to her shoe collection. My mom has terrific taste in shoes, and Dad forgives her one vice.
Since they were spending a couple of weeks away, the kitchen was bare. I grabbed Mom’s shearling coat and gloves from the hall closet and walked down to the café on the corner. The place was filled with people who didn’t seem to mind the wicked weather outside.
After waiting about fifteen minutes I ordered the tomato basil soup, a turkey sandwich, and a cup of orange tea. The tea smelled like a heavenly potpourri and made me think of Christmas. Sat by the window at a small table and people-watched.
The couple in the corner were having an intense conversation and things didn’t look good for the man of the house. Sounded like he might have a gambling problem because she kept ranting about his using the rent for a poker game.
I felt sorry for the guy. Poker’s so addictive. Every time I play Texas Hold ’Em I get caught up in the game. Thankfully, I’ve got a lot of dumb luck and I haven’t lost too much. Which is good because I’m a really bad player. I could cheat and read minds, but that takes all the fun out of it.
I’d finished my meal when I sensed a warlock walk in. My eyes darted around the room and I spotted him at the same time he did me.
Tried to read his mind but he blocked me. I pushed through his brain and gave him a warning that I’d harm none as long as he behaved.
“You can’t tell me what to do, witch!” he screamed from across the room. Everyone in the café turned to see about the commotion. The warlock, dressed in a business suit, raised his arms as if ready to go to war.
“I’m asking you nicely to please put your magic away.” My voice stayed calm, but inside my body trembled with fury. Have I mentioned how much I detest warlocks? Well, with the exception of Sam.
“I don’t take orders from you,” he snarled.
I started a protection incantation to keep the patrons safe. The energy burned in my solar plexus and tingled out to my arms and fingers.
Everything happened in slow motion. He threw something black and nasty at me and I tossed him up against the back wall. Only a little of his magic seeped in, but it was enough to really piss me off.
“Come on, warlock. If you want to fight let’s do it. But outside.” With my mind I opened the door and tossed him onto the street. Contrary to popular belief, I do try to get people to see reason before I kill them. But sometimes they don’t give me much opportunity to save their lives.
This was one of those times.
“I don’t want to kill you, but I will. Turn yourself in to the local coven and we’ll call this over,” I explained.
“You don’t get it, witch; I’m here to kill you and I will do it.” He stood facing me as if in an old Wild West showdown. Hands on his hips, chin jutted out. If he didn’t look like he’d just stepped out of GQ with his blond businessman haircut and Armani suit, I might have taken him more seriously. “You’ll die today, witch, and I’ll become an even richer man.”
I shook my head no. “Not gonna happen, pal. I don’t know who’s paying you to track me down, but you should have done your research. I can hurt you way more than you can me.”
“Not true. My black poison has already invaded your body and your powers grow weak. You cannot defeat me.”
Where in the hell did this guy come from? I wanted to blow him up but that causes too much karmic debt. I could just beat his head into the street until his brains oozed out through his ears, but then someone would have to clean it up. And again there’s that old what-goes-around-comes-around rule.
While I thought about the one hundred and one ways I could kill him, he summoned another spell to throw at me. Knocked me backward and nearly tripped on my own feet. Jerk. He was strong but absolutely no match.
Now why would someone send some half-assed warlock to fight me? Made no sense.
He raised his hands to throw another spell and I blocked
Since they were spending a couple of weeks away, the kitchen was bare. I grabbed Mom’s shearling coat and gloves from the hall closet and walked down to the café on the corner. The place was filled with people who didn’t seem to mind the wicked weather outside.
After waiting about fifteen minutes I ordered the tomato basil soup, a turkey sandwich, and a cup of orange tea. The tea smelled like a heavenly potpourri and made me think of Christmas. Sat by the window at a small table and people-watched.
The couple in the corner were having an intense conversation and things didn’t look good for the man of the house. Sounded like he might have a gambling problem because she kept ranting about his using the rent for a poker game.
I felt sorry for the guy. Poker’s so addictive. Every time I play Texas Hold ’Em I get caught up in the game. Thankfully, I’ve got a lot of dumb luck and I haven’t lost too much. Which is good because I’m a really bad player. I could cheat and read minds, but that takes all the fun out of it.
I’d finished my meal when I sensed a warlock walk in. My eyes darted around the room and I spotted him at the same time he did me.
Tried to read his mind but he blocked me. I pushed through his brain and gave him a warning that I’d harm none as long as he behaved.
“You can’t tell me what to do, witch!” he screamed from across the room. Everyone in the café turned to see about the commotion. The warlock, dressed in a business suit, raised his arms as if ready to go to war.
“I’m asking you nicely to please put your magic away.” My voice stayed calm, but inside my body trembled with fury. Have I mentioned how much I detest warlocks? Well, with the exception of Sam.
“I don’t take orders from you,” he snarled.
I started a protection incantation to keep the patrons safe. The energy burned in my solar plexus and tingled out to my arms and fingers.
Everything happened in slow motion. He threw something black and nasty at me and I tossed him up against the back wall. Only a little of his magic seeped in, but it was enough to really piss me off.
“Come on, warlock. If you want to fight let’s do it. But outside.” With my mind I opened the door and tossed him onto the street. Contrary to popular belief, I do try to get people to see reason before I kill them. But sometimes they don’t give me much opportunity to save their lives.
This was one of those times.
“I don’t want to kill you, but I will. Turn yourself in to the local coven and we’ll call this over,” I explained.
“You don’t get it, witch; I’m here to kill you and I will do it.” He stood facing me as if in an old Wild West showdown. Hands on his hips, chin jutted out. If he didn’t look like he’d just stepped out of GQ with his blond businessman haircut and Armani suit, I might have taken him more seriously. “You’ll die today, witch, and I’ll become an even richer man.”
I shook my head no. “Not gonna happen, pal. I don’t know who’s paying you to track me down, but you should have done your research. I can hurt you way more than you can me.”
“Not true. My black poison has already invaded your body and your powers grow weak. You cannot defeat me.”
Where in the hell did this guy come from? I wanted to blow him up but that causes too much karmic debt. I could just beat his head into the street until his brains oozed out through his ears, but then someone would have to clean it up. And again there’s that old what-goes-around-comes-around rule.
While I thought about the one hundred and one ways I could kill him, he summoned another spell to throw at me. Knocked me backward and nearly tripped on my own feet. Jerk. He was strong but absolutely no match.
Now why would someone send some half-assed warlock to fight me? Made no sense.
He raised his hands to throw another spell and I blocked
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