This wasn't exactly house arrest, I reminded myself for the hundredth time, and it was entirely voluntary. Jonathan, mom and I had all agreed that the best thing for me to do would be to keep my head down, stay in one place, and not do anything to draw attention to myself.

Which meant I had pretty much been stuck inside Jonathan's house in Dublin for the past three days. Voluntarily.

I had fired off a Sending to Hollis Ellister, my employer/mento in London, to let him know what had happened and that I would be delayed. His response to me - brought by a ghostly translucent mouse that became an image of Hollis himself - was a terse, "Keep busy." The rest of his response - comments about where I was in my studies and what he'd planned on covering next - went to Jonathan.

Of course, a Wizard (or Mage) worth his (or her) salt is never without things to do. Part of the joy of being a dedicated spellcaster is having the opportunity to delve into the deeper mysteries of magic, and there are always new things to study and learn. For a Wizard, there are always more things to learn than there are hours in the day.

I filled my hours with my studies. Athena and I spent an entire morning hunched shoulder to shoulder together over an enormous legal dictionary that I'd fit into my bottomless bag, attempting to memorize the legal boundaries of the use of magic in psychological medicine. My mom taught me to brew an energy potion that was both longer lasting and had less after effects than the one I was familiar with (its base liquid: coffee...gotta laugh).

At the insistence of both Hollis and Athena, I had begun taking lessons in how to handle a sword. After lengthy discussion and experimentation, I had settled on a variant of the smallsword as my preferred weapon…I found the thrusting-only design of the standard smallsword limiting, so had found one with a slightly wider, edged blade which allowed for slashing and cutting moves. So Athena and I spent an hour every afternoon sparring. She was - and would likely always remain - better than I was with a sword in every way...but it was good exercise, and might save my life in a pinch.

Jonathan gave me a slim, hand-written volume that went into disturbing detail describing the dangers and side-effects of practicing Necromancy. When I asked why, he had said simply that Hollis wanted me to read it, and that I'd understand why when I did. So I read it.

I'd already known that Necromancy was one of the darkest and worst forms of magic that can be practiced. It involves using the bodies of the dead (recently deceased or long-dead) as a medium for divination and for learning esoteric or forgotten knowledge. It also delved into communicating with, raising and controlling the dead for the purpose of doing harm to the living.

It wasn't flowers and puppies and rainbows.

What I hadn't known were the side-effects it had on the human mind and body. According to that slim little volume, extensive use of Necromancy would whittle away at a person's sanity and physical health alike.

The descriptions called Brenna to mind immediately. Her unhealthily pale complexion tinged with gray, her sunken eyes with the dark shadows beneath them, and the wild mood swings from manic to polite to a level of vindictiveness that was completely out of proportion. So yes, I understood why Hollis had wanted me to read it.

I was also pretty sure when I gave it back to Jonathan that I would never, ever resort to Necromancy, no matter how dire the situation. It was a branch of magic that was fundamentally wrong.

The little walled garden behind Jonathan's house needed its spring tending. We spent an entire morning - all four of us working together - taking care of it. That was a lot of fun, in a strange sort of way. I'd done plenty of planting in my mom's garden, but it had always just been the two of us. Somehow, with a pseudo-sister and almost-father there (Artemis, true to her nature didn’t help, but instead sprawled in the sun), it felt less like work.

Weird.

On the afternoon of the third day, I had one of those parent-child conversations that was both amusing and embarrassing.

"You never told me you made the paper!" my mother said excitedly as she entered the kitchen where Athena and I were cooling off after fencing. She was waving a page from an old Daily Mirror at me like it was a report card she was particularly happy with. "I'd pin it to the fridge if it weren't for all the dead bodies in the pictures. I still might...at the very least this is going in your scrapbook! Did you know, according to this, one of the bodies they found belonged to the Thames Slasher from back in the 50s? They were calling him the new Ripper back when I was a teenager. I even dyed my hair one summer because word got out he liked red-heads. Did you meet his ghost? What was he like?"

I stared at her incredulously for a long moment. Then a flush of embarrassment spread across my face as I realized Jonathan must've been keeping tabs on my exploits. "Honestly, mother! You can't believe half of what you read in that rag, it's all sensationalism. The last time I checked they haven't even found all of the records from the old asylum, so they can't claim to know exactly who was down there...and by the time I found the ghosts they were all barely holding it together. Only one of them even seemed to be fully aware of what as going on and he gave me this lovely little scar on my cheek." I touched the faint, thin white line there.

"Besides," I added, "That asylum closed up shop around 1932. I can't imagine why they'd think the Thames Slasher would've been there."

She actually looked disappointed. Well, I suppose it had been an exciting and scary part of her teen years. "That's true. Well, either way this is going in your scrapbook. I'm so proud that you made the papers."

I put my face in my hands. "Mother..."

Athena giggled.

At any rate, by the morning of the fourth day I was ready to go crazy. It's not like there wasn't enough to do, and there had been times during my apprenticeship when I hadn't seen the light of day for a week or more because I was buried in some research or experiment that couldn't be interrupted. I'm not sure precisely why I felt like I had to get out of the house, but it was very similar to what I imagined claustrophobia must feel like.

As soon as breakfast was done, I rose and looked at Athena. "We're going out," I declared. "You can bring your sword, but leave your revolver."

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise, but she nodded and rose. "Yes, Mistress. Your staff?"

I shook my head. "No, I doubt I'll need it."

Jonathan was smiling, his expression suggesting that he'd been expecting this. My mother looked a little alarmed. "Are you sure this is wise, honey?"

"Wise or not," I replied, gathering my dishes and Athena's and taking them to the sink, "I need a break. I'm going to show the girls around town a little, do a bit of window shopping. I just need to take a walk. We'll probably be back after lunch."

Jonathan nodded. "That's fine. Keep a wary eye out and try not to do anything even remotely threatening. I wouldn't be surprised if the police had a spotter watching you."

Huh. I hadn't thought of that. When I said as much, Jonathan shrugged. "I'm not saying it's definite, it just wouldn't surprise me," he said. "It's what I'd do. Like it or not, you're still a suspect until they conclusively prove otherwise. Which could take a while."

I grimaced. "It's not like they're ever going to catch Brenna. And we don't even know it's her who did it."

"But you're intuitively certain it was," he replied.

I nodded and sighed. "Yeah."

"Then you're right, they're not going to catch her," he agreed. "Which means they'll be keeping an eye on you for at least a few more days. Remember, until they tell you you're free to leave the country, it's wisest not to do anything that might rouse suspicions."

"Okay," I agreed with forced good cheer. "I'll try not to demolish any small towns while I'm out for my walk."

"That's not funny," my mother said quietly and with an edge to her voice. "People were hurt, and people died...the whole town was destroyed, and we don't know if they can rebuild it."

I sighed. "I know. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound callous. I'm just frustrated. I should be out there trying to track her down, and I can't be."

"And neither can we," Jonathan agreed with a nod. "Maddening, isn't it?"

I nodded, lips twisted into what I was sure was a frustrated grimace.

"I'd have Athena leave her blade here too," Jonathan said. "Don't give them any reason to suspect that you're out for anything more than a bit of window shopping and lunch."

Athena, who had just returned with her shieldblade harness slung over one shoulder, set it down by the door. "It's good advice, Mistress. Besides, we're both fairly capable of protecting ourselves bare-handed now. And we'll have Artemis along."

Artemis rose from her indolent pose by the hearth and yawned ostentatiously, showing off her obviously very dangerous fangs.

I smiled. "Good point." Anyone who voluntarily angered 85 pounds of muscular snow leopard was, in my opinion, insane.

My mother stopped me at the door, taking my arm and pulling me around to hug me gently. I returned her hug for a moment before she said, "I didn't mean to snap at you, honey. I'm upset is all."

"You lost your home," I said. "And you had friends - or at least pleasant acquaintances - who were hurt or killed. I'm sorry I made a joke about it, I shouldn't have." I stepped back a little, holding onto her arms. "But you're alive, and you're unhurt, and that's all that matters to me."

She smiled a little. "I understand. You never liked that town, did you?"

I made a face. "I won't lie, I'm not particularly upset it's gone. I'm sorry people were hurt, I wish they hadn't been...but that town held few good memories for me. Only our home did, and most of those memories involve you. So as far as I'm concerned, the one thing that really matters is right here and safe." I squeezed her arms gently.

She nodded and smiled, wiping unshed tears from her eyes. "I love you too, honey." She hugged me again, then sent me on my way with a gentle push.

It was a beautiful, perfect spring day. Sunny, just warm enough to eschew jackets but not too warm to be comfortable in casual denim pants and a short-sleeved green tunic. Every once in a while, a gentle breeze blew across us, bringing the scents of growing things from the outskirts of the city.

So we walked, almost at random. Up this street, down the next one. We stopped to look in shop windows at dresses and accessories, the latest magitech devices from Nippon - strange little toys that moved on their own, new wireless radio devices for listening to music broadcasts, that kind of thing - and more. One apothecary had a display of African tribal fetishes that I just had to go in and take a closer look at.

We stopped in five separate book stores and came away with a bag from each, so many books that I was starting to wish I'd brought my bottomless bag along just for that. Perhaps Artemis could be fitted with saddlebags...the mental image was so funny that I shared it with the girls. Athena was amused, Artemis not so much. I bought her a catnip toy by way of apology and promised she could demolish it in the garden when we got home.

Throughout, both Athena and I kept our eyes open, and I know that Artemis - as blithely as she trotted along with us - was on high alert. Because all of us silently agreed that we were being followed. I wasn't surprised, and none of us felt any sense of alarm about it; the feeling was one of patient watchfulness.

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We finally came to a halt for lunch at a little restaurant I liked and were lucky enough to get outdoor patio seats near the sidewalk where we could watch people going by. I've always loved people-watching, as Jonathan jokingly calls it ("Like bird-watching, only without binoculars and a log book.") It's an interesting intellectual exercise, trying to figure things out about a complete stranger by what you can observe of their clothing, bearing and behavior.

As we ate, I telepathically explained my weird little hobby to Athena and Artemis. Artemis, of course, took little interest in it beyond quickly determining if a given person was a threat or a friendly. Athena, on the other hand, was fascinated, and we quickly took to bouncing ideas back and forth.

<> Athena asked as she chewed another bite of the burger she'd ordered.

Through our bond, I knew immediately which person she was referring to: a young woman who was crossing the street nearby in a hurry. She had a light sweater on over a pale cream blouse and a slim skirt that came to just below her knees. Her shoes were sensible low heels, she had a modest purse, and very little in the way of visible jewelry. Her brown hair was done up in a tight bun from which a few wisps had escaped, and her expression suggested emotional strain.

<> I replied, sipping my tea. <>

<> Athena added thoughtfully. <>

I blinked. <>

Athena smiled smugly and purred around her last bite of burger. <> she teased.

I laughed, drawing a few weird looks from people at nearby tables until they realized I had an Elevated familiar with me. <>

<> she demurred. <>

I blame what happened next at least partly on the fact that both of us were busy looking across the street and not paying much attention to what was going on around us. I heard the quick footsteps approaching, but gave them no thought at all, assuming - naturally - that there was a jogger about to pass or that someone was in a hurry to get somewhere.

None of us had anticipated that the hurrying person was coming directly to us.

"Miss Kinnear? Alys? I have good news!" A hand landed on my shoulder.

In my defense, I've been trained at great length in how to protect myself, and I don't know anybody who likes being grabbed - however gently - without warning. Maybe I was just too keyed up from recent events. I didn't think about what I was doing...Before I realized it, I was rising, grabbing the wrist attached to the hand on my shoulder and doing what I'd been taught. Twist, extend hip as a brace and pivot...

Ben Donovan, Detective Inspector from Scotland Yard, landed - on his back and with a startled grunt - in the low shrubs that bordered the little café. Before he could recover, Artemis was right in his face, snarling and planting a paw on his chest right below his throat, flexing her claws to make her point. As if the big fangs didn't.

"Artemis!" I hurried forward, embarrassed. "It's all right. I think it is, anyway. Detective?"

"Sorry!" Donovan gasped out, freezing in place to keep the nice kitty from ripping his face off. "I didn't mean to startle you!"

"I sincerely hope not," Athena said quietly as she rose to stand beside me.

All activity around us had ceased and a waiter approached tentatively. I waved him off, mumbling something about a misunderstanding, and reached out to Donovan as Artemis released him and backed away. Donovan took my hand and let me help him up, then carefully brushed himself off.

"Detective," I asked warily, "Have you been following me?"

"No! Well, yes, but no!" Thankfully, he lowered his voice before continuing. "I just got word that you're no longer considered a suspect, so obviously I had to find you and let you know, but you weren't at the flat...so I had to follow you a little until I could catch up...but not in, like, a creepy way..."

<> Athena giggled.

<> Artemis added.

<> Athena asked.

<> Artemis replied.

"That would imply," I said aloud, ignoring my familiars for the moment, "that you've been keeping an eye on me for the last few days."

"Well, of course," Donovan said bluntly. "Surely you knew you'd be under observation..." He trailed off, eyes widening. "I mean...I didn't mean...No, I was watching you for official reasons..." He stopped, his face comically distressed. "I'm going to shut up now."

I felt my lips twitch and quickly stifled the urge to laugh. "Probably a good idea. Take a deep breath and start over."

"Sound advice." He smiled weakly. "May I join you?" He gestured to the table we'd been sitting at. "People are still staring at us and wondering why you just flipped me into the bushes."

I considered him for a long moment. He'd seemed friendly enough back in Killarney and had voluntarily taken my side rather than playing along with the local police, when doing so probably would have made his time there easier on him. Jonathan had apparently worked with him in the past and evidently trusted him.

"Of course," I said, gesturing to the table. Athena and I returned to our chairs, with Donovan taking a third with his back to the street, halfway between us. "So," I said once we were all sitting, "Please explain, Detective Donovan."

"The Killarney police insisted someone maintain surveillance on you," he began, "until you'd been ruled out as a suspect. They obviously wanted me out of their way, so I volunteered. Would you rather a complete stranger follow you around, or someone who doesn't consider you a real suspect? And call me Ben."

"Is that entirely professional?" I asked.

"Not entirely," he admitted. "But since you're not a suspect anymore, we don't really have to worry about that. And honestly, Miss Kinnear, I don't think you were responsible. You're just not the type."

"If I'm going to call you Ben, you should call me Alys," I said, relaxing a little. "I am glad to hear I'm not on their watch list anymore. Thank you for letting me know. Do they have any other suspects yet?"

He held up a finger and waggled it back and forth in gentle reproof. "Just because you’ve been eliminated as a suspect doesn't mean I can discuss the case with you. But between you and me," he added after a moment, "no, they don't. They have enough evidence to rule you out as a reasonable suspect, in spite of what that half-crazed Druidess -“

“Druid,” I interjected. “The term ‘druidess’ went out of fashion years ago.”

“Ah, yes…in spite of what she spouts every time she's questioned. I was just here as a precaution until this morning, when they finally cleared you."

There was, I decided, another reason. Something about the way he said it, the set of his body and the expression on his face suggested that he was hiding something.

Athena silently agreed. <>

I nodded ever so slightly.

Artemis had moved to sit beside his chair on her haunches, and now he held out his hand for her to sniff. She did, then butted her head imperiously against his hand until he laughed and scratched her ears. <>

Athena and I exchanged amused glances before I returned my attention to Donovan. "Well, if Artemis approves of you, I suppose there's no reason not to be friendly."

"The feline litmus test," he agreed jokingly. "Cats are notoriously difficult to trick. If one trusts you, you're probably a trustworthy person?"

"In a nutshell," I nodded. "Detective..."

"Ben," he interjected with a shy smile.

Was he flirting with me?

Nah. I might not be a suspect anymore, but I was still involved in the case. And as casual a person as he seemed to be, he didn't strike me as unprofessional.

"Ben," I started again, "Since I'm heading for home, why don't you walk with us?"

He smiled. He had a nice smile. "I'd be happy to."

We strolled down the street together, Athena behind us and Artemis a little out in front of us. After a few minutes of this, Donovan said in an amused voice, "They're like an honor guard."

I looked at him, confused. "Sorry?"

"Your familiars," he said, smiling. "They're behaving like an honor guard. Point and rear guards. If I made any untoward moves, I suspect I'd be in a lot of trouble."

"That would depend on your intentions," Athena said from behind us in a mock-stern tone. "And whether or not you brought flowers."

I'm pretty sure I didn't actually turn bright red, but my cheeks flamed with heat anyway. "Athena!" Damn her for being able to sense that I found him attractive.

I'm a Wizard-in-training, not dead! He was handsome, kind, a bit weird but obviously intelligent and seemed to have a quick sense of humor. Under different circumstances, I probably would have asked him out by now.

Sometimes it can be awkward, having familiars whose actions are occasionally influenced by my subconscious mind. Athena didn't always know when acting on my impulses was appropriate. It wasn't usually a problem, but once in a while...

She giggled. "Sorry, Mistress. Just teasing."

…Or more likely she was doing it on purpose. She didn't sound in the least bit repentant. Not that I wouldn't have done the same thing in her position, but now was really not the time.

To my surprise, Donovan didn't appear to be the least bit put out by the joke. Instead, he looked over his shoulder at her and smiled. "What kind of flowers?"

I blinked. So did Athena, both of us caught flat-footed by his question.

"Um," Athena said. "I'm really not sure..."

Still smiling, he turned his attention back to me. "Flowers?"

"Wild flowers, mixed variety," I said faintly.

He nodded. "I'll remember that."

Odin's beard. He was flirting with me.

"Detective," I began slowly.

"Ben," he interjected with a warm smile. "Please?"

"Detective," I repeated gently, "I'm flattered, but is that really appropriate right now?"

He stopped walking, and it took me a couple of steps to stop and turn to face him. Athena ended up standing beside him and Artemis padded back to sit beside me.

"Alys," he began, then paused. "May I still call you Alys?"

He asked the question so gently that I couldn't find it in my heart to say no. So I just nodded.

"Alys," he began again, "I'm no longer here in an official capacity. I volunteered to keep an eye on you and they were happy enough to let me do it because I'd be out from under their collective feet. They don't think you're a suspect anymore, and I've let you know. I'm still here because I want to get to know you a bit better."

Artemis tipped her head and took a deep breath. <> she said slowly, <>

I considered his words and Artemis's read of his scent very carefully. Finally, I said, "You're not being entirely honest with me. And frankly, it's a little creepy to think you've been lurking outside my house for three days so you could follow me around if I went out."

He looked startled, then glanced at Artemis. "Snitching on me?"

Athena smiled faintly. "Be honest, Detective." She touched the side of her nose. "You're under some stress."

"And talking to pretty girls wouldn't explain that?" He asked in a jokingly plaintive tone of voice.

"Ordinarily yes," I said. "Under the circumstances? Just a little bit creepy."

He acknowledged the point with a nod. "All right. Total honesty, then. You're pretty, smart, quick-witted and not easily intimidated or embarrassed. I find those qualities attractive. Getting to know you better would also allow me to provide the Killarney police with a profile of you that would definitively rule you out as a suspect. Or at least it would have, if they hadn't ruled you out as a suspect before I could file it..."

He was babbling a little, but I wasn't ready to let him off the hook yet. "You tell me," I said. "What's official Yard policy about fraternizing with someone involved in an active case? Even if I'm not an suspect anymore, which is a relief."

I knew perfectly well that they frowned on it a little. I'd just studied their rules about it a couple of weeks ago.

"As long as I'm doing it for the purposes of providing a psychological profile of the suspect, and as long as the witness isn't the prime suspect in a case, I might get a slap on the wrist but they'd let it slide," he said with the certainty of someone who worked with those rules every day. "And there's nothing that says I can't continue to fraternize with you after you've been ruled out." He paused for a moment. "Perhaps we could find a word to use other than 'fraternize' though. It's so...cold."

I stared at him, bemused. "That's splitting hairs rather finely, don't you think?"

Donovan shrugged. "My ethics instructor at the Academy used to say, 'Rules may define the world, but technicalities keep it turning.'"

I snorted a little laugh, which must have reached him in stereo since Athena did the same thing at the same time. "Fair enough. I suppose I can't argue with that. You're just lucky I already know that men can get a bit tongue-tied when approaching young women."

We started to walk again, Athena falling in on my left this time with Donovan on my right and Artemis still out ahead of us. "You're right," he admitted. "And you'd know. You studied with a group of Tantric Mages a few years ago, didn't you?"

I gave him a surprised look. "How did you know that?"

"It's in the educational transcript for your Hermetic Mage's license," he replied. "We looked at it while you were in custody. That must've been quite an experience."

"You have no idea," I said dryly, my cheeks warming a little. "And no, I won't tell you about it. I'd have to know you a lot better before I'd even think about doing so."

"A few drinks might help too," Athena added.

"Quite likely," I agreed. "Too bad I don't like to drink much."

Donovan chuckled at our antics. "Fair enough," he said, echoing my words back to me. "I'll have to settle for dinner. And maybe the theater?"

I gave him a long look, during which we reached the stairs that led to Jonathan's front door. Just as I was about to reply that I wasn't comfortable going out on a date with him as long as I was even peripherally involved in a case he was working, the door opened and Jonathan stepped out.

"Alys, I'm glad you're back. We just had a message from the Killarney police," he said. "They have two witnesses who independently described their assailant as a gaunt young woman with black hair and an Elevated panther familiar." His expression didn't change as his eyes moved to Donovan, but I saw the surprise and a hint of amusement in them. "Detective Donovan also reported traces of illusory magic in the area, which supports the theory that the assailant was trying to frame you. They've eliminated you as a suspect and said you're free to go about your business."

Jonathan trailed off and smiled at Donovan. "Of course, you probably know that already.

Donovan smiled up at him. "Yes, sir, I let her know. So, Alys, how about dinner and the theater? Athena and Artemis can come, to make sure I'm a perfect gentleman. No more police-induced creepy behavior, I promise."

I looked up at Jonathan, whose shrug made it clear the choice was mine. Since I knew that he'd worked with Donovan at least once before, and since he seemed to trust the man, I got no warning signals from him. So I looked back at Donovan and nodded. "All right." I smiled. "It sounds like fun. You have a show in mind?"

Donovan smiled and nodded. "I do. It starts at eight."

"There's a nice little Italian restaurant on Abbey Street. Do you know it?" I asked.

He nodded. "I do. I'll pick you up at six?"

"Six it is," I smiled. "I'll see you then."

"I'll be here," Donovan said with a smile that sent a pleasant spark down my spine.

Athena grinned and I studiously avoided her gaze as I started up the stairs.

"Don't forget the flowers," Athena added over her shoulder as she followed me inside.