Magic Rising (12 page)

I hung up with my back against the door, and waited in anticipation, almost willing the phone to start ringing. It didn’t. Evan and I were never out of contact for this long. If he couldn’t call, he would send a text or an email. Emails! Why didn’t I think of that? A couple of button clicks later and my email inbox appeared on my phone. There was an email from Kitty, dated last night before she called. It was just to tell me that she’d received a summons and what was going on? And another message from my college tutor reminding all students to hand in their papers. There were also several work-related messages that weren’t high priority since Seren and David informed their customers that no orders would be filled this week. But there was nothing from Evan there either.

Worry niggled at me as I contemplated all the possibilities of why he hadn’t returned my calls. Evan was perfectly capable of looking after himself, I intoned mentally. He was big, strong, and cool when faced with danger. There was no reason for me to worry about him, other than that his lack of contact was unusual, especially given my dire circumstances. I made my mind up to wrestle whatever information Micah had from him. One thing I felt sure of was that Micah knew something about why Evan was MIA. As Evan’s right hand demon, he was privy to all of his business dealings.

“Will Kitty have to come?” I asked when I returned to the living room. I dropped onto the sofa between Micah and Etoile, fixing my eyes on him to show I might mean business. He narrowed his eyes right back at me.

“We might not need her to appear,” said Steven. “I have an idea.”

“We still need to get her just in case,” replied Etoile. “The judiciary may not look favourably on your request.”

“True.”

“She’ll need to leave now if she’s going to get here for court tomorrow,” I pointed out. “If she can even get a plane or train ticket at this last minute.”

“No need. I’ll collect her.” Micah stood, edging away from me.

“She won’t like your mode of travel,” I told him, patting the seat cushion. “So, sit down. Besides, you’re sworn to protect me. You can’t do that if you’re hot-footing it to Wilding.”

“She’s right. I’ll go,” said Etoile.

“Can you do that? It’s a long way to collect someone and bring them back too.”

“I know.” Etoile smiled. “But seeing my sisters has given me a power boost. Wait here. I’ll be back soon.” I felt the air pop a moment before Etoile disappeared.

“So?” I said, turning to Micah. He looked cross at not being consulted. “Heard from Evan yet?”

“No.”

“Why won’t you tell me where he is?”

“He is on a work assignment,” he said carefully, like I was a little slow.

“Where is he?” I replied just as slowly as I searched his face. My eyebrows knitted together in surprise at the fleeting expression of uncertainty. “You don’t know, do you?”

“Strictly speaking, no,” he replied in an annoyed tone.

“Why isn’t he answering my calls?”

“I don’t know.”

“What
do
you know?” I asked, refusing to give up.

Micah paused, then glanced at Steven with his head bowed over the paperwork. “Things I can’t tell you,” he said, his tone a bit softer.

I lowered my voice to match his. “What kind of answer is that?”

“He said you would be difficult.” Micah stepped around me and inclined his head towards the kitchen. Whatever it was, he didn’t want Steven to overhear.

“I’m going to get a drink,” I told Steven. “Would you like one?”

Steven glanced up, but appeared clearly lost enough in his own thoughts. I doubted he would take any notice of Micah’s and my whispered conversation. “Hmm? Oh, no, thank you. I’m just going to…” He trailed off as he turned the page, having already forgotten us.

In the kitchen, I went through the motions of exploring Etoile‘s stock of teas and coffee, finally opting to make tea for us both. “I prefer coffee,” said Micah, when I handed him a hot mug.

“I prefer answers,” I countered. “What job is Evan working on?”

“Truly? I don’t know. All I know is it’s keeping him busy for a minimum of one week, and coincided with the day you departed for the city, and that it was a personal request.”

“How do you know that?”

“If it weren’t, I would have known about the job.”

“If he knew what was going on here, he would come. I’m sure of it,” I said, not sure whom I was reassuring. “Have you told him what happened today?”

“I left a message an hour ago. But I have heard nothing.”

So he wasn’t answering Micah either. That wasn’t good news. “Do you know where he is?” I asked again.

“No.”

“I just want him to call me.”

A hand landed on my shoulder and I jumped, but Micah didn’t offer any comforting words. I didn’t think he could. I genuinely didn’t think he knew where Evan was or why he wasn’t calling. Whatever was keeping Evan from me had little to do with the witches and their opinion of his race. After all, Micah was here, a full-blooded demon compared to Evan’s half-bred, daemon status, so it must have had something to do with the job. Evan never mentioned anything about making a personal request and that struck me as odd. Come to think of it, he didn’t say much about the job at all. When did we start keeping things from each other?

“What is Steven up to?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder at the older man, suddenly recalling he said something about an “idea.” He’d stopped reading and was now making notes, his hand flying over the page. I was sure he’d read and reread his notes enough to have them memorised by now.

“Now that I do know; but why don’t you ask him?”

I returned to the living room with my tea and took the seat opposite Steven while Micah looked out of the windows, scanning the street as well as the rooftops. Whatever he was looking for, I had no clue; but I would have felt more comfortable if Evan had been with me instead of incommunicado wherever he was.

“What’s your grand plan?” I asked my lawyer. “I don’t know if my stress levels can take much more of this.”

“Tomorrow, I plan to ask the judiciary to hear your testimony first,” he replied succinctly.

“I thought I wouldn’t be called until last.”

“And Georgia thought she had a slam-dunk case, as the kids say, against you. I’ve practised law a long time, Stella, both human and witch. I can sense when the judiciary is not happy with the progression of a case.”

“You think they’re not happy?” I’d been watching all of them throughout the day’s testimony and observed nothing of the sort. The judiciary had watched the witnesses with expressions of ennui.

“I think they are surprised to hear everyone’s account saying the same thing: you acted in self-defence. If the case continues in the same vein, it could be perceived as harassment against you,” Steven explained.

“It still doesn’t make any sense. There’s no reason for Georgia, or Alison Dorling, to harass me.” Across the room, Micah snorted. “Well, Georgia,” I admitted, wondering if Micah had the misfortune to have already met her, “but not Alison.”

“Alison grieves for her child. She is probably being manipulated. It could be that Georgia is fighting for the Eleanor murder charge, where as Alison believes this case to be about her son.”

“Publicity, damage and glory,” summarised Micah, “under the guise of benevolence towards the grieving mother.”

“For whatever reason Alison Dorling brought the case against me, I feel sorry for her. I can’t imagine what she must be going through.”

“That’s magnanimous of you.” Steven patted my hand. Little dots of ink marred his writing hand. “I’m sure you know better than most exactly what Alison must be suffering. It’s not dissimilar to your own situation.”

“Yeah, but I found closure for that.” I thought of my parents, and how I only ever remembered snatches of conversation, little morsels of my childhood memories. I only knew their faces from photographs, but they were a striking pair.

“Then let’s hope this trial gives Alison what she needs. Answers.”

Etoile and Kitty flashed into the apartment a moment later, and both Micah and I turned at the same time to greet them.

“This is horrible!” Kitty exclaimed as she rushed over to give me a hug. “You’re not a murderer! I’ll tell them that on the stand tomorrow,” she promised emphatically, her voice taking on the same note of disbelief as mine upon hearing I’d been indicted.

“You might not need to take the stand,” I told her, returning her hug. “Steven wants me to testify first.”

Etoile turned to him. “You told her?”

Steven grimaced. “Not quite everything.”

Looking from Etoile to Steven, I asked, “What part did you leave out?”

“Do you remember back in England when I let you peek inside my head?” Etoile asked. “I let you see my memories, my truth.”

“Yes.” It was weird, like I was plugged into Etoile and could move freely inside and through her memories. It required great mutual trust. She revealed the truth, and showed me exactly how deep her loyalty was as a friend. I’ve never doubted her since. “What of it?”

“We want the judiciary to do the same to you. It’s more valuable than any spoken testimony. No one can possibly refute it,” Steven told us. “Etoile thought of it, but we weren’t sure you would comply.”

“Uck!” Kitty, who knew the story already, flopped onto the sofa. “You want to give her open brain surgery in court?”

Etoile laughed. “It’s not like that. It’s a simple exchange. No probes or drills.”

Steven nodded. “You’ll just be transmitting outwardly to more people. It’s draining, but not too risky. Your memories of that day will be laid bare for everyone to view. Lisette is somewhat skilled and a specialist in such procedures, fortunately.”

“So, I let them peek into my head and it’s all over?” It seemed like a no-brainer, (no pun intended), to me.

“That’s the idea,” agreed Steven. “We have two days until the Summit begins. It would be good to end this case now.”

I threw my hands in the air. Screw the Summit. I wanted it over, even if it meant letting absolute strangers see into my most personal thoughts. This was the only way to clear my name for good. “Let’s do it.”

~

As soon as the judiciary were seated the following morning, Steven asked permission to approach the bench. Behind me, every available seat was occupied and more spilled out into the lobby, the word clearly having spread, as the court doors shut. Kitty sat with the Winterstorms. Despite all her cross words, I could tell she was nervous about taking the stand. She had received the most injuries on the day in question, and though her wounds had healed, I was pretty certain she never wanted to talk about that day again. To do so for me was evidence of our proven friendship.

After a few murmurs of conversation amongst the judiciary, both he and Georgia were summoned. Though I could not hear their discussion, Steven had explained how he planned to petition the judiciary to allow him to put my mind and memories of that day into evidence, thereby outstripping the need for further witnesses. Georgia clearly argued against it, no doubt preferring to cast further doubt on the events, despite her lack of evidence. After a sharp word from the judiciary, followed by a warning glare at Georgia, both counsels returned to their respective tables.

Lisette stood and addressed the room. I noticed for the first time that a member of the judiciary was looking directly at me. It was neither friendly nor unfriendly. He simply appeared to assess me before turning away to mumble something to his colleague, the woman I recognised as Mary. “The defence has petitioned us to hear direct testimony from the accused, and the judiciary has consented. The defendant may approach,” Lisette instructed, beckoning me.

I sucked in a deep breath and approached the bench, taking my seat on the dais as directed.

“This is highly irregular,” Georgia insisted as I sat. Her palms were planted firmly on the prosecution desk as she leaned forwards. Next to her, Alison’s eyes flitted worriedly about the room. When she tried to chew on a fingernail, Georgia simply extended one hand, grabbing hers and removing it from her mouth, while never once looking at her. “The prosecution has other witnesses whose testimony has more bearing on this case.”

“Sit down, Ms. Thomas. The judiciary is aware of the other witnesses, but after hearing yesterday’s testimony from the four witnesses who were present at the demise of Mrs. Bartholemew and Mr. Dorling, we are more concerned with the merit of this case. We have accepted the defence’s offer to perform a memory exchange in order to extract the information, as well as the truth of this unfortunate calamity.” She turned to me. “Ms. Mayweather, are you willing?”

“Yes.”

“Ms. Thomas, do you have any reason why we should not view the memory banks of the defendant?”

Georgia’s sighed. “No.”

“We shall proceed.”

I wasn’t sure what to expect. When Etoile allowed me to access her mind, we simply held hands and my magic flowed into and through her, returning to me when I had what I needed. Somehow, I didn’t expect this was going to be so easy. Lisette walked around the table as a chair was carried by the clerk and placed on the dais next to mine. She sat so close that our knees touched. Instead of taking my hand, without preamble, she placed her palm on my forehead and extended her other hand towards the blank wall at her side. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, like lightning suddenly struck me, I jolted forwards and my eyes rolled backwards into my head.

I had the strange feeling that I was swimming underwater while being outside of my body at the same time. A fog began to descend over me. The dense, viscous substance enveloped me as the pressure in my head persisted. As foreign magic entered me, I resisted the urge to fight it and force it back. It went against my very nature to sit still and allow this to happen to me. I felt only vaguely afraid for an instant, then suddenly not. As though very far away, I felt my fingers gripping the underside of the chair.

Someone was talking and I could hear cries. I tried to open my eyes, ignoring the strange feeling of being outside of my body, but still able to feel everything. The magic converged onto my memory banks. I was frozen between two scenes. The first one was Lisette clamping her hand on mine as if I were a power socket. The second was the scene from my memory, which now appeared on the far wall like a home cinema projection. The cries stopped with a screech, the audio frozen with the picture, like someone had pressed “pause.” All at once, the scene began to play. In double time, I saw Robert drop to the floor while we scattered, my vision split between seeing it happen as if he was right in front of me and seeing the replay on the screen. I could feel every bit of fear and confusion, but I knew it wasn’t real this time. Somehow, I was reliving my own memories, replaying the events as they unfolded, adrenaline surging in my veins though my body remained still.