Fourteen

 

I knew that Minerva would tell me what she saw if she intended for me to know, so I held my tongue and watched her. “Yeah, everything’s all in flux,” she said. “Lots of chaos here. It looks to me like you’re the biggest variable. Your future depends on particular decisions you make.”

Without opening his eyes, Roger said through gritted teeth, “That’s why I’m consulting you. What decisions should I make?”

“I’ll need to drill a little deeper. Give me your hand.”

He lifted his hand from the table, and she removed her large flower brooch, then poked his finger with its pin. He yelped and opened his eyes for a second. “Hey!” he complained.

“Sorry, I needed some blood, and it would have had a different quality if you’d been bracing yourself for it.” She grabbed his hand and moved it over the bowl, squeezing his finger to release a few drops. The blood swirled into the water. I wondered if that had been necessary or if she was messing with him. With Minerva, you never really knew.

She let his hand go and leaned over the water again. “Okay, what you have planned is the only path to success I see for you. If you don’t do it, you won’t go anywhere. You won’t fail, but you won’t soar. However, this path is also a sure route to failure.”

“So if I carry out this plan, I’ll either succeed or fail in a big way, but if I don’t, I’m stuck?”

“That about covers it. At the moment, I’m seeing equal possibilities for all three outcomes. No, wait, the sit still one is fading. I guess you’ve made your mind up there.”

“You can already see it?”

“It’s already causing ripple effects in the universe. Now that you’ve made that decision, I can get into more specifics on the other possible decisions you’re facing. Let’s see… Your biggest threat isn’t what you think it is. I can’t tell you what it is, just that your focus is in the wrong direction.”

I suspected she was talking about me. I hoped he didn’t interpret it that way, or that he was too arrogant to consider that I might be a threat. He’d probably just focus on someone else within the company.

“One of your foes is ancient, another new. You’d do better if your life were more well-rounded. You should have allies from a variety of walks of life. No, not allies, friends. Not having friends could be a problem for you. Allies who join with you for a purpose won’t have your back when you fail. Friends might. Stay at home next Saturday night. Sorry, that one’s kind of random, but the tree I see for that decision leads to potential disaster if you’re away from home.”

“But you haven’t told me anything in particular to do,” he complained.

“You wanted me to scry you up a no-fail plan to get everything you ever wanted? Anyone who tells you they can do that is lying. Ignore what those phone psychics say on late-night infomercials. They just want your credit card number. I’m telling you that I see a lot of branches in your fate—one thing happens if you make one decision, another thing with a different decision.”

“Then tell me which decision I should make.”

“It’s not that specific. Just that you have a lot of potentially life-changing decisions happening in the next few weeks. You are at the critical time in your life.”

“So I should act now?”

“I’m telling you that you will act now, one way or another. The choices you make in these weeks—even if the choice is to not make a choice—will change the rest of your life. But I can’t tell you if those choices involve quitting your job to sail around the world or not ordering the bad sushi that will send you to the hospital so that you can’t take any action.”

“Do you see me as successful?”

“That is definitely one of the potential outcomes. You could have everything you ever wanted. But that’s a potential. You have to make all the right choices to get there, and each choice creates a bunch of other choices. Basically, what I see is a big tree, and all the little twigs at the ends are less defined.”

“What’s the choice on the trunk? The big one that starts the branching?”

“To do what you have planned for tomorrow, or not. One way, your plan starts to fail. The other way, you might have a chance of succeeding.”

“But which choice leads to which outcome?”

“Sorry, I only see potential outcomes, not what gets you there.”

I was dying to know what he had planned for tomorrow. Unfortunately, I was likely to learn about it too late to do anything about it.

“Is that all you have for me?”

“Is there anything else you’d like to know?”

He hesitated a long time, his forehead creased. Finally, he asked, “Can you tell me the fate of my company?”

“You’ll have to give me something to work with to read it. Do you have anything on you that represents your company?”

He opened his eyes to reach into his breast pocket and take out a business card. He handed it to her, and she held it briefly, her eyes closed, before waving it over the bowl. She glanced inside, frowned, and waved it again. “Sorry, I’m getting nothing. Is this card for real? Because the results I’m getting suggest that it’s just a front.”

I bit my lip and hoped Roger didn’t glance at me. I was pretty sure Minerva was only doing this to make him admit he was Collegium.

He paused for a moment before unfastening the tiny tie tack he wore. “Maybe this will work.”

“Let’s give it a shot.” She waved it over the bowl. “Hmm, looks like your fate and its fate are bound together. If you succeed, your company will thrive. If you fail, you could bring it down with you.”

“And if I don’t act?”

“If you don’t act, it carries on as before.”

I could see the egomania flare up in his eyes. “So, it all depends on me! I knew it was my destiny.”

Minerva gave me the slightest of glances out of the corner of her eye, with a hint of a smirk. He’d completely disregarded the part where if he didn’t engage in his plan to take over, the Collegium would do just fine. But hey, failure was what I wanted, so who was I to point out the flaws in his thinking?

“Anything else you want to know? Stock tips, sports scores?”

“No, none of that. You’ve been helpful.” Beaming brightly enough to light up the room, he pulled a roll of cash from his breast pocket and handed it to her. “Thank you. I may call on you again.”

“You do that,” she said, tucking the cash somewhere in the voluminous folds around her body.

“Then if we’re through here, I’ll leave. Katie, I’ll see you in the morning. Feel free to order anything you want from room service.”

When he was gone, Minerva said, “Want to take him up on it? I could do with a drink.”

“Why not?” I found the room service menu and we ordered drinks and some snacks.

After they’d been delivered, Minerva performed what I recognized to be the silence spell. “That little thing sure does come in handy,” she said. “You’ll have to thank your fellow for that.”

“You’ll probably talk to him before I do,” I said, unable to stop myself from sounding a little morose.

“Yeah, I bet it’s a big change going from him to spending all your time with that piece of work.” She gestured with her head in the direction of the door where Roger had departed.

“Believe it or not, he’s not bad to work for,” I said. “I’ve only seen the psycho side of him a few times. Otherwise, he treats me well, anticipates my needs, and gives me credit for my work. There’s just that teeny problem of what he does to anyone who gets in his way.”

“Well, we’ve got countermeasures for any of those spells you’ve found, so we’re making progress. Let’s see, what else was I supposed to tell you?”

“Did you get any kind of clue what choice he has to make tomorrow?”

“Sorry, I really didn’t get any more than I told him. I just know that if he does one thing, he’ll fail, and if he does the other, he might still have a chance of succeeding.” She drained her glass. “It does seem like actions tend to give you the exact opposite result from what you’d think. Which is why prophecy like this is so tricky. The thing you do to avoid the outcome you’re afraid of is usually exactly what makes it happen. That’s why we mostly only use our gifts for finding things or for spotting trends. Trying to dig into outcomes for an individual only leads to trouble. Shakespeare knew what he was doing when he wrote all those tragedies about prophecies bringing about someone’s downfall.”

Once she’d left, it felt a little weird being all alone in a luxurious hotel suite. I’d have been tempted to call Owen if I’d had my own phone with me. I didn’t dare do so on the company phone, and I was afraid that any numbers I called from the room would end up on the bill.

Still, it was a luxurious hotel suite that I didn’t have to pay for. I wasn’t sure when I’d ever get to stay in a place like this again. Then I remembered that I was marrying a millionaire. Owen tended not to live like a wealthy person, other than his house, so it was easy to forget. I imagined he probably wouldn’t spring for something like this on a regular basis, but we might do it for special occasions. I made a mental note of how nice this place might be for a wedding night.

If I ever got to go back to my real life to plan and have a wedding. But Minerva had said the critical time would be in the next few weeks, starting tomorrow.

 

*

 

I went to work the next morning eager to learn what Roger’s critical decision would be. I didn’t see him around when I arrived, so I got busy transcribing more of the book. The author was beyond the part where he laid the groundwork and was getting into implementation. He’d used the spell from earlier in the book to enter the offices of people he wanted to take down, pulling off coups from within. I shuddered at the account. It seemed like he’d been developing his spells when he wrote the first parts, but didn’t use them until later. Maybe Roger should have waited until he had the whole book before he took action, I thought, but I figured that was up to him. He certainly didn’t ask for my advice.

I took those sheets to him at lunchtime and found that he still had that manic gleam in his eyes. He glanced at what I’d brought him and beamed so broadly they’d have to tell him to tone it down for a toothpaste ad. “This is it!” he said. “It’s what I’m supposed to do today!”

It was another one of those moments when I expected to see a bolt of lightning and hear a clap of thunder. I unconsciously took a step away from him, but he was so caught up in his excitement that he didn’t seem to notice.

He jumped out of his seat. “Come on, Katie, let’s go. We have people to visit.”

Visit? So he wasn’t going to just poof into places and take them down? I barely kept up with him as he hustled down the hallway, his phone to his ear. “I think we’ll drop in on some of your old friends,” he said once we were in the elevator. “You should enjoy this, coming back in a position of power after the way they treated you.”

“Yeah, that’ll be awesome,” I said, trying to sound enthusiastic rather than terrified. There was no way I could think of to warn MSI. I couldn’t call them. Maybe Minerva had let Merlin know what she’d seen the night before and they’d be on guard for a potentially pivotal day.

Roger didn’t seem to notice my unease. He was too caught up in visions of grandeur, possibly mentally writing the threatening speech he planned to give Merlin. Meanwhile, I was fretting about how many people knew I was undercover. It could blow everything if someone said the wrong thing at the wrong time. But then it would also be difficult for me to repair trust if someone who wasn’t in on it saw me with Roger. I wasn’t sure why he was bringing me with him, unless he really thought that he was doing me a favor by letting me confront my former employer.

The trip didn’t take very long, so perhaps Roger was so eager that he’d told the driver he didn’t need to make laps to throw me off. I’d almost have said it might have been walking distance, though it was hard to judge in all the stopping and starting that came with driving in Manhattan.

I certainly wasn’t mentally or emotionally prepared when we came to a final stop and the driver opened the door for us. It felt weird to enter the MSI building like this, not as an employee, but as a potential enemy.

Sam was at his usual post on the awning overlooking the front entrance. He didn’t acknowledge me, which made me wonder if he was visible to Roger. That question was answered when he followed us inside, gliding silently, and Roger didn’t turn around or otherwise react.

Seeing the vast, cathedral-like lobby brought tears to my eyes. I’d really missed this place, and I couldn’t wait to come back for good. I just had to finish this one little assignment, foil an evil scheme, and take down the magical mafia. Piece of cake.

The security guard in the lobby came across as being more like an old-fashioned butler, but I knew he had great power at his disposal. Roger swept right past him to the main stairs. “Excuse me,” the guard called out, but Roger ignored him—until he ran smack into an invisible force at the first landing and nearly fell down the stairs. I didn’t realize it at first because the barrier hadn’t stopped me. I only turned and looked back when I heard the swearing.

“Now, who are you, who are you here to see, and upon what business?” the guard asked.

“I’m no one you want to trifle with, old man,” Roger said, his voice an icy snarl.

“And you’re here to see…?” the guard continued, totally unruffled.

“Merlin. I’m here to see Merlin.”

“Just one moment, and I’ll let him know you’re here.” He pushed some buttons on his console, then said, “A person not to be trifled with is here to see Merlin.” A pause, then, “Yes, I’ll send him right up.” He smiled at Roger. “Up at the top floor. He’s expecting you.”

His mild politeness enraged Roger even more. I thought for a moment that he might do something to the guard, and Sam must have agreed, for he swooped down to rest on the guard’s desk, ready to add his own firepower to the guard’s defenses. Fortunately, Roger got his rage under control and refocused himself, whirling about to storm up the stairs, brushing past me on the landing.

Sam took flight again, following us all the way up to Merlin’s office. Trix had apparently been warned, for she was playing it as cool as the guard had. “Right in there. He’s expecting you,” she said, though I thought her voice shook a little. She glanced at me, as if for reassurance, but I didn’t dare respond. I got the feeling that Roger barely remembered my existence at the moment, but we were too close to success to risk it all on the wrong expression at the wrong time, so I kept my face steely and closed.

The last person I expected to see in Merlin’s office was Owen. Did he just happen to already be there, or had he rushed in when the guard called from downstairs? I didn’t even let myself look at him because I didn’t think I could do so without giving myself away. At least if I avoided looking at him entirely, Roger might read that as post-breakup iciness.

Merlin stood from behind his desk and greeted Roger with a smile. “Well, hello there. To what do we owe the pleasure?”

Roger was really taken aback. Nothing ruins a good bluster like a refusal to be combative. “We need to talk,” he said.

Merlin gestured toward a chair. “Please, have a seat. Can I get you some tea?”

Frowning in confusion, Roger sat. Then he blinked, as though just realizing that he’d followed Merlin’s command. “Um, no thanks,” he said.

“Miss Chandler, it’s good to see that you found another position,” Merlin said, resuming his seat.

I sat next to Roger. “It was good to find someone who valued my talents,” I said, remembering that I was playing the role of disgruntled former employee. “If I’d known you weren’t the only game in town for immunes, I’d have jumped ship a long time ago.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Merlin said smoothly. Switching gears, he turned to Roger and added, “May I introduce my colleague, Owen Palmer? He’s our theoretical magic genius in research and development. We were just discussing an old spell he’s analyzing.”

Owen started to rise from his chair. “If you’d like me to leave…”

“No, I’m glad you’re here,” Roger said. He’d regained some of his equilibrium and was back with his usual cool sense of control.

“So, what was it you wanted to discuss with us, Mr.… ah, you appear to have us at a disadvantage,” Merlin said.

“You can call me Roger.”

I found myself shivering at the degree of chill in the room. None of the three men were going to let on that they felt the slightest hint of discomfort at the situation. I hadn’t had a good demonstration of Roger’s magical abilities, but Merlin and Owen were two of the most powerful wizards ever, and Sam was lurking silently nearby. If it came to a fight, I’d bet on the good guys winning.

But I suspected Roger was well aware of that. Direct confrontation wasn’t really his style. He was here to feel out their weaknesses, I was sure, as well as probably to drop off a beacon he could use to come back magically when he thought they wouldn’t be expecting him. That was, after all, the next step in his plan for taking over. Was this the pivotal incident Minerva had seen?

“What did you want to discuss, Roger?” Merlin asked, still conveying an air of geniality even while radiating dislike.

“I know there were some, shall we say, issues with your predecessor,” Roger began.

“Do you mean his plot to bring me back so he could defeat me?” Merlin said with a smile that I found just a little bit frightening.

“Yes, that. But do you know that he maintained certain business relationships that were mutually beneficial? I’d like to restore those relationships.”

“Ah, I believe you’re speaking of the Collegium. I’m not sure why we would want anything to do with such an organization. I founded the group that grew to become Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Incorporated, to counter the earliest phase of the Collegium, though we called it something different back then.”

“I can understand if your knowledge of our organization is a bit archaic, given your circumstances,” Roger said. “I know the early years tended to focus on dark magic and trying to manipulate rulers. Now, we’re more of a business conglomerate with interests in a variety of industries. That’s where we can benefit you.”

“In what way?”

“We could bring you new clients. We can insure that you don’t face competition.”

“We already have very little competition.”

“We can make sure you don’t face any more crises like what you went through last year.”

“If I’m not mistaken, those crises were largely of your making. Ivor Ramsay was your creature, and he was behind Phelan Idris. So I’m not sure how getting you involved again would be of any help to us. Now, if you need custom spell development or a discount on bulk licenses of retail spells, I’m sure we could work out a suitable arrangement. But this company will stand against the Collegium.” Merlin rose, sending the signal that the meeting was coming to an end. “Was there anything else you wanted to discuss?”

Roger made no move to get up and leave. “You’re making a mistake, and I don’t think you understand how big a mistake you’re making. We already have people positioned within your ranks. If something should happen to you, we’d have this company back under our control in a heartbeat.”

“Would you?” Owen asked softly, raising an eyebrow. There was nothing that should have appeared threatening about what he’d said or how he’d said it, unless you knew him as well as I did. I wanted to dive for cover, and even Merlin began edging away. “I suspect you’d face more opposition than you expect, and I suspect your people aren’t as well-placed as you think.”

Roger didn’t seem to read the danger, or else he was so arrogant he wasn’t even looking for it. He stood and straightened his suit coat. “If that’s how you feel, I won’t be making that offer again. We could have worked well together, but if you’re not willing to cooperate, I’ll have to find other ways of getting what I need from you.”

He turned and left without another word, and I jumped to my feet to hurry after him. Sam followed us, then flew ahead. As we passed under the awning on our way out of the building, I felt something fall into my hair. I glanced up and caught Sam winking at me. Acting as though I was sweeping my hair out of my coat collar, I caught the thing—a small stone, it looked like—and slid it into my pocket. My heart began racing. Had they found a way to track the car? Or was this a beacon?

I expected Roger to be in a foul mood on the way back to the office, but you’d have thought nothing was amiss, that everything had gone just the way he planned. “What did you think of that, Katie?” he asked.

“They weren’t very cooperative, I guess. They can be rather stubborn. If they like the way something is, they’re not too open to change.”

“Owen Palmer, he’s your ex, isn’t he?”

I nodded.

“Is he as powerful as they say?”

“He seems to be. I’ve seen him win a lot of magical fights. And he knows a lot of obscure magic.”

He smiled smugly. “Well, I have my own arsenal of obscure magic that he’s probably never seen before.”

I had to fight really hard not to smile at that, and I hoped I wasn’t turning red. “He does a lot of research,” was all I said. “That’s what he does for fun. That’s part of the reason we broke up. He wouldn’t even take his nose out of an old book long enough to plan a wedding.”

“He’s never been up against me before.”

When we returned to our headquarters, I held my breath as I entered the building from the parking garage. No alarms went off, and I forced myself not to reach into my pocket to touch the beacon. I figured the next barrier would be when we stepped off the elevator, but nothing happened. The final threshold would be when we entered the office suite, and my heart raced as I stepped through the doorway into our corridor. There were no alarms, no barrier sprang up, and no armed security men rushed toward me. Weak with relief, I started to turn off into my office, but Roger said, “Come with me. I want to pick your brain about MSI.”

Here was the part I’d been dreading: having to actually betray my company. Or pretend to. I’d have to lie, and do so carefully. I wiped sweaty palms on my skirt as I took a seat across from Roger’s desk. “What do you want to know?” I asked.

“What security did I miss in Merlin’s office? I’m sure he’s got some kind of measures in place.”

“He’s probably got it warded,” I said. I didn’t mention the gargoyle who’d been watching every moment of that meeting, but then he wasn’t part of the standard security of the office. “I don’t know what wards he uses because they don’t work on me. There are key card kind of locks on most of the departments, like you have here. Those do work on me, because they’re physical locks that just happen to be magically activated. They get updated frequently.”

“What about bodyguards?”

“I don’t think Merlin needs bodyguards. I’ve watched him take out armed robbers without breaking a sweat, and he doesn’t lose magical battles.”

“But he’s usually alone?”

“I guess so. I don’t know what he does away from the office.”

“What about Palmer?”

“Well, to start with, he’d have to actually leave the office sometime. But, yeah, he’s usually alone, and he lives alone.” Except for a very protective cat.

Roger’s smile was predatory, and his eyes were cold and hard. “Good. Good. Thank you. You’ve been very helpful.”

Now I really wished I could call to warn them, but if they weren’t on high alert after today, then another warning wasn’t likely to help. I tried to focus on work, but it was hard when I was wondering what, exactly, Roger had planned. Was he going to swoop in and turn them into frogs when their guard was down?

About an hour later, I heard a furious scream. I jumped up and ran to see what was the matter. Had Roger touched a guarded book again?

When I got to his office, he was standing in the middle of a glowing circle on the floor, his fists clenched at his sides. “What happened to my spell?” he growled.