Hexed

already outlived every Irish wolfhound that had ever walked the earth. The tragedy of his magnificent breed is their fairly short life span, only six or seven years. But I’d been giving Oberon the same blend of herbs and magic that kept me looking and feeling twenty-one instead of twenty-one hundred, a brew I jokingly called Immortali-Tea. Oberon was now fifteen and had no idea that he should have been dead years ago, not running around with the energy and strength of a three-year-old adult. Okay, buddy , I finally said.
    Before I could descend further into maudlin sentiment, my cell phone began to play » Witchy Woman, « an Eagles ringtone I’d downloaded especially for Malina’s calls.
    I walked out to my backyard before answering it, deciding to recharge a bit while I spoke with her. She thanked me for the shipment of bloodwort and made polite noises about its superior quality; I made polite noises back, thanking her for her business; and I thought all the while that it was good to be back to our formal relationship. Then she got down to the business I wanted to hear.
    » We were able to confirm in last night’s ritual that die Töchter des dritten Hauses are here in the East Valley, but we were sadly unable to pinpoint their precise location. «
    » Then you have both my congratulations and condolences. Any ideas on why you couldn’t get a clearer picture? «
    » Perhaps our effectiveness is reduced with only six of us left. Perhaps they have cast some sort of cloak about themselves that we are unable to penetrate. Most likely it is a little bit of both, « she said. » We will try again tonight. Did you try divining their location yourself? «
    » No, I haven’t had the time to use my own methods, « I said. » Kind of had a busy morning. I ought to have some time to try after work. «
    » I doubt you will have any time at all. We also performed our divination ritual to locate the Bacchants and had much more success. They are here—twelve of them, to be exact—and they plan to begin causing mischief in Scottsdale this evening. Saturnalian orgies will ensue unless you intervene. «
    » Is it truly important I intervene tonight? « I hadn’t heard anything more from Laksha, and I might not have an effective way of doing so. » What lasting damage could one night of true bacchanalia really do to Scottsdale? «
    » Mr. O’Sullivan. Bacchanalia will spread disease. It will ruin marriages and other relationships, causing untold emotional distress and greater economic damage through divorce. It encourages a lifestyle of reckless behavior and moral turpitude, and participants often become criminals in short order. «
    » That sounds like a weekend at the Phoenix Open. «
    » I am not joking. People occasionally die from their exertions, which we clearly cannot allow. And, besides that, the Bacchants will significantly increase their numbers if unchecked, and you will have a bigger problem the longer you wait. «
    » Well, wait a second, you said before that these Bacchants have been in Las Vegas for years. «
    » That is correct. «
    » Well then, why isn’t Vegas all jacked up? Oh. «
    » Yes? «
    » I think the question answered itself. I beg your pardon. «
    » Granted. They will be at a nightclub called Satyrn on Scottsdale Road. It’s fairly upscale. You will need to make an effort to appear a little less scruffy. «
    She was baiting me, but I wasn’t going to bite. » Will you say scruffy one more time for me, please? «
    » Scruffy. Why? «
    » I’m trying to learn your accent. «
    Her voice grew chilly and her accent became more pronounced. » I’m sure you have much more important things to do, as do I. Good day. «
    I grinned as I put away my phone. She was funny when she got herself in a snit.
    Biking to work actually took some effort on my part, drained as I was from using Cold Fire. I’d have to spend the night recuperating in the backyard to recharge my depleted cells.
    The widow waved to me as I trundled past.
    » Did ye see Mary, then? « she called.
    » Sure did! « I gave her a thumbs-up. » I’ll come sit with you after work and tell you all about it. «
    » Ah, that’ll be grand! «
    The book side of Third Eye Books and Herbs doesn’t need much of my personal attention anymore. With automated inventory control, the computer orders another copy for me whenever I sell something. Perry Thomas, my employee for more than two years and the cheeriest Goth kid I’ve ever met, could