are those?"
"That's the million-dollar question. These are what's causing my friend at the bookstore to act so weird."
Regaining his composure, he leaned in to look closer but wouldn't touch the bag. "They're strange," he said slowly. "They give off something..."
"Like an immortal signature," I agreed. "But I've never felt an inanimate object that did this. It's not the same as an enchantment."
"It doesn't feel bad exactly...just not right."
"I asked Seth about it. Mortals don't feel anything, only us. Ever come across anything like this?"
"No, but then I'm the novice next to you, right?"
I slid the crystals back into my purse, to the relief of both of us, and then explained what Alec had said about mixing them in liquid.
"Curiouser and curiouser," mused Bastien. "Not like any drug I know, but it's not giving off any legitimate potion vibes either. If you want to know what this is, Fleur ,you're going to have to break out the big guns."
I knew he was right. We hung out together a while longer, moving on to less weird subjects. The bread smelled so good cooking that there was no way I could leave until I'd tried a piece. Upon tasting it, I decided that whatever her other faults, Dana knew what she was doing with food. I ended up getting away with a good half loaf of the bread and then drove back downtown to find the "big guns."
I got a lucky break, and Jerome actually answered his cell phone and gave me his location. Even if he hadn't, it would have been on my list of places to try. The Cellar was an old, dark pub in Pioneer Square, Seattle's historic district. You had to take a flight of stairs down to get to the Cellar, and I always had the feeling the place wouldn't survive the Northwest's next big earthquake. The Cellar was one of Jerome and Carter's favorite haunts.
I found them both there in their usual corner. The place was dark, as always, and was starting to pick up a little with happy-hour traffic. Angel and demon watched me enter with their typically amused expressions, both having sensed me before I cleared the door. Jerome always gave the impression over the phone that I was taking up his time, but neither seemed particularly busy now. I ordered a gimlet at the bar, smiling at the two guys who made conversation while I waited, and then moved on to join the dynamic duo.
"A working lunch?" I asked, inclining my head at the empty shot glasses in front of them. The two practically sat side by side, so the only other chair was across from them, like I was at an interview.
Carter picked up one of the empty glasses and offered me a mock toast. I clinked my glass with his. "Don't question the divine workings of the universe, Daughter of Lilith. "
"The Lord's work is never done," added Jerome solemnly.
They both seemed a little loopy, but I wasn't fooled. Higher immortals like angels and demons could control their levels of intoxication. The other lesser immortals and I had said a number of stupid things in front of them when we thought either Jerome or Carter had been wasted. Their eyes held a shrewd scrutiny even now that told me they were both curious about why I'd sought out my supervisor in the middle of the day.
"Been to see the incubus?" Jerome asked a moment later.
I nodded. "He thinks he's making progress."
"Thinks?" asked the demon, raising one eyebrow. I wondered if John Cusack could actually do that. "Is there a doubt?"
"I didn't say that."
"But you also didn't say that he is making progress."
"A slip of the tongue. I misspoke."
"You don't misspeak often, Georgie. And I've come to actually believe you do know something about seduction after all. And maybe even human nature."
"Something?"
Carter laughed at my incredulous tone.
"So," continued Jerome, "in your expert opinion, is your friend going to be able to do this or not?"
I was about to say "of course," but knew Carter would recognize the lie. Hell, even Jerome probably would. "I don't know. She's hard to read. Very strange woman." I pursed my lips, thinking. "If anyone is capable of seducing her, though, it'll be him. With my help." I hesitated before adding, "You know about the Barton thing, don't you?"
"Of course. Very foolish on Bastien's part."
"I guess." I didn't want to slam one of my best friends in this company. "But it's not like our side is really known