Spellbound Read online

  “Excuse me, Mr. Kenzie, was it?” the young man said. “But that’s my walking stick.”

  “Is it now?” Arthur’s gaze went to the policeman’s retreating back, then out into the park and the high branches of a tree about thirty yards away. “It looks frightfully expensive.”

  “It is,” the young man said eagerly, “that’s African ivory from a—”

  Arthur lobbed the stick like a javelin, nailing the upper branches like an open wide receiver and lodging the stick firmly within the tree at least twenty feet off the ground.

  Rory’s jaw dropped. The overdressed man screeched. “You’ll pay for that—”

  “Certainly.” The prick had three inches on Rory, but Arthur had another three inches on him. “Shall we settle this in the boxing ring? Or an empty alley, tonight, after dark?” He leaned close. “Or do you only hit the helpless?”

  The man went silent, mouth working uselessly.

  “That’s what I thought.” Arthur turned his back. “Let’s go, nephew,” he said, and tugged Rory into a walk.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  As soon as they were through the door into the ritzy lobby of Arthur’s building, Arthur took Rory by the shoulders. “Are you all right?” he said, in an urgent whisper. “Were you in a vision with the relic again?”

  Rory nodded, thoughts were jumbled like Lizbeth’s jacks. “I heard a lot, Ace—they talked ’bout Mrs. B.—”

  “Tell us upstairs,” Arthur said quietly. “But first tell me you’re okay.” He still had Rory’s bag slung across his own shoulder and his hands were strong and steadying.

  “I’m okay.” Rory swallowed. “’Cause of you.”

  “The rescue was all Jade—”

  “Yeah and I’m gonna thank her too, but you got me free from a vision. Kept me outta the big house. And you threw that fella’s stick in a tree.”

  “He’s lucky I didn’t throw him,” Arthur said darkly. “He hit you. There’s no history you can see where I’m okay with that.”

  Rory’s heart did a funny flutter. He was saved from blurting out his messy thanks by Arthur tugging them back into a walk.

  “Come on,” said Arthur. “Let’s get some privacy.”

  Rory tagged along at his side to the elevator banks, shoulders still tingling with the ghost of Arthur’s warm hands, and tried to ignore the stares of the building’s patrons on his own ratty and now-dirty clothes. Several others also crowded into the elevator, and they were pushed to the back and very close together.

  Rory took a deep breath of Arthur. “Why do you always smell so good?”

  Three people looked over their shoulders. Rory flinched; he couldn’t keep his damn trap shut.

  But Arthur just shrugged and said, “Showered after boxing,” like he wasn’t bothered by the inappropriate question. “Trust me, you would not be saying that if I hadn’t.”

  Ace, boxing. Sweating. Maybe shirtless. Rory’s squeak was thankfully drowned out by the elevator doors. He was still flushed when they got off on the fourth floor and the door to the apartment swung open on its own.

  “You gave us a scare!” Jade said, as she clasped Rory’s hands in her own.

  Rory ducked his head but let her pull him inside. “That move with the cane—you saved my life.”

  Jade waved it off, like saving lives with magic was her regular Friday night. “I’m glad you’re okay.” She smiled. “But I think you gave poor Ace another gray hair.”

  “Yeah, right. Like he’s got a single gray in all that shiny black.” He winced as soon as he said it. Well, maybe all of Manhattan was gonna guess his feelings, but he wasn’t gonna pretend Arthur was anything less than the best-looking man he’d ever seen.

  They moved into the study, where the tops of the trees could just barely be seen through the windows in the last of the day’s light. Arthur gave him a gentle push in the direction of the settee and Rory flopped onto it without a fight. “Gwen went to the antiques shop.”

  Arthur went very still. “Did she see you?”

  “No, but she saw Mrs. B.” Rory stared up at the fancy molding encircling Arthur’s study, stomach churning. “Gwen and Mansfield were talking about her just now, when they opened up that relic again.” He let out a shaky breath. “Gwen told him Mrs. B.’s harmless.”

  Jade clucked her tongue. “Paranormals do tend to forget that those without magic are not always completely useless.”

  “Thank you, Jade,” Arthur said dryly. “Where’s Mrs. Brodigan now?”

  “Holy Cross Church.” Rory bit his lip. “I shouldn’t have left her alone, I just didn’t know what else to do.”

  Arthur looked at Jade. “Would Zhang—”

  “Of course he will.” She was already walking toward the parlor and the telephone. “Check Rory for—”

  “Naturally.”

  Rory made a face. “You two don’t even talk in full sentences.”

  “She’s going to see if Zhang will check on Mrs. Brodigan, and he’ll do it because he’s a good person but also because he’d foxtrot on the Woolworth Building if Jade asked him to.” Arthur bent to look into Rory’s eyes again, and Rory froze as Arthur’s face came close. “And she wants me to check if you’re hurt because she’s worried about how hard you hit that sidewalk when she yanked you from the road.”

  Rory’s gaze locked on Arthur’s lips, on the jet-black stubble on his jaw. “Nah,” he managed to say. “She got me safe. You two don’t gotta worry about me.”

  “Indulge us.” Arthur’s voice was quiet as he drew away, leaving Rory aching to grab his tie and pull him right back. “Gwen was our friend once. We worried about her too, only to discover we weren’t worried enough.”

  Rory fell silent.

  A few moments later, Jade returned, a fancy etched glass tumbler floating along behind her like a duckling. “It’s just tap water, I’m afraid,” she said, with a rueful smile, as the glass came Rory’s way as if carried by an invisible wind. “Ace hasn’t got anything else a paranormal can drink.”

  When Rory got back from Hyde Park, first thing he was gonna do was fix Arthur’s empty kitchen.

  “Mansfield had the relic in a room full of books.” He settled into the cushions with his tumbler. “Big fireplace, lotsa art. Maybe a study. Maybe a library.”

  “Helpful as that is,” Arthur said, “you’re under no obligation to tell us—”

  “That fella who likes his knife was there again too,” said Rory. “Gwen said she’d tell Mansfield the magic in exchange for the buyers’ names.”

  “Did you get these names?” Jade held up a hand as Arthur started to protest. “You’re as overprotective as a bear with her cub, Ace. Let Rory decide what he wants to tell us.”

  “The names were on a folded piece of paper,” said Rory. “I couldn’t see ’em, but Mansfield said they were German.” Arthur and Jade both blanched. Rory looked between them. “That means something to you two.”

  “It might.” Jade bit her lip. “Did Gwen say the magic?”

  Rory’s stomach gave an unpleasant twist. “The tide.”

  Jade’s eyes widened.

  Arthur took a step back. “Luther Mansfield is selling the Germans a relic that controls the tide?” Horror swept his face. “That’s—that’s treason.”

  “If that relic was unlocked, it could flood Manhattan,” Jade said. “We can’t let someone have it. Did you see anything else that could help?”

  Arthur tensed, but he didn’t argue. Rory took a sip of water, trying to settle his roiling stomach. “There was a safe open on the wall.” He pulled the image back up in his mind best he could. “It had a funny word on the back of the open door—Lab-something.”

  Arthur swore as Jade winced.

  Rory frowned. “Is that bad?”

  “Labyrinth is a safe manufacturer,” said Jade. “The best one.�
��

  “The combination locks are state-of-the art, always evolving, nearly impossible to crack,” said Arthur. “I bought one for the ring.”

  Rory’s stomach gave another twist, sharper, bile rising in his throat.

  “First things first,” Arthur said to Jade. “I take Rory and Mrs. Brodigan to Grand Central tonight for the train upstate—”

  The tumbler slipped from Rory’s hands.

  Jade’s fingers moved, and the tumbler was suddenly suspended in the air, hovering an inch over the hardwood floor as Rory leapt to his feet. “I can’t go, I can’t go to Hyde Park.”

  “Rory, be reasonable,” Arthur said, as Jade sent the tumbler into the air to set itself on the table. “If this evening has proved anything, it’s that you need to leave town.”

  Rory shook his head rapidly. “I gotta come with you.”

  Arthur’s eyebrows flew up. “To Mansfield’s mansion, to steal a relic? In which of the nine hells would we bring you?”

  “I’m afraid I have to agree with Ace,” Jade said. “There’s too much risk to you.”

  “Manhattan’s in danger and you gotta crack a safe.” Rory held up his hands. “And Ace already knows no combination lock’s safe from a fella who can see history.”

  The room went silent.

  Jade looked to Arthur. “He used his magic to open your briefcase?”

  “Like a paranormal toddler with a forbidden cookie jar.” Arthur’s gaze bored into Rory. “Do you truly understand why we don’t want you caught? If I’d found you opening my briefcase, I would have lectured you. If Mansfield finds you cracking a safe in his home, he’ll have you beaten within an inch of your life then thrown off the Brooklyn Bridge in concrete boots. And if Gwen finds you, she will see your magic.”

  “Yeah, big deal, I’m a nutcase who sees the past,” Rory snapped. “Who cares? My magic’s worthless outside the antiques shop.”

  “Not worthless,” Arthur said tightly. “Priceless. What if you can see how the relics were created—and how to unlock their magic again?”

  Rory sucked in a breath. “Nah, that’s impossible, I couldn’t scry a relic.”

  “Are you certain?” Arthur said fiercely. “You went into the ring. A little more control next time and maybe you see what you want?”

  Rory shook his head rapidly. “What if I start scrying and can’t get back out? I wouldn’t even try.”

  “Maybe not,” said Arthur. “Or maybe Gwen sees your magic and decides to tell Mansfield what you can do, and they force you to scry relics until there’s nothing left of your sanity for me to overprotect.”

  Rory’s stomach clenched. “I wouldn’t—”

  “Mansfield would make you.” Arthur’s face had gone hard. “Torture is feared for a reason, Theodore, and I will be damned before I let it happen to you.”

  Rory swallowed hard, but it was him or all the innocent people in New York. “I’m not gonna put the city in danger to save my own skin,” he said tightly. “You’re gonna take me, and if you don’t, I’ll break into Mansfield’s place myself. And good luck opening that safe before me and Jade.”

  Arthur froze. He looked over at Jade.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “But Rory’s right. That relic controls the tide, Ace. If Rory wants to help us, if he can crack that safe, we owe it to millions of New Yorkers to let him.”

  Arthur sucked in a breath. He looked between Jade and Rory, and his jaw tightened. “I’m getting a drink. And neither of you is invited.” He stormed out of the study—straight through the shimmering image of Zhang’s reappearing astral projection.

  Rory scrambled around Zhang. “Get back here, Arthur!”

  “No magic lurking in Hell’s Kitchen,” Zhang called behind Rory’s back. “Your Mrs. Brodigan is fine. Apparently, the action was here.”

  “Apparently.” Jade raised her voice. “You might give Ace a moment, Rory.”

  “He’s being so stubborn! And he’s treating me like a child when he’s acting like one—”

  “He’ll see reason—he’ll understand he must let you help,” she said. “But this is hard for him. He’s good at throwing himself into danger. Terrible at letting anyone else take a risk.”

  Rory huffed but paused at the study’s open pocket doors. He looked at Jade suspiciously over his shoulder.

  “He’ll come back,” she promised.

  Rory folded his arms. “He better.” He wanted Arthur back, and not just to yell at him for stomping away. The thought of breaking into that room with the amulet had his skin crawling, and he already missed Arthur’s steadying presence.

  He went to the table and picked up his tumbler, pretending his hands were steady. “Mrs. B.’s really okay?” he said to Zhang.

  He nodded. “No one followed her home from church. No one was near her place.”

  Rory let out a breath. “Thanks,” he said, chest tight. Gwen had told that Mansfield fella Mrs. Brodigan was harmless. Maybe there was a chance they’d leave her alone. “What’d it mean to you that Gwen wants a list of German buyers?” he said to Jade. “Is it ’cause of the war?”

  “In a sense.” Jade slipped off her heels, and Zhang’s projection settled at her side as she tucked her legs up on the settee. “Gwen has a score to settle with a German baron.” She added, in a darker tone, “And make no mistake, this baron wronged her.”

  “We don’t know if Zeppler’s name is on that list,” said Zhang. “But she could be setting a trap.”

  “He’d deserve it.” Jade pulled her legs in tighter, curling up next to Zhang in her men’s trousers. “Baron Zeppler killed two of our friends, including the love of Gwen’s life, and left her suffocated by her own magic. I wouldn’t mind a clear shot at him myself.”

  Rory swallowed. “Lucky us, the subordinate paranormals,” he said stiffly.

  “If it’s any comfort, I’ve been stuck out of my body on the astral plane,” said Zhang. “The first time I touched a relic, it took me days to find my way back.”

  “And if I were ever foolish enough to touch a relic, my magic might kill everyone unfortunate enough to be nearby,” Jade added. When Rory winced, she gave him a sympathetic smile. “It’s what happened to our friend Philippe. Ace didn’t want to tell you that Philippe killed another paranormal and himself after a relic corrupted his fire magic.”

  Rory sighed. “Guess the relics are bad news for all of us.” He dropped into one of the chairs around the study’s large table. “Maybe I should find them all so we can bury ’em at the bottom of the sea.”

  “You’d have our help,” said Zhang.

  “Pipe dream.” Rory sighed. “I can’t keep my head together with the box open in the city.”

  “At the moment, you’re not the master of your powers, they are the master of you,” said Jade. “You can change that—”

  “But this isn’t how he should have to learn.”

  Arthur. He’d stepped in the study’s doorway, a glass tumbler in hand. Rory tried not to let his relief show on his face. “You gonna come talk to me like an adult? Or you gonna stand over there and sulk?”

  Arthur’s eyes narrowed. “I haven’t decided.”

  Rory wished he’d come closer. Instead he looked at Jade. “So we got a plan?”

  “Mansfield is throwing a gala for the new mayor tomorrow night and Ace is going,” said Jade. “We’ll need to get you in another way.” She looked at him appraisingly. “I could get you a waiter’s uniform from the Magnolia.”

  “So he’ll just be at the mercy of his psychometry while trying to pass as a waiter at a xenophobe’s mansion? Well, now I’m completely reassured.” Arthur took a drink.

  “He can’t be your plus one without drawing attention,” Jade said coolly. “This will keep him off Mansfield’s radar completely.”

  Rory nodded. “The help’s basically invisible to rich
jerks.”

  “How dare you,” said Arthur.

  Rory folded his arms. “What’s Mrs. Polkowski’s first name?”

  Arthur scoffed indignantly. “She’s been my parents’ housekeeper for years, I know her first name! It’s—it’s—”

  “Katarina,” Rory, Jade, and Zhang said as one.

  Arthur stared at Rory. “How do you know—never mind, point taken.” He set the glass down and crossed the room to the large table where Rory sat. “So.” He held Rory’s eyes. “We get you past the party, past Mansfield, past Gwen, all the way to the safe and then you get the safe to open. Is that how this mad plan is supposed to work?”

  Rory swallowed and looked away. “Guess so.”

  “You’re going to have to give me more than that,” Arthur said. “Or I’ll leave you behind, and you won’t beat me to the relic if I tie you to the bed first.”

  Rory squirmed. Did Arthur think that threat was scary? “I’ll be okay if you’re with me.”

  “Now you’re shamelessly appealing to my protective nature with pretty words.” Arthur put his hands on the table and leaned forward. “Try again, duck.”

  “No, really, I—” Rory looked down at the polished wood surface of the table. “I, uh—I got out.” He traced a circle on the table so he wouldn’t have to look at Arthur. “Of the vision. I got myself out tonight.”

  “You got yourself roughed up, nearly arrested, and nearly hit by a car,” Arthur said heatedly. “So don’t try and tell me—”

  “I saw the car,” Rory blurted. “Mansfield hadn’t closed the relic up yet, but something was anchoring me to the real world and I saw the car.”

  Arthur straightened. “How did you get out of the vision?”

  “Um.” Rory bit his lip. “I followed you.”

  Arthur startled. “You what?”

  “Like aiming for a lighthouse in a storm, or following north on a compass.” Rory took a breath. “I found a lifeline out. You.”