Page 121 of The Music Demon

“Go on.”

“Is she here?” he asked.

Sher narrowed her eyes at him. “No, demon. She’s no’ here. Did you lose my sister?”

“No. I… Well, I didn’t mean to.”

“Where did you last see her?”

“Monterey.”

“Mexico?”

“California.” He paused before adding. “1967.”

Sir Barra had walked over when he’d observed Lyric engage Shivaun, since outsiders weren’t really welcome at hunter facilities. Overhearing the exchange, he looked at Lyric and said, “You lost Shivaun?”

“I’m not sure. She wasn’t where she said she’d be. And I can’t feel her anymore.”

“You can no’feelher?” Sher said. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“It’s hard to explain,” Lyric said.

Sir Barra crossed his arms. “You need a tracker, man.”

“Tracker,” Lyric repeated, his eyes glazing over. “Yes. A tracker.”

He’d heard enough Black Swan lore from Shivaun and others to know that Litha was the last word in tracking. She’d even expanded her capabilities to extra-dimensional, which was impressive for a non-elemental.

Pulling a phone from his jeans pocket that hadn’t been there a second before, he held it out to Sheridan. “Will you call? Litha, I mean?”

Sher eyed the phone, but didn’t reach for it. She retrieved her own phone from the pouch in her belt pack and found Headquarters at Charlotte Square, Edinburgh in her contacts list.

“This is, em, Sheridan O’Malley. I’m a hunter with the Abbey Unit and I need to speak to Litha. Is she there?”

“She is. Just a minute.” Lengthy pause. “She’s here, but can’t take a call right now. Would you like to leave a message?”

As soon as Lyric overheard the words ‘she’s here’, he was in the passes on the way to Headquarters. Within seconds he was waiting in the passes for a chance to step into the lobby without being seen. There was enough hustle and bustle to try his patience, but eventually there was a break in foot traffic. He stopped the first person who went past.

“Which way to Litha Storm’s office?”

The lad looked at his chest. “If you’re a visitor, you need to get a pass from the Director’s office.” He pointed toward a hallway.

“Thanks.”

Lyric waited until he was out of sight and then asked the next person, who wasn’t a cob-up-the-ass stickler for rules.

Following directions, he came to a door displaying a plaque with pentacle, moon, and stars. And knew he was in the right place. He didn’t knock, but walked in. The office was a pleasant bit of light, white with blue hues, and a view of trees. Completely empty. Yet he sensed a presence nearby.

Reaching out with senses he detected someone in an adjacent room.

Litha was in the process of scrying in her personal magick space when Lyric popped in next to her. She didn’t jump or startle, but she did gape. Her personal space was sacred to her. Even Storm had never seen it.

She stood and shoved the midnight blue velvet cape back from her shoulders.

“What do you want!?!” She didn’t sound pleased to see him.

“I need a tracker.” He looked around. “I apologize for interrupting but this is urgent and they wouldn’t put a call through.”