Part 15 (1/2)
Mich.e.l.le picked up the explanation again. ”Someone who knew what it was, or had enough willpower to force his way through would start to feel uncomfortable. It would be the most damaging for someone who had the willpower to keep going but not the magical strength to s.h.i.+eld himself from the backlash. It could, quite possibly, hurt.”
Jackson tapped the third and final ring. ”So I guess crossing this one would definitely hurt.”
”If you could get past it at all,” Mich.e.l.le confirmed. ”Without magical ability it would be impossible. Like hitting an invisible wall. I've seen a ward like this once before, though not around something as large as a house, and never permanent. The first two wards won't be a problem for me, but this one... I can get us through it, but I don't know if I can do so undetected.”
”It might be a moot point if the house has exterior security cameras.” Jackson held up a satellite photo of the house and surrounding grounds. ”How close is that third ward to the house?”
”Within ten feet of the exterior walls,” Steven said. ”Maybe twenty. He's spent years building these, channeling energy into them, but that third ward is the hardest to maintain. He can't push it out any farther.”
”If you can get us that far, Mich.e.l.le, don't worry about avoiding detection, not until we find out whether he has some sort of security setup.” He picked up another handful of glossy black-and-white pictures, all featuring Charles's mansion. ”What about the house itself?”
Steven scoffed. ”Charles doesn't even bother to lock his doors. The thought that someone might get that close without him being aware of it is incomprehensible to him, and for good reason. For decades, he's probably been the most magically powerful person in the country.”
”I wasn't talking about deadbolts and chains.” Jackson pressed his lips together in a grim line. ”Can he keep us out, no matter what kind of magic Mich.e.l.le uses? That's the real question.”
”I don't think so.” Mich.e.l.le bit her lip again. ”Mahalia knows how to construct the talismans Charles uses to allow his employees access to the property. It's going to take every sc.r.a.p of power all three of us have to duplicate them, and we'll need at least a day to recover. If we can do that, though, we can focus all the power we have on getting past him.”
”So we're looking at three days, minimum, before we can move on this,” Jackson observed, his jaw tight.
”It's the only way,” Steven said. ”She'll be safe, Jackson. If I weren't completely sure of that I'd go in right now by myself.”
Jackson's shoulders relaxed, and he smiled slightly. ”That doesn't sound like such a bad plan to me.” Anything that would get Mackenzie back faster was all right by him.
Mahalia leaned over to slap one of his hands. ”It's the stupidest thing I ever heard, Jackson Holt, and you know it. Now finish looking at your pictures, and let me and Mich.e.l.le start the talismans. We'll tell you when we need your help.”
He rubbed his hand and considered mounting a mutiny, but it didn't seem likely. Even if Alec was willing to go along with it, Peyton would kick him back in line. Support from Nick was equally unlikely for the same reason. ”Fine. I'll be out back.”
He left everything on the table and stalked toward the back door. It opened onto a small deck overlooking a lake, providing a view he normally would have appreciated.
”Thinking about a dip in the hot tub?” Nick's voice floated from the direction of the driveway.
”Maybe later.” He looked over to see her climbing out of one of the SUVs, accompanied by several large men in dark suits. ”Where the h.e.l.l have you been?”
”Grocery run.” She shoved two paper sacks at one of the men. ”Here, you boys can handle this. I've got an emotional crisis to head off.” She jogged toward the porch, quick strides eating distance between them. ”They broke the news to you already, huh?”
Jackson tried not to grumble as he leaned against the rough-hewn log railing and stared at the lake. ”You mean the part about sitting here with our thumbs up our a.s.ses while the crazy man is doing G.o.d knows what to Mackenzie? Yeah, we covered it.”
”Well...” Nick hopped up to sit on the railing next to him. ”We're not exactly going to be splitting our time between co-ed Twister and ba.s.s fis.h.i.+ng, Jackson. There's stuff to be done. Stuff for you to do.” She gave him a stern look. ”This isn't the kind of situation where we can just bust in there, guns blazing, and save the damsel. Not without heavy casualties.”
She was right. They were all right, but it didn't help the growing sense of unease and dread that made his skin crawl. ”I know, Nicky, but G.o.d d.a.m.n it-”
”Yeah.” She nudged his leg with her foot. ”My sister's good. Strong. With her and Mahalia both, and you helping them...”
”Yeah,” he said woodenly. ”It'll all work out.”
”It will,” she insisted over the sound of the back door opening again. ”We'll do it together.”
”I wish I could do it faster.” Mich.e.l.le spoke quietly, her tone apologetic. Nick's sister stood a few feet away, her hulking bodyguard at her back. She'd pulled her hair from its formal knot and exchanged her prim business suit for a flowing silk skirt and blouse that made her seem more approachable. ”I'm sorry, Jackson.”
Nick shot him a warning look, and he grimaced at her before giving Mich.e.l.le an encouraging smile. ”Look, it takes time. I get it. It can't be helped.”
”It's not just that.” Mich.e.l.le leaned on the railing next to Nick. ”I know how frustrating it is, waiting for the Conclave to give me permission to do anything. We've slowed things down.”
The two sisters made an odd picture, identical save for the fact that Nick was dressed like a lumberjack in jeans, boots and a thermal henley. Jackson watched as Nick's hand found Mich.e.l.le's, comforting her without conscious thought. ”None of this is your fault, Micky,” she said soothingly. ”Besides, if Steven's right, going after Mackenzie sooner wouldn't have gotten us anywhere but dead,”
No, Jackson thought morosely. None of this is Mich.e.l.le's fault, mostly because it's mine. ”Better listen to your sister, kiddo. She's saved my hide a couple of times, so she must be pretty smart.”
”She likes to think she is.” Mich.e.l.le wrinkled her nose at Nick, who made a face in return. ”She's bossy as h.e.l.l too.” Mich.e.l.le's gaze s.h.i.+fted back to the bodyguard and she frowned suddenly. ”No one introduced you to Aaron, did they?”
He straightened and held out his hand. ”Jackson Holt.”
The man accepted his hand, his grip firm but not aggressive. ”Aaron Spencer.”
”Aaron's been chasing me around for years,” Mich.e.l.le said, a fond smile on her lips. ”In the beginning he had to chase both of us. No one warned him what he was getting himself into.”
Jackson might have been in over his head when it came to the current situation, but he'd always been good with body language, and he instantly recognized the undercurrents flowing between Mich.e.l.le and the tall, red-haired man who stepped up beside her. If they weren't involved romantically, he could tell they both wanted to be.
He glanced at Nick, who was merely watching them both with bemus.e.m.e.nt. ”Can't speak to Mich.e.l.le's behavior, but if you had to watch over this one...” He poked Nick with his elbow and dodged the one she sent his way. ”Let's just say I feel your pain, Aaron.”
Aaron unbent enough to smile as he stretched one arm out along the railing behind Mich.e.l.le, his posture protective. ”You have no idea. They're both okay one at a time, but together they'll put gray in your hair before thirty.”
Nick held up both hands. ”Okay, consider the point conceded. Just don't forget that I could whip both of your a.s.ses.” She tilted her head. ”Well, maybe not yours, Aaron. Have you gotten taller?”
”You've definitely gotten shorter. I like the clothes, though. Sort of...park-ranger chic. It suits you.”
”Enough.” Mich.e.l.le flashed Jackson a long-suffering look. ”They'll go back and forth like this for hours if you let them. My father, Alec and Steven are coordinating plans for a physical attack, but Mahalia wanted to walk us both through the steps needed to circ.u.mvent the wards.”
Nick hopped off the railing, her boots landing on the porch with a thump. ”I'd better go help the boys, or at least supervise.”
Jackson snorted. ”I'll listen to anything May says if she's going to be cooking while she says it. I'm starving.”
”Where do you want me to go, Mich.e.l.le?” Aaron's voice was quiet as he looked at Mich.e.l.le. ”Want me to stick with you?”
”You'll feel better if you know what the plan is.” Her fingers brushed his hand, but it looked like a furtive motion, one they tried to hide. ”Go on in. I'll be there in a minute.”
Mich.e.l.le watched him go, then said, ”Don't say it, Nicky.”
Nick just scuffed the toe of one boot against the planks beneath her feet and leaned close to Mich.e.l.le, her voice a whisper. ”I say more power to you.” She slipped her arms around Mich.e.l.le's neck for a quick hug. ”Take care of Jackson, and I'll keep an eye on lover boy.” With a wink, she took off after Aaron.
”You can't-” Mich.e.l.le took a deep breath and looked at Jackson. ”We're not involved,” she blurted out, her cheeks flus.h.i.+ng slightly. ”It's not allowed. But if anyone was to find out that we have-that there are feelings... It would be bad. Dangerous, for both of us.”
That sent one of Jackson's eyebrows up in an arch. ”How come?”
”Seers aren't allowed to have relations.h.i.+ps.”
”At all?” He knew his expression must be one of laughable shock, but he couldn't help it. ”Ever?”