Elemental Flame (9 page)

"Sam?"

I blinked a few times. "Levi, I'll call you back, okay?" I disconnected, took in a good lung full of air and shouted, "IVAN GET IN HERE!"

I
van
, Dharma, Kyle and Grey piled into my office all at once and stopped in front of my desk. I'd jumped up and pointed at it. "Ivan, who typed that?"

He came around the computer immediately and sat in my chair. His hands never touched the keyboard but the password was typed in, the screen saver disappeared, and a plethora of windows popped up. Dharma and Kyle came around the desk to stand behind Ivan and watch as Grey lumbered around them and I knelt down to put my arms around her.

"This is interesting."

"What?" I shot back up to my feet and leaned on the back of my chair, over his shoulder. "What's interesting? 'Cause I didn't type that."

"No you didn't. In fact this computer's been asleep since you left. But it looks like there was a hack yesterday."

"Someone hacked my computer? It's because we have Wi-Fi now, isn't it?"

"Yeah. It is."

"Why did you get Wi-Fi if you didn't need it?" Dharma asked.

Kyle answered. "Because not having it and yet accessing the Internet could give one of the other businesses the idea we were stealing theirs."

Ivan put his hand on the screen then pulled it back. The screen came with it, creating a transparent three-dimensional image of the open windows.

I moved to the right and looked behind them and saw strings of code. "That's cool. Very Matrixy."

"Yeah," Ivan said but he sounded distracted. "Just…"

"Just what?"

"What did it say again? Oh never mind," he said just as he brought up the preference pane for the screen saver. "Help me, Sam. And you can save him."

"Someone's wanting me to help them, and if I help them, then I can save Crwys. It's got to be from his kidnappers."

"Help who do what?" Kyle said. "We don't even know that Crwys is alive."

I knew he wasn't dead. I could feel he wasn't. He filled something inside me that right at that second, was brimming over with anxiety. "Who has the kind of expertise to put that message there?"

"It's obvious whoever they are, they don't know you because you never check this computer. You're rarely even in here," Kyle pointed to the machine. "Can you track who accessed it?"

"Doing that right…now…" Ivan moved his hands again and the images flew past him. Standing behind him like this, I could almost see the magic from his point of view as he traveled along several pathways, then veered right until the string of red, blue and green lights separated into five, and then two and then finally one green light. Ivan pushed his hands out and the speed slowed until a string of numbers separated by periods appeared in the air in front of him. "I got an IP."

"And?"

He moved his hands, poking each set of numbers with his fingers until they twisted into an address.

I read the address aloud.

It was Arden Vervain's home in the Garden District. "Arden did that?"

"Or someone in Arden's home or someone using her Wi-Fi connection." Ivan folded all the windows up until they were back in the computer and everything snapped into place. He rubbed his eyes and looked up at me as the green fire in them dimmed. "Someone from Arden's IP broke into your computer and made that change. But that was all they did. They targeted a message to you."

This didn't make any sense. "Why do it that way? Why not text me? Or call me?"

Dharma put her hand on Ivan's shoulder and squeezed. He put his hand over hers. "Maybe…" she said. "They didn't want anyone to know they'd sent it. These days most everyone is mobile, so we take our work, our emails and our social media with us. Hell, most of us read books or watch movies and shows on our phones or laptops. What we don't do is spend a lot of time on our desktop computers, unless we're artists or digital painters, things like that."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "I'm not sure I get your point."

"You're always on the go. Just since I've known who you are, I've rarely seen you here, in your store, for more than an hour at a time. Anyone who watched your actions would see how mobile you are and they would track your phone because that's what they always see you with. But what means could they use to send you a message where no one would bother or know to look? How many people know you have a computer in this room?"

"Damn few."

"Exactly. My guess is who ever picked this medium to send you a message was afraid their text would be seen if they sent it to your phone. So they sent it to the one thing they know about and others don't."

I looked at the desktop and thought about it. It made sense. In a twisted way. "The list of those who know this exists is pretty short. There's you guys, Crwys and Levi, Arden Vervain and Ina Devonshire. Not sure anyone else knows."

"That's a good list to start with," Kyle said. "The hack originated from Arden's house. I say Sam and I pay her a visit. She hasn't answered any of my messages over several days and I'd like to know why."

"I want to come too," Ivan said.

"No," I said. "You, Dharma and Grey stay here. Kyle and I can go and if we get into trouble, we know we can get you. Ivan, log into their security grid and see if you can see if Arden's there."

"Sure."

You're not leaving me behind.

"I'm sorry Mom, but I think it should just be us. What if Blackwood is there?"

Everyone in the room understood my random responses to Grey. They all knew I could hear her. But apparently what I said struck something.

"Good point," Kyle said as he left the office. "I'm gonna grab a few things."

"I don't like the idea of you two going alone. And if you take Grey, I'm sure she can get away if you can't communicate with us," Ivan looked up at me from the chair. His expression worried.

"Okay. Grey can come too, but right now it's just a social call. For Kyle's sake. But everyone else stays here. I trust the wards."

Dharma smiled and nodded. "I hope you find him."

I didn't say anything. I just nodded and left the office. Kyle was at his herb shelf and table in the very back. It was a place dedicated to his magic where he could mix and experiment with herbs and incenses. He zipped up a bag of stuff and set the strap over his shoulder as I approached. "Ready?"

He nodded. "You drive."

We took my Jeep. The night was both chilly and thick from the rainy drizzle during the day, but I knew soon enough the cool weather would disappear completely and we'd be wilting through the usual hot, muggy summer days and nights. Summer was brutal in New Orleans. With less than a day before Mardi Gras started, the tourists were already triple their usual number. I had to take a few work around roads over to the Garden District, so the drive took twice as long as it should have.

It was after nine o'clock by the time I pulled the Jeep in front of Arden's place. We were close to Ina's house and I crushed the idea of heading over there to see if the police had snuck in to do any illegal searches. I knew they couldn't take a look without a warrant and they couldn't get that without probable cause. So I figured I was okay for now.

The house was well lit, as always, as Grey, Kyle and I went through the iron gate and followed the concrete walk. I heard voices inside, and they didn't sound happy. When they came close to the door, Kyle and I looked at each other in the light of the house lamps and then all three of us ducked to the side into a huge azalea bush. I summoned a bit of Earth to make us blend in with the bush as the front door burst open and Edmund Blackwood stomped out.

"Edmund—"

He stopped on the walk and turned back to the door. He looked fine from what I could see from my vantage point. Whatever I'd sent at him at Crwys's place probably just grazed him. He'd been well enough to drive his car away. And damn well enough to call and threaten Levi. "The answer is still no. And if you dare change your deal with me, Miss Vervain, I will rain fire down upon your home. You promised me that land deal—so you'd better find a way to make it work. And as for Hawthorne, she's mine to deal with now. She attacked me with Arcane Magic. And no matter how you try and deny it, I know what I saw. I'm sure the Parliament would be happy knowing you've been consorting with the infected! That new title you hold so dear could be revoked just like that!" He snapped his fingers for emphasis.

Blackwood turned and stomped down the walk to the gate. He slammed it shut and after a few minutes, we heard a car start up and then squeal into the night.

"You better come on in," said a gravelly voice from the above us. "And keep that cloak on. The house is being watched."

That didn't sound like Arden, but it had her familiarity. I kept the Earth Magic in place as the three of us came out from under the bush and went up the steps through the front door. If there had been someone watching the house, they would have seen the house and stairs and nothing else. Not us. I'd made the spell to chameleon the surroundings as we moved.

Once inside, I dropped it and thanked my Gnome. She wasn't visible physically, but I'd felt her presence. Arden wasn't at the door, and we weren't greeted by any of her usual female entourage either. The house smelled like a hospital with medicinal scents like ointment and disinfectant. I also saw dirt on the floor and bits and pieces of paper here and there.

"Aunt Arden?" Kyle called out. "Where did you go?"

"Parlor."

Kyle and I looked at each other, and I could tell from his expression he agreed with me. This wasn't like Arden. She lived for show and adoration, as well as being served. I swore the house was empty except for Arden and us. Kyle led the way down the hall and then into the parlor. I'd been in this room a lot in the past few months. Arden did a quantity of business in this room. And no matter how many times I stood in the center of it, it still reminded me of a bordello. Down to the red and gold wallpaper and Victorian furniture. Miss Kitty's home sweet home.

I looked around for Arden when we walked in, but I didn't see her. Grey headed for the large wicker fan-backed chair and stood in front of it. The chair had been turned to face the other way.

Grey growled.
Something is wrong
.

"I'll say," I said out loud. "We just saw Edmund Blackwood stomp out of your house and threaten you, Arden. We also know someone from this house hacked into my computer—"

"That's enough," came the graveled voice. Something in the tone of it did sound like Arden. "Kyle, cast your best and strongest concealment. And I suggest you lend him your power, Samantha."

Concealment? In a house as well warded as Arden's? Grey was right. Something was wrong.

Kyle pulled one of the short coffee tables to the side. I moved magazines and several half-eaten boxes of Valentine's Day candy as he emptied the contents of his bag on the table. There was his brazier, charcoal, several vials of incense, some dried herbs and a bottle of sand. As he prepared his spell I kept an eye on the chair. Someone was sitting in it and they were dressed in black, but from this angle, that was all I could see.

"Okay Sam. I need your Elementals, but not the other thing."

I knew what he meant by the other thing. I summoned each of them and asked them to participate. They came to me in an instant and gladly agreed to lend their power to Kyle's spell. All I had to do was be the conduit. He lit the charcoal, sprinkled them with Dragon's Blood Rede and then lit a candle for each of the Elements. My Gnome sat on the couch to watch, her axe leaned against it. The Undine dipped herself in the chalice of spring water he poured just for her. The Salamander danced around the Fire candle, and the Sylph deeply inhaled the incense.

Kyle took my hand and I channeled as much power to him as he needed, making sure it was not Arcane. I didn't want it to ever touch him. I would never let that happen.

I didn't know what he thought or said, but I felt the dome of energy as it was placed around just the room. It extended to the doors and the windows. People could see in, but they couldn't hear us. Nor could they see us. The room would appear empty.

The Elementals wanted to stay and I said yes, but they had to be invisible. They vanished but I could feel them nearby.

"That is so cool," Kyle grinned at me as he watched the water in the chalice splash.

"I know. I can't live without them." We stood and walked to the fan-backed chair. It moved as a figure got out of it. I expected to see Arden stand up, dressed in her full Witchy regalia. But it looked more like the Emperor in
Star Wars
than Arden. They were covered head to toe in a thick black cloak with cathedral sleeves and a hood that completely hid their face. Gloves concealed their hands and their movements were…slow. Measured.

They inched their way around the chair to stand beside it.

"Arden?" I said, and even I could hear the uncertainty in my voice. "Is that you under there? What's going on?"

"I am paying for my sins, Samantha. It was me that sent you the message. And I sent it on that computer because I couldn't let anyone know I did it."

Ah. Dharma was right!

Kyle and I exchanged looks, and I couldn't keep the smile off my face. "You want us to help you, and then I can save him. You mean Crwys."

"Yes. The purpose for capturing him wasn't death."

"How do you know that?" Kyle asked. I caught his harsh tone. I think deep down he'd hoped Arden didn't have anything to do with Crwys's disappearance and now it appeared she did. "Did you take him? Did you shoot him with the Arrow of Artemis?"

There was a gasp and then a soft laugh. "I should have known you would figure it out. Your little coven is smart. And talented."

"Arden," I stepped forward and to my surprise, she stepped back. "What's wrong? What do you need help with? Where is he? How can I get to him?"

There was a long pause where I just heard breathing, and then, "You have to help me first."

Of course I did
. "Then you'd better tell me what the hell it is you want before I lose my patience."

Sam
, Grey said and looked at me from where she stood at my side.
I smell Crwys.

"You smell him?" I looked at Grey, then at Arden.

"Of course she smells him. The bastard is all over me." Arden slowly lifted her hands and grabbed at the edges of the hood. With deliberate stillness, she straightened up (I hadn't realized she was hunched over till then) and pulled the hood back.