I have been learning, may as well use it.
She pulled up and tucked her vehicle deep into the bushes where she had set it before and saw the security vehicle patrolling the area.
Her heart pounded heavily, but when it continued past her hiding spot, she noted that it was a simple set of human mages behind the wheel.
Bara said this clothing could take a shift. He looked at her.
I am trusting that she was right. Did you want to eat the crystals again?
Sure. It will be easier for you to get us through, and I will deposit them back in the chest. Side by side.
She set down the crystals and shielded them with her body while he swallowed them.
She exhaled and nodded in personal determination. Let’s go.
Imara held still and felt her body melt and twist. When her contortions ceased, she flexed her wings and gave a few practice flaps. She was ready to fly.
I will snag you in the open.
I will try not to run.
She took a few steps and pushed down with magic as her wings propelled her upward.
A few heavy beats and she was high enough to get into open space. She climbed to about sixty feet, wheeled, and went looking for her familiar.
She found him by scent, not by sight. Imara dove down and grabbed him carefully, keeping her claws wide to snag him before she carried him up and over the peak of the hall.
Down to the third chimney. The northeast space.
Got it. Going pass-through.
Ready when you are.
Her wings thrashed the air as she cast the spell, and when she felt it working, she dropped through the roof using her flying magic to keep her from moving too quickly.
The layers of the building were exposed to her, but having trained for this, she was ready for it.
Next chamber down.
Got it.
She came through into a huge horde of magical artifacts. She dropped her kitten and hovered in the space, not touching down. The pass-through spell only worked on objects that she touched, but since her kitten was part of her body, she could scoop him up and carry him away later.
Mr. E moved like a professional. He climbed over a few displays until he reached a box that was open and tempting.
He did his hairball hack silently and brought up the genuine stone. Next to it, he brought out the fake. Just to let them know that their subterfuge had been discovered.
He finished with the deposit, and he pushed the lid closed with his little paws.
Imara kept herself in place, and when he jumped for her, she caught him, carrying him right out through the wall and into the night.
The security officers were near her bike, so she turned toward home and flew steadily.
The night was beautiful, and the dawn was pinking the edges of the sky. The stars mixed in with the lightening sky were gorgeous.
When she saw Reegar Hall, she headed to the familiar rooftop. The XIA vehicle down in the lot did make her nervous, but she wasn’t doing anything wrong. Well, not now anyway.
She dropped Mr. E off, banked, wheeled, and landed on her own, down on one knee. She stood and pulled the wrappings from her face and hands. Mr. E was tucked up under her arm, and she headed to her room.
She heard voices downstairs but ignored them in favour of getting to her room and stripping off the wrappings, getting a normal outfit of underwear, jeans and a sweatshirt in place, just as Reegar knocked on the door.
“Imara, there are XIA agents downstairs.”
She paused. “Argus?”
“No. Not Argus.”
“What do they want?” She pulled her sneakers on.
“A Death Keeper.”
“Oh. That I can help with. Be right down.”
Mr. E finished his disrobing, and he hopped on her shoulder. Not without me.
“Right. Not without you.”
She finished getting dressed, combed her hair, and flipped it over her shoulder, catching Mr. E in the face.
He dug his little claws into her skin, and she left her room to head downstairs.
The agents were not ones she had met before, but she had seen them that night at the carnival.
“Hello.”
“Death Keeper Imara Mirrin?” The elf was polite, but there was tension around his eyes and lips.
She inclined her head. “Yes, yes, I am.”
“I am Iofer, this is Morgig and Henry. We have been sent to ask you to assist us in a matter involving a spectre.”
She scowled. “I thought that was the Mage Guild’s issue.”
“That is the problem. Please, come with us.”
If he didn’t have panic in his eyes, she would have turned to Reegar for help. But, as it was, she paused and sent a quick notice to Argus.
A moment later, she got a thumbs-up, two hearts, and a black cat.
“Gentlemen, I am yours for the day, but I have an event this evening. I need to be home for that.”
Iofer blinked, and she could swear that his ears flapped a little. “Of course. Right, well, this way, then. Time is of the essence.”
She nodded and waved toward the door. “After you.”
The elf, the goblin, and the troll wearing sunglasses surrounded her and escorted her to their vehicle.
The moment she was inside, she was urged to buckle up, and as the click locked her in, the SUV took off.
“We are going to use a mobile transport, Ms. Mirrin. Please relax and don’t fight the magic.”
Imara nodded and sat back against the polished seat. Next to her, the troll took some gulping breaths, and she reached out and held his hand while they were surrounded by magic and pulled through space.
The moment they stopped, Henry opened the door and threw up.
She unbuckled and got out. “Now, will someone tell me what I am supposed to do?”
Feel it, Imara. There is one of those stones here... and it isn’t good.
She extended her senses and found the stone. “Aww, shit.”
The lot where they had stopped was outside a Mage Guild office, and as she ran toward the pull of magic, Iofer, Morgig and a still-green Henry surrounded her to give her a mobile escort.
The underground parking lot was filled with panicked guild officers. The XIA pushed them aside and showed her the problem.
“What do you want me to do with it when I get it out?”
One of the officers asked, “Who are you?”
She scowled at him. “A Death Keeper. Who are you?”
He was elbowed aside, his golden good looks ignored by those around him.
“We need the stone contained by whatever means you can arrange.”
She nodded and looked down at the woman who had a dozen dead mages trying to take over her body.
Her right hand was clenched, and the flickers of power were running through her.
“What is her name?”
“Officer Corral.”
Imara sighed. “Her first name.”
The older officer crouched next to Imara. “Etta. Her name is Etta. She has two brothers, a sister, and is the fourth generation to be an officer. She was cleaning out and bagging evidence from this vehicle, and she touched the stone. The Death Keepers recommended you.”
She nodded. “Right. Not many of them would like to do this.”
Mr. E, get to safety.
You need me.