White Witch, Black Curse

"I don't have anything to say to you either," Trent said, but tension was showing. I could play this game. I'd already lost, so it didn't matter.

"You need a Pandora charm?" the man said casually, and I jerked. Cripes, he heard me?

Pretending indifference, I breathed on the glass to fog it up. "Yes."

Trent put a shoulder against the glass and faced me. "That's a rare branch of magic."

Why does he have to be so insufferably smug? "I know. Elven, my mother says."

He was silent while the band took a break. "Tell me what you need to remember, and maybe I'll look into it."

I'd been down this path with him before and had gotten burned every time. I didn't want to owe him anything, but what harm would it do if he knew? Sighing, I faced him, thinking that leaning against the window like that looked really dangerous. "I'm trying to remember who killed Kisten Felps."

Trent's jaw unclenched. It was a small move, but I caught it. "I thought you'd want to remember something from the make-a-wish camp, or your father," he said.

I looked out the window again. They had a band down there. Ivy was probably having a lot more fun than me. "What if it was?" I whispered.

"I might have said yes."

Behind us, the party continued, excitement growing as the serving people started distributing champagne for the upcoming toasts. My eyes searched the ceiling for Jenks. I had to move. No one would be in the ladies' restroom when the clock ticked over.

Nervous, I tightened my grip on my bag. "What do you want, Trent?" I asked, trying to hurry this up. "You wouldn't offer if you didn't want something. Other than me dead, that is."

He smiled with half his mouth, then became serious. "How do you figure I want something? I'm just curious as to what makes you tick."

My head tilted, and for the first time all night, I felt in control. "You've approached me twice. You've touched your hair three times. You had a drink in your hand when we had our picture taken. That will be a first if it goes to press. You're nervous and upset, not thinking clearly."

Trent's face lost all expression. He dropped his head as if in irritation, and when he pulled it back up, there was a new tightness to his eyes. He glanced at Quen, and the older man shrugged.

"Is it Ceri?" I asked. Mocked almost.

His brow furrowed, and he looked out the window.

"You want to know what she really thinks of you." Still he said nothing, and I felt a sloppy smile come over me. Hiding it, I took a sip of water and set it on the tiny railing. Slowly it started to move away as the restaurant turned. "You won't like what I say."

"I don't like a lot of things."

I sighed. I couldn't do this to him. I really couldn't. Much as I would like to see Trent hurt, betraying Ceri's trust was not going to happen. I didn't think he had a Pandora charm anyway. "Ask Ceri. She'll tell you a pretty story that will save your pride."

Okay, so I wasn't above a little dig.

"Rachel."

He was reaching out, and I pulled back a step. "Don't touch me," I said coldly.

Jenks flew up, the glow of his dust reflected in the black glass. He hovered uncertainly, and he tapped his wrist like he'd seen Ivy do when we were running late. He had his sword bared, and though it looked like a shiny olive pick, it could be deadly. My pulse jumped. It was almost time.

"If you will excuse me," I said tightly. "I have to use the little girls' room. Happy New Year, Trent."

Without a backward glance, I walked away, my head high and my bag in my grip. Jenks landed on my shoulder almost immediately.

"Get on the elevator," he said, and curiosity filled me. People were getting out of my way with whispers and stares, but I didn't care.

"Elevator?" I echoed. "Why? What's wrong?"

He took off, flying backward so I could see him grin. "Nothing. There's a maintenance floor where they store the tables. I wouldn't have been able to find it if they hadn't left the key wedged atop the frame holding the inspection notice." He grinned. "I sat on it when I took Ivy downstairs."

Arms swinging, I smiled at the elevator man as I entered the lift, and with no regret, shoved him out with a well-planted foot. The poor guy hit the carpet face-first, his loud complaint cutting off as the doors shut. Excited, I held my hand out, and the key dropped into it.

"Thanks, Jenks," I said as I keyed the panel and hit the button he indicated. "I don't know what I would do without you."

"Probably die," he said, grinning.

Maybe I could pull this off yet.

Twenty-seven

The elevator hardly moved, dropping a floor before the silver doors slid apart to show a dark, low-ceilinged entryway. "Jenks," I said as I edged to the opening lit by the elevator itself. "Are you sure about this?"

The hum of his wings rose over the faint sound of machinery as he lifted off from my shoulder. "I'll get the lights. Hit the button for the lobby before you come out so it looks like you left, okay?"