Lupi 09 - Mortal Ties

and freaked? Could
     be. His face was well-known. Whatever kind of trouble had triggered the screaming,
     though, she probably wouldn’t need her weapon. Scott had his back to it. He wouldn’t
     do that if something needed shooting.
    Still, she kept her Glock in her hand, but down at her side. Scott gave her a odd
     look, but stepped aside without speaking. As soon as he did, she stopped dead.
    Mark stood a couple feet into the hall. He hadn’t drawn his weapon, and he barely
     glanced at her. A few feet beyond him, Rule stood with his arms around Lily’s mother.
     She was sobbing. Her hands gripped his arms. He was stroking her back and murmuring
     something. He looked up from his soothing to meet Lily’s eyes. He looked baffled.
    “Mother?” Lily said, stepping forward cautiously. She’d never seen her mother come
     apart like this. Never. To do so in public…“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
    Julia Yu lifted her head from Rule’s shoulder. Mascara streaked her face in long black
     runnels. “I’m old! I’m so old!”
    “You…you look great.”
    Julia shuddered and wailed.
    “I was coming down the hall and saw Julia,” Rule saidcarefully. “She looked upset, so I asked if she was all right. She reached up to touch
     her hair, then started patting her face. Then she screamed.”
    “Mother—”
    “I’m not your mother! I’m not anyone’s mother! I’m twelve years old and someone has
     stuck me in this old, old body!”
    The last fifteen months had been difficult. Lily had killed. She’d died herself—or
     part of her had—and she’d seen someone die for her. She’d dealt with a wraith, too
     many demons, a Chimei, a crazy telepath, and a couple of really nasty elves. She had
     literally been to hell and back. But this…
    For a long moment her mind was simply blank. Then she thought of psychotic breaks.
     Then she thought of magic. She swallowed hard and put her weapon back in her purse.
     “You’re twelve, you said.”
    A vigorous nod. “It’s my birthday.”
    Yes, it was. Only Julia Yu had turned fifty-seven today, not twelve. “Do you recognize
     me?”
    “N-no. You look kind of familiar, though. Maybe we met some time?”
    “My name is Lily. You’re Julia, right?”
    Her mother sniffed. “Julia Lin.”
    Lin. Her mothers’ maiden name. “I’m an FBI agent. Would you like to see my badge?”
    “A real FBI agent?”
    “The real thing.” Lily pulled her shield from her purse and held it out. “See?”
    Julia Yu released her death grip on one of Rule’s arms so she could lean forward to
     peer at Lily’s ID. She didn’t reach for it, though. “It looks real.”
    “It is. Have you heard about—” Noise behind Lily had her turning. Her father and two
     of her cousins were at the hall’s entrance. Edward Yu told Scott he’d better step
     aside right now.
    “Edward,” Rule said, “give us a couple more minutes. Please.”
    “I’m going to see my wife,” Lily’s father said. “Julia—are you all right?”
    “Who’s he?” Julia said, her voice wobbly. “He’s not your husband, is he? He looks
     too old.”
    Lily almost lost it. She swallowed and blinked like crazy and prayed her voice wouldn’t
     break. “Father. Give me a minute. Please. If magic’s involved—”
    “Magic!” Julia cried.
    Edward Yu didn’t answer, but he shoved at Scott. Who didn’t budge, of course. Neither
     of them was a large man, but Scott was lupus.
    “Edward.” The cousins parted to allow a small, awesomely erect old woman to come forward.
     Her black hair was pulled ruthlessly back from her face and fastened in an intricate
     bun. She wore crimson satin, lavishly embroidered. Grandmother murmured something
     in Chinese that Lily didn’t catch and laid a hand on her son’s arm. “Something bad
     has happened. Julia does not know you. We will stay back for now so we do not overwhelm
     her.”
    Edward Yu frowned hard. His eyes were frantic. “Not long. I won’t wait long.”
    Lily turned back to the woman who didn’t know she was a mother. Who thought she was
     twelve years old. “I’m with Unit Twelve, Julia. Have you heard of that? We investigate
     crimes connected with magic.”
    “Someone put a spell on me, didn’t they? That’s what’s wrong!”
    “It’s one possibility. I can find out if you’ll shake my hand.”
    Julia’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Why?”
    “I’m a touch sensitive. If magic has been used on you—a spell of some kind—I’ll