Blue eyes.
Not the eyes of a changing color.
Not the face of a great beauty either.
Not Sala!
The ice crystalized into rage, and with that fury he sent an impulsive blast of energy into this stranger, this Ifrit who had replaced his prisoner. Her eyes roled back in her head, blood trickling from her nose and ears. Her slim body hardly made an impact as it hit the floor.
The taste of Sala’s essence was fading now that the bottle had been opened. Fading… as it returned to her, wherever she was.
How had she done it? How had Sala escaped him?
“Master?” Even Rabir was wide-eyed.
Retribution hardened White’s features as he turned to his servant with one name. “Ari.”
“I’ve heard word from my contact in the Braemar Guild,” Jack said as soon as Charlie stroled into the large extension on the back of his house that he’d turned into a school of sorts for Charlie.
Only seconds ago, Charlie had been feeling tired and foggy. Now his heart was racing, his adrenaline pumping. Jack had been searching for The Guild that might have been tagging the Labartu that had kiled Mikey. It took him a few weeks to find any trace of Guild activity in and around Sandford Ridge at the time of Mikey’s death. He’d finaly found out that the Braemar Guild had been in Ohio, and after speaking with their leader, had discovered that they were in fact chasing the Labartu who had kiled Mikey. Her name was Akasha, and she was a particularly old, evil bitch from hel. To Charlie’s disappointment, the Braemar Guild had lost track of Akasha seven months ago, and were in the middle of trying to retrace her whereabouts. For a bonus the Braemar Guild would let Jack know where Akasha was when they found her.
Was this it then? Charlie’s gut churned at the idea of it al being over. It was strange. What would he do once he had his vengeance? What purpose would he have then? That was if he managed to kil Akasha and escape trial.
Jack shook his head. “The last lead was false. I promised them extra if they’d put more men on it.”
“Jack, you didn’t have to do that.”
Jack shook him off. “It’s nothing.”
As Charlie opened his mouth to protest, Trey sauntered in with a wide smile on his face. “Morning, al.”
Charlie nodded helo, frowning as Jack glared at Trey. Ever since his arrival a week ago, Trey had dogged his and Jack’s steps. He’d spent nearly every minute in this room with them as Jack educated Charlie on the use of magic through talismans, precious stones and metals. Used to more physical activity than what he was getting, Trey cracked inappropriate jokes al the time until Jack finaly gave in and let Trey take over, teaching Charlie physical defense. Although Charlie liked Trey, he got the distinct feeling he rubbed Jack the wrong way.
“Great. It’s returned,” Jack murmured, turning his back on them to open a cabinet. He began puling out the crystals he’d promised to show Charlie yesterday.
“Look, you need to stop with al the love,” Trey replied dryly. “I told you, I’m not going anywhere so get used to. Withhold the excitement.”
Jack raised an unimpressed eyebrow at him. “You don’t trust me with Charlie.”
“Oh, I think not,” Trey answered, his steel grey eyes alight with suspicion. “I think you’re both hiding something.”
Trying not to shift uncomfortably, Charlie walked over to join Jack for his lesson on crystals. “What could we be hiding? You’ve been with us every day.”
“Yeah, which is why I know you go al quiet when I step in to the room.” Trey smiled at Jack, but it was a little menacing. “I’m warning you, if you’re helping him do something he shouldn’t, I wil hurt you.”
Sighing, Jack shot him a weary look. “I think you already gave me that memo. To the lesson… please.”
Trey held up his hands, as if to say he was backing off, and stood to the side quietly as Jack began explaining the healing properties behind the white crystal.
Trey smashed a porcelain bowl he’d been fiddling with an hour later and received another scathing look from Jack. That is until Trey apologized with so much charm he even drew a reluctant smile from Jack. That had surprised them both. None more so than Trey who’d been delighted. Charlie got the feeling Trey was convinced he could make anyone like him.
He probably could.
The sound of the front door opening and shutting halted Jack in his tracks and they waited patiently as footsteps echoed through the house, getting louder as they neared the messy extension. Finaly Jai, Ari and Falon appeared in the doorway. For a moment, Charlie’s wistful gaze lingered on Ari. He hadn’t seen much of her these last few weeks. Her strange eyes were glittering with life and her whole being seemed to pulsate with vibrant energy. She looked locked inside her own thoughts.
Frowning, Charlie caught sight of Jai’s brooding face and wondered what was going on. Jai brooded when he was happy and when he was irritated so Charlie knew he wouldn’t get any answers from that direction. Instead, he glanced over at Falon, catching her eye. She looked juiced up too. He gave her an affectionate smirk, his eyes asking what the hel was going on.
“We thought we’d stop by and say goodbye,” Ari said slowly, looking from Charlie to Trey. “Falon and I have an assignment in Connecticut. Jai’s coming with us.”