A Dream of Ashes: An Ava James Mystery (Chronicles of the Modern Mystics Book 1) Read online

  Lewis headed off, muttering about how mystics were responsible for what was wrong with the world.

  “He’s either very brave or very stupid,” I said as I crouched down near the body. I kept my gloves on and let my hands hover over the body. I took some of the ashes in my hand and smelled them. I was instantly flooded with images. The impression rocked me, stealing my breath.

  By the Nine, what the hell is that?

  “He’s a little of both,” Franco said. “Sorry about that. We’’re all a little on edge on this one. You get anything?”

  “Same thing as the calibrator—this guy is a Water Mystic,” I said, rubbing my hands to hide the shaking.

  “Your hands cold?” he asked. “I thought Fire Mystics didn’t feel cold.”

  I forced my hands to be still. “We don’t,” I said quickly. “Not cold——cramped. I had to use my sticks on the one who redecorated my coat.”

  Franco nodded, but he kept his gaze fixed on me.

  “Joshua is going to be in an unpleasant mood,” Franco said. “For him, murder is murder, mystic or not.”

  “The last thing we need is dead mystics in the streets,” I said.”

  “Or anywhere else,” Franco said. “I have to bring Canus up to speed. He’s going to want to speak to you. That’s all you got?”

  “Nothing else,” I lied. “I’ll be at Sylph’’s. He knows where.”

  I stood and dusted the ash off my coat. As I walked away, Lewis was giving orders to the other Paras as they worked to secure the body and remove it from the scene before the morning traffic. Franco walked me back to the Rhino.

  I placed a hand on the driver’s side door and allowed the wards to read me. The door gave off a faint blue glow before opening.

  “We were looking into doing the same thing to the Shadow, as a security measure,” Franco said. “Who did your wards?”

  “I don’t think he would do yours, Franco,” I said. “He’’s not a big fan of the PTF.”

  “You’re talking about Ghost, aren’t you?” Franco asked. ““We’ve been looking for him. I have questions.”

  I nodded. “He’s hard to find, even for the Enclave,” I said. “You won’t find him unless he wants to be found.”

  “What kind of security do you have on your vehicle?”

  “If the wrong person tried to open the Rhino, even with the key, the wards would detonate with enough force to level half a city block,” I said. “When I told him that was overkill, he just smiled.”

  “We could pay,” he said. “It would be worth his time.”

  “You don’t understand,” I said, shaking my head and getting into the Rhino. “For the Paras, he would probably set it to detonate when anyone tried to open your vehicle.”

  “I see,” he said. “That would be painful and costly. I’ll look for an alternative. Canus will contact you once we are done here.”

  The Rhino’s engine roared to life and then settled into a rumbling purr. I gripped the steering wheel hard, trying not to let fear show on my face as I pulled away from the scene. Despite its darkness, I loved my city, but on days like this she was a cheap whore. A façade of beauty stripped away by the bright light of death, revealing the ugly truth to those brave or stupid enough to look closer. I couldn’t shake the images that rushed through my head.

  How did a Water Mystic drown before being reduced to ashes?

  THREE

  I MADE MY way over to Sylph’s. It wasn’t far from the crime scene, sitting at the crossroads of Fourteenth Street and Tenth Avenue. It occupied the space made famous by the Hellfire Club——an old S&M bar. Its circular green logo—an illuminated phoenix rising into the sky, dominated the building’s façade.

  Sylph’s was a mystic neutral-zone. The owner, Buck, made sure that any disagreements between mystics were resolved without loss of life or limb. Anyone breaking that pact usually found themselves at risk of losing either. No one had broken that pact in decades. It also helped that he was the size of a grizzly—and just as friendly.

  Pulling up into the alley behind the bar, I parked the Rhino in one of the spaces reserved for mystic vehicles. The sun crept over the buildings of the city as dawn approached. I headed to the back door and crossed the threshold. Buck never locked the rear entrance. Protective wards inscribed into the frame of the door glowed faintly as I walked in.

  He stood in the center of the bar. It was a large island made up of nine slabs of dark mahogany joined to form one connected whole. It was the centerpiece of the bar and dominated the floor. Each of the nine sections contained a ward etched into the wood. They were rumored to be the original names of the Nine Mystics, but I could never confirm it. Buck refused to tell me what the wards meant, and I couldn’t decipher them. They glowed faintly in the morning light that danced across the bar. The smell of wood permeated the space and I took a deep breath as I grabbed one of the stools.

  Buck was pouring a thick brown liquid into a large mug. He slid it around the bar and it rested to a stop in front of me.

  “Showoff,” I muttered before picking up the mug and bringing it to my lips. The rich aroma of chocolate rose and wrapped itself around me as I sipped the tea. I closed my eyes and sighed in pleasure. This was pure bliss.

  “There’s a certain large coffee conglomerate that is going to sue your ass for copyright infringement with that green logo and this décor,” I said after taking another sip.

  “Solo?” Buck asked as he wiped down the bar and prepped for the morning crowd. “Where’s the partner?”

  I remained silent, not wanting to spoil my tea moment. He just stared as he wiped.

  “Last one was…what was the word they used?” I said, the anger finding its way into my voice. “Incompatible with me. Only one who lasted more than a week was Ross, and he left.”

  Buck grunted in response and nodded as if agreeing.

  “Was that you earlier?” he said. “You used your ability?”

  I can’t believe how sensitive he is.

  “Yes,” I said. “That idiot, Lewis…Yes, it was me.””

  “Dangerous, Ava,” he said. “Using power around the PTF is never a good idea.”

  He positioned his hand on a section of the bar. The wards flared to life for a few seconds. With an audible click, two sections of the bar separated. Buck pushed them aside and stepped out of the island.

  With the nonagon broken, the energy of the space shifted into something primal, menacing, and barely contained. It returned to its normal harmonious state when Buck joined the sections again.

  “You mean it’s dangerous for me?”

  Buck nodded. “Some serious activity a few hours ago, but it read like you…like a Fire Mystic.” He gave me a long stare.

  “What are you saying?” I asked, not liking his tone. “You can’t seriously think—”

  “I didn’t say it was you,” he answered. “I said it read like a Fire Mystic. How many Fire Mystics are in the South Enclave?”

  “Shit,” I said. “One—me.””

  “And how many in the MID out of the South Enclave?”

  “Same answer,” I said. “One.”

  Buck nodded. “Then you used your ability at the scene,” he said. “On Lewis, of all people.”

  “So stupid,” I said. “May as well have confessed.”

  “Stupid is one of the words I would use.”

  “I need to speak to Canus,” I said. “Lewis will start jumping to conclusions, making assumptions, and put this on me. Can I ask you a question?””

  Buck nodded.

  “You ever hear of a Water Mystic drowning?”

  Buck shook his head and flung the towel over his shoulder.

  “Impossible, a Water Mystic can’t drown.”

  “That’s what I thought.”

  Until this morning.

  “Why?” Buck asked.

  “I really need to speak to Pitbull,” I said. “I felt something crazy this morning at the scene.”

  “You’ll g
et your chance soon,” he said and walked to the rear of the bar. “Be right back—need some more supplies.”

  I finished my tea and turned in the stool. I took in the empty bar. Eighteen stools were positioned around the bar. Around the center island sat eighteen small tables with two chairs each. Continuing the joint of each section of the bar, thin gold lines crossed along the floor and ended in wooden columns along the walls that formed an outer nonagon to match the island. The place was a mystic dead-zone. No mystic could use powers in here without serious backlash.

  I put the mug down and stood. I was making my way over to one of the columns when an explosion rocked the building and knocked me off my feet. I saw Buck heading back to the bar, his expression one of fury.

  “What the hell was—?” I started when a glow filled the entrance. “Get down!”

  Buck slid across the floor under the fireball and, into the side of the bar as it slammed through the wards and crashed into a wall, starting a blaze. I stumbled to my feet and headed to the door. Outside, the lot was empty except for the Rhino and a damaged Para vehicle that sat engulfed in flames. I ran to it and opened the door, ignoring the fire. Inside lay an unconscious Joshua Canus, the commander of the PTF. A deep gash crossed his forehead where his head must have struck the wheel and his left arm was twisted in an unnatural angle. I pulled him out, careful not to move his arm more than necessary.

  Buck came up behind me and helped carry Canus back into the bar. Once inside, Buck placed his hands together and a vortex of air crashed into the flames, extinguishing them. The wood was scorched but undamaged.

  “You need to go,” Buck said. “Before the PTF gets here.”

  “I didn’t do this,” I said. “I was in here with you.””

  “I know, but it doesn’t matter right now,” he said. “It looks like a Fire Mystic did this.”

  He’s right.

  “How did that fireball get through the wards?”

  Buck shook his head. “Someone stronger than you threw that in here,” he said. “Wards robbed it of most of its force. I’’m surprised some of it got past them.”

  Sirens could be heard in the distance.

  “You’d better get to your car,” Buck said. “That explosion is going to bring everyone.”

  I stepped outside and headed to the Rhino. Buck stood at the door and checked the other entrance in case anyone appeared. I placed a hand on the car door and nothing happened. I felt for the wards and found they were missing. Taking out my key and unlocking the door, I hesitated. It was a risk if I made a mistake. If the wards were still active, they would detonate. The door was open when they kicked in.

  They were masked. Shit!

  “Buck, get inside now!” I yelled and jumped out of the Rhino, backpedaling.

  I turned to run back to the bar when the wards exploded, and my world went black.

  FOUR

  THE LAST OF the Para trucks were leaving the scene when an explosion sounded off behind them.

  Franco turned to Lewis, alarm on his face.

  “That sounded like it came from that direction,” Lewis said as he pointed west. “Isn’t that where the flamer went—that mystic place? Sylph’s?”

  “More importantly, Canus is going to meet her there,” Franco said. “Let’s go.”

  They jumped into the Shadow as firetrucks raced past them.

  “A fire?” Lewis said. “This can’t be good.””

  Lewis chased the firetrucks as they made their way to the lot behind Sylph’s. Flames raged from the two vehicles in the lot.

  “Isn’t that—?” Lewis started as he stopped the Shadow at the entrance to the lot.

  “That’s Joshua’s vehicle…and Ava’’s,” Franco said. “What the hell happened here?”

  “Whatever it was, I’m sure the flamer is to blame,” Lewis said. “Goddamn mystics.”

  “Get our men down here and find them…now,” Franco said. “I’’ll check the bar.”

  Franco headed to Sylph’s. Once past the entrance, he saw the body of his commander lying on the floor. Over the body, a crouched Buck was doing his best to make Canus comfortable. Franco drew his gun and pointed it at Buck.

  “Step away from the body…slowly,” Franco said.

  Buck moved back and held his hands up, careful not to make any sudden movements.

  “He needs medical attention,” Buck said. “His arm is broken.”

  “Lewis, I have Canus, but there’s no sign of Ava,” Franco said into his radio. “Get a medic in here—he’s hurt.”

  A string of curses came over the radio as Lewis could be heard calling someone.

  “Ava didn’t do this,” Buck said. “Despite what it looks like.””

  Franco looked around the bar and noticed the scorch marks along several of the walls.

  “Are you a mystic, Mr.—?” Franco asked.

  “Buck, and yes, I’m a mystic.”

  “Is this your place?” Franco asked.

  “Yes, I own Sylph’s,” Buck said.

  Lewis came into the bar, looked around and pointed to Canus. Behind him, the medics put their gear on the floor and began to check vitals and immobilize the arm.

  “From where I’m standing, that flamer did this,” Lewis said. “The only question is why.”

  “She didn’t—” Buck stopped himself. “It wasn’’t Ava.”

  “Buck, my commander is injured and both vehicles have been damaged in addition to your business”—Franco pointed at the wall—“with what appears to be fire.””

  “It wasn’t her.”

  “Then she won’t mind answering some of my questions,” Franco said. “Where is she?”

  “Gone,” Buck said. “I don’t know where.””

  “Innocent people don’t run, Bucky,” Lewis said with a sneer. “Franco, I told you it was her. Call the Enforcers.”

  Buck narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists but remained where he stood. Lewis noticed and pulled his gun.

  “You upset, Bucky?” he asked. “You feel something for this flamer? You wanna take a shot?”

  “She’s a friend,” Buck said.

  “She’s a suspect is what she is,” Lewis said. “Maybe she’’s more than a friend?”

  “She’s also the only Fire Mystic in the South Enclave,” Franco said, looking up from his notes. “Until I can confirm it wasn’t her, she’s my suspect. Lewis, search this place. I’ll make the call.”

  “With pleasure,” Lewis said as he pulled out his calibrator and began the search with several of the Paras who arrived.

  Franco spoke into his phone as he stepped to the other side of the bar.

  “Julius, I have one of yours I need found,” Franco said.

  “Which Enclave?” answered a rough voice.

  “South, and I’ll let Moira know,” Franco said.

  Laughter erupted from the phone. “She isn’t going to be happy,” Julius said. “She doesn’t like her mystic children touched.”

  “I need the suspect alive, Julius,” Franco said.

  “Breathing counts as alive,” Julius said. “What am I looking at here?”

  “Fire Mystic—primary level,” Franco said. “She uses fire.””

  “Walk in the park, then,” Julius said. “I’ll give you a call when I have her.”

  Franco stepped back to the island as the medics placed Canus on a stretcher and removed him. The Paras were leaving as well.

  “Calibrator shows nothing here, except him,” Lewis said pointing at Buck. “She must have run as soon as she attacked Canus.””

  “You don’t know the mistake you are making,” Buck whispered.

  “She made her last mistake”—Lewis prodded Buck in the chest with his finger—“when she attacked my commander.””

  “If she contacts you, tell her I need to speak to her,” Franco said. “Lewis, have both cars impounded. Make sure no one tries to get into her vehicle, since I don’’t know what wards it may have beyond the initial security.”r />
  Franco and Lewis left the bar and drove away in the Shadow.

  *********

  Buck closed and secured both doors and placed signs that notified any patrons that Sylph’s would open later in the day. He opened the island and placed his hand on a different section of the nonagon and part of the floor collapsed revealing stairs. Buck headed down and entered the basement.

  The basement was as large as the level above it. On the floor in the center sat another nonagon made up of gold lines. It gave off a subdued glow as the stairs descended. Inside the nonagon, thin lines of writing glinted in the faint light. Once Buck stepped off the foot of the stairs, they rose into the ceiling and disappeared. The space was arranged as a lounge with large chaises spaced around the right side of the floor. Tables covered the other side of the floor. Ava sat on one of the chaises and looked up as Buck came down.

  *********

  “Hey,” I said and nodded at him. “This day just keeps getting better. I didn’t realize Sylph’s had a basement.”

  “It doesn’t, and you were never here.”

  “Got it,” I said. “No secret underground basement slash lounge.”

  He gave me a long stare before speaking. “I’m serious, Ava,” he said. “This place doesn’t exist for any mystic under first degree.”

  “What place?” I said, holding my hands up. “So you need to wield three powers before being let in down here?”

  He gave me a brief nod to let me know he wouldn’t discuss the subject, before continuing.

  “How did you survive that blast?” he asked. “That explosion should have—”

  “Killed me?” I said and grabbed the destroyed trench coat next to me. “This saved me. Ghost warded it when he did the Rhino. I need one of the spares.””

  Buck headed over to one of the wall cabinets and pulled out one of my trench coats. I’d had Ghost ward five of them. I kept three of them with Buck in case I ever needed a spare. The other two were in Queens at my Uncle Seb’s house, where I stayed.

  “PTF thinks you did it,” he said as he rummaged through the shelves. “If I hadn’t been next to you when it happened, I would have thought the same thing.”