The shifter breathed hard after his exertion. “It was harder to distinguish his scent from the oils and lotions he used. The place reeks, but I don’t think he’s in there.”
“If you possessed the ability to jump at will to the second story, then you would have seen that no one is home,” Lady Eveline boasted. “I detected no trace of his warm-blooded carcass.”
“Could you sense if he’s got someone trapped in there?” Lucky asked.
The vampire’s arrogant expression dropped. “I’m afraid the simpler answer is no. Something about your kind keeps us from perceiving you in the same manner.”
Dash drew a knife out of his back pocket and flicked the blade open. “Looks like we need to break in and check for ourselves.”
Avoiding the security lamp that shed light into the backyard, we snuck through the shadows and brush to the back door of the spa. The shifter jimmied the lock with the tip of his knife until something gave way. Turning the knob, he pushed the door open.
“That was a little too easy,” Dash whispered. “If I were a bad guy with something to hide, then I would make sure no one could get in.”
“The bottom floor is the spa. He told me his office and private space were upstairs,” I explained. “But you’re right, we should take precautions.”
Holding both hands in front of me, I chanted, “Abracadabra and hocus pocus, bring my powers into focus. Make sure this bad guy won’t give us crap and show me if there’s a boobytrap.”
Once released, my spell flew through the house with purpose. When nothing came back, I figured we were safe from any safety hex or counter curse. Dash insisted he make the first move and took the first step inside. We followed behind him, finding ourselves huddled together in the small kitchen.
The shifter flicked on the lights, surprised at our protests. “He’s not here and no one would suspect anything if they saw a light on.”
Lady Eveline inspected the clean room and drew a long kitchen knife out of its block on the counter. “This could come in handy in case I was wrong.”
“Why would a vampire need a knife? I thought your fangs were the weapon,” Dash teased.
“And risk getting blood on my dress?” She sighed in dismissal, sliding the knife back in its slot. “I miss the days where I carried a sword.”
Lucky ignored their banter. “Charli, could you use your powers to find Fenwen?” Hope danced in his eyes.
“It’s really hard for me to find people. I’m better at objects,” I admitted, hating to ruin his expectations. “But I’ll try.”
Taking ahold of his hand to ground my magic with his desire to find the sprite, I gathered my power and centered myself. In an almost whisper, I conjured, “Inside these walls, a spell was cast and hurt my friend with a heated blast. Fenwen’s heart is tried and true, so give us all a little clue. Where oh where can the pixie be? Reveal where she is hidden to me.”
A very faint connection pulsed, and I grabbed onto the thin thread. “She’s here, but I think she must be hurt. The link isn’t that strong.”
“Where do we go?” Lucky vibrated with the need to find the sprite.
Closing my eyes, I studied the vague picture in my mind. “Upstairs. There’s a desk and a filing cabinet. It must be his office.”
Dash grabbed my shoulder to keep me from moving. “This time, you’re going to stay put and let those of us less fragile handle things.”
The kitchen light dimmed and went out, immersing us in darkness again. With my free hand, I conjured a light orb, willing it to hover right in front of the wolf shifter’s face. “You were saying?”
Obeying my intent, the sphere floated in front of us, and we wound our way through the downstairs rooms to find the staircase leading to the second floor.
“I hate incense,” Dash grumbled. “The whole place stinks.”
At the top of the stairs, the delicate golden thread flickered out. I counted the number of closed doors, trying to guess which room Fenwen might be in.
“Which one is it?” Lady Eveline asked.
I dropped Lucky’s hand from mine. “I don’t know. The connection’s gone.”
“Then we’ll try every door.” Dash pushed past me and kicked down the one to our left. “This is a bedroom, and it looks like he’s taken off. There’s clothes all over the place.”
Logic dictated that the bathroom would be behind the door in front of us in the middle of the hallway. “Try door number three, the one to the right.”
Lady Eveline attempted to turn the doorknob, but found it locked. She balled her hand into a fist and punched a hole through the wood. Reaching through the busted opening, she unlocked the door and opened it.
“She’s in here,” the vampire called out.
Lucky rushed past me. When I entered the room, I found him knelt down in front of Fenwen, her figure crumpled on a small sofa facing the desk.
I gasped. “She must have been here all along.”
The air conditioner in the window whirred back to life, and I flicked the switch on the wall, blinking at the harsh change in light.
Lucky placed his ear over her thin chest. “Her breathing is shallow.” He looked up at the three of us in despair. “I should take her to the park. The remnants of our magic that we called upon should still be lingerin’, and that can only help.”
Lady Eveline bowed. “As my talents run on the faster side, it would be my honor to carry her there now.”
He placed a hand over his heart and returned the gesture of respect. “I would be indebted to you for your kindness.”
With great care, the vampire bent down and picked up the limp body of Fenwen. “Hold on, little one.” She disappeared in a blur.
“I should go,” Lucky said, shaking my hand in gratitude. “I’ll need every single fae in Honeysuckle to come to her
