A Demon Does It Better

by Linda Wisdom

  “You got it.” Lili knew just how stubborn the cat was, but she wasn’t about to back down. If she could transfer the contents to her computer, she could return the scrolls to Dr. Mortimer and then read them at her leisure.

  Cleo continued staring at the desk drawer as if she had X-ray vision. She suddenly hissed and arched her back, her fur standing on end.

  “What have you done, you foolish witch?” she spat, spearing her with a fluffy glare. “Those are bad!”

  “You already told me that!” Lili batted her hands to indicate the feline keep her voice down.

  “Oh no, I first just sensed bad magick,” Cleo told her. “But further examination shows we’re talking so bad, it could get you into a lot of trouble. Honestly, did you think I spent all these years training you to lose you now?” She leaped off the couch and stalked toward the witch, who had dropped into her chair.

  Lili lifted her hands, setting the privacy spell in place. “There’s no reason to have a hissy fit.”

  “There is if you’ve accepted dangerous materials.”

  “Dangerous in what way?” She had her own idea, but she badly wanted that second opinion.

  Cleo hunkered down, her butt up in the air, her claws unsheathed. “The spells written on those scrolls used the wrong kind of blood. If you aren’t careful, something bad will happen to you.”

  Lili’s stomach took a nosedive. She already knew blood spells had to have been mentioned there, or Dr. Mortimer wouldn’t have referred to them. Still, she had hoped this was one of those times she was wrong, and the parchments held nothing more than the ramblings of a delusional writer. She knew there was a lot of it out there. Too bad this wasn’t one of those times.

  She sighed heavily. “You know, just once I wish things would go halfway normally.”

  Chapter 12

  Cleo flat-out ordered Lili not to even consider scanning the scrolls, either using her computer or even magickally. Lili agreed. Her cat had never been wrong before—something the snarky feline loved pointing out too.

  In the end she came into work a couple of hours early the next day so she could catch up on her paperwork and take a peek at the scrolls. By now, she wished she hadn’t even asked for them.

  She settled in to her office and lit a vanilla-infused candle while she spent her time updating her present cases, then went in search of the offices that held Special Services. It didn’t take her long to realize the two Guides there weren’t what she needed for Amy. She put a quick call in to Rea, who passed along a pair of phone numbers. In no time Lili had spoken with both Guides, and by conversation alone knew that Rissa would interact the best with little Amy. The Guide promised to be there later that day, and Lili was free to return to the paperwork piled on her desk.

  “You’d think we’d be beyond all this,” she muttered, flicking her finger over the papers as a way to scrawl her signature. “It’s the twenty-first century! At least in Chicago, computers handled it all, because Dr. Hamish loved gadgets.”

  “Boring,” Cleo sang out, hopping off her pillow. “I’m going up to pediatrics.”

  “Have fun.” Lili’s attention wandered in the direction of the scrolls that silently wailed her name. The temptation to pull them out and study the contents grew stronger by the minute, but she silenced that voice in a hurry. A glance at the clock warned her that her free time here was waning. She waved her hand to pull up the staff schedule on a blank wall. Names and times clicked into place, showing who was on duty and who wasn’t, along with when they’d be in next. She noticed that the space next to Dr. Mortimer’s name was blank, with no indication when he would next be on duty.

  “Where do you go, Dr. Mortimer?” she murmured, frowning at the schedule. She leaned back in her chair, resting her head against the back. “Most heads of hospitals practically have to be carried out of a hospital, while it seems you’re gone more than you are here. No contact information there, either.”

  “Hey.” Deisphe popped in, carrying two cups of coffee, and set one on Lili’s desk before she dropped into the guest chair. She inclined her head at the schedule. “What’s up with that?” She watched as Lili changed the dates and went backward.

  “Just checking out something. Do you notice how often Dr. Mortimer isn’t here?” She nodded toward the schedule as she picked up the cup, holding it up in a silent thank-you.

  “Dragon lady loves it when he’s not. It means she’s in charge.” Deisphe sipped her coffee. “His main job is down in the asylum, so I guess he doesn’t think he needs to be here every day. Or he’s holed up in his office or laboratory.”

  Lili straightened up at that piece of information. “Laboratory?”

  The Were nodded. “He doesn’t like anyone near it, so it’s one of the last rooms before the hall dead-ends, and the door’s heavily warded. I only know about it because one of the orderlies was down there and opened the door by mistake. He only put his hand on the handle and was practically zapped back to his birth. He couldn’t speak for a month.”

  “What excuse did Dr. Mortimer give for that happening?”

  “That a faulty spell must have been triggered, because there was no reason for it to happen. I should have filched some pastries from the break room.”

  Lili grinned. “Sugar, chocolate, good fruit. Bring us goodies, nothing healthy, and more coffee to boot.” She snapped her fingers.

  Deisphe squealed with delight when a platter of doughnuts and pastries appeared on the table next to a tall coffee carafe.

  “Did I ever tell you you’re my very best friend?” She studied the array and finally chose a lemon-filled doughnut.

  Lili picked up a cream-filled doughnut frosted with chocolate and bit down, relishing the thick custard filling.

  “Do you really feel he had something to do with Sera’s and the others’ disappearances?” the Were asked, licking lemon filling off her fingers before choosing another pastry.

  Lili didn’t hesitate when she nodded. “But I have no proof, only a gut feeling.”

  “The same gut feeling that tells you Jared isn’t really insane?”

  “The same one,” she said softly.

  “So why can’t you get him sprung? State that in your professional medical opinion, he’s no longer bonkers and is safe to be released?” Deisphe asked.

  “That decision is up to Dr. Mortimer, not me, and he doesn’t agree.” She felt the familiar pain deep within her, the one that she’d come to associate with Jared and her inability to do much to help him. She lived in fear she’d go down one day and be told that she couldn’t even talk to him. At least the ogres hadn’t figured out she’d used amnesia spells on them when she went down there on days she wasn’t supposed to be there.

  “What will you do, Lili?” Her golden eyes were warm with concern.

  She shook her head. “Figure something out. Maybe approach the Physics Council, although that can be a career-ender unless I can provide a lot of hard evidence to back me up. It’s the same reason I can’t say anything about Sera and the others. It’s all hunches, and if he is behind them, why did he do it? How did it benefit him?”

  “Sure wasn’t any kind of longevity or good-looks spell,” Deisphe muttered. She straightened up as she refilled her coffee cup. “Maybe he has a beautiful wife hidden away somewhere and he needs their life forces to keep her young and gorgeous. Or he’s repairing horrible scars on her face and body. Or…”

  Lili laughed so hard she almost snorted her coffee out her nose. “Don’t tell me. There was a horror movie marathon last night.”

  “You’d be amazed how many of those movies were based on real life,” Deisphe countered, eying her nails that suddenly looked razor-sharp before she retracted her claws. “I wouldn’t mind getting my paws on Bradley Cooper. He’s just so darn cute.”

  “Come on, you know you want dark and dangerous,” she teased.

  “Dark and dangerous means Shemar Moore.” Deisphe mentioned one of the profilers on Criminal Minds in a sultry purr. “He
can handcuff me anytime. I’ve always tried to figure out if he’s one of us, but I don’t get the furry vibe. What a waste.” She sighed then turned pragmatic again. “What will you do about Jared?”

  “Protect him any way I can.”

  “Dr. Mortimer’s in charge here, babe. He may look all sweet and befuddled most of the time, but he’s got that steely side too,” she advised. “I wouldn’t cross him, Lili.”

  “I got that feeling too,” she admitted.

  They both glanced at the clock.

  “Off to clock in.” Deisphe snatched another Danish. “For the road.” She grinned. Her smile dialed down a few degrees. “You’ll be careful, won’t you? I hate losing good friends.”

  Lili nodded. “I promise.” She held her hand up to further strengthen the vow.

  After the Wereleopard left the office, Lili first thought of heading below to see Jared but decided to hold off, since she would be going down when Rissa arrived. She alerted Reception that she would have a visitor and to page her the moment the Guide showed up.

  She remained in her office for a few moments, mentally cataloging all she knew so far, even if she still had more questions than answers.

  She knew one thing. She needed to find out just what was in that heavily warded room of Dr. Mortimer’s. She’d just have to find a way to break in there without leaving any evidence of her presence.

  ***

  Since the ER proved to be busy, thanks to an influx of Ashbury rash at one of the local magick prep schools, Lili didn’t have much time to think before Rissa arrived.

  It only took her a few minutes to sense that the young witch was perfect for the job.

  “I’ll admit I’m surprised you called me, since I know the hospital has some very excellent Guides already working here.” The petite blond witch had an edge to her, thanks to her battered brown leather jacket that Lili was positive had a designer label attached to it and her leg-hugging jeans. Her high-heeled boots didn’t slip once on the stone steps. Lili had already warned her of the surroundings she’d find there, but Rissa assured her she had worked in stranger places and not to worry.

  “As I explained on the phone, Amy is a special case. A mundane who was somehow brought here a couple of centuries ago,” she explained. “Considering how long it’s been, I guess we can’t even hope you can connect her with her mother.”

  “There’s nothing stronger than a mother’s love,” Rissa replied. “Admittedly, crossing state and time lines isn’t easy, but if her mother never forgot her, she might be in the ether, somewhere she and Amy can reconnect. Do you have any clue how it happened?”

  Lili shook her head. “Amy only said a large black bird took her. She’s at an age where she can’t give strong answers.”

  “Something else you shouldn’t discount—kids sometimes can be more articulate than adults. Perhaps it was a large bird.” Rissa frowned as she took in their surroundings. “It’s very barbaric,” she said in a whisper.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” Turtifo appeared so quickly, both witches squeaked.

  Lili quickly regained her composure and glared at the ogre. “We have business here.” She really hated having to explain herself!

  “This ain’t no amusement park where you give guided tours,” he growled while his gaze swarmed over Rissa, lingering on her breasts. She curled her upper lip but didn’t pull her jacket over her silk tee.

  Lili gave her points for guts.

  “Why don’t you go back to your duties,” she suggested with a decided frostiness in her voice. “We won’t be down here long.”

  He narrowed his already beady eyes at her. “What are you doing down here?”

  “None of your concern.” She brushed past him, holding her breath so she wouldn’t inhale the nasty stench of his skin and clothing. She wondered when he’d last bathed, if ever. She smothered her smile when she heard the sound of an electronic shock and Turtifo’s angry yelp.

  “Ah, ah, ah, mustn’t touch,” Rissa said lightly.

  He shot them both a glare fit to kill and stumbled off.

  “He should be the one in a cell,” Rissa muttered as she followed Lili.

  “No kidding.” Lili opened to the door to the room she used, and they walked inside. “Should I call Amy right away?”

  “No, let me set things up.” The Guide dug into the leather bag she carried and pulled out pillar candles in soft shades of blue and green. Lili didn’t recognize some of the scents but just inhaling them felt comforting.

  After Rissa set out the candles, she touched each wick with her fingertips, watching as they flared to life.

  Lili helped her move the table and chairs so she could chalk a circle, leaving one end open for now.

  “Do you think she’s ready to leave?” Rissa asked her. “When a spirit has been in one place for too long, it’s difficult for them to do that.”

  “No matter what, she’s still a frightened little girl. She needs to go to a place where she’ll be safer. I think she’s willing to go.”

  “Have you talked to Amy about this?”

  “I have. She’s a little confused, but I know she doesn’t want to be here any longer.”

  Rissa nodded. She examined the rings that adorned several of her fingers and turned them around.

  “This will be handled differently, since I’m not Guiding her over but rather trying to bring her mother here to help her leave,” she said. “I’ll be honest; I haven’t done this before, but I don’t know why it can’t happen. All we have to do is find her mother in the ether.”

  “I trust you,” Lili said simply. She thought of something and headed for the door. “We need someone else here. I’ll just be a moment.”

  “Dr. Carter! This isn’t a party,” Rissa warned.

  “I need to bring in someone who also cares for Amy.” She wasted no time heading for Jared’s cell and unlocking the door. She found him on his mattress with Amy sitting cross-legged across from him.

  Do you really think a kiss can make someone better, the way it did Sleeping Beauty? She asked Jared.

  He looked past her at Lili who stood in the doorway. His dark eyes warmed.

  “Absolutely.”

  “Amy,” Lili said softly, so as not to startle the ghost. “Would you like to come with me?” She held out her hand, even though Amy wouldn’t be able to touch her. She looked at Jared. “And you too.”

  You found a Guide? He mouthed.

  She nodded.

  Jared followed them out. “Did you tell the Guide about me?” he asked in a low voice.

  “No, but I don’t think it will be a problem.”

  Lili learned she was right when Rissa didn’t bat at an eye at Jared’s less-than-clean appearance. She merely smiled at him and at Amy, who stood close to the demon, hanging tightly to her teddy bear with one hand.

  “Hello, Amy.” Rissa crouched down to the little spirit’s height and spoke softly to her in a voice that was soothing and musical to the ear. “My name is Rissa, and I’m a friend of Lili and Jared. I heard that you’re looking for your mommy.”

  Yes. Amy watched her wide-eyed.

  “What if I can help you find her?”

  You know where my mommy is? The wraith was wide-eyed with excitement.

  “Not exactly, but I think with your help I might be able to figure out where she is so you can be with her,” Rissa said gently. She sat back, cross-legged. She smiled when Amy plopped down and did the same.

  Lili took a nearby chair while Jared stood behind her, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. She watched as Rissa held out her hands and Amy placed hers in the Guide’s palms. There was no sign of discomfort from the extreme cold a ghost generated when touching warm flesh, and her insubstantial flesh actually rested in Rissa’s hands.

  “I want you to close your eyes and picture your mother,” Rissa whispered. “Think of her the way she was the last time you saw her. Then I want you to say her name.”

  Her name is Mommy. Will my mommy
know it’s me? I ask her to come get me all the time, but she doesn’t.

  She nodded. “She’ll know.”

  Amy closed her eyes tightly. Mommy, I’m lost. Can you come get me? I like Miss Lili and Mr. Jared, and they’re really nice to me, but I miss you and our farm. Can I come home now?

  Lili swallowed the sob that started to travel up her throat. “No child should have to go through this,” she said softly.

  “She’s not in pain,” Jared murmured in a soothing tone.

  Rissa shot them a warning look. Lili looked guilty and mimed zipping her lips closed.

  Lili felt the calming warmth of Jared’s presence as they watched the Guide weave her magick around Amy. Rissa’s lips moved silently. Lili couldn’t figure out what she said, but she could feel the power fill the room like a cascading wave.

  Then she saw it. She reached up and covered Jared’s hand with her own, gripping his fingers tightly as she saw an indistinct form seep into the room then slowly take shape.

  The figure was silver-haired, plump, and matronly looking with eyes so sad they tore at Lili’s heart. Then she saw the tiny girl across from Rissa and her sorrow disappeared.

  Amy?

  The tiny wraith opened her eyes and jumped to her feet. Mama?

  Just that fast, the years fell away from the spirit and she looked as she must have the day Amy was taken. Her smile split her face as she held out her arms.

  The mother looked at Rissa as she held on to her child. Tears ran down her face. Thank you.

  “You’re free, Amy,” Rissa announced. “Be happy with your mother.” She waved her hand, and the two disappeared.

  Lili hexed up a handkerchief to catch her tears. She stood up. “Thank you,” she choked.

  Even Rissa’s eyes shone with tears. “You’re very welcome, Dr. Carter. I think their love for each other and need to be together gave my power a boost.” She snuffed her candles and soon had everything back in her bag. She glanced at Jared then at Lili. “I know my way out.” She held up a hand. “And don’t worry about the gorillas out there. I tend to be very forgettable.”