Page 60 of Ancient Magic

Chapter 11

Hexx’s Pawnshop didn’t look special. It was a one-story brick building squashed between a liquor store and a pet grooming salon. There was a large front window stuffed with the usual watches and gold chains, and a glass door had a neon sign that promised easy credit loans.

It wasn’t until Maya had entered the cramped space that she could feel the distinct tingle of magic. Not an active spell but the residual hum from having a lot of magical items stored in the same location. The Witch’s Brew felt like a nuclear reactor when she opened their heavily warded safe.

Assured she was in the right place, Maya weaved her way past the open bins filled with used toys, sunglasses, and old DVDs. At last she spotted a girl who barely looked old enough to be out so late at night seated behind a wood-paneled counter. Her hair was short and dyed a deep purple that matched the heavy liner that circled her eyes. She was wearing a fishnet top with a black bra underneath and was perched on a high stool, her attention glued to the phone in her hand.

Maya halted several feet from the counter. The girl was a human and she didn’t look dangerous, but only a fool allowed themselves to be deceived by surface appearance. Usually a dead fool.

The girl continued to stare at her phone, and Maya loudly cleared her throat. “Excuse me.”

“Can I help you?” The girl didn’t bother to glance up.

Maya swallowed a sigh. Good help was hard to find.

“I’m looking for something special,” she said.

“Then you’ve come to the right place.” The girl waved her hand toward the glass cases on the far side of the room. “Lots of special stuff here. Jewelry—”

“I don’t want jewelry,” Maya interrupted, her voice sharp enough to force the girl to at last glance up.

She wrinkled her nose as she took in Maya’s black slacks and expensive cashmere sweater. Was she offended by the elegant outfit? “The knockoff clothes are over there,” she waved her hand toward the opposite side of the shop where a few wrinkled blouses and a fake fur coat were hanging on the wall. “There are some purses in the bins, but you’re better off checking out the street sellers around Times Square. They have more stuff.”

Maya ground her teeth. Was the girl being deliberately annoying, or was it her natural personality?

She stepped toward the counter, deliberately turning her head to reveal the spiderweb of scars.

“I said something special.”

The girl dropped her phone. “Yikes. That’s bad. Did you put your face on the stove?”

Maya smiled. The girl had at least cleared up any confusion. Annoying was her natural personality.

“I heard you had magic that can get rid of blemishes,” she said.

“Maybe. I don’t know nothing about that hocus-pocus stuff.” The girl turned her head to yell toward an open door at the back of the room. “Hexx!”

A minute passed, then another before a goblin with long stringy hair and crimson flames tattooed along the line of his jaw stepped into the shop. He was wearing a sleeveless T-shirt and jeans that looked as if they hadn’t seen a washing machine in several weeks, but Maya was more interested in the pale red aura that pulsed around him. A low-grade demon.

“What now?” he snapped, clearly irritated at the interruption.

The girl nodded toward Maya. “You have a customer.”

“Buying or selling?” he demanded, his bored gaze swinging toward Maya. Instantly his eyes widened. Unlike his human assistant, he recognized the scars on the side of her face. “Oh shit.” Reaching up, he grabbed a small crystal hung around his neck, yanking it off the leather strap and throwing it in her direction.

Maya waved her hand, releasing a burst of power that deflected the crystal. It careened toward the shelf of bowling balls and exploded. There was a loud crash as the balls collapsed to the ground, some shattering beneath the impact and others rolling crazily across the cheap Formica tiles.

“What’s happening?” the girl cried out, ducking behind the counter. “Should I call the cops?”

“No!” Maya and Hexx roared in unison before the goblin was spinning on his heel and darting into the back room.

Maya raced behind him, but not before he slammed the door and locked it. Dammit. She rolled her eyes, dipping her hand into her purse to pull out a small vial. Centuries of finding herself in dangerous situations had taught her to reserve her magic, preferring to use the potions she could brew at home in her leisure. Spells weakened her and left her vulnerable.

Stepping back, she tossed the vial at the door handle, her nose wrinkling as the acid ate through the lock. Melting metal dripped onto the floor, and lifting her leg, Maya kicked the door open. It slammed loudly against the wall, and Maya stepped into a small room that appeared to be a combination office and storage space.

Hexx was currently grabbing the lids off boxes piled in a haphazard fashion, no doubt searching for a weapon to use against her.

“Settle down,” Maya commanded, moving to stand in the middle of the room. “I just want to talk.”

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