Minor Magic, page 5
part #7 of Xoe Meyers Series
“How’s Emma?” I pressed on. “Devin called earlier and explained things.”
“She’s fine. A little scared, but Devin is surprisingly good at being a pack leader.”
“Good,” I replied with a laugh. “Maybe he’ll want to continue the role even after we come back.”
Jason was silent for a moment. “You know, that’s not a terrible idea.”
I paused. Was he serious? I hadn’t even thought about it, but . . . “Maybe mention it next time you see him. Put the idea in his head.”
I could sense his shock, even over the phone. “Seriously? You’ve defended your role as pack leader tooth and nail.”
Ignoring the unintended werewolf pun, I sighed, “Only out of necessity, but this might work out a lot better for everyone.”
He was silent again.
“Jason?” I questioned.
“It’s nothing,” he muttered, “just surprised how much you’ve changed.”
“I can grow and evolve like everyone else,” I stated haughtily.
He laughed. “Well then I look forward to seeing where you end up. Did Abel find anything out about the murder victim?”
Gee, Abel sure was chatty. The entire state of Oregon probably knew about Art’s murder by now. “Not much,” I replied, keeping my catty thoughts to myself, “but he’s still looking. We’re going to be meeting with the local werewolf pack while we wait.”
“So I’ve heard. Be careful.”
Word sure traveled fast, but that brought to mind another thought. “Abel said there’s going to be a vampire there. Any advice?”
“Stay away from the pointy end,” he joked.
I laughed. “Seriously though. Advice?”
“Don’t set him or her on fire?”
I sighed. “You’re incorrigible.”
“I know. The only advice I have is to get in and out as quickly as possible, and watch your back. And,” he hesitated, “Please send me a quick text to let me know when you get out alive.”
“Sure,” I said with a smile. “Thanks for checking in.”
“Of course,” he replied, then hung up.
Didn’t anyone say bye anymore?
“Emma is scared, but alright,” I explained to everyone, then picked up my pizza to take a bite.
“Are you really thinking about giving up your role as pack leader?” Lucy questioned with a blank face, leaving me clueless to her opinion.
I thought for a moment, then nodded. I could admit, the thought had crossed my mind a time or two before, though I hadn’t previously pegged Devin for the role. “Maybe. It’s crossed my mind now and then, but I never really considered it because there was no one else I could trust to take on the danger of the job. I don’t know why I didn’t think of Devin, other than the fact that he’s been against choosing a pack for years. He likes it in Shelby though, and he seems to enjoy being with the pack. He’s strong enough to take care of things. I trust him to watch out for everyone.”
Lucy nodded, seeming deep in thought.
I turned to Chase, who was eating his pizza silently. “What do you think?”
He placed his pizza back on his plate and smiled. “If I give you my opinion, do you promise not to refute it simply because it’s what someone thinks is best for you?”
I held a hand to my chest as if wounded. “Do you truly think so little of me?”
He smirked. “No, but I know you. If people think something is a good choice for you, it’s in your nature to figure out reasons to disagree.”
Lucy and Allison both nodded in agreement.
I scowled at them. “Is this what mutiny feels like?”
They nodded again, adding wicked smiles.
I sighed and turned back to Chase. “I want your honest opinion, and I promise to not spite you.”
“In that case, I think it’s a great idea,” he admitted. “You’ve been drowning in responsibilities this past year. You could use a break, and since it’s Devin, I’m sure he’d be happy to still have you involved in the pack as much or as little as you wanted. Abel isn’t going to like it, but I think if you’re still associated with the wolves in some way, he’ll deal with it.”
I smirked. “Yeah, he just likes the threat of having a demon around. Although I can admit, it’s also useful to have someone with access to information, who is also willing to dispose of bodies on my behalf.”
Everyone laughed, and I just shook my head ruefully. I wasn’t sure about my moral compass these days, but it had probably gone pretty far South when one of my main concerns was body disposal.
But hey, a girl’s gotta have her priorities, right?
I took another bite of my pizza, feeling slightly better. I was still worried about the upcoming meeting, but maybe there was an end in sight with all of this werewolf stuff. Heck I was only seventeen. I should have been worrying about finals and applying for college, not werewolf politics.
I glanced at Chase and my friends as they chatted happily. I knew Lucy and Allison had their plans all sorted out, but what about me and Chase? He’d basically lost his job when my dad died. I knew he’d been helping Sam in the information dealing business to earn extra money, but was that really what he wanted to do? I’d basically been living off money from the bounty on Dan, the psycho who turned Lucy into a wolf, and I’d inherited some from my dad, but it wouldn’t last forever. I needed to find something. I was beginning to feel that college wasn’t in the cards, but what then? It was something I needed to figure out, and maybe if I was no longer a werewolf pack leader, I’d have time to do that.
I startled as I realized Chase was watching me while I’d become entrenched in my own thoughts.
He raised an eyebrow at me. “You know you mutter to yourself when you get too deep in your own head?”
I blushed. “I was just thinking about what I’d like to do if I was no longer pack leader.”
Allison snorted. “I’m not sure you know how to have a life anymore.”
I bristled. I totally had a life. It might have been entrenched in violence, death, and way too many responsibilities, but I had a boyfriend and friends. The whole shebang. All I was missing was an occupation.
“We could go on a vacation,” Chase suggested.
I looked at him like he was speaking in a foreign tongue. “Vacation? What is this word? I’m not sure I’ve heard it before.”
Chase laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ll teach you my ways.”
“You guys better plan for Max and I to come along,” Allison interjected.
“And me and . . . ” Lucy trailed off. “ . . . er, Lela.”
Allison shoved Lucy’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’ll find you a hot island man while we’re on vacation.”
I scoffed. “Who says we’re going to an island? I want to go to the mountains.”
Allison rolled her eyes. “We live in the mountains.”
I glared at her. “This is why you’re not invited.”
“This is why I’m planning the entire thing,” she countered.
I sighed and turned my gaze to Lucy. “When I give up pack responsibilities, can I give up Allison responsibilities too?”
“Only if Devin will take them,” Lucy laughed. “That’s way too much responsibility for me.”
Allison crossed her arms and pouted, but I ignored it, finally feeling better. There was a light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe. I’d have to convince Devin first. I’ve been told I could be very persuasive, even when fireballs weren’t involved. Maybe I’d butter him up with a road trip souvenir. Surely that would be enough to convince him to take on an entire werewolf pack. Right? Ri-ight.
Chapter Six
Evening came far too quickly for my liking. The darkness pressed down on me like a heavy hand as we all made our way across the hotel parking lot. Alexius’ leash was once again in my grasp, because I was afraid to leave him in the hotel room alone. It had initially seemed like a good idea to bring him on the road trip, but that was before murders and fires started happening. It might behoove me to pop him down to the demon world at some point to stay with Dorrie.
I patted Alexius on the head, then opened the vehicle door for him to climb inside, turning my thoughts to our mission. Abel was yet to find me any more information on Art, but maybe someone at the pack meeting would know something about him. Several of them had been his neighbors, after all.
The drive to our destination was short. I’d debated leaving Allison behind, but that would have left her unprotected in the hotel room. I wasn’t sure if she was safer with us, or by herself, but at least this way I could run out to protect her. Yes, much to her chagrin, she’d be waiting in the car with Alexius. That way if someone tried to attack her, she could simply drive away. Lucy parked the car on the street in line with a few other vehicles.
I checked the scribbled address on the paper in my lap, just to be sure we had the right house. 102 Oakcrest drive seemed like a perfectly normal home in a perfectly normal neighborhood. The houses were obviously older, not the cookie-cutter structures of many newer subdivisions. The home we were expected at was expansive, probably five or six bedrooms all housed in a single story, making the house seem squat for how wide it was.
I gave Alexius a final pat, then opened the door. The cool night air filled my lungs as we exited the vehicle, leaving the dog safe within the car. I wasn’t sure how he’d react to new werewolves, and I didn’t really want to experiment.
I rubbed my arms to generate warmth as I glanced up at the moon. Only half full. Good. It was a bad idea to be around werewolves closer to the full moon. Most could control when they transformed, but they all seemed to get a little more . . . wolfy. Lucy included.
Lucy and I walked around the side of the car to meet Allison and Chase on the sidewalk. Lucy handed Allison the keys. We wanted her in the driver’s seat and ready, just in case.
I rubbed my bare arms again. It was more chilly out than I’d expected. I wasn’t used to the high desert norm of hot days and far cooler nights. I’d changed into jeans, but my simple white tee shirt left me with light goosebumps on my skin. It wasn’t really that cold though. Maybe I was just nervous. Or maybe it was the energy from the nearby house filled with vampires and werewolves.
I stared at Allison until she met my eyes. “No getting out of the car, and keep the doors locked. If anyone bothers you, just drive away.”
“Yes, mother,” she replied sarcastically.
I sighed and glanced at the house. The wolves inside might not appreciate me bringing another demon along, but they were probably bringing vampires, so they couldn’t really throw stones. Hopefully we’d be able to quickly explain that we’d had nothing to do with the fire and they’d let us go.
“Where’s the backup?” Lucy asked nervously, glancing up and down the still street.
“There,” Chase pointed.
I turned to see three shadowy figures walking across the road from us.
“Or else we’re about to be attacked,” Chase added.
I herded Allison behind me, envisioning a flame in my mind. I didn’t form one in my hand, not yet, but I was ready.
“Ms. Meyers?” one of the figures questioned.
Oh good grief. “Call me Xoe,” I sighed as the figures became clearly visible in front of us.
Our backup consisted of two men and a woman, appearing to be in their early twenties, or perhaps late teens. Abel had speculated before that younger wolves would be more apt to obey me. He was probably right. The men, one short and one tall, glanced at me nervously. They were dressed in typical young adult fashion, jeans and dark tee shirts with sneakers. Both had shaggy brown hair that fell into their eyes. I would have guessed they were brothers if not for the height difference. The woman eyed me apathetically. She had dark skin, short, curly black hair, and wore a jean jacket. She was the only one of us who’d been wise enough to bring a jacket, or maybe it was just a fashion statement. Her glaring eyes were accented with black liner, and gold jewelry sparkled at her neck and on her fingers. I was betting on fashion statement.
The shorter of the two men grinned at me. “Matt,” he said pointing to himself, “Chris, and Jessica.” He pointed to the other man and the woman respectively. “We’re told you’re in need of some back up.”
“Let’s hope not,” I replied. “I’d like to be in and out of here as quickly as possible.”
“Sounds good to me,” the taller guy, Chris replied. “I have a hot date tonight.”
“You do not,” Jessica sighed, as if she’d heard the claim many times before.
Chris waggled his eyebrows at Allison. “Well I could,” he hinted.
“No hitting on my friends,” I ordered, bringing everyone’s attention back to me.
Chris offered me a mock salute. “Yes, ma’m.”
By his sarcastic mien, I was guessing he wasn’t the one to call me Ms. Meyers when he first approached.
I glared at him. “I’d appreciate if you took this seriously. If any of my people get hurt tonight, I’ll be coming after you for vengeance.”
He smirked.
Yeah, definitely a problem.
“That’s a lot of talk for such a willowy little girl.”
Matt elbowed him in the ribs. “She’s a pack leader, dude. Would you talk that way to Abel?”
“Go home,” I ordered, giving Chris my best blank stare.
His expression softened in surprise. “I was only-”
“Go home,” I said again. “I don’t want someone like you at my back tonight.”
He opened his mouth to argue as Matt and Jessica backed away from him, clearly distancing themselves. I continued to stare.
Seeing that no one was going to support him, his mouth set in a firm line. “I don’t have to listen to you. We drove hours to get here, and they’re my ride,” he nodded in Jessica and Matt’s direction.
I took a step forward. I considered summoning a fireball to scare him, but this guy was obviously all talk. He was a few inches taller than me, which made looking tough a little awkward. Good thing I’d had plenty of practice.
“Look,” I snapped. “Today is not my day. You’re going to go back to the car you came here in and wait for your friends, or I’m going to take you to the demon underground and leave you there until we’re done.”
His eyes widened.
Mine didn’t. I continued to stare him down.
“You would really do it, wouldn’t you?” he questioned.
“Actually,” Chase cut in, “you’re quite lucky she didn’t just throw a fireball at you. That’s her usual method. She’s playing nice right now.”
Chris lifted his hands in surrender and backed away. “Fine. I guess all of the things I’ve heard about you are true. I’ll wait in the car.” He turned and walked away.
“Idiot,” Jessica muttered at his back.
I raised an eyebrow at her, then moved my gaze to Allison.
“All right,” she sighed, backing toward the car. “I’ll be waiting to man the getaway vehicle.”
I nodded, glanced in the direction Chris had gone to make sure he wasn’t coming back, then led the way toward the house. Chris’s little display of defiance had made us late.
“Yeah,” Lucy muttered, reaching my side, “you really need a break from being pack leader.”
“Aw,” I joked, “and here I thought I was finally getting good at it.”
She smirked. “That’s kind of my point.”
She was right. I was getting a little too good at it. A girl shouldn’t boss werewolves around so easily. It was bad for ones health. Bossing Allison around was almost just as bad.
The front door opened before we reached it, revealing a tall man, somewhere in his late twenties. He was of Asian decent, and oozed enough power to draw goosebumps on my skin. “It’s about time,” he said in greeting, picking invisible lint off his black dress shirt and slacks. The formal wear seemed out of place with his black hair, short, but sticking out in all directions.
“Vampire,” Lucy muttered, leaning toward my shoulder, though if the man really was a vampire, he’d hear us.
He smiled, showcasing little fangs. “Thanks for the introduction.” He turned around and led the way into the house.
“Hi, nice to meet you,” I muttered facetiously, “welcome to Spring Valley.”
He glanced over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow at me, then turned forward and continued walking.
I followed, taking my time to observe our surroundings. The inside of the house seemed just as normal as the outside. Everyone followed us in. I heard the door shut behind us, but didn’t bother to see who had shut it. I was too busy snooping.
The decor was pure, stereotypical middle American. Light colored wood furniture, probably made of particle board, adorned the empty living room. Beige carpeting accented matching overstuffed furniture and white walls.
We continued down the hall, decked with nondescript family photos, leaving the living room behind. A turn took us past the large kitchen, and down another hall.
The vampire stopped in front of a closed door in the hallway and knocked.
Seconds later, the door opened from the inside, revealing an expansive room large enough to be a second living room, though the center was dominated by a large conference table instead of a sofa. Only half the seats were filled, but more people stood back along the far wall like good little bodyguards. They were all dressed like the vampire. Maybe he was a bodyguard too. Another black clad man, presumably the one that had opened the door, went to stand with everyone else.
Seated at the center of the table with her back turned to the people against the wall was a woman. Clearly the woman in charge. Black hair was cut into a sleek bob, framing a strong jaw and large, doe-like brown eyes. She sat with her fingers laced in front of her, smiling softly. What I could see of her clothing above the table was a fitted gray blazer and blue silk blouse.
We all stood awkwardly in the doorway. Our vampire escort had gone in, but hadn’t motioned for us to follow.
“So,” I began, “sorry about the fire, but it had nothing to do with me.”
