Page 50 of Twisted Fates
“That’s not got anything to do with you,” he began, but I cut him off.
“That’s not true, Cary. The answer is none, isn’t it?” I forced the question again.
He sighed. “Listen, Owen, you should speak to the partners; have them explain…”
I laughed. “No, they’d just want to talk me out of what I want to do. I’m going home to Illinois, and I realize I probably need some protection to keep Damian safe. I don’t want to work at a firm that hired me as a boy toy for the new wizard. It took too many years of college to get my law degree…”
“It’s not that. You’re making assumptions.”
“Logical ones. Am I wrong? Wouldn’t you make the same?”
Cary sighed. “Okay, so let’s say you do this. Damian is dealing with some serious concerns with his friend missing. He’s going to be distraught over your leaving. That will cause him to falter. Trust me, I get it, and no, I don’t blame you, but let’s not be too hasty. Let’s do this,” he said, and I could tell his mind was beginning to catch up with the situation. “I’ll hold onto this letter. If you decide to submit it after you’ve had time to reconsider, I’ll give it to the partners. I-I can help you get to Illinois with Mr. Stages’s help. You have to clue them in with your plans to go home. As our coven leader, he’ll know the witches in your region, and he’ll have to be the one to make the contacts.”
I nodded. He was probably telling the truth. “Okay, I’ll go talk to them now but only to say I’m going to Illinois, not to officially resign. I-I just can’t deal with an emotional plea to stay.”
I wanted to repeat myself, to force him to understand I didn’t have the energy to argue with a man so powerful, not just as a witch but as a boss, and I knew he’d try to talk me into staying.
Maybe I was just overreacting, but since finding out about the spell cast by the old wizard, I had a low-level feeling that this whole set up made me a glorified plaything for Damian.
This incident had been a wakeup call for me. I just couldn’t be a plaything for someone. Not again, not after all that’d gone down with my stupid ex and certainly not after spending so much time getting my degree, moving away from Illinois, and… well, and improving my life.
“I’m going to go home and pack. Cary, I’m not needed here and haven’t been since I started. The partners should be able to hire someone with the skills necessary to serve the firm’s clients. That isn’t going to be me. However, if you want to wait before giving it to them, that’s up to you. Hopefully,” I said pondering aloud, “once this has blown over, and the vipers are dealt with, I can go on with my life, get a job at a regular firm, and all that.”
Cary appeared sad but at least he wasn’t arguing with me.
“Okay,” I said mostly to avoid acknowledging that I might be making a mistake, “I’m going now.”
He stood up and hugged me, which surprised me a bit. Cary was obnoxious, but I did think he was a good friend. Maybe the only real friend I’d met since I’d gotten here. Of course, this morning, I’d have said Damian was one as well, but I’d probably been wrong all along. Damn me and my romantic sensibilities.
Chapter thirty-seven
Damian
“Orville,” I called themoment I got home.
The ghost appeared immediately. “I need help, and fast,” I said.
Orville looked concerned but nodded. “Do we need to discuss this in the attic?” he asked.
“No, because I need the help of all the ghosts if I’m going to fix what’s happened.”
Orville’s left eyebrow popped up, but he nodded for me to continue. “Molly, the woman who was here the other night, she’s been abducted, and we think it might be by a gang of individuals who serve the dark. Can the ghosts search for her? I need to know what I’m up against.”
Orville pondered for a few moments, then shook his head. “Mr. Richards,” he said, using my surname, which was unusual and alarming at the same time. “Many of the ghosts that sought this place as a sanctuary have moved on. Your willingness to entertain the witch caused most of them toleave, at least for now. I doubt you have a strong enough presence here to do the search.”
I stared at him, then shook my head. “I understand,” I said, and feeling the anger rising in me, I decided it was probably best to leave well enough alone. “Orville, I won’t be requiring your help then. But you should let the others know I consider this a slight against the hospitality offered by my predecessor and me. Just so you know, Owen is in jeopardy too. Not helping me is the same as not helping him.”
I probably shouldn’t have said that, I was just angry, but when I needed them the most, whenweneeded them most, they were unwilling to help. And for what? Because I didn’t know about the relationship between witches and ghosts? That I’d invited Cary over by accident?
I didn’t have time to deal with them right now. I leaped up the stairs two at a time until I reached the parchment. Despite the previous conversation and what I’d thought was me smoothing over the incident, I now had no idea what my relationship with the ghosts was, and hell, if they were holding Cary against me, who knows what could be up.
I used my staff and closed the gap Elias had created that allowed Orville into the attic. I doubted he was a foe, and likely he never would be, but right now, I needed to be careful. Molly’s life and possibly others were at stake. I wouldn’t be taking any chances.
I opened the parchment and touched the quill to the paper.
“Elias, I need help, and it’s urgent.”
The writing began immediately. “Explain how I can help.”
