Chapter 6

CHAPTERSIX

Zahir studied the strange creature before him. He had wanted life to become more interesting, but not this kind of interesting. This was a powder keg of problems ready to explode in his face.

A human woman powerful enough to trap djinn and make golems. He hadn’t seen that kind of power for thousands of years. Ashirah was right; he should kill her for all their safety. The problem was this woman’s strange magic not only sparked against his; it made it burn inside of him like a damn inferno. He wanted to know why.

"Here is my offer," Zahir said finally. "You will work for me as a spy to uncover the members of this Cabal. When you have enough information for me to act on, I will take the information to the Doge and have them arrested. Only when they are stopped, will I remove the bindings from you."

"You are making me serve them? Are you insane?" Ezra demanded.

"Probably. I still need to know what they are up to. Your father managed to fool them. I’m sure you will have no problems doing the same. You had best work quickly on finding out their identities, hmm?" he said, unable to resist goading her.

Ezra’s chin lifted. "Anything else?"

Zahir went to say no, but his mouth said, "I demand three nights with you. When and where will be of my choosing."

Ashirah choked on her tea behind him.

"Three nights doing what?" Ezra asked.

"Whatever the fuck I like."

"Why?"

Now, wasn’t that the real question? Zahir shrugged. "Because you hate djinn, and this kind of deal requires a sacrifice on your behalf. In this case, it’s your pride."

"And I won’t be harmed physically during these nights? I’m not trading one torturer for another," Ezra said. She was clever enough to ask.

"Of course you won’t be harmed, but I can’t say the same for my feelings. I’m a little offended that you would put me on the level of slavers," Zahir replied angrily.

"I find out who the Cabal is and spend three nights with you, and you take these bindings off me and don’t kill me and neither do any of your djinn," she summarized. Ezra surprised him with the last part. She knew he couldn’t kill once a bargain was struck, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t get someone else to do the deed.

Clever and fierce and almost oozing magic. What a combination.

Zahir saw the indecision dash through her eyes. He couldn’t let her walk away. He leaned down until they were almost nose to nose. "What’s the matter, sparrow? Are you scared of me?" he teased.

"Only a fool wouldn’t be," she whispered. She bit her full bottom lip, and he suddenly wanted to know what it tasted like. Ezra’s eyes fixed on him and narrowed. "Fine. I agree to your deal, but if they kill me before I can find the information for you, I will haunt you for all eternity."

"Then you will be in excellent company with all my other enemies," Zahir replied. He held out a hand. Ezra took it and shook. The magic of the deal danced between them, and three small black strokes appeared on her arm like a tally.

"It’s done," Zahir said.

Ezra released his hand first and tugged it back. She got to her feet, forcing him to lean back.

"I live in the Ghetto Nuovo. If you want updates, that’s where you will find me."

Zahir frowned. "You don’t want to give me your phone number?"

"I don’t have one. Too expensive, and they are a good excuse for someone to rob you. You want information, you’ll figure out how to get it to me. I won’t risk my life coming to the djinn again," Ezra said. She gave Zahir a final once over before she walked out of the office and slammed the door behind her.

"That was a mistake," Ashirah said, getting up to pace. "You should have listened to me and killed her."

Zahir was still staring at the door, suddenly hating that the strange woman was gone. "That’s the benefit of being king. I don’t have to listen to anyone."

"And the three nights?" she demanded. "There are prettier women in the city, willing to spread their legs for you.

Zahir shrugged. "She doesn’t like djinn. I didn’t think she would agree to it."

"You let her leave when she has the potential to entrap us."

Zahir let out a frustrated sigh. "But she won’t. She doesn’t hate us that much or she wouldn’t have come here at all."

Ashirah shook her head at him. "You are out of your mind."

"Wouldn’t be for the first time. I’m going to see where she goes next," Zahir said and melted into the ether before she could talk him out of it.

It was freeing to be out of the confines of a physical body. He shot out of the cabin, sparing a glance to the high djinn on deck. Asim was staring at his hands like he’d never seen them before. Whatever she had hit them with must have been good.

Zahir followed the trail of magic that Ezra had left behind her. It was an intoxicating coppery haze that made his magic tingle. What strange power did she have? Sigil magic was common, but he didn’t believe that was what she had. Any magician could draw a sigil. It was the magic behind them that created the effectiveness. She could draw them in the air without any other tool. It was something that went so far beyond a simple sigil ability.

Zahir found Ezra buying food and wine at a small bistro in the Campo del Ghetto Nuovo. The owners seemed to recognize her because they hugged her and gave her condolences about her father. Ezra accepted the bags of food, crossed the square, and let herself into a townhouse. It was three stories high and had plants hanging from window boxes.

So this is home. Zahir whispered a revealing word, and the house lit up with warding. Impressive. Complicated. Ezra’s power mixed in with something else which must’ve been her father’s magical signature.

A door opened on the second-floor balcony, and she appeared. She stared right where he stood. Zahir froze. There was no way she could see him.

But can she sense you? He had no idea, and it sent a thrill through him.

Ezra stared a little longer before shaking her head and going back inside.

It took a lot to rattle Zahir, but she had shaken him to his core. "What in all the hells are you, Ezra Eliyahu?"