Chapter Four

“You are a lifesaver,” Melusine said, smoothing her turquoise wool skirt as she stood. “When the other band canceled on me, something about the flu, anyway I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. Then my personal assistant Miss Thurston heard you play in the pub last night, and now my problems have been solved. It would have been a disaster. I have royalty coming to this gala for the Marine Conservation Society. As it is, I need more items for the silent auction.”

Ramsey laid his cello on the floor. “This is an amazing opportunity. Thank you for letting us audition. If you need more art pieces, I have friends who are artists. I can contact them if you like. What are the terms?”

Melusine walked over to him, adjusting a pale green silk scarf in her long dark hair. The silver sequins along the ends glittered in the light. Her lean curvaceous body swayed as she walked towards him. A smile curled her thin pink lips. Ramsey’s eyes glazed over. She released a gentle wisp of power, and he shivered. “Are they like us? I feel an obligation to help our kind of people as much as possible. I will buy the pieces I like. I prefer an ocean theme.” Reaching up, she touched the three ropes of pearls that hung around her neck. “I am also willing to have the artists at the cocktail hour, before the dinner to talk to people.”

“That’s good of you, and, yes, I can get you in touch with those like us.” Ramsey said, his black eyes fixed on her sea-blue ones. “We would be willing to auction off a performance.” His band mate huffed.

Melusine handed him a business card. “Wonderful. You are obviously my good luck charm. Please have them contact me. Email is fine, and if they send pictures of their work, that will make everything go much faster. Speaking of which, I have so much to do. Collins will show you out when you’re done.”

“Okay, and thanks again, Melusine,” Ramsey said, shaking his head as she walked away from him.

Melusine’s heels clicked on the parquet floor, and her personal assistant met her outside the doorway.

“Miss Thornton, you are a genius. They will be perfect for the gala, and they are quite powerful. I should be able to get a lot of magic out of them.”

“Excellent. I have several gnomes for you to practice on.”

“Shall we try the ritual again now? I am tired of being tied to that megalomaniac Cartazonon. I believe I have the incantation worked out.”

“They are ready when you are,” Miss Thornton said, checking her phone. “And you have two hours before your hair appointment.”

“Perfect.” Melusine walked up the stairs and into her bedroom, through her walk-in closet and into her ritual room. Kicking off her heels, she walked over to an old oak table and opened an iron cage. She grabbed one of the gnomes, tuning out their screams and cries as she went over the ritual in her mind.

“Shush,” she said, sending a pulse of power into the small man. He stilled as she cradled him to her chest. Sitting in the center of a black pentacle painted on the floor, she began to chant in ancient Gaelic. Power built, crackling along her skin, and swirled around the whimpering gnome. She pulled him closer and began to rock to sooth him as she increased her chanting.

Melusine ignored the high pitched cries for mercy from the other gnomes. She didn’t want his life, only his magic. She followed the ribbons of energy as they seeped into the gnome. There—in his heart a glowing ball which sent out ribbons of golden magic that wove through his body. Grasping the ball she tugged. The gnome kicked and clawed as she removed his magic.

“Hush, little one. It’ll be over soon,” Melusine cooed.

Magic filled her palm, hot and alive. Holding the gnome in one arm she brought the magic to her lips. She drank it, feeling it flow to her root chakra. Stolen warmth and power pulsed and swirled, then began to move up her chakras. It would take hours before the first drops of magic reached her crown and began to spread to her nervous system where her body would absorb it. Then she’d be able to use it.

Standing, she put the gnome back in the iron cage. The other gnomes held their now magic-depleted friend. His comatose body twitched, and whimpers escaped his chapped lips.

“Miss Thornton, please make sure they get food and water,” Melusine said, her hands shaking.

Miss Thornton stepped into the room. “Of course.”

“And I want to know how long he stays alive. I can’t imagine a wholly magical being can survive without his magic for long. After all, removing the little bit of Phoenix magic from that singer last week caused her to become extremely ill.”

“I did check on her,” Miss Thornton said as she dumped apple slices into the cage. “She’s depressed, not physically ill.”

“How interesting. Keep tabs on her for me.”

“I will. I put the paperwork for the new gallery on your desk. You should have enough time to go over it before Salvador arrives to do your hair.”

Melusine smiled. “You are a gem; I couldn’t survive without you, Miss Thornton.”

“You’re too kind. I also have a cappuccino waiting for you on your desk.”

“Now you’re spoiling me.” Melusine walked back through the closet, her heart pounding at her success. After a thousand years of being bound in servitude in exchange for immortality, her freedom was within her grasp. Cartazonon was such a fool, he had little faith in Earth-based magic. Knowing she collected such ‘archaic things’ he’d even sent her the book of magic which would gain her freedom from him. He might be the leader of the Sons of Belial, but she was no longer following him. Her email chimed as she sat. Ramsey had been a busy boy—three emails already. Oh, yes, her freedom was very close indeed.