Edge of Darkness

by J. A. Saare

  "Can you remove it?" Joshua asked with a heavy southern twang. He unlatched his ass from the banister, unfolded his arms, and tilted his head as he studied me. "If you can finish, then finish."

  I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

  Scott was hiding something.

  I was fairly certain Tippie and Joshua knew what it was.

  The magic dealer had known about the ghosts but hadn't said anything. They had to be important to him. I didn't expect to feel an ounce of sympathy for the bastard but found myself doing so. Gabriel had told me warlocks could live long lives. I hadn't asked how old Scott was, but I was beginning to formulate a vague idea. Before I could ask questions, I had to make Gabriel let him go.

  I walked over cautiously.

  Gabriel rarely lost his temper and had only done so because ghostly communication came with risks. A distraction could have caused me to be taken over or worse. I felt the pull in him, the need to lash out and make blood flow.

  Scott must have come at me fast.

  I went to them and placed my hand on Gabriel's shoulder. "I'm fine. No harm done."

  "He should know better." Gabriel's thought was laced with outrage.

  "If he didn't before, he certainly does now." I shifted my hand so it rested against the back of his neck, curling my fingers into the hair at his nape. "I don't think he wanted to hurt me. He only wanted to stop me."

  Gabriel didn't let go right away, and I thought he might not at all.

  The last twenty-four hours had taken a toll on him.

  Slowly, with obvious reluctance, he shifted back and released Scott. As soon as they were apart, Gabriel took a large step toward me, spun around, and created a very large roadblock. Anyone that wanted to get to me had to come through him. I considered calling him a Neanderthal but didn't see any wisdom in it.

  He wasn't in the mood for jokes.

  Truth be told, neither was I.

  I kept my distance from Scott, aware it was for the best. "Did you buy this property or inherit it?" I was guessing the latter. I could summon demons and raise the dead, but my magic wasn't like this. I didn't have a clue what he did with the spirits in his free time. "If you come clean with me, I can help you."

  He rubbed his throat and retrieved the staff. "They can't go anywhere until she does."

  Not an answer to my question, but the confession allowed me to bring everything together. He hadn't been lying about the necromancers he'd brought to the home before. He just hadn't mentioned the complication that hindered their progress when they'd tried to follow his request. If what he said was true, the issue was the result of death and dark casting.

  I wanted to know something. "Why did she do it?"

  "Revenge. I was only a child when it happened."

  My stomach contorted, and I felt nauseous.

  I took another look around, paying attention this time, and noticed the knickknacks on the walls and the incense on the table near the door. I wondered why he'd kept a property with issues instead of selling it. Shit. The man didn't rent out the place. That had been a ruse. The spirits weren't just any family members. They were his parents and siblings. I didn't know how he escaped the torture and flames, but I didn't feel the need to ask. The circumstances didn't really matter. What was important was bidding fare-thee-well to the residual and setting them free.

  "Show me where she is." I couldn't move since I had an enormous vampire in front of me, but I did inch over slightly to meet Scott's gaze. He'd made a dipshit move, but he had his reasons. I removed the amulet from my pocket because it would make things move along faster and slid the cord over my neck. The thrum of power seduced me as it always did, calling to me as I called to it. "Take me to her, and I'll get her gone."

  Surprise hit him first, then relief. "This way."

  Gabriel offered me his hand, keeping his eyes forward, monitoring everyone in the residence. I slid my fingers through his and tossed my gaze to Adrian and Nala. They were still watching but had moved much closer. It struck me that Adrian should have given me a warning—that was why he'd come with us, after all—and remembered he didn't have to say anything to me. All he had to do was send a thought Gabriel's way, which I was sure he had.

  It wasn't easy to follow Scott since there were so many people in the enclosed space. Nala and Adrian went to the stairs, providing more room. Gabriel helped me squeeze by Tippie and Joshua. Scott took us to another hallway that had rooms on the right-hand side. He kept going even when he didn't need to. I saw the old crone standing several feet away. She had a strange appearance, taking on a nearly solid form, and was not at all what I was used to.

  "You can stop," I said, staring at the residual. "I see her."

  Goose shouldered past everyone to get to my side, and I wondered if I should have kept my mouth shut rather than inviting him. He took my free hand without asking, wanting to see what I could, and a surge of power slammed into me. It wasn't the same kind of energy that I experienced with the amulet. This was something deeper and felt balanced, powerful, and centering.

  "Are you doing that?" Goose whispered.

  I peered down at my hands, seeing who held them.

  What was happening was a result of two familiars standing beside their master. We were all engaged and open to each other, increasing our natural talents. I didn't answer because people were watching. Adrian and Nala would find out about the turn of events because they were family. The other three weren't part of that, and I didn't want to give them too much information. We needed their help, but so far they'd seemed intent on playing games. I gazed around, looking for the object that allowed the residual to stay.

  "Is any part of this area original?"

  "I'm not sure," Scott answered. "Most of it had to be gutted."

  There had to be something that had been present from the day the magic had been evoked. My gaze kept moving, darting over surfaces, looking for something that didn't belong. I didn't spot squat. I could have let Gabriel or Goose go and tried to use the amulet, but I didn't want to. Their presence allowed me to see things differently, but I was certain the newfound ability had to be nourished and developed to reach its full potential.

  Gabriel sent a metal impression. "There."

  The lower portion of the windowsill hadn't been replaced. It seemed like such a strange place to curse, which was probably why the magic had lasted so long. Despite a fresh coat of paint, there were small indentions that the human eye couldn't catch. His eyesight was far better than mine. I'd have looked for hours and still wouldn't have spotted it.

  "Scott," I said, deciding to bring both men with me since this hallway was wider. "You're going to need to call your carpenter."

  As we approached the window, we made it to the old woman. Her pinned hair, pinched face, and black clothing reminded me of the deranged grandmother in Flowers in the Attic. She stood completely still with her hands tucked in front of her. I was surprised she wasn't toting a bible. I still didn't understand why she'd done it but that was probably for the best. We were about to send her off and get away from the house she'd murdered a family for.

  I never wanted to set foot inside it again.

  Chapter Fourteen

  As I opened the door, eager to leave Scott's family home and never return, I thought about the events that had taken place. I banished the residual by demolishing the window pane and a portion of the house, but, even with Goose and Gabriel's assistance, doing so had taken time. The tether had been strong and repelled us when we tried to remove it, trying to prevent our kicks with an odd shield I'd never encountered. The barrier was solid and nearly perfect. A strange sensation had surfaced within me. For some odd reason, the spell was something I recognized.

  Instead of freaking out when I experienced something new and unique, I'd faced the magic. I'd ordered the spell to bend to my will, demanding the unnatural hex to depart, determined to break the source. When that finally happened, we removed the residual, breaking the link and ending the curse over the re
sidence. The morbid crone had vanished, and all the bad energy around the place had immediately lifted.

  I'd been relieved, thinking I could go, until I remembered the ghosts. Even though the house was clean, I sensed them. They deserved rest, and we had to grant peace to them. Scott had no clue what was taking place, remaining limited as he hadn't created the spell and didn't recognize the magic. I'd reluctantly admitted there was one last thing that had to be done. I'd taken the two most important men in my life to the hallway we'd started in, clutching their hands.

  When Scott had asked to see the ghosts, I knew for certain those who'd died were his relatives. I had Gabriel and Goose place their hands on my neck as I grasped Scott's quivering fingers. I went to the largest ghost in the bunch and reunited him with those he'd lost, letting him say his farewells one by one.

  His parents and siblings.

  I still didn't know his story, but I also hadn't asked. The reunion, in many ways, reminded me of the family I'd bound myself to. They also wanted their comeuppance and deserved to speak out. They had every right to face the things that had hurt them, and I wanted to make that happen.

  There was much to be done and not a lot of time.

  We had to find a grave, sever a debt, and fulfill my bargain before Lucifer tried to take over my mind again. Fatigue brought a new awareness, creating influence, allowing me to sense his nearness. He had easy access when I couldn't think clearly, knowing how to use the mind against itself. If I wasn't careful, he'd slip into my head, try to influence me, and hurt Gabriel again.

  I wanted to go home as soon as possible.

  Tippie and Joshua had witnessed everything from afar.

  When I'd wrapped things up and announced the show was over, ready to move by them at the top of the stairs, they had gazed at me with what I thought might be respect and admiration. Gabriel had remained by my side with Goose. They had been aware of what I'd done, seeing everything as I did, facing the ordeal with me.

  I didn't want what was flowing through us to go away.

  With the steady purr of energy pulsing through us, I didn't think anything could hurt me. I'd sensed each of their emotions as we'd faced something new together. Where Goose had been excited and thrilled, Gabriel had found a true understanding of what I went through when dealing with spirits. He had always attempted to listen and digest my explanations, but the first time he went through the event himself, he grasped everything he'd missed. He understood the devastation my ability caused, and he glimpsed what each ordeal put me through.

  He placed a hand under my shirt and kept his palm firm against my waist, resting his other large and steady hand at the slope beneath my sternum. He made sure I didn't stumble as we strode down the porch and headed to the drive. Goose stayed with us, resting his hand under the heavy fall of my hair. I couldn't talk in his mind, but I could feel him in a new way.

  None of us spoke.

  I had an idea everything hit too close to home.

  Each of us had been forced to let go of things we loved, and the events had changed our lives forever. We'd keep marching on, taking things one day at a time, but we'd never forget. It was impossible not to look back on those you lost when something reminded you of them. We all missed the one who wasn't there, the vampire who'd kept himself apart but had always been there for us. I absorbed their agony through our connection.

  Paine.

  He should have been with us.

  He would have completed our odd circle.

  We'd thought about him at the same time.

  I'd felt the tug in my chest when our memories had followed the same path, connected, and taken a journey back to him. His loss was raw and painful, and we'd faced the truth. He was gone. He'd never come back. All we had were memories that were bittersweet, horrific, and heartbreaking.

  I looked up when we reached the paved walkway to the road. A broad figure was leaning against a dark SUV. The large shape moved, took form, and strode into the beams of light coming from the house. Bane's scarred face greeted us as we walked toward the vehicle that would take us home. I didn't want to hear a word, finding I wasn't equipped to handle someone so much like myself after what I'd just done. Adrian and Nala had already climbed into the car that brought us to Jersey. They were waiting to take us home.

  I groaned, feeling a bad mood rising.

  Bane stopped in front of us. "Hey, girl."

  Hey girl? Isn't that a meme?

  "What is it, Bane?"

  His attention drifted to Gabriel. "She did it?"

  Gabriel started to speak, but I didn't give him a chance. "Hello. I'm right here." Bane's gaze flickered back to me, and I said, "Of course I did it. You told me to, didn't you? I said I would."

  The asshole of assholes paused and studied me, taking me in, and I shifted my feet when his face changed. He didn't look angry. The scar on his face seemed to pull back like it wanted to slide under his skin and vanish. His expression turned reflective and almost relieved, like he'd been hoping this moment would come. I didn't know why but the longer he stared, the more uncomfortable I became.

  If he had something to say, I wished he'd come out and say it.

  "Do you think it's best if you tell her?" Bane asked, continuing to look at me in an odd and what started to feel like a very frightening way. "Or should I?"

  "Tell me what?" I shifted my weight and placed my feet firmly on the ground.

  I didn't force Gabriel or Goose away, but my attention darted from them to Bane. Apprehension replaced the numbing serenity that had overcome me as the mark flowed between the three of us. Something was about to happen, and I wasn't sure if that was a good thing. Alarm swept through me, creating tension. I immediately turned to the connection I had with Gabriel, wanting to look into his head for answers. While his mind was open, he'd closed a door within himself, preventing me from finding what I wanted.

  I reached out to him, trying not to panic. "What's going on?"

  "Hear him out, love."

  "You're keeping something from me." That was the only thing that made sense. I couldn't believe it. An invisible hand grasped my heart and squeezed. "You said there wouldn't be any lies between us."

  "Go to the car, Ethan." Gabriel turned his attention to Goose, changing his grip, wrapping a tight arm around my waist that I'd never be able to break away from. He hadn't apologized or tried to talk me down, but he felt guilty because he had willfully hidden a part of his mind from me. "Tell Adrian and Nala to wait."

  "Wait for what?" I didn't attempt to shake him loose, aware such a thing would be impossible, but he sensed my nervousness. Goose slid his hand from my neck and did as he'd been told. I noticed him glance back at me as he walked across the lawn toward the car and wondered if he knew something too. I'd found myself back where I started, standing on my lonesome in the dark.

  "What the fuck is going on?" The bliss that had cocooned me as we'd exited the house vanished. Whatever Bane was about to say couldn't be good. We'd talked about all sorts of things, ranging from Marigold to ruthless half-demons and vampire killing. They'd only hide something if they thought the knowledge would upset me or change things. "What have the two of you done?"

  "We haven't done anything. I did something. If you want to get snippy, get snippy with me." Bane's abrasive nature resurfaced. His blue eyes brightened, and the scar on his face gained new life as he frowned. "He"—Bane said, coming closer and pointing at Gabriel, making sure I followed the movement—"has no say in the matter. What's happening is part of the terms I offered him. If he talked to you about this before I was ready, I told him everything I offered the two of you would be gone—every last bit of it. I told him I'd pack up my shit and go. His hands have been tied since you left him alone with me the first time. He didn't like it, believe me. We've argued about this more than once. He's been waiting for this as long as I have."

  I couldn't run, and I couldn't fight the two of them.

  I always hated being ambushed.

  "Waiting for what
?" I asked.

  Bane looked at Gabriel, and I knew they were communicating privately. Disheartened that Gabriel had broken his word and had planned something behind my back, I lost my cool. I planted an elbow in Gabriel's side, using as much force as I could. He didn't even budge. I found myself trapped between two very hardheaded and annoying men.

  "If you want to say something, say it!" I yelled at both of them.

  I didn't give a shit if the entire world heard.

  I prepared to give it hell, feeling my strength coming back.

  Gabriel moved faster than I could anticipate, placing his arms around my waist. He trapped me against him, pressing his chest against my back. Bane glared at the vampire holding me so tightly, and I could swear he'd clenched his jaw because he didn't like the way things were playing out. He lowered his head, reached into his back pocket, and pulled out his wallet. I studied him closely, suspicious and ready to fight him if I had to. I didn't care if I won or lost. After we'd met and talked, I'd honestly started to think I could trust the bastard.

  That's what I deserved for dropping my guard.

  He removed a photo and stared at it for several seconds like he'd looked at the image before but was only seeing it for the first time right then and there.

  He offered the picture to me and said, "Tell me what you see."

  I reached out to take the photo because what other choice did I have? I wondered if the image had invisible teeth and would bite me. I pulled the picture closer and had to shift it to reflect the light from a nearby lamppost. The image was old and faded. The picture had lines running through it, and the color was blotted and ruddy. I took in the background first, noting fat trees, a string of caravans, and people in the distance.

  Then I went to the smiling face nestled in the center.

  I couldn't move or think. Ice spread through my veins.

  Lucifer was fucking with me again.