their help when we were in Las Vegas. That was before things had gone south so quickly.
“So they’ve been here for a while?” I asked.
Diana nodded. “Amara and Talos came to help Dyonne and me during what we thought would be our final days. They protected us, cheered us with gifts.” She touched her necklace. “They kept us company.” She paused. “They would have been there to witness our final minutes. Griffins cannot die alone, or”—her gaze dropped to her toes—“well, it’s just bad. Anyhow, they promised to stay with us.” Her fingers skimmed the yellow door. “They’ve been here ever since, almost like family. You’ll meet them tonight.”
“Do you think we should check on them?” I asked, hand raised to knock. No telling what could have happened if they’d run into a stray imp or three.
Diana shook her head. “We already did. Christolo, our cook, was the only one home during the attack. Dyonne found him hiding in the pantry. She really should have put some clothes on first.” She started down the hallway once more. “Amara and Talos went out for the day.”
“Oh,” I said, moving on. “What a lucky day to be out.” Not that I wanted to accuse her friends of anything, but it did seem strange for them to disappear right before an attack.
“They might have figured we’d be busy picking you up. Or”—she turned back to me—“they could have sensed something coming. Amara is psychic.”
“For real?” I’d never met a psychic, except for the one at the Georgia State Fair. And even at the age of eight, I had a feeling that Mystical Marge had a tarot card or two up her sleeve.
“I’ll bet that’s why Dimitri thinks she could help you.”
I hoped that wasn’t our only plan. I liked to count on things I could see—my switch stars, a nice antidemonic spell, perhaps a few healing crystals from my utility belt.
Sure, I’d stop to watch the occasional History Channel special on Nostradamus or the 2012 predictions, but if I was going to bet my missing magic on something, it had better be something I could use.
The doubt must have shone on my face, because she quickly added, “Amara predicted that Dyonne and I could be the ones to survive the curse on our family.” She paused outside another painted door. “Thanks to you, it happened.”
Interesting. Perhaps I’d talk to Amara about the vision I’d had at the airport.
Diana opened the door to a cozy room with a plumped-up canopy bed that reminded me of “The Princess and the Pea.” The bed was covered in a white and green vine pattern, with a half dozen pillows and a Greek cross hanging on the wall behind it. The room had a large, rounded window overlooking the gorgeous green hills behind the house.
“This is for me?” I asked.
“Officially, yes,” Diana said, with a bit of humor. “And just so you know, Dimitri is across the hall.”
How convenient, although it was a bit of a shame that comfy bed would probably go to waste.
“Oh, and if it makes you feel any safer,” she said, easing open the wardrobe in the corner of the room, “this bottom drawer has a solid lock. The key is on the dresser.”
“Thanks.”
As I turned the key, I couldn’t help thinking that for a house as open and welcoming as this one tried to be, it sure had a lot of places to keep secrets.
Chapter Six
I showered in the small bathroom off my room and changed into a pink flowered sundress and sandals. Despite the brightness of my surroundings, I couldn’t keep my own dark thoughts from surfacing.
Someone had stolen a part of me.
A few months ago, I would have thought it was impossible. Of course that was before I came into my powers and learned more than I ever wanted to know about demons, imps and things that go bump in the night—and in all hours of the day as well.
I eased onto the bed and tried to remember my yoga breathing. Our teacher had talked about centering ourselves, finding that quiet place. It was harder than it
“So they’ve been here for a while?” I asked.
Diana nodded. “Amara and Talos came to help Dyonne and me during what we thought would be our final days. They protected us, cheered us with gifts.” She touched her necklace. “They kept us company.” She paused. “They would have been there to witness our final minutes. Griffins cannot die alone, or”—her gaze dropped to her toes—“well, it’s just bad. Anyhow, they promised to stay with us.” Her fingers skimmed the yellow door. “They’ve been here ever since, almost like family. You’ll meet them tonight.”
“Do you think we should check on them?” I asked, hand raised to knock. No telling what could have happened if they’d run into a stray imp or three.
Diana shook her head. “We already did. Christolo, our cook, was the only one home during the attack. Dyonne found him hiding in the pantry. She really should have put some clothes on first.” She started down the hallway once more. “Amara and Talos went out for the day.”
“Oh,” I said, moving on. “What a lucky day to be out.” Not that I wanted to accuse her friends of anything, but it did seem strange for them to disappear right before an attack.
“They might have figured we’d be busy picking you up. Or”—she turned back to me—“they could have sensed something coming. Amara is psychic.”
“For real?” I’d never met a psychic, except for the one at the Georgia State Fair. And even at the age of eight, I had a feeling that Mystical Marge had a tarot card or two up her sleeve.
“I’ll bet that’s why Dimitri thinks she could help you.”
I hoped that wasn’t our only plan. I liked to count on things I could see—my switch stars, a nice antidemonic spell, perhaps a few healing crystals from my utility belt.
Sure, I’d stop to watch the occasional History Channel special on Nostradamus or the 2012 predictions, but if I was going to bet my missing magic on something, it had better be something I could use.
The doubt must have shone on my face, because she quickly added, “Amara predicted that Dyonne and I could be the ones to survive the curse on our family.” She paused outside another painted door. “Thanks to you, it happened.”
Interesting. Perhaps I’d talk to Amara about the vision I’d had at the airport.
Diana opened the door to a cozy room with a plumped-up canopy bed that reminded me of “The Princess and the Pea.” The bed was covered in a white and green vine pattern, with a half dozen pillows and a Greek cross hanging on the wall behind it. The room had a large, rounded window overlooking the gorgeous green hills behind the house.
“This is for me?” I asked.
“Officially, yes,” Diana said, with a bit of humor. “And just so you know, Dimitri is across the hall.”
How convenient, although it was a bit of a shame that comfy bed would probably go to waste.
“Oh, and if it makes you feel any safer,” she said, easing open the wardrobe in the corner of the room, “this bottom drawer has a solid lock. The key is on the dresser.”
“Thanks.”
As I turned the key, I couldn’t help thinking that for a house as open and welcoming as this one tried to be, it sure had a lot of places to keep secrets.
Chapter Six
I showered in the small bathroom off my room and changed into a pink flowered sundress and sandals. Despite the brightness of my surroundings, I couldn’t keep my own dark thoughts from surfacing.
Someone had stolen a part of me.
A few months ago, I would have thought it was impossible. Of course that was before I came into my powers and learned more than I ever wanted to know about demons, imps and things that go bump in the night—and in all hours of the day as well.
I eased onto the bed and tried to remember my yoga breathing. Our teacher had talked about centering ourselves, finding that quiet place. It was harder than it
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