It wasn’t a question. He obviously knew who they were.Howhe knew was anyone’s guess. Hopefully he was just a very good wizard. That’s what she needed right now.
Dante shook his hand. “I’m Dante Fierro. Nice to meet you, Kurt. And this is my girlfriend, Mallory. She’s the one who needs your help.”
Kurt stepped back as soon as he looked at her eyes. “Oh shit,” he muttered.
Mallory hoped he was struck by her beauty and not some gross aura all over her, but she guessed it was the latter. Could he see her curse?
“What’s wrong?” Dante asked.
Kurt folded his arms. “I think we’d better go somewhere private to discuss this. The owner is a good friend of mine and said he’d let us use the unoccupied apartment upstairs. Follow me.”
He led them back outside to a separate entrance, unlocked it, and they traipsed up to a second-floor landing where he unlocked another door. He preceded them inside and held the door as they entered the sparsely furnished living room.
As soon as he locked the door behind them, Mallory asked, “What did you see?” She couldn’t wait until they sat down and got comfortable.
“I’m not sure yet. Something… Have a seat. I have a few supplies in the kitchen to get.”
She and Dante sat on the gray L-shaped couch. She took his hand.
“Don’t worry. It’ll be all right.” He squeezed her hand and smiled.
Of course he would try to reassure her, no matter what was wrong, but that wasn’t exactly what she needed right now. She needed the truth. She hoped the wizard would give her answers.
Kurt returned with a couple of glasses of water and set them on the coffee table on top of coasters.Wait a minute.Had those coasters been there a moment ago?
Crap. I’m having aTwilight Zonemoment.
While Kurt returned to the kitchen, Dante put his arm around her shoulder and rubbed her upper arm soothingly. “Are you as nervous as you seem?”
“Probably. As long as I seem like I’m barely held together with Scotch tape.”
Dante gave her a side squeeze. “Don’t worry. We’ll turn that Scotch tape into duct tape. You’ll be okay.”
She couldn’t help chuckling. She might settle for the secure feeling of being duct-taped together right now.
Kurt returned with a bowl and a duffel bag. He set the bowl on the coffee table in front of himself. It appeared to contain plain water.
“What’s all the water for?” Dante asked.
Kurt looked up. “Well, this”—he pointed to the bowl—“is for scrying. The two glasses are for you to drink. I’d offer you a glass of wine or a soda, but there’s nothing in the fridge.”
Mallory wasn’t sure if she should drink the water. Could she trust the wizard?
Dante picked up his glass and took a sip. She waited a few beats and when he didn’t choke or keel over, she figured it was just regular old water.Okay, Mallory. Your imagination is running away with you.
Kurt opened his duffel bag and pulled out a few items. A candle, a bell, a few sticks, and some sparkling dirt. What was he was going to do with all that? He put the duffel bag down next to his chair. “Stick your finger in the bowl of water, Mallory.”
She glanced over at Dante, and he nodded. So she stuck her finger in it, and Kurt scooted forward, staring at the ripples.
“Is that it? Can I take my finger out now?”
“Not just yet.”
He just stared at the water, like he was mesmerized by it. She couldn’t help wondering what he was looking at or searching for. She scooted forward and tried to see something in the reflection of her finger and hand. The movement caused a few more ripples.
Kurt sat back and muttered, “Hmm…”
“What did you see?”
