Hot Magic (22 page)

“She hung up.” Julie stared at the phone in disbelief and hit the redial button. “She said something about searching for Tasha, gates to Gehenna and getting Tash out.” The phone clicked to her mother’s answering machine.

Harry’s calm voice broke through her confusion. “I spoke with Linda, who’s with your mom. Tasha and Luc have been kidnapped by Skaven—rat people who work for the demons—and taken to Gehenna. Jean has sent out a message to all Triad in the area to gather. She’s going to attempt to meld power and wield enough energy to break through to Gehenna.”

At Julie’s confused look, he clarified. “Gehenna is a name for Hell.”
 

Julie sank down into one of the chairs at the kitchen table. “Rat people?” She jumped up again. “Demons want Tasha? Why?”

“Linda thinks it was a mistake on the part of the Skaven. The demons aren’t stupid enough to totally flout all laws by taking a living Dancer and Shadow Walker. The entire Triad is up in arms. This kidnapping is uniting us in a way we haven’t been since the Rift.”

She frowned at his positive spin on the whole nightmare. Then his words sunk in. Her baby was in Gehenna. For a moment she couldn’t think, she couldn’t move, she couldn’t breathe. “Will they hurt her? How can we get her out? Should I call my pastor?”

Harrison stepped close to her, his body warmth a comfort. “She’s okay, Julie.” His voice reassured her. “I met with the head demon’s lieutenants last night, trying to negotiate a release. I meet with them again this afternoon.”

“There’s a head demon?” She rubbed her forehead. This was too much, but she refused to lose it. Tash needed her.

“His name is Abigor.”

The bad guy had a name. “When did you find out she’d been taken?”

“Right after I left Marguerite.”

“And you didn’t let me know?” Fear and confusion switched into fury. He backed up a couple of steps, a wary look on his face.
 

“I believed if I could get Natasha released quickly, you wouldn’t have to live with the fact that she was in Gehenna.” His chin set in a firm line. “I didn’t want you to worry needlessly.”

“You didn’t want me to…” She closed her eyes, counted to ten and reminded herself that he didn’t have children. “I have been worried out of my mind. I thought my daughter might be dead. How could knowing the truth possibly be worse than not knowing where she is?”

“No mortal has ever left Gehenna.”

She opened her mouth, took a deep breath, closed it. His expression made her very nervous. “Ever? In the whole history of the world?”

“Ever.”

“But Linda thinks they were taken by accident.”

“For which the demons are duly apologetic. They just don’t want to give them back. But they will. Abigor will be forced to release them.”

Julie nodded. “Yes, he will.” She calmly walked over to the table, picked up the melting ice cream and tossed it in the sink. She carefully rinsed her hands, wiped them on a piece of paper towel and then turned back to him. A fire built in her chest. “I want my daughter. Take me to the Gate of Gehenna.”

“No.” His expression was implacable.

“Why?” Her voice remained absolutely level.

“The demons are unusually curious about you. I won’t allow it.”

“My daughter is in danger.” Was the man totally clueless? She’d spent eighteen hours of hard labor to bring this child into the world. Okay, maybe she should have used an epidural. But she’d bought into the whole natural childbirth thing (thank you, Mother) and had felt every single second of her body’s struggle to birth her baby. She’d gone without sleep countless nights because Tash ate on a two-hour schedule. Later she’d gone without sleep countless nights because she’d worried about the effect the divorce would have on Tash, or because Tash stayed out late with friends, or because Julie had to figure how to squeeze out extra money for band trips or music lessons or soccer camps. She’d laughed, battled, cried and triumphed with her daughter. Part of her heart and soul lived in that child. Did Harry really think she’d let a few demons take her away?
 

“I will get my daughter back, even if it means blowing the Gates of Gehenna off their hinges.”

“No energy wielder has ever crossed into Gehenna of his own accord. The way is barred to all but immortals.”

“So I’ll get an immortal. They can’t be all that hard to find. God, angels and demons, right?”

Harry waved his hand in a vague gesture. “And one or two others.”
 

“What do you mean—‘one or two others’? Who are those one or two others?” Julie stared at him, thinking. “Bascule! Bas is an immortal, isn’t he?” She almost hopped up and down in excitement. Bas could get her into Gehenna and help her rescue Tash.

“I don’t know if Bas is immortal. I know he’s been around for a very long time.” Harry watched her, concern on his face. “He doesn’t talk much about himself.”

“Where is he? I’ll ask him.”

“I don’t know where he is.”

He could find out, but obviously he wasn’t going to. Julie folded her arms across her chest. “Okay. Then you take me to the Gates. I’ll figure out what to do when I get there. Maybe Mom will be successful with her group energy thing.”

“Julie, I’ll negotiate for Tasha. Triad members are expressly forbidden to enter into any kind of contracts or bargains with demons. They always work out badly. The Balance and the Council are the only Triad members empowered to deal with Gehenna.”

“Where is this negotiating taking place? In some time-warp neutral dimension?” Bas had mentioned those.

“Actually, we’re scheduled to meet at a Starbucks in Chicago at five this evening.”

“Demons like coffee?”

“Lattes. They’re addicted. Abigor doesn’t allow any coffee in Gehenna.”

“Must be hell—ha, ha.” She cleared her throat at Harry’s raised eyebrow and went on. “Take me with you. I promise to sip my house blend and not say a word.”

“No. It’s against the rules.”

“If you don’t take me with you, I’m going to go stand at the Gates of Gehenna and join with Mom,” she threatened.

“No.”

“You’re the Balance. I’m giving you two choices. You have to weigh the respective merits of each and choose one.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Harry, I’m deadly serious about this. You can’t leave me out of the loop when it comes to my daughter. I’m going to go with you when you negotiate for her.”

“No, you’re not. I am the Balance, Julie.” He stood straighter and his voice filled with confidence and authority as he eyed her, his face grim. “You are not going. My word is final.”

“W
hat’s she doing here?” The handsome young man dressed in jeans and a white T-shirt juggled two paper cups of mocha latte and nodded toward Julie as he slid into a booth at Starbucks.

“I brought her.” The tone of Harry’s voice didn’t invite further questions.

The man blew on his coffee and regarded her thoughtfully. With his shaggy brown hair, snub nose and open expression, he looked like he just stepped out of a Norman Rockwell painting. There should be a law against demons looking so nice. An equally attractive young woman squeezed in beside him, also carrying two cups of latte. She smiled sweetly at them both, settled back in her seat and raised one of the cups to her lips.

The young man broke the silence. “Abigor wants free communication between demons and Triad members. No restrictions on contracts or bargains.”

“No.” Harry didn’t even pause to consider the terms.
 

Julie nervously fingered her cup filled with plain black coffee. Surely Harry knew what he was doing. The outrageous demand was probably just an opening gambit on the part of the demons. Soon they’d settle into the real negotiations.

The woman shrugged and looked at her companion. “At least we got the latte.” She slid back out of the booth, grabbed both of her cups and sauntered out the door. She turned back, a smirk on her face. “Guess we’ve got ourselves a Dancer and a Walker, too. They’ll be so fun to play with.”

The man grimaced an apology. “Stephanie isn’t very polite.” He held out his hand, which Harry ignored. When Julie’s right arm jerked out of habit, Harry’s left hand clamped down hard on it, holding it at her side. The man’s grimace became an evil-looking grin. “I’ll give your response to Abigor.” He stood and reached for his cups.

“Wait.” Julie couldn’t let him leave. “Can we make a counter offer?”

The man paused and turned his blue-eyed gaze on her. He didn’t look quite so much like a wholesome midwestern boy anymore. “Who are you?”

“Nobody.” Harry interjected, firmly. “Goodbye, Jeffrey. Tell Abigor we’ll talk when he’s willing to quit playing games with us.”

Jeffrey waved an impatient hand, his eyes still watching Julie. “What is your counter offer, woman?”

“I’ll trade myself for Tasha.” Julie hadn’t thought it out, but once she said the words, they made perfect sense.

“You would come to Gehenna?”
 

“Yes.” She would do anything to free her daughter.

“You would come of your own free will?”

“Y—” Harry’s hand clamped over her mouth. Julie felt his sudden tension.

“No. We offer you nothing, Jeffrey. You’ll have a war with the angels on your hands if you don’t release both Natasha and Luc. Abigor knows this. He’s putting off the inevitable in the hope of gaining something out of this mess.”

 
“The woman has offered of her own accord to come to Gehenna. Free will decisions are allowed.”

Harry released Julie’s mouth, which was a good thing since people were beginning to look concerned. This was Chicago and a certain amount of odd behavior was ignored out of good manners, but the hand had been over her mouth long enough to look serious. Just before it slid away, a command echoed in her head. “Quiet!”

Julie licked her lips and then kept them shut. If angels were willing to go to war for her daughter, maybe she should sit and listen.

 
Harrison pushed out of the booth and stood to his full height. Today he wore a black silk shirt and black pants. He stared down at the demon, taller by at least two inches. He radiated power. “She has offered you nothing.”

Julie felt the hair on the back of her neck rise at the authority in his voice. She, and everyone within hearing range, believed him.

The demon was obviously not similarly affected. Jeffrey snapped his fingers, and Julie’s desperate voice floated between them.

“I’ll trade myself for Tasha.”
 

“You would come to Gehenna?”
 

“Yes.”

He smiled and shrugged. “She offered, Harrison. She’s fair game. Even Gabriel can’t argue with that.” He picked up his latte cups and let his gaze rest on Julie. “I’ll give you three hours to get your life in order.” He glanced at Harry. “See, I’m not a monster.”

Harry didn’t respond.

“What is your name, woman? Abigor will want to know who he has traded for.”

Harry’s sharp “No!” in her head didn’t stop her. She wanted the damn demon to know who she was. “My name is Julie Dancer.”

H
er mother’s small living room always made Julie feel like she’d stepped into a crowded, magical jewelry box. Bright colors glittered around the room, taking the form of pillows, planters, sun catchers and assorted knick-knacks. Harry stalked through the gems likes a shadow. He filled the room with his presence, seeming to suck in all the brightness. He picked up a large crystal sitting on a stack of books and held it to the window as he spoke. Light danced around his blond hair, making a halo. “Abigor will release Tasha and Luc. He isn’t stupid. You didn’t need to sacrifice yourself.” He turned to her, lowering the crystal. “I shouldn’t have brought you with me.”

Julie sat curled on the couch. “That was my decision. Is there a book called
Things You Should Never Say to a Demon
? Because if there is, I really need to get a copy.”

She felt strange, like all of this wasn’t really happening. How did she go about putting her life in order in three hours, when she hadn’t managed that in a lifetime? She looked at the ruby red and blue clock on the wall. Make that two and a half hours.
 

When Tasha was released, she might not even have a chance to talk to her. Maybe she should write a letter—one that could be read at her memorial service—saying good-bye and promising to be there in spirit at all the major life events she would be miss out on. Things like Tasha’s graduation, her wedding day, and the birth of her three darling children. Julie frowned. Those things she’d be missing all had to do with Tasha. Didn’t she have any dreams for herself that she wouldn’t get to experience? Of course she didn’t. She’d been gliding through middle age, waiting for the slide into old age. Now that death—or life in Gehenna, whatever that could be called—was staring her in the face, she began to think that had been a pretty wimpy attitude on her part.
 

If she had her life to live over, she’d go back to college, paint a famous picture, climb Mt. Everest, swim the English Channel or maybe do a slow striptease until Harry couldn’t control himself and went mad with lust.