Key of Knowledge

Chapter Fourteen

SINCE it became apparent, very quickly, that Dana wasnt handy with home improvement chores that involved tools, she was designated head painter. Which meant, she thought, a little sulkily, that she spent all day slapping paint on walls whileZoe went around doing stuff with a cool little electric screwdriver or drill and Maloryputzed around with the leak under the kitchen sink.

The fact that Malory was thegirliest girl of Danas acquaintance and that she got a wrench was lowering.

It wasnt that she minded painting so much—even though it was incredibly boring, despite the magic roller machine. She just couldve used a little variety on her job list.

Still, watching the walls take on color was satisfying. Malory andZoe had been on the money in the choice. Her bookstore section was going to look not only warm but stylish.

Zoeswore that once the floors were sanded and sealed, they would glow.

She knew how it could look. Kane had shown her. And if hed used her own fantasy to build the image, that was fine. This was one fantasy she was going to make sure came true.

As an idea struck, she stopped, turned off the machine, set the roller aside.

The truth in his lies. Her fantasy, and his manipulation of it.

What if the key was here, as Malorys had been? Why couldnt it be that simple? Hed shown her, hadnt he? Look what you can have, if you only cooperate with me: your dream bookstore, full of customers and stock. Not real, she thought now, not truth. But thered been truth in it. It was what she wanted, what she intended to work for. What she could have, with her own effort and on her own merits.

Maybe the key was right here, if she could only see it. If she could bring it out as Malory had.

She took some deep breaths, shaking her arms, rolling her shoulders, like a diver about to spring off the high platform. Then she closed her eyes, tried to let herself drift. She could hear the whirr ofZoes drill, and the cheerful music that Malory had playing on the radio.

What was that? ABBA? Jesus, couldnt she find a station that recognized music from this millennium?

Annoyed with herself, Dana struggled to erase the image of a teenage dancing queen from her mind.

The key. The pretty gold key. It was small, shiny, with that looping Celtic pattern at the hilt. Was it a hilt when it was a key? she wondered. It wasnt a damn sword, so there had to be another word for it. Shed have to look that up. Oh, stop it!

She huffed out another breath, and focused. The whirr of the drill, the tinkle of music, and beyond that, the muffled sound of cars passing on the street outside. The hum of the furnace as it kicked on.

And if you listened hard enough, she realized, the creaks and whispers of an old house settling into its own bones.

Her house. Hers. The first shed ever owned. A step out of the past toward the future. A single, definite move that changed the pattern of what had been toward what would be. She could smell fresh paint, a testament to a new start.

Those things were real, as real as her own flesh and blood. Those things were truth.

The key was real. She had only to see it, to touch it, to take it.

She saw it now, floating on a field of peacock green, shimmering against that deep color. But when she reached out, her hand passed through it as if it, or she, was insubstantial.

Im the key. Its meant for me.

She tried again, again, bearing down with the effort until sweat pearled on her forehead.

Its mine, she kept thinking. And this place is mine. Soon books will be lined along this wall, other walls. Knowledge.

“Dana!”

She snapped back, swayed even asZoes hands caught her arms. “What did he do to you? What did he do? Malory!”

“No, Im okay. Im fine.”

“You dont look fine. Hold on to me. Mal!” she shouted again.

Dana calculated she had a good thirty pounds onZoe , but her friend managed to hold her upright and steady.

“What is it? Whats wrong?” With a crescent wrench gripped like a weapon in her hand, Malory rushed in. For some reason, seeing the pretty, feminine blonde in her plumbers gear of sexy black leggings and slim green sweater—with matching hair tie—wielding a wrench had Dana giggling weakly.

“Kane. Kane had her. She was in some sort of trance.”

“No. It wasnt Kane. Im a little dizzy. Maybe I should just sit down.”

She slid to the floor, takingZoe with her. “Oh, God. Are you pregnant?”

“What?” The shock went a long way toward clearing her head as she goggled atZoe . “No. Jeez. I just started having sex again, remember? Would you two stop staring at me as if I were about to start speaking in tongues?”

“Here. Have some water.”Zoe pulled a bottle from the holster on her tool belt.

“Im okay.” But she gulped down the water. “I was just experimenting with a little selfhypnosis.”

“Here, let me have that.” Malory reached for the water, took a deep drink. “You scared the hell out of me.”

“Sorry. I had this idea that the keys here. Yours was— and the whole past, present, future thing. The store, our businesses. The books Im going to be hauling in here. Truth in lies. How Kane showed me the place all finished and full of those books and customers buying them.”

“Okay. Im following.”Zoe pulled out a red-and-white bandanna and dabbed at Danas brow. “But what happened? When I walked in you were standing in the middle of the room with your arm out in front of you. Kind of swaying, with your eyes closed. Honey, you looked really spooky.”

“I was trying to, you know, bring the key out. See the key. Be the key. Shit, that sounds stupid.”

“No, it doesnt.” Handing the water back toZoe , Malory considered. “Its a good idea. It could be here. Hell, it could be anywhere, so why not here?”

“A good idea,”Zoe agreed. “But I dont think you should try something like that alone. It could be like opening yourself up to him, with nobody around to keep you steady. Like a control group, or backup. You really looked out of it, Dana.”

“Youve got a point.” But she smiled. “Stop fussing, Mom.” To lighten the mood, she pinchedZoes biceps. “Youre a lot stronger than you look. You work out regular?”

“A little here and there. Mostly Im just built.” And her heart rate settled down again. “You look better now. Maybe we could try something like this, with the three of us.”

“It might be worth a shot,” Malory agreed.

“If youre up to it, Dana. We could sit right here, link hands. Mal and I could sort of push our energy toward you.”

“Perhaps you recall a small incident last month involving a Ouija board?” Dana asked.

“Not likely to forget.”Zoe gave a quick shudder. “But we wouldnt be using anything but our own connection. Its not like were playing around with the dark arts, or whatever it is.”

“Okay.” Lips pursed, Dana looked around. “But it seems kind of silly. The three of us sitting on a drop cloth in an empty, half-painted room trying to conjure up a magic key. But…” She grippedZoes hand, then Malorys. “Im in.”

“Mal, maybe you could give her some tips. What it was like for you, what you did.”

“I dont know if I can explain it. So much of it just happened. Its like being in a dream, but knowing youre dreaming, and at the same time knowing its not a dream.”

“Thats a big help.” But with a half laugh, Dana squeezed her hand. “Actually, I know what you mean. Its the way I felt when he took me into the bookstore.”

“I dont know how I understood what to do, but it was suddenly so clear. The one thing was focusing on what I had to do without letting him know I was focusing on it. And that was hard, really hard, but part of that was because I was so scared. For me, it helped to concentrate on painting, the actual art and act. The colors, the tone, the detail. I dont know if that helps you.”

“I dont know either. So lets find out.”

“Were not going to let anything happen to you,”Zoe told her. “Were going to be right here.”

“Okay.”

Taking that long breath, Dana shut her eyes. It was a comfort to feel the hands gripped on hers. Like an anchor, she supposed, that would prevent her from floating off somewhere she shouldnt go.

She let herself listen again to the sounds of the house, to her own quiet, steady breathing matching the rhythm of her friends. She smelled paint, and perfume.

There was the key again, shining on the colored field she now realized was the wall shed just painted. Her wall, with the color chosen by the woman flanking her.

But when she reached out for it with her mind, she could bring it no closer.

She struggled with impatience and tried to imagine how the key would feel in her hand. Smooth, she thought, and cool.

No, it would have heat. It held power. She would feel that fire from which it was forged, and when she closed her fist over it, it would fit easily in her palm.

Because she was meant to hold it.

The color washed away to a strong white lined with black. The key seemed to melt into it, a shimmering gold pool that dripped over black and white, then faded away.

In her mind she heard a long sigh. A womans sigh. And felt, heard, a rush of wind that smelled like autumn burning.

She walked at night, and was the night with all its shadows and all its secrets. When she wept, she wept for day.

The words that ran through her mind brought such an ache she thought her heart might bleed dry from it, as from a mortal wound. In defense, she shut them off.

Everything faded again. And she could smell the paint, and the perfume.

She opened her eyes, saw her friends watching her.

“Honey, are you all right?”Zoe spoke gently as she freed her hand from Malorys and touched Danas cheek.

“Sure. Yeah.”

“Youre crying.”Zoe dried Danas cheek with the bandanna.

“Am I? I dont know why. Something hurt, I guess. You know.” She pressed a hand to her heart. “In here. I dont know where it is. I still dont know where the key is.”

She scrubbed the heels of her hands over her face and told them what shed imagined.

“She walks at night,” Malory repeated. “The goddess walks.”

“Yeah. It sounded sort of familiar, but I couldve made it up. Or it could apply toNiniane . I just know it made me horribly sad.”

She got to her feet, walked to the window to open it. She needed air. “Shes alone in the dark— thats how I think of her. Theyre all alone in the dark. If I dont do what needs to be done, theyll stay in the dark.”

Zoewalked over to press her cheek to the back of Danas shoulder. “Theyve got each other, and theyve got us. Dont beat yourself up. Youre trying.”

“And I think youre getting somewhere.” Malory joined them at the window. “Im not saying that to be annoyingly optimistic. Youre putting the different parts of Rowenas clue together. Your brains working them out, shifting them around, trying to make them fit. And I think with this last attempt, youve started to use your heart.

“Its not just your mind that has to be open,” Malory added when Dana turned her head to stare at her. “Your heart has to be. Thats one thing I learned. You cant take that last leap otherwise. You wont be ready to risk whats on the other side.”

SHE didnt know why it bothered her, bothered her to the point of anger. Open her heart? What was that supposed to mean? Was she supposed to strip her emotions bare so anyone could come in on a whim and dance all over them?

Wasnt it enough that she was working her ass off, giving herself headaches with hours of research, note-taking, calculating, and supposition?

She cared, damn it, she thought as she slammed into her apartment. She cared about those three young women, half goddess, half mortal, and trapped for eternity inside a glass prison.

She had shed tears for them, would shed blood if necessary.

How much more open did she have to be? Tired, achy, irritable, she strode to the kitchen, popped the top on a beer, ripped open a bag of pretzels to go with it. She dropped into a chair in the living room to sip, munch, and sulk. Take the last leap?

She was going up against an ancient and powerful sorcerer. She was risking nearly every cent she had on a new business. Shed ordered shelving and tables, chairs, and books. Lets not forget the books.

Then there was the cappuccino machine, the individual teapots, the glassware, the paper products that would max out her credit card in very short order.

And she was doing it all without any projected income. If that wasnt a goddamn leap, what was?

Easy for Malory to talk about open hearts and last leaps. Shed already done her part, and was allcozied up with Flynn in connubial bliss.

Got your house and your dog and your man, Dana thought with a scowl. Congratulations all around. And, God, she was being such a bitch. She let her head fall back and stared up at the ceiling. “Face it, Dana, youre jealous. Not only did Malory come through the test with a big fat A, she earned all the goodies. And here you are, spinning your wheels, sleeping with a man whos already broken your heart once, and terrified youre going to blow it all.“

She hauled herself up at the knock on her door, and took the beer with her to answer.

Moe shoved his nose into her crotch by way of greeting, then rushed past her to claim the mangled rope hed left on the rug during his last visit.

He pranced back, ears flopping, to whack the rope hopefully against her knees.

“You didnt come by to get Moe,” Jordan commented.

“I forgot.” She shrugged, then walked back and dropped into the chair again.

Jordan closed the door behind him, tossed the manila envelope he carried on a table. He knew that look, he thought as he studied Danas face. She was sulking and working her way up to a serious mad.

“Whats going on?”

“Nothing much.” Since Moe was trying to crawl into her lap, she tugged the rope out of his teeth and tossed it to Jordan.

It had the expected and for her, gratifying, result of causing Moe to charge him like a bull charges a matador. And like a matador uses his cape, Jordan flicked the rope down and to the side: Man and dog played tug-of-war while dog growled playfully and man stared at woman.

“Long day? I was going to come by and give you a hand, but I got caught up in stuff.”

“Were managing everything.”

“An extra pair of hands couldnt hurt.”

“You want to put your hands to good use?”

“Its a thought.”

“Fine.” She pushed out of the chair, headed toward the bedroom. “Bring them along with you.”

Jordan lifted a brow at Moe. “Sorry, kiddo, youre on your own. I think Im about to play a different sort of game.”

He followed Dana into the bedroom, shut the door. He heard Moe collapse on the other side with a huge doggie sigh.

Shed already stripped off her sweatshirt and shoes and was unbuttoning her jeans. “Lose the clothes.”

“Got an itch, Stretch?”

“Thats right.” She wiggled out of the jeans, tossed back her hair. “Got any problem scratching it?”

“Cant seem to think of one.” He shrugged outofthe coat, threw it aside.

He got rid of his shoes, his shirt, while she pulled down the covers. Hed been off about her mood, he realized. Shed already worked herself up to a good mad and was looking for a handy place to put it.

When she reached up to unclasp her bra, he stepped over, gripped her hands, trapping them—for one erotic moment—behind her. Then he released her to trail his fingers down her spine. “Leave something for me, will you?” She shrugged, then fisting a hand in his hair, yanked his mouth to hers.

She used her teeth, her nails, setting the mood for fast, hot sex with just a hint of mean. She wasnt looking for fancy touches or soft flourishes but for sweat and speed.

She felt his bodys instant response, the hard hammer blow of his heart, the lightning strike of heat that punched out of him and straight through her. His mouth fed off hers, and his hands began to take, fingers digging in to brand and bruise.

She was already wet and ready when she shoved him back on the bed.

She would have straddled him and made quick work of it, but he flipped her over, trapped her body under his. Set his teeth on her breast. Her hips jerked, her hands clamped on his, and she ground herself against him in frantic, furious demand.

His vision hazed with red as the fierce bite of need tore through his system. He yanked her bra down to her waist, filled his mouth with her even as he shoved his hand between them, drove his fingers into the heat of her and shot her brutally over the edge.

She exploded under him, her body writhing, straining, then gathering itself for another leap. Her nails bit into him, her hipspistoned until he was as wild as she.

They rolled, grappling for more in a slippery, mindless battle that had thrill ramming into thrill. Her mouth was fevered and ravenous, her hands greedy and swift.

He knew hed rather die warring with her than live in peace with anyone else.

With her breath sobbing, she rose over him and took him inside her with one hard thrust.

The dark glory of it gushed through her, flooded her until the anger and doubts drowned.

This was real, she told herself. This was enough.

And she watched him watch her take him.

Fast and hot, focused on those twin goals of pleasure and release. She rode him with a ruthless energy that turned her own body into a morass of greed. For speed, for passion. For more.

When she felt his fingers vise her hips, when she saw those brilliant blue eyes go blind, she threw her head back and flew off the end of the world with him.

She was still shuddering as she slid down to him. Her breath was as ragged as his when her head fell heavy on his shoulder. He managed to hook an arm around her and decided he would probably regain feeling in his extremities at some point.

For now, it was just fine to lie there bruised, battered, and blissful.

“Feel better?” he asked her.

“Considerably. You?” “No complaints. When my ears stop ringing, you might want to tell me what set you off today.”

“No one thing.” She lifted her head just enough to sweep her hair aside so she could feel her cheek against his flesh. “I just feel like Im fumbling at most everything, but then I remembered this is one thing I do really well.”

“You wont hear any argument from me on the last part. Whats the fumble?”

“You want the list? I feel like Im so close to finding the key, then I dont. Then I feel like Im miles away from it, and the whole business is going to crash and burn. I spent most of the day painting because I exhibited very little, if any, aptitude for hand tools.”

“Then you probably dont want me to mention youve got some paint in your hair.”

She heaved a sigh. “I know it. Even Malorys better with a screwdriver than I am, and shes a total girl. AndZoe ? Shes a regular Bob Vila with breasts. Did you know shes got her belly button pierced?”

“Really?” There was a long pause. “Really,” he repeated with enough male interest to make her laugh.

“Anyway.” She flopped over on her back. “There was all that, then I started doing some mental number crunching and got depressed realizing how close to the edge financially all this stuff is taking me. All the output, no income—and without the output therell never be an income. And even when the income comes, its going to be a serious juggling act for the foreseeable future.”

“I could lend you some money, give you some breathing room.” Her silence spoke volumes. “Itd be an investment. Writer—bookstore. Makes sense.”

“Im not interested in a loan.” Her voice had chilled, and just under the chill was a sulk. “Im not looking for another partner.”

“Okay.” He shrugged it off, then tugged on her hair. “Ive got it. I can pay you for sex. Like you said, you are really good at it. But Id get to set the price for each specific act, and I think there should be something in the rates about buy three, get one free. Well work it out.”

Since he was watching her face, he saw her dimples flutter as she struggled with a grin. “Youre a pervert.” She rolled over on her stomach, braced herself on her elbows. “It was nice of you to reach .down into the gutter to cheer me up.”

“We do what we can.” He trailed a finger down her cheek. “I bet you could use some food. You want to go out to eat?”

“I absolutely dont want to go out.”

“Good. Neither do I.” He shifted a bit, worked considerable charm into his expression. “I dont suppose youd care to cook.”

“I dont suppose I would.”

“All right. I will.”

She blinked, then sat up and tapped her fingers on her head. “Excuse me, did you just say youd cook?”

“Dont get excited. I was thinking of something along the lines of scrambled eggs or grilledcheese sandwiches.”

“Lets damn the cholesterol and have both.” She leaned down, gave him a quick kiss. “Thanks. Im going to grab a shower.”

WHEN she came out, comfortable in sweats, he was in the kitchen, pouring eggs into one skillet while sandwiches browned in another, and the dog inhaled a bowl of kibble.

He was missing the frilly apron, Dana noted, but all in all, he made a hell of a picture.

“Look at Mr. Domestic.”

“Even living in New York, it pays to be able to throw an emergency meal together. You want to get out plates?”

New York, she thought, as she opened a cabinet. It wouldnt do to forget the guy lived in New York and wasnt going to be making her grilled-cheese sandwiches on a regular basis.

She pushed the thought away, set the table, and added a couple of candles for the fun of it.

“Nice,” she said over the first bite when theyd settled down. “Really, thanks.”

“My mother used to make me grilled-cheese sandwiches when I was feeling out of sorts.”

“Theyre comforting—the toasty bread, the butter, the warm,melty cheese.”

“Mmm. Look, if youre interested in my hands doing more than driving you wild with passion, I can give you some time tomorrow.”

“If youve got it.”

“Id have come by today, but I had homework.” He pointed toward the envelope hed dropped when hed come in.

“Oh. You wrote everything up.” “Think I got it all. You can look it over, see if I left anything out.”

“Cool.” She got up, hurried across the room to fetch the envelope.

“Didnt anyone ever tell you its impolite to read at the table?”

“Certainly not.” Tossing back her hair, she settled back down. “Its never impolite to read.” She tapped out the pages, surprised to see how many there were. “Busy boy.”

He forked up more eggs. “I figured it would work better to get it down in one big gush.”

“Lets see what weve got here.”

She ate and she read, read and ate. He took her back to the very beginning, to the night shed driven through a storm to Warriors Peak. He made her see it again, feel it again. That and all that had happened since.

That was his gift, she realized. His art.

He told it like a story, each character vivid and true, each action ringing clear, so that when you came to the end, you wanted more.

“Flynn was right,” she said as she turned the last page over. “It helps to see it like this in my head. I need to absorb it, read it again. But it puts everything thats happened on one winding path instead of having a lot of offshoots that just happen to run into each other.”

“Im going to have to write it.”

“I thought you just did,” she replied, shaking her head.

“No, thats only part of it. Half of it at best. I realized today when I was putting it all down that Im going to have to write it when its all done, turn it into a book. Do you have any problem with that?”

“I dont know.” She smoothed her fingers over the pages. “I guess not, but it feels a little strange. Ive never been in a book before.”

He started to speak, then stopped himself and polished off his eggs. She hadnt been in a book shed read before, he thought. Which, when it came down to it, amounted to the same thing.