The Carver's Magic (10 page)

I look down at her and fold my arms over my chest, curious that she no longer had the ability to excite me. “Right. So what are you really doing here, Enora?”

Her eyes squint then narrow, “Visiting.”

Rolling my shoulders. “Sure, you can keep saying that but we both know you’re lying. So spit it out.”

Immediately she bows her head, and unfolds her legs on the stool, “I can’t.”

“Can’t? Because you are afraid the fairy courts will find out you told me?”

She looks up with big round eyes, but I wasn’t buying it. “They’ll know if I lie. I can’t tell you. But don’t worry, it has nothing to do with you.”

I’ve known Enora long enough to know she is not worried about me. I swear if her arrogance were a stick, it would be the stick that was so far up her ass you could taste the wood in her kisses.

“I’m not worried about me,” I respond.

“Clearly.” Her friendliness melted. The ice in her eyes is back and I am talking to the real Enora now.

“What is that supposed to mean?” I try to hold back my pleasure of getting her to talk.

She cleared her throat. The kind of response that makes every living being
want to smash someone’s face in. “Only that you seem to have lowered your standards.”

Thankfully, I have my fire so far submerged that her little attitude was not going to cause me to burn this place down. But earlier she might have gotten to me. “Did I? And what makes you say that?”

“You know what they say about the company you keep.”

I want to roll my eyes, but I held back. Barely. It really is a girly thing to do, and yet I constantly find myself doing it. “Don’t say stupid shit like that, just tell me what you mean, be up front for once in your stuck up life.”

“I’m not stuck up.” Her eyebrows drew together.

“Enora. Get to the point. I really don’t have time for this.”

Obviously put out, she swings her arms in the air as if she is Vanna freaking White. “This place has really gone down hill, Shane, and you know it. There’s always a pack of wolves in here, not to mention the other Caver you were just talking to, who looks like a slut, by the way. I mean come on Shane, you can do ten times better than her.”

Jealous?
I am not going to respond to her accusation. Although I would enjoy letting her know she was so far off base it was laughable. “Is that all?”

“Oh is that not enough?” She stands up abruptly, opens her purse to look for something, then thought better of it and finished, saying, “You want to talk about the vampire upstairs in the VIP? Or maybe we should talk about the fairy who is going around putting stuff in people’s drinks. Or maybe we should talk about you. The Carver with no loyalty for anyone but himself. You’re the selfish one, Shane. At least I stand for something?”

I use my tongue to clean my top canines looking as board as possible. Inside I’m laughing mirthfully because she spilled. “So that’s why you’re here. To bring back a fairy who’s been using their magic without the fairy council’s permission?”

      
She stills for a moment. Her eyes jet down for a micro second before she recovers. Pulling her purse over her shoulders, she says, “I’m not discussing it with you.”

I smirk disdainfully, “You just did.”

CHAPTER SIX

BETH

Shane just showed back up after taking a thirty-minute break. I am about to tell him to give me a heads up next time he steps out, when he starts chatting with a red head with a face full of freckles. I watch carefully, looking at his reactions, waiting to see if he shows any interest. If he is, I am going to let Cory know he’s either a slut or interested in someone else. Actually I had told her that she was stupid if she even attempted to talk to a Carver, let alone want to date one. The brat acted like that was a good thing. It isn’t. It is bad. And I don’t like the idea that she is interested in him. All the other Carvers and purebloods I have meet are grade-A assholes. She doesn’t know them like I do because I try to keep that stuff to myself.

The magic world is not her world and I don’t want her in the cross-fire of the war my parents talked about.

With Cory's heart in my chest I can feel that she is nervous. I look over and see her walking down the stairs. She looks around, trying to hide that she is looking at Shane. When she looks down to the red-headed girl she probably doesn’t realize she frowned.

When her eyes find mine, I lift my chin. She did the same thing back and walks to me.

“How’s it going in the VIP?”

She looks away before answering, as her eyebrows scrunch, “Weird.”

Not the answer I was hoping for. I fold my arms, “How so?”

She places her drink holder on the bar and shrugs. “I don’t know. Just weird.”

A little more frustrated, I ask, “I am the definition of weird. So why don’t you try and explain it to me?” I grab the paper she holds out with her next order of drinks.

I am going to pretend that the breath she exhales is a relieving breath, instead of a defeated breath. “Well, I’m not sure, but I think a few people up there are not like me or you.”

Please be wrong about this. I know werewolves come in, but that is the only supernatural kind I ever saw in here, well other than Shane, I guess. “What does that mean?”

Swallowing hard, she says, “Um, I think there are people up there that are not human, you know?”

“What do you think they are?” I lean down so I can hear her better. The paper in my right hand is crumpled tightly now.

Before she answers she scans the room, and whispers as best she can in a loud bar, “There is a black lady with long, thick braids that I think has fangs.”

I stand straight. We are quitting this bar. That is for damn certain. “You think there is a vampire up there?”

Cory tries to give me the look that says I’m a big girl, but then her lips press from right to left. “I don’t know. But keep your voice down just in case she can hear you.”

I don’t remember learning they have that great of hearing. It is the werewolves that do. “Doubtful.”

Cory pointed at the small paper in my hand reminding me I had a job to do. “But there was also someone who I thought I saw in the corner one moment, and the next second she was gone. It was creepy. She had glowing, orange eyes. But no one else seemed to notice, so I don’t know what to think.”

Yep, we are quitting this place tonight! She doesn’t know it, but I am not going to let her work in a bar with so many creatures. “Uh, I do. You’re not going back up there.”

“What happened?” Shane asks, while holding a white rag so tightly I can see his knuckles start to pale.

I scoff, “None of your business, Shane. Go back to your side.”

Shane’s eyes glow a light creepy blue for a split second as he looks at me, then they darken back to his natural color and he turns to my sister. I can tell that he is focusing all his energy on her. When Cory tells me mine glow it is always when I was dangerously upset. “I know something happened by the expression on your face, so spill it.”

“You don’t know my expressions.” My head juts back, disbelievingly.

“I was talking to Cory,” he says, snidely, not bothering to take his eyes off my sister. And worse, I think that just made Cory even more interested in him. Instead of looking at him like he is a loon for saying he knew her expressions, she tucks the stray hair behind her ear and asks, “How would you know my expressions?”

And just like that, his hard expression softens as he leans in to say, “I will tell you how I know if you tell me what’s wrong.” His voice was a little softer and I’m sickened to admit it might have been soothing.

Biting back my words and getting pissed off that they are having this little conversation without me, Cory continues, “Nothing’s wrong.”

Shane’s mouth lifts on the side as if he knows she is lying. She is, but he shouldn’t know that. “Did you see anything up there?” He pokes his finger on her hand and damn it if she didn’t blush a little. I feel sick.

“Uh,” Cory stutters, not looking away from Shane, as if he had her in some enthrall.

“What did you see?” He asks in velvety baritone. Oh my gosh what am I seeing? Is he hitting on her?

I push Shane away make sure that my next words come across as clear as possible, “It’s none of your business Shane! Worry about yourself.”

Shane holds his hand out to Cory pleading a little. “Cory? Please.”

“I think I saw a vampire. I saw fangs and her eyes turn from reddish brown to white while she was yelling at another guy in the room. And then someone popped in the room and then back out in a matter of seconds.” And just like that she folds. Shane really is a smooth bastard. I seriously want to hit him with a fireball.

“Why don’t you stay down here and I will send Danny up there.” His words are still smooth, but I can tell they are forced. He is not happy with what she said. HA! That’s what he gets for putting his nose in someone else’s business. But he may be right to send Danny up there, so I am going to hold my tongue for a second.

Pouting a little, Cory says, “They are not doing anything to me and I doubt she even knew I noticed her.”

Shane’s lips flatten to a razor-straight line, not letting Cory’s eyes move from his. “I don’t care. In fact, why don’t you point her out to me so I can hurl her blood-sucking ass out.”

Oh hell ya!
Shane is crazy, but I think I respect him a little more knowing he is willing to toss out the blood-sucker.

“What? NO!” Cory protests with her arms folded. This is probably the first time I have ever seen her whine to anyone but me. It’s totally an act, though.

Shane shakes his head, not buying it. “Vampires are not allowed to draw too much attention, Magic Council’s law.”

“Then I will make sure they stay in there where no one else will see them!” Cory grabs the black drink tray and brings it back to her side.

I can’t hold it in any longer. “Amber Line may be at the cross road, but they all can’t just show up and go fanging people.”

Cory didn’t look at me. She’s still eye-locked with Shane. “That’s bullshit and you know it. There is no reason to kick people out when they haven’t done anything.”

Shane shrugs his left shoulder. “That’s only because the owner has no idea there are even such creatures. He just thinks they don’t like people outside their social groups. Think about it Cory.”

“So if he really thinks that, then he won’t like you throwing out his customers for no reason.” Cory points her finger at Shane as if she just won the argument.

I shouldn’t be rooting for Shane to win, but, I am.

“I won’t be throwing them out for no reason. You said their eyes were white. Vampire’s eyes glow white when they are pissed and dangerous. I won’t allow those creatures to hurt… anyone.” Shane backs up a step.

“Creatures? My sister is not a creature and neither are you, so don’t say that.”

I want to smile at her for defending me, but now is not the time for me to butt in. I mean, I call other magical people creatures. It really doesn’t bother me.

“I’m flattered.” Shane says, with a sharp tang to his voice.

“It wasn’t meant to be a compliment,” Cory hissed.

I bite down on my lip to keep from laughing. Cory is trying to sound ferocious, but instead she pulled off “the toddler that was being sent back to their room, even after they just gave the argument of their little lives.”

“Where are you going?” Shane tries to reach out and stop Cory from leaving.

“To get more orders,” She says over her shoulder.

Shane walked quickly along side of the bar, parallel to her. “Cory stop. Come back here.” He tries to reach for her as the bar bended around to the south side, but Cory is too far away. “Cory!” Then he hit the bar. “Dammit.”

I slowly walk up to his side and ask, “Why do you care about her so much now? You don’t date humans remember?”

“Shut up Beth.” He was still watching Cory with unreadable eyes.

Rolling my eyes, I scan the bar and see Dar’s eyes are on me. I still can’t believe he’s here in this town, and worse, here in this bar.

Dar is sitting at a table outside the dance floor. Yesterday he watched me like a creepy stalker. I ignored him as best I could but it's hard when I swear I can feel him looking at me. It is a shame that he didn’t drink whatever Cory planted in his drink. I am not sure what it was, but I could tell from his reaction that it was something he could taste. She really is scary with all those experiments she makes.

Now he’s talking to some guy at his table. I don't know if his guest is a wolf, too, but the odds are, he is. Most wolves travel together. I assume it's a pack thing. Sometimes I envy that they can hear so well. Yes, I am nosey and I want to know what Dar and that guy are talking about because they are both looking in my direction. What if I try to use my magic?

I focus on my hearing and said a few words in my mind, specifically imagining Dar's table. I am not sure if it worked because now I hear everyone as if someone turned up the volume too loud. I cover my ears to a bar full of people talking, glass clanking, feet stepping, and a compendium of other bodily noises. Gross. To my dismay, Dar and his buddy have stopped talking. And worst of all, Dar is giving me a smug look.

Jerk
.

I retract my last spell and my ears feel better now.

You know, sometimes I really think he can hear me or maybe he has an uncanny knack for knowing what I am thinking. Some people were just like that, they could tell what you were going to do before you did it. Not in the gypsy crystal ball kind of way but in the cold, logical deduction kind of way.

I focus my thoughts to my sister's heart. Her heart is at a regular rate, I think. Or maybe I don’t know the difference between calm and a little anxious, because had she not told me about the possible vampire, I wouldn’t have even known she saw one. Her heart just seemed to lull by as if it was perfectly content.

Dar still is not talking, but he did nudge the guy next to him with a silent command and the stranger shrugs then heads to the exit. Dar stands and walks towards the bar. Avoiding him all together, I head to the south side where Shane was making an order. I grab a clean rag just to have something to do, and hope that Shane takes Dar’s order. Shane looks at me with a question in his eyes. Thankfully, he dismisses me and asks Dar what he wants.