by Michele Hauf
Libby’s eyes widened.
“Just a broken headlight, which I’ve already had fixed. Sorry, had to dig into the household account, but I promise to concoct a few spells for you to bring along and sell at the next bazaar to make up for the expense. I plan to return to the area tomorrow and spread out the canvass periphery. How can one soul hide? It’s got to want to go somewhere, don’t you think? Oh, no, I wonder if it attached itself to someone else? I may never find it.”
“You’ll find it. You need to be vigilant, and I happen to know you do vigilance well. But that’s still not the reason for the happy dance. You know I will break you down, Vika. It would be wiser to speak now than have me go at you until you talk.”
True. Libby never let anything go if it was a secret or mystery. She had once badgered Vika about an All Hallows’ Eve present for six days. Vika was expert at holding out information. It gave her satisfaction to do so.
“I can’t say.”
“I won’t laugh. Promise. I’ll tell you my news if you tell me yours.”
“You have news?”
Libby pulled a red glass witch ball out of her tote bag. “Got it at the bazaar. Isn’t it gorgeous?”
Vika studied the handblown glass ball. Long glass strands dashed from side to side within the globe. “This is amazing.”
“The strands are supposed to trap souls. I thought to hang it in the garden above the white heliotrope.”
“Perfect. Though, I hope it won’t interfere with the souls that stick to me.”
“Oh, I didn’t consider that. I was thinking to catch a few butterfly souls to use in my spells. I’m so sorry. We can’t put this up.”
“No, do. I’ll let you know if it causes a problem.”
“If you’re sure, then I will. Now tell.” She went dead serious. “Or I’ll have the vines in the garden rise up and meet you next time you go out back.”
“I’d blast them with nightshade. Libby, you know you can’t go up against me when it comes to spellcraft.”
Her sister’s shoulders wilted.
Vika started up the stairs, gliding her fingers along the railing and looking down over the chandelier. It dazzled, but it was as if a speck in the universe compared with CJ’s amazing constellation. She wanted to return to his loft and lie on the floor and lose herself in the terrible beauty of it all.
“I kissed him,” she called down, and then dashed into her bedroom and closed the door behind her.
“What?” Libby’s footsteps trampled up the stairs in record time. She pounded on Vika’s door. “The derelict?”
“He’s not— Libby!”
“You kissed him.” On the other side of the door, her sister turned and leaned against it. “Was it good?”
“We both said wow after we kissed,” Vika called through the door.
“Oh, wow. But he’s the complete opposite of everything you find attractive. And he’s so...messy. How did you two manage to get your lips in the vicinity of one another to make a kiss happen?”
“I’m taking a shower now,” Vika called out, and smiled all the way to the bathroom.
Chapter 6
Paging through a few grimoires in search of a spell to help CJ, Vika was worried she wouldn’t find anything for casting out demons. Her grandmother’s magic had been focused on earth spells, and it was the rare spell that dabbled with the dark. Though certainly she would associate demons with the earth and the lower realms.
“What do you think?”
Libby spun into the room, purple crocheted skirt skimming the air. The concoction was tightly knit and hugged her sister’s ample curves in all the right places. It stopped scandalously high upon her thigh with a wave of crocheted ruffles as Libby did a guitar-strumming rock star move.
“Uh.” Vika pushed aside the spellbook and vacillated on the truth or the embroidered truth. “I love the color. It’s perfect with your hair.”
Libby pouted. “What’s wrong? Is it too tight?”
“No, it’s just right. You’ve such nice breasts. I always wonder why I wasn’t gifted that attribute,” she said of her smaller assets.
“Because you got the bright hair.”
“Is this wild red flag of hair I have a better trade-off than sensuous breasts? Some days I’m not so sure.” Vika twisted the strands of jade mala beads wrapped around her wrist.
“Wow. You rarely feel down on yourself. And after the high you were on last night? What’s up, sis?”
“Nothing. I...” She tugged the natty, cloth-covered grimoire closer. “I’ve spent hours going through grimoires but can’t find anything for expelling demons that hasn’t already been tried.”
“For CJ? You must really like him. Have you tried to comb his hair for him yet? I can’t imagine that mess is something you could stand to look at for more than a few minutes.”
“His hair doesn’t bother me. And it is combed. It’s just long and in need of a trim.” And it usually covered the bruise on his neck, which she hated looking at. A demon mark. Awful thing, that. “He doesn’t have time for a visit to the barbershop because he’s stuck in a literal struggle for survival against the demons inside him.”
“How many?”
“I’m not sure. I’m thinking it’s an infestation. The light keeps the demons back. Most of the time. But it must be a specific kind of light. Prismatic,” she said, remembering with a shudder the terrible constellation that had hovered in CJ’s loft. “Yesterday when the menace demon reared its nasty head, the clouds had come out and it was merely an overcast sky.”
“You have to be careful around him, Vika.”
“I am wary.” Wasn’t she the chick who avoided dark magic? So what had that kiss been about?
That kiss.
After CJ’s initial awkward kiss, she’d been compelled to answer, and he’d quickly gotten over his nervousness, and their contact had stirred her from the tips of her toes to the ends of her eyelashes. A truly wow moment. And as a woman who prided herself in sensuality and knowing exactly what it took to turn her on, it had surprised her in a good way.
“It’s not so much I like the guy—though he is growing on me....”
“It’s that you want to clean him up. I know you, Vika. I can see your fingers twitching to get into the mess of Certainly Jones and sort him out. He’s got a strange, sexy vibe going for him. Nice broad shoulders, darkly handsome. I’m sure there’s more tattoos under those clothes, too, and the goddess knows I do love a man with tattoos.”
Her sister blew out a surprised breath and, with a sheepish smile, curled her fuchsia lips. “Did I just say that? Anyway, do you think you can focus on cleaning him up, literally exorcising his demons and also kissing him? Sounds like a conflict of interest.”
“It does?” Vika sighed. “I don’t know. Does it have to be?”
“Wow, you’ve got it bad.”
“I do not have it. Nor is anything bad. Yet. I had hoped to have something solid to bring him today when we meet later.”
“Ooh, the second date.”
“It’s not a date, it’s a— Okay, it is a date. So I’m stepping out of my comfort zone with the guy. What’s wrong with trying something new?”
“Nothing at all, as long as you’re careful. And I know you will be. As for exorcising the man’s demons, familiars bring demons into this world from Daemonia. And you know how they do that.”
“The familiar must be sexually sated, open to provide a bridge from the demonic realm to the mortal realm,” Vika said. “Then the witch casts the spell and summons the demon. These demons weren’t planted in CJ via a familiar, Libby. They hitched a ride on his soul when he was tromping around the place of all demons. And I wish you would refrain from giving it its proper name. I don’t wish to accidentally invoke anything by speaking it.”
“Sorry, I’ll be more careful. So what if you do a little reverse engineering?”
“I’m not following.”
“Well.” Libby sidled up to the spell counter and toyed with a jar labeled For
Use in Daylight Only. Inside, something luminescent fluttered about. It had been half price during a blowout sale at the witch’s bazaar. “Sex is a common means to summon a demon to this realm. What if, in turn—” Libby’s green eyes glittered and her smile fixed at the corner of her lips “—sex could be used to send one back? The sex part opens the familiar to be a conductor to the mortal realm. What if sex relaxed and opened CJ to enable you to go in and tear out those demons lurking inside?”
“Are you suggesting I have sex with the man in order to clean out his demons? Wait. You did say that. Libby, I’m sure Certainly Jones has had sex since he’s returned from—that place. As well, I suspect more is involved beyond getting one’s rocks off.”
“Yes, like having sex with a witch who knows an expulsion or exorcism spell. There must be something in one of these grimoires. And combined with grandmother’s magic?”
They touched the nails at their necks.
“There is, but...” Vika gave her sister the most incredible look. She didn’t care anymore her skirt was too short. “Seriously? You think I should— With the dark witch? No. I barely know the guy.”
“You’ve kissed him. That’s a lot more knowing than some of us have lately.”
She alluded to her crush on Reichardt. If the day ever came Libby afforded a kiss from the soul bringer, Vika would not only be startled speechless, but also have to check outside to ensure the sky had not fallen.
“I don’t mean jump his bones the moment you lay eyes on him again, but you know... It’s an idea. Something to keep in mind.” Libby winked and flounced around toward the door. “I’m going to do some shopping. I’m in the mood for some new shoes.”
“Put a skirt on!”
Libby tugged at the dress hem. “Really?”
Vika nodded. “You don’t want to flash anyone.”
“Fine. I’ve got a cute white knee-length number that should look good with this.”
“That’s perfect. And Libby? Sex? Seriously?”
“You know you want to.” With a wink, Libby skittered away.
And Vika caught her forehead in a palm. All focus on finding a spell vanished. Libby’s suggestion raised all sorts of images to mind. Kisses and sensual caresses. Clothing falling at their feet. Bare skin touching and rubbing in a symphony of discovery. And CJ’s interesting tattooed hand gliding over her skin. She sensed it would stain her indelibly with his darkness, and she shuddered at the thought. But it wasn’t an entirely horrified shudder, more so, one of anticipation.
Dashing out her tongue to lick her lips, she considered Libby’s suggestion. CJ had called her a purveyor of anticipation....
“No.” Vika sat up straight, dismissing the images of the dark witch’s hands skating over her skin. “It’s irrational. Nothing in the texts mentions sex will work to send a demon whence it came.”
At least, that she’d found so far. She hadn’t searched beyond the few volumes she and her sister owned. There was an incredible database of grimoires worldwide. The answer must be recorded somewhere.
“The archives.”
The Council kept copies of every grimoire ever written. Not to mention the Book of All Spells, which did the same, magically. Every time a spell was created—no matter where in the world, or by whom—it was magically recorded in that book. But she didn’t know Dezideriel Merovech, the witch who kept the Book of All Spells. CJ must have a means to contact her and look through the book. And if not, he did have the entire library at hand.
“I wonder if he’s gone through them?”
When had he the time?
“Would he let me take a look at the archived grimoires?”
Her spine straightened. The idea of getting to look over the Council’s collection of what should be all grimoires ever written was too exciting. Almost on line with the prospect of engaging in sex to see whether or not it could prove a useful tool in exorcism.
“I should go fix my hair. Gotta look right for this afternoon. So he’ll say yes.”
And then she caught herself grinning madly. Yes to the grimoires, or yes to sex? A positive answer to either would please her. A girl couldn’t survive on spellcraft and cleaning alone. One must tend the sensual demands her body craved.
Did she crave CJ?
“No. Yes. Maybe? Oh, yes, I do want another taste of his chartreuse kiss.”
* * *
The sky was fast growing dark. CJ did not like this. The weather service had predicted rain all week. Not the most favorable conditions for him to spend any amount of time with a gorgeous witch whom he’d like to kiss again. But he refrained from an inward chastisement of his demonic hitchhikers, knowing his emotions regarding the woman would only feed their determination to overtake him. The sun was still high in the sky, albeit slipping behind clouds every few minutes.
He’d hope for the best.
He strode to the place where the werewolf had died. He and Vika had agreed to meet here. He kept an open mind and heart for the feeling if any wayward soul may inadvertently brush against him. If the soul were anywhere in his vicinity, he should sense the brightness again.
A corpse light. Shouldn’t he be able to see it? They usually glowed phosphorescently. Not that he’d ever seen one before.
The white hearse was parked near the brick wall, the opposite side from where the incident had occurred. Vika had wanted to broaden the search today. He spied her brilliant red hair, curling over her narrow shoulders and down the center of her back. She must always wear long dresses, which he liked, because they fit tightly and emphasized her slender curves. She had a bit of the Morticia style going, while he had noted her sister was Retro Rocker Chick.
Either way, Vika looked amazing. Like a porcelain doll standing on a natty Paris street, she looked as if someone had plucked her out from their collection and set her against an urban backdrop for a high-fashion photography study.
She waved as he approached. A goofy grin spread on CJ’s face, and he surprised himself because he couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so unfettered with worry. He felt great, and if being around Vika did that for him, he planned to spend a lot more time with the witch.
He walked up to her, threaded his fingers through hers and spun her into an embrace so he could kiss her. Just going with his feelings. And she responded in kind, affixing her body along his and melting into the kiss like a sweet Sunday treat.
“Well, hello,” he said. “Feels like you’re happy to see me.”
“A girl could never have enough of those kisses.” She tucked his hair behind his ear. “I don’t know what it is between us,” she said on a breathy tone, “but whatever it is, I like what’s happening so far. You ready to do a little soul hunting?”
“I am.”
“Will the cloudy sky interfere?”
“Probably. You prepared for that?”
“I’m not sure. Are you?”
He shrugged.
She stepped from his embrace and smoothed her palms down her unwrinkled skirt, worry shifting her eyes from his to all about them. “Don’t you have some kind of safety measure? A flashlight? It worked in the car.”
“Yes, well, Menace was winding down already when it worked for you. When I’ve attempted the same, the demons usually break the flashlight in half and toss it at the nearest passing human. I’ve found if a demon does break free and takes over, its steam runs out quickly. Usually no more than ten, fifteen minutes tops.”
She absently clutched the nail at the base of her throat. “A war demon could do a lot of damage in that time.”
“I know. And I happen to have one inside me. Maybe I should do this alone while you wait in the hearse for a speedy getaway?”
“We’re both needed. You might feel the soul, and I need to draw it into me. And...I thought if we could find it, and if the timing was right, I might try...”
“Another sneeze?”
“I don’t think I could make myself sneeze, but I do have air magic. A forced gust would produce the same
result a frenzied sneeze would.”
“But then you’d lose the soul again.”
“No, this time I’d keep an eye out for it. If it moves through you, I just need to track it. Right before it enters or exits a body it glows brightly.”
“I sensed that brightness, but I didn’t see it.”
“You didn’t know what to look for. If that happens, I should be able to snag it. Well, I’m not sure about anything, really.”
“That you are willing to try is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me, oh, Nightingale Nurse to My Dark Infestation.”
He kissed her again and felt the stirrings of lust grind roughly against his bones. Or was that warning vibrations from her grandmother’s nail? No, the lust demon inside him purred and lifted its incorporeal head. It was that harsh reaction that warned CJ he had best keep his distance from Vika.
He tapped the nail wound about the leather cord at her neck. “This should be strong enough to keep the demons away from you.”
“Or attract them,” she said.
“True. They are unable to access my magics from within me, so they would seek to obtain power elsewhere. Hell, Vika, you should ward yourself. Just in case.”
“I’ve a white light ward on always.”
“Yesterday?”
“Yes, but the demon didn’t attack me. It took control of the car, which was not warded. Probably explains why I’m still in one piece.”
He ran his fingers over the mala beads at her wrist. Jade for immortality and the search for truth?
“Don’t worry, I’m a big girl. I know to run when running is necessary.”
He hated to think anything he did could make her run from him, but in his next thought, CJ was glad for her street smarts.
“All right then, you start over there. I’ll go this way,” he said. “I’ll keep you in sight, should I feel anything.”
The witch methodically tracked along the sidewalk, arms out and head lifted, while CJ wandered around behind the brick wall for a tour of the crime scene. From here, he could see the top of the Eiffel Tower, and he remembered the years during its construction. The city had been in such an uproar over the iron monstrosity. A mar on the landscape! It must be torn down immediately following the World’s Fair! He always got a chuckle to look back through history. That had been about the time he’d met Lucian Bellisario, a new vampire, transformed against his will, with whom he’d become fast friends.
