NIGHT WHISPERS: By Lori Titus
Wednesday, September 28th, 2011The Marradith Ryder Series: The Art of Shadows, Part 56
Justin called Marradith that night.
He already had a lump in his throat, thinking about what was the best way to let her know that there was another threat to worry about.
She answered on the third ring, with a sigh before she spoke.
“Justin?”
“Yeah, honey, how are you?”
“Tired,” she replied, and he heard the break in her voice. She did sound sleepy. He imagined that she sat on the edge of her bed, shoes off, with an open suitcase beside her.
“Did you find Fiona?” she asked.
“Yes, right after you left for the airport.”
“How’s she taking things? Rafael being awake, I mean?”
“Very happy. They seem to be back to normal. Well, back to the way they were before they started fighting, I guess. That kind of scare changes a lot of things.”
Justin paused, thinking about what Rafael had told him.
“Ryder. Tell me something. How do you feel about Fi and Rafael raising your niece?”
“I’d like to be diplomatic about the answer..”
“Don’t be,” Justin interrupted. “Tell me.”
“I think it sucks. I know Scott is not the most responsible man, but someone could have made a better effort to find him before custody was given over to other people.”
“Your Dad just got back from Kitanya,” Justin told her. “Scott wasn’t there, but he has reason to believe that Scott is not with Syd anymore. I have to say I’m surprised you think your brother would make a good parent.”
“I don’t know that he would be,” Marradith replied. “I’d just like him to at least know about Ciara. It might give him a reason to get his life together. That said, I prefer Fi and Rafi over a couple total strangers.”
“I agree. Your Dad has done everything that he can where Scott is concerned. No one knows where he went.”
“Then how does he know that Scott’s not with Syd?”
Justin chuckled. “This is your dad we’re talking about. He’s not offering explanations to me.”
“Hmmm. Well maybe I can get some details if I call him.”
Justin smiled. Marradith was still Daddy’s girl– he doubted there was much of anything she couldn’t get out of Paul, if she tried. He sobered a little, feeling the time was right to broach the subject he’d called to talk about.
“Listen, I don’t have a lot of details to give you, and I am not trying to frighten you. Rafael told me some things about the person that took him hostage. It’s a very old enemy of his, and there may be some danger to you and the family.”
It was a beat before she spoke. “Demon kind?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
“I didn’t know,” she said. “I had the weirdest feeling about it.”
“I want you to be vigilant; don’t get too secure just because you have so much family out there. I know your Uncle Jake is solid, and the sheriff is your cousin, but still… What do you think about your new guard, this Brennan guy?”
“He’s okay, a little overprotective if you want to know.”
“How so?”
“He actually asked me if I could trust my relatives. He even grilled me about my friend Harley.”
“He’s doing his job, then,” Justin said, feeling a small measure of relief. “There’s no way that he can be too cautious, in my book. I’ll make sure to speak with him as well. Promise me you will be careful.”
“I will,” she said, too quickly for Justin’s taste. She changed the subject before he could comment.
“Have you heard from Daria?” Marradith asked. “She hasn’t texted me in a couple of days and that’s not like her.”
“I’m sure she’s okay. I didn’t speak with her today but she left a report on my voicemail earlier. She said that she might have a new lead.”
***
Sitting behind the wheel of her car, Daria cut the headlights and turned off the ignition.
She didn’t need light to see with. In her lap was a paper map of Los Angeles.
Daria’s training as a Sojourner included lessons in basic magic. She had never been very good at it, but was able to accomplish small tasks that a human could do. One of her favorite tricks was a locator spell. She’d used it many times. When the scent or the blood of her prey was too far away to track with her senses as a vampire, a bit of magic always helped.
Bowing her head, she concentrated, letting her fingers wander across the map. When she felt a gentle heat pricking her fingertips, she stopped.
Her fingers stroked a region on the Eastern side of the map. She was familiar with the neighborhood. It was where Miranda grew up.
She could have theorized that Miranda would go back there. Like wolves, humans longed for places where they experienced comfort in the past. Daria had seen it before. But could a woman like Vega be dumb enough to believe that she would actually be safe there?
Perhaps Miranda was tired of running. But going back to the old neighborhood was akin to commiting suicide.
Turning the car back on, Daria signaled and pulled out into traffic. Perhaps, she’d canvas the neighborhood while it was still dark. See what sense of things she could pick up. Maybe, the sounds of the night had something new to tell her.
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©2011 Lori Titus
Lori’s latest novella, Hailey’s Shadow, is available on Amazon :
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