Page 9 of Professor and the Seer
“Fuck you, brujo.” The masculine for witch.
“Wizard, actually, and you will answer my questions.”
“Vete a la mierda.”
The nasty suggestion only raised John’s brow. “I’m trying to be nice here, but that won’t last seeing as how you terrified my companion. So let me ask you one more time, who sent you?”
The thug spat and let out a stream of rapid Spanish that John could barely follow. He caught something that sounded like “don’t mess with me” and ended with “American fucker.”
“I’m British, actually, and don’t say I didn’t warn you.” John touched his fingers to the man’s cheek and jolted him with electricity. Being a nice guy didn’t make him a pushover. He couldn’t abide bullies, especially those who thought it okay to harm others for profit.
A stream of invectives followed as John heightened the intensity of the jolt. The pain didn’t get the fucker to spill anything, so John gagged him once more before putting him to sleep. He then turned to the other fellow and released the binding on his mouth.
The wide-eyed thug didn’t have the same reticence as his companion. A stream of broken English emerged, informing John that the man didn’t know why he was hired, only that he was told to bring the girl and he’d get paid.
“Bring her where?”
The rapid-fire location address didn’t mean shit to John, but he made a mental note. “How did they hire you?”
“Phone text.” The man’s eyes flicked to the sliding door before he further explained that he wouldn’t have taken the job if he’d known the target was a witch.
John’s curiosity had him asking, “What did she do to you?”
“Shown death. Mine.” The man’s lips turned down. “Necesito un nuevo trabajo.”
The reply arched John’s brow. “I’d say a new job is a good idea.” At least her showing them the future worked on one of the would-be kidnappers. “Take your friend and go. If I see you around, next time I won’t be nice.”
John woke the thug on the floor and evaporated the bindings. When the pockmarked man wanted to get into a pissing match that involved staring and threats, the one who’d experienced an epiphany grabbed the other by the arm and dragged him to the door. Once they left, John put a spell on the lock to prevent anyone else from entering.
Room secured, he joined Frieda on the balcony, sitting in the chair across from her.
She didn’t look at him as she murmured, “One will go straight and actually live to see his grandkids.”
“And the other?”
“Dies within the month.” She reached into the bag and pulled out a bag of churros dusted with sugar and cinnamon. When she offered, he took one, and together they sat in silence, chewing on the treat.
Waiting. For what, he couldn’t have said.
Eventually, she huffed, “You’re going to visit that house they were planning to take me to.”
“I am.” He didn’t bother denying it.
“You shouldn’t.”
“Is that where I die?”
“No.” She paused. “Why would anyone want to abduct me?”
“As if you don’t know.”
“I don’t, actually. I told you. I can’t see my future.”
He chuckled. “You misunderstand. I meant that you have a valuable gift that many would love to exploit.”
Her lips turned down. “I don’t want to be used.”
For a second, he felt a twinge because, when he’d first heard of her, he’d hoped her powers might prove useful to him. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m not any better, seeing as how I’d wanted to ask you to help me unravel some mysteries from the past.”