Tekgrrl (23 page)

“About yesterday?” Toby nodded in sympathy. “It doesn’t seem real, does it?”

I shook my head, watching Paul. “No.”

“It’s surreal—like something out of a dream,” Paul remarked, and I felt my cheeks flush. I tore my gaze away from his.

“We need to do something to get back our sense of normalcy,” Toby opined.

“Wesley’s right. We need to focus on doing what we normally do—helping people,” Paul said. “With that in mind, I think we need to get a television. Or at least a computer with Internet access. Something to let us know what’s going on in the outside world.”

“I was thinking we also need to get some basic necessities,” I said. “Unless Fantazia has some sort of magic Laundromat going on here, these clothes are going to start smelling pretty ripe if we have to wear them day after day.”

“I hear that,” Toby said. “You can only turn your underwear inside out once, you know.”

“Just go without,” I said without thinking, and noticed Paul’s eyes widen.

“Do what you want, Mindy, but going commando is not my thing,” Toby said. He gave a slight shudder.

“Er, I think we’re definitely going to have to discuss the clothing issue,” Paul agreed. “Maybe we’ll go in shifts of two or something to buy new stuff. Or maybe we should send a team. I don’t think we need to go roaming the streets in a group right now, but I also don’t think alone is a good idea.”

“Here you go,” Wesley said, walking up with Lainey and Fantazia, Luke and Selena in tow. “Fantazia’s worked up a little something to make coming and going from here easier.”

Fantazia dropped what looked like a coin on a string into each of our hands. I held mine up to the light. “Money?”

She shook her head. “It’s a key and a
glamour
all in one. It will allow those of you not magically inclined to access the doorway to this world. This is the only thing that will allow anyone in or out now that I’ve locked the place down. If you lose it, you’re on your own.”

“And the
glamour
part?” Toby asked.

“It conceals your real appearance in the outside world. Of course, to anyone wearing one, you’ll look the same as usual. High-level magic users can also see right through the disguise, so a degree of caution when you’re out would still be a good idea,” she warned.

Wesley nodded. “She’s right. Even though we’re going to still help people, we don’t need to draw any unnecessary attention. The time for us as glory hounds is over. Save the day, but don’t stick around for pictures.”

We all nodded.

“How are we doing, Cyrus?” Wesley asked.

“All set,” Cyrus replied, and I noticed he and Kate were surrounding a small laptop.

“Where’d you get that?” I asked.

“I was allowed out long enough to get my stuff—with the Old One,” Cyrus said. “Can’t be a techno mage without some techno, know what I mean? And if I’m going to be working for you…”

“Wait, you’re letting him work for us now?” Luke asked. “He’s a criminal!”

“He’s a criminal who knows how to divert our funds into local banks without Simon’s government connections finding out,” said Wesley. “Unless anyone here knows how to do that?”

“For a small percentage, of course,” Cyrus put in. He wouldn’t want to look like he was out for anyone but himself.

“He’s also a good source of information,” Fantazia said. “Trust me, I’ve gotten some of my best dirt from him. If you want to know what Simon’s cronies in Washington are up to, he’ll dig it up. Probably with photographic evidence.”

“I do PowerPoint presentations now,” Cyrus joked.

Fantazia scoffed. “Pardon me for not knowing what that is—or caring.”

Luke looked at Paul. “I still think this is a mistake.”

“Kate’s monitoring him. If he steps out of line, she’ll turn on her power and he’ll do what she wants,” Paul replied. Did I detect a trace of bitterness in his voice?

“You knew about this?” Luke asked.

Paul nodded. “Wesley and I talked about it last night.”

“And didn’t include the rest of us?”

“We’re the team leaders,” Paul said, a hint of ire in his voice. “We can’t run everything by you, Luke. Groups need heads to make these kinds of decisions. You never questioned Rath…”

“It’s a good idea, Luke,” Selena said. “We’re all stressed. There’s no need to snap at each other.”

Luke took a deep breath. “You’re right, baby.” He gave Cyrus a nasty look. “I just don’t trust him.”

“And I’m wounded about that,” Cyrus said. “Now, Old One, I dropped the amount you requested into each account across town.”

Wesley nodded. “Great. I think we’ll send a few people out to get necessities. How about Lainey and Selena go and get everyone some clothes and toiletries and the like. Oh, and a television, so we can monitor the news. Lainey can work a teleportation spell to send it back here.”

“No problem,” Lainey said. “I like how the former secretaries get the shopping duty.”

“You’re the ones who know all of our sizes,” Wesley admitted. Was the Reincarnist blushing?

“Yeah, yeah,” my friend said, and leaned forward to give him a kiss. “Even in a pocket universe, the more things change, the more they stay the same.”

“I’d like to go get some bits and pieces of tech to start modifying,” I said. “We at least need to get a communication system up and running.”

“That’s a good idea, Mindy,” Wesley said. “Someone should go with you.”

Cyrus put up his hand. “I volunteer.”

“You’ve already been allowed out once with me. Count yourself lucky,” Wesley retorted.

“First I’m a prisoner, then I’m a coworker, then I’m a prisoner. Make up your damn mind, will you?” the Virus grumbled.

“I’ll go,” Paul said. “She might need my help.”

I bit down a retort. Like I’d ever needed Paul’s opinion on anything for my inventions! But then I saw Kate smirking at me and decided to ignore the both of them.

“Sounds good,” Wesley agreed. “Everyone try to meet back here at three so that we know you’re okay.”

Lainey edged close to me. “Is it wrong that I’m glad Wes is going to have to keep Emily for a while? This strange new place and everyone being stressed has stressed her out in turn, and she’s done nothing but fuss all night. My nerves are shot.”

“I seriously don’t know how you handle all of this the way you do,” I replied, and we stepped toward the door together.

Lainey shrugged. “You get used to it.”

I took a deep breath and stepped forward toward the portal between worlds, and with a shimmering, queasy feeling I was back in the smelly alley behind the biker bar. Awesome: My headache had returned.

“You all right?” Paul asked, as I rubbed my head and groaned.

“Yeah, it’s just this headache came back almost as soon as I stepped outside.”

“That’s weird.” He frowned.

“I’ll buy you some migraine stuff,” Lainey offered.

“Thanks.”

“Well, we’ll see you ladies later. Let’s go, Mindy,” Paul said as he started down the sidewalk.

I followed after him. “You didn’t have to come along, you know.”

“No one needs to be going off alone right now. I’ll be working on these projects with you, so it makes sense for me to come along.” He gave me a sideways glance. “You didn’t want me or something?”

“No, it’s not that,” I was quick to say. “I mean, it doesn’t matter to me. I just meant you just don’t have to if you don’t want to.” I was stumbling over my words. Why was I acting like such a spaz?

“Well, I want to. Now which way is the ATM?”

I looked at the paper Cyrus had given him. “It’s that way.” I pointed left. “Six blocks up. Think we can spring for a cab after we get some cash? I don’t feel like walking around all day in the open like this. Or in these heels.”

“Absolutely. If it wasn’t daylight, I’d say we could fly. But since that would attract attention, it looks like we’re going to have to hoof it until we get some money.” He looked down at my feet. “I hope those boots are comfortable and not just for making your legs look hot.”

I looked down. “You think they make my legs look hot?”

“Like you’d wear them if they didn’t.” He gave me a half smile. “And yes, I think they do. Now let’s get down to business instead of talking fashion in the middle of the street.”

I followed him. “I’m just not used to you giving me compliments.”

“Hey, I said your hair looked nice after you had it done.”

“No, you didn’t. You said I was trying to remake myself into what I thought Luke would like.”

“No, I didn’t!”

“Yes, you did!”

“I did?” He gave me a sideways glance. “Hmm. That does sound like something I’d say. Well, I take it back. Your hair looks nice like that.”

“Thanks.”

“Even if you did do it to get some guy’s attention.”

I turned to give him a nasty look and saw his mouth twitching, so I settled for a light punch on the arm. “Jerk. I’m seeing a whole new side of you, Paul, and I can’t decide if I like it or not.”

“Well, let me know when you make up your mind.”

My head continued to pound. I was beginning to think it was a reaction to the sun or something. Or stress. I glanced around as we walked up to the ATM. “Is it just me or does it feel like everyone’s watching us?”

Paul looked around. “It’s just you. No one’s looking at us any more than at anyone else.”

“I don’t know.” I ran my hands up and down my arms, feeling a chill that wasn’t climatic. “I’m just getting that feeling you have when someone’s watching you.”

“It’s probably because of what’s going on with us. It’s made you a bit paranoid. Understandable, but still paranoid.” He got money out of the ATM and tucked it away. “But we’re protected by magic, remember?”

“No, that’s not it…” I trailed off as a sharp stab of pain burst through my head. “Ow!”

Paul reached for me. “Mindy?”

I swear I could hear my heartbeat in my head. I concentrated, trying to relax, to push the pain away, to breathe in and out and imagine the waves, like Paul had taught me.

There you are,
the voice whispered in my head. It was pushing unwanted into my thoughts.

I mentally pushed back.
Shut up!

The pain was suddenly gone, as if a cloud had lifted around me. I looked over to see Paul still holding my arm and my waist, looking concerned.

“Did I do anything? Did I hurt anybody?” I asked, sweeping a quick look around me. Everything looked normal.

“No, nothing happened. Except, you looked like you were having some sort of episode. Are you all right?”

“I’m okay,” I said, feeling my heart rate return to normal. It was the first time that I hadn’t lashed out during an attack. “I’m okay now. I visualized the waves like you told me. I think I’m starting to control things a bit.”

“That’s great!” He looked pleased but still concerned. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Yeah. That feeling I had like I was being watched? Someone just spoke to me. In my head. And it’s not the first time it’s happened.”

“Before your other attacks?” he prompted.

“I don’t know.” I thought back to all the times I had heard the voice. “I think so.”

“A telepath,” Paul said. “Trying to contact or harass you. Maybe the stress of having them brush up against your mind is kicking off your telekinetic bursts. We’ve seen them come on from stress.” He frowned. “What has the voice said to you?”

“Not much. ‘I see you,’ ‘There you are,’ and ‘You’re all alone’…” I trailed off. I didn’t want Paul to know some freak was playing on my sense of loneliness. “Whoever it was seems to have been looking for me. And found me.”

“Now we just have to figure out what they want.” Paul frowned. “Maybe if we figure out how to help you better control your powers, you’ll be able to block this person completely. Their unwanted communications are—”

“Like mind spam?”

Paul gave a startled burst of laughter. “Like mind spam. Exactly.”

“Great.” I sighed. “Another project. As if we weren’t busy enough with having to rebuild from the ground up and continuing to fight the good fight.”

“You wouldn’t want life to be boring, would you?” Paul joked.

“I guess not.” I took him by the arm to lead him down the road. “Come on, I still feel up to shopping. Let’s go find ways to turn a CD player and a dog’s shock collar into a weapon.”

“Great idea. Let’s grab a toaster, too.”

I gave him a smile. Paul had a sense of humor. It was just another one of the surprises about him I was discovering.

“So then I told him, if you can’t figure out how a car engine works, I’m afraid the science of black holes is totally beyond you. I don’t care if you did play the captain of a space exploration ship.”

“That’s what you get for dating a celebrity,” Paul said. “They’re paid to be pretty, not brilliant. Can you hand me that motherboard?”

“He wasn’t so pretty, either.” I looked around for the motherboard. Paul’s new bedroom had become our impromptu workshop, and there were random bits and pieces scattered about like a tornado had hit. We’d come home from our shopping extravaganza and immediately dug in, constructing a new communications system. “I don’t see it.”

“It’s under that portable radio there.” He pointed again.

“How did it get under there?” I handed the piece over and went back to work.

“You scattered everything around like you were divining the future from the entrails of that poor radio.”

I looked up with a grin. “Nice analogy, Paul. All highbrow and stuff.”

He laughed. “Well, I have to live here, you know, so if you can keep the chaos to a dull roar, it’d be appreciated.”

“At least you don’t have to live with Kate.”

He gave me a pointed look, and I winced. “At least you don’t have to live with Kate
anymore.
I don’t trust morning people. Who wants to wake up early?”

“I get up early,” he remarked.

“And I don’t trust you either,” I retorted. “There’s something sick about someone who doesn’t need coffee to motivate them.”

“Luke gets up early and doesn’t need coffee.”

“He’s sick, too.”

“Weren’t you the one getting up early to work out with him?”

“Yeah, well, I’m not doing that anymore.”