Arcane Circle

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

We didn’t have long to wait. Johnny emerged from the police station less than ten minutes later.

“In addition to the Eldrenne’s death, they’re investigating the long strips of melted glass found on the Lake Erie shore,” Johnny said as he buckled his seat belt. Zhan was letting him drive; she sat in the back.

“How’d they link that to you?” I asked as he accelerated onto US 303.

“A man’s wedding ring was found embedded in the glass. Though partially melted it had some unique markings, which led to the item being ID’d as one that was sold to Robert and Donna Conner.”

“Oh no.”

“Yeah. They paid a visit to the Conners’ house, trying to locate Robert to ask him about the glass. Donna told them they should ask me where he is.”

“What did you say?”

“I asked him if I was under arrest. He said they were just looking for information. I said I didn’t have any and couldn’t help him.” Johnny shook his head. “It won’t be the last of it, but he had no reason to hold me. I mean, Donna didn’t even file a missing person’s report.”

We were coming up on a road that would connect us to the interstate. “Are we heading home or to Pittsburgh?”

“It’s two and half hours one way,” Zhan said.

Johnny shook his head again. “We’re going home. This day’s fucked.”

“But I thought you wanted to get this taken care of ASAP.”

“I do … but we never moved Demeter’s bed to her new room and there should be a sense of hope in the onset of what we’re undertaking. Not this. Nearly being arrested is like a bad omen, you know?”

“I didn’t think you were superstitious like that.”

“Me either.”

I wondered if this “bad omen” should keep us from the haven tonight.

After lunch, I ordered the cake for the kids’ party the next day and we set about taking Nana’s bed apart and relocating it in her new room. When we were done, Johnny decided to track down Feral, Lycanthropia’s bassist, and talk to him about the band situation.

Before he left, I asked, “Has the Rege set a date to confirm you?”

“No. I think he’s got his people working on ways to alter the interpretation of their laws so he can deny me even after I prove that I can change at will.”

I broached the subject of the party at the haven. “Should we go?”

“Yeah. You have your duties. I should be back in time for it.”

“Should be?”

Zhan let him take the Audi. I think it was a means to coerce him to return on time.

Nana worked on her quilting. I settled in at the dinette in the kitchen and wrote up a reminder list for the party. It was the first kids’ party I’d ever thrown, and even though I’d be disguised as someone else, I wanted Nana to have a reference to make sure everything was proceeding according to plan.

Zhan stepped into the room. “I’ve been thinking,” she said, “about Maxine, about life, and about what you said the other day.”

I gestured for her to join me. “Which part of what I said?”

“That you’d talk to Menessos for me.” She sat across from me. “To ask him if I could go home.”

“You’ll let me ask now?”

She nodded. “But wait until after Pittsburgh. You’ve got enough going on right now.”

“Okay. I’m sure he won’t have a problem with it.” I’d pull rank if I had to.

“Can I take pictures of them, the animals, to show my father?”

“Absolutely.” I stopped. “Oh, and talk to Mountain. If he thinks it would be all right—and if your family can house them—maybe you could take a few of the phoenixes. If your family would like to be charged with their keeping, it might be like a peace offering from you.”

She was stunned. “You would do that for me?”

“Of course.” When I answered, her chin dropped, her mind surely racing with the logistics of getting phoenixes to the West Coast, as well as the family reunion playing out in her imagination. Movement outside caught my attention. Mountain had emerged from the field.

He was hammering in some metal posts to erect a temporary fence across the new driveway to the barns: no need to provide a tempting pathway for our young guests.

Sneakily, I added. “But if you go …”

“What?” She sounded concerned.

“Mountain would miss you.” I pointed through the glass.

She saw him. Her concern converted into guilt. “Don’t tell the Boss.”

“I won’t tell. Why would I?”

“Offerlings and Beholders aren’t supposed to … to …”

“Like I said, I won’t tell.”

“Mountain is good to me,” she said softly, wringing her hands. “He sees me. Other men see … something else.”

“You don’t have to explain, Zhan.”

She had resumed staring at the tabletop.

“Why don’t you go ask Mountain now? Work the plan out.”

She rose from the table, but lingered long enough to say, “Thank you.”

The sun set at five-thirteen and my now-expected connection to Menessos clicked in. It was full dark when Johnny arrived at six o’clock as promised. It felt much later than it truly was. We sat together in the back as Zhan drove us to the haven.

Johnny told me how his afternoon had gone. “Feral didn’t believe I kicked an Omori’s ass, or put the Rege on his knees. I had to conference call Kirk and Todd to corroborate.”

“What did he say then?”

“He grunted, but that was because he was under someone’s sink.”

“Huh?”

“He was on a service call.” Feral’s day job was plumbing. “So I drove out and joined him.”

“Did you help?”

“I fetched him tools. Helped him carry things in and out.”

“Did your labor have a payoff?”

He nodded. “He called Erik, had him meet us at Triv’s restaurant. Over a beer, Feral told Erik what the other guys had told him. And then he says to Erik, ‘I’m telling him.’” Johnny set his jaw momentarily, demonstrating his irritation before he continued. “The Rege had sent Omori to their houses and they were told the band would be breaking up eventually, but if they quit and made the process go smoother, they would be given ‘severance pay.’ They each got an envelope with twenty-five grand.”

“No way.”

“Way.”

“They took it?”

“When the Omori shows up on your doorstep, you comply.”

“You didn’t.”

He smirked. “I’m the Domn Lup.”

It occurred to me that we were talking rather freely about pack stuff in front of Zhan. Johnny had wanted to avoid Maxine’s knowing too much. I took his hand and, concentrating, tried to figure out how to word what I wanted to say.

He squinted at me. “It’s all right,” he said.

“Huh?”

“I could … hear you.”

He gripped my hand tight. Menessos called me. We talked.

His lips hadn’t moved. Yet I’d heard him.

In signum amoris. Menessos had admitted he’d used magic on Johnny and me when we had sex at the haven. He’d claimed it was a link, a shared mental connection by which we’d be able to sense each other’s moods. If the emotions were strong enough, like fear, it might call to the other—a benefit that we might find “as worthwhile as the more physical one.” The vampire had also said Johnny and I had already imprinted on each other, inflaming that physical bond. The in signum amoris made it an emotional bond as well.

And then we shared pieces of our souls, making it spiritual, Johnny added.

“Lord and Lady!” I said aloud.

“Everything all right back there?” Zhan asked.

“We’re fine,” Johnny said and winked at me, adding, Wanna see how she reacts if we make out?