White Witch, Black Curse (The Hollows #7)

White Witch, Black Curse (The Hollows #7) Page 27

The elevator hardly moved, dropping a floor before the silver doors slid apart to show a dark, low-ceilinged entryway. "Jenks," I said as I edged to the opening lit by the elevator itself. "Are you sure about this?"

The hum of his wings rose over the faint sound of machinery as he lifted off from my shoulder. "I'll get the lights. Hit the button for the lobby before you come out so it looks like you left, okay?"

I did what he said, and his faint glow darted out and was lost. There was undoubtedly a camera in the elevator, but Jenks would've taken care of it. I followed the pixy's sifting dust, holding my bag more tightly to me. It was cooler down here. Not like outside, but worrisome.

"Jenks?" I called, hearing my voice come back from hard walls and surfaces. "You okay with this temp?" There were chairs stacked up everywhere, with a wide path leading out. Low carpet. I didn't think the floor was moving, but if it was like upstairs, there would be only a ring of mobile floor, moving with the steady pace of an hour hand.

Jenks's faint voice came back, "Tink's panties. You're worse than my mother, Rache."

"I'm just saying it's cold." The chairs gave way to tables stacked surface to surface. I moved to an open spot before the bare, black windows. It had the same view as the restaurant above, and I could see Fountain Square if I pressed my head to the glass. We weren't moving, but the grinding of machinery was loud. Maybe it was too noisy to use this level.

"Found the lights!" Jenks shouted, and with that as warning, bright light flashed into existence from the recessed fixtures overhead.

I jerked, shrinking down below the level of the windows. "Uh, is there a dimmer? All of Cincinnati can see me!"

Immediately the lights went out, and before I could stand, Jenks's wings were humming by my ear. "No. Sorry. You want me to keep looking?"

Squinting to see with my light-blinded vision, I fumbled for a chair stacked on an upside-down table. "No, there's enough ambient light." I said. "I'll just do this by the window."

He shook himself to light a small circle, and I set the chair in it, dropping my bag on top. A second chair went beside it, and a third about five feet to the side. "What's our time look like?" I asked, tension knotting my stomach as I dug in my bag. Finally my eyes readjusted.

Jenks landed on the back of the chair. I recognized the pattern of brocade from having sat on it only yesterday. "Less than two minutes."

"Why do I always cut these things so darn close?" I said, dropping a pair of jeans on the chair beside me. The eight-year-old memory of Pierce naked in the snow rose up in my thoughts, and I forced it away, setting the rest of his clothes there as well. The shoes had come from Ivy, and they smelled like vampire. I hadn't asked, I'd just said thank you. My splat gun topped the pile, and Mom's red-and-white crucible/stone went on the chair across from me. Pulse quickening, I set the three bottles on the window ledge. Almost ready.

I ran my hands down my dress to dry my palms. Despite it being chilly, I was starting to sweat, and in this dress, it was going to show. "Okay. I can't make a protective circle, so you're going to have to keep yourself intact," I told Jenks.

The pixy's wings blurred into invisibility. "Give me a freaking break."

A sigh slipped from me. "When Al shows, get yourself out of sight until he agrees to leave people with me alone. Got it?"

Jenks looked at me. "Sure, whatever."

Like I believed that. "Time?" I asked.

"Half a minute."

The bottles clinked as I chose one, and Jenks flew to the window, looking down at Fountain Square as I twisted the ground-glass stopper out and poured the liquid into the crucible. The tinkling of the potion drew Jenks back, and hovering so that the draft from his wings shifted the surface, he said, "It doesn't smell like it worked."

He looked worried, and I remembered the failed locator charms. "I have to invoke it when they all start singing."

"Gotcha." Reassured, he lit on the back of the chair. "And he's going to be naked."

"Yup." I rolled the finger stick between my thumb and forefinger, waiting. Man, I hoped I did this right. If I could get Al to agree to this, it would be the first time I'd gotten anything from him without leaving a bit of my soul behind.

From above, I could hear the faint whisper of a countdown, the concrete and machinery between us making the enthusiastic shouting hardly audible. Ten seconds. I snapped the top to the finger stick and pricked my finger. The sharp jab was a jolt, and I massaged the tip.

"Wait for it," Jenks admonished. "Wa-a-a-ait for it...Now!"

Heart pounding, I let one, two, and then three drops of blood into the crucible. "Think happy thoughts," I whispered as Jenks flew to me, and we both waited for the redwood scent that would tell me if I had done the spell right. Like a wave, the warm scent rolled out.

"There it is!" Jenks said brightly, then his expression, lit by his own dust, faded. I backed up from the chair. Okay, I'd done it. Now we'd see if I was as smart as we all hoped I was.

"Holy crap!" the pixy said as the liquid started to spontaneously steam. My pulse quickened, and I picked up my splat gun. Al was going to be pissed. If this didn't get his attention, nothing would.

"Let me know when you smell burnt amber, okay?" I muttered, but Jenks was fascinated, hovering between me and the rising mist, unseen but for the faint dust slipping from him.

"Here he comes!" the pixy said excitedly, and I got behind one of the chairs. Somewhere in the spell, the dust was being used to give Pierce material to form his temporary body around. The mist started to take on a more human silhouette in the faint ambient light. Every second he looked more there. I didn't know what kind of shape he was going to be in. Al could've beaten him badly by now. I was going to have my hands full with Al and wouldn't be able to help Pierce.

"Jenks, get back," I demanded, and the pixy zipped to me and away again. The mist was thickening, and Jenks swore as the misty shape seemed to shrink an inch all around-and suddenly, Pierce was there, his bare feet standing on the brocade fabric with his head near the ceiling facing away from me. Naked as a jaybird.

The man spun, holding on to the back of the chair as he turned. His eyes lit on me, and he let go of the chair, wobbling as he covered himself. "Holy manure," he said, tossing his head to get the black tangle of hair out of his eyes, his face creased in what looked like anger. "I'd be of a mind to know, what the devil are you doing, mistress witch?"

Jenks rose up, his sword bared. "You scrawny ungrateful piece of crap!"

"Jenks!" I shouted, breathing deep for any sign of Al as I leaned over the chair and tossed Pierce the clothes. He caught them with one hand, and in a smooth motion, he jumped to the floor, putting his back to me as he fumbled to put the pants on.

I was scanning the dark, cluttered floor for demon-sign, but Jenks was more interested in Pierce, shocking the man as he flew to face him, shedding bright sparkles. "We're saving your ass, that's what we're doing," he said. "And the correct vernacular is holy shit."

Adrenaline spiked when I caught a whiff of burnt amber, but it was coming from Pierce.

The solid ghost was shoving his legs into the pants, not bothering with the underwear. I couldn't help but notice-even in the dark-that they were nice legs. Strongly muscled. Used to work.

As if feeling my eyes on him, he turned, trying to get the zipper up. "What are you doing?" he said, clearly aghast. "I opine that it's not your responsibility to save me. I can take care of myself."

Still no Al. "Good," I said, anxious, "because in about three seconds, Al is going to show up, and you need to take care of your own ass. I'm going to be busy. Get behind me and stay out of the way, okay?"

Pierce gave up on the zipper and snatched a white, collared shirt up from the floor. "You rescued me without a plan?" he said, his old-world accent making him sound exotic as he shoved his arms into the sleeves and started buttoning it up. "This is a powerful fix. Nohow around it."

"Of course I have a plan, but rescuing you wasn't the point," I said, affronted. "It's the catalyst. Get behind me!"

Pierce grabbed the shoes and half-hopped beside me as he put one on. His shirt was untucked to hide his open zipper. The socks, too, he had ignored. "You didn't rescue me, then?"

"Not really."

"Do tell," he said, sounding almost unhappy. His angular, thin face was wearing disappointment as he got his last shoe on and looked up. In the dim light, I could see his dark hair was mussed, and his narrow chin smooth. Though his blue eyes looked innocent, I knew behind them was a devious mind, clever and wicked. And he was looking at me. Damn it to the Turn and back. Stop it, Rachel.

"Pierce. I'm sorry. Can we talk about this after I take care of Al?"

He stood, matching my height. "After?" he questioned.

I looked over the dark storage room, gripping my gun tighter as I started to sweat. "Al wouldn't talk to me, and pulling you out from under him was the only way I could think of to force the issue. Will you get behind me? I can't tap a line or set a circle. My aura is too thin."

"You're taking on a demon with a thin aura? I can't commune with the ever-after either! Are you plum mad?"

From above us, Jenks muttered, "I ask myself that at least three times a week."

His expression going empty, Pierce looked up at Jenks, unknown thoughts sifting behind his blue eyes, looking black in the dim light from the windows.

"I'm not taking him on," I said as I scanned for signs of Al. "I'm talking to him."

Thick eyebrows furrowing, Pierce took a breath to say something. My eyes narrowed, but he stopped, holding his breath, as if listening to something I couldn't hear. Jenks's wings hit a higher pitch, and the skin on the back of my neck crawled.

"Rache?" Jenks had his sword out as he revolved in midair. "He's coming..."

"Make yourself scarce, Jenks. I mean it."

With a boom of sound, the air pressure shifted. My instinctive hunch straightened, my eyes going first to the quivering windows, and then the new shadow standing before us in the open space. In one quick lurch, Pierce was beside me. Al was here. About freaking time.

"Student!" Al shouted, his red goat-slitted eyes glowing as he looked over his smoked glasses. He was poised in anger, his velvet coat and lace looking ominous against the black windows. Seeing Pierce, his jaw clenched. "There you are, you little runt. We had an agreement!"

"It wasn't me!" Pierce shouted indignantly. "She did it!" he added, pointing as he took three steps away.

Agreement? I thought as Jenks started swearing. She did it? "Al, I can explain," I said even as I leveled my gun at him. I wanted to talk to him, but I wasn't going to be stupid about it.

"You slimy little slug!" Jenks was saying, hovering over us to light the scene.

Al's growl of annoyance was loud, and his white-gloved hands clenched. "I am going to pulp one or both of you," he said in a low voice.

Pride that I had snatched Pierce mixed with a healthy dose of fear. Adrenaline was running, and I felt alive. I thought I'd kicked this particular high, but apparently not. Al made a grab for Pierce, and I jerked him back. Jenks darted up, and the shadows grew darker.

"You're mine, little runt," Al intoned. "The longer it takes, the longer you're going to suffer."

"Mistress witch summoned me," he said defiantly. "I have until sunrise before I am obliged to return."

I had a bad feeling about this. It sounded as if Pierce had already made a deal with Al, and worse, that he was comfortable with it. Damn it, I did it again.

"I told you, Rache!" Jenks said as I shoved Pierce behind me and the pixy dropped down. "I'm sorry, but I told you!"

"I don't have time for this," Al growled. He gestured, and Pierce seized, falling to the flat carpet in convulsions at my heels.

"Hey!" I shouted, shifting to stand so Al couldn't just scoop him up. "Do you not see this gun I've got? Knock it off, Al. I'm trying to talk to you."

Al wasn't listening, a black haze pulsing as he clenched his white-gloved hands together, and Pierce groaned, tightening into a ball. This was so not working. "Al, if you don't knock it off and pay attention to me, I'm going to plug you!" I threatened.

His red eyes flicked to mine. "You wouldn't dare."

I squeezed the trigger. Al dove for the side, falling into a roll and landing on his feet, facing me. Behind me, Pierce gasped. "I missed on purpose!" I shouted. "Stop tormenting Pierce and talk to me."

"Rachel, Rachel, Rachel," Al said from the dark, his low voice making me shudder. "That was a mistake, my itchy witch."

Never taking my eyes off the incensed demon, I fumbled for Pierce, helping him up. "You okay?"

"As a summer day in the meadow," he breathed heavily, wiping his face.

Jenks hovered between Al and me, his face ugly. "Let Al have him, Rache. He's slug slime. You heard him. He's already got a deal going."

Like I don't? "This isn't about Pierce," I said tightly. "It's about Al snagging people." I turned to the demon. "And you're going to listen to me!"

"You should listen to the pixy," Al said, pulling the lace from his sleeves before making a backward kick to send six tables sliding into the distant wall like dominoes. "If you were wise, you'd throw that pile of refuse to me and beg for leniency. He's going to kill you."

The shakes were starting, and I pushed Pierce farther behind me. Soon as Al got him, they would be gone. And I wanted to talk to Al. "Pierce isn't going to hurt me," I quavered, and Al smiled, his blocky teeth catching a glint of ambient light.

"Tell him what you are, itchy witch."

Doubt filled me. Seeing it, Al reclined against a table. Slowly I lowered my gun. "I just want to talk to you. Why are you making this so dramatic?"

"He's going to betray you," Al prophesied, taking a step closer, and my gun came up again.

"Why should he be any different from any other man?" I said.

Jenks made a tiny huff, and hearing it, Pierce turned, his expression sour. "If you would give me a hooter of a moment, I could explain."

"Yeah, I'll bet," I said, then, more charitable, I added, "Later, okay? I want to talk to Al." I focused on the demon. "That's the only reason I snatched him. The only reason," I affirmed when Jenks buzzed his disagreement. Seeing Al listening, I eased my posture. "Al, you can't snatch people when you're checking up on me. It's not fair."

"Wahh, wahh, wahh," he mocked. Snapping his fingers in an unusual showmanship, he vanished.

Jenks's wings clattered a warning. "Ah, Rache, he's not gone."

"Really? You think?" I whispered, then spun when Pierce made a choking sound.

"Damn it, Al!" I shouted, falling back in frustration upon seeing that the demon had Pierce by the neck, his feet dangling three inches above the floor.

"This one is already mine," he snarled, bringing Pierce close to his face. "Let me jump you to a line, worm. A year in my oubliette will teach you not to stray."

"It wasn't me," he gasped, his face going purple in the dim light. "She spelled me here. That's how we met," Pierce forced out. "When...she...was...eight...teen."

His last words warbled as he shook, and I was seriously wondering how much damage even a solid ghost could take. "Al! Stop it!" I said, putting my gun down and tugging on Al's velveteen-hidden arm. "I wouldn't have even taken him if you hadn't ignored me and picked up your damned line. I just want to talk to you. Will you listen to me!"

"This is for your own good," the demon said, eyeing me from over his glasses, Pierce still hanging in his grip. "He'll kill you, Rachel."

"I don't freaking care! Knock it off and pay attention to me!"

Pierce gurgled, and Al's focus became distant. Nervous, I let go of his arm and backed up into Jenks's dust. "You didn't rescue him to be your boyfriend?" Al asked, shifting his blood-smeared, white-gloved fingers around Pierce's throat.

"No!" I exclaimed, glancing at Jenks. "Why does everyone think he's my boyfriend?"

Pierce collapsed as Al dropped him. The demon stepped elegantly over the crumpled man, and I backed to the window as elegant swearwords in an old-world accent spilled out from the downed witch. Jenks's eyes widened, the pixy clearly impressed.

Al was looking at me in disbelief. "Not your lover?"

"No."

"But he is Rachel candy," Al said, his confusion too honest to be faked.

Behind him, on his hands and knees, Pierce pulled his head up. His blue eyes were vivid, and his hair was mussed. "Go to hell. You can't kill me until I'm alive."

"Looks like I can make you hurt, though," Al said, and Pierce clenched into a ball.

My neck started to sweat. Okay. Al was here, he was listening. "Al," I said loudly, trying to get the demon's attention back on me as he leaned over Pierce and poked him. "We need to talk about you snagging people. You need to stop it. Not only is it going to get me worse than shunned, but do you really want to be known as the demon who snatches instead of the demon who cleverly outwits stupid humans and Inderlanders? Come on. This is your reputation we're talking about."

On the floor, Pierce took a heaving breath of air and relaxed as Al quit whatever he was doing to him and straightened. "You can't have this one here," he said.

"Neither can you. Let him go."

Pierce's eyes met mine. "Mistress witch...There are things you don't understand. If you could only allow it in yourself to let me explain."

Al put a foot on his neck, and Pierce choked. Jenks flew down from the unseen rafters, his dust lighting the small space. "It doesn't make a difference," I said, my thoughts going to Nick and his belief that you can outsmart demons and wondering how he was doing. "We all do what we have to in order to survive. It's up to me to become involved or not, and I'm not."

"I'm sorry, Rache," Jenks whispered.

A thick smirk was on Al's lips. "Dali wouldn't help you, eh?"

"I didn't ask him."

"No?" Al questioned, and he pulled his foot from Pierce's neck.

I shrugged, though it was hard to see in the dark. "Why bother him when I can talk to you, demon to student." Cocking my hip, I made sure he could see my silhouette before the lighter darkness of the window. "The only student. In five thousand years. Yours. Not Dali's."

Worried, Jenks began dusting even more heavily, lighting a small space. Al made a small noise in thought. "You wouldn't," he said confidently, but there was doubt.

My heart pounded, and I gave him a mocking look. I doubt he could see it, but my posture was clear enough. Behind Al, Pierce opened one eye, finding mine immediately. There was defiance in him yet, helpless as he was. Strong beyond belief, but needing my help. Damn it, he was classic Rachel bait. "I only snatched him to get your attention," I said. "Now that I've got it, this is what I want."

"Damn my dame!" Al shouted, hands raised to the ceiling. "I knew it! Not another list!"

Jenks had let a burst of light go in his surprise, and in the new glow, I held up a finger. "Number one," I said. "Don't you ever not pick up when I'm trying to get in touch with you. I don't call unless it's important, so answer your line, okay?"

Al brought his attention back down from the ceiling. "You really don't want to have sex with him? Why? What's wrong with him?"

I flushed and held up a second finger. "Two, I want a little respect. Stop hurting people with me. And no more snatching."

"Respect," Al huffed. "Too bad. So sad. Respect needs to be earned, and you haven't given me anything to buy it from me."

Behind him, Pierce edged away, but before he could gain his feet, Al jabbed his foot backward, and the witch went sprawling.

"Respect?" I echoed. "You think I still need to earn your respect? How about me not summoning you even when I wanted to talk to you? How about me knowing all your friends' names and not summoning them? How about me not working with them so they can get their own bloody familiars? I could walk away from you and go to any of them. At any time. Done."

Leaving him was an empty threat, but because I had snatched Pierce from him, with no ley line magic and limited resources, he was listening. I didn't want another teacher. Maybe I should tell him that.

The light from Jenks's last dusting had faded, and I couldn't see Al's face. He wasn't moving, though. "Three," I said softly, "I want to stay your student. You probably want to keep it that way, too, huh? Don't push me on this, Al. I'll leave, and I don't want to."

Pierce looked riven, and Al's expression became unreadable.

Taking a breath, I focused on Al-who had been listening intently. "So what's it going to be? Are you going to be nice, or naughty?"

In a smooth motion, Al swooped toward Pierce, grabbing him by the shirtfront and hoisting him up. "Sorry about that, little runt," he said, zipping up his pants and arranging his collar in motions so fast that it left Pierce shocked, and scrambling. "Terrible misunderstanding."

He gave Pierce a smack on the back, to send him stumbling. Face red, Pierce caught his balance and pushed Al's hands off him. Stiff with pride, he turned his back on us as he tugged his clothes back where they should be, ran a hand over his hair, and then turned around. I wouldn't look at him.

Jenks had moved closer to me in the fast exchange, and he hovered suspiciously. I wasn't satisfied, though, and I stayed where I was, my back to the window. "So you agree, no snatching, smacking, killing, or scaring people with me. I want to hear it."

"This one doesn't count," Al said. "It's not retroactive."

"Good God! This is an addiction!" I exclaimed, but seeing I'd pushed him far enough-and that he and Pierce already seemed to have an agreement-I nodded. "Say it," I insisted.

Pierce was edging away from Al. The motion wasn't lost on the demon, and he jerked him back. "I won't snatch, harm, or scare to death people with you or use checking up on you as an excuse to cause trouble. You're worse than my mother, Rachel."

"Mine, too," Jenks muttered.

"Thank you," I said formally. I was shaking inside. I'd done it. I'd freaking done it. And it hadn't cost me my soul, or a mark, or anything. Hallelujah, she can be taught!

Al gave Pierce a shove away and strolled closer to me. I tensed, then relaxed, putting my gun away. I could smell the burnt amber flowing from him, and Jenks hovered backward, sword hefted as if ready to throw it. I didn't move, numb as Al sidled up alongside me and together we eyed Pierce, nervous under our combined scrutiny. "If you give him a body," he said lightly, "I will kill him."

I looked at Al. His eyes didn't look strange anymore, and it scared me. "I don't know that curse," I said blandly.

Al's jaw clenched and released. "He will eventually try to kill you, Rachel. Let me save you the trouble of killing him in turn."

Tired, I started tucking things away. The empty bottle, the crucible, the used finger stick. My hands were shaking, and I made a fist. "Pierce isn't going to kill me."

"You got that right," Al and Jenks said simultaneously.

"Tell him what you are, itchy witch," Al added after a wary look at the pixy. "See what happens."

Pierce had been in my church for almost a year. I doubted very much he didn't know what I was. It was only just after midnight, but I was ready to go home. "Why don't you leave before someone recognizes you," I said as Jenks landed on my shoulder. My adrenaline was gone, and I was cold in my little black dress. I looked around, but apart from the two bottles of potion still on the sill, there was nothing of mine except Pierce standing stoically by the window, trying not to look naive as he gazed down at the streets of Cincinnati full of people partying. "I'm already shunned, thanks to you," I finished.

A beautiful smile came over the demon, and looking at me from over his smoked glasses, he said, "Leave? But it is such a spectacular night!" That smile still on his face, he strode to the window and picked up my potion bottles. I held out my hand for them as he lifted them to the faint light and squinted.

"You made more than one potion to give him substance?" Al asked, and when I said nothing, he cracked one of the seals and breathed. "Nice presentation," he murmured, then slid them into a jacket pocket.

"Hey! Those are mine!" I protested, jolted out of my complacency. Jenks launched himself off my shoulder, but Pierce gave me what was almost a nasty look, as if I should have known better and was being stupid.

Al didn't even bother to acknowledge me as I stood with my arms crossed over my middle and sulked in a drop-dead gorgeous dress underneath Cincinnati's premier restaurant. "These are mine," he finally said. "You're my student, and I can claim anything you make."

I jumped when I suddenly became aware that Pierce was behind me. He gave me a heartfelt look, trying to take my hands as he said, "Rachel, might I have a word with you? My heart is breaking to explain."

"I'll bet," I said sourly, pulling my hands away. "Why don't you vamoose so Al will go with you and leave me the hell alone?"

"I'll allow that this looks powerful suspicious," he admitted. "And anyone would be in a fine pucker, but you yourself have a mind to deal with the devil spawn upon occasion. I have until sunrise to convince you that I'm honorable." He looked at Al. "You agreed to no snatching. I have until sunrise."

Al gestured grandly. "If you must. But I'm not leaving you alone with her."

My eyebrows rose, and even Jenks made a tiny squeak of a sound. "Whoa, boys. I have plans tonight, and they don't include a demon and a ghost."

"Yeah!" Jenks launched himself from my shoulder and hovered to brighten the area. "We got reservations at the Warehouse." He flitted to the window and looked down, staying in flight and dusting heavily.

"Sounds like fun," Al said, rubbing his white-gloved hands together. "Pierce, get the lift."

"No way!" I shouted. "Pierce, will you just go? I can talk to you next week."

The man's jaw was set as he ducked out from under Al's attempt to shove him to the elevator, and he straightened, saying, "I'll not be moseyin' until I have a chance to settle this. And that is all I'm saying about it."

I sighed, leaning back against the cold window with my butt on that narrow sill. The last thing I needed was to put this circus on rails. "Fine," I said sourly, crossing my ankles. "I'm listening."

Al started pouting, unable to leave and cause mischief lest Pierce "kill me," I suppose. More likely it was to keep the witch from telling me something that Al didn't want me to know.

Seeing me listening, Pierce took a breath he really didn't need. His arms fell to his sides as he exhaled, and his expressive face softened into one of persuasion.

"Uh, guys?" Jenks said, hovering at the window. "Fountain Square is on fire."

"What?" I jumped to my feet and turned in one motion. Al rushed to the window, and we pressed our foreheads to the glass, looking down, Jenks between us. From overheard, the groaning of machinery became loud and obvious. Faint calls were sifting down through the concrete or perhaps vibrating through the glass. I could imagine that the entire party upstairs was now leaning against the glass as we were.

It was hard to see, but Jenks was right. The stage was on fire. People were gathering in the street. From beside me, Pierce said, "I thought that was what it was supposed to look like."

Shit. Ivy was down there. And Glenn.

"I gotta go," I said, turning to the elevator. My phone rang, and I jerked to a stop. It wouldn't work in the elevator. The little screen lit up, and Al peered over my shoulder. "It's Ivy," I said, my relief obvious. "Ivy?" I called as I flipped the phone open, and the sound of screams and sirens filtered out.

"I need you," she said loudly, over the chaos. "Your locator amulets just lit up. Mia is here."

I stood at the window and looked down. "Jenks says there's a fire," I said.

She hesitated, and then calmly said, "Oh. Yes. The stage is burning. Rachel, I'm watching Glenn, but if he gets too close to a banshee..."

Crap. "Got it." I started walking to the elevator, Jenks hovering close so he could hear both ends of the conversation.

"I think The Walker is calling Mia out," Ivy added, and I punched the button for the lift.

"I'm on my way." Breathless and fidgety, I closed the phone and jammed it in my bag. Where's the stupid elevator? I'm not going to run down thirty flights of stairs.

Al cleared his throat, and I spun around, just now remembering them.

"Oh, uh, Pierce," I said, feeling myself warm. "I'm sorry. I have to go."

Al jiggled the man's elbow, beaming from ear to ear. "This is going to be entertaining. I've never watched Rachel work. Apart from when she was working on me, of course."

"Entertaining?" Pierce slid away from him. "You have an almighty odd vision of entertainment, demon."

"I told you to call me Al," he said, looking at his blurry reflection and adjusting his lace.

Jenks's features scrunched up in annoyance, and I rubbed my forehead. I could not take the two of them down into Fountain Square. Pierce didn't have a coat, and Al...Thanks to a couple of news shots, the entirety of Cincinnati knew his face. "Pierce, can't we do this another time?" I asked, distracted. Where is the damn elevator! I thought, hitting the call button again, my elbow smacking into it with undue force.

But Pierce inclined his head, dropping back to give me a half bow, his eyes never leaving mine as he almost smiled. His look reminded me of the night we had met, racing off to save a young girl from a vampire. He had liked my "fiery spirit," and clearly things hadn't changed. I had, though.

"You summoned me, mistress witch, whether by intent or secondary purpose. I'm not leaving until I have a chance to explain."

Swell.

Al straightened as the elevator dinged behind me. "I'm staying with him," he affirmed.

Peachy keen.

The elevator doors opened, and Jenks whistled, long and slow. "Tink's contractual hell," he whispered, and I turned to see who Al was making bunny-eared kiss-kiss gestures to.

Unbelieving, I started shaking my head. "Trent. This isn't what it looks like."

The young man had pressed himself to the back of the elevator, his terror showing for an instant before he pulled himself together and decided that if he was going to die, he might as well do it looking good.

"This just keeps getting better and better," Jenks said, and I pushed the call button again.

"We'll take the next one," I said, smiling.

"Plenty of room!" the demon exclaimed, and my heels clattered on the steel frame of the door when Al shoved me. Trent fended me off, pressing into a corner as Pierce and Al followed me in. Jenks rose up high to sit on the top of the controls, his feet tapping the screen that showed what floor we were on.

"I do not believe this," Trent said, his unbreakable composure shattered. "Rachel, you are unbelievable!"

"Believe it, you little cookie maker," Jenks chimed out, and then to Pierce, "Hit the 'close' button, will you, Pierce? We don't have all day."

Pierce didn't have a clue, and Jenks flew down and hit the button feet first. The doors slid shut, and we started to drop. "Holy shit!" Pierce exclaimed, pressing into the opposite corner and clutching the rail. "We're falling!"

I slid away from his suddenly green face, bumping Trent. The elevator wasn't that big, and everyone was giving Al lots of room as he hummed the theme song to...Dr. Zhivago?

"Summoning your demon at the top of Carew Tower?" Trent hissed in my ear.

Peeved, I shifted a little more to stand between him and Al. "I'm trying to make the world a little safer," I muttered, then beamed as Al looked at us, my smile fading the instant the demon looked away. "He's not abducting you, is he? Turning you into a toad?" My voice was getting louder. "I've got this under control!" I smacked the "lobby" button, praying we didn't stop anywhere between here and there. There was no way this elevator could go fast enough.

"You will be jailed for this," Trent was saying, still having kittens in the corner.

"Nonsense." Al polished his glasses with another bit of red cloth. "I'm here to party on this side of the lines, eat a little something, but mostly"-he looked at me and put his glasses back on-"I'm here to keep our itchy witch from killing herself with an ash-to-flesh spell."

Jenks's wings buzzed in the sudden silence, and I turned to Trent. The man was pale, and his hair was in disarray, but he was staring at Al and me. His eyes flicked to Pierce, white-faced in the corner, and he said, "You can bring the dead to life? That's black magic."

"Not at all," Al protested grandly. "Where do you think our itchy witch found this tricky little runt of a bastard?" He gave Pierce a shove, and the witch gagged. "He's a ghost." The demon sniffed. "Can't you smell the little worms on him?"

My head thumped into the wall. This was so not going well.

"You're a ghost?" Trent said, and Pierce shakily extended his hand from his corner.

"Gordian Pierce. Coven of moral and ethical standards. You are, sir?"

"You're what?" I exclaimed, my face warming.

Al started laughing, and Jenks dropped down to my shoulder.

Jenks tickled my ear, almost getting smacked. "Rache!" he hissed. "Isn't that the coven that got you shunned?" I nodded, and he added, "Maybe he can get your shunning rescinded."

I thought about that. Having been buried in blasphemed ground and dealing with demons didn't stand well in his favor, but he had worked for the coven of moral and ethical standards. They were kind of like the I.S. Once a member, always a member. You couldn't retire. But you could die.

Trent shook his hand, looking positively stunned. "Ah, I'm Trent Kalamack. CEO of-"

Pierce jerked his hand from Trent and pushed himself straight. "Kalamack Industries," he said, expression twisted as he wiped his hand on his pants. "I knew your father."

"I do not freaking believe this," I said, shifting to stand where I could see both of them.

Al beamed. "Amazing who you can meet in an elevator," he said, and Trent eyed me.

"You have a charm to bring the dead to life. And it's white," the elf stated.

I took a breath to answer, and Al interrupted smoothly. "And it's for sale, at apprentice rates. No guarantees. I have two right here," he said, patting his coat pocket. "It's temporary. The curse to give them a lasting body is a far sight trickier. Someone has to die, you see. I'd imagine that would make them black, but you don't seem to worry about killing people for your own ends, do you, Trenton Aloysius Kalamack?" he said with a simper. "Funny how you call my witch black, when you kill for profit, and she kills..." He hesitated in mock thought. "Why, she hasn't killed anyone who didn't ask her to! Imagine that."

Color spotted Trent's cheeks. "I don't kill for profit."

From the corner, Pierce muttered, "You kill for progress, if you're anything like your father."

As one, we all looked at Pierce. The elevator dinged, and our attention was diverted as the doors opened. "Splendid! A fire!" Al cried cheerfully, striding out into the noisy crowd that had filled the downstairs lobby. The smell of smoke hit me, and I lurched to follow, not wanting Al to get out of my sight. It was crowded as people in evening gowns and suits talked loudly, mixing with people in jeans and heavy coats coming in to get warm but not ready to leave. Or perhaps they couldn't with the streets blocked off.

Trying to watch Al and Pierce both, I shuffled over to the coat clerk. Pierce's hand landed on my arm as I extended my ticket, and I spun, almost smacking him. "Best stay away from that one, mistress witch. His father was a devil on earth," the dead witch said, his eyes going to Trent.

"No kidding." Who should I believe, a ghost, or my dad? My dad was a good man, wasn't he? He wouldn't work for the devil on earth. Would he?

Confused, I took my coat and scanned the crowd for Al's velveteen one. Seeing Quen, I gave Trent's security a little shrug to try to tell him everything was okay and to keep him from going into battle mode when he saw Al. The demon had once mauled Trent.

Trent was making his way to Quen, his pace slow for being recognized and delayed. I pointed him out to Quen, and the security officer jumped into motion, his employer's coat over his arm.

I finally spotted Al by the doors, chatting up a pair of twins wearing baby bonnets for the year's end, and I unzipped my bag. "Inside, Jenks," I offered as I went to rescue the twins, and the pixy dropped down, cold and probably ready for that hand warmer. I knew it killed him being shoved in a bag like this, but he had no choice. And as I zipped it up, I vowed to be very careful with him tonight.

I shuffled into my coat as we went, jerking from Pierce's reach when he tried to help me. "I've got this okay," I said, then winced when Al grabbed my shoulder, pinching me into submission as he helped me into my coat. "Let go," I demanded, but my options were limited by the crowd. My last arm went sliding into the cold sleeve, and Al leaned in, reaching over my shoulders to fasten my top button.

"I admire the way you are breaking Trent," Al whispered from behind me, his white-gloved fingers moving to my chin to force my gaze to Trent and Quen. "So slow, like melting ice. And with his own pride. Masterful. I didn't know you had it in you, Rachel. Pain gets old after a time, but it's faster, and profit is the name of the game unless you're making art."

"I'm not breaking him," I said softly as Al backed up and I shifted my shoulders to get my coat to hang right. Trent and Quen were leaving, and the security officer looked back once before they vanished, his expression blank. I breathed easier when they were gone. At least I wouldn't be responsible for Trent's death. Not tonight, anyway.

The wail of sirens grew louder, and I turned to a second door. Pierce jumped ahead of us to open it, and I did a double take. "Where did you get a coat?"

Pierce's face reddened, but it was Al who leaned forward, saying, "He stole it, of course. The man has many talents. Why do you think I'm so interested in him? Or you, my itchy witch?"

Mood sour, I headed out into the cold, ducking down into my scarf and wishing I was anywhere other than here. If Ivy and Glenn weren't okay, I was going to freaking kill someone.