Closing the apartment door behind her, Cassie closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. She understood what they were going to discuss, and she felt awful because she had just encouraged Charlotte to confess to her brother. There was a strong connection between them, and all she wanted was to help her restore her memories so they could find a future together. But now she was second-guessing whether she had made the right choice in revealing her true name.
Stop it! She scolded herself. You're doing this for her, just as you promised. She straightened her shoulders. Now, put your game face on, girl, and go see if your idea has merit.
Determined, she hurried downstairs. When she reached the shop's door, she looked through the frosted glass window and saw that the lights were on. Opening the door, she stepped inside and found Davis counting the till.
"Shit!" she exclaimed. "I didn't realize the time. I'm sorry. I've been dealing with some family business."
He chuckled. "Don't worry about it, Cassie. I'd planned to come in early to restock the books we pulled from the shelves yesterday. The tills are counted, and we're ready to open for the day."
She shook her head. "What would I ever do without you?"
"Well, you have two more years of school to figure that out." Davis laughed.
"As you love to remind me." She winked as she stepped around the glass counter and pulled the crystal and amulet tray out again. "Would you mind the store for a while longer? I need to do one more thing before I take over."
He straightened his glasses. "Of course not, Cassie, I got it covered." Moving around the counter, he headed down to the main floor, "I'll get the outside display stands set up. Call me if you need anything."
"Will do." Cassie followed him with her eyes, grateful she had scored a perfect employee in such a dedicated young man. She knew he was destined to have a bright future, and she hoped he'd find someone special to settle down with soon.
Approaching the counter, she peered through the glass top at the collection in the case. As she examined the array of crystals and trinkets, her eyes focused on a particularly unusual amulet. A few months earlier, she had acquired it from one of her coven sisters, who joked that she heard it came from Heaven itself. Cassie laughed along, but her friend shrugged and stated it had no known origin, and those who wore it felt as if it were protecting them, with the amulet holding a piece of their soul.
Grateful it hadn't been sold, Cassie lifted it off the display and scrutinized it more closely. Delicate wire vines and petal motifs curled around the central moonstone, which swirled with a smoky, iridescent mist. The effect was mesmerizing, shifting from clear to smoky gray to a shimmering rainbow with every movement of her fingertips. Dangling at the bottom of the pendant was a tiny empty crystal vial, sealed at both ends with copper petal caps.
Cassie placed it around her neck and fastened the clasp. Almost immediately, she felt something powerful—a comforting blanket of energy surrounding her, and she smiled. Yes, this was no ordinary trinket. After putting the tray back in the case and locking it, Cassie headed to her powder room. She had one more idea in mind.
Angel glanced at the caller ID and took a deep breath.
Charlotte tilted her head. "Who is it?"
Holding his hand up to ask for quiet, he pushed the answer button. "Hey, Amanda. What's up?"
His ex-girlfriend. Hearing her name sparked a brief pang of jealousy in Charlotte, but it quickly faded as she listened in. Amanda was all business.
"Angel, I'm glad you didn't let this go to voicemail. I need your help."
Angel didn't mince words. "Details."
"I'm in New Orleans on assignment with the local office. We're tracking separate incoming shipments—" Amanda's voice was clipped with sarcasm on the word 'shipments' "—of girls that crime lord Bible is gathering to send overseas. I'm going against direct orders by contacting you, but I feel uneasy about the reports we've received. I could really use your help. Off the record and undercover this time, though, because if you get caught, both our asses get reamed." She took a quick breath and continued. "But the reports we have suggest there are a total of a dozen girls coming in, and I'm not risking it for a pissing contest with the SAC here. If you're willing to help me out, how fast can you get here?"
"I'm here already."
Amanda's tone expressed surprise. "Really?"
"I'm visiting my sister."
"I forgot she owned a shop here."
"Exactly, and yes, I'm in. What else can you tell me?"
"Nothing much right now; I have to meet with others to set up our canvass grid this afternoon. My shift ends at six, and I can meet you right after. But Angel, if you go out today, try to stay incognito; if the SAC sees you, he'll assume I called you even if I hadn't."
"Understood, and Amanda?"
"Yes?"
Angel gripped the phone a little tighter. "Thanks for trusting me with this. I promise to stay out of sight. Unless there's an immediate risk to the girls' safety."
"I wouldn't expect you to do any less. I'll see you at six." The line went silent.
Pocketing his cellphone, he gave Charlotte a knowing glance. "I know you heard the whole conversation. This is bigger than anything you've done before, and we just figured out who and what you are. Do you feel up to this?"
"Fuck, yes, we're doing this. Twelve girls? Who is this… Bible?" The last word came out like a curse.
"An enigma, really. No one has any photo or video evidence of him. He primarily operates outside the U.S., and until now, I believed that his dealings were limited to drugs, weapons, contraband, and other non-trafficking activities. It's why I've never crossed paths with him. It also means that I have a lot of research to do before meeting with Amanda tonight."
"I heard what she said. They're conducting grid searches today to see if they can find where the girls are being held, right?"
"Yes." He heard the tone in her voice and responded before she could ask. "And yes, you can go scout, completely invisible, of course. But I need you to promise me something, and it's not an easy promise to make."
"You don't want me to take action if I find the girls. I already know you well, my knight. And just as you promised Amanda, as long as none of the girls are in immediate danger, I will return here to you first."
"Then I'll help you plan a route, one that will cater to your speed and powers, to cover as much ground as you can."
"Great!" Charlotte nodded. She paused, her eyes giving off a slight glow, "Something feels different about me now, Angel. My head is much clearer. I may not remember my past, but I feel as though I've found myself—my soul, perhaps? Thanks to Cassie calling me by name. I know this is how I'd be, even without my memories. I don't feel lost anymore, even though I only remember the last six months, not the last few hundred."
"Hundreds?" Angel exclaimed, clearly surprised.
"That's another thing I can't explain, but somehow I know I'm much, much older than I look." She stepped closer to him, her eyes shining. "I hope you're attracted to older women?"
"I'm attracted to you, Charlotte. Period."
Charlotte's cheeks flushed with warmth. "I am, too. As long as I can stay by your side, I'll wait for you."
She added the last part with a hopeful gentleness to reassure him that she wasn't shutting down, but rather dedicating herself to what was needed now.
He nodded and took her hand, giving it a chaste kiss. "And so will I, Your Highness."
"I didn't realize how accurate that was until now." She sighed with a lopsided grin.
He chuckled as the meaning dawned on him as well. "And I will continue to be your knight, no matter what," he promised.
They looked at each other quietly, sharing a silent longing they couldn't act on. Still, she couldn't stop herself. Instinctively, she moved to kiss him when the sound of the front door opening interrupted her. Both turned their attention to Cassie as she reentered the apartment.
She gazed at both of them with a curious expression. "Something's happened?"
Almost, Charlotte pouted silently.
Angel was all business, though. "Yes, Amanda called. There's a mission right here in New Orleans, and it's on a much larger scale than we've dealt with before. I'm meeting Amanda at six to get the details."
Cassie sensed there was another answer to her question, something between the two, but unless they told her, she wasn't going to pry. "Then I have time to do this."
Cassie unclasped the amulet around her neck and stepped up to Charlotte, holding it in her palm. "I have a special gift for you, Charlotte Morningstar. I want you to wear this at all times, beneath your clothing. Will you do this for me?"
Her yellow eyes sparkled as her crimson pupils focused on the amulet and the crystal vial attached to it. She noticed the orange powder in the vial and looked at Cassie in awe. "It's beautiful. What is it for?"
"Protection," Cassie explained. "Rumor has it that this amulet can safeguard its wearer's soul, as well as absorb some of their energy or chakra and return it to them if they feel themselves slipping out of control. When I put it on, I felt a surge of protective energy. I believe this can help keep you safe and possibly aid in restoring your memories."
Dropping the amulet into Charlotte's palm, Cassie continued, "Like the crystals, it's not a perfect solution, and some magics out there are stronger; however, this should help."
"I understand." Fastening the amulet's gold chain around her neck, Charlotte tucked it inside her black cotton T-shirt, then pulled Cassie into a tight embrace. "Thank you so much, Cassie! I can't believe how lucky I am to have you as my dear friend."
Squeezing her arms around Charlotte, Cassie chuckled. "You're welcome. I am honored to have your friendship, Charlie."
Pulling her head back, Charlotte sighed with amused exasperation, her crimson eyes pulsing. "What is it with you calling me Charlie sometimes?"
Cassie's lips quirked upward slightly, her expression a mix of humor and contrition. "I'm sorry, sweetie. Occasionally, it just slips out."
"I think it's kinda cute, honestly," Angel remarked thoughtfully.
Charlotte fidgeted, blushing. "Really?"
"I do." Angel nodded. "Besides, you know that Angel was my call sign in the Special Forces, and I maintain this identity because I don't want anyone associating my identity with Cassie or my friends, but while I've never said it, you've always been welcome to call me Kevin."
Charlotte's cheeks grew warm, and her lips curled into a slight smile. "Kevin Angelus Collins. A handsome name."
Cassie smirked and added, "And my full name is Cassandra Elizabeth Collins, but I prefer to be addressed as Miss Collins when I conduct business in my shop, meet new people, and so on. When I work the Frequencies or navigate online, I use my old military call sign, Chatterbug. I created these personas to keep my personal life separate and private."
"I understand." She looked at them both. "It's like my invisibility. I use it to stay safe and hide my identity."
"Exactly," Cassie agreed. "But here? With my close friends and family? The ones I care for and love? I drop my guard, and they see the real me, not the mask." She brushed some stray hair from Charlotte's face, giving her a warm gaze. "I'm sorry for offending you, Charlotte. It's just that when I first met you, it felt natural to call you Charlie, as if it was the real you hiding underneath, and I must admit I had a little fun teasing you. Please forgive me?"
"I do. It's just that…" Charlotte sighed, tucking the rest of her hair behind her ear. "It was the first thing I remembered when Angel—Kevin found me. It was the only thing I had to hold onto. The only thing that felt like me."
Seeing the pain in Charlotte's eyes and understanding why she reacted so strongly when addressed by that name, Cassie took a step back and bowed slightly at the waist in a remorseful gesture. "Then I make this solemn promise not to tease you again, Charlotte."
Feeling uncomfortable, Charlotte quickly closed the distance between them and reached to cup her friend's chin. Lifting Cassie's face to meet her gaze, Charlotte's expression grew firm. "I don't like the bows, Cassie! I don't care if I am the Princess of Hell or not. My friends will never bow to me!"
To emphasize her point, she playfully flicked Cassie's chin.
Cassie chuckled, accepting her order readily. "Yes, Princess."
"Good." Charlotte looked pleased as she stepped back. She then turned her gaze to Kevin. "And that goes double for you, Kevin."
In response, he gave her a slight nod and a wink. Returning the wink, Charlotte grinned momentarily before her expression shifted to a soft, contemplative look, and she bit her lip.
Seeing her thoughtful expression, he asked, "Charlotte? You okay?"
"Yeah." She gave him a reassuring smile. "It's just something you both said about walls and masks. My name's a mask of a different kind. Who I am is hiding behind it, and I have been trying to pull that mask away for months now." She focused on Cassie. "When you called me Charlotte Morningstar, I felt something change within me, almost as if I was being called up from the darkness, and this mask of mine? It doesn't feel right anymore."
No, it really didn't, did it? She wanted clarification. "You said you could feel the real me when we met, right?"
"Yes, hon. I knew there was something very special about you when you walked into my home, even before Kevin told me what you are, and again, it just slipped out. Sorry."
Nodding in understanding, Charlotte turned around and walked a few steps away from them.
The siblings glanced at each other, sensing the Princess was deep in thought.
When she turned around, she gave them a long, steady look. "In that case, would you do me a couple of favors, both of you?"
The siblings looked at each other, nodded silently, and looked back at her. Cassie answered, "Of course. Name them!"
"First. Please. Never bow to me again. I may not remember anything about my past, but I feel like I was never one who would demand such subjugation from my people, and in my heart, it feels so wrong. So. No bows, okay?"
"You have our word," Cassie promised.
Kevin nodded in agreement. "That's the first favor. What's the second one, Charlotte?"
She turned away, her cheeks flushing crimson. Regaining her composure, she looked over her shoulder at them. "From now on," she said, giving them a charming smile, "call me Charlie?"