Page 86 of The Last Slayer
Since the acquisition of the heartstone, all my senses seemed to be keener, more immediately accessible. Physically I was quicker and more precise in my movements, with a degree of control that hadn’t been there before. I was also getting very strong feelings about certain things, most of which were turning out to be true. I’d known about the fake Ramiel, of course, but there were other things as well. What would happen if I got a second stone? Could I become a full-time day trader? That would be amusing. The SEC would accuse me of insider trading—there were laws against using magic for that kind of thing. But they forbade seers, not demigods.
“What’s so funny?” Valerie said.
“Nothing.”
“Are you going to go in dressed like that?” Valerie looked at my dirty suit meaningfully.
“Do I have a choice?”
“I can give you something.” A faint smile curved her lips. “Everyone’s going to want to know your plastic surgeon’s name. And your hair stylist’s.”
I laughed in spite of myself. Count on Valerie to cheer me up.
She dragged me to her walk-in closet and lent me a pink Armani pantsuit, which fit perfectly. It was a little eerie to think my proportions were now the same as hers, the buxom man-killer. Even her CFM stilettos fit. Damn. I twisted my long blond hair into a simple updo and plunged a stick through it. Living with Valerie had taught me how to manage a few styles I’d never had any use for before.
Valerie appeared in a skirt suit. “Well! Aren’t you the stylish one?”
I rolled my eyes. It had been her longtime goal to reform my “frumpy looks.” Apparently, unless you owned suits that cost at least a thousand dollars apiece, you were frumpy.
We called a cab and took it to the office. Her convertible was still in the parking lot, sparkling like a giant ruby in the sun.
The security guard stared as we walked up. I swear to god he’s secretly in love with Valerie, although she never seems to notice.
“Morning, Edward,” she said.
“Good morning, Valerie. Some great weather to start the workweek off right, huh?” He smiled, but it was the expression of a guy who knows he doesn’t stand a chance. The man was sad. Then he noticed me and his weak-chinned jaw hung open.
“Good morning, Edward,” I said with a nod like always.
“Good ah.” He swallowed. “Good morning. You need to sign in.” He pushed the visitor’s log toward me. “I’m guessing, uh—” he glanced at Valerie, “—you’re visiting Valerie?”
“No. I work here.”
He blinked. “I’m sorry?”
Valerie put an arm around my shoulder and winked at him. “It’s Ashera. Doesn’t she look absolutely wonderful?”
He swayed a bit, and I felt a twinge of pity for him. Valerie laughed as we walked away, the sound trilling like small marbles rolling on a silver tray. I sighed.
We walked through the lobby doors and into the waiting elevator. “You’re getting popular now. How does it feel to strike a man dumb?” Valerie said with a smirk.
“Irritating.” I huffed, although a teeny little part of me was thrilled. “I haven’t changed at all inside. I’m still me. It’s stupid that he acted that way just because I’m blonde or whatever now. How freaking shallow.” The thrilled part really was teeny. I swear.
“Oh, puhleese. You’re not the you from the day before yesterday. Trust me.”
I had a feeling that she was right.
Sandy gave us a concerned smile when we reached her desk on the ninth floor. “Valerie! Are you okay? We heard you were hurt, and I was so worried! Well, we all were.”
What an ass-kisser.
“I’m fine, thanks to Ashera.” Valerie tilted her head in my direction.
Sandy looked at me, her green eyes curious. The angle of her head exposed her neck and allowed a small tendril of red hair to escape from behind her ear. “Ashera? That’s an unusual name. One of our partners is—”
“It’s me, Sandy.” My voice hadn’t changed with my appearance, and certainly the tone was the same as before.
She glanced at Valerie, then back at me. “Ashera?”
