Quicksilver - Amanda Quick [114]
The chamber erupted into flames, the normal kind as well as the paranormal variety. Mirrors cracked, splintered, fractured and exploded. Virginia realized vaguely that the wood walls behind the looking glasses were burning. Smoke boiled into the atmosphere.
She tried to stagger toward the door, but it was a million miles away in another dimension. She knew she would not make it.
She fell to her knees, sliding into the darkest night she had ever known. Her vision wavered. When she saw Owen coming toward her through the storm of energy, she knew she was hallucinating.
“Virginia,” he said.
She looked up at him, dazed.
“I meant to tell you that I love you,” she said. “Too late now, though. You’re not really here, are you?”
“I’m here, Virginia.”
“Oh, that’s right,” she said, remembering. “You told me that you would walk through hell to save me.”
“Yes.”
He reached down, scooped her up into his arms and ran for the door.
The mirrored chamber exploded around them.
A short time later Owen stood with Nick, Tony, Matt and Mrs. Crofton in the shadows of a small park. With the exception of Virginia, who was sound asleep in Owen’s arms, they all watched the big house burn. Flames roared from every window. Black smoke billowed into the night.
“Both bodies are inside the house?” Owen asked, mentally tying up loose ends.
“Yes,” Nick said. “It will look like they died in the blaze.”
“I didn’t know paranormal fire could start a normal fire,” Tony said. He sounded awed.
“There is no hard-and-fast line on the spectrum between the normal and the paranormal,” Nick said. “How many times have I explained to you that it’s a continuum? Get enough energy going in one section and it will affect the currents in the neighboring regions.”
Matt grinned. “Thanks, as always, for the lecture, Uncle Nick.”
“Huh,” Nick muttered. “All I can say is Miss Dean must have set free a lot of very hot glasslight tonight.”
“I don’t know anything about this spectrum you’re all talking about,” Mrs. Crofton declared, “but I must admit that Miss Dean is a most unusual employer. My life has become a good deal more exciting since I entered her service.”
“She’ll fit in nicely with the Sweetwater family,” Owen said.
“I see.” Mrs. Crofton nodded in a knowing manner. “I had a feeling that might be the way of things.”
Owen looked at her. “Plenty of room for you, as well, Mrs. Crofton.”
“Is there, now?” Mrs. Crofton said softly.
“Recent evidence to the contrary, we’re actually a very normal family,” Nick said.
“Is that so?” Mrs. Crofton said.
“Assuming you can overlook our talents and the sort of work that we do,” Tony added.
“Miss Dean says you hunt monsters,” Mrs. Crofton said.
“You might call it the family business,” Owen said.
“Would I get to do more of the sort of inquiries that I did this afternoon?” Mrs. Crofton asked.
“If you like,” Owen said. “Sweetwaters are happy to take all the help we can get, so long as it comes from within the family.”
“My inquiry today left me sleeping in a glass coffin.”
“Perhaps you won’t want to continue with a career as an inquiry agent,” Owen said. “Understandable. There are other positions available.”
“Might have been a different outcome if I’d been properly armed,” Mrs. Crofton said. “A pistol in my handbag, for example, would have been useful.”
“That won’t be a problem in the future,” Owen said.
FORTY-FOUR
Virginia opened her eyes and saw Owen standing at the window, looking out into the moonlit night. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up on his forearms. His collar was open. He had one hand braced against the sill. The silver light limned his face in shadows and mysteries.
“Owen,” she said softly.
He turned and walked to the bed. His eyes heated.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
Tentatively she heightened her senses. There was no need to focus. One knew when one’s talent was functioning properly, just as one knew if one’s hearing or eyesight or sense of touch was working. She felt the familiar