“Jesus, Prospero,” Shadi said. “We’re lucky it was you on that platform. The only other person who could have stopped that bomb was probably Mez.”
Or Uncle Abe, I silently amended. Guess he hadn’t been lying all those years ago, after all.
I pushed that thought aside and forced a smile. Inside, I was relieved that the team had taken news of me using magic so well. But the other part of me was terrified of what they’d say if Morales told them about the last time I’d cooked.
After that, Gardner and Shadi melted away to go speak to Morales in quiet tones. I stood wrapped in a blanket on the bow, watching the moon hanging over Babylon. The city looked so peaceful and quiet from this distance. Because I’d used magic, those dreaming children would get their Halloween. Because Morales and I had exposed our skeletons to the moonlight, the entire city was spared the horror of having their deepest secrets revealed. And because I’d refused to surrender, I emerged from that water with a new appreciation for the Adept genes in my body that had felt like a burden for so many years.
I guess when it came down to it, the entire night had been a baptism of sorts. And it never would have happened if that damned Blue Moon hadn’t come around to fuck everything up.
Chapter Thirty
November 1
Waning Gibbous
On my way home from the hospital, I made Baba take me by an apothecary.
“I just need to get a couple of things the nurses suggested for the wound care,” I said. “Just be a minute.”
She simply nodded and turned up the Tom Jones cassette tape. Before I exited, I made sure no one I knew was suddenly going to spring out of nowhere and see me exiting the hoopty car. Or at least that’s what I told myself. Actually, I was more worried about anyone seeing what I’d really come to buy.
The bell over the door dinged cheerfully. Unlike the apothecary under LM and Mary’s place, this was a more upscale suburban outfit. It catered mostly to Mundane clientele who had extra scratch to spend on expensive wrinkle potions and youth serums.
As I walked through the aisles, looking for my prize, I threw some arnica cream in my basket to help with the bruises all over my body. According to Baba, I looked like I’d been beaten like a redheaded stepchild, which wasn’t too far from the truth.
Passing a display of ice packs, I threw in a couple of those, too. As well as some Epsom salts scented with lavender. On impulse, I also grabbed a myrrh-and-sweet-almond-oil mix to rub into my scrapes and cuts to promote healing and prevent scars.
Satisfied I had enough purchases to use for cover, I went to the back corner of the store, where a small toy section was set up to entice kids. It took me a couple of minutes to find what I wanted, but when I did, I stared at the box for a full minute, debating with myself.
I hadn’t seen Morales in the hospital. According to the call I’d received from Gardner that morning, he was to be released the next day. Mez was scheduled to pick him up and get him home. It would have been an easy thing to sweep by his room on my way out, but I didn’t. In the hours that passed after our rescue, and with the distance between us in the hospital, I worried about how things would play out moving forward. Would he use my secrets against me? I didn’t want to believe he would, but promises made under stress in the dark don’t always come to fruition in the harsh light of day.
Shaking off the sense of dread, I decided not to worry about what would come. I couldn’t control what Morales did with all the dirt he had on me. I looked at the box again. But I could make things right with Danny. I grabbed the box and marched toward the counter.
Since Baba’s arthritis had been acting up, she didn’t offer to walk me to the door. “Sorry, doll. Until I can afford more Maslin’s, I’m not feeling too spry.”
“I thought you already bought more?” I frowned.
She looked away. “I shared it with Pen.”
I sucked in a breath that didn’t do much to alleviate the sudden heaviness in my chest. Looking down at my hands, I asked, “How is she?”
Baba made a wishy-washy movement with her head. “She’s going back to work tomorrow. Her wounds are healing, but she’s… subdued.”
Instead of commenting, I made myself busy finding my wallet. “How much for the Maslin’s?”
She made an argumentative sound. “I can’t ask you for that.”
“You’re not asking. I’m offering. You do so much for us, let me help you for a change.”
The old woman sucked her teeth for a moment. “A small bottle is eighty.”
My eyes popped wide. “For a small bottle?”
She shrugged apologetically. “It’s clean magic.”
I pressed my lips together and pulled out my checkbook instead. I scribbled a quick check out to her for an even hundred. I figured the MEA owed me some hazard pay, so why not?
Baba took the check and quickly shoved it into her housecoat. “Thanks, Kate.” She wouldn’t quite meet my gaze.
“You’ll tell me if you need anything else, right?”
“Oh sure,” she said, nodding unconvincingly. “Wouldn’t need this, but my Social Security check isn’t due for another week.”
I patted her hand. “It’s no problem. Thanks for the ride.”
Before I shut the car door, she called out. I leaned back inside. Baba’s face was grave. “She won’t make the first move.”
I tipped my chin abruptly and slammed the car door shut before she could elaborate. I’d call Pen eventually and set things right, but for now I needed to put one foot in front of the other.
By the time I limped inside with my apothecary bags, I was exhausted. Danny was sitting at the kitchen table. A book was open in front of him, and he had a pencil jutting from his mouth like a cigarette. He looked up when I stepped in the door with a bag in my left hand, but his eyes immediately returned to his work.
“Hey, kid,” I said. Baba and I had agreed he shouldn’t come to the hospital, but she promised she’d filled him in on the bare basics so he wouldn’t worry.
He made a noncommittal noise. His eyes narrowed on my bandages and bruises. “You okay?”
Judging from his tone, he was worried but didn’t like it. We still hadn’t had a real conversation since our argument.
“Yep. Just little sore.” I placed the bags on the table. “I’ll be good as new in a couple of days.”
He nodded and looked down at his homework again. His movements were tense, as if he was bracing himself for another argument.