Soul Mates Bewitched (8 page)

“I ran into Brice today, and he took a shot at me with that flaming fireball trick he taught Jillian.”

“And you want a weapon? Tones, you are a weapon. Didn’t you feel it pulse inside of you?”

“Well, yeah, but I… I didn’t want to give away what I am. I kinda figured if I had a weapon that humans couldn’t see, then I’d be able to hold my own against the lunatic.”

Max nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.” He disappeared, but returned with a pair of swords a few minutes later. “Will these do?”

I took the proffered swords, felt their balance, gripped the intricately designed hilt and took a few practice swings. They felt good in my hands, as if they were charged with positive energies. “Yeah, these are perfect. Do they work like yours?”

“They do. They’ll not be noticeable by humans even when you wield them, should you happen to pull them when humans are around. I glamoured them myself, so they are pretty well protected.”

“Will they block fireballs?” I asked thinking of Brice and his tricks.

“They should, but I may need to re-glamour them at some point if they take too many hits.”

“Awesome, Dude, thanks!”

“No problem, and, Tones?”

“Yeah?”

“Be careful. Don’t pick fights with spell-makers…”

“Yeah, whatever,” I replied with a grin as he flashed out of my room.

I
didn’t have anything planned for the next hour while I waited for Uncle Nicu to set up his meeting, that I still hadn’t been invited to. I grabbed my Kohl and drew on the few protections I’d need, and sat on the hardwood floor with my tarot deck.

I liked to use the
Rider Waite
tarot best, so that is what I chose to use. I decided on the four fold spread because it has a diverse way of looking at things, with a fifth card as the overall power card. I spread the cards out in front of me and drew the first one from the deck. The
Queen of Wands
. One who radiates confidence and exudes passion and vitality. But more than that, my vision told me that this card reflected Rose, and she will be one to inspire great things and ignite passion in others.

The second card I drew, the
Nine of Wands
, showed me the triplets’ strength, which was mighty. They possess both shifter and Fae abilities like their father and they will never back down from a fight.

Card number three was the
Queen of Swords
. It showed me that the triplets have keen intelligence, and are quite brilliant. They will have the amazing power of insight and will be leaders among their people.

The fourth card, The
Emperor
, showed me that the three Fergus children will be very powerful in their clan, leaders that are liked and well respected. And the final card, the
Six of Swords
showed me that they will travel and make a difference in the world.

All in all it was a good reading; Max would be pleased when I told him. I started gathering up the cards and putting them away. I was just putting them in their crystal laden bag when Uncle Nicu knocked on the door.

“You coming to the meeting?”

“Am I invited?”

“Of course. You’re the reason for the meeting in the first place. Why wouldn’t you be invited?”

I shook my head. “Yeah, I’ll be there in a minute,” I said.

I finished cleaning up and headed downstairs to the bar. I recognized a few faces as I went to stand next to Jillian. She smiled that smirky little smile when she saw me, and my heart did a little flip inside my chest.

“Hey,” I said, unsure if I should put my arm around her or not, so I stuck my hands in my jean’s pockets and kind of rocked on my heels. I didn’t want to assume that she would be comfortable with me pulling her into my arms in front of everyone she knew, including Brice, whom I noticed slinking in the door and standing toward the back of the group.

Jillian grinned, shook her head, stood on her tip toes, and kissed my lips. Just a real quick kiss, but it was enough to let me know she was cool with us and everyone knowing about it. I grinned back and put my arm around her, and she sank into me, pressing her curvy side into mine.

“Thanks fer today,” she said.

“You’re welcome,” I replied as she slipped her arm around my waist and we leaned against the bar.

“Where’s Nicu?”

“He’s here somewhere. He came upstairs to get me, so I’m sure he’ll be out in a moment.

After a few minutes of everyone getting restless, Nicu emerged from his office with Max following close on his heels. Max was looking very human, so I wasn’t exactly sure what Nicu had planned.

“I called you all together tonight to introduce you to my nephew, Antony, and his friend, Max Fergus. Antony, step up here,” Nicu said from the stage he stood on.

I left Jillian’s arms and went to stand next to Max. I nodded at the few Guardians that smiled at me. I was uncomfortable being the center of attention, and prayed it wouldn’t last.

“Antony, Max, meet Kimberly, Rhianna, Carl, Mason, Brice, Samantha, Derrick, Will, Georgie, and Val.” Nicu gestured to each Guardian in turn. “Max, here, has been involved in the search for the lost Chalice of Light. I need all of you to pay close attention for the next several minutes. Max?”

“Good evening.” Max smiled. “I am Max Fergus, heir to the throne of Light and Illusion.”

“Isn’t that a Faerie throne?” Mason called, out chuckling.

“It is,” Max replied seriously. “I am Fae.”

“Yeah, right. Sure you are,” Brice said with a sneer.

Max smiled. “I am, and if you will bear with me for a moment, you shall see for yourself. As I was saying, I am the heir to the throne of Light and Illusion. We, the Light Fae, are searching for the Chalice of Light to keep it out of the hands of the Dark. Should the Dark succeed in finding the Chalice, your world will be… well, let’s just say it won’t be pleasant. While we search, we do need your help. The help of the Guardians. Nicu was unaware of it, but we have, of course, known about you from the beginning. We work closely with the Council of Guardians in Ireland.”

“The Fae work with the Guardians in Ireland, but not here?” a pretty petite woman asked. I recognized her as the one dancing with the snake the other night, but her name eluded me, even though Nicu had just introduced us around. I thought she might be Samantha, or maybe Kimberly.

“It hadn’t been necessary until recently for us to make you aware of us. We need your help. The Dark Fae are gathering all over Manhattan looking for the Chalice. Right now, their focus is on Central Park. We need security while we search. If we have to stop and engage every Dark Fae who spots us, we will never uncover the whereabouts of the Chalice. Not that we will not fight our fair share of the creatures, we will, however we need your experience and expertise of the area. Many of us are fairly new to New York.”

Max glanced around the room, taking in everyone’s fairly relaxed attitude. “Now, if you will all stay relaxed, I will prove what I say is true.” He slowly removed his ring, making his features change from human to Fae, in a matter of seconds. There were a few gasps from the Guardians, but no one attempted to assassinate him. Max stood there for a few moments in his Fae form, and then slid his ring back on. “Any questions?”

“Yeah, if you can do that, how come the Dark ones can’t?” Carl asked.

“We do not know for sure that they can’t. It is possible that they have managed to steal the magic from a Leprechaun, but it wouldn’t work as well as mine. Stolen magic never does. It has to be given freely, or paid for in blood.”

“Leprechauns? There are really Leprechauns?”

“Yes, a few. Most of them reside in Ireland and keep away from people.”

“Does anyone have any other questions for Max, or about providing security?”

“Yeah. Are you reassigning anyone, to make room for your…nephew?” Brice asked snidely.

“No. All assignments are the same, Tony has other things to take care of. He will work as your contact with the Light Fae.”

“Yeah, whatever. Keep the pretty boy home where he’s safe.”

“Brice, do we have a problem?”

Brice sneered and rolled his eyes. “No. Can we leave?”

Nicu frowned. “Fine, go. Work in pairs when you can. Take no chances.”

The Guardians filed out of the bar, leaving Jillian, Max, Nicu, and me alone. Max grinned. “I brought along some added… backup… They’ve been bugging me to get in on the action.”

I frowned at Max. “Who?”

James and Rik came out of the back room to join us in the bar. “Thomas wanted to come too, but, you know, his condition won’t allow it,” James said snarkily.

“Shut up, James,” Rik said giving him a hard shove. “It’s good to see you, Tony!” Rik grabbed me around the waist and squeezed. I don’t know if you’ve ever been bear hugged before, but it’s not the most comfortable feeling, and Rik, being a shifter, has the strength of his bear counterpart.

“Crushin’ me, Dude,” I muttered.

“Oh, sorry.” Rik let go. “James and I thought we’d come down and get in on the action.”

“Yeah, I’m ready to slay a few slime balls,” James said with a grin. “And who’s the hot babe, and is she available?”

I frowned and started to reply, but Jillian beat me to it.

“The babe, ken answer fer herself, ye feckin’ eejit,” Jillian said sassily.

“Oh, and the babe has an accent. I like it.” James grinned.

“Knock it off, James. Sorry,” I started to say to Jillian, but she put her finger over my lips and turned back to James.

“Me name is Jillian, ye feckin’ wolf. Yeah, I kin what ye are, an’ ye best be stayin’ oot o’ me way. Clear?”

James grinned. “I like a babe with attitude, but clearly you are taken by our own Tones here…”

Jillian laughed then, and shook her head, writing off James’ comments as just typical wolf behavior. “Feckin’ werewolves,” she said rolling her eyes, and then turning to Rik. “Ye ain’t a wolf, but ye are somethin’ other than human.”

Rik smiled. “Bear.”

I stared curiously at Jillian, she didn’t seem to be as freaked out by them as she was by Max when he shifted. “How is it you know about werewolves, but when you met Max…”

“Twas different. Werewolves have been ‘round fer a millennia ain’t they? An’ because o’ Max I’m able ta feel the difference in Rik, too, an’ not get freaked.”

I nodded and slid my arm around her waist. “As soon as Daire shows up we can get this show on the road.”

“We’re waiting for Daire? What’s up with that? Doesn’t he have enough to do? Keepin’ an eye on Abbey?” James asked.

“He’s temporarily acting as my body guard, until the Chalice is found.”

“Whoa, that sucks, havin’ to have a body guard,” James replied.

“It’s a necessary precaution James, and Tony knows it,” Max said.

“No need to wait any longer. I’m sorry I am late, my prince,” Daire said popping into the bar.

“You’re not late, the others have just left. Daire, you and Tony work with Jillian. James, Rik, and I will search from Seventy Ninth Street Transverse to Sixty Fifth. Cole and Thane are taking Seventy Ninth Street Transverse to Eighty Sixth Street Transverse. Foster and Sindri are working Eighty Sixth Street Transverse to Ninety Seventh and Brokk and Avery are taking Ninety Seventh to Cathedral Parkway. Mylor is guarding the Mound. Any questions?”

“You aren’t searching Jillian’s territory?” Daire asked.

“It’s been searched already. Cole and Thane took care of it earlier.”

“Be careful on the Bow Bridge. Brice likes ta hang oot there an’ catch the water demons that pull unsuspectin’ buzzies inta the Lake.”

“Bean-Finn? Here?” Max asked.

Jillian nodded. “Though I thought the Bean-Finn took only children,” she said.

“Bean-Finn are more likely to take children, but they will take the weak-willed too. Or anyone they can get their greedy hands on.”

“We’ll keep an eye out for the Bean-Finn and don’t worry bout that Brice guy, we’ll leave him be,” Rik said.

“I’m not worried aboot Brice,” Jillian said with a smile. “I’m worried aboot the wolf’s mouth gettin’ him inta trouble with Brice.”

“Aww, the little witch thinks I can’t handle myself with a warlock.” James chuckled and bared his teeth. “It’s the warlock you should be worrin’ ‘bout, Darlin’.”

Jillian laughed. “Tis yer funeral, wolf boy. Nice meetin’ ye.”

“It’s getting late, we should go,” Daire said, taking Jillian’s and my arms.

Max did the same with Rik and James, and we all flashed out of the bar.

A few seconds later, we were in the park near the carousel. Being a Sióga Feiceann, I could see the beautiful woman sitting on the painted horse through the doorway; however I could also see her true form. And trust me it wasn’t nearly as beautiful. She had sharp, pointed teeth, claws instead of fingers, a hunger for death and destruction that shone brightly in her eyes, and she was whispering
my name
.