Ori interrupted. “Juke just texted that Liesl’s goats are trying to eat her cables, and she’s berserking. She called for advice, but apparently a goat’s natural interest is in eating everything.”
We split up to confuse anyone potentially watching us. Ori and Freddie would drive in a looping route. Rose would go with us by CalTrans, and we’d get a rideshare to South San Francisco.
“Can I grab a few things, Rose?” I asked.
Rose nodded. She slapped Ranth as his hand reached out for a pile of quartz. “If you want something, get Sorrel to pick it out. I don’t want you clouding my crystals.”
I interrupted Ranth’s answer by stuffing my messenger into his hands. “Here, you can hold this while I pack it. Anything you need?”
“I’d like some resonance crystals.” He glared at Rose.
She smirked at him, fondling a silver hoop earring.
“Raw Quartz? Rose, smoked, or clear? Double terminated or single?”
Ranth replied, “Raw. You must always use raw stones. Never use polished or cut.”
“What? Why?” I asked.
“Because man’s hand on nature doesn’t improve its resonance, it changes it. It may appear more concentrated and purer, but actually, it’s less resonant to those who know how to listen.”
“Oh. Kay.” Basically, he was saying everything I’d learned and experienced was wrong. It wasn’t the way modern crystal power worked. Finer clear–cut crystals sparkled more, and the points were supposed to give you clearer focus. But Ranth’s perspective made perfect sense.
“That’s a load of crap,” Rose replied. “And don’t you ever say that in my shop again, you hear me? The crystals absorb all that negative energy. You need to get him out of here, soon.” Rose’s tone was tight and cranky.
Wondering about Rose’s reaction, I shoved a bunch of raw quartz, fluorite, hematite, and tourmaline into the pack. It was different from Freddie’s, but sort of the same. Rose loved me. Was she worried about Ranth? In the bag, I added some smudges, matches, and a few extra herbs from Rose’s locked section that I hoped I wouldn’t have to use.
Rose handed me a jacket. “Here, honey, you’ll need a new cover up. It’ll be a little big, but it’s clean and not blood-crusted.” Her smile told me everything. She wanted all the best for me.
“Thanks,” I said, but it wasn’t only for the jacket. I stripped off the shredded denim and shrugged on the black velour stadium coat. A wave of calm descended. The brushed fabric was baggy but caressed my skin and smelled like Rose’s incense. Irolled the sleeves up over my wrist bands, then picked up the pack. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Ranth explained the nuances of using crystals for magic on the way to Juke’s father’s warehouse, and Rose was at the opposite end of acceptance. I was seriously concerned about her throwing Ranth under the BART as we exited. The anger aura rolled off in waves. If we were gaming, she’d be leaving a fire trail. Rose was disheveled and exhausted, but for the finding-spell, we’d need focus and unity.
“You need to chill out,” I whispered to Rose as we waited for the rideshare.
“Me? You mean him. He’s the problem. Walking into our lives and telling us everything we do is wrong. Things have changed. We have hundreds, maybe thousands of yearsof experience that his knowledge lacks. Magic now is faster, clearer, and more focused.”
“Less focused, less powerful, and from what I’ve seen, sloppy,” Ranth replied.
“You are calling my work sloppy?” Rose squared her shoulders and glared at him. “That’s it. I’ll walk or get another car. I’m not going in the same vehicle with that demon spawn.”
Ranth was about to start arguing with her when the car pulled up. I wasn’t exactly pleased with him, but I didn’t think it was the worst thing for Rose to cool off a bit. Whether I believed in what Ranth was saying, making Rose angry was not okay with me.
I opened the car door. “You coming?” I asked Ranth in an attempt to break the standoff. “Hey Rose, you know where we’re going, right?”
“Yup, and I’ll seeyouthere.”
Her emphasis on “you” told me she was done helping Ranth.
“You’re really good at making friends, you know that?” I asked, glaring at him.
Ranth was quiet on the way, which was fine by me. I could throw off negativity and not let it touch my aura. I closed my eyes and did my three-minute refocus ritual. As my breathing steadied, I let my mind wander and process all that had gone on, moving my thoughts to positive feelings of the next moment. The tension left my shoulders as I was in my happy garden with hummingbirds and dandelion fluff, my skin warming from the sun. I came back to the present with a silvery glow of peace, ready to take on the next phase of whatever we’d face. Before I opened my eyes, Ranth’s fingers weaved into mine.
“I’m sorry to anger you. I’ve never met anyone like you. I think you are rather accomplished for your lack of training.”
“Well thanks, much.” I wasn’t going to let the sweetness of the apology tainted by criticism reduce my freshly centeredfocus. Ranth could live with his negativity, but I could teach him a few lessons about interacting with others. I tugged my hand away and unsnapped a belt pouch. “You should take one of these just in case.”
