Industrial Magic
Page 137
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As I surveyed the partygoers, I tried to evaluate the situation logically. The last thing we needed was for me to panic and rush headlong into a back corridor, and straight into Edwards grasp, while Lucas returned from an emergency bathroom visit. First, I should try his cell phone. I reached for my purseand remembered I didnt have one. Nor did I have a cell phone.
I hurried to the bathroom. Standing outside the mens room, I cast a sensing spell within. It picked up one person. Good. Then the door opened and an elderly man walked out. Once he was gone, I cast the spell again, but the bathroom was empty.
Damn, damn, damn, I muttered.
I had to find Lucasno, I had to find the others, who would help me find Lucas. As much as I bristled at losing a few precious minutes tracking down the others, I knew the extra effort would be worth it. They could track Lucas in a fraction of the time it would take me.
I shot one last look around the ballroom, then headed into the warren of back halls, where the others were supposed to be prowling. As the noise of the gala settled to a distant murmur, I realized I was entering unchartedand unoccupiedterritory. Time to ready a self-defense spell. I started my suffocation spell, then stopped. Would that work on a vampire? Of course not. They didnt breathe. Fireball spell? Nonlethal, but it could startle him enough for me to make a getaway. Or would it? Fire didnt hurt a vampire. Goddamn it! Why didnt I think of this
Hello, Paige.
I jumped and spun around. There behind me was, not a green-eyed, sandy-haired vampire, but a dark-eyed, dark-haired sorcerer. Hector Cortez.
A Cowards Plan
WE NEED TO TALK, HECTOR SAID, BEARING DOWN ON ME.
Of all the moments Hector Cortez could choose to reenter my life, this was quite possibly the worst. A voice in my head told me to run, forget how bad it would look, forget how embarrassing it would be, get away from him and continue looking for Lucas. But my feet wouldnt obey me. After a lifetime of refusing to run from confrontations, they were damned if they were going to start now.
I dont believe weve been properly introduced, I said. Well, we have, but at the time I was bound and gagged, and I dont think you ever expected to see me alive again, so you skipped the formalities. Im Paige Winterbourne. Youre Hector Cortez. Id say Im pleased to meet you, but we both know Id be lying. So your meeting didnt run as late as Benicio expected? Sorry to hear it. Now, if youll excuse me
I turned to go. Hector swung in front of me.
A late meeting? Is that the excuse he used? I didnt have a meeting. Ive been exiled in New York for the past two weeks, on my fathers orders. Any idea why hed do that?
Besides to keep you from killingLucas? No, I cant imagine why. I stopped, seeing the hard glint in his eye, the glare of a hawk confronting the sparrow whod chased him off his turf. You think I got you banished? That I told Benicio that you tried to have me killed in Boston? Well, gee, Id hope if I did tattle, youd get something a little worse than an extended New York vacation. No, I didnt tell your father. Now, if youll excuse me
Hector stepped into my path. I never said you told my father.
What? Oh, so you think I told Lucas and he asked your father to keep you away? I met Hectors glare with one of my own. No, I didnt. And I wont. What happened at that house is between you and me, and it stays there. Now get out of my way.
Is that your plan, then, witch? Hold it over my head? He stepped closer, looming over me. I may make a mistake once, but never twice. Im not getting out of your way, youre getting out of mine. Stay with Lucas, and the only question is when Ill decide to move you asidepermanently.
How about now? said a slow drawl behind him. First, though, you gotta move me aside.
Hector turned to see Clayton behind him. His gaze skimmed over the other man with a dismissive twist of his lips. He lifted his fingers to flick Clay aside with a knock-back spell, but Clay grabbed his hand before the first words left his mouth.
You think youre going to kill Paige to hurt Lucas? he said, leaning in, putting his face to Hectors. That sound like a clever plan to you? Sounds like a cowards plan to me.
Hector tried to wrench his hand free, but couldnt so much as twist it in Clays grasp.
Who are you? Hector demanded.
The question isnt really who, but what, Clay said. You want to find out? Lay a hand on Paige or Lucas and you will.
Clay clapped his free hand over Hectors mouth, then squeezed his other hand around Hectors fingers. There was a sickening crunch of bone and Hectors eyes bulged, his scream muffled by Clays hand.
You think that hurt? Clay said. Imagine what Id do if I was really pissed off.
He shoved Hector away and turned to me. Come on.
I followed Clay around two corners before he slowed enough to let me catch up.
He tried to kill you in Boston? Clay asked.
You overheard?
I was waiting around the corner. Didnt figure youd appreciate me interfering too soon. So Lucas doesnt know?
No, he doesnt, and please dont tell him. Maybe it seems he has a right to know, but
I hurried to the bathroom. Standing outside the mens room, I cast a sensing spell within. It picked up one person. Good. Then the door opened and an elderly man walked out. Once he was gone, I cast the spell again, but the bathroom was empty.
Damn, damn, damn, I muttered.
I had to find Lucasno, I had to find the others, who would help me find Lucas. As much as I bristled at losing a few precious minutes tracking down the others, I knew the extra effort would be worth it. They could track Lucas in a fraction of the time it would take me.
I shot one last look around the ballroom, then headed into the warren of back halls, where the others were supposed to be prowling. As the noise of the gala settled to a distant murmur, I realized I was entering unchartedand unoccupiedterritory. Time to ready a self-defense spell. I started my suffocation spell, then stopped. Would that work on a vampire? Of course not. They didnt breathe. Fireball spell? Nonlethal, but it could startle him enough for me to make a getaway. Or would it? Fire didnt hurt a vampire. Goddamn it! Why didnt I think of this
Hello, Paige.
I jumped and spun around. There behind me was, not a green-eyed, sandy-haired vampire, but a dark-eyed, dark-haired sorcerer. Hector Cortez.
A Cowards Plan
WE NEED TO TALK, HECTOR SAID, BEARING DOWN ON ME.
Of all the moments Hector Cortez could choose to reenter my life, this was quite possibly the worst. A voice in my head told me to run, forget how bad it would look, forget how embarrassing it would be, get away from him and continue looking for Lucas. But my feet wouldnt obey me. After a lifetime of refusing to run from confrontations, they were damned if they were going to start now.
I dont believe weve been properly introduced, I said. Well, we have, but at the time I was bound and gagged, and I dont think you ever expected to see me alive again, so you skipped the formalities. Im Paige Winterbourne. Youre Hector Cortez. Id say Im pleased to meet you, but we both know Id be lying. So your meeting didnt run as late as Benicio expected? Sorry to hear it. Now, if youll excuse me
I turned to go. Hector swung in front of me.
A late meeting? Is that the excuse he used? I didnt have a meeting. Ive been exiled in New York for the past two weeks, on my fathers orders. Any idea why hed do that?
Besides to keep you from killingLucas? No, I cant imagine why. I stopped, seeing the hard glint in his eye, the glare of a hawk confronting the sparrow whod chased him off his turf. You think I got you banished? That I told Benicio that you tried to have me killed in Boston? Well, gee, Id hope if I did tattle, youd get something a little worse than an extended New York vacation. No, I didnt tell your father. Now, if youll excuse me
Hector stepped into my path. I never said you told my father.
What? Oh, so you think I told Lucas and he asked your father to keep you away? I met Hectors glare with one of my own. No, I didnt. And I wont. What happened at that house is between you and me, and it stays there. Now get out of my way.
Is that your plan, then, witch? Hold it over my head? He stepped closer, looming over me. I may make a mistake once, but never twice. Im not getting out of your way, youre getting out of mine. Stay with Lucas, and the only question is when Ill decide to move you asidepermanently.
How about now? said a slow drawl behind him. First, though, you gotta move me aside.
Hector turned to see Clayton behind him. His gaze skimmed over the other man with a dismissive twist of his lips. He lifted his fingers to flick Clay aside with a knock-back spell, but Clay grabbed his hand before the first words left his mouth.
You think youre going to kill Paige to hurt Lucas? he said, leaning in, putting his face to Hectors. That sound like a clever plan to you? Sounds like a cowards plan to me.
Hector tried to wrench his hand free, but couldnt so much as twist it in Clays grasp.
Who are you? Hector demanded.
The question isnt really who, but what, Clay said. You want to find out? Lay a hand on Paige or Lucas and you will.
Clay clapped his free hand over Hectors mouth, then squeezed his other hand around Hectors fingers. There was a sickening crunch of bone and Hectors eyes bulged, his scream muffled by Clays hand.
You think that hurt? Clay said. Imagine what Id do if I was really pissed off.
He shoved Hector away and turned to me. Come on.
I followed Clay around two corners before he slowed enough to let me catch up.
He tried to kill you in Boston? Clay asked.
You overheard?
I was waiting around the corner. Didnt figure youd appreciate me interfering too soon. So Lucas doesnt know?
No, he doesnt, and please dont tell him. Maybe it seems he has a right to know, but
