Charmed & Deadly Page 21

  He tsked. I hate when people do that.

  The fear was replaced by anger.

  “Well, the least you could do before you kill me is explain to me how taking my blood will save your country.”

  “Your blood has healing properties and is only part of an experiment. No, it’s your powers that will help me save Africa from the plague it suffers.”

  Power vibrated in the room and for the first time I saw Dr. Zocando for what he really was. A warlock.

  “How?”

  He walked around to the other side of the bed. “How did I mask my powers from you?” Grinning, he waved his hand over himself. “Like this.” The energy dissipated from the room.

  “I had to learn as a boy to hide my power from the elders in the village. There hadn’t been a warlock born there in hundreds of years. They were suspicious of me because I seemed to learn everything so much faster than the other children. In the end I had to kill them all. A pity. I loved my mother, but even she had begun to eye me with fear.

  “Ah, but you do not need a history. You only want to know the future. You will die, witch. Once I have your powers for my own, I can do so much more. See, I only have the power to destroy, but you can heal.”

  My mind whirled. I had to get the hell out of there and I didn’t have a clue how to do it. I looked to the left and saw Azir tied to the bed. He was asleep, but his face was contorted in pain.

  “What have you done to him? You don’t need him. Let him go!”

  Dr. Zocando gave me a fake frown and pursed his lips. “He’s only dreaming. I’ve made his worst fears a reality. He’s going to watch his family die over and over again. The stress of the constant fear will drive him mad.” Zocando said it in a singsong voice, like “whoop-de-doo, going to drive the Sheik crazy, it’s such a wonderful day. La-de-da.”

  The cruelty ate at me.

  “Too bad he was spending time with the wrong witch at the wrong time.” The doctor smiled, but it wasn’t a happy look.

  I must have blanched. Azir was here, and being tortured because of me.

  “None of that matters now, because you won’t be around to worry about it much longer.”

  This insane creep’s babbling was getting on my nerves in a big way.

  Think, Bronwyn.

  My mind was still heavy with the drug he’d given me and I was losing blood fast.

  I’ve been in this position many times. There was Jason in college. But I’d also been attacked by a group of warlocks a few years ago. After they bound my powers, they tied me to a spit. Then there was…

  Dr. Zocando was right. This was no time to think about the past. It only weakened me more. I wanted to see Sam again, and even my snotty cat, Casper. I wanted to eat Lulu’s fried chicken and throw a huge party for Margie and Billy.

  I don’t know what happened, but I must have passed out again while thinking my happy thoughts. I drifted back to Sweet in search of Sam. I found him in his office. “Sam?”

  He looked up. “Bronwyn? What’s wrong? You’re doing that fading thing again.”

  I stared down at my hands and I could see right through them. That idiot Dr. Zocando hadn’t known about my newest power. Hell, I hadn’t known I could really send my form through astral projection until that night in the jungle. I’d been able to send my image for years, but not my body. It was such a dumb thing to forget. So much had happened since Africa, I hadn’t thought about it much.

  “I need help. We’re in Fiji in a cave somewhere. Call the prime minister. Tell him Dr. Zocando also has Azir. I love you.” The effort to speak drained the last of my powers. “I’m dying, baby. I’m sorry. I love you so much.”

  “No!” Sam jumped up from behind his desk and ran toward me, but I could feel myself pulling away. He disappeared. As I slid back into the blackness I wondered if Sam had really heard me or if it had all been a dream….

  Twenty-nine

  Sweet, Texas

  Saturday

  9 a.m.

  Ready-to-go witches: 1

  O h, jeez. I did it again. I keep falling asleep in the middle of writing in my journal. It’s been a busy forty-eight hours.

  The last thing I’d written was about seeing my hunky love.

  Saying good-bye to Sam had been tough. I felt like I’d disappointed him, Garnout, Azir, and everyone else I cared about.

  Something funny, a clicking sound in my head, made me think time really was up.

  After that, well, quite honestly, I thought I was dead. I couldn’t really wrap my mind around anything. There was only darkness, but I was alert. Then there was this terrible pain in my chest and fire burned through my body.

  Dr. Zocando stood over me with a large syringe. “You can’t die yet, witch. I’m not finished.”

  The fire burned through my brain and every sense went on high alert. He must have shot me with adrenaline. My arms and legs twitched, needing to move.

  I twisted my head around and saw Azir still tied to his bed. But I noticed a sliver of one brown eye just below his lashes. He was awake. I didn’t know if he could really see me, but I winked at him. Don’t ask me why. I just wasn’t ready to give up on either one of us.

  The idiot doctor had given me a second chance and he didn’t even know it. Oh, my powers were still bound, but my mind was as clear as the ocean water Azir and I had gone snorkeling in earlier that day.

  The crazed Dr. Zocando would try to take my powers, but I’d be ready for him.

  The blood still flowed from my arm. I looked down at the tubing. “If you want to take my powers, you might want to think twice about draining me of all my blood. You can’t take something like that from a dead person.” I smirked.

  The sudden attitude shocked him and he frowned. He pointed to my arm. “You were only supposed to take a pint!” He screamed at the nurse.

  She hurriedly slipped the IV from my arm. She did it too fast and blood spurted up and landed on all three of us.

  Something about the blood really sent him over the crazy cliff. “Idiot!” He barked. “She could be tainted!” Moving around to the other side of the bed, he grabbed her by the throat.

  I should have been insulted that he thought I might have tainted blood, but I was enthralled by the drama playing out before me.

  The fear in the nurse’s eyes almost made me feel sorry for her. Well, not really. Lifting her with one hand, he slammed her into the cave wall. I had to contort my neck to see what was going on, but it wasn’t pretty. Her eyes grew wider and then the life force slid out of her as he slammed her head into the wall again.

  I turned back to see Azir was watching the whole thing. Dr. Zocando was too busy beating the crap out of the nurse to pay attention to either one of us.

  “Can you move?” I mouthed the words.

  He shook his head and showed me his restraints. Then he shut his eyes.

  Dr. Zocando came back to the bed. “I detest ignorance. Her sister was equally stupid. I told her to kill the children once she’d taken their blood. Her ignorance killed her. Stupid women.”

  Of course I wanted to say something snarky, but it wasn’t the time. I watched as he moved to a table near the wall. There was a crash cart and several trays of medical instruments. I had a feeling these were all considered torture toys to the doc? There was no telling what kind of evil experiments he’d carried out here.

  The man had to be stopped.

  This time, when he came over to the bed he had a spell book. He dribbled something on me that smelled like rubbing alcohol with a mustier scent.

  “I’m happy to be rid of you. Once I’m finished here, I will destroy your brother. The both of you cost me millions when you shut down my diamond mine. And your brother has always meddled, getting in the way of my men, endearing himself to my people. The only reason I’d kept him alive was because your family or his friends always paid the ransom. But I don’t need their money anymore. I will enjoy killing him, almost as much as I will you. Time to die, witch.”

  I s
norted. “I swear. You guys are so predictable. Just once, I’d like to hear a warlock use an original phrase. You goin’ down bee-yatch.” I did my best impression of someone from the hood. It was horrible, but I didn’t imagine Dr. Zocando spent much time watching bad American movies with terrible stereotypes.

  “Or maybe. Death be not…well, hell. I can’t remember, but it’s Shakespeare or one of those guys. It would still be better than ‘You will die now.’” I lowered my voice for that “Luke, I am your father” kind of drama.

  There was a noise out in the hall and Dr. Zocando glanced at the door. He moved his hand and the bolt slid into place. “I must hurry.”

  He began to chant and for a split-second I panicked. The power swirled around the room and I could feel mine building.

  Someone banged on the door and Zocando faltered, turning toward the door. It only took that split-second for me to make my move. To take my powers he had to unbind them first. I used my mind to toss the book from his hands.

  He was powerful so I had to move fast. I didn’t have time to pull through the restraints so I pointed a finger and whispered, “Burn, baby, burn.”

  I sent the fire to his brain.

  He screamed and grabbed his head. “No! No!” He kept hitting the top of his head like a manic monkey.

  I sent a quick burn through the right wristband, and with one hand free I tossed everything I had at him. It was the combination of fire and force that slammed him into the cave wall. His eyes were wild and his screams bloodcurdling.

  Then there was nothing left but a pile of ash.

  “Die, warlock.” I spat out the sarcasm.

  I heard Azir snicker behind me.

  I laughed with him. “Well, I didn’t say I had to be original.”

  There was a gunshot and the prime minister and Miles busted through the door both holding small pistols. They looked more like the Apple Dumpling Gang than Wyatt Earp, but I was so happy to see them.

  “About time you guys showed up.” The PM rushed to the bed and undid the restraints on my feet while I let loose the one on my left wrist. “How did you know where we were?”

  “Sam called Cole, and then they both called us. It was Cole’s team who helped us locate you.”

  “Well, yay, team!” I scooted to the side of the bed.

  Azir was released from his bindings and jumped up. We both stood at the same time. My legs were a bit more wobbly than his and he rushed over to help the PM keep me upright.

  “Who’s the bloody pile of ashes?” Miles quipped. He now had on bright yellow Bermuda shorts, boat shoes, and a T-shirt that said, “You’ve been boned at Bones Bar.” The guy’s a total weirdo, but I was grateful he was there.

  “Dr. Zocando.” Azir lifted my arm and wrapped it around him. “Our Bronwyn dispensed with him rather cleverly. She is an amazing woman.”

  “I’m sorry, Prime Minister, but I really had no choice but to kill him.”

  “That’s quite evident, my girl. Any idea what the bloke was up to?” he asked as we passed by the ashes.

  “Well, he was a warlock.” I coughed a little. I needed a glass of water. “He used those poor children in Africa to try to come up with some kind of AIDS cure—the bastard. He thought if he mixed my blood with the children who had survived the disease that he would come up with some kind of vaccine. That, or if he had my power he could heal the country. He was friggin’ insane so it’s really hard to decipher his thought process. All I know is that he wanted me dead, and I wasn’t about to let that happen.”

  We’d made it to the doorway. Miles still had his gun pointed. “Miles, put that thing down before you hurt someone,” I said.

  “Like hell,” the snippy Brit shot back. “See that bloke?” He pointed to a dead guard in the hallway. “He tried to attack us. I’m not taking any chances.” He pulled the gun up in a stance that would make Clint Eastwood proud.

  I laughed. “Are you telling me you shot a man to save me, Miles?”

  He shrugged. “Not really. The prime minister killed him, but I was his backup.”

  I paused and turned to the PM. My eyes watered. “Sir, thank you.”

  He shook his head. “No need for that, my dear. You’ve saved us all more than once.”

  We made it to a long stairway. “I’m good, guys. I can take it from here.”

  Azir and the PM wouldn’t let go.

  I was serious. I didn’t need the help, but I held on. It seemed to make them both feel better.

  Once we made it up the hallway I had expected to be somewhere in the tropical forest, but we weren’t. We were inside Dr. Zocando’s house.

  There was some commotion in the big room as we entered and we saw several people running toward us. The PM had sent word and these people were rushing to help. Of course, I didn’t know that at the time. It was a mob and I pushed the PM and Azir behind me as I put up a shield.

  “No, Bronwyn!” the prime minister yelled as he stumbled to the floor. “They are here to help.”

  I immediately put my hand down and scrunched up my face. “Um. Oops. Sorry about that.”

  Azir belly-laughed.

  I shot him my most evil glare, but he only smiled wider.

  I finally made it home on Thursday and Sam was waiting at the hangar with a bag filled with Lulu’s strawberry shortcake.

  I love that man. We still couldn’t make love because my body is continuing to heal, but we did everything else we could. And we are a very creative couple. The weirdness that was there before I left is gone, and I’m not going to question where it went.

  Time to get ready. We’re throwing a party at the new community center to celebrate Margie and Billy’s engagement. The whole town is invited. Kira and I are decorating and Ms. Helen and Ms. Johnnie are providing the “vittles,” as Ms. Johnnie calls them. She must be watching The Beverly Hillbillies on Nick at Nite again.

  Anyhoo, I need to get my butt in gear and pick up the supplies from the Piggly Wiggly.

  Well, hell. Someone is at the door. Who could that be?

  Thirty

  Sweet, Texas

  3 a.m.

  Optimistic, slightly drunk witches: 1

  n ow, that was a party. I wasn’t kidding about the whole town being invited. Billy’s friend Joseph owns the liquor store and he brought five kegs. Everyone contributed food, bottles of wine, and whiskey. There were bowls of punch for the kids and some great music.

  Ms. Johnnie had her new boyfriend, Hawk, who is only 50 (but we aren’t going to dwell on that), bring his jukebox up. It was loaded with all kinds of music, even some of Zane’s tunes.

  Caleb picked Margie and Billy up in Dallas and flew them to Sweet. They had no idea we were throwing a party for them. He told them there was a town meeting and everyone wanted to kick me out of Sweet, so they needed their votes. Of course they came with him. They are both as loyal as it gets.

  We didn’t want to do crepe paper streamers, so we took all of the white twinkle lights we use at Christmas and put them on every plant in the Civic Center. Kira had ordered tons of flowers and we had tiny votives in little colored glass holders on all the tables. It created a very warm and romantic atmosphere.

  Old Mr. Coleman waited at the door to let us know when the couple arrived.

  When they walked in we all yelled, “Congratulations!” Margie busted out in happy tears, and I saw Billy wipe a few off his face, too. Those two are so in love. They danced all night long, never straying far from each other.

  Sam and I were able to dance to a few slow numbers. Wrapped in his arms, tight against his chest and swaying to the music, is just about the best feeling there is. But midway through the party he was called away to the hospital. That’s what happens when you hook up with a doctor. He’s still there, which is one of the reasons I’m up writing at three in the morning.

  The knock on the door earlier had been from FedEx. They had a package from Azir. I opened it when I got home after the party.

  With Azir it could be a check f
or a million dollars, or the title to a fleet of Bentleys. He’s insanely generous.

  We’d left on a good note in Fiji. I’d gone with him to the airport, but before we boarded our different jets, we had a quick chat in the car.

  “Azir. Are you okay?” I was checking my purse to make sure I had all my papers. I’d packed in a hurry and was worried I’d left my passport behind.

  “What do you mean?” Azir asked.

  I sighed. “About all of this crap. If it hadn’t been for me, you wouldn’t have been kidnapped and driven half mad.”

  He smiled. “We are good, my friend.” He reached over and squeezed my hand.

  “Cool.”

  And that’s how we left it.

  When I opened the package, my breath caught for just a moment. Inside a bubble-wrapped package was a small, glass clown fish.

  The note read:

  “Thank you for being my friend.—A.”

  The simple gift was so precious that it brought tears to my eyes. Of course, I seem to be overly sentimental about everything these days.

  My mind keeps churning through everything that has happened the last few weeks.

  Garnout’s disappearance was the toughest thing for me. Every time I think about him I get teary-eyed. I’m so grateful he’s home. Last night I couldn’t resist doing a mental check on him.

  “Hello, witch.” Garnout said without looking up. He sat at the counter of his shop perusing a large book. “Spying on me?”

  What could I say? “Yes. Is everything okay?”

  He shook his head, but smiled. “I am well. Are you continuing your training? It is of the utmost importance. You will have a grave responsibility soon, and you must be up to the task.”

  “What kind of responsibility?” Much like Darcy, Garnout always talked in riddles when it came to the future.

  “There is an imbalance now, and when that happens, evil moves fast. You are stronger than you know, and you must train over the next few weeks and discover how to combine your powers. And you must always be aware. Always.”