Page 378 of Castings & Curses

As much as I wanted freedom from this situation, I also wanted justice for Misha. His killer was trying to frame me, or at least taking advantage of my proximity as a potential suspect. Did they want to kill me though or drive me into the path of my angelic pursuers?

Riga returned more quickly than I'd expected, with surprisingly empty hands.

"Two angels just arrived at the bar, as happy as you please. It might be time to get going, Melinda. You don't want them picking up your scent. That pin you're wearing is only going to carry you so far. Would you like me to meet you somewhere? I could make you a more effective pin…"

I shook my head. "I'll call you," I told her. "Thanks for warning me."

"What else am I going to do? Hand you over? Get going."

With a thankful smile, I opened the gate and hurried away into the night.

My heart raced at the realization that the angels were so close. This wasn't going to work. Sooner or later, they would catch up with me. Perhaps I could set a trap for the killer and lead them into the angels’ path instead, but I didn't want any harm to come to my angelic pursuers. For all I knew, that might happen.

They needed to know that I wasn't the one responsible, but how could I tell them? And then it hit me. I needed to send them information, telling them my side of the story without risking a direct confrontation.

I was something of an angel now, but I was still a goddess at heart. I had powers that could be used for protection, and if I could find some way to tell them my side of the story, then maybe they would believe me.

It occurred to me that I didn't need to use magic for this. Technology could be an effective stand-in — email, for instance, or I could just ask someone to deliver a message to them. I decided that it was what I needed to do. I could call Riga and she would undoubtedly do it for me. I just wanted to avoid her getting into any difficulties.

I wouldn't have been surprised if they were monitoring my phone. I ensured I was a fair distance away before making a call from a hotel foyer, using their courtesy phone.

Riga answered at once, and I was relieved to hear her voice.

"Melinda…"

"Riga, do you know if the angels are still there?"

"They're here. Someone must've talked, and they've been searching the building."

That was disconcerting, to say the least.

"I'm wondering if you could pass a message to the angels. They need to know what I believe happened, and my side of the story. I can't keep running from them, Riga. I know there's a whole world out there, but they have their sentinels and I don't want to hide for something I didn't do. What's more, they're wasting their time chasing me when the real killer is out there and needs to be stopped."

Riga was silent for a few moments, contemplating my words.

"I can do that," she said. "It sounds like a positive step, but don't put yourself at undue risk because of it."

"Don't worry," I replied. "I won't."

I wasn't sure I wouldn't, but I'd try not to. Sooner or later I would need to meet with them or make my presence known, and I wasn't ready for that yet, but perhaps the risk wouldn't be so great when I did.

* * *

With my message sent,I returned to my Manhattan hotel. I didn’t particularly want to be there, but I wasn't in the mood to go out either. The risks of walking out in the open were negligible, but they weren't zero. I didn't need to sleep much, but it was a peaceful escape for a little while and it might help to be well rested later.

As I climbed under the blankets, I remembered Misha and the love he shared with his girlfriend, Lucia. She was always around him — she'd become something of his shadow. It was lucky she hadn't been there on the day he died. She could've met the same fate.

My eyes shot open and I sat bolt upright in bed. I thought I knew why he'd been targeted. If it was true, even less people could be trusted than I thought.

I put on a coat against the chill, pinned on my talisman and left at once. The hour was late and it wasn't an appropriate time to spring a visit on Lucia, but I needed to confirm my suspicions and ensure she was alright.

AURELIA

"Answer me this,"I asked Raphael once we were alone and Kallen had left. We'd been searching rooms at Enchant, but we hadn't found any other signs of Melinda, nor suspicious activity.

"I'll let you know if I can," Raphael replied.

He seemed guarded in his response, but then Raphael always had a mysterious quality about him. It was as though there were impenetrable depths to his personality, though his heart felt in the right place.

---