A Witch's Path (14 page)

With a chastened look, Cage returned to evaluating my condition. While he was inspecting a scrape on my hand, a small medallion, embossed with an elephant, appeared in my palm. Under the medallion was a scrap of paper with a phone number.
 

Cage whispered, "Lady, it would be a privilege to answer any of your questions. You need to understand how unique you are."

I didn't say anything, but pocketed the coin. I might need it later. These witches seemed to know something that I needed to learn. Normally, I believed ignorance may not be bliss, but it was the next best thing. However, I was tired of being the only one who didn't know things about me. I chugged more of the restorative brew.
 

"You have scrapes and bruises. Those will hurt for a while."

"Thanks for reminding me."
 

"You've had a nasty blow to the head, and a mild concussion. All the swelling is outside your skull, so try to avoid head injuries for a while and you'll be fine. I would heal it, but I'm out of energy for a while."

"Awesome, you ruined my plans to go boxing later." At his confused look, I tossed up my hands. "It was a joke!"
 

Lt Cage moved back to the rest of the group and Rexie immediately sniffed every inch of me. He seemed to determine that I was fine because he heaved a sigh and plopped down beside me, shaking the ground.
 

"Does anyone have suggestion for dealing with Rexie?" I asked. So far this was the point we'd all dodged.

"He doesn't seem to be a danger to anyone while he's with you." King offered.
 

"True. I guess he could come home with me, though I haven't a clue how to get him back to the Lodge. What's the damage report?"

"So far there haven't been any deaths. Actually, all the injuries have been from building debris or people panicking. As far as we can tell he stuck to property damage." I wasn't sure who volunteered that information.
 

"Could you read him?" Hal asked.

"Nope, I'm basically magic blind right now. I need to recharge." I was out of power and heading towards a long nap.
 

An elf with short, spiked brown hair, and a police uniform pushed her way to the front. "Oh, let me look at him." Before anyone could protest, including Rexie, the elf marched up and laid a hand on his nose. His big eyes crossed trying to bring her into focus, but after the initial flinch of surprise he didn't move. The elf hummed, trailing her hands across his body. When she finished, she walked back to his head, rubbed his cheek, and whispered to him.
 

"To start with, he doesn't like Rexie," she announced.
 

"Do you like Ty?" The elf glared at me. She didn't think much of shortening Tyrannosaurus, but he nodded enthusiastically.
 

"Now that a few of the spells are broken I can answer the previous questions. Ms. Oaks was correct. He's a mess of spells. He's still hard to hurt, but the two spells making him indestructible are gone, or greatly diminished. Something, spell or intentions of his creators, was making him ill-tempered. That's gone now. He attached himself to Ms. Oaks because she saved him."

"How do you know that?" Hal asked.

"Some elves are good with plants, I'm better with creatures. At this point he's a type of creature, and I can feel the intent of the spells. Michelle should check him more carefully later, but she's in no shape to do that now," the elf said.

Hal frowned, and I jumped in before he could annoy the elf. "I'm glad someone can communicate with him. Ty does seem to have a better attitude, but I can't afford to feed him." And I didn't need a one-gal pet that destroyed towns.

"Ty doesn't eat. Ty is real, in the sense that we can see him, feel him, and interact with him. However, he is not alive. Think of him as a sophisticated, magical version, of one of those artificial intelligence robots scientist are trying to make."

"So, I can teach him, and he'll learn?"
 

"Absolutely, he understands you, though he has a hard time communicating. If you know any elves, they may be able to communicate with him better than you." The elf scratched under his jaw, and he moaned in pleasure, thumping his big tail.
 

"Ms. – what's your name?" I asked.

"Nell."
 

"Nell, could you tell him to assume people are nice unless they try to harm me?" If he wasn't trying to actively guard me, things would be simpler. "And could you teach him a few basic commands? Like guard, relax, friend, come, and lay down?" I had the world's biggest dog in a T-Rex wrapper.
 

Nell talked to him for a few minutes, and from the sounds he made, argued with him. "Alright guys, come on over. Pet him, get him used to people." The group of people slowly walked over, and soon the guys were scratching his chin and exclaiming about the size of his teeth and claws.
 

Hal came over to talk to me while we watched them pet Ty. "I think it would be better if Ty went home with you. I'll come photograph him in a day or two. I need the pictures for evidence. Nell assures me that he'll recognize me, and be willing to work with me. You won't have to be there."

"Sounds good." I needed to slather myself in a gallon or two of bruise treatment and take a long nap.
 

"I've been thinking about how to get him to your place. You need a ride home, and I think with some elvish encouragement he'll follow your car." I thought he'd follow my car without encouragement, but we didn't need to debate details. "We'll give you a police escort, and you guys can travel back to the Lodge at his pace."

"As long as I don't have to drive. In about five minutes I'll be out cold. My bags need to come with me." My wand was safely strapped to my arm.
 

Sgt Cooper shook me awake and guided me to a police car. My bags were already in the back seat. Ty looked at me through the window, his breath fogging the glass. I rolled down the window to pet him. We headed for the lodge and he trotted behind the car. With the crisis over, I fell asleep.
 

My phone woke me up. According to the clock I'd been asleep for two hours. "Oaks Consulting, this is Michelle." I yawned.
 

"Where are you?" Tiffany asked.
 

"I'm in a car between Dahlonega and the Lodge."

"When will you get here?"

I repeated the question to the officer driving, and repeated his answer to Tiffany. "About thirty minutes."

"Well, I need to talk to you when you get here."

"Alright. I'll see you in half an hour." Tiffany huffed before she hung up the phone. Mentally, I shrugged. I couldn't do anything about Amber in my current state.
 

Before I could fall asleep again, I called my mom. She'd be outraged if I didn't tell her about Ty before the news informed her. "Hi, Mom."

"Michelle, is everything alright?"

"Yes, but I wanted to tell you about my day so you wouldn't be alarmed when you see the news." It didn't take as long as you'd think to retell the events, perhaps because I'd been unconscious for so much. She made noises about how dangerous my cases were getting and I brushed her off, though privately I agreed. A few minutes later, I worked up the courage to ask, "Mom, some witches saw my tattoo today and seemed to think it was strange that I didn't have a clan."

"I've told you, they didn't want us."

"Right, but they seemed to think the clan would be reluctant to let me go."

"They can think what they like. The clan didn't want us. Someday we may be able to join your father's clan, but that day hasn't come. It would be best if you forgot about that nonsense."

"Yes, Mom. Could you tell Dad what happened? I had to drink a lot of the restorative brew." My eyes were droopy and my brain fuzzy.

"Of course, you need your rest. Stay safe, and don't let Ty get out of hand."

We finished our goodbyes and I collapsed against the seat. A quick look over my shoulder proved that Ty was still gamely tromping behind us. Now, if I could figure out how to break the news to Landa, and bribe Elron into helping me communicate with him, I'd be in good shape.
 

We pulled into the driveway, and I spotted Landa, Mander, and Elron waiting in front of the Lodge. They must've heard the noise. As soon as the cars stopped, I jumped out and told Ty to stay. Turning to the group I said, "I can explain."

"No need, lass. We saw most of it on the telly," Mander answered.

"Oh."

"Is it tame, or are you controlling him?" Landa asked.

"I don't have the energy to control a fly right now. Once the spells broke he decided I was his new best friend. An elf up there, Nell," Elron nodded, recognizing the name, "talked to him. Ty's basically a big dog, but he isn't exactly real so he doesn't eat. Do you want to meet him?" They nodded. "Ty, come here."
 

He walked over, and I introduced them. Before long, he was happily grunting as the three of them petted and scratched him. While they were getting acquainted, I retrieved my bags from the car and sent the policemen home.
 

"Elron?"

"Yes?" He answered, still rubbing Ty's brow ridge.
 

"Could you talk to Ty? Explain that I have to stay inside and he needs to stay outside. If he'd be willing to look out for trespassers, it would be nice." With the way my day had gone, I'd be lucky if he didn't tell Ty to eat me.
 

"I'll work with Ty, if you tell me what you think of the bonsai." He bargained, grinning.
 

Narzel take him. "Deal. I love the bonsai. It's pretty and soothing. Now, will you talk to him?"

"Sure." Elron turned his attention to Ty.
 

"Michelle, Tiffany is waiting for you in your apartment," Landa said.
 

I sighed. "I know. She's very upset about Amber. I'll go talk to her. I'm sorry I brought home a dinosaur."
 

Landa and Mander busted out laughing as if they couldn't contain it any more. Landa stopped laughing long enough to answer. "You couldn't have brought home a better guardian if you'd tried. I doubt any more people will be sneaking around on this property."

"I hadn't thought of it like that."

"Go talk to Tiffany, and rest." Landa shooed me into the lodge, using brownie magic to send my bags after me.
 

I walked into my apartment and plopped my bag next to the door startling Tiffany.

She leapt off the couch and walked over. "You look terrible."

Considering that my pants were dirty and ripped, and my polo was hanging off me in shreds, terrible was an understatement. "Can you tell me what the police said while I take a shower? And when I'm done, would you paint me with bruise cream?"

"Yes and yes, but you have to tell me what happened to you too."
 

"Come on. It's a long story." I started the water and tossed my clothes in the trash. Tiffany gasped when she saw how much of my body was bruised and scraped. I climbed into the shower and asked, "Now, what did the police say?"

"Detective Wells reviewed my nine-one-one call and made noise about investigating the dispatcher. Then he finished taking my statement and had me file a missing persons report. Detective Wells said they would talk to the other people at the meeting, and to Adder, but without evidence it would be difficult to pursue him as a suspect. Basically, they are going to investigate, but we shouldn't have a lot of hope."

"That's just perfect." I tried not to make unhappy noises, but the soap and water stung my abraded skin.

"Can you do anything?"

"I'm not the police; it's not my job. They could arrest me for interfering with the investigation. Besides, I can't cast right now and I really need to rest. Dealing with today's emergency sucked me dry. I'll be magically useless until late tomorrow." I turned off the water. Picking up the towel, I carefully dried myself, trying not to hurt myself with minimal success.
 

"I guess you're right." She pouted for a moment before realizing she hadn't asked about my day. "How did you get so beat up?"

"How much did the police tell you?" I pulled a jar of bruise cream out from under the sink. "Could you do my back?"

Tiffany took the pot from me and started on the scrapes. "Something about a dinosaur in Dahlonega, and the Lumpkin police were sending a helicopter to pick you up because they needed a witch."

I explained what happened, leaving out the clan talk. I didn't want to deal with it right now.
 

"So, there's a T-Rex here and we aren't worried because it doesn't eat? And, after destroying half a town, it's well-mannered because a spell was broken?" The tone of her voice suggested I'd smoked something while I was gone. She handed me the cream and I worked on the front of my body.
 

"Yup. Do you want to meet him?"

"No thanks, I don't have a death wish. I need to find Amber…" her voice trailed off.
 

She followed me into the bedroom. I pulled on sweats, wanting to be warm and comfortable. "Tiffany, I want Amber back as much as you do, but I can't do anything about it right now."

"I know. I'll go home and try to sleep."

"Okay. I'm only a phone call away."

"I know. I'll be fine."
 

I walked her to the door and gave her a hug.
 

Leaning against the closed door, my throat worked and my eyes burned, but the tears wouldn't come. My eyes closed, and I slipped sideways. Catching myself on the wall, I headed for bed. I had to find a way to help Amber, and keep the promises I'd made to Mom.
 

A ringing phone woke me up, as usual. "Hi, Dad," I answered.

"Hi, Michelle. Are you ok?"
 

"Yes, I'm a bit sore and bruised, but I'm fine."

"Good, I was worried. I talked to your mother, and it would be best if you kept a low profile when it came to witch matters."

"Why?" Curiosity was eating me alive, but I had someone who would answer questions now.