Page 46 of Dragon in Denial
“They’re fine,” Delilah said. “It’s just a freezing spell, although clearly it doesn’t work very well on children. Squirrelly little buggers.”
“Manman,” Henri cried out again.
“It’s okay, buddy,” Ketu said. “She’s right here with me. We’re all fine, see?”
“Where’s Papa?” Henri asked, tears splashing onto his cheeks.
“Oh, you know Papa. He’s at the shop, tinkering on a car.” He’d better be. This witch hybrid better not have done anything to Ketu’s father.
Henri nodded, his eyes wide, clearly taking his words as gospel.
“So,” Ketu said, shifting his attention to the witch. “What are you doing here? What do you want?”
“You dragons aren’t all that different from gargoyles, you know that?” Delilah said.
“Gargoyles turn to stone when they sleep,” Henri said matter-of-factly.
Delilah rolled her eyes. “Okay, well, beyond that. You both like to cut to the chase. No small talk. Why is that?”
“Possibly because you’re holding my mother and my, uh, Henri, hostage.”
What the hell had he been about to say? Son? One night with Antoinette and he was already thinking of her son as his own.
Delilah waved her hand dismissively. “I told you they’re fine. I just needed to keep them contained until you finally made your appearance. Where have you been anyway?”
“Visiting with your friend Argyle, actually,” Antoinette spoke up.
“Huh,” Delilah said. “That wasn’t what I was expecting. Well, how is that traitorous gargoyle?”
“How do you figure he’s the traitor? You’re the one who forced him to protect you against his will and code of ethics,” Ketu pointed out.
“For crying out loud, is he still harping on that? I paid the man well enough. Who cares about his stupid ethics?”
“I’d say most of us,” Ketu responded.
Delilah shrugged.
“Are you here about the dragon’s blood?” Antoinette said.
Ketu heard a small gasping sound, which he was pretty sure came from his mother.
“Funny you should mention that,” Delilah said. “Tell me, are you the sneaky little dragon who keeps beating up my dealers?”
Beating up her dealers? Ketu glanced at Antoinette. The bruise on her face the day he’d run into her at Mitch’s. The vials of dragon’s blood in her pocket. Had he surmised exactly the opposite of what was really going on?
“We want to talk to you about something bigger than that,” Antoinette said, without actually answering the question. “You aren’t really in charge, are you?”
The witch narrowed her eyes. “I’m the only distributor in New Orleans. I’d say that makes me in charge.”
“Distributor, but what about supplier? Someone else is manufacturing your product. You’re paying him to keep you in business. So you aren’t truly in charge. Your operation is at his whim. If he goes out of business, so do you.”
Delilah shrugged again. “He’s not going out of business anytime soon.”
“No? That’s not what I hear.”
The two women fell into a staring contest, or at least that’s what it felt like from Ketu’s perspective. They were both so intense, so focused…now was the best time to take his chance. He lunged forward, snatching the glowing rock before Delilah’s concentration snapped. It was hot, almost too hot to hold in his hand, but he managed, carrying it outside and smashing it against the concrete under the carport.
Turning around, he watched through the open door as Henri sprang free of his magical binding. The kid almost tumbled headfirst off his grandmother’s lap in his haste to rush to his mother.Mamáshook her head and patted the scarf wrapped around her hair before tossing the witch a stern look. “How dare you come into my home and cast a spell on my grandson and me?”
