Smoke and Mirrors - 20

“Now that we know the wand is relatively safe, I want to go back to where we found it,” Jared said early the next morning. He and Daniel had spent the remainder of the night in one of Mor’s guest bedrooms and were now sitting at her kitchen table while Daniel ate breakfast.

“You want to see if there’s any trace of the nahual’s presence there, I take it,” Daniel replied.

“Yes. We know he was there, or at least we’re presuming it was him. If it wasn’t then I’d like to know who else might be aware of the wand’s existence.”

“Are we taking Mor with us?”

Jared thought for a moment before shaking his head. “Better that she stay here and do what she talked about last night, put the wand in an even safer place. We can pick up the shaman who first sensed the nahual and see if he feels anything more.”

“It’s an idea, although you were able to feel him before he showed up.”

“I felt something malevolent is all and I wasn’t about to let us stand around and find out who or what it was.”

“Good point.” Daniel wiped up the last of egg from his plate with the remaining bit of toast, took a big gulp of coffee to wash it down, and then took his dishes to the sink to wash them. When he’d finished he turned to find Jared staring at him. “What?”

Jared’s lips quirked up in a grin. “Nothing, just admiring the view.”

“We could always retire to the bedroom and you can see it in its full glory,” Daniel said with a straight face, pacing towards his partner while unbuttoning his shirt.

“An idea with merit, but not at the moment. I really want to check the warehouse again before all traces of the creature are gone.”

“Spoil sport,” Daniel muttered as he re-buttoned his shirt. “Alright, I’m ready if you are. Shaman first?”

“Yes.” Jared wrapped his arm around Daniel’s waist and the jaguar transported them back to the city.