Stakes & Stilettos - Michelle Rowen [85]
“Then you are relieved of your duties. Permanently. I will forward payment for services to date. You may leave now.”
There was more silence, and then I heard the sound of heavy footsteps leave the room.
I managed to pry my eyes open then, and I looked up at George and Thierry. I was on the leather sofa again. Maybe I should invest in a nice comfy afghan, since it seemed to have become my new home away from home. Reggie, still in dog form, was curled up at the end by my feet sleeping and softly snoring.
“So, did I miss anything?” My words sounded as dry as my mouth felt.
“Claire, she’s awake,” Thierry said and I could hear the strain in his voice.
I felt something poke me and I looked down. Claire held a ruler and she prodded my shoulder with it. “Sarah, are you all there?”
“Oh, I’m all here, all right. Unfortunately.” I looked at the ruler. “Didn’t have any ten-foot poles to touch me with?”
“She is back to normal,” Thierry said. “When the darkness descends she loses her capability for sarcasm.”
I blinked at him. “Glad you noticed my subtle differences.”
His jaw was tense. “I apologize for having to use extreme measures.”
“That wasn’t as extreme as you could have gotten. I heard what Butch said.”
His throat worked as he swallowed, but his expression didn’t change. “I’m sorry you had to hear that.”
“No, I’m the one who’s sorry.” I looked at Claire. “Are you okay?”
She waved her hand dismissively. “Please. Not exactly the first time I’ve been attacked.”
“By a vampire?”
“Vampire, demon, employer. What’s the difference?” She put the ruler down and hovered her hands over me. “Just do me a favor and don’t do it again?”
“I wish I could say that I had control over it.”
“It’s a matter of mind over matter. With enough practice, I’m sure you’ll be fine. Just think like a river. You were thinking more like a waterfall. A big, scary one.”
I frowned. “I can’t think like water. It makes me need to use the washroom.”
“Do you sense anything?” Thierry asked.
“Oh, definitely,” Claire said. “I can feel the curse. It’s super strong, too.”
“Is there anything you can do to remove it?”
She shrugged. “I’m fairly powerful, but this Stacy chick is into the mega dark arts.”
“So you’re more like Glinda the Good Witch?” I asked. “Your magic is pure?”
She snorted at that. “Not really. I just can’t afford the really cool spell books. Do you have any idea what they cost?”
“No idea.”
“Some are a few thousand bucks. Those are the cheap ones. The really good ones are paid for with little bits of your soul. That’s too expensive for me. Then again, you can always kill a more powerful witch and steal her library. That’s an option, but then there’s the risk of her vengeful spirit coming back to kick your ass.”
“I can’t believe anyone would want to live like this.” I closed my eyes and thought about the nightwalkers who had roamed the earth many years ago. “And it seems to be getting worse by the minute. I can’t live like this. I don’t want to hurt anybody.”
“You won’t,” Thierry said, his words firm.
I looked at Claire. “Did the location spell work? Do you know where to find Stacy?”
She shook her head. “There wasn’t enough time. But we’ll…” She swallowed hard. “We’ll try it again.”
“Are you well enough to move?” Thierry asked.
I nodded and struggled to sit up. Neither Claire nor George made a move to help me, but Thierry was there to grasp my hand in his and help me to my feet. He smiled at me when I didn’t resist.
“What?” I asked.
“I’m surprised you would wish to touch me after what I had to do.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You mean zapping me with the stun gun?”
“Yes.”
“Wasn’t a romantic moment I’ll cherish always on this, the day before Valentine’s Day, but it’s not exactly like I gave you a choice.”
“I’ll make it up to you.”
“Oh, yeah?” I raised an eyebrow. “How?”
“I’ll think of something appropriate.” He leaned over and kissed me briefly. I sighed against his lips.
“Hey!” George said. “Watch