The Burning Bush (48 page)

“Are they still investigating Onyx’s death?” she asked and slowly stood up. “I’m ready to turn myself in.”

“No. They’re not investigating Onyx’s death.” My body itched to escape the grief and sorrow thickening the apartment.

“When I found out Jacobi had put Onyx on some bush and delivered her to the habbies, I went up there and confessed,” Harriet said. “But that Rivera guy kept telling me to sober up and go home.”

What a dumbass.

“Well, the case is over with now,” I said. “I came here because I wanted to know for myself what happened to Onyx.”
And I almost wish I hadn’t.

I walked to the front door and left, without saying goodbye. MeShack’s footsteps sounded behind me. The door slammed shut.

His hand went to my shoulder, stopping me. “Are you going to tell Rivera?”

Shrugging his hand away, I sighed. “I don’t think so.”

We headed down the steps. It felt weird being around the place now that I knew Onyx had died there.

“La La.”

“It was an accident.” I wiped tears from my eyes. “What do you want from me, MeShack? I can’t do it.”

“This is wrong. She was just going to let Jacobi take the blame. You can’t tell me there isn’t something wrong with that.” He pointed up at the apartment.

“I’ve done everything I can.” I shrugged, heading to the tram stop four blocks away. “You think I should call up the habbies and order them to lock Harriet in a cell? I’m not going to do that.”

“You should let the legal system make that decision.”

“Fuck the Santeria legal system.” I halted. “First of all, Jacobi had sex with a minor, which is illegal for all children except Mixies. So he did nothing wrong under the law.”

“This isn’t a Mixbreed/Pureblood issue,” he countered. “This is about you trying to take justice into your own hands.”

“This from someone who is going to help Zulu and me kill Dante.”

He hissed. “I’m doing that because I love you, and I don’t want Dante killing you, or Zulu turning into an insane Shifter.”

“You’re still taking justice into your own hands,” I insisted.

“It’s not the same thing!”

I walked off. “That woman is already sitting in a liquor jail cell that she made for herself. I won’t add to it.”

He grabbed my arm. “And what about Ely?”

“They found Ely’s fingerprints on Shelly, so there’s nothing I can do for him.”
Plus, he probably did kill Shelly.
Her friends had said a limo picked her up. Shelly probably saw Ely and figured Jacobi had sent him to take her to his gallery opening.

“Ely doesn’t seem like a killer to me,” MeShack mumbled.

“Most killers never do.” I glanced at Onyx’s apartment for the last time and rushed away.

Five hours later, the moonlight peeked through the habitat ceiling’s bars. I exited the violet limo, stepping out onto the red carpet and greeting shocked news reporters and cameras. A crowd of Supes gathered around the paparazzi. MeShack had already gotten out. I grabbed his arm. He was my official escort. We both wore masks just like Zulu had instructed. I wore Cassie’s mask. It was silver and purple. I had my dreadlocks curled and pinned in an up-do. Flames trailed behind me, hugging my gown.

Always promoting his band, MeShack’s mask carried the Mahogany Groove logo, a bronze M inside an emerald G. Two guards stood at the beginning of the red carpet, draped in ivory silk pants and shirts. Huge gold bows flopped around their necks. Ivory-and-gold-beaded masks clung to their faces.

“Tickets?” The guard to the left held out his hand. MeShack handed over our invitation with four tickets. The guard took it and read the invitation aloud.

“Miss Lanore Vesta and her party of three,” he announced to the crowd. A reporter gasped. Cameras flashed. A masked Zulu and Vee followed behind us arm in arm.

“Would you like your party members’ names announced, Miss Vesta? It’s tradition,” the guard said.

I was grateful that my mask covered my nervousness. “No, thank you.”

“Go ahead then,” the guard on my right said, already focusing on a white limo pulling up next to the violet one.

“Miss Vesta, can we get a picture of your dress?” a camera man asked halfway toward the ball’s entrance. I groaned under the mask and stood there as the man snapped his fingers at a black and white Pixie boy perched on his shoulder. The Pixie flew up and hovered above my head with some sort of lighting contraption. The cameraman took a picture as the Pixie’s light flashed, and the boy soared back to the man’s shoulder.

The little guy reminded me of Hope, the Pixie Zulu had bought me. I hadn’t seen her since Zulu had given her to me, but I still refreshed her water bowl and set out sugar cubes three times a day. The cubes were always missing each time I brought more over.
It made sense that she’d hidden. Too many people crowded the warehouse, and lots noise filled the place.

“Could you turn around, so we can get a snapshot of your flames? That’s an amazing dress you have on.” A blond woman with a black satin mask shoved a microphone in my face. “Who’s your magical designer? It looks like a Chartreuse Michaels creation.”

“Oh yeah, that’s it.” I nodded, not knowing who either Chartreuse or the actual designer who made Cassie’s dress was. The tiny bits of sparkling sequins flowed around me, forming a beautiful gown. It moved with ease and was nearly weightless. I’d kicked it and run and jumped all over the warehouse, testing the gown. Wherever I moved, the particles followed.

“You do look beautiful,” MeShack whispered.

“Can I get a picture of you and your escort without the masks, please?” The cameraman pointed to me. We removed them. Some girls in the crowd screamed as soon as they recognized MeShack’s face.

“MeShack, I love you!” a woman yelled. Other Supes strained to see what the girls were going crazy over. MeShack was successful in Shango District, but many still had not heard of him or his band in other areas of Santeria.

Zulu and Vee remained silent in the background. Vee had been on edge the entire ride. Her teeth had chattered together, filling the limo with a clattering noise. She was scared the protection spells in the ball would sense her potions, and the Witch Council would lock her away.

“Chartreuse Michaels has gained national success with this new couture spell. It’s no-sew, no-fabric, correct?” The reporter wrote the name down as I nodded in agreement. “And are you dating Mr. Hooshmand?”

“No,” I said quickly. “He’s just a childhood friend.”

MeShack put his mask back on. A low rumble escaped his throat.

The reporter giggled and scribbled something. “Now that Mr. Zulu’s sister has been reported missing, you were announced as one of the heirs to his estate. Do you have a statement?”

“No comment.” I hooked my arm under MeShack’s as we walked off. Anticipation and adrenaline surged through my cords and spread across my body. Zulu’s emotions. It was the first time since he’d been back that I could sense him.

“Just your childhood friend?” MeShack whispered, brushing his lips against my ear.

“What am I supposed to say? This is my ex-boyfriend, or even worse, this is my future mate?” I said in a low voice.

“Yes,” MeShack growled.

I nudged him. “I’m supposed to be mourning Zulu, not partying with my ex.”

Another pair of ivory-and-gold guards opened a set of huge double doors in front of us.

“So far, so good,” Vee said behind me.

I waited for Vee and Zulu to get to my side and clasped her shaking hand. “Don’t worry. I told you, Vee, you’re hanging with three people who will kill anybody who tries to arrest you.”

Zulu’s dark-blue-and-gold eyes went to mine through his mask. He’d refused to wear Fairy glamour to hide his face. He wanted Dante to see who he was right before he killed him. Orchestra music embraced me as we entered. A thick, white fog drifted around. The fragrance of slow-roasted meats and sweet baked goods wafted into my nose, making my mouth water.

MeShack had to tug me forward. I was too blown away by the scene before me. A massive forest decorated the ballroom. Trees towered over us, swaying in a gentle breeze. Birds flew in a cageless sky, so blue and thick with white, fluffy clouds. I looked down and noticed my feet sinking in solid black soil. Multicolored flower petals were scattered across the earth floor.

“This whole forest is an illusion,” MeShack whispered.

“No shit,” I said.

MeShack glanced over his shoulder. “Your blond batman practically has an erection.”

I twisted to where MeShack was looking. Zulu’s mask was raised to the sky. A grin spread across his face. Raw wonder sang through our cords.

“Where’s the booze?” Vee whispered on the other side of me.

“Let’s find out,” I offered. “With what’s to come, I’ll need a few drinks in my system.”

I placed my hand inside my bra and pulled out the phone I’d stuffed there.

“Do not call Graham again,” MeShack ordered. “You’ve already called your dad three times since we left. Ben likes him. Stop worrying.”

“And Patricia is with them,” Vee reminded me. “She’ll call if anything happens.”

After the craziness with Nona and the Rebels, we truly had no one we could trust enough to babysit Ben. Well, I had no one I could trust enough with him. MeShack thought my neglectful, drug-addict dad would be a perfect guard and babysitter. I still wasn’t sold on the idea, even with Patricia and Vee’s other Witchlings with them.

We strolled through the forest, past other masked guests who wore elaborate gowns and suits. Most of the masks had the top of the forehead cut out to display the Supes’ brands.
Purebloods are so conceited.

Every color and fabric was on exhibit. Witches sauntered around in delicate silks dyed in pastel colors, with feathered masks tied around their heads. Velvets intertwined with linen draped many Shifter females’ hooped gowns. Elaborate patterns of leather clung to Vamps’ bodies like second skins. Many of the Vamp women wore strips of cloth that draped around their bodies and covered only their intimate areas. Their masks ascended three to four feet above their heads, and most had huge antlers with brass bells climbing up them like a staircase.

“There’s the food.” MeShack motioned to gigantic floating flowers that rose to my chest and carried hors d’oeuvres.

A large flower carrying pink triangles smothered in cherry-red glitter drifted our way. I grabbed a triangle, hoping to taste a sweet, moist cake. But instead of a burst of sugar, a savory spiced meat hit my tongue.
Delicious.
I snatched up two more before the flower left us.

“What is it?” MeShack snatched one of my triangles, but as usual he was hesitant to eat something new.

“Just try it.” I grinned under the mask.

He put it in his mouth. “Duck liver. Why is it pink, and what is this sparkly stuff?”

“I don’t know, but it’s tasty.”

Zulu continued to study the cageless sky, barely paying attention to his surroundings.

“Sweet! There are the drinks.” Vee pointed to big, floating mushrooms the size of serving trays. A red-and-white mushroom flew to my elbow and stopped. I grabbed one of the glasses of red wine that rested on top of it. Zulu bypassed the mushrooms and edged to my side.

“Do you see Dante?” he asked, barely moving his lips. According to our plan, he was to stay away from me during most of the event just in case Dante monitored me. We couldn’t take any chances of his figuring out that Zulu was alive.

“No. I don’t see him.” I sipped the bitter taste of Pinot Noir and let the liquid linger on my tongue before swallowing. “You’re too eager. Just relax. I’m sure Dante knows I’m here and will come seek me out eventually.”

“That’s what I’m worried about.” Zulu glided back to Vee’s side. “I’m going to check out the area. Please stay with MeShack.”

“Yes, sir.” I saluted.

The ballroom floor bounced with life. Two teenage girls twirled around some trees, giggling as five young men watched them dance. To my right, a tree full of abundant pink fruit shook back and forth. The large berries as big as apples dropped from the tree’s branches and landed in rose petals scattered around the trunk. Two women in gold dresses laughed as they dashed toward the tree. One removed a gold-and-black mask bordered by feathers, seized a fruit, and sank her teeth into it. Shimmering pink liquid dripped down her chin and settled on her ample cleavage. It was like being inside a Human fairy tale.