One of the first skills a novice witch learned was how to sew. The talent lent itself to medical, ritual, and practical applications. I had taken to sewing a long, slender pocket into all my pants to store my wand on trips. The access point was no larger than a standard buttonhole, barely noticeable, and I learned how to sit just so in order to conceal the hard length running down my thigh. I reached for my wand now.
“I need three volunteers good for holding a hundred pounds on the hike back to the SUVs.”
“As if you had to ask,” Clay muttered then elbowed Asa. “We’ve got two covered.”
“Yes,” Asa said quietly. “We can transport two of the girls.”
Kidd splashed back to us when no one else budged to lend a hand.
“I can’t do it alone,” he said, eyeing my first two volunteers, “but Taylor over there can help me.”
Clay singled out the other junior agent. “Taylor looks ready to faint.”
“You sure he’s up for it?” He did seem pukey to me. “I don’t want her dropped when we hit the incline.”
“I’ll do it.”
Everyone on the shore turned to gawk at Asa.
“The girls will be safe with me.”
“Thanks.” I touched his arm then singled out the brave junior agent who had shown more backbone, or maybe more heart, than his peers combined. “When I break the spell, the girls will go limp. I don’t want the third one to fall in the water. Can you and your friend hold her steady until Asa can lift her?”
The crestfallen agent waved over his friend. “Absolutely.”
“You two brace the girl on the lowest rock.” It was the easiest job, but I didn’t want to ding their pride. “I worry about her sliding into the water the most.”
On his way to brace the middlest girl, Clay whispered in my ear, “Softie.”
For that, I briefly considered turning him into a frog, but I needed every ounce of magic at my disposal.
The final girl, the one placed at the highest and most difficult spot, fell to Asa due to his shifted height.
I joined the girls on the rocky outcropping since magic and running water didn’t play nice. Wand in hand, I began the counterspell to unravel the gossamer filaments holding them in place. Each word cost me to speak, a reminder I was not what I used to be, but I finished without faltering and felt the cords break.
I didn’t remember closing my eyes, but I opened them to find a familiar daemon across from me with his limp burden on one shoulder. I didn’t notice I was staring until Clay cleared his throat. I pretended not to catch his meaning and checked on the two junior agents. They were holding steady, but poor Taylor was pale as bleached bone. An oddly high-pitched noise escaped Taylor’s throat when Asa crouched next to us to make transferring the girl onto his empty shoulder easier.
A whine, I realized, making me wonder if he was a warg too. No wonder those two stuck together.
“You guys head on up.” I studied the empty rock. “I need to cleanse this place before we go.”
“You heard her.” Clay set out. “Come on, Ace.”
The daemon watched me until he was forced to break eye contact, but he showed his duty the respect it deserved. I was left alone with Kidd and… “What was your name again?”
The junior agent swayed on his feet. “David Taylor.”
“Rue Hollis.” I gave him a short nod then faced Kidd. “You better help your friend here to your ride.”
“Are you sure you want to be alone?” He scanned the bank. “I doubt the killer stuck around but…”
The killer was an exhibitionist. His audience gave him the thrill. His art meant nothing without patrons.
There was no doubt in my mind he had been here, somewhere, when the Black Hats first arrived to soak up their reactions. He would view them as a critique on his work, which could make him that much more dangerous if he felt we failed to show proper appreciation.
“I can take care of myself,” I assured him, though it was a lie. “I’ll be up in a minute.”
The longer the others believed I was a black witch, the safer I would be from those with a score to settle.