Charmed in Vegas: Bad Potions (13 page)

“Just tell me where you are, I’ll be there as fast as I can,” He said, nodding as she gave him an address. Hanging up, he tossed his phone to Dougal. “Go online and look up 2323 Lucky Seven Drive. That’s where they are.”

Dougal took the phone with a nod and started hitting buttons as Aidan said, “Serena, pipe down. You can stop singing now.”

She went silent mid-note and flopped back in her seat. “You found him?”

“My friends escaped and called in their location.”

“You don’t need me anymore?”

“Why? You don’t want to stick around and watch us throw an evil mage into the Wastelands?”

“Is the mage cute?” Serena asked.

“Only if you consider broken bones foreplay.”

“I like a little slap and tickle as much as the next girl, but broken bones are a different matter,” she said with a sniff. “Pass.”

Aidan swerved and slammed on the brakes as one of the many Erics that had heeded the siren’s call made a dive for his car. “Can’t you disperse these guys?”

“My magic lures and attracts. It does not repel.” She examined her nails with a bored expression.

“You and the Pied Piper aren’t related, are you?” Dougal asked, slapping away a hand that thrust through his open window.

“First cousins, actually. Why? “

Dougal rolled up his window. “Just a guess. Listen, Aidan, can you step on it? We need to shake our little stalker parade here before they roll us.” As if to illustrate his point, a fist smashed into the window followed by a howl of pain. Someone else climbed onto the back of the car and started banging on the rear window. Not exactly what Aidan had in mind when he'd called Serena. He’d been under the impression her magic was more specific than this. Now he knew better.

Aidan nodded. “Working on it.” Pounding the horn, he swerved the car from side to side, moving slow enough that the gaggle of Erics could see him coming and jump out of the way. Once he had a clear path, he gunned it, slamming the accelerator to the floor. The car bucked and the engine revved as the car gained speed. Aidan watched in the rearview mirror as the Eric clinging to the trunk rolled off, hitting the pavement hard. He winced and wished the man well.

A few minutes later, they roared up to a high rise apartment building, its metal and glass facade reflecting all the lights of Vegas. Parking as close to the exit as he could get in the garage, Aidan cut the motor. “We’re here.”

“Which apartment is it?” Dougal asked.

“Basement floor, unit oh one,” Aidan said.

Dougal flexed his hands into a fist, bones cracking. “Let’s pay the mage the dues he’s earned.”

“You’ve got the charms?”

“Aye, I do,” the big man said, opening the door and stepping out of the car. “He’ll not be troubling your Marion or any other maid after tonight.” He gave a grim smile, one Aidan returned. He was looking forward to this.

Stepping out of the car himself, he offered a hand to Serena, who was wedged in the backseat.

She smoothed her skirt with her hands and a wiggle of her hips.“Thank you, Aidan. You always were a gentleman.”

“Too much of a gentleman for you if I recall,” he said with a laugh.

“No one is perfect,” she said with a coy smile. “Well, boys, thanks for the ride, but this is where I get off,” She stretched, releasing the kinks from being confined to the small backseat of the car, being sure to thrust her bountiful bosom out for them to admire. Then she sauntered over to Aidan and laid a soft kiss on his cheek. “It was nice to see you, but don’t call me next time. I don’t like these kind of gigs.”

Aidan smiled at her. “All singing and no sex makes for a sad siren?”

She nodded. “Exactly.” Turning to Dougal, she planted a juicy come-hither kiss on the giant’s lips. “You aren’t really my type, but I can see how it might be fun between us.”

Dougal just stared, mouth gaping like a fish. Serena laughed, a quick sweet scale. “Look me up sometime, big guy.” With that, she turned on her heel and gave a sharp whistle that threatened to shatter glass. Nothing happened at first, but then the gray shadow of a gargoyle from Casino Avalon's turrets swooped down from the sky. He snatched Serena up in one hand and dove straight up into the air.

The two men stood frozen for a second, watching the siren disappear, and then Dougal gave himself a shake, breaking the tension. “Let’s do this,” he said.

Aidan nodded his agreement and they made their way to the mage's apartment.

Raven was standing in the door to Eric's place, keeping an eye out for them. “This way,” she said with a wave of her hand. “Hurry.”

They found Marion sitting on a bed, a strange wire stick of some kind held tightly in her hand as she watched over an unconscious Eric. When they entered the room, she didn’t take her eyes off the blond mage at her feet as she said, “Thank the Goddess you are here.”

Aidan went to her, reaching for her with shaking hands. She was safe.
Safe.
Oh thank the blessed Lady.

She shrugged off his touch.“Not now, Aidan. Eric keeps trying to wake up.” In fact, he groaned as she spoke, his eyes flickering open for a brief second. A fierce expression on her face, Marion stood and whacked him twice in the head with her stick-thing. “There. That should keep him for another few minutes. Is that enough time to dump him in the Wastelands?”

“Aye, lass” Dougal said. He pulled three silver charms from his pocket. Casting one on Eric’s chest he said, “One to bind him to the Fairy realm.” Throwing another he said, “One to bind his magic.” Throwing the third, he added, “One to draw all the goblin and their kin like bees to pollen."

A white light flared as the charms melted into Eric's bare chest. Marion watched with wide eyes as the magic filtered into her ex's body.

"Wow," Raven said. "That's some pretty awesome magic."

"Time to say goodbye. I've been saving this portal charm for a special occasion and this seems to be it.” Dougal pulled out another charm, this one a silver circle, and tossed it up into the air. He waved his hand and the charm disappeared as a blue light overtook it. Once the light had grown large enough to fit a man, Dougal picked Eric up and heaved him into the portal. He then dispersed the portal with another wave of his hand. “There. Done and gone. He’ll be bitten by an Eros Fey before the day’s out.”

Marion sagged and let her stick-thing fall to the floor as she wrapped her arms around herself. “It’s done then. He’s really gone this time. For good.”

“Yes, for good,” Aidan said, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her forehead.

U
nable to sleep, Aidan returned to the club where it had all started, still just as lost as when he'd first arrived in Vegas. As his queen had warned him, Lady Luck was a cruel mistress. A winning hand could still lose.

He'd escorted Marion home with a promise to see her the next day. At the time he'd meant it, but as it turned out, he would never see her again. If he'd ever had any luck to begin with, it had just run out, taking his heart with it.

Tapping the bar with his knuckles to get the sleepy bartender's attention, he ordered a pint of mead and then hunched over his glass. The early morning light provided soft illumination of the empty club behind him. The only other people there were the cleaning crew, busily sweeping the dance floor and wiping down tables and chairs.

McAllister  manifested from nowhere and flew down to sit next to Aidan's mead. He still had his Sinatra suit on. "What are you going to do?”.

Aidan shrugged. “I've been summoned. I have to go. I can’t disobey.”

“Maybe if you talk to her, she’ll release you. I’ll have a word with her myself.”

“She won’t let me go. I’m one of her own. And don’t say anything. She’ll be angry about Marion.” He massaged his neck with a sigh. She would be furious if she found out he was in love with anyone but her. The Lady did not like to share.

“What will you tell Marion?” McAllister took a big gulp of mead, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

“I don’t know.”

“You’re not going to leave without telling her, are you?”

Aidan refused to meet McAllister’s eyes. What was he supposed to say? I love you, but I can never be with you, I belong to another? He couldn’t bear to see the heartbreak on her face. It was better for him to just disappear, as if he had never existed.

McAllister snorted. “You’re a fool, Aidan.

“What would you suggest I do?”

“Fight for her. If you love her, if it is true love, then find a way to make it work. Don’t run away like a thief in the night.”

Aidan shook his head. “I don’t have time to go see her. The Lady is waiting for me.” He gestured to the mirror that served as a portal to Fairy at the end of the bar. Sure enough, the Queen stood ready, flanked by two of her honor guard, a smile of happy anticipation on her ruby lips. A low-cut gown in purple velvet hugged her full curves, hinting at the bountiful delights underneath. Normally Aidan would’ve been hard at the thought of spending a night with the Queen, but now he couldn’t fathom how he was to survive it. How could he go on without Marion?

With slumped shoulders, Aidan stood and made ready to cross over to Fairy.

“I can take a message to her, if you like.”

Aidan looked back to McAllister. “Tell her it’s for the best.”

“There’s not enough mead on this green earth that would convince me it would be a good idea to pass that message on. Why don’t you try again? Preferably, something that won’t get me killed.” McAllister leveled a stern gaze at his friend.

“I don’t know. What can I say? My heart is bound to her, but my body is honor-bound to the Queen. If I can find a way to come back, I will.”

“That’s better. Now a little syrupy lovesick puppy-talk and you’ll be all set.” When Aidan just looked at him, McAllister sighed in exasperation. “You know, I’ll love you forever, every day we’re apart is torture, that kind of stuff.”

“That sounds good,” Aidan said, relieved.

“What?”

“What you said.”

“Oh, so now I’m doing all the dirty work?” McAllister glared at Aidan.

“You’re so good at it.”

McAllister preened at the compliment. “Comes from having three wives.”

“I thought they all left you?” Aidan asked.

“Don’t get insolent with me. I was wooing the Queen back before you were born.”

Aidan took a step toward the mirror portal and stopped. Looking back to McAllister, he said, "You know, except for the curse, I never said anything that upset Marion. What do you think that means? I say the wrong thing all the time, but not with her. Why?"

McAllister shrugged. "Maybe you've finally figured out how not to be a sod-ass? If so, the Lady will be thrilled."

In the mirror the Queen waved impatiently. Aidan could delay no longer, not without risking her displeasure. “I have to go.”

“Then do it, but don’t forget your heart, Aidan,” said the pixie, his expression solemn.

Aidan stepped through the mirror thinking it was all very well to be told to follow one’s heart, but the practice was much harder than the theory.

M
arion looked up at McAllister from where she sat on the couch, eyes brimming with unshed tears. She'd been expecting Aidan, not his pixie friend bearing bad news. “So he’s gone?”

“Aye.” McAllister nodded, adjusting his tie. He's  switched out the Elvis jumpsuit for something more upscale, but his pink hair flopping on his head like wilted cotton candy meant he couldn't quite pull off the look. 

“I see.” She looked down at her skirt, regretting the effort she'd made to look pretty. Her ex had wanted her too much, Aidan didn't want her enough, but she'd been stupid enough to believe it could happen.

The pixie flexed his wings, a nervous twitch."He did not want to go, you understand. He had no choice.”

“Uh-huh.” Marion grabbed a tissue and dabbed her eyes. “Will I ever see him again?”

“I can’t say. It’s hard to make promises when the Queen is involved.”

“Thank you for letting me know.” Anger surged through her when she thought of how Aidan had disappeared in the night without even a simple goodbye.

“He would’ve come himself, but he did not have time. When the Lady calls, you go. That’s just how it is with her.”

Marion gave a bitter laugh. Oh to be a Queen where no one dared displease you, let alone break your heart. The fact was, the elf had a cell phone. He could have called. It would have taken less than a minute, but he couldn’t be bothered. That hurt more than anything. Even the elf-giant, Dougal, had taken a moment to say goodbye before returning to Fairy and he wasn’t supposedly in love with her. He’d also sent her a picture of Eric with his new Eros Fey ‘wife’. Marion might’ve felt a twinge of guilt at Eric’s circumstances, but his wide smile showed obvious enjoyment of his circumstances, despite the chain around his neck.

McAllister cleared his throat, breaking her reverie.“If I may give you some advice?”

Marion shrugged her shoulders and sniffed back tears.

“If it’s really meant to be, love will find a way. That’s how it’s been for me three times now.” Compassion shone in the pixie’s eyes.

“I hope you’re right.” She took another tissue and blew her nose. Much to her irritation, she was succumbing to an ugly cry. “It’s not like I didn’t know this was a possibility.” She just hadn’t thought it would hurt so much. Tears washed down her cheeks and her lips quivered uncontrollably.

McAllister patted her shoulder, his wings fluttering in distress. “Hold it together, lass. Hope is not lost yet.”

“You should go,” she said not wanting him to witness her breakdown. “Thank you for coming.”

He nodded and raised a hand to stop her when she moved to stand. “I’ll show myself out.”

When he was gone, Marion pulled a pillow over her face to muffle her sobs. How was it her love life was such a constant disaster? The only answer Marion could think of was that she was bad at love. Maybe that was why her love potions didn’t work, it wasn’t for lack of love, just simply that she was hopeless.

A
idan drank the last of his mead and surveyed the banquet table. The Lady had welcomed him with open arms and complete forgiveness, declaring his return a cause for celebration. If she noticed his lack of enthusiasm, she made no mention of it. She was so busy showering him with attention and gifts, he doubted she’d had a chance to stop and think.