That Old Black Magic

by Michelle Rowen

  Yeah, that was such a good answer. It solved so many mysteries of Eden’s life. No, actually it just made her angrier. His green-eyed gaze moved to her hands where the black magic had been triggered by her roller coaster of emotions. Darrak put his hand on her back. The warmth of his touch was enough to calm her for the time being, but only slightly.

  She turned to meet his eyes and felt the sting of tears. “He didn’t want me.”

  “His loss.”

  Daniel laughed then, a sharp crack of sound that made chills run down Eden’s spine. “This is rather awkward, Lucifer. Shall we get on with it?”

  “What?” Darrak snarled. “You’re going to do it right here, right now? Drain Eden’s angelic energy and then attempt to swap places like this is some sort of relay race?”

  “Yes, that’s the plan exactly,” Daniel said.

  “This doesn’t have to be unpleasant,” Lucas soothed. He was speaking to Eden directly. “It won’t hurt you. And there are ways to keep your soul from turning darker without the angelic energy to balance you. I promise no harm will come to you.”

  “How can you promise that?” Darrak demanded.

  Lucas’s jaw clenched. “I’ll discuss this matter with Eden alone.”

  “Not going to happen.”

  “Don’t stand in the way of this, Darrak. I’ve given my word that Eden and your unborn child will be protected no matter what happens.” Lucas shook his head. “I still don’t understand how something like you could have created a new life.”

  Darrak glared at him. “It’s kind of sad, if I gave a moment’s thought to feel sorry for your hellish ass. You’ve never felt true love, not a moment in your entire existence. It’s all been about serving your own interests. Your own worldview. Oh, you have a shitty job. Boohoo. I had the worst job ever for hundreds of years and did you ever hear me complain?”

  “Yes,” Lucas replied. “Constantly.”

  “Yeah, well, I like to air my grievances. It’s healthy.”

  “Are we finished here?” Daniel asked. “I’ve sacrificed much and am not in the mood for a pissing contest.”

  “You think that’s what this is?” Lucas’s tone turned sharp. “A pissing contest? Be patient or you will get nothing from me at all.”

  Daniel looked cowed by this. “My most sincere apologies, my prince.”

  Eden couldn’t help but be disappointed. Her father was a wussy peon who caved at the slightest challenge. She’d thought he might be able to help her, but she saw that was only a pipe dream now. She had to figure out how to save herself and Darrak and she needed to do it now.

  If that required her giving up her celestial energy in order to get everyone out of this in one piece, then that was exactly what she’d do. But first she needed to know something.

  She turned to Daniel. “Why are you willing to become the next Prince of Hell? Is this an official assignment? A changing of the guard?”

  That would be enough to reassure Eden that this was the right thing to do. After all, Lucas had served in Hell for a very long time. She had to admit, even he deserved a break.

  Daniel moved closer to her and gently cupped her face in his hands. This close to him she could feel the celestial energy radiating off his tall and strong angelic form. It felt nice and warm and safe.

  “Yes, that’s it,” he said softly. “It is my time and I shall do what I must to help the greater good of the universe. Do you believe me, my daughter?”

  She dug her fingers into his hand and wrenched herself away from him. “Nice try. But you’re a very bad liar. What the hell are you?”

  The warmth in his expression and from his heavenly energy had never once touched his eyes.

  “Eden!” A shout came from the room down the hall. It sounded like Ben.

  She didn’t wait; she ran directly over and pushed the door open all the way.

  Ben, Leena, and her mother’s rented aspiring-actress body were tied to three wooden chairs. Standing next to Ben, her fingernails digging into his throat, was Sandy, a gray witch Eden had met before. She’d helped Eden escape once when she’d been in a bit of a bind.

  She took the entire room in in a split second.

  “See, Ben?” Sandy purred. “I told you I could make you scream her name if I wanted you to. Looks like I was right.”

  Magic sparked into Eden’s hand and she focused it at Sandy without a second thought. She didn’t need a program to tell who the players were here. Despite her issues with Ben, he was in trouble, big trouble. And so were Leena and her mother.

  Sandy flew backward and hit the wall hard enough to knock her out.

  “Eden!” Caroline called out to her. “You need to run! This is a trap!”

  Yeah, she already knew that much.

  Darrak pushed past Lucas and joined Eden in the room.

  “What is this, Lucifer?” he demanded. “Blackmail? That’s low even for you.”

  Lucas shook his head. “Not blackmail. More like an insurance policy. Nothing can go wrong now. Don’t you understand that?”

  “I understand. And I concur. Nothing can go wrong.”

  “Concur. That’s a big word for a little boy like you.”

  Darrak glowered at him. “I really hate you.”

  Lucas grinned. “That temper of yours is going to get you in trouble someday.”

  “I’m going to destroy you.”

  “How?” Lucas asked. “By phasing me to the Void and attempting to throw me in?”

  Eden had never seen Darrak go pale so quickly, but he did. By the look on Darrak’s face, that was exactly what he’d planned to do.

  Panic swelled inside of her. What the hell was he thinking? He was going to get himself destroyed. Again.

  “I’m going to tear you apart the moment I—” Darrak began fiercely.

  “Darrakayiis,” Lucas cut him off, using his full name. “Shut up.”

  Darrak went silent. He had no choice. Using his full name gave Lucas full and complete power over him.

  “Leave him alone,” Eden growled.

  “You need to behave yourself, too.” Lucas’s eyes narrowed. “My patience wears thin with both of you, Eden. I’ve given you much more than I have ever given anyone else in recent memory. And now you try to take away what is rightfully mine.”

  “It’s not worth it. He”—she nodded at Daniel—“doesn’t deserve your power. He will not do the same job you’ve done.”

  “I don’t care. I’m finished. They’ve locked me out of my home for long enough and it’s time for me to finally go back.”

  “But my father—”

  “That’s not your father,” Ben spoke up. His throat was bleeding from where Sandy had clawed him. “It’s Oliver Gale. He did a black magic ritual to be able to possess your father’s body. It’s the only way he could go to Hell and become the prince.”

  Eden’s mouth fell open with shock. Oliver Gale had somehow possessed her father’s body all so he could take over for Lucas. “This is impossible.”

  “I’ll destroy Darrak,” Lucas warned. “You know I can. I’ve been playing up till now, but the game is losing its entertainment factor for me. I’m tired. I’m so tired you could never understand.”

  She shook her head. “Then stop this. This is wrong, Lucas. You’re the Prince of Hell. You can’t believe that the leader of the Malleus is going to keep the balance you’ve maintained. If he was this corrupt as a human just imagine what he’s capable of doing with your power at his fingertips.”

  But her words weren’t sinking in. Nothing she said would ever change his mind.

  Lucas looked at Darrak. “You believe she loves you, but I’m still not entirely convinced. This form of yours, what if you no longer had it? Would that make a difference to you, Eden? If he wasn’t this tall, dark, and handsome man you’ve fallen for. You’ve seen his true form, right? A little less presentable in everyday society.” Lucas raised an eyebrow. “Show us, Darrakayiis. Show us your demon visage.”

  When a witch
or human used his true name, there was sometimes a short delay as he fought against their power over him, but with Lucas—his maker—there was no fight. Lucas had absolute power over his creation, even now that he wasn’t fully demon.

  As a half-angel now, Eden wasn’t sure what to expect him to look like. But amber flames flowed over his now leathery flesh, his form grew another foot taller and much broader, horns curved outward from his temples. It was still Darrak, but this was truly a demon—one from a horror movie or a nightmare.

  He didn’t look even a little bit angelic.

  Darrak’s lips curved back from sharp teeth as he glared at Lucas, still unable to speak.

  “Not so pretty now, is he?” Lucas said. “Not the man of any girl’s dreams.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “I guess I have different dreams than other girls.”

  She went directly to this demonic version of Darrak and slid her arms around his thick waist. His skin was hot and very dry, like sand beneath her fingertips. The fire didn’t burn her.

  Eden looked up at him. “I love you, Darrak. No matter what.”

  His eyes were filled with uncertainty until she said those words, but then clarity filled them. He couldn’t speak while under Lucas’s control, but she didn’t have to be a mind reader to know what he was thinking. He finally believed her. And that made anything that happened today bearable for him.

  Even the really bad stuff.

  “Disgusting,” Daniel, or rather Oliver said.

  “Oh?” Lucas replied. “You don’t approve?”

  “Can’t say that I do.”

  Eden knew she could say Darrak’s true name and free him from Lucas’s influence and turn him over to her own, but she didn’t. She wasn’t playing tag with another witch here. Lucas had power over Darrak with or without the use of his name.

  It wasn’t only Eden’s fate at stake here. It was Darrak’s, her mother’s, Ben’s, and Leena’s. It was even Daniel’s, a father she’d never known, who had no control right now because that control had been stolen from him by an evil human with a big agenda.

  Whatever Daniel’s reason for not being around when she grew up, he didn’t deserve this. What had they done to him for a human to take over his body?

  That was truly black magic.

  She eyed Sandy, currently unconscious. Despite her dark power she was still human, still as fragile as any other. This was her doing. Something had changed Sandy, made her choose the darker path. All Eden knew for sure was that she’d chosen wrong.

  But Eden also had magic at her disposal, and she wasn’t going to let anyone she loved be hurt here today. No matter the cost.

  Darrak stared down at her as if trying to get her to do something other than stay by his side. He didn’t want to be at Lucas’s mercy. But what had he been thinking to even consider making an attempt on Lucas’s life?

  “Do you have something to say?” Lucas approached, his arms crossed. “That’s too bad, because I don’t want to hear it.”

  “Tough shit,” Darrak growled.

  “Wait.” Lucas frowned. “I didn’t give you permission to speak.”

  Darrak pushed Eden out of the way, launched himself forward, and grabbed Lucas by his throat. A split second later, they both vanished in a flash of fire.

  TWENTY-SIX

  Eden stared with stunned realization at the empty space in front of her.

  He’d fooled her. He’d fooled all of them.

  Darrak might have retained his demonic visage, but the control his true name had over him was a thing of the past. He’d been playing along, lulling Lucas into believing he still had power over him.

  Sneaky, very sneaky.

  Normally she’d approve, but not this time. She knew his plan. He was going to get himself destroyed if he tried to defeat Lucas.

  Oliver approached. “I’ll need to restrain you until the prince returns.”

  “Restrain this.” Eden flicked a finger at him and he cringed as if she’d slapped him. She’d meant to throw him like she’d done with Sandy, but an angel—even a fake one—wasn’t quite so easy to throw around.

  Her attention turned to Leena, Ben, and her mother. They were her priority right now. Everything else would have to wait.

  “Be careful, Eden!” Caroline yelled at her while Ben and Leena struggled with their bindings. “He’s dangerous!”

  Leave it to her mother to point out the blatantly obvious.

  The time for careful had passed.

  The angel’s eyes began to glow—this must be how an angel powered up. He was about to do something very, very bad.

  “You need to behave yourself, little witch,” Oliver snarled. “Or I’ll make you behave yourself.”

  “So you got in that body thanks to black magic, did you? Does it work the other way around?” She thrust her hand out toward him, freezing him in place.

  He gasped and sweat broke out on his forehead as he fought against her hold on him. “You’re incredibly powerful, even more than Sandy is. You could serve at my side. When I become the Prince of Hell I could make you a very powerful demon.”

  Eden raised an eyebrow. “Bargaining so soon, Oliver? Makes me think that you’re a little bit scared now. Maybe that hold you have on my father’s body isn’t as strong as you thought it was. I chose to let Darrak share my body, but Daniel’s fighting you, isn’t he?”

  “This is everything I’ve worked for. Everything I want. I’ve given up everything for this chance.”

  “Why?” Ben demanded. “Why would you do this?”

  Oliver’s gaze shot toward the ex-cop. “Because I was always meant for something like this—something bigger than any human could ever achieve before.”

  Ben shook his head. “You were the leader of an organization that could have done good things for the world.”

  “It was only a fraction of the power I’ll have when Lucifer returns. I will rule the Netherworld. I was born for greatness.”

  Eden watched the madness slide behind Oliver’s stolen green eyes. “You know, seeing things only in black and white is a good way to get bad vision. You had it all, and you didn’t even realize it. Greatness? You know what’s really great?”

  He turned to her as if she might have an answer to help him. “What?”

  “Not you.”

  She twisted her hand, drawing out Oliver’s soul through Daniel’s mouth in a long gray stream. Daniel collapsed to the ground and the smoke hung in the air. She held it still with a focused thought.

  “Don’t worry, Oliver,” she whispered. “You wanted to go to Hell. It’s still your final destination. Have a nice trip.”

  Another twist of her magic and the smoke vanished in a flash of fire.

  Powerful magic. Powerful black magic. She’d reversed Sandy’s spell as if it was nothing more than rewinding a videotape.

  Eden fell to her knees as if a chair had been pulled out from under her, gasping for breath. She had no idea she could even do that, but it had taken a lot of her strength.

  And a heavy price as well. A glance at her darker amulet confirmed that she’d delved deeply into her bag of tricks this time.

  “Eden!” Leena shouted. “Behind you!”

  Sandy had finally come to and was rising to her feet. The other witch’s amulet, Eden noted with a sinking feeling, was already as dark as it could get.

  She’d killed Oliver’s mortal form with black magic. She’d crossed the line. Her soul was black. The formerly gray witch had nothing left to lose.

  Sandy smiled coldly. “I’m going to kill you.”

  “Let’s get the party started,” Eden said, and more magic coursed through her.

  Darrak had been aiming for the Void.

  Close, but no cigar. They’d landed just to the edge of it. Darrak’s self-preservation had unconsciously kicked in. After all, if he’d sent them directly into the Void upon their arrival it would have been a trip for two.

  He stayed in his demonic form since it gave him more strength.

/>   Plus, he’d always been fond of the horns.

  Lucifer brushed off his suit, looking annoyed. “So this is how it ends for you, Darrakayiis. Kind of anticlimactic with no other witnesses, isn’t it? I thought you liked an audience.”

  Darrak glanced around the dark and deserted area. “There were a couple wraiths here earlier. They would have made an excellent cheering section.”

  Lucifer shook his head. “Eden went to great measures to save you, and now you turn around and destroy yourself yet again. Seems a bit ungrateful if you ask me.”

  He shrugged his hulking shoulders. “I guess I’m a slow learner.”

  “That much is obvious. What’s funny to me is that none of this is my fault. She agreed to my deal.”

  “She didn’t know what the deal meant.”

  “Not my problem.”

  Darrak couldn’t help but snort humorlessly. “You know, you almost convinced me you’d grown to care about her. Forgiving her the screwups. Her own personal summoning crystal. The whole French kiss, darkness-sucking action from time to time. Thought I had some romantic competition for a moment there.”

  Lucifer’s expression didn’t change aside from a small smile. “We can share her. After all, I only want half.”

  “I don’t share. I’m greedy like that.”

  “One last chance, Darrak. Don’t get in my way. You still get the girl and walk away from this.”

  Darrak flexed his fists and his talons bit into his skin. “You were right about one thing, Lucy. Your time is up.”

  The prince’s smile faded and his eyes narrowed. “Call me Lucy one more time and this ends now.”

  Darrak grinned. “Finally getting to you, am I?”

  “Congratulations, you succeeded.”

  “Thanks. I feel . . . strangely accomplished.”

  “My previous pick was unworthy. I should have realized the solution was too simple, too eager. He was overly motivated by his own greed.”

  “It’s a deadly sin. Total bonus.”

  “Not helpful in a situation like this, I’m afraid. He was a bad pick, I’ll admit it. Which leaves us with a large problem. If you want to destroy me, there is no one to rule Hell and keep all the demon lords from losing control of the shadows.”