Every Picture Tells A Fury (Federal Bureau of Magic Cozy Mystery Book 8)

by Annabel Chase

  “I don’t think the singing had anything to do with it,” Helena whispered.

  “Whatever. She harnessed the power of a pretty pair of shoes.” I glanced down at my casual sneakers. “We make do with what we have.”

  Thick, black mist engulfed us and my heart strained against it. If I had to live the rest of my life in this painting, I’d never see Sawyer again. I’d never taste puppy chow. What would happen to the others? Would they eventually die on this plane and leave me alone for eternity? The thought was so overwhelming that I found I could scarcely breathe.

  “I’m sorry,” Nari whimpered. “This is all my fault. It’s my mood. I can feel it.”

  “What do you normally do when a mood like this hits?” I asked.

  “What I was doing. I paint to get rid of it,” Nari said.

  The darkness was so pervasive now that I could no longer see the others. It was only the feeling of our joined hands that reassured me of their continued presence.

  “I feel like I’m being sucked into the ground,” Helena complained. “It’s like being trapped in a pit of despair.”

  Her words triggered an idea—the memory of Grandma’s spell at Davenport Park. “You’re right. It is like a pit of despair,” I said cheerfully.

  “I don’t think you’re supposed to sound so happy about it,” Helena said.

  “I have an idea. We need to overpower the mood. Replace it with our most powerful, positive feelings. Declare those positive feelings to the universe.”

  “I understand,” Helena said. “It’s sort of like how our emotions influence mine and Marcie’s powers. The stronger the emotion, the more likely to have an effect.”

  “I’ve been working on that while I’ve been stuck here,” Marcie said.

  “Now’s a good time to work on it again,” I said. “Everyone, focus on your most positive feeling. Ignore the darkness. Pull that good energy to our circle and hold it here.”

  “Feel your bliss,” Nari added.

  “Exactly. You go first, Marcie,” Helena said. “Share it with us.”

  “I love when I’m hiking in the mountains and there’s no one around,” Marcie said. “I’m only surrounded by nature and my thoughts.”

  “Is she still here?” I asked, unable to see her.

  “Try again,” Helena said in an encouraging tone.

  “Come on, Marcie. You can do it,” Nari urged.

  “I’m proud of myself,” Marcie said. “Instead of falling apart and letting my abilities rule me because it’s easier, I’ve taken deliberate steps to master them. I feel better about myself than I have in a very long time.”

  Nari gasped. “She’s gone.”

  I exhaled with relief. “Your turn, Nari.”

  “I don’t know. This is my bad mood, remember?”

  I kept pushing, unwilling for us to lose momentum against the darkness. “You said you paint. What do you paint when you want to lift your spirits?”

  “Whatever comes to mind. I let my muse…”

  “Forget your muse,” I interrupted. “I’m not talking to Nari the artist or Nari the kitsune. I’m just talking to Nari.”

  “Okay. I love feeling that my paintbrush is an extension of me. That feeling of peace when I complete a painting.”

  I still felt her hand in mine. It wasn’t strong enough. “You were in a bleak mood when you started this painting, weren’t you?”

  “Yes. I didn’t sell as many paintings during the exhibit as I’d hoped. I was feeling despondent the next day. It happens sometimes, that feeling that nothing will ever be good again. I felt compelled to paint, thinking that would pull me out of my funk.”

  “And you used the new paints from Kirby,” I said.

  “I thought it might cheer me up. I love experimenting with new paints.”

  Obviously it didn’t work this time or we wouldn’t be shrouded in miserable darkness. I had to try a different tack. “Your teddy bear,” I said. “What was his name? The one with the bow tie.”

  “Mr. Miyagi?”

  “Yes, you used to sit with him on your little red chair, right? And you’d pull him around in your wagon.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “I saw your paintings at the art studio, the ones you don’t display at the gallery. It’s because they’re for you, right? They reflect that happy place inside you.”

  “Yes. It’s where I go when I want to be my most authentic self. I like to think about that place when I paint, especially when I’m trying to pull myself out of a bleak mood.”

  “Think about that place now, Nari,” I prodded. “Tell the universe how you feel when you’re creating those images.”

  “I feel blissful,” Nari said. “Like I’m capable of anything. Gods above, there’s no better feeling in the world.”

  I felt the energy shift and her hand disappeared from mine. I said a silent thank you.

  “Your turn, Eden.”

  “No, you should go first,” I said. “Let me be the anchor.”

  “You won’t be an anchor. You’ll just be alone in this awful place. I can handle it. I can alter my perception, but you can’t.”

  I hesitated, knowing there was only one positive feeling powerful enough to get me out of here, but it meant sharing that declaration with Helena. With a member of my family. Although I knew Helena had dated humans, she had never been held to the same standard as I’d been. As I still was. By declaring the truth, I risked discovery and repercussions in the real world. Still, I knew what I had to do. If I wanted to leave, there was no choice. I steeled myself for the moment of truth.

  I pulled the tangle of feelings and emotions into a tight ball in my chest and let it rest there for a moment, enjoying the overwhelming sense of peace that washed over me. I remembered the sensation of kissing him just before Helena arrived at the gallery. A kiss I knew I would savor for eternity.

  “I’m in love with Sawyer Fox,” I said—and melted away.

  Chapter Eighteen

  After my safe return to the art gallery, Neville and I accompanied Marcie to the FBM office where Agent Redmond awaited us. I’d encouraged Marcie to meet him to discuss her options and, thankfully, she’d agreed.

  We worked out a deal where Marcie would remain under FBM-approved supervision for the next eighteen months while she committed to mastering her abilities. The young demon left the office with effusive gratitude and a relieved smile.

  “Can I get you a coffee, Quinn? And by ‘me,’ I mean Neville.”

  Neville bowed his head. “I would be honored to procure you any caffeinated beverage of your choosing, sir.”

  Agent Redmond’s gaze flitted from me to Neville. “Now that you mention it, I think a hibiscus tea would be wonderful.”

  “Ooh, that does sound lovely,” Neville agreed. “I’ll get one of those as well. Agent Fury?”

  “I’d rather shove flower petals down my throat. I’ll have a cinnamon latte, thanks. I need the jolt.”

  Neville hustled from the office and closed the door behind him.

  I folded my arms and leaned my bottom against the desk. “Okay, spill it. What is it that you don’t want him to hear?”

  He wore a bemused smile. “Can’t get much past you, can I? I just want to share with you what Clara and I have decided. I assume she’ll tell you anyway.”

  “Wait. You decided something? Together?” My spirits soared.

  “I’ve been miserable without her. I’m putting in for a transfer to reduce my travel so that I can incorporate regular visits to Chipping Cheddar. It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s better than the one we had.”

  “I’m so thrilled for you both.” I couldn’t wait to talk to Clara. She had to be over the moon.

  “Thank you. I’ve decided that it’s time to make certain parts of my life a priority. To make Clara a priority. She deserves that.”

  “Yes, she does. I’m so happy right now. You have no idea.”

  He smiled. “You won’t mind having another agent
in your orbit?”

  “I can suck up anything if it means Clara gets what she wants.”

  Once Neville returned with our drinks, Agent Redmond used my computer to complete the paperwork for Marcie’s case while Neville and I reviewed the daily transmissions from Otherworld. Thankfully, there was nothing pressing because I was desperate to go home and regroup.

  By the time I arrived at the barn, exhaustion threatened to overwhelm me. Being trapped in a magical plane was more tiring than I realized. I’d barely made it through the door when Helena appeared in the doorway. Unfortunately, my mother was with her.

  “You forgot to lock it behind you,” my mother said, stepping inside.

  “Too tired,” I said.

  “Nonsense,” my mother scoffed. “Furies don’t get tired.”

  “We can be mentally and emotionally drained,” I said. “The only defense against that is to become a sociopath.” Or an evil witch. Same thing.

  “I thought I’d take the opportunity to see your place since I’ve yet to be invited.” Her critical gaze swept the interior and I could practically hear her list of grievances as they developed. “No photos of your family on display? A pegasus is good enough for your wall but not your mother?”

  I groaned. “Can we do this another time? I’m still decompressing after the whole Nari situation.”

  My mother faced me. “Oh, did you find that missing artist?”

  Helena suppressed a smile. “I told you that when I got home. She was found trapped in one of her own paintings.”

  My mother waved a breezy hand. “I wasn’t listening. I was focused on painting my nails.” She held out her hand to admire the crimson paint. “Don’t they look stunning? So how did Nari get stuck there? A jealous ex? A random act of violence?”

  “No, it was an accident.”

  My mother lowered her hand and stared at me. “I don’t understand.”

  “It was an accident,” I repeated. I didn’t want to get into the details. Frankly, it was none of her business.

  She continued to stare at me. “So no one kidnapped her?”

  “No one kidnapped her.”

  “And no one tried to kill her?”

  “No one tried to kill her. Like I said before, everyone loves Nari. No one had any desire to hurt her.”

  “How strange.” My mother frowned, apparently trying to process this unprecedented information.

  “Why don’t I give you a tour tomorrow evening after dinner?” I asked. I sensed it was the only way to get rid of her now. “Bring Grandma and Aunt Thora with you.” And I’d have to make sure to invite my dad and Sally immediately afterward or there’d be hell to pay. I had a family full of scorekeepers.

  “Fine,” my mother sniffed. “We’ll be here at seven. Make sure to have the liquor cabinet fully stocked.”

  “Don’t you worry about that,” I said.

  My mother started for the door and glanced at Helena over her shoulder. “Aren’t you coming?”

  “In a minute. I want to talk to Eden about something first.”

  “Well, don’t be long. You wouldn’t want to be accused of exhausting her any further.”

  I watched with relief as my mother sailed out the door with her raised chin and swinging hips.

  Helena perched on the arm of the sofa. “What did your agent friend say?”

  “You don’t have to worry,” I said. “Quinn’s a good guy. You’re off the hook and Marcie will be fine.”

  She stood to hug me. “Thanks, Eden. I don’t care what the rest of the family says about you, you’re the best.”

  I cringed. “Do I want to know what they say about me?” Truth be told, I already had a pretty good guess.

  She leaned back and smiled. “So, Chief Fox, huh? You have excellent taste. I’ll say that much.”

  A knot formed in my stomach. “Helena…”

  “Another human,” she continued. “No wonder you flipped out about the hex on Tanner. It wasn’t just the past you were upset about. You were worried about the present.”

  “And the future,” I added.

  “Does he know?”

  “We’re dating,” I said with a shrug.

  She gave me an admiring look. “Look at you, Miss Secret Romance.”

  “It’s pretty stressful, to be honest. I don’t recommend it.”

  “I’m not a prized fury like you, Eden. Nobody cares who I date.”

  I felt a pang of sympathy for my cousin. I couldn’t decide which was worse—to be constantly criticized or completely dismissed.

  “What positive feeling did you invoke to escape the magical plane?” I asked. “I’m guessing it wasn’t the unconditional love and support of your family.”

  Helena offered a small smile. “Not exactly. Mine was gratitude. I’m grateful for having others in my life who love me and believe in me because that helped me learn to believe in myself.” She reached for my hand. “And, because of that, I was able to help Marcie.”

  “Sometimes we matter more than we realize.”

  My gaze flicked to The Rescue on the wall. Upon closer inspection, it was hard to know which one was actually the rescuer. Initially I’d assumed the pegasus had swooped down and saved the nymph, but maybe there was more to the story. Maybe the wings had been too wet to fly and the nymph supported the pegasus to keep it above the surface of the water until the wings had dried and they could fly away from the brewing tempest below.

  Maybe they had saved each other.

  “Now is probably a good time to tell you that I’ll be leaving in the morning,” Helena said.

  My face fell. “No. Why?”

  “I never intended to stay, Eden. I only came to find Marcie and I found her.”

  “You don’t need to leave,” I said. “Stay longer. Get a job here until you’re back on your feet.”

  “I can’t stay here long-term,” Helena said. “To everyone in Chipping Cheddar, I’ll always be the difficult demon that almost put Irwin Fulke in a coma.” She shrugged helplessly. “I can’t change their attitude toward me and I don’t want to waste energy trying.”

  “I’m sorry. I wish it wasn’t like that.”

  “Thank you for believing in me, cousin,” Helena said. “It means more than you’ll ever know.”

  I threw my arms around her and squeezed. “I do know, Helena.”

  “And your secret romance is safe with me,” she whispered. “I swear. I’ll take it to the grave.”

  I closed my eyes and thanked the gods that Helena was someone I could trust. “Thank you.”

  “Let’s do a better job of keeping in touch this time since we both suck at it,” Helena said. “If you want to vent, I’ll be a willing ear.”

  “Ditto.”

  The jarring sound of The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?) emanated from my phone and I recognized the ringtone I’d assigned to the chief. I quickly read the text.

  I’m outside.

  Excitement shot through me. I hadn’t had a chance to properly reunite with him after escaping the painting. There’d been too many witnesses in the art gallery.

  “Must be a message from your boyfriend,” Helena said in a singsong voice.

  My head snapped to attention. “How can you tell?”

  “Your nonexistent poker face, Eden. You’re going to need to learn how to subdue that glow or everyone in town is going to know.”

  “He’s outside.”

  “Then let me get out of your way. I’ll go back to the main house and distract the family for you.” She kissed my cheek and breezed through the living area to the door, leaving it slightly open. Once she was safely across the yard, the chief slipped inside.

  “Why do I feel so much better the second I see you?” I strode toward him and practically jumped into his arms.

  His lips fastened to mine and all my stress and exhaustion melted away. A sense of calm spread through me as I breathed in his scent of pine and sea salt.

  “I’m so glad you’re okay,” he said, stroking the ba
ck of my head. “I know you can handle yourself, but it was still nerve-racking on my end.”

  “There was a moment of panic when the magic words didn’t work, but we found another way.”

  “Yeah, Nari mentioned that. What was your positive feeling?”

  I took his hands in mine. “What do you think it was?”

  “Cocktails at the beach at sunset?”

  “That sounds nice. Maybe later.”

  He chuckled. “Don’t evade the question.”

  “It was about you.”

  He pressed his forehead against mine. “Good, because you certainly would’ve been my answer.”

  I pushed back slightly to look at him. “Really?”

  “I felt an instant connection with you, Eden.” He tapped his chest. “Like there’s a spot in my heart that’s been waiting just for you and refused to accept any other occupants.”

  Tears threatened to spill from my eyes. “I feel exactly the same way.”

  “I love you, Eden, and I’m so glad I met you. That you trusted me enough to share your secret with me.”

  I stiffened at the mention of a secret. It wasn’t fair to only share part of the story. If I wanted an authentic relationship with him—a connection that grew and deepened over time—then I had to tell him the rest.

  “Sawyer, there are things you need to know…”

  “Uh oh. Is this where you tell me you actually hate peanut butter and have no interest in tasting my puppy chow?”

  I squeezed his hands. “I love peanut butter. And, more importantly, I love you too. Very much.” I hesitated. “More than I wish I did.”

  His brow creased. “I was on board with your answer up until that last part.”

  “Yes, you know the truth about me, but there’s more.”

  “More than fury powers?”

  I nodded. “Hard to imagine there could be more, I know, but there is.”

  He inhaled deeply. “Okay, I’m bracing myself.”

  I realized that telling him the truth would protect him too. Then he’d be prepared for whatever might happen down the road. If my family tried to interfere with us, he’d be aware of them and know what they were capable of.