"Like hell I can't. I outrank you, missy, so if you don't move, I'm going to blast you out the front door."
I sighed. "Emily, I wouldn't cross her. She's been in a mood all day, and I'm still feeling ill, so if she hurts you, I'm not sure I can heal you."
"What's going on?" That was Kyle's voice, and it was coming from behind Emily.
Guess that answered our question as to who else was in the house with Emily. Arden held out her hand and Emily disappeared from the door pretty fast. I didn't know if she actually used magic, or if the Earth Cleric came to her senses and moved. Probably the fastest she'd moved in a month.
We followed Arden again across the hall into a living room where Kyle stood. Arden immediately put her finger in his face. "Why didn't you answer my calls? And why did you leave my house in the middle of the night?"
Kyle looked at me and I shrugged. I figured he was a big boy, and he could take care of himself. Besides, I wasn't that happy with him either.
"I left the house because I woke up didn't know why I was there or what happened, and I couldn't find Jack. So I went to my apartment and he wasn't there. I showered, changed, and realized I'd left my phone at your place."
"Why didn't you come to the shop?" I asked. "I was there. You could have asked me."
"I was still a little confused. What exactly did happen last night?"
I started to give him a run down on last night's events, but Arden held up her hand. "Uh uh. Kyle, why are you here with Emily? You're not a Cleric. Why would Cosgrove order you to watch the house?"
"I've got a bad feeling," Ivan said as he narrowed his gaze at Kyle.
Arden pushed Ivan and myself out of the room and once Grey was out, she drew a pentagram in the air, summoned her Undine, and within a second the room with Kyle and Emily in it was surrounded by water.
"Why—" I started.
Arden pointed at Ivan. "He's seeing something around Kyle. And I'm agreeing with Ivan. That boy's not right at the moment. Those two are here for some purpose, but I don't know what. Let's get to that altar room and then get the hell out of here." Arden left the living room and headed down the hall.
The room she led us into was obviously Nadeen's ritual room. The altar stood on the far wall and looked as imposing in real life as it had in the photos Crwys gave Kyle. Arden was already standing in front of it and frowning.
To be honest, I just didn't know anything about hoodoo, or conjure, or anything. My educational upbringing had been very limited, seeing as how a Leviathan wearing my mom's best friend's body gave it to me. So the symbols on the altar didn't ring a bell for me. In fact they confused me.
So I stood to the side as Grey sniffed around and Ivan came up beside me.
"He didn't ask about Jack," Ivan whispered in my ear. He had to lean down to do it.
"What?" I looked up at him. "Yeah, he did."
Ivan nodded back to the door. "No. He mentioned Jack. But he didn't ask how Jack was. Why didn't he ask about Jack? They were in that basement together, right? If it were me, I'd be looking for Dharma, and I'd demand to know where she was. And there's one more thing," Ivan said and whispered directly into my ear. "I can sense something when I'm near Kyle, but I can't see anything. Not like it was with that ring, or when I looked at Cromwell and saw he'd been Ghouled."
Lady Darksome….
"Something's not right here," Arden said. I'll say. "The information I got about this altar said there was a love spell being performed here. Something interrupted. You know, unrequited love kind of thing. Spell didn't work so they killed the mambo. But my Waters are telling me something different"—she looked at us—"this was a spell to sever something, not bind it together." She picked up a clump of hair. "This is wolf hair."
"How can you tell?" Ivan said as he stepped forward to see it.
"Shugah, when you've got as many wolves running around your property as I do, you recognize wolf hair. And over here are a few strands of long black hair, kinda like yours or mine." She nodded to me as she pulled the hairs out from under the brazier.
I stepped forward and examined the hairs, but I didn't touch them. "I don't get it. Nadeen died from electrocution, right? Like lightning? That doesn't have anything to do with spells or wolves."
"The cops are looking for motive. To complete their trifecta. Opportunity, means, and motive." She pointed to the altar. "My intel said some expert of theirs said there was evidence of a love spell being worked, but that ain't love. What I'm seeing is working the opposite. But if they're thinking love spell, they could tell themselves that was the motive for the killer to get rid of Nadeen. Shut her up. Especially if it worked. Gives them their three."
"But did they use my Sylph?" I asked.
"I don't think so. Remember, I got good people in good places. Time of death for Nadeen was ten hours before your Sylph was taken. He didn't have anything to do with this, Sam. So stop worrying."
I sighed. And it was a cleansing sigh. I hadn't realized how worried about this I'd become once the idea formed in my head. Good. So the timelines wouldn't coincide on that, which meant, as far as I knew, my Sylph hadn't killed anyone. But I wasn't so sure he hadn't attacked Kyle and Jack.
I motioned Ivan to follow me, and he and I went back to the outer room where the sofas and chairs were. "Ivan, I need you to download something for me."
"Right now?"
"I'd rather do it at my shop where I trust the wards, but I don't have time. I need the Ha—"
A yell from inside the house stopped me. Ivan grabbed my arm. "That sounded like Arden."
Sam! Run!
Run? Why?
That's when I caught a movement outside the door of the room. Black draping covered the windows, but the window in the door and the screen weren't covered. I thought I saw men in uniform, which could only mean the NOPD were back.
Kyle came running through the door toward us. At first I assumed he was going to join us at the door to make an escape, but too late I saw he had something small and black in his hand. He shoved it at Ivan, and I heard the crackle and buzz of a stun gun.
Ivan's body shook as his head rocked backwards and he fell to the ground, writhing. I jumped back, screaming Ivan's name. But Kyle was coming at me now, and I was not about to get shocked by some damn electric current.
I summoned my Elementals, who were more than ready. My Salamander shot flames into Kyle's face as my Gnome sliced at his knees with her axe, and my Undine appeared to my left lending me strength so I could raise my own shields against him.
The Elementals did a great job at stopping him. The axe sliced at his pants, and I could see thin lines of blood dripping as he stumbled back. The fire singed his hair, and when he put his hands up to protect himself, I saw it.
The ring.
John Domingo's ring was on his finger. He had it turned around so the actual snake's head wasn't visible, but it was there. John Domingo, the Black Constable, had control of Kyle. I was relieved my best friend hadn't turned on me, but that relief was quickly replaced by panic when I realized I was against the back wall of the room and several men in riot gear had crowded in.
Kyle moved to the side as one of the men picked Ivan up and slung him over his shoulder.
"Be careful with that one," Kyle said. "Don't let him wake up."
"Why?" came a familiar voice as Cosgrove entered the room. He wore a nice three-piece suit and shiny shoes as he lorded over his men. "Is he something other than a Dianic?"
I stared at Kyle, willing him not to mention Ivan's Cyber Magic. We'd gone through so much to keep that quiet. I watched as Kyle's expression shifted, and there seemed to be an internal war. Then, "He's just strong and clever, that's all."
Cosgrove nodded to the man who took Ivan from the room.
"Where's Arden?" I said, keeping the ward up and strengthened. My Elementals were there, but I doubted anyone but Cosgrove and Kyle could see them.
"She's being arrested for trespassing," Captain Prescott said as she picked her way
through the uniformed men. "I'm afraid she had to be subdued."
Mom! I think we've been set up!
We have. I'm hiding under the altar. They didn't see me.
What do I do? They took Arden and they have Ivan!
You do what you have to, to get out of here. I'll be fine. But you've got to get your Sylph back and exorcise that ring.
It's on Kyle's finger.
She paused. I know.
"She's talking to Grey," Kyle said. "Did you get the wolf?"
"It's here?" Prescott looked around quickly. Was she afraid of Grey?
"She was a few minutes ago," Kyle said.
"No matter." Cosgrove nodded to Prescott. "This is your show, Captain."
"Samantha Hawthorne, you are under arrest for the murder of Nadeen Lefebvre, also known as Mambo Nadeen."
Murder? What the hell?
-Sam…-
Do it. Just don't…kill anyone.
-I can't make promises like that.-
Then try!
Two officers came closer and stopped, unsure why they couldn't move past the invisible barrier. I closed my eyes and stepped aside. My Arcane, now looking more and more like me, squeezed my shoulder as she passed and I stood beside a tall lavender Unicorn. My Spirit. I was still aware of my body, of the flow of the Elementals as they vanished. I could see through my eyes, and I saw the panic forming on Kyle and Cosgrove's faces as they realized what I was doing. They had to have known the moment the Elementals vanished.
The sparkling red Arcane wove around me where I stood, a beautiful ribbon of power that if unleashed, could remove all of them from existence, even to the point no one would remember. I knew this because this is what I did to my father's house, and to my father's body the first time I really used the power.
It was such a raw thing to touch; the knowledge to know nothing could stand in my way if I just let go. If I just…let go.
-No. I won't let that happen. No matter what else I am, Samantha, I am not a random evil.-
My Arcane's voice was reassuring as I put my hand on the Unicorn's flank and felt her move close to me. And when it was done, when the power was expelled, I found myself standing in the swamp. The heat and thickness of the summer air combined with the barometric pressure of the brewing storm pressed in on me from all sides as I went down on my knees and sank into the soft, muddy soil. Exhaustion weighed down on me, and I fought not to collapse or black out.
-I am so sorry. I always forget how my power drains you.-
"I need…to sleep…" But I couldn't sleep here…not in the swamp. I wasn't going to be food for alligators.
But there just wasn't any strength left to stand with. Just when I thought I would fall face first into the mud, something tugged at me. I felt arms around my middle as I was pulled up, turned, and then lifted off my feet.
I opened my eyes, but the sun's glare above his head blocked out the face of my rescuer. He was tall and strong and hot. I could feel heat radiating from his body. "Crwys…" I managed to say.
He didn't answer as I felt him walk with me in his arms and place a kiss on top of my head.
NINETEEN
The last thing I expected to see when I opened my eyes was a wooden roof. There were beams with bark still on them running horizontally. I followed their pattern and saw the dusty remains of a spider's web in one of the corners. I smelled something…spicy and heard the voices of several people. But it sounded like they were on a radio and far away.
"Easy, Sam," said a familiar male voice. "Take it in baby steps."
I turned my head to see the kind smile of Ben, Bastien's chosen Beta. It was so nice to see his beautiful eyes and the tattoos along his neck. He wore a dark t-shirt and a concerned expression.
"Where—" was what I meant to say, but it came out as a weird duck noise.
"I said easy. According to what Papa Dumaine said, you are suffering from backlash." Ben shook his head as he was wringing out a cloth before he gently placed it on my forehead.
"Backlash…Papa Dumaine?" Dumaine was Kyle's new teacher; the one Crwys introduced him to. Truth was I'd never met him. The that fact Ben knew who he was and had a direct diagnosis on me from him surprised me.
When I turned my head and Ben removed the cool cloth, I saw a set of familiar windows and realized I was in Arden's cabin, the one just on her side of the land she'd given to the Aces pack. The light coming through those windows was dim, and the world outside them, back and white. "The storm's worse, isn't it?"
"Stop moving, Sam. I mean it." Ben sat back and glared at me, which was weird since I didn't think it was possible for Ben to look mean. Not exactly a great trait for a Werewolf. "Dumaine's outside, but I think he knows you're awake now. And yes…whatever that thing is over the city…it's gotten worse."
The door opened and Bastien stepped inside. He was shirtless, with soft, loose jeans and a grim look on his face. I pushed myself up on my elbows as someone else walked in behind him.
Papa Dumaine was older than I thought he'd be, though he moved with the same vigor and stride as Bastien. He was just as tall, and though he wore a soft linen shirt, I could see the flex and fluidness of well-worn muscles and aged skin underneath. Lines of a long life marked his face and gave him character. I thought of Ian McClellan on my first glance, with the gray hair and the distinguished face, but there was something different about his eyes. I didn't know what color the actor's were, but Dumaine's looked almost…purple, sparkling like amethyst.
"Samantha," Dumaine said as he stepped in and approached the bed. His movements mesmerized me, as my eyes traced him up and down. He smiled at the scrutiny and held out his hands. "Not what you expected?" His accent was distinctly British, and his tone was soothing.
"No." I pushed myself up into a sitting position with Ben's help. Then Ben squeezed my shoulder and left the cabin. It was just Bastien, Papa Dumaine, and I. "You're not. I guess I assumed with the name you'd be…"
"Perhaps an old, bent over Cajun?" Dumaine took the seat Ben vacated and held out his hand. I hesitated just a little before I put mine in his. His skin was warm, and I instantly felt better. Energized. "Summon your Elementals."
"What?"
"Please. I can tell more about how you're doing if I can examine them."
I asked them to come and they did, surrounding my bed. They didn't feel threatened by Dumaine. Instead they were curious. He released my hand and held his own out to each of them. And in turn, to my surprise, they placed their hands, or their versions of them, in his. He only spent a few seconds with each, but when he finished he gave them all a thumbs up and they vanished. "This is good. And your Arcane—let me speak with her."
"Speak with—"
-It's okay. He and I have already spoken, while you slept.-
You did what?
-Trust us.-
I did and closed my eyes. I wasn't in control of things, but I could suddenly see something else sitting in that chair—and it wasn't a man.
-Relax. You are seeing through my eyes. This is Papa Dumaine's Spirit. Just as yours is a Unicorn, his is—-
He looks like a tree!
I must've given something away on my face, because Dumaine laughed just after that. It was a nice laugh, full of mirth and warmth. "I'm guessing you think I look like a tree. I get that a lot. And don't worry, she and I have already spoken. I just wanted to see what your reaction would be." He tilted his head to the side. "You're both very protective of each other. That's good."
"Papa Dumaine—"
"Call me Solomon."
I blinked. "Solomon—why are you here?"
He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. "Several reasons. One is because I can't reach my student. Another is because Bastien called me to come look at you. And the most important one is"—he leaned forward—"I wanted to see the Witch who teleported from one side of New Orleans to the other while under the auspice of a powerful miasma."
Now I blinked a lot. One of my reactions when I didn't quite
understand something. So I went through the things that confused me. "Kyle's under the influence of a Dybbuk."
"Yes, I've been told."
"And you know Bastien…"
"I've known him since he was a pup. Nadeen and I have…for her was…always been good friends with the wolves. Many of them are born Conjurers."
Okay. I pointed at him and moved my index finger around. "I don't have any idea about that last thing you said. Yeah, I get the fact I teleported—don't know how I did that—"
"Your Arcane. But continue."
"Right…so what do you mean auspice of a powerful miasma? And yeah, I know what a miasma is."
"I had to ask," Bastien said, and I smiled at him. He remained standing in the corner, and his gaze never left me. I found it both assuring and a bit…intimidating. It made me nervous.
Solomon pointed at the ceiling. "I'm pretty sure, m'lady, you know that storm up there isn't a real storm. It wasn't formed from the Elements, the Earth's currents, or anything natural. It's being placed there to keep a modified level of control over the city of New Orleans."
Modified…control. My mind raced back over the past few days. "You mean the fact the city's half-empty. Because people are staying home. They're not feeling well."
"That would be it." Solomon leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. "The miasma's making most people lethargic. Not everyone is susceptible to it. You, for instance, are not. But most denizens of this great city are tired. They're sleeping. The reason the wolves aren't is because this place, their home is protected by the Vervain land. A stretch of earth that's been worked with both magic and blood for a century. It can't get to us here. Which is one of the reasons I came when Bastien called. I'd been taking more naps than the doctor recommended and didn't really understand why."
"Is this tied to the Dybbuk? To John Domingo?"
"Ah, the Black Constable. I thought this might be connected to one of Nadeen's old enemies." He straightened in the chair.
"Nadeen and the Constable were enemies?"
"She was his enemy because she kept him out. Kept New Orleans safe from this kind of thing"—he glanced up to indicate the miasma—"happening. It's my belief he got rid of her so he could come in and clean the town. He's all about righteous cleanliness. Bit of a nut case."
Elemental Storm (The Eldritch Files Book 6) Page 16
