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.”