Part 3 (1/2)

He s.n.a.t.c.hed back his hand. Had he felt it too? He whirled to the door. But then he turned back, speculating. What did he want?

”I wouldn't chance looking at the stone, if you want to keep your sanity long enough to spend the money.” He despised her for wanting money.

Well, let him. Those who had money always despised those who didn't. ”A pretty threat. What a gentlemanly gesture.”

He did not rise to the bait, but slipped out the door.

Chapter Four.

Kate trudged up to her rooms. She'd done five private readings. They would tell their friends. This engagement would be lucrative. But it had been exhausting when her mind had been on the strange and fascinating Gian Urbano. He had picked such an odd way to try to frighten her. Who would believe he was some kind of a supernatural being? And then, when he could have choked the location out of her, he'd lost his nerve. What kind of a villain was that?

But the night had been disturbing in other ways as well. First, word had come that the baronessa's sister had died. Kate shook her head. Coincidence. It had nothing to do with the feeling she'd gotten about the tower struck by lightning card the other night.

But what about the reading she'd given for that absurdly young man with the wispy mustache? She'd had another... well, whatever they were. She wasn't going to call them visions. She'd just blurted out that he needed to avoid carriages at all costs on Thursday next. What happened to ”love lost and found”? Well, it wasn't as if she'd had any choice about whether to tell him or not. She had to make a push to avoid him losing his leg. And she'd seen it so clearly. Dear G.o.d, what was she thinking? It wasn't real. It wouldn't happen because she couldn't possibly know what would happen on Thursday next.

”No matter,” she muttered, taking out her key. ”When he avoids carriages and nothing happens to him on Thursday, people will be standing in line for readings. It's a ploy, that's all.” She pushed the door open. She only wished she had more control over her strategies.

It was then that she smelled it. Cinnamon. But this time, sweeter, lighter. Not like the man from whom she'd stolen the stone. Or Gian Urbano.

She peered into the darkened room. A beautiful woman dressed in shades of plum strolled out of the shadows. Her black eyes snapped with an energy that hung around her in the same way Kate felt it around Urbano and the one whose pocket she had picked.

Kate froze. ”What do you want?” How had she gotten in? Had she found the stone?

”Oh, I think you know that.” The woman's eyes glittered like black diamonds.

To protect herself, Kate took charge. ”I have no idea what you're talking about, and since I don't entertain madwomen, I think you'd better leave.” She went to light the lamp. She'd feel better when she could see this woman more clearly. Still she didn't turn her back. This woman radiated danger, even though she was pet.i.te. She couldn't hurt Kate, could she?

”I'm hardly likely to leave,” the woman snapped without ever removing her gaze from Kate's face. The light came up. The woman exuded s.e.xuality, a ripe flower in full bloom. ”The trail always leads to you. First LaRoque loses it on the way to our rendezvous. Then he turns up dead in a burning building, which leads me to Urbano, since who else could kill one of us? I thought Urbano was still fighting in Algiers or we would have used another city. But when I accosted Urbano, he didn't have it yet. He had met his banker to arrange transference of a large sum, suggesting that he was going to buy it. He was always softer than he let on.

”And you...” she continued. ”You, my dear, gave a very public tarot reading about the emerald, no doubt to signal Urbano you had it and wished to sell. Foolish, really. What can I conclude but that you stole the stone from LaRoque and have it still?” The woman gave a throaty chuckle. Kate was sure she'd heard that chuckle before.

”I have no stone. Is it a necklace? Perhaps antique?”

The woman rose, and her eyes went red just like Urbano's, even as the energy in the room ramped up almost past Kate's ability to discern it. ”Where is it?” the woman hissed.

Kate had an almost overwhelming urge to tell her. She bit her lip and tasted blood. ”Where... where you will never find it,” she managed.

The woman looked shocked. Her eyes turned an even deeper shade of carmine. She must not know Urbano had tried to frighten Kate in just the same way. Kate peered at her. How did she do that? Even with lenses, there had to be a reflected light source to make them glow like that. The fire? But there was no fire now. Had Urbano had a source of light for his lenses? There had been a fire in the sitting room. But they had been in her bedroom...

”I... want... the... stone,” the woman said.

Kate took a breath. ”As do, apparently, quite a lot of people. I may have undercharged for it.” Kate had her balance now. This woman had an extraordinary force of will and some experience with hypnosis, like Urbano. That was all.

The woman's mouth opened in a little O of surprise, before she set her jaw and glared at Kate. She began to pace back and forth, tapping one long-nailed finger against her lips.

”I have no intention of giving you the stone, so you might as well leave.”

”I have a better idea,” the woman said. She whirled so fast, Kate hardly saw her. She took Kate by the throat. ”Tell me where it is, or you are going to die.”

Kate looked up into those implacable eyes, coughing. She scrabbled at the hands that had locked around her neck. How could a woman of her size be so strong? Urbano's threat had been almost a caress by comparison. But the same ploy might work.

”I... I took it to a bank,” she choked.

In the corner of the room, a whirling darkness seemed to gather behind the beautiful woman. It must be the onset of unconsciousness.

Urbano stepped into the lamplight. '”Let her go, Elyta.”

Kate had never been so glad to see anyone.The woman he had called Elyta turned and straightened, but she didn't let Kate go.

”You dare interfere with a mission given me by Rubius himself, in my city?” Urbano growled. He was anything but nonchalant.

”You didn't seem to be getting very far with 'your mission,' ” Elyta snapped.

Kate sputtered and gasped.

”I revoke your welcome. Leave my city this instant.” Kate registered Urbano's determination from far away. ”Now let her go.”

Kate's vision began to darken at the edges.

”Do you really want to do this?” he growled. ”What will you tell Rubius?”

The woman let Kate slump to the floor. It was as if Kate had forgotten how to breathe.

”That LaRoque killed you and I finished your mission.” The woman called Elyta laughed. Her eyes went from burgundy to carmine.

”Who would believe that?” Urbano trembled with some unseen effort.

”You'd be surprised what an old, old man believes of a beautiful woman,” Elyta hissed. ”He appreciates me, even if you do not.”

The power in the room seemed to batter Kate. She touched her bruised throat, willing herself to breathe.

Urbano began to tremble. A slow smile spread over the woman's face.

”I'm older than you, my pretty man, and so much stronger.” The power in the room felt like a weight on Kate's chest. A sparkling blackness danced at the edge of Kate's field of vision. She sucked in a breath. It was almost painful.

A popping, fizzing sound reached through the haze in her brain. The draperies burst into flame. Urbano narrowed his eyes.

Breath hissed in and out of Kate's lungs. It seemed enough. The upholstered wing chair near the cold grate to her right sprouted flickering tongues of flame. Urbano glanced to the flame, shock and dismay registering on his face.

”I want that stone!” Elyta shouted.

”By all means stay and look for it.” Urbano too was gasping. The room was almost fully engulfed. ”Are you ready to face the flames?”

”I'll heal.”

”Ahhh, but the pain...”