took solace in the fact that my best friend would be safe. And if something did happen to Rand, John and me, I doubted very much that Bella would waste any time in coming after Christa. That was a relief in and of itself.

I pulled away from her and chewed my bottom lip, trying to remember if there was anything else I needed to tell her, anything else I might be forgetting. “Christa do you remember what Rand told us about his bank information? Do you have all that stuff with you?”

She nodded. “Geez, Jules, you’re going to see me in a week or so, everything will be fine.”

I prayed she was right.

* * *

After leaving Christa, I had to go through check in and security all over again, but this time my flight details would take me to Aberdeen, Scotland. Check in and security had taken longer than I’d anticipated and now I only had thirty minutes left to take Mathilda’s pill, transform, and find my departure gate. Talk about cutting it close.

Once through security, I hightailed it to the nearest restroom, nearly bowling over an old lady as she came through the door. Luckily, there wasn’t a line so I charged into the first stall, reached into my jeans pocket and pulled out the seed-pill. Now was the time of reckoning.

I opened my mouth and plopped the pill on my tongue, waiting for some hideous flavor to reach out and accost my taste buds. But the taste wasn’t half bad—maybe a mix of mint and berry. I’d have to thank Mathilda later…well, if there was a later.

It didn’t seem as if the pill was dissolving but I continued sucking, all the while manifesting the new outfit that would take the place of my jeans and t-shirt. My sneakers melted into Birkenstocks, which I’d ordinarily never be caught dead in but I was going for an ensemble that in no way resembled my wardrobe. My jeans transformed into a tie-dyed mini skirt while my white tee shirt bloomed into a blousy peasant top to match the blue of the tie-dyed skirt. I looked very…groovy.

Now that my outfit was accomplished, I ran my fingers over my face, trying to feel for any transformations, but I seemed to be the same old me. I couldn’t detect any voices in the restroom, so I peeked out of the stall door and found myself peering back in the restroom mirror. Hmm, maybe the pill needed a little more time…

I timed another five minutes during which the pill had completely dissolved but, still, my hair remained long and blond. The acid taste of panic started in my gut. Maybe Mathilda had missed a necessary step of the magic? Maybe I hadn’t focused enough? If the pill was a dud, my whole plan was blown. I thought about altering my appearance by means of my own magic but I didn’t think I could keep it up for more than an hour.

As soon as the thought left my mind, I felt a slight tug at the nape of my neck and the heavy mass of my hair started to recede. I reached for the back of my head and found my hair was now short. A slight numbness overtook my face and I peeked out of the stall again to watch my transformation in the mirror.

My hair was now short and black. And my face—my skin blanched white before a tan began climbing from one side of my cheeks, waging a war against my paleness until it had usurped the entirety of my skin. That was when I realized my face didn’t match the rest of my body. I looked like a caramel lollypop on a white stick. Dammit!

I glanced down to assess my lily-white legs and magicked myself into some red tights. Then I turned to address my peasant blouse which openly exposed the expanse of white skin flowing across my chest and shoulders. I imagined the peasant blouse morphing into a light-weight cotton turtleneck. Then I faced the issue of my white ass feet and with a thought, watched my Birkenstocks give way to brown cowboy boots. Thank God there wasn’t such a thing as the fashion police.

Glancing back at the mirror, I exhaled a sigh of relief—my metamorphosis was complete. I was easily the most beautiful woman in the airport wearing the ugliest outfit.
C’est la vie
! And now I had just five minutes before my flight departed. Craptastic.

Hurrying from the bathroom, I checked my ticket and noted I was at Gate 22. Luckily, Gate 22 was just two gates from the restroom. Well, at least that was easy! I jogged to the gate, weaving through the hordes of people all desperate to make their flights on time. I started to freak out again when I noticed there wasn’t one person in the waiting area. When I checked the boarding screen, the words “Flight 3453 to Aberdeen, Scotland moved to Gate 1” nearly made me wet myself. Gate 1 was all the way at the other end of the airport. Double Dog Dammit!

Well, this was where Sinjin’s blood would serve me well. I didn’t have a moment to debate whether or not I should use his extreme speed as I was surrounded by humans. But, I was about to miss my flight. So, I ran although it would probably be more fitting to say I flew because in a matter of seconds, I was standing in front of Gate 1, right as the airport attendant closed the gate doors. And, as far as I could tell, I’d moved quickly enough that no one had noticed.

“I’m on this flight!” I called and rushed the elderly woman who glared down her nose at me.

“You’re too late.”

“I can see the plane,” I argued, hoping she wasn’t going to be difficult.

“Once this door is closed, it’s closed for good and as you can see,” she glanced at the door. “It’s closed.”

I didn’t have time for this. I looked at the woman and once I had her attention, used my powers of reasoning. “I have to board that flight so open the door.”

My powers of persuasion work almost like hypnotism—basically using suggestion to persuade someone to take whatever action I desire of them. The woman merely nodded and opened the door, holding it wide for me. So, she’d turned out to be all bark and no bite. I ran down the platform to find Sinjin standing with the flight attendant who was attempting to close the door but unable to do so with Sinjin blocking it. Of course, she didn’t look ticked off in the least. Quite the contrary, they appeared to be playing a flirtatious game—her trying to close it and him sidestepping her every chance he got.

Sinjin glanced at me and a huge smile beamed across his face. Even though I didn’t want to admit it (he was still on my shit list), his smile made me weak in the knees.

“Ah, there is my little Poppet now.”

So, he could recognize me by the scent of my blood because there wasn’t a thing about my appearance that even slightly resembled the old Jolie.

The flight attendant stepped aside as I walked aboard and threw me an irritated expression, like I’d just made off with her catch which, in a manner of speaking, I guess I had. Course, if she knew the real Sinjin was a self-centered, infuriating, jealous, albeit incredibly sexy vampire, maybe she’d thank me.

Sinjin locked my arm in an ice cold grip and eyed me from head to toe, only to suppress an amused chuckle—probably at my outfit. He escorted me onto the plane which was chock full of our legion from front to back. The plane was ablaze with auras of every color except, of course, for the vamps because they have no auras.

No one paid me the slightest attention which was good.

“What a bizarre getup, Love,” Sinjin whispered in my ear.

“I don’t have the energy to respond,” I muttered, wanting only to find my seat and take a nap. I needed to purge all the stress that had been building up in me before I exploded.

“Here is your seat, Pet,” Sinjin said and pointed to an aisle seat just before us. I allowed him to take the window and then started to take my own seat when a shadowy figure obstructed my view. A shiver of awareness washed over my skin, and I spun around to watch Rand walking down the aisle, only to sit directly across from me. Perfect, just perfect.