34. Let’s Phone Grammy
LET’S PHONE GRAMMY
The first priority is to procure a plane. Thanks to Ji-hwan’s connections from his time as an enforcer, we’re able to get one sorted quicker than I would have thought possible.
We’re boarded and taking off just over an hour from the time we hang up with Starla’s father.
On the plane, we take full advantage of wi-fi calling to keep communication with our allies open.
Jackal contacts Never and Hugh for their advice on the situation, with the Were promising to send someone out to the beach who can be there by the time we land, in case very physical reinforcements are needed.
Hugh was able to confirm for us just how involved the councilman has been in Leon’s doings.
“It took some doing, but I was able to connect him through some receipts to several shady auctions and groups that directly intersected with Leon’s circles.”
Starla’s eyes flicker and flash, her fists clenching and unclenching.
Jackal volunteers to follow up with Cannon and Malcolm, just in case they have any other whale shifter friends near CB who would like to lend us a hand.
Exos reaches out to Brody and Keegan at the bar to warn them to be on their guard. They’ll make sure Ginny and Shanell get the message as well.
Starla and I get the arguably trickier task of a conversation with Grammy Pearl.
My feelings toward the matronly seer are complicated at the moment.
I know that her key is maligned at times for reasons beyond her control.
There’s every possibility that she couldn’t tell us about Starla’s father, for fear that doing so would risk a change in the outcome.
But it’s hard to focus on that logic when the outcome has been so hurtful.
Starla holds up the phone on a video call with her grandmother.
“Coven Leader,” she says when Grammy Pearl picks up the phone.
The elder witch has her rabbit, Opal, on her shoulder and appears to be sitting next to her plants at the coven house. She’s calm, so at the very least Councilman Taylor isn’t attacking the witches. Yet.
“Starla, Leena. Let me start by issuing you both an apology. I’m sure you’re cross with me, and I don’t blame you. There are things that the magic will not allow me to reveal, lest it change the course of the future. A future that in this case I could not afford to change.”
Not only is she a seer, she’s practically a mind reader.
“I’m not cross at you, Grammy. I am furious at the situation. How could you not even give us a hint? Why not just tell us where to go and who to hunt down? We would have done it!” Starla says, her voice drowning out a couple of the other conversations taking place on the plane.
“You wouldn’t have. If I had told you what your father was involved in before you left, it would have affected your ability to act even remotely nonchalant around him.
I know you, and I’m certain you had a hard enough time as it was.
Can you honestly tell me you wouldn’t have tried to shock him off his feet the moment you saw him if I’d warned you that he was the supernatural who initially helped Leon? ”
I wince, taking over as Starla takes several deep breaths.
“That’s the most recent thing we found out. Even then, the councilman didn’t exactly take responsibility.”
Grammy Pearl scoffs.
“Of course he didn’t. Many people don’t want to take a good hard look in the mirror when they’ll find that kind of evil looking back at them.
He is greedy and unscrupulous, and he doesn’t want to admit that he can’t see the future nearly as well as some of us.
He had no idea his little stooge would end up in Carolina Beach.
He’d call it bad luck, but I call it an inevitability.
He can’t admit to himself that he’s not in control. ”
“Is that why no one showed up to try to help Leon after we captured him? Why his network seemed to dissolve? I figured anyone working for him was scared but just moved to a new payroll.”
“Maybe. I don’t think Councilman Taylor likes working with humans unless they have very deep pockets, like Leon’s, but that’s neither here nor there.
What I can tell you is this. Leon saw those experiments as a game-changing bit of science that would level the playing field between supernaturals and humans.
Your father probably would have chosen a different underling if he’d known that Leon would try to undercut the potential profits of the plan. ”
“That man is not my father. I don’t need that sort of family,” Starla snaps, rejoining the conversation.
Grammy nods to acknowledge the statement, but when she speaks, she addresses our concerns instead.
“I have noticed some interesting individuals lingering around the coven’s perimeter. May I assume they are here courtesy of Councilman Taylor?”
“That is correct. I, uh,”—Starla blushes, stumbling over her words now— “may have gotten myself engaged. Leena may have also gotten engaged. I’m supposed to be marrying a warlock named Piers, and Leena promised she would wed my cousin, Claude Soloman.”
Grammy lets out a curse, and I’m so shocked to hear a four-letter word leave her mouth that I slap a hand over my own mouth.
“This, I did not see. Tell me you did not sign a magically binding contract?”
“No. We scarpered before the ceremony, wedding dresses and all. That’s why the councilman is so hopping mad. He’s determined to get those signatures and force our hands.”
Grammy breathes what I take to be a sigh of relief.
“That’s something, then. Ask anyone who’s worked around them. Those contracts can be iron-clad when they’re done well.”
I know Hugh specializes in them.
Starla explains that we’re set to meet the councilman behind her bar, and that he’s instructed we come alone.
“We need to get to that water without being stopped. That’s the only way to return Leena’s song,” Starla says.
My song. Once I have it, I can sing the councilman and anyone else he brings along straight into the sea if Starla wills it. I’ll have the power to solve our problems before anyone gets hurt.
But not if he’s waiting for us. If he figures out what we’re trying to do, there’s no way he won’t put up a fight.
Grammy pets Opal, and the bunny nuzzles against her.
“The councilman will doubtless take care of having a magical perimeter to keep prying human eyes and unwanted visitors away. No matter what he says, he won’t want to draw the Magikai’s attention if it can be avoided.
That works in our favor. Less magic we’ll need to expend on our own, although I will of course check, so we don’t have any human casualties,” Grammy says, deep in planning mode.
“Are we calling in the cavalry? A little beach battle, perhaps?” Starla asks.
“We’ve got backup ready and waiting,” Jackal says, walking behind us and leaning down so he’s visible to Grammy Pearl.
“Brody and Keegan are ready as well. Ginny, too,” Exos says. He’s too large to fit himself easily behind us, but he is loud enough to be heard.
“It goes without saying that we’ll all happily put ourselves in danger to help you both out. This is a team effort. A family effort,” Ji-hwan says. He blushes at the end of the statement, and I get up to go give him a hug.
“Yes. A family effort,” I say.
“You heard it here first, Grammy. A team better than any superhero and ready for action. I’m champing at the bit to get this face-off over and done with. How should we handle it?” Starla asks.
“Well,” Grammy says, “I think the two of you should walk straight out on that beach alone and give him exactly what he wants.”
There are several shouts as the others express their shock and displeasure, but I stay silent.
The seer got us our answers, and once we land on that beach, I’ll be home. The closer I am to the water, the better our chances.
If Starla can give me my voice back, I can take care of the rest.