"So, do we have a game plan?" He drops his hand and walks into the kitchen to grab a glass and fill it with water.
"Not yet, but I was summoned by the council yet again today." I wonder if I will ever not get summoned by the council again. It seems to be an ongoing game they like to play with me.
He takes a sip and sits the glass down on the counter. "Why am I not surprised? What did they want?"
"Apparently I have a new mentor." I wait a second. I want him to be puzzled at least for a second. It's all strange and weird. "Margaret's husband."
"What?" He takes a step back, obviously startled. "Are you serious?"
"I wouldn't make something like that up." I sigh and rub my eyes. "But he taught me that I can transport."
"We all can when we have a job." Charlie shakes his head and huffs.
"No, I can anytime." I'm glad he didn't know about this either. So, it isn't something well known and I'm clueless. "We transported outside someone's apartment today and he left me there. I had to figure out how to get back on my own."
"Wait." His jaw clenches and shoulders tense. "You're saying he helped you transport somewhere, then left you there to get back all on your own?"
"Yeah, but it's okay." Wow, he's furious. I haven't seen him this mad in a while. I'm glad it isn't directed at me. "I found my way back to the car and now I'm his apprentice."
"If that is how he is going to treat you, I'm not sure that's a good thing." A vein bulges in his neck and he clenches his hands.
Shit, I'm not sure what to do here. I walk over to him and wrap my arms around his waist. I feel a little funny at first but when his body relaxes and he wraps his arms around me too, the weirdness disappears, and it all seems right.
"I couldn't bear it if something happened to you." He presses his face to my hair and breathes in.
My heart seems to almost burst at the comment. Oh hell, I'm head over heels in love with this man. There is no recovering from the blow if he ever hurts me.
Another knock at the door interrupts us. I pull away and take in a shaky breath. "I bet it's the pizza I ordered."
"Let me get it." He makes his way to the door and opens it. He talks to the pizza delivery guy and gets the pizza.
While he's doing that, I grab some paper plates and a glass for me. I fill it with water and bring his from the counter back to the table with mine.
He brings the pizza over and we both sit down and dig in.
After a few minutes, I'm full and I sit there in silence while he finishes. My mind goes back to Damien. He insinuated my hair is the equivalent power of the artifacts. If that's true, what else do I have that could hold the same power? What else could I accidentally leave behind? Should I shave my head, so I don't shed everywhere? I'm not sure what I can do here.
"Hey, Earth to Chris." Charlie sits back in his seat and wipes his mouth. "You seem miles away. What's wrong?"
See this is what I missed in my little stint away. Someone to confide in. "Damien's words about my hair being equivalent to the artifacts are haunting me. He pulled a piece of my hair out when he left the restaurant, so if it's true, he has that power."
"Come on." He stands up and grabs my hand. "Let's try a little experiment. Test the waters."
"What are we going to do?" I'm not sure what he has up his sleeve, but before we go further, I'd like to know the plan.
"Well, where is your hairbrush?" He glances around the room.
Is he looking for my hairbrush in the living area? "It would be in the bathroom where I get ready. I take it your leave yours elsewhere?"
He shrugs and walks into the bathroom and comes back out with my purple brush. "I'm going to pull one of these out and try to control the air."
I guess it's worth a shot. That's what Damien would do. "Okay, that sounds fair."
"Your hair blends in with the black bristles." He digs around and pulls out a piece of hair.
"Sorry my hair is inconveniencing you at this moment." I snort and roll my eyes. My nerves are everywhere, and I just want this whole thing over.
"Okay how does this work?" He looks at me as he sits on the couch.
"Close your eyes and feel as if you're connecting with the hair like you do when you connect with a person when reaping. Then just try to move the air." I hope to God this doesn't work.
He nods and closes his eyes. After a few seconds, he licks his lips. "Do you feel anything?"
"No, I don't." Does that mean he is trying?
"Then, we're good." His eyes open and he smiles. "Your hair is safe and not an artifact. Damien was just messing with you."
Tears of relief almost spring to my eyes, but I hold them back. I don't want him to know how worried I was. "Okay, good. That's one less thing to worry about."
"Yeah, so now we just have to figure out what the council wants." Charlie puts my hair on the coffee table and groans. "I don't like that elder paying attention to you. I think he's bad news."
"Well, ultimately both the council and Damien will want me to go to Hell and get the flame." That's where all of this is leading to. It always comes back to these artifacts. Right now, Luke trying to gain my loyalty like Margaret did. "So, I just need to get
