Shadows in the Mist

by Jeri Westerson

  “It really is a perfect little shop,” I sighed. I was proud of it, though I still wondered if I’d have the chance to own it for more than a few weeks.

  “It is a fine shop,” said that familiar voice from the shadows.

  “I thought you’d buggered off to parts unknown.”

  “Of course not. I am tethered to the book.”

  “That’s a handy excuse.”

  Erasmus stepped out of the shadows. Moonlight slanting in from the window illuminated his face. “I…seem to be tethered to more than the book.”

  “Why did you do it?”

  He took a step closer. “Would you believe me if I said that I had a very good reason?”

  “No.”

  “Then we are at an impasse.”

  “Was it to save you or me?”

  He took a step closer. “Yes.”

  “Which one?”

  “Both.”

  “I needed to know—”

  “I know. I would have liked to have known as well. But it was too dangerous, his lingering between here and there.”

  “But I told you—”

  “And I’m sorry. But I panicked. I am not versed in these…strange new dynamics.”

  The dark smoothness of his voice calmed me, perhaps even lulled me. I didn’t, couldn’t fight it. “What sort of dynamics?”

  He stepped closer until he was merely a foot away. “Of a demon…falling in love with a human.”

  “Have you?”

  His hand slowly rose to delicately cup my cheek. “Yes,” he whispered. “I’m sorry if I’m not doing it right. I don’t know how.”

  I closed my eyes and breathed. “You’re doing it right,” I said. Doc had told me to try to understand him. Doc really knew more about the world than I did, didn’t he?

  When I opened my eyes, Erasmus was gazing at me with concern. “I’m sorry that I lied to you. I’m sorry that I will continue to lie to you.”

  “It’s your nature.”

  “Yes. As your nature is to despise it.”

  “We’ll agree to disagree?”

  He cocked his head. “If you want to think of it that way.”

  “I don’t know what I want.”

  “I see. Well, I will be here, keeping watch. Baphomet still roams free.”

  I trudged through the shop and reached the stairs. I’d made it halfway up to my room when I stopped. He had a hopeful expression. That I’d forgiven him. That I’d invite him up. I wanted to. The whole episode had been so horrible that it would’ve been nice to be in someone’s arms. But I couldn’t invite him. Not yet.

  I gave him a half-smile instead and scuffed up the stairs, closing the door as he stood in the shadows below.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  I woke with a start, gasping. I dreamed of people on fire, screaming, skin and muscle dripping off of them. The image couldn’t fade fast enough.

  There was a cup of coffee on my nightstand, still steaming. How did he keep it hot? Magic?

  I sat up, took the mug in hand, and sipped. He was getting better at it. His tea-making, however, still suffered. He didn’t quite grasp the process. Understandable, since he was allergic to the stuff. I smiled, feeling warm…until I remembered.

  I stared into my mug, beginning to think about the events I had not wanted to process last night.

  On the one hand, he was a demon, a dangerous being designed to kill me and eat my soul—both of which he had promised not to do. Among his many promises and lies, this one I believed. Mostly because I wanted to. But also because…I couldn’t believe he would, not after those tender expressions and confessions of love.

  But then on the other hand, he did lie. All the time. Would continue to lie. How would I know what was true and what wasn’t?

  The Booke would know. It would tell me. And of course, there it was, skimming across the floor and bouncing at the edge of the bed, like some frolicking pup. “Did I ask for you?”

  Yes, it bobbed. You were thinking of me, and I came.

  I pushed it away. It floated onward, as if on the surface of a calm lake.

  Still, on yet another hand, Erasmus was…maybe what I needed right now. I mean, there was nothing long-term about any of this, was there? Neither for my life or for his. How could I envision a future with a…a demon?

  He rapped on the door.

  “Yes?”

  He opened it and poked his head in. “Ah. You’re awake.”

  I glanced at the clock, noticing that I hadn’t woken up particularly late. I clutched the mug to my chest. “Was there something you wanted?”

  He sidled into the room to stand at the foot of the bed, discomfort flowing off of him in waves and in thin ribbons of gray smoke feathering off his shoulders and sleeves.

  He cleared his throat. “I…seemed to have created a rift between us.”

  “You could say that.” I wanted to sip the coffee, but I didn’t. I sat straight and stiff, the mug now in my lap.

  “And so…I find myself in the unenviable position of having to explain myself…and trying not to lie.”

  “How do I know that any of it isn’t a lie?”

  He frowned. “I…dammit! You’ll simply have to believe me.”

  I crooked a finger at the Booke and allowed it onto the bed. I touched the worn leather cover. My own personal lie detector.

  His eyes widened. Was he sweating?

  “Very well,” he began, eyes never leaving the Booke under my hand. “I had my doubts about the de-summoning ritual working. And then when it seemed that it would, I realized that it would be a foolish plan to allow him to live. He could be at the mercy of any number of denizens of the Netherworld…including the Powers That Be.”

  So far, so good. The Booke seemed happy just to listen to his voice. All was kosher.

  “I knew you wanted to understand more of the book’s secrets, how he’d gotten the ghoul out of it a second time, for instance, but it was far more important to stop him than to allow him to escape.”

  Nope. The Booke was giving me a big fat buzzer on that one.

  “You’re lying.”

  He glared at my hand on the Booke. “You think you’re clever.”

  “I know I am. Go on.”

  “Beelze’s tail,” he muttered with clenched teeth. He heaved a sigh. “Very well. It was important to dispatch him…but perhaps not at that particular moment. I…I didn’t want him to say out loud how to countermand the book.”

  Hmm. That appeared to be the truth.

  “And why not?”

  “Because it would likely be a trick to put us in danger—”

  I shook my head purposefully.

  He blew out a breath wreathed in smoke. “Because…because…mortals must not know the—”

  “Uh-uh.”

  “Beelze’s tail! All right! I feared that constable of yours would spill the information to Shabiri and that this would be extremely dangerous to you and me.”

  He was huffing and puffing, his mouth screwed up in defiance. According to the Booke, this was the truth.

  I set the mug on my bedside table and crossed my arms. “Was that so very hard?”

  He collapsed on the edge of the bed, arms flopped to his sides. “Yes!”

  “Wow. I see it wore you out. This is useful information. And you could have talked to me about it. We could have kept Ed out of the cave. If only you’d told me the truth beforehand.”

  “Oh.” His eyebrows danced as he thought. “But what of those others? That deputy might have begun to consort with Shabiri—”

  “No, that’s highly unlikely. He’s only interested in Nick. In men.”

  “Hmm. How quaint. Those of the Netherworld don’t distinguish between genders or species.”

  “Thanks for the reminder.”

  “Does this trouble you? That we are different species?”

  “No, strangely, it doesn’t. I mean, we’re two sentient species. It isn’t as if I was bringing sheep into bed.”

  He
made a face that seemed to say, “Don’t knock it till you tried it.”

  “O-kaay! I’m getting up now!” I slammed the bathroom door on his perplexed expression and leaned against the pedestal sink. Something was seriously wrong with everyone from the Netherworld.

  * * *

  I hadn’t experienced a normal day for some time. But today I had customers to talk to, things to sell. A ladies' group booked me to give a talk on teas and herbs. I think Erasmus was trying to make amends for his behavior, because he helped me without even being asked.

  Still, as I wrapped a chintz teapot in tissue paper for a customer and carefully laid it in her bag, I couldn’t help but worry that the ghoul was still out there. Again. It knew me now and knew what I would do to it. There was no way I could get near it anymore. Jeff said he’d spent some evenings sniffing around the cemetery, but he hadn’t found it either. Heaven knows where it was.

  The bell above the door dinged. I looked up and swore under my breath. Ruth-freakin’-Russell stood there, glaring at me.

  I thanked my customer as I handed her the bag. She left with a smile on her face, even as she had to squeeze by Miss Sourpuss to get out the door.

  Ruth stomped up to the counter and postured. “I know you have my locket. Where is it?”

  “And good morning to you, Ruth.”

  “Never mind the false niceties. That’s over. You stole my locket and I want it back.”

  “Okay.” I crossed my arms and glared right back. “Let’s put our cards on the table. First of all, I don’t have your precious locket…”

  Erasmus cleared his throat in the background, but I ignored him.

  “And second of all, I want to know what kind of witchcraft you think you’re doing.”

  “Witchcraft? Are you out of your mind? That is the absolute last thing I would be doing.”

  “You wanna know something? I don’t believe you.”

  “Is that so? Well I don’t believe you didn’t take my necklace.”

  I pointed a finger right in her face. “Did you kill Dan Parker in an unholy ritual?”

  She gasped and took a step back. “You are insane!”

  “I saw the pentagram at the church. I know it was you.”

  I knew I was getting rattled, desperate for her to admit something. And she was shocked. At first. But then she narrowed her eyes. “You’ll hear from my lawyer.” She spun on her heel and yanked the door open. When she slammed it shut behind her, suddenly the shop was dead quiet.

  Erasmus cleared his throat again.

  “Technically,” I said, uncurling my fists, “you stole the locket.”

  “A prevarication is still a lie.”

  “And you’re the king of lies.”

  “Hardly.”

  I blew out a breath and grabbed a hunk of my bangs in frustration. “I shouldn’t have played my hand like that, should I?”

  He slowly shook his head.

  “I let my anger at her get the better of me.”

  He nodded.

  “I’d better call Doc.” I dug my phone out of my back pocket. “Hey, Doc. Um…Ruth was in the shop just now, and I…I kind of told her…well. I accused her of killing Dan Parker in a ritual and of putting that pentagram in the church.”

  Silence.

  “Uh…Doc?”

  “Kylie…that seems…very unwise.”

  I sank down onto a stool. “I know. I’m a complete idiot. I’m sorry.”

  “Well…I suppose I’ll have to go on over there and smooth things over.”

  “Should we…should we give her back the necklace?”

  “I think at the moment that wouldn’t be prudent. We still don’t know the nature of it and its significance.”

  “Okay. I’ll leave the détente to you.”

  He clicked off and I tossed the phone to the counter. “She just brings out the worst in me.”

  “As do I, apparently.”

  He could make the puppiest of puppy dog expressions when he wanted to. “No, you don’t.”

  “But you’re still angry with me.”

  “I still have to deal with that ghoul out there. We don’t know how Andras got it out of the Booke…or if anyone else could do the same.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “No, don’t keep apologizing. It’s not really your fault. You just acted on instinct.”

  His sorrowful expression remained, until I walked around the buffet and took his face in my hands. “Cheer up. I’m not mad anymore.” I leaned in and kissed him. The soft press of my lips against his made me feel better, and I could see it had lightened his expression too.

  I ran my thumb over his scruff-covered chin. “You are truly the saddest excuse for a demon I have ever met.”

  When he frowned, I laughed. I gave him a quick peck on the cheek and flounced back to work.

  He hovered in the shadows all day. When I next glanced his way, he was giving me one of his intense stares that never seemed to waver.

  “Look, Erasmus. You’re making me nervous. Let’s have you do something.”

  “Do something?”

  “Yeah. I think it’s time to teach you to brew tea.”

  He made a face. “That ghastly tea. I don’t care to know.”

  “It would be a great help.”

  “But I already know how. You toss a handful of it into hot water. What is so magical about that?”

  “It’s the way it’s done. And also…you definitely don’t need a handful. You use a lot less than that.”

  He suddenly seemed chastened, maybe recalling all the times he’d given me tea and realizing he’d done it wrong. If there was anything he seemed to hate, it was being called out because of something he’d done wrong.

  Arms crossed defensively, he grumbled. “This is foolish.”

  “Nevertheless.” I dragged him to the kitchen and showed him the proper way to make a cup of tea, a pot of tea, and an urn of tea. He sneezed all the while.

  I couldn’t help but give him a proper kiss for braving the allergens just for me. He all but grabbed me and pushed me down on the farmhouse table, gorging himself on my lips. And I would have let him get carried away if it hadn’t been for that damned bell over the door.

  “Customers,” I gasped, wiping my mouth. He was panting over me, his coat smoking. “Calm down, okay?”

  “You’re maddening!” He helped me up, then shook out his duster.

  I straightened my own shirt, patted down my hair, and strode through the doorway. “Good afternoon—oh. Hi, Ed.”

  He squinted, looking me over. “Kylie…”

  Erasmus moved swiftly through the doorway. “Constable Bradbury.”

  Ed’s squint turned into a sneer. Erasmus had deliberately re-disheveled his clothes to come out straightening them…with a wicked smile on his face. Honestly!

  “It’s Sheriff Bradbury,” he insisted.

  Erasmus waved his hand. “Whatever.”

  Ed did a good job of composing himself. “Kylie, I thought you’d like to know that there has been more…well, activity in the cemetery.”

  “Oh, no. That damned ghoul!”

  “Yeah, looks like it. I haven’t heard anything from Shabiri yet.”

  “Have you tried calling her?”

  “Yeah.” He took off his hat and turned the brim in his fingers. “She’s not answering.”

  “This is ridiculous. I have to get rid of the ghoul and the Draugr. It’s good that Andras isn’t out there anymore, but Goat Guy still is. I don’t suppose you’ve talked to your brother.”

  “We’re not exactly on speaking terms.”

  “Well, get over it. There are bigger things going on than petty family rivalries.”

  He slapped his hat back on his head. “You know, you’re pretty pushy.”

  “For a girl who has demons and gods after her? Yeah, you could say that.”

  He wilted a little. “I’m sorry. I—”

  “No, you’re right. I’m sorry. It wasn’t fair of me to put you in
the middle of my troubles with Doug. I’m sorry I sent you to Shabiri.”

  “Wait,” said Erasmus. “You sent your constable…” He looked from me to Ed, before he burst out laughing. “Kylie Strange, you are the most amazing mortal I have ever met!”

  “Uh…thanks. Ed, can I see you outside for a sec? Will you excuse us, Erasmus?”

  He giggled, holding his stomach, and waved us off.

  Outside, I hugged myself in the cold. “I really am sorry for mixing you up in this. I had no right to make you…well, sell yourself.”

  “I’m a big boy. I can make my own decisions.”

  “I know. But I appreciate the sacrifice.”

  “Like I said, it wasn’t that much of a sacrifice. She’s…interesting.”

  “Just keep your head, okay?”

  “And you keep yours. And…anytime you want to change your mind about that guy…”

  I smiled. “I know.”

  The speaker in his Interceptor squawked, something about a problem on someone’s farm. “Look,” he said, “I gotta go. Keep me informed.”

  “I will.”

  I watched as he got in to his car and hit the road toward the highway. I liked Ed. He was handsome, and sexy, and someone you could settle down with. I just didn’t know if that was what I wanted.

  Because when I turned back toward the shop, Erasmus was standing in my doorway, dark, enigmatic, sure of himself…and pretty handsome and sexy too. For a demon.

  * * *

  It was a long day, driven by spurts of activity and long minutes with no customers at all. I sat at the counter, plotting ways to advertise. Maybe offer more classes or even cater events? I sketched out ideas for flyers and then crunched some numbers to see what would work. Even though I might not live to see these activities through, brainstorming was keeping me busy.

  Erasmus spent the time poking into this and that, lifting lids, looking in drawers, sneezing at the tea, and grumbling. Some of the herbs he touched, some he obviously couldn’t. I made special note of those. Still, he was good company. I wondered how he would be going on a date. Of course, he didn’t have any money and couldn’t eat anything…so at least he’d be a cheap date.

  “What in the twelve worlds is this for?” He held up a silver-toned server.

  “Pastry tongs, for serving pastries.”