First Star

By Valerie Bruce

After nearly being murdered by a serial killer, Phoenix Star retired from profiling criminals and tried to settle down into a more peaceful and normal life.
But normal isn't in the vocabulary for someone whose family stretches back into history as some of the most powerful witches in the world. Strange occurrences pull her back into a world she'd tried to forget and back to a former partner who is unforgettable.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Valerie Bruce
• Release date: Jul 23, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465783646

Book preview

First Star

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Story Copyright 6/2002 by Valerie Bruce

Cover photo copyright 7/23/2011 by Valerie Bruce

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the authors. The historical figures named are used with respect for the people themselves and their accomplishments.

Prologue

Phoenix sat in front of the fireplace in her library with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, dog flopped on her feet, reading. She rubbed her eyes after finishing the tenth chapter in her book and realizing it was past one in the morning. She shooed the dog off of her feet and stood, stretching to get some of the kinks out.

An unusually loud pop from the fireplace drew her attention. When she looked, very clearly etched in the embers and ash was what looked like a sword.

She shivered a little. Swords usually meant conflict. If there were a major upheaval coming it should be reflected in one of her swords. Frowning, she walked to the other side of the room and drew the wakizashi from the set of Japanese swords sitting on one of the low bookcases. She examined the sword carefully for any discoloration or nicks in the blade and found nothing. She resheathed it and pulled the katana.

The dog’s low growl brought her around to face the French doors with the sword still in hand. She blinked and then whirled around to look behind her. She could have sworn she’d seen someone reflected behind her in the glass but when she looked there was no one else in the room. She turned warily back toward the doors and saw nothing but her own wide blue eyes staring at her. That could not be a good omen.

Chapter 1

About to put in her key, Phoenix frowned at the bookstore’s newly replaced lock. Having only been installed a few weeks ago, after her key had broken; it should not have been surrounded by so many scratches. Very strange, she thought. The rumble of thunder overhead did nothing to ease the dark mood she was in as she was still pondering what had happened in her library during the wee hours of that morning. She shivered a little, then pushed the door open and went inside.

She calmed down somewhat upon gaining entry to the bookstore. This was her sanctuary, a safe haven from a harsh reality. Her previous job had taught her all too well about how violent and horrible reality could be.

Niki? Are you here? she called into the depths of the store.

Near as I can tell, came a female voice from somewhere in the stacks. Frank called and wanted to know if you were going to the Moon tonight to sing.

Probably not, she grumbled, knowing she would be fighting off a sinus pressure headache later in the day due to the incoming storm front.

Hey, did that guy ever find you?

What guy? Phoenix said, looking over her shoulder at her one and only employee. Niki had been a friend more than an employee for the past three years now and Phoenix trusted the petite brunette as much as any member of her family. There had been times when they were mistaken for sisters instead of friends at any rate as they shared the same long dark hair and small stature. But where Phoenix’s eyes were a blue grey color, Niki’s were a mellow brown.

Someone wanting to post a flyer in the window. I told him he’d have to talk to you about it.

What’s he selling?

His services, Niki said, grinning at the expression on Phoenix’s face. Sadly, not the interesting variety of services. He said he was opening up a vet clinic in town.

Great. If he’s a decent vet I can take Loki there to get his shots instead of out of town.

How is the wayward fuzzbutt anyway? Niki asked, grabbing the stepstool from under the counter.

Other than needing his shots? Spoiled.

Niki laughed. You wouldn’t have him any other way. Did you ever find that copy of Hidden Messages In Water that went missing?

Yes, she said, lips twitching in amusement. It was in a plastic bag in the toilet tank.

Well, that would definitely be a message in water. Think one of our patrons is playing jokes?

Either that or the place is haunted, Phoenix said with a mild shiver.

Niki’s eyebrows quirked up for a moment then came back down in an uncharacteristic frown. What’s wrong, Boss?

It’s probably nothing; one of those late night hallucinations after reading Stephen King.

You don’t have nights like that, Boss, Niki said quietly. You know you don’t.

Phoenix sighed and rubbed the back of her aching neck. I’m trying to ignore it. One sign I can deal with but two within a few minutes of each other is just flat out creepy. Even for me.

What exactly happened?

Phoenix told her about the fire and the ghostly reflection of someone standing behind her in the glass-she didn’t think she needed to mention the fact that she had slept with the sheathed tanto blade under her pillow. At least for what little sleep she had managed to get the previous night. The whole situation had her more than a little wound up.

Freaky. What do you think it means?

Phoenix shrugged. I sincerely have no idea. I’ll talk to the family today and see if anyone else has seen or felt anything odd over the past few days.

"Well, your family would definitely be the ones to consult on something of that nature."

True enough, Phoenix said, then began the daily business of opening the store.

A soft tap at the front door of the store brought Phoenix around to face it a few minutes later.

We aren’t open yet, she said to the man standing outside.

I know, he said, his voice muffled. The young lady said I’d have to talk to the owner about posting a flyer. Are you the owner?

Phoenix nodded then walked to the door and let him in. He was over six feet tall, obviously Native American, and utterly gorgeous. His waist length black hair was braided and pulled over one shoulder, though a few tendrils had managed to escape the braid and framed his face nicely.

I’m sorry, I’m dripping water all over your floor, he said, smiling apologetically.

Don’t worry about it. It’ll mop. Nothing critical. What can I do for you?

I’m the one who wanted to put up flyers here, if you don’t mind. He said as he shook her hand and smiled down at her.

He seemed oddly familiar to her; something about his eyes, the way he felt. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but it seemed like she knew him from somewhere. Cheyenne? she asked.

Navajo, he corrected. I’m Kyotee RedHawk. Well, to business, namely mine. I take it the young lady I talked to earlier told you I was opening a veterinary clinic.

That’s what she told me.

He opened the manila envelope he was holding and handed her a lovely white, turquoise and tan paper, which seemed to be a copied photograph of a sand painting. There were dogs and cats sitting in a circle around a campfire, along with assorted birds and lizard sunning its self on a rock. Opening soon. Blue Moon Veterinary Clinic.

Did you do this? It’s very good.

No; one of my sisters did. I’m sorry, I don’t think I caught your name, he said.

I didn’t throw it yet. It’s Phoenix.

He laughed then glanced at the clock over her shoulder. I need to be going, he said. And you need to be opening your store. I’m aiming for next week. Providing everything goes as planned.

"Wonderful! Loki, really needs his shots. He’ll be so thrilled," she said, grinning wryly. She usually hedged a little when mentioning the dog since most people had some strange ideas concerning half wolf breeds. Fortunately, he had never bitten her in the four years she had owned him. He did, however, require manhandling when getting him into the car. No mean feat, considering he weighed a hundred and thirty pounds and he always seemed to know when he was going to the vet.

Kyotee started out the door then turned back to her with a smile. I’ll see you around.

You know where I am.

I do now, he said, grinning more widely, then went out the door hunching his shoulders against the rain.

She watched Kyotee make his way down the street until he turned the corner out of sight. Still leaning against the doorframe watching the rain fall, her breath caught as the loneliness of the past few years suddenly caught up with her all at once. It hurt to a certain extent to be alone. Considering she was getting to be the age where most people were married and tending children, she often felt lost in a world where single women over the age of thirty weren’t even considered a viable companion. Not that she would have settled for just anyone anyway. There was also the fact that she hated the very thought of dating worse than the idea of being mauled by rabid wolverines.

Heat slid down her spine in that moment and old links which had lain dormant for years seemed to sizzle to life again. She felt her heart rate accelerate to an almost uncomfortable level, felt it pounding hard in her temples and throat. She took several deep breaths trying to ground herself and shake off the sudden dizziness. Then she felt it. Felt an energy she recognized as surely as she knew her own. She felt her own energy surge up and out; searching, then felt the other force disappear as quickly as it had come. Maybe not disappear, more like it had been forcibly blocked.

That was really weird, even for my life, she said to herself. She wandered back inside to get away from the cold.

She walked over to the register to do the opening count and check the totals from the previous night. She looked down when something glinted and caught her eye on the floor then leaned over and picked up the small gold embroidered patch with trembling fingers, feeling her breath stop in her throat. She had cleaned up the register area herself the night before and the patch had not been there then. She suppressed a shiver and went to check the doors and windows.

Niki?

Yeah?

None of the alarms have been tripped or anything in the last couple of days, have they?

No. Why?

Because I found this near the register, she said, holding the patch out.

What is it? Niki asked, looking at the small object curiously.

We wore these when meeting certain people outside the agency to identify ourselves, she said, running shaking fingers over the embroidery. I haven’t seen one since I left.

What’s it doing here?

I have no idea, Phoenix said, her voice trembling slightly.

Boss, maybe you should try to contact the agency about this, Niki said, looking worried. She knew that Phoenix’s former job had been dangerous enough to be a well kept secret from most everyone aside from very close friends and family.

Phoenix shook her head. I have no access to the agency anymore. The most I would get is the run around from the lower ranks.

Then find Simon.

I wouldn’t know where to begin looking, Niki.

Excuses, excuses, Niki teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Phoenix rolled her eyes, flipped the sign to OPEN and went about the rest of her daily routine. Checking on stock and making sure everything was in place. There had been some odd things going on at the shop lately. Things had been moved around that neither she nor Niki had touched. She didn’t feel any ghosts or anything else that wasn’t of the Earthly realm. It was almost as strange as what she had just experienced.

She looked down the roster of special requests. As usual, there were many people seeking the latest headline grabbers in the non-fiction section.

The rate the true crime section had been growing at disturbed her slightly. As her previous mode of employment dealt with that, she tended to watch for trends in the area. She simply shrugged it off as a growing interest Patricia Cornwell and CSI had inspired for the genre.

She didn’t think she’d ever understand the true crime junkies. The ghouls; the ones who actively sought titillation in the pain of the less fortunate had always creeped her out somewhat. She couldn’t understand the interest in other people’s misery. But then again, they had never had to see the bodies. Torn, bloodied and looking more like a limp rag doll than a human being. The thought that she had very narrowly escaped being one of those bodies made her shiver slightly.

She was lucky to be alive and that was thanks to her former, she supposed she could call him a partner, Simon. She had been told that he’d been relentless in his search for her. She was grateful on levels that she couldn’t begin to convey. She hoped that someday she’d be able to give him a proper thank you. How do you thank someone for saving your life? She thought. What could ever express that amount of gratitude to another human being?

She shook her head. The past was simply that, the past. No amount of turning it over in one’s mind would change what had already gone before.

Nothing can go backward, it must always go forward from whatever point you start, she mused aloud. Remembering those words that her several times great grandmother had written in her journal.

Several people she knew stopped in during the course of the day including her sister Kelsey as the shop was about to close for the night. She had news from their youngest sibling, Griffin, who was in South Dakota, studying with one of the Lakota shaman there. She also had news from their middle sister, Aimee, who was currently in Scotland for an archeological dig, then on her way to Romania in the next few weeks. Aimee had promised many pictures of Dracula’s castle.

Phoenix pulled her sister to the back of the store and told her what had occurred in the early hours of the morning then showed her the patch and explained the story behind it.

Okay, one side trip into the weird at a time. At the house, did you recognize who it was behind you?

Honestly, I didn’t register anything. It freaked me out so badly.

Kelsey nodded. I can see why. You say there wasn’t anything wrong with your swords.

They’re perfect as usual.

"Did you check all of them or just the daisho?’

Only the daisho. Considering that particular set are the ones I use most frequently, they’re more attuned to me.

You might want to check the others as well. Just in case.

"Couldn’t hurt. This was just so odd because I didn’t feel anything attached to the image. I know I don’t tune into things like you and Aimee do but I’m not a total PSI potato either."

Kelsey frowned. That’s really weird.

I know. It’s as if someone blocked any energy that might have been attached to it on purpose.

Hmm. Much as I hate to say this, sis, are you sure it isn’t the past coming back to haunt you?

What do you mean?

You had one hell of an intense and dangerous job before this one. You found something clearly connected to that in a place it shouldn’t be just today. You had to have made enemies, even as little as you were out in the field.

Phoenix snorted and then grinned a little. I was in the field more than any profiler I’ve ever met was. That’s because Simon had this thing about dragging me all over the planet.

That might be another thing to look into. Check to see if he’s okay and if anything has gone weird around him lately.

I haven’t felt him in danger. Well, not any more so than usual, that is. I keep fairly close tabs on him even now. Phoenix sighed and rubbed her temples. You’re starting to sound like Niki. Kels, I haven’t seen or heard from him in nearly four years. I’m sure he’s forgotten I exist by now.

I doubt that. You’re hedging, sis. Why?

He’s probably really pissed at me. Simon being really pissed isn’t like a normal person being really pissed.

Why would he be pissed?

I just . . . left. I couldn’t deal with things anymore and left without telling anyone. He trusted me and I never told him I was leaving AF. I don’t think I said goodbye to anyone there.

Fear does weird things to someone’s head, Phoenix, Kelsey said, putting a consoling arm around her sister. "After what happened to you, anyone would have been freaked out. You really need to talk to him, if that’s the case."

I’ll call Lena tomorrow, Phoenix said.

She honestly did want to see Simon again. There was something about him that seemed to fill all the holes in her. Past life connections she supposed, current life connections as well. They had been a unit and had functioned much as one entity for so long it seemed extremely unnatural for her to be without him in her life.

Before you get any more signs, it might be a good idea to consult the Sisters on this, Kelsey said.

Already done.

And?

And as usual, they aren’t telling me anything that makes sense at the moment.

"Well, exactly what did they say?"

Phoenix sighed. "Let me see if I can remember it all. As the past rises the future lays open. Many paths lead back to the same source. The wolf ascends once again to anger the viper. The viper strikes over and over. But in the end, the wolf’s venom proves stronger. Whatever the hell that means."

"The Sisters are on crack," Kelsey said.

Sometimes I wonder. But they’ve never been wrong in anything they’ve shown or told me.

Wish they’d just tell you something straight up for once instead of all the metaphors.

Me too.

I’m going to go. I’ll run it past Mom and Grandma. Tell Griffin or Aimee about this if either one of them calls you.

I will.

Might not hurt to call GG in the morning. She or Gramps might know something about this, Kelsey hugged Phoenix. Be careful. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.

I’ll be careful. Night.

Kelsey waved as she went out the door. Phoenix sighed and rubbed a hand across her tired eyes.

Niki shooed the last of the customers out and flipped the sign to Closed then went to count down the cash drawer.

Okay. Go home, I’ll tend to this. Put your feet up. Watch Loki perform terrorist actions on the herd. Relax. Get the new vet’s phone number if you can.

It’s on the flyer, Phoenix said wryly, a slight grin twisting her lips.

Niki grasped Phoenix’s arm and turned her toward the back door of the shop, Better yet, find Simon.

Phoenix rolled her eyes but didn’t comment on the nudge. I think I’ll go to the Moon tonight and sing after all.

Sounds like a good plan.

Phoenix let herself out the back door and made a mad dash through the rain to her car. She sat there for a few minutes, thinking. She was half-heartedly listening to the rain drumming on the top of the car. Her head shot up suddenly from the radio dial she had been fiddling with a moment before. She had felt something, someone had been watching her and she knew it. She turned on the car’s headlights, and looked into the corners of the buildings surrounding her. Nothing.

She shook off the feeling of unease, wondering if her