Shadow Watcher (Darkness #6)(6)

“I found a human that is strong in magic. Uneducated, he is at red level, but I think I can get him higher. He looks mean and a little violent. I just hope he won’t provoke fights at the Mansion and get himself killed.”

I heard a huff behind me. Paulie didn’t think much of that idea. That worried me more.

“Oh fabulous, Sasha. That is great. You know, some people don’t follow through with their promises. They tell me they are working on things I deem of the highest importance, but unfortunately their attention wavers.”

Because you sound harebrained most of the time. And I’m still not sure I’m doing the right thing. “Uh huh.”

“Well, Sasha,” Cato continued. An edge crept into his voice. “Human magic workers are essential, as you know. You need to start working with them. Link with them, constantly. Constantly, Sasha. Start with a few people and work some spells. Then spread out into larger and larger circles. Bigger and bigger, do you hear me, Sasha? I want mammoth circles. You will be the pinnacle, and your human magic workers will stretch out below you like a pyramid.”

“Okay,” I said hesitantly. I couldn’t help but hear the fervor in his voice. Just as I had previously worked with his assurance that we needed more magical humans in our ranks, now I was responding to the determination that we should form a huge link. “Why, though, Cato? This sounds…”

“Sasha, above everyone, you’ve always had faith. Keep that now. The worst may not come to pass, but it may. And because it may, we must be prepared, you and I. You are my secret weapon. I am not the best on my own, Sasha. But together, I think we can be.”

I opened my mouth in confusion, but didn’t get the chance to question him before he was rattling on.

“Fare you well, Sasha. And keep your eyes open. The council is weak and the enemy are many.”

The phone went dead. I stared down at the bright face, my ocean wave wallpaper now taking up the screen. “The guy is cracked. There are no two ways about it.”

“Cato?” Charles asked, striding back toward me with a puzzled expression.

“Yeah. He wants me to get all the humans together and practice forming huge links.”

Charles glanced at Paulie, seriousness creeping into Charles’ expression. “He thinks trouble’s coming. The word at the council is that Cato gets a sixth sense when trouble is on its way. He sounds like a looney old male, but I’d do what he says.”

“I’d planned on it, Charles, I just wished I knew a little more about the whole thing.”

Charles cocked his head as he stared down at me. The shadows etched his striking features. “Are you sure?”

The seriousness in his eyes reminded me of the challenges we’d had to endure at the council. Charles was probably right—perhaps I didn’t want to know more. Not yet. Not until I was confronted with it and could do something about it.

“Good call. So, where’s my car?” The cool evening was turning into a hard bite of cold that seeped through my sweatshirt and raked my arms. I shivered.

“Well, okay.” Charles turned to stare at the wall with his hands braced on his hips. “I remember those words. Remember? I said, ‘This spot was made for you, sweet thang.’”

“Hard to forget, Charles.”

“So it should be here.”

“It musta got boosted. What kind of car was it?” Paulie asked, content to hang out on the sidelines and watch Charles and I scratching our heads.

“It didn’t get stolen, bro. That thing was a piece of shit.” Charles looked out across the street.

“It was not a piece of shit!” I was lying a little. My poor baby had deep, thick scratches down the body, a plethora of dents, a crack in the windshield, and other defects that only mattered if you cared about appearance. Since I only cared about a car with no car payments, and going fast, I was all set.

Except for now, I was missing a car.

“I’d think this was a joke, but Jonas has no sense of humor.” I stared at my phone, wondering if I should call him to ask.

“Ann?” Charles’ gaze swung my way.

I shrugged. “Possible, I guess. She even has spare keys. But she’d leave a clue or something. I doubt she’d just take it and leave us stranded.”

“Human male.” Charles turned his attention to Paulie. “Do you have a car?”

“Naw. Didn’t have the cash after going legit.” Paulie stared back at Charles. If he was embarrassed by that fact, there was no way to tell. The man had obviously been through the fires and had picked himself up, fixed his life, and moved on. He was a survivor, just like me. I hoped it showed in his magic. Cato would be tickled that there was another human who wouldn’t say die.

I hung my head. No sense ignoring the obvious. “Well, it’s gone, obviously. I really hope it’s a joke and hasn’t been towed. That would totally suck.” I sighed, staring at that white BMW for one more moment. “Alright, c’mon, let’s hoof it. I’m cold and I don’t feel like calling Jonas and begging for a ride.”

“I’m your huckleberry,” Charles retorted, waiting for me to get to his side before crossing the street beside me.

“Would you quit with that line?”

An hour later we were most of the way home and Charles was starting to get jumpy. Movement was good, but without violence of some sort, his attention wandered. He was punching bushes and kicking at pebbles.