Duplicity (Spellbound #2)

by Nikki Jefford

  Lee turned and ran as though fleeing a madman. Once she reached the car, she headed for the center of town—Adrian’s prior place of business, to be exact. The old sign announcing Hedrick the Healer had been removed, but the shop—like many shops in the middle of town—was empty.

  Good, perhaps Adrian was just passing through.

  Lee’s shoulders began to relax. She headed down the sidewalk to the spot where she’d parked. As she stepped over cracks in the pavement, she caught sight of purple lettering on the window across the street.

  Montez’s Magic Shoppe

  Lee stopped and turned slowly in place. As soon as the road was clear, she marched across the street and entered the shop. A bell tinkled above the door.

  The sound of the bell was replaced by the click of knitting needles. An old woman working them sat beside the cash register at the back of the shop. She didn’t stop knitting or look up when Lee entered.

  Lee veered off to the right and skirted the shelves against the far wall. Trick decks and coins were stacked at eye level. Lee picked up a quarter and turned it in her hand. Heads or heads? Both sides were the same.

  Lee set it down, choosing not to linger long in one spot. She scanned the shelves as she moved to a row of pegs. Whoopee cushions hung from a peg in front of her.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “Angel of Death.”

  Adrian’s words slipped over Lee like a caress. She abruptly retracted her hand from the whoopee cushion, feeling nearly as embarrassed as she would have if she’d cut one herself.

  How had he gotten inside without the bell ringing above the door? Probably slinked in through a back entrance.

  “What are you doing here?” Lee scowled. It was hard not to laugh at the thespian save she’d performed on the spot.

  “Me? I own this shop.” Adrian gave her a hard stare. “What are you doing here?”

  Lee looked to the side, but the old woman had vanished. It was just her and Adrian—alone in a store full of tricks.

  Lee squared her shoulders. “I’m looking for a present… for my boyfriend…” Yeah, boyfriend. Ha! Good one. She should have stopped there. “For Valentine’s Day.”

  Adrian stared at her a moment then threw his head back and laughed. “Have we met before?”

  Lee rolled her eyes. “Yeah, earlier… at the cemetery.”

  Adrian’s grin widened. “That’s not what I meant. You remind me of someone.”

  “Let me guess, an angel?”

  “Definitely not an angel.” Adrian stepped so close to Lee their breath intertwined. “Why don’t you tell me what you’re really doing here?”

  Rather than back down, Lee leaned forward. She hated getting that close to Adrian, their noses nearly touching, but it had the desired effect of taking him by surprise. “The truth is there’s nothing in here my boyfriend would like.” She dashed around him and had almost made it to the door when the bolt slid shut.

  Speaking of déjà vu…

  Lee had played this game before, and she wasn’t getting sucked in again—especially not with Adrian Montez. She froze the moment the bolt clicked into place… then she disappeared.

  Back door it was then.

  Chapter Eleven

  The back door was as useless as the front. It rattled under her grasp. Lee looked over her shoulder, half expecting Adrian to be standing behind her, smiling at her predicament, but she was alone in the back room. Lee stopped twisting the doorknob to focus on the brass handle. The door quivered on its hinges. She reached out and tried twisting again, but it wouldn’t budge. She stepped away from the door and surveyed the back room.

  Small metal desk. Mini fridge. Shelves stuffed with back stock. Shipments waiting to be unpacked.

  Nowhere to hide.

  Lee wasn’t one to corner herself in and cower, anyway. She returned to the shop.

  Adrian stood waiting near the front door, arms folded. His grin was tight. He stared in the direction of her footsteps, but his eyes shifted as he tried to locate her. “So, you’re a witch.”

  “Obviously.”

  Adrian’s head jerked. “Show yourself.” He seemed to say it more to himself than to Lee.

  She moved slowly down an empty aisle, making her way to the shop front. “Unlock the doors.”

  “I’ll let you go once you tell me why you’re stalking me.”

  Lee laughed before she could stop herself. Adrian’s head swung in her direction. “Me? Stalking you? Opposed to you holding me captive?”

  “Why can’t I see you?”

  “’Cause I’m invisible.” Hello?

  “No. Why can’t I SEE YOU.”

  Lee’s breath caught. Her entire body prickled as though she were an image turned to static on a TV screen. Bits of her flesh and clothes appeared like megapixels floating in midair. The nazar vibrated against her skin and the static suddenly stopped. Lee looked down. She was still invisible.

  You! she wanted to yell. You’re the one behind all this.

  “Very impressive,” Adrian drawled.

  Lee took in a breath. “Not as impressive as the spell you have over all of Kent.”

  Adrian’s grin confirmed it even as he tried to play coy. “Who said that was me?”

  “No one had to. So, you’re back in the business of avenging, I see.”

  Adrian tossed his head back. “How is it you know of me, but I don’t know a thing about you?”

  Adrian’s question was met with silence. Lee was done bantering. She needed to get to Gathering right away and warn everyone about Adrian. If only her stupid boots weren’t so loud against the hardwood floor.

  “You don’t seem to have any problem keeping control over your powers. I’m curious, how have you managed?”

  Lee pressed her hand over the nazar. She’d never been so happy to have the alien eye dangling securely from her neck. “None of your biz.” She shouldn’t address him at all, but it was easier to cover her footsteps to the front door when she spoke.

  Lee was almost there when she felt something akin to a swarm of ants crawling all over her skin. Frantically, she started patting herself down with her hands until, too late, she realized she’d let her guard down. Adrian was upon her, having seen several stray pixels of her appear then vanish where she stood. He reached down her dress. Lee screamed.

  Adrian formed a fist around the nazar between her breasts and yanked. The chain broke. Adrian didn’t smile for long. Lee’s hand appeared right before it made impact across his cheek. Adrian clutched the nazar in one hand, his face in the other.

  With Adrian momentarily distracted, Lee retried the front door, but it rattled without giving way.

  When she swung around to face Adrian, he held his hand up—the nazar dangling from the broken chain. “Wouldn’t want to leave without your handy, dandy amulet.”

  “You should know I get crazy angry when people perform magic on me.”

  Adrian’s eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”

  “What? Don’t recognize me?”

  Adrian watched as Lee sauntered toward him. He lifted his hand when Lee tried to snatch the nazar.

  “Hand it over. You owe me, Adrian.”

  “I don’t owe anyone.”

  Lee snorted. “Not even the person who got your powers back for you?”

  Adrian’s jaw dropped. “Gray?”

  Lee tossed her hair over her shoulder. “The one and only… at least I was until you screwed everything up.”

  Lee followed Adrian’s hand as it lowered, totally within reach, but Adrian’s fingers had tightened around the nazar. Desire, affection, mockery, and scorn mingled into one dark look he cast over her. “How did you do it?”

  “Perform my own body transfer? Easy. After Ryan extracted me, I found myself a host.” Lee spun around, then stopped. “It all worked out pretty well till my twin showed up saying she was me.” Lee laughed. “I don’t suppose you know anything about that?”

  Adrian stared over Lee’s shoulder. “Th
en it worked.”

  “Yeah, it worked, all right. Now there are two Graylee Perezes in the world.”

  Whatever shock Adrian had experienced before vanished like the pixels of Lee had earlier. He grinned. “Two Grays are better than none.”

  “Why did you do it?”

  “I made a promise to bring you back no matter what.”

  “And the spell on Kent’s warlocks and witches… that’s part of it?”

  “That,” Adrian said with a widening smile, “is vengeance.”

  Lee’s jaw dropped. “Oh no.”

  Adrian took a step toward her. “Oh yes.”

  Lee moved to the door. “I told you who I am. Now let me out.”

  Adrian swung the nazar in a circle. “Nonsense, you only just arrived.”

  “I’m not really in the mood for chitchat, if you know what I mean.”

  “Is that any way to greet the man who ensured your existence continued?”

  Lee chortled. “As you can see, I managed quite well on my own.” Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t owe you anything, Adrian.”

  “Does your double feel the same way?”

  “Like smacking you upside the head? Allow me to answer on behalf of myself: absolutely! I’d like to know how you plan to fix this one.”

  “And why would I do that?”

  “Because you can’t just get rid of Charlene.”

  “Why not? Was that not your personal request just last year?”

  “When I thought it was either that or stop existing,” Lee said. “As you can see that’s no longer necessary.”

  Adrian stopped swinging the nazar. “Sorry, can’t help you. I’m afraid the spell is irreversible.”

  “Well, there’s got to be something we can do and I intend to find out.” Lee gave the nazar one last look. It was as though the alien eye held all her power and, now, it was in Adrian’s hand. She turned to the door and yanked on the handle. It was still stuck. She whipped around. “I’m done playing games. Let me out, Adrian.”

  Adrian grinned and took a step back. “But, my dear Gray, I’ve only just begun.” He turned and walked up the nearest aisle.

  When magic didn’t work, Lee shook the door handle. For all her efforts, it merely rattled in response.

  Maybe Adrian’s retreat should have caused Lee relief. But knowing Adrian, he was up to no good. Lee trailed him cautiously. He made his way to the checkout stand and began arranging objects on the countertop. As Lee neared, the candles came into focus: three white and three red. She stopped and swallowed down a gasp. “What are those for?”

  “You know what these are for, Gray. In fact, you’ve had experience using them yourself.” Adrian didn’t even need a match. The flames burst to life—six at once.

  Memory wipe.

  Lee and Raj had performed one on Marc Phillips so he wouldn’t suspect her when his pendant went missing.

  “Don’t.” Lee hated the pleading in her voice.

  Adrian only hesitated for a fraction of a second. “Sorry, Gray, but I can’t have you running off to the council and spoiling my fun. Shame you won’t remember our encounter, but it was good seeing you again.” A scrap of paper appeared, like a trick card, between Adrian’s fingers. He held it over the first flame. “Bit by bit Adrian Montez shall fade, shall disappear.” The scoundrel had the audacity to wink at her.

  A second scrap appeared momentarily before being consumed in the flame of the next candle. “Day by day this is as I say.”

  Lee found her voice. “Nooooo!” she screeched. She lurched forward, fingers extended like claws, only to fall backwards when she hit an unseen force field separating her from Adrian.

  “Memories from this afternoon shall disappear,” he continued. “Sunk into a forgotten bay.”

  “Stop! Don’t do this, Adrian.” Lee pounded the invisible wall with her fists. “You’ll be sorry. I’ll find out! I’ll find out somehow and when I do I’ll make sure you regret it!”

  “As this paper is consumed in flame, memories of me shall burn away.” Adrian paused over the final candle. His eyes landed on Lee briefly.

  She ran for the front door, yanking a display table off the ground as she went. Trinkets and gag gifts showered the floor. Lee hurled the table at the window, and glass shattered into the street.

  Lee took one last look back in time to catch Adrian’s bemused smile. His final words followed her out into the crisp air as she found herself fleeing through a window for the second time in a year.

  “All encounters and words gone from today.”

  Glass cracked under Lee’s feet. The damage was done. Once those candles burned out, her memory of meeting Adrian at the graveyard and of visiting his shop would be wiped from her mind. The witches and warlocks of Kent would continue to flail around, wondering who or what was causing their magical mishaps.

  But she still had time to find paper and pen.

  Lee hurried toward Mr. Morehouse’s car. How had it become dark so quickly? She was alone on the street, save for the lamp posts lighting her way like torches along a corridor. Lee had nearly made it to the vehicle when an arm looped under hers and crushed her against his chest. The weakened state Adrian had appeared in at the cemetery must have been an illusion. He was all compact muscle mass and unyielding force.

  Adrian chuckled. “Same old Gray, won’t go without a fight.”

  Lee fought Adrian’s grasp. His grip tightened.

  “How could you do that? I got your powers back for you!”

  Adrian shrugged. “You left me no other choice.”

  Lee ceased struggling momentarily to snort. “Right, I’m the one to blame.”

  “Come on.” Adrian pulled her with him.

  Lee made her body go slack like a dead weight. “I’m not going back to your shop.”

  “I’m taking you home. Is this your car?”

  Lee pressed her lips together. Adrian merely chuckled and opened the passenger door with his free hand. “Have a seat.” Lee tried to twist out of his arms. Adrian tightened his hold on her. “You can get in yourself or I can put you in.” The lamplight overhead caught the whites of Adrian’s teeth when he grinned. “It would be my pleasure to give you a hand.”

  That settled it. Lee pulled out of his grasp and plopped into the passenger’s seat. She glowered through the windshield. Adrian, however, did not walk around the front of the car. He disappeared, then reappeared an instant later in the driver’s seat.

  Lee’s eyelashes fluttered. “You can teleport?”

  Adrian grinned, this time with pride. “One of the many talents the council took away from me.” The car started up without the key.

  Lee turned toward Adrian. “How far can you teleport?” she asked before she could stop herself. “Can you go anywhere in the world?”

  Adrian pulled into the deserted street. “Wouldn’t that be something? No, I have an extremely small radius. I’m limited to one mile.”

  “Oh.” Lee faced forward and stared out the windshield.

  Adrian shifted in his seat. “You might not be impressed, but the audience loved the disappearing magician trick in my performing days.” The wistful tone of the words made Lee look at him again.

  When Lee first met Adrian, he’d made a living as Hedrick the Healer, but it was rumored he’d once been known as Montez the Magician.

  “Why did you stop performing?”

  Adrian flexed his fingers over the top of the steering wheel. “Where do you live?”

  “Why are you changing the subject?”

  “Do I take a right here or left?”

  “Why did you stop performing?” Why did Lee care? The scoundrel had held her hostage and was wiping out her memory. To be fair, he was making sure she got home. That wouldn’t earn him points when she found out he’d cast a spell on her. She had to find a way to leave herself some sort of clue.

  Adrian took a right when Lee didn’t answer, which was the wrong turn. It was the correct route if they were going to her old home. Maybe Ad
rian would settle on that if she didn’t speak.

  At the next intersection, Lee tried to turn the streetlight red, but without the nazar all three colors ended up lighting at once: red, yellow, green.

  Adrian slowed, then sped up when he saw oncoming traffic halt on either side of the intersection. Laughter erupted from his lips. “See how much fun there is to be had in this town?”

  “I doubt you’d find it amusing if your powers backfired every time you tried to use them.”

  Adrian stopped laughing and nodded. “True.” Then he smiled again. “What sport?”

  “You suck.”

  Adrian laughed again.

  “I want my nazar back.”

  “You’ll get it back once I get you home.”

  “If you give it to me now I can turn all the lights green and we can get there faster.”

  The look Adrian shot her was far too intimate. “Is that what you were doing back there? Trying to make the light green?”

  No, the exact opposite, and they both knew it.

  Lee swallowed. It was time to put Adrian back in the hot seat. “What happened to Montez the Magician?”

  Adrian reached for the knob on the radio and started humming. He could have turned the music on using his powers, but he didn’t. Lee turned it off.

  “I don’t know why you won’t tell me, it’s not like I’m going to remember, anyway.”

  Adrian tapped his fingers lightly against the steering wheel. “I really am going to need that address.”

  “Adrian, you bloody creep. Tell me!”

  Adrian’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel. He slammed his foot on the gas pedal and screeched around a corner. Lee’s shoulder slammed against the door. The car accelerated down a dark road before diving into an alleyway. Lee’s arms flailed as she tried to grip a handlebar—anything to steady herself. She jolted forward when Adrian slammed on the brake.

  Concrete walls boxed them in on either side. Lee’s seatbelt clicked open at the same time as Adrian’s. She met his stare and shuddered. Anger and lust twisted what remained of his composure.