“Emma,” Henry called my name, quieting the table. “What did you find out about losing your powers?”
My gaze sought out Alice, and I told them everything. It was best not to sugarcoat things with Henry.
He gave me an expression that told me he was feeling empathy for me. That wasn't easy for him. I was so proud of the man he'd become. My sweet baby brother.
Alice set her fork down. “I remember something about an older woman from my vision, but it’s not clear.” After a second, she ate again, but she seemed troubled.
Not half as troubled as I was. As much as I hated to admit it, even to myself, I was worried. All signs pointed to the fact that my magic was going to go to this woman on the night of the full moon, even though she wasn’t a nice person. I mean, I could refuse to do it, and see what the consequences might be, but magical consequences were usually pretty scary. If I didn't go, it might be worse.
The thing was, if I did lose my powers, I had no idea what I would do. I’d be useless in investigations with Beth. None of us would be connected by the supernatural any longer. I’d feel powerless in all ways. It was hard even imagining that life, but the thing was, I might have to experience it in justtwodays whether I want to or not.
18
EMMA
The PI shop was quiet.Beth had put a hold on taking new cases until we dealt with the Alma problem, which I was infinitely grateful for. She was committed to digging up something on the internet that might help me. Unfortunately for me, she’d so far come up with some diddly and a whole lot of squat.
After we’d read through the last article that talked about the former Karma as being a magical unicorn who farted rainbows, Carol had gone back to knitting, her needles floating in the air in front of her, turning the blue yarn at her feet into a sweater for Bryan. Beth frowned at her computer and clicked through useless information, while I decided to take a few minutes to sit and feel sorry for myself.
“The demon is up to no good again,” Buster hissed from under a chair before creeping closer. “The creature studies you, watching your every move, plotting for the time he can ruin you.”
I glanced over at Python the mouse’s cage. It was open at the top. Beth wasn’t one to imprison her animals, but a tiny white mouse ate from his dish, innocent and sweet. I shook my head and looked at Buster. “You sure about that?”
“Yes,” he hissed again, inching closer to Beth. “You must get rid of him before he destroys us all.”
“Python is fine,” Beth told him, reaching down and petting his head.
He batted at her. “He's the kind of evil that stains this world. Don’t say his name. Don’t look at him. He can't know that I’m onto him.”
“The cat has lost his mind,” Clark said, gliding from the ceiling.
Buster glared at the white bird. “I'm a great hunter and protector, not some paranoid pipsqueak.”
Clark shook his wings in amusement. “Of course you are, but that doesn't mean Python is evil or plotting to do us harm." He flapped onto the counter as Buster advanced on him with an angry yowl. I grabbed him before he could get too close to Clark's talons and held the feline firmly until he calmed again.
"Python isn't out to do anything terrible," I said soothingly, petting Buster gently behind the ears until his fur settled into place again. "He's just a little squeaky mouse."
Still looking disgruntled, Buster pulled away from me and pointedly ignored both me and Clark as if we weren't worthy of conversation anymore. He stalked off toward Beth, who was still typing away at her laptop, completely oblivious to our presence due to her tunnel vision focus on finding any new information about Alma Sanchez.
Frustrated, I rose and went to the window that faced the front yard. Outside I looked across the street at an empty lot and more houses and businesses on both our sides. It was one of the many reasons we chose this area. These houses were close to main street, and we had easy access to all the places we wanted to go. However, there weren’t many businesses in town that had a green belt in front like ours, full of trees, grass, and flowers. A place many people took their dogs to run around. For some reason, getting to see the garden in the back and green belt in the front had a way of making me feel like we were surrounded by nature.
It also meant that sometimes the sprinklers fell on the road. Normally it wasn’t a big deal, but there was one spot across the street that had a large dip, so water tended to collect there, especially if it had rained. It had rained in the night, so today, with the help of the sprinklers, the spot was full.
A teen walked past with his dog on a leash while I watched a car drive by. As it neared the puddle, the car swerved to the side, intentionally splashing the teen and the dog. Not just splashing him, drenching him and the pooch. The kid stood for a few seconds in complete shock, arms wide, water dripping off of him and the doggie before he trudged on down the street, looking glum.
The driver? He parked a short distance away and turned off his car. A minute later, he got out of the car, briefcase in hand, expensive-looking suit, shoes, and tie flashing in the sunlight. Unable to help myself, I used my powers, just a wiggle of a finger, only enough to help my powers punish him for being a jerk.
Sure enough, as he walked down the sidewalk, he froze and kicked out his foot. I leaned in and watched as the dog poop he’d stepped on splattered across his other pant leg. He hopped a few steps back, his lips forming swear words I knew all too well. He looked at the teen with the dog and ran forward, looking pissed and like he wanted to put room between himself and the kid. It lasted all of one second before he hit the turd pile again and went flying back like a cartoon person slipping on a banana peel.
Without seeing it, I knew he’d landed right on the turd pile. As he rolled out of the poop and stood, I guffawed and hee-hawed. Dog crap was absolutely everywhere. An epic mess splattered over every inch of his back, with the biggest stain right on his butt. Whoever he’d planned to impress in that outfit wouldn’t even want him to step foot in their building.
He stood looking awfully stiff and tried to avoid all of the splatters on the sidewalk… by walking straight into the puddle he’d splashed the teen with. This was like a play. A wonderful play where the creeps of the world got what they deserved.
Karma. It was a beautiful thing.
“What are you laughing at over here?” Carol asked, appearing behind me.
“Karma,” was all I said, but I was smiling as I said it.
