"take it back."

the voice turned in an instant. no longer amused. now angry. "excuse me?"

okay, that had been blunt, almost rude. i wouldn't get away with talking like that to queen lopaka or king dahlmar and they were mortals. "please, isis, the gift of the collar was meant for the pharaohs. but they are no more. take it back, away from those who don't understand it, and don't respect it."

"you could take the collar as your own, or ask for power, make yourself desirable to all men, whatever you wished. and yet you choose to throw it away?"

i sighed. i so didn't want it. but i didn't want to insult her, either. still, as i looked down at bruno and creede, frozen back-to-back, moments from death ... we were all moments from death, even without glinda to add to the storm, there was no question in my mind. "i mean no offense. but i already have more power and men than i'm comfortable with. sure, i'd love to get rid of the demon, cure everyone here afflicted with this disease, make sure rizzoli's all right. but mostly, i want this-" i deleted the expletive that came to my lips as i looked at the bejeweled golden artifact, and simply extended it toward her. "i want the collar gone."

she smiled, and it was as if the sun rose. "very well. i will take the collar from this plane. and i offer you a piece of wisdom. all power, including the collar, is no more than a tool: like the knives you wear, or the guns so favored in this time. in the hands of an ethical person with training and skill they serve a noble and useful purpose. they protect the innocent, keep the world safe. it is in the hands of the untrained and unskilled, or morally corrupt, that power becomes dangerous."

she wasn't talking about the collar now. "my siren abilities."

"and your vampire nature. use them with skill or risk corruption." and with that she vanished, in a literal puff of smoke.

so did the demon. just like that, with nary a tentacle left behind, leaving everyone in the room looking around at each other in confusion. but they were all healthy and literally glowing with power.

even the zombies who hadn't yet burned up.

shit.

26

i slept for an entire day, then began to address cards because i was too restless, but the city was nearly shut down by the pandemic. highways had been turned into inflows to hospitals. it was impossible to get around the city, according to the news, so i didn't try.

the pandemic was increasing, with no end in sight. i'd either been too specific with my wish to isis, or it had been beyond her ability. the whole city was going to change and there wasn't anything i could do about it.

i wrote condolence cards mostly. reality bites sometimes, but as gran always said, "it's the little niceties that hold humanity together." one for officer harris, another for the school, then get-well cards for those who were improving. i decided julie and mikey should get balloon bouquets once they were out of icu. at least they would come out. they were healing slowly, and while there would be therapy required, at least for today i could breathe a temporary sigh of relief.

the only call i took was from rizzoli's wife, karen. i'd thought it was rizzoli because that's how it came up on caller id. "ms. graves? this is karen rizzoli, dominic's wife."

i'd never talked to her, but the voice matched the photo. soft, sweet, loving. he was a lucky man. "how is he? i haven't seen him since the emts took him away in the ambulance."

"he's improved a lot since last night. it's so strange to watch bruises disappear as i watch."

i was still struggling with the appearance of a goddess, or whatever she was. but there was no denying her power. people who were doomed and dead came back. "it does take some getting used to. so his prognosis is good?"

"he died." her voice sounded odd. "he told me so. he ... saw things. i think he'll need to talk to someone about it. but the bureau's really good about that sort of thing. he'll get the help he needs."

oh. near-death experience. yeah, i'd had more than one of those. i'm pretty good at repressing them, but eventually i know i'll have to deal with them myself someday. "well, give him my best. i'm sure he'll need some time to-"

"actually," she interrupted. "that's not why i'm calling. he asked me to tell you they found your book. he said it was a very rare volume and he wanted you to have it. dom said maybe it would give you answers, or clues, about other things."

oh! the book dr. sloan gave me. "that's awesome! who do i need to talk to to get it back?"

"he said he'd get in contact with you soon. he also wanted to thank you for saving indira-agent matumbo. she was able to impersonate the witch you caught at the docks later and a whole bunch of extremists are behind bars." yay! what great news.

"confidentially," she added in a quiet voice, "i think he's embarrassed he pushed you into this."

what? "he didn't. not a bit. going after the witch was my choice. i had people involved that she'd intentionally hurt. it was my fight."

karen sighed. "i don't think dom feels that way. he worries when he sends people into dangerous situations. i'm glad you weren't hurt for purely selfish reasons. he'd never forgive himself." she then went on to add that the feds had found glinda's stockpile of drugs, and the interim president of the drug company was working with the government to get them distributed to the victims. of course, everyone there swears glinda was acting alone.

i don't know if i believe it. it's awful ambitious for one person, collar or not.

i rang off with karen, suddenly grateful for so many things. but i was still too weary for excitement. and i was still sad that gran wouldn't return my calls. there'd been a message on my machine to say mom was back on the island and had a new personal guard ... baker.

but no gran and no ivy. that hurt. a lot.

bruno and john both came to my house near dusk, for different reasons.

bruno arrived first and wrapped me in a hug when i opened the door that left me warm but breathless. then the kiss he bestowed turned what was left of my muscles into jell-o. "how you doin'?"

i let out a slow sigh and allowed myself to rest against his muscled chest. "better. the feds used some magic on me. apparently, my vampire healing doesn't work on magical burns, just natural ones. i could still use a little more rest. you?"

he nodded and lowered his mouth to mine once more. i could feel his warm breath on my face as his mouth ate at mine gently. god, those lips. i'd missed them. he smoothed his hands down my back, knowing just where to touch to make me moan. i pulled away after a few moments, shaky but pleased. "mmm. much better now. actually, i'm headed back to new jersey. just stopped by on the way to the airport."

it startled me and i pulled away farther. "why?"

he shrugged and smiled just a bit. "gotta pack up my apartment to move here. i don't want anyone handling my magic stuff. not even family. besides, i promised mom i'd be there for her ascension."

"ascension?"

"yeah, they're making her grand hag of the east coast."

i knew bruno had gotten his power honestly. his mother was a witch. his father a mage. but ... grand hag? i bit my tongue. hard.

because i didn't disagree with the title for his mother.

"don't," he warned. "not one word. it's a big honor and a huge responsibility."

i tried to say something nice; it almost worked. "i'm sure she'll do a fine job." of course he knew what i was thinking. not because of any mind-reading ability. he just knows me that well.

i backed away just a bit and he noticed my outfit. "wow. you look stunning. what's the occasion?"

"dinner with me." john's voice. i hadn't heard him drive up. bruno's shoulders dropped as john climbed the stairs, and he let out a sigh.

i shrugged. "he asked first. i'm trying to play fair."

john slid to my side and touched my cheek with his lips but added a flick of his tongue that bruno didn't notice and that gave me shivers. "sounds like i have a couple of weeks to work my magic, too. feel free to keep taking these trips, deluca. they're doing me a world of good." their eyes met and i could see genuine respect in both men. demon fighting seems to be a guy-bonding activity. "i dropped the directions for the body-binding charm on your car seat on the way up. seemed only right after you gave me the energy boost."

bruno smiled and he really did seem amused, rather than hurt or angry. there's nothing he loves more than new spells to try and that one really was amazing. "just keep your calendar free in two weeks, celia. i'm going to take you somewhere that will knock your socks off."

i smiled at him as he climbed down the stairs, while on the arm of the other man in my life. yeah. he was and i didn't have a clue what to do about it. "looking forward to it."

once his taillights were on the road toward the gate, i turned to john, who looked amazing in a sport coat and open-necked cream silk shirt. he was wearing the cologne that made my knees weak and made me want to nuzzle his ear. he smiled at me. "ready?"

"where are we headed?"

"dinner. then maybe dancing if you're up to it."

i hadn't been dancing in ... wow. i still hurt, but not too bad. maybe i could manage one song. "actually, dinner sounds good, but i need to ask you something first." something that could completely ruin the date. and where better than right on my doorstep?

he frowned just a bit when he saw that in my mind, and backed up until he was in the shadow, where i couldn't see his face well. "what's up?"

"why haven't you told me anything about you?" i started the list. "i didn't know you had a sister, or that you met her every saturday. i didn't know about your food poisoning or the casinos in monte carlo or how many places you've traveled for jobs. hell, i don't even know what you do to keep your calves looking that good."