Witch's Bell Book One

concentration slowly returning to her.
    Not a trace of the awkward, the sudden, or anything else, tainted Nate's words. He spoke just as automatically and coolly as he always did.
    'I see,' Nate nodded quickly, eyes suddenly darting out the window, 'and where is this, exactly?'
    Ebony, lips parted, just looked on. You wouldn't know, she told herself as she blinked even more, that the man who seconds ago had seemed more tender, romantic, and gentle than a rose petal against the cheek – was now the same man who might as well have been organizing troops for a battle, given the tone of command in his voice.
    'Okay, yeah, I'll be there as soon as I can,' he nodded again, 'I'll be ready, sir.'
    With one more nod, Nathan Wall snapped the phone closed with a resounding click. Then just stood there.
    If Ebony had ever believed that she'd heard silence, she was dead wrong. The sticky, thick, suffocating silence that now descended between them seemed to catch every possible word in its net, before it was even said. So Ebony just sucked on her lips and looked on.
    'I gotta go,' he said finally, shrugging.
    She opened her mouth for quite some time before the right word popped up. 'Right.'
    He put the phone back in his pocket, not really taking his eyes off her, but not really looking at Ebony either. For just a split second, she half-fancied, he looked conflicted.
    'So...' she sighed, crossing her arms and glancing out the window, not because she wanted to know what was out there, but simply because she needed somewhere to stare, 'what's going on?'
    'There's been a break-in at the Praytor Jewelers,' Nate flexed his shoulders, as if trying to shake out a slight pain in his back.
    Ebony tried to concentrate on the words, rather than the man saying them. Get a grip, girl, she told herself, trying to suck in a steadying breath. It was just a little kiss. And it was interrupted. What did it really matter?
    Praytor Jewelers, a break-in.... 'Hold on,' she felt her face crumple with confusion, 'aren't they both magical jewelers and ordinary jewelers?'
    'Yeah,' he flattened down his tie, 'that's the problem. This isn't an ordinary break-in. Apparently they stole some important stuff.'
    Ebony now blinked far too quickly, like a cat trying to take in the erratic and chaotic movements of a laser pointer. 'What? Are you serious? Praytors have two wizards on guard around the clock. How on Earth-'
    'I don't know,' he shrugged his shoulders again, as if his shirt no longer fit. 'But I've got to go. Half the station is going, apparently.'
    Ebony nodded evenly. 'I imagine they are. This is big.'
    'I gathered that from Ben's... less than cheery tone.'
    Ebony bit into her lips, trying to smile. 'He'd have the Commissioner on his butt about this. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes right now. Depending on who stole what, this could make both the witches and wizards pretty angry.'
    'I've got to go, Ebony,' Nate finally said. He turned and walked several steps, then he paused as if wondering whether he should add something. 'I'll see you later.'
    Then he walked off, leaving Ebony quite completely alone.
    When she was sure he was gone, Ebony took in a massive breath and shook her head for a while. 'What was that?' she whispered to herself, face freezing into an awkward, but energetic, grin.
    She put her hands on the desk before her, her fingers tapping the wood quickly. 'Right,' she patted back her hair, 'right,' she tried again.
    So... what was she meant to do now? What had that ah... little kiss, actually meant? Nothing? Just Nate playing further little games? Or....
    Ebony turned to the window, catching a glimpse of her reflection. Her face was plastered with a strange, half-shocked, consternation. Far from gaining any clarity from this day, so far she'd only managed to fall into a whirlpool of greater confusion.
    Even though their little kiss had left Ebony thoroughly confused, it had served one purpose. While moments before she'd been on the edge of a nervous-cliff, filled with apprehension at the sea of uncertainty beneath her – her mood had now lifted. She was zipping, as it were, her hands and face still tingling with warmth and excitement.
    The fact the book from the crypt had never been recovered was still a worry, of course, but it wasn't about to send her to her knees yet.
    The same with the Grimshores.
    She had to find out what it was all about. She had to...
    Ebony ran a finger over her lips and tried to think. She had to do something