Thank you again, all you lovely reviewers. You all know reviews are like crack, right? ;)
In Which Evie Threatens Al's Jewels Again
I took a moment to wonder whether I should hide the evidence of my demon chat, or risk making another phone call and having it discovered that I could slip out of my zip strip and charmed bracelets. It wasn't that I didn't trust Ash to get me out of there, but sitting back on my duff and waiting for my black knight to come save me just didn't sit well with my ego.
Maybe it was the drugs addling my brain, but I decided to risk discovery, and gave Rachel a call. After all, I reasoned, rescuing familiars was her job, right…?
Evie, is that you?
Yes, and I'm in trouble.
I can't really talk right now, I'm-
Why, if it isn't Yvette Therese Sinclaire! I jumped as another mental signature joined us. Al. Brilliant. I glanced at the newspaper. Swell- it was Sunday. Rachel's lesson with Al was in full swing. Stop making my student sneeze, her syntax sucks enough as it is.
Al! Get off the line! Jeez, I didn't even know you could do that.
Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt. I couldn't keep the anxiety out of my thoughts. Poker faces I could do, but this whole emotion-sharing business was hard to block.
In a spot of trouble, are we?
No! Just…um…calling to say hi, I thought, knowing that would sound lame even if I were saying it rather than thinking it.
Al, can't I just have two minutes of privacy to-
No, my itchy witch, you can't. Yvette, you are a terrible liar. And you're stoned, too! What have you gotten yourself into?
I don't want your help! I said quickly. Rachel's help, sure, but I am not going to owe you for anything!
Tsk! You're such a stingy little bitch. Anyway, you already owe Rachel one favor. And what's hers is mine, after all.
Hey! Don't you dare give her a mark because of me, Al!
Umm…This was unwelcome news indeed. Never mind, I'll just deal with the Coven on my own.
The Coven? Crap on toast, what happened?
I weighed my options. Tell Rachel, Al finds out too? Don't tell Rachel, trust Ash? Crud, I was no good at this. I got caught. I'm in a hospital in Colorado. On holy ground. The Coven's on their way.
I felt Rachel's horror and Al's mingled amusement and curiosity together in my own head, which was one of the weirdest things I'd ever experienced. Al's amusement only increased when I added desperately, And if you tell Newt or Dali, Al, I will castrate you myself!
On holy ground, you say? I suppose that is why your lapdog hasn't summoned you home, yet? I've always wondered whether a summoning could snatch someone off holy ground. Do you hear that, itchy witch? Looks like I cannot summon you straight from your bed for a night of passion any time soon, such a shame.
Thank God!
Interesting that a sanctified space still accepts your presence. For how much longer, I wonder?
Yeah…interesting, I said wryly. I'd call it fucking annoying at the moment. I'm going to clean up the evidence of my circle, guys. Forget I called. I won't accept any more marks, Al, I mean it!
Oh, I'm sure we could come to an alternative, mutually pleasurable arrangement, he said lasciviously, and I broke the connection in annoyance. Crap, that was a lovely mistake. If Al told Newt I would be screwed.
Well, I'd certainly be screwed if anyone found me out of my silver bonds. I slipped on the bracelets and zip strip again, then considered how to dispose of the calling circle. I thought about burning it, but the stink of burning paper would be a definite giveaway. Instead I ripped out the page and folded it into a tiny little wudge, wrapped it in a towel and tossed the towel across the room into the used linens bin with the hope that the scent would be hidden under all the other scents in there. I kept a small tear of paper from it as a focusing object, just in case I needed to go for broke and burn it later It wasn't smart to leave samples of one's blood lying around.
I was feigning sleep myself when Jocelynn woke up with a start in her chair. I pretended to do so myself, returning her stare innocently as she looked at me suspiciously, then saw that I was still passive and bound by silver. "Everything all right?" I asked her.
"I don't usually doze off in the job," she said, now completely annoyed with herself.
"You told me this was a double shift…I was going to wake you, but you looked like you could use the nap," I said kindly.
"Hmph," she said, still clearly bothered. She glanced at the amulet above my heart monitor, the one that registered how much energy I was carrying in my chi. It was dead, the color of normal redwood. She got up and opened the door to see the two bored living vamps stationed outside, both obviously unperturbed by any mysterious demon shenanigans going on in the room behind them. She shrugged and shut the door again.
"How do you feel?" she asked, giving my vital signs a once-over and checking the IV with the drug to ensure I was well dosed.
"I'd really prefer a pain amulet," I said, touching the bandage on my neck and feeling an answering throb. "Whatever this stuff is, it's making me terribly queasy."
"Sorry, hon, they won't distribute them to shunned witches. I could turn down the dose a little, though." She began to adjust the rate of the drip. "Let me know if the pain gets too bad. You're going to have a pretty bad scar. Your demon really had it in for you- those bites are some of the deepest I've ever seen."
"Nah. He would've fixed me right up if the witches hadn't saved me. It was his pattern. He'd hurt me, then heal me. It's part of the…training…" I trailed off as if I couldn't bear to go on. "He only brought me to reality to taunt me. Joke was on him, huh?"
Jocelyn's furrowed brow eased a little as she smiled. "Yeah. I'm glad—"
We both looked up as someone walked in. My heart sank as I recognized the man. Adrian Wister, a young, gawky-looking earth witch, and one of the six elected members of the Coven of Moral and Ethical Standards. The youngest and lowest ranking member, but still deadly in his way.
I wasn't sure if I should be insulted, but if they'd sent their least experienced member, then they might not think I was much of a threat. I hoped I could keep it that way.
