A second later, my obsidian blade turned to liquid as well, dripping into the bowl. My heart ached at the sight. That dagger had kept me safe for a long time.
Mordaca stirred the contents with one black fingernail, then handed the bowl to Aerdeca. The blonde sorceress lifted it in front of her chest and circled her hand over the bowl. A white light glowed from her palm, extending out to envelop the bowl. The air hummed with her magic, and the wind that accompanied it picked up. It didn’t look like my clothes were blowing in it, but it felt like it.
The dark liquid in the bowl began to spin, rising up like a little tornado until it formed a ball. When the ball turned from black to clear, Aerdeca snatched it out of the air and put the bowl on the table.
“All done.” Aerdeca handed it to her sister.
“Nicely done,” Mordaca said.
“Nice to meet you.” Aerdeca turned to leave. The words didn’t sound sincere. “Next time, don’t come so early.”
That had sounded sincere, however.
She left the room, taking with her the sound of birds and the feeling of a breeze.
Mordaca held out the little glass ball. “This will lead you to your prey.”
I reached out for it, and she snatched it back.
“For a price.”
Oh, damn. We hadn’t talked price. I hadn’t even realized. “You’re waiting until after to tell us the price?”
“Once you see what you’ve requested, you want it more.” She rolled the glass ball in her palm. “So you’ll pay more. I’m a businesswoman.”
So was I, and I knew that we weren’t above gouging people who could afford it. “How much?”
“A favor. From you.”
“Not from the big guy?” I nodded at Aidan.
“No. He’s powerful, but you’re good at finding things.”
“So are you.” I really didn’t want to owe her one. She was dangerous.
“It’s something I can’t find. Just like this charm”—she held up the glass ball—“is for something that you can’t find. We all have our blind spots.”
“What is it?”
“I prefer not to say until you agree.”
Okay, that definitely made my spidey sense pop up. “Sorry, no can do.”
“She’s right,” Aidan said. “I’m the one seeking this Magica, not her. I’ll pay.”
Mordaca huffed her disappointment, then turned her sharp gaze on Aidan. “Fine. Twenty grand.”
I almost choked on my gasp.
“Will you take a card?” Aidan asked. “I believe I’m a bit short on cash.”
No joke.
“Of course. What kind of operation do you think this is?”
I glanced at the herbs and crystals and incense. A creepy one! She was a freaking Blood Sorceress, for magic’s sake!
“Excellent.” Aidan handed over his card, and she pulled a phone out of her dress pocket. It had one of those little swipey things on it, and within a minute she’d taken his payment and handed over the glass ball.
She looked at me. “You’ll use that glass ball to find the link to the Magica you seek. It will jumpstart your own tracking ability. Just hold it close and do what you normally would when you are seeking.”
“Sounds easy enough.”
“It should be. Good doing business with you. Please come back soon.” She waved—more of a finger wiggle than anything else.
“We’re dismissed,” I muttered to Aidan.
“Exactly,” Mordaca said. “I need my beauty sleep.”
“Thanks for your help,” Aidan said.
I followed him out of the room and through the dim foyer. We let ourselves out onto the bright street. The sunlight just made this part of Darklane look even dingier.
“That wasn’t so bad,” I said as we walked to his car.
“Speak for yourself. I just paid for a midsize car, and all I got was this glass ball.”
“Worth it, though.” Even if I’d had to come up with the cash, I’d have found a way. We really needed to get that scroll.
“Very much so.”
We climbed into his car. I reached out for the ball. “Let’s do this thing. I want to know where those bastards are.”
Aidan handed it over. The ball was cool and heavy in my hand. I held it close to my chest and focused on my memory of the man who’d stolen the scroll. Mordaca’s magic twined with mine. Hers smelled musky and felt dark. Though it made my skin prickle, it didn’t feel evil like some people’s magic. It smelled like cigar smoke and tasted like whiskey.
After a moment, the familiar string wrapped around my waist, pulling me. Our prey was close. A sense of the location bloomed within me, clear as glass.
I sucked in a breath.
“They’re at Ancient Magic,” I gasped.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The drive to Ancient Magic felt like it took forever. Aidan drove like a demon, breaking at least five traffic laws. By the time he pulled up beside my shop, I was vibrating with tension.
The car screeched to a halt at the curb. I flung the door open and leapt out. Ancient Magic’s door was shattered, jagged pieces of glass protruding like teeth. Within, figures fought, wrestling on the ground and throwing magic in bursts of smoke.