Chapter 21

 

Wanda paced around the room without pause. If she didn’t stop soon I was going to snap. This place wasn’t exactly big enough to pace without being in plain view all the time. It was distracting as shit.

“Wanda, come and sit down and you need to answer some questions. We need to know what’s going on.” Troy told her from where he leaned against the wall.

From the moment we got here, his eyes skimmed the room like he was waiting for something to scurry out and bite him.

I stood near the window keeping an eye out for any movement in our direction.

“You said there was a way to transport right to someone if they have a connection?” I made eye contact with Troy, he nodded. Turning, I gave Wanda a look. “Do you have a connection with anyone like that?”

She finally perched on the edge of the couch. “No, but it won’t matter.”

“What do you mean? Troy straightened and came to stand in front of her.

“The person I’m hiding from has power.” Her eyes darted around the room as if someone was watching. “He can find anyone without a connection to them.”

Squatting down in front of her, Troy eyed her. “There is only one person aside from Chase and I that can do that…”

She nodded before he could finish. “Don’t say his name,” she pleaded.

Oh please, I thought, were we really going to do the he-who-shall-not-be-named thing? “Who?” I blurted out.

Glancing at me over his shoulder, I could see the doubt on his face. “Earlier when I told you we weren’t going to disturb someone, that person.”

I scrunched up my face trying to remember that conversation. “This Marcus the magician guy?”

Wanda squealed and squatted down in a corner, watching the ceiling.

“Wanda, Daxx is protected from all otherworldly powers, you are safe.”

With huge eyes, she looked at me like I suddenly grew wings or something just as screwed up. “I have to get to Clairee.”

“We can’t find her.” He stood up and moved over to stand beside me.

“I know, I told her where to go and not to come back until I contacted her.” She huddled closer into the corner. “If I go where she is, we’ll both be safe.” Like a ping pong ball her eyes bounced between the two of us. “I was afraid to cross back alone.”

Shrugging, I glanced out the window again. “We’ll take you.”

“No.”

I turned to look at her. “Why not.”

“The two of you can’t be seen with me.”

Troy made an exasperated noise. “She’s right.” He glanced down at me. “We’re going to need a little help.” Moving away he pulled his phone out of his pocket and headed into the kitchen.

Leaving me in the room with the freaked-out witch, I felt like I was supposed to do something I wasn’t all the comfortable with. Sighing, I went over and sat down in front of her. “It’s going to be okay.”

She practically threw herself at me, sprawling across my legs. “I’m so glad I found you.”

Not knowing what I could possibly say to that, I chose not to say anything and just placed my hand on her head and left it there. Glancing back to the kitchen I hoped Troy made fast work of his phone call so he could come back and get me out of this awkward position. I tracked and chased people, comforting them was not on my resume.

“Michael and Raf will be here shortly.” Troy announced as he came back into the room. He stopped and gave me the oddest look. I shrugged and tried to send back one that said to get me out of this spot. His lips quirked like he was holding back a smile then he cleared his throat. “Wanda, get off the floor and tell me what’s going on.” He used that authority voice, so she responded immediately. I needed to find out how he did that, so I could start using it when needed.

Before I could pick myself up off the floor, Michael and Rafael were towering over me. Wanda turned and threw herself at Rafael, he held her and sent his ruler an inquisitive look.

Michael held out a hand to help me up. “Raf used to be one of the guards at the witch’s temple.” He offered in explanation to the hug.

I paused long enough to note that in their realm witches were allowed a temple, some things were very different indeed.

For the next hour, I stood by the window keeping watch and trying to figure out what was going on. They were all up to speed and apparently, I had some catching up to do. I found out that Michael was the equivalent of a detective, so having him present was a good idea. Rafael was a guard, so yeah escorting the witch back seemed logical for him.

This Marcus guy had been a very bad magician. Wanda and her buddy witch Clairee had stumbled on his latest creation, a device that any one from their side could wear to cross over. This was not just bad but life altering, in a chaotic kind of way, letting those cross that were confined for a reason. Just what my side didn’t need, otherworld beings that were a cross between a serial killer and pedophile. We had our work cut out for us.

When they got to why she came here and found me, I was thrilled to discover it had been hard to do. No one wants to think they’re easy in any way. This was where things started to get less clear for me. If I was understanding this right, the three-way conversation, there was someone on the inside and that was the reason why Wanda had to track my ass down and then hide out. Things were starting to sound more like my homeland on the other side than they had in the last few days.

“She’s going to have to die over here.” Michael stated in a tone that made it sound like they were discussing the color of her shoes.