Hexed

it, only a week after she’d brilliantly made the suggestion, Granuaile picked it up with only the slightest of pauses. » Sure you can, Atticus, « she said, her voice turning syrupy. » Anytime you want to tell me why you love me, I’m all ears, baby. «
    » Well, you know how last night we went out to that park north of Indian Bend Road that has the lights on all night, and we hit baseballs for Oberon to chase? I just thought it was special how you picked up the baseballs all covered in drool and bite marks when I know you hate that kind of thing. «
    » Well, Oberon’s sweet, « Granuaile replied. » We were out there a long time. How many balls do you think we hit? «
    I was so proud I could have popped. Such a clever mind. » We had a dozen, « I replied. » And don’t forget, those two bats are still in the trunk of your car. «
    » Oh, they are? I don’t remember, are those yours or do I need to return them to someone? «
    So quick. She knew precisely what to ask. When I’d first agreed to make her my apprentice, it was partially under duress, but now I could see that I was wildly fortunate. » Those are mine. The wooden ones are mine, the Wilsons. The aluminum bats were the borrowed ones; I’ve already returned them. «
    » Oh. Is that all? «
    » That’s it. The balls and bats are in your trunk, and you’re my snookie-wookie marshmallow fudge love pie. «
    » Aw … wait. Did you just call me a Wookiee? «
    I chuckled. » Caught that, did you? « I ended my conversation with her and then made my last call from my home phone. I’d saved it for last because I knew I’d be getting scolded. Lambasted. Reamed, even, in a Polish accent.
    » That was poorly handled last night, Mr. O’Sullivan, « Malina said immediately.
    » Those kinds of opponents aren’t my specialty, « I replied, wary of using the word Bacchant on a phone, untapped or not. » And I got most of them. «
    » What do you mean, most of them? «
    » There were fifteen, not twelve, as your divination foretold, so that was poorly handled, Ms. Sokolowski. « Talking about divinations and spells on the phone never worried me. Anyone listening from the government would dismiss us as fruity New Age hippies.
    » How many got away? « Malina asked.
    » Just one. «
    » Ah, she will return to Las Vegas, then. But she may bring more next time. «
    » Well, I can’t help next time. If that last one had wanted to fight, I’m not sure I could have taken her. What news of the hexen ? «
    » We have managed to bid farewell to two of them. «
    » From your condo? «
    » Even so. « She sounded a bit smug.
    » You knew them previously? «
    » No, these were younger members, not so well protected and not so wise about masking their true nature. «
    That told me that Malina didn’t necessarily need hair or blood to deliver a lethal attack from afar. And she knew how to pick magic users out of a crowd. Good to know. » Well done, « I said. » Does that mean you know where the rest of them are? «
    » Unfortunately not. We are getting closer, however. We’ve narrowed it down to Gilbert. But we need more bloodwort. «
    » All right, I’ll send over a courier with three more pounds. No one’s going to be asking about the two you bid farewell to, are they? «
    » You mean the way people are asking about what you did last night? No, there was nothing suspicious in their leave-taking. «
    » Oh. I see. « Accidents happen.
    » You should try subtlety sometime. But, look, they’re going to know they didn’t succeed in getting us their first time around, so you should prepare for more attacks, however it is that you do that. «
    » Attacks like the first one? «
    » No, I imagine they’ll try something different. It probably won’t be as flashy, but the result will leave you just as dead if you’re not protected. «
    » Okay, thanks for the warning. «
    A car screeched to a halt outside. › Your werewolf lawyer’s here, ‹ Oberon said. › Bet you he smells like citrus air freshener. ‹
    I bet it’s vanilla .
    I quickly said farewell to Malina and opened the front door to see Hal stalking up my front steps, a scowl on his face and a newspaper in his hand. » Good afternoon, sir! My, what impeccable tailoring you have. «
    Hal stopped in his tracks and eyed me warily. » What the hell happened to you? « he said, taking in my shirtless and heavily bruised and scratched form. He gestured at my wounds and asked, » Is that from last night? «
    »