“As much as you hate it, you’re also part of that world, Toni,” she reminded me.
For over a year, I’d had a glimpse at a normal life. Yes, I’d been using my Skew powers to make a living, but we only accepted Stale customers, with few exceptions. Their lives were easier, simple even, and I liked pretending I was one of them. Was my time of peaceful existence over?
“Thanks for reminding me,” I huffed.
“So, what then? Do I buy those plane tickets to China? Or we could go to Spain, my Spanish would come in handy.”
“Not a bad idea,” I pretended to consider it, but who was I kidding? I couldn’t leave St. Louis. My family and everything we’d worked so hard for was here.
“Maybe we just lay low until this resolves itself,” she suggested, knowing full well we weren’t going anywhere. “We can work from my place and set up meetings with prospective customers at coffee houses or restaurants. That would also help you stay away from...” She hooked her thumb toward Jake’s office.
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll get some stuff from upstairs.”
“And I’ll gather a few files, also I already called my sister and asked if I could borrow her spare laptop. She said no problem.”
“Awesome! We’re in business again. Let’s take butts and kick names.” I stood and we high-fived each other. We had both laughed at that line from one of The Avengers movies and liked to use it pretty regularly.
Chapter 13
By that afternoon, I’d made Rosalina’s guest bedroom mine. The clothes that I’d stuffed in a carry-on bag already hung in the closet and Cupid’s fishbowl sat on the dresser. But more importantly, Celina’s crimson potion sat on the night table, waiting in a shallow bowl. I’d closed the shades, and even though the sun had reached its peak, almost no light seeped into the small, carpeted room. I’d changed into comfortable clothes: my favorite pair of pajamas, a flannel number with a heart pattern.
Chewing on my bottom lip, I worried that more kidnappers might come after me, but this place was armed to the teeth with protection spells. Mom had gone to town with her best work and, on top of that, the complex boasted Stale and Skew security—one of the reasons Rosalina had bought the condo.
She appeared at the door, still wearing her office clothes, though barefoot rather than in her flats.
“Ready?” she asked.
I gave her a decisive nod and sat at the edge of the double bed. The potion shimmered in the bowl, looking as if a constellation of stars was trapped in it. I dreaded this part, not so much because of the trance, but because of what would happen afterward.
Magic always came with a price, and the price I paid turned out to be a real pain in the ass.
Rosalina gave me a reassuring smile. “I’m right here. I’ll take care of you.”
And she certainly did. Best of all, she made sure I had company on the other end of the trance. I’d done it alone before, and a few times it had been nothing short of terrifying.
Inhaling deeply, I stood and faced the bowl. Maybe this time, it wouldn’t be so bad. I could only hope. Slowly, I dipped my hands into the potion, up to my wrists. When I took them out, it looked as if I’d donned a pair of shiny, sequined gloves. What had been a liquid now clung to me like a second skin. Holding my hands up like a freshly scrubbed-in surgeon, I climbed into bed and made myself comfortable.
Rosalina walked over, and being careful not to touch my outstretched hands, pulled the covers up to my chest. She knew I liked to be warm. Plus, the covers made me feel safe, contained somehow.
“Toodles.” I wiggled my fingers.
She smiled, a bit sadly but reassuringly.
Slowly, I lowered my hands, and lightly pressed stiff fingertips to my closed eyes. My lids tingled. Next, I tilted my head back and ran my fingers downward until I reached my nostrils. The scent of chocolate chip cookies assaulted me. My tongue flicked out, tasting the potion. It reminded me of the same sweet treat. Lastly, I touched my ears, involving all my senses.
After a long minute, the potion disappeared, leaving my hands and face clean as if it’d never been there. I blinked my eyes open and lowered my hands to my sides. As I peered up at Rosalina, she appeared like an angel from heaven, glowing warmly while tiny stars flickered all around her... just what I liked to see before the spell took me.
Of their own accord, my eyes closed, and I found myself in what looked like a kindergartner’s Saint Valentine's Day goodie bag. Shiny glitter floated all around me against a deep blackness. Individual pieces twinkled while silence reigned, an indication the potion had taken hold.
It was so peaceful, I could drift there forever, but I had to get to work.
Tracking someone with my skills required the use of my senses. I could use four of them, but I only ever wanted to use one. That would have been too easy, though.
I always started with my strongest, yet most-disposable sense: smell.
Gradually, I activated it, and my iridescent limbo filled with a host of scents that sent my memory banks into hyper-drive. The sense of smell is the best at retrieving memories and bringing back moments and places that seemed forgotten. Like how a whiff of cannoli or homemade marinara reminds me of Nonna, cooking in her large kitchen, slapping my fingers out of bowls unless I meant to help.
Faster than my little sister, Lucia, can go through boyfriends, I examined the scents waltzing into my sparkling universe. I detected many distinct ones—car exhaust, cigarette smoke, cologne, mulch, B.O., grilled meat, and more—all from places one of Celina’s potential mates was currently
