Death Magic Read online

  At least Alena had called her by her name and not “special brain.”

  * * *

  The minutes ticked by ridiculously slowly after take-off. Claire pretended to watch the people around them instead of Alena, but every chance she got, she allowed her gaze to linger.

  Alena either found great enjoyment in reading the safety manual, or she pretended to, because fifteen minutes into the flight, she still hadn’t put it back into the chair pocket.

  Every second that passed made Claire more uncomfortable. Was Alena mad at her now? If Alena gave up on guiding her, then who would? She couldn’t let that happen—Madame Stravinsky would still use her as a host, and what if Alena wasn’t there to stop her from getting hit by a truck next time Madame Stravinsky decided to let her wander into traffic? No, she had to get Alena to talk to her again. Deep breath. “Alena?”

  “Hm?” She didn’t look up.

  “I’m sorry if I, you know, offended you? Maybe?” Claire wrapped her arms more tightly around her legs. “I didn’t mean to.”

  Alena pursed her lips, then turned her head to look at her. “It’s a sore subject. Just let it go.”

  Claire nodded. “Okay. Sorry.”

  “It’s fine. Just let it go.” Alena put the instructions away and leaned back. She scanned the passengers, then settled her gaze on Claire again. “Tell me about yourself. I mean, not the bits an internet search would pull up, I know those. What…” She seemed to think. “What do you like to do? Do you have hobbies?”

  “Hobbies?” Claire had hobbies, she knew she had, but she’d be damned if she could remember any right now. Alena showing an interest in her had thrown her for a loop.

  “Yeah, something you like to do when you’re not at college or working.” Alena shifted so her body was more aligned with Claire’s.

  Butterflies worked their way up Claire’s body to settle on her cheeks as heat. “Oh. Um. Well…I don’t have a job anymore.”

  Alena frowned. “I thought you worked at that coffee place?”

  “I did.” She nodded against her knees. “But I got fired. Today, actually. After you stopped me from getting run over by a truck. Well, no, not like that, like…that was the timeline. But I got fired because I’d walked out again, apparently? That’s how I ended up in the street, too. You-Know-Who left me there.”

  Alena sighed. “Sorry about that. And the middle-of-the-road thing. She tried to bring you home so I could pick you up, but she lost the connection.”

  “That can happen?”

  Alena shrugged. “Not usually, but metal interferes with it, and electricity too, somehow. Maybe you passed a power distribution station, or something? And then you wandered into traffic. I swear she wasn’t trying to kill you or anything.”

  Claire chuckled, but she couldn’t muster much humor. “I hope not.”

  Alena placed her hand on Claire’s and stroked her skin with her thumb.

  Claire forgot how to form words. The warmth of Alena’s hand seeped into her skin.

  “She really didn’t. I promise. She’s difficult, but…” A pause during which Alena shook her head. “Well, she doesn’t have a reason to kill you. That would just be stupid.”

  “Oh. So, she would have done so if I hadn’t been useful? Kill me, I mean?”

  “Not what I said.” Alena squeezed her hand. “But, you know…life’s different for the deceased. She’s not altogether nice, but she’s powerful and useful to the Society.”

  Claire swallowed and nodded again. “Okay. Thank you.”

  Alena withdrew her hand. “So, hobbies?”

  The sense of loss was instantaneous. She slipped her hand between her calves and thighs to hold on to the heat. “Um. Reading. I like reading. And cats.” Claire cringed. Cats weren’t a hobby, they were animals.

  Thankfully, Alena didn’t seem phased. “You don’t have one, though?”

  “Allergic.” She sighed. “But I pet them on the street when I see them.” Her cheeks flared again. “Sorry, that’s weird.”

  “Not weird. I’m more of a dog person myself, but some random cats are worthy of attention.” She winked.

  “Okay, good. Thank you.” Claire pulled her feet more firmly onto the edge of the seat. She realized this was a good time to ask questions about what would happen to her—as good a time as any, it seemed. Her heartrate sped up. “Alena? What’ll happen to me? When we arrive?”

  Alena glanced around. “When we get to the Den, all you have to do is be available. You’ll hear when you’re needed and in-between, you have all our resources at your disposal to research anything about our world you’d like to research. That, or you can talk to any of us. I’ll be there as much as I can to entertain you in case you need it.”

  “Entertain me? Like…how?” Claire couldn’t picture her new life very well yet, but it sounded, well, boring.

  “Not with song and dance if that’s what you’re thinking.” She chuckled. “No, I’ll be available for questions, and I’ll take you shopping as promised. There is a bunch of stuff we can do, but I already told you there is a lot going on right now that I can’t talk about here. Something happened recently that threw us all for a loop.”

  Claire nodded. “Okay. Is it…is it bad? Dangerous?”

  Alena hesitated. “We…don’t know yet. We’re concerned, but right now, the situation is under control. You’ll hear more tonight.” She took her in. “Or tomorrow. Maybe a good night’s sleep is more important, hm?”

  Sleep did sound good. “Whatever you think is best.”

  Alena smiled. “Good. Then we’ll do that. Why don’t you try to get some sleep? Or read the book you brought? It’s going to be a long eleven hours stuck in this tin.”

  “Okay.” Claire slid her feet off the chair and onto the ground, then bent over to pull her book out.

  “What are you reading, anyway?” Alena craned her neck to glimpse the cover.

  She held the book up for Alena to see.

  “Alice in Wonderland?” Alena glanced up. “You’re joking. That’s the one book you grabbed?”

  Claire grinned, despite her stinging cheeks. “It seemed appropriate.”

  “Brilliant!” Alena laughed and shook her head. “I guess I’ll call you ‘Alice’ from now on then.” She bumped against Claire’s arm. “Down the rabbit hole and all.”

  Happy flutters exploded in Claire’s gut. She’d made Alena laugh! “As long as no one offs my head, I’ll be okay.” She tried to make it sound like a joke, but, well…

  “I won’t let them. That’s my job, remember? You just eat your cookies and drink your potions and you’ll be just fine.” Alena settled in her chair and stretched her legs out as much as possible. She seemed far more relaxed now than when they’d boarded.

  Hopefully, Claire had something to do with that. She opened the book she’d read a million times before and started to read, but most of her attention still went to Alena. She was more interesting, by far!

  * * *

  Eleven hours was a lot of time to kill. She’d read some Alice, watched the first Kung-Fu Panda movie on the big screen at the front of the plane, and she’d tried to sleep. Somewhere in the middle of the night, she must have dozed off, because she awoke with a start when Alena gasped beside her. Not a little “I’m shocked!” gasp, but a full on, almost orgasmic inhale of breath that had her arch back in her chair.

  Claire rubbed the sleep from her eyes and took it in—eyes closed, lips parted, body locked in an arch, thighs trembling—and promptly lost the ability to function. All her mind could provide her was the image of Alena looking like that because of things Claire had done to her. Not even her mind dared to go into detail. “A-Are you okay?” Her voice had turned graveled.

  “M-Magic.” Alena gripped the armrest and tried to force herself back down.

  Claire sent the man across the aisle an apologetic smile and shrugged.

  He turned back to his book but glanced over every few seconds or so.

  “You told me.”
Claire waited for Alena to pull herself together, which she slowly did. She was sweaty and panting. Exactly like after—She stopped herself. It was too late to fight her blush.

  “N-No, that was wild magic.” She kept her voice low, which made it wobble even more. “Which is really a big problem!” Now the daze wore off, Alena seemed to come down off her high quickly. She sat up and shook herself out. “Remembers those bad guys I told you about…?”

  Claire nodded.

  “They now know that the wild mage is still alive.” She grabbed her phone, then must have remembered they were on a plane and stuffed it back into the pocket of her pants. “Shit. Shit, shit, shit. My father must be freaking out.”

  “Why?” Claire swallowed. “And what is a wild mage?” Like Alena, she made sure to whisper.

  “Because we really wanted to keep her a secret as long as possible—” She checked her watch. “And twenty-two and a half hours is really not what we had in mind.”

  “Oh.” Claire drew her legs up and wrapped her arms around her knees. “Sorry.”

  Alena glared at her, but then shook her head. “It’s not your fault. Just…shit!” She hit the armrest with her fist.

  Claire jumped. She watched Alena rub the side of her hand and rested her chin on her knees. “Alena? What’s a wild mage?”

  Alena glanced at her, then around them.

  The man across the aisle hurried to focus on his book.

  “Something best not discussed in public. It’s not good—or maybe very good. It depends on a lot of factors. I’ll tell you when we arrive, okay?”

  Claire wanted to object, to make her tell her about this person or thing that had Alena so upset, but she nodded instead. “Okay.” After a beat she dared to ask: “And you’re…over what happened?”

  Alena shook out her hair. “Yeah.” Was that a little blush? Was Alena blushing? “Sorry about that. That amount of energy is just…whew.” She grinned. “And this was a small wave, nothing like the first.”

  “The first?”

  “Jesus, me and my big mouth.” She leaned her head back against the seat. “Never mind, okay? This happened before, just before I came to get you. It was ten times as powerful then, twenty times.” She licked her lips. “Such power…”

  Claire was lost, but obviously she wasn’t going to get more out of Alena about this. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

  Alena took her in and smiled. “Thanks, and I’ll tell you more when we arrive. I’m really glad we decided to get you now. We need Madam Stravinsky now more than ever.”

  Another flutter filled her belly when Alena smiled at her. “S-Sure. Happy to help.”

  Alena chuckled. “Go back to sleep, Alice. Sorry for waking you.” She pulled her phone back out and fumbled with it.

  Claire glanced at the powered-down device. “That’s okay.” She wasn’t sleepy anymore, but she still curled up with her jacket. “Four and a half hours will pass quickly. Promise.”

  * * *

  By the time the wheels touched down, Claire was done with Alice in Wonderland and she’d watched Kong-Fu Panda II as well. Her ass was sore, and her spine felt compressed. When she leaned forward to prepare her bag, a sharp stab in her lower back made her groan.

  “Stiff?” Alena watched her pack. She had resigned herself to their situation a few hours ago and she’d started reading Alice In Wonderland.

  “Very. You’re not?”

  “Wrecked.” Alena stretched. “Almost home.”

  “Where is home, anyway?”

  “A little outside of London’s center. It’s not that far.” Alena let her arms fall down again. “Are you holding up okay?”

  Claire nodded, despite feeling bone tired. “I’m okay.”

  “Are you just saying that because you think that’s what I want to hear?”

  The teasing quality to her voice made Claire smile. “Maybe.” She closed her backpack and slid it on in anticipation of arrival. She glanced at the world outside and watched the grass between the landing strips come into view as the plane taxied to the gate. “I’m a little overwhelmed, I guess.”

  “That’s not odd. It happens with all of you. You’ll settle quickly, I promise.”

  Claire glanced back and caught Alena’s eyes. “I’m sure I will.” She smiled with as much bravado as she could muster. “What time is it?”

  Alena checked her watch. “About one p.m. local time. For you it’s about eight in the morning.”

  Well, that explained why she felt so wrecked. “Thank you.”

  “No problem.” Alena handed her a book and Claire stared at it, confused for a few seconds, before she realized it was her own copy of Alice in Wonderland and that she should put it in her bag.

  A minute or so later, the “fasten your seatbelts” light went off and people got up amongst groans and laughs. Soon, everyone was busy getting their bags out of the overhead compartments.

  Claire undid hers, and Alena undid the bulky thing as well.

  The dulled click of the tube connecting with the hull of the plane had Claire look up, then at Alena to see if she was getting up. She wasn’t, but she was tense, and she kept her gaze on the various flight attendants who prepared the plane for arrival.

  Claire leaned back against her backpack and waited.

  One of the flight attendants walked toward the door and disappeared out of sight.

  The intercom announced the local time and Claire wished she hadn’t asked Alena for the time. She should have known it would be called out soon. They always did.

  “Didn’t you have a coat?”

  “Hm?” Claire looked back to find Alena inspecting her.

  “A coat. You had one.”

  “Oh, yeah. It’s in my bag.” She turned a bit to show Alena, although realistically all she’d be able to see was a slightly bulkier backpack. She really had to stop doing stupid things.

  “Okay, as long as you take it with you.”

  “I have it.” She smiled.

  Alena smiled back, which caused a gazillion little sparks to light up in Claire’s belly. She looked away before she could do or say something stupid again.

  Fresh air rushed into the plane.

  “Come on.” Alena got up and held out her hand.

  Claire stared at the wiggling fingers, then rushed to take them.

  “Let’s get you to the Den.” Alena helped her up, then let go of her hand, which had Claire stifle a sigh. She followed Alena off the plane and hoped that there would be another opportunity for handholding soon.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  I have visited the Otherworld, but I am stumped. It was nothing but darkness. Perhaps I did not traverse far enough, but I did not dare leave my shell behind for longer. It’s easy to forget the shell exists when you don’t feel it around you.

  God does not reside in darkness. There must be light. Light beyond what my own mind provides for me when I slip into meditation, at least. Where is the entrance? The pearly Gate, either with or without its guard? Must I die before I become partial to the knowledge?

  I refuse to die—I will never die. I will become God and live eternal. And so, I will search more. I will search until I find my maker, and then I’ll end Him.

  – Simon Magus, “In Search of Heaven; Treaties of the Veil”

  ALENA WEAVED THROUGH travelers like a snake through tall grass.

  Claire tried to keep up and take in London’s busy airport at the same time. All the voices and people made her feel claustrophobic, but it was also an adventure—one she’d never thought she’d have.

  Alena pressed her phone to her ear. It was picked up almost right away. “Dad! Oh, sorry. I figured—never mind. What’s happening? I know, I felt it. Are they—right. Good. Well, we’re on the ground, so we’ll be there in half an hour or so.” Alena guided her outside.

  Cool air hit her and Claire relaxed a bit. She took in the London skyline and smiled.

  “Claire.” Alena inclined her head for her to keep up.

  “Sorry
.” She zipped up her jacket as she speed walked after Alena.

  “Yeah, I’ll see you soon. Bye.” Alena hung up the phone and slid it into her pocket, which she zipped.

  “Is it as bad as you thought?”

  Alena shrugged and guided her towards the airport’s parking lot.

  “They’re safe, for now. It was a stupid mistake, though. My father is pissed, but hopefully it’ll work out—eventually. We’ll definitely need you to host Madame Stravinsky tonight, after dinner.”

  The crowds died down by the time they reached the back lot. “Oh.” Claire didn’t know how to feel about that. “Okay.”

  Alena shrugged and squeezed her shoulder. “You’ll be okay, Alice. You can sleep before, I think. I need to talk to everyone, anyw—Nghhh!” She tensed, then dropped to the ground and flopped like a fish on dry land.

  An odd clicking sound filled the air.

  “Alena!” Claire spun around and froze.

  “Don’t run.” There were four of them, all dressed in dull green suits with hoods and gas masks. A floppy beak extended from their mouth pieces. She couldn’t be sure, but the man who’d spoken appeared to be the one holding the Taser.

  She stepped back.

  Another of the group leveled his Taser in her direction. “We warned you, don’t run.” He had an accent, something German or Eastern European.

  She froze and looked from one to the other. Her heart galloped in her throat.

  The first man released the Taser trigger. The clicking sound cut off.

  Alena clawed at the ground. “R-Ru—”

  The first man kicked her. “Shut up, witch.”

  Alena groaned.

  “W-Who are you?” She glanced around her, praying for bystanders to come up and save her, but there was no one. Alena had chosen a very private location to park.

  “None of your concern. Get down on the ground.” The others trained Tasers on her as well.