I nodded.“I told her yes, so help her schedule a few meetings out, please.Meanwhile, what’s shaking?”
“Mrs.Fields wants to discuss…” Iris paused, shaking her head.“Just be prepared,” she said, lowering her voice so only I could hear her.
“Gotcha,” I said.
As Iris moved off toward Erin, I turned to the woman standing at the counter.
“How do you do?I’m Camille D’Artigo, the owner.”I didn’t offer my hand.Her aura was ruffled, and I had no desire to take on that energy.It was all too easy for me to absorb the mood and energy of others by being in close proximity, so I did my best to keep up my wards.
She stared at me for a moment.A tall woman, she must have stood five-ten, and she was dressed in a beige linen pantsuit with a pair of Doc Martens.Her hair was cut longer in front, in a spotless bob, blond with ashy highlights like so many of the women I saw around the city, and she had what seemed like a perpetual scowl on her face, like she’d eaten something bitter.She was carrying a tote bag and had pulled a notebook out of it.
“My name is Gretchen Commers, and I represent MASI—Mothers Against Supe Indecency.I’m registering an official complaint about your bookstore with the Chamber of Commerce.”She gave me the once-over, and in response, I turned my glamour up a notch and straightened my shoulders so my boobs stood even higher.One nice thing we had over Earthside women—gravity didn’t play havoc with our busts.And I had one hell of a pair of breasts.
“Is that so?”I asked.“Youdoknow the Chamber of Commerce has officially invited me to join them.Community relations, and all.”I engaged her in a staring contest and held her gaze until she shifted her eyes away.Nobodycowed me into a corner.
“You’re not a good role model for children—” she started to say, but I cut her off.
“I don’t aspire to be.My bookstore’s for adults, though anybody’s welcome in here.At least here, I offer them a chance to learn something, as opposed to—say—spending a day at a spa where you teach them to treat the staff like servants.”
I tried to bite my tongue, but I wasn’t feeling very diplomatic.I despised the do-goodersave-the-childrencrowd.We had them in Otherworld as well, and they were just as bigoted.One thing I’d accepted: There would always be some faction trying to lord it over everyone else.It didn’t matter what world you lived in, or what side you were on.There was always going to be someone who thought they were better than you.
Gretchen stiffened.If she could have hit me, she would have—the anger clouded her face and her aura.“I…I…” She slapped a piece of paper on the counter.“Your shop isn’t going to last out the year, mark my words.You two-bit Faerie whore?—”
“Out,” I said, using my command voice as I pointed to the door.“Now.”
I seldom attempted it because it so easily go wrong, but this time my voice echoed through the store and Gretchen froze.She sputtered once, then began to back toward the door.It had worked!She whimpered once before turning and racing out into the street.
“Good riddance,” I said.
Erin, who had wandered over to watch what was going on, clapped.“Good on you.That woman makes more trouble around town than anybody I know.”
I took a deep breath, then let it out slowly.“You know her?”
Erin nodded.“Gretchen has attempted to oust every shop in the area run by immigrants, people of color, and members of the LGBQT community.It doesn’t surprise me that she’s going after you now, too.She’s white bread to the core, and her husband rules high up in the tech sphere around here.Everybody knows he has a trophy bimbo on the side, but Gretchen would rather have the power she has by being his wife, more than her dignity.”
I cleared my throat, staring at the door.“Well, she’s going to get a surprise with me.I’m…”
I stopped.I couldn’t talk about the cases I’d taken on with the OIA.I was supposed to be a bookstore owner.“I’m a witch, and there’s plenty of magic I can draw on to make her back down.If she chooses a fight, that is.”Shrugging, I turned to Erin.“So, did Iris get you booked for the next few months?”
Erin nodded.“Yes, and thank you.I’m so excited to tell the group.They’ll be over the moon.”She paused and looked around.“Would you like a plant for the shop?I grow a lot of plants and have plenty of cuttings.”
I grinned.I’d gotten so many gifts since I moved over Earthside that I almost felt guilty.“Sure, if it can handle the lack of light.We don’t get much in here,” I added.
“Will do.I’ll bring one that’s easy to maintain next time I drop by.Meanwhile, come by my shop and see what you might like.A new shipment came in the other day.”
“I’ll do that,” I said, waving as she left.As I turned back to the cash register, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the disc that Chase had left behind, and once again, I felt uneasy.I picked up Taylor’s Grimoire of Old Artifacts and settled in behind the counter, beginning my search.
By the timeI was ready to close up, I had covered half the chapter on talismans and amulets.I wasn’t sure that’s what the disc was, but it seemed to be the best place to start.I slid the grimoire into my tote bag, gathered everything, and Iris and I armed the security system.
Delilah had helped install it, and I had warded the entire building, given Delilah had the shop upstairs.She’d stayed home today, though.Her business wasn’t faring as well as mine, primarily because she wasn’t that interested in running a private investigations company.
Iris slid into the passenger seat of the Lexus.She’d moved into the house with us, taking on the job of housekeeper as well as helping me out at the shop.As we sped through the rainy night, I stuck to the back roads where traffic was lighter.
We lived in the Belles-Faire district of Seattle, which had a rural feel to it, even though it was still within the city proper.The rain splattered the streets under the glow of the streetlights, and as we passed by block after block of shops, into the suburbs, I found myself thinking about my mother and what her life must have been like when she met my father.
Sephreh ob Tanu had been a soldier—a member of the Court and Crown for Queen Lethesanar.While Delilah, Menolly, and I were part of the Court, my mother and my father had kept us from most official functions, given our Windwalker status.
“What are you thinking about?”Iris asked.“You look so serious.”