Enchantress' Secret (Hemstreet Witches Book 1)

by Rain Trueax

  “Just roughed in,” he said as he began to clean up.

  “Edie would love seeing that. You paint well from memory.”

  “Sometimes.”

  “Is that how you painted that one?” She gestured toward the other canvas, the one of the shamanic figure, who had Ornis’ face.

  “Maybe or out of one of my dreams.”

  “You dream of demons?”

  “That’s a demon?”

  “His name is Ornis and yes, a lower level, but one of Azaziel’s minions, maybe a lieutenant.”

  Nick looked disturbed. “I don’t know where it came from. I hadn’t meant to.” He took a tube of brilliant crimson paint and with his palette knife, stroked across the face with a bold X, obliterating the face totally.

  “You didn’t need to do that,” she said disturbed at what she saw. It was the first time she’d seen any sign of fear on Nick’s face. He quickly got it under control.

  “You were afraid?” she asked.

  “Let’s go out onto the patio.” He poured them each a glass of merlot and practically gulped his. “I don’t like thinking my painting is controlled by someone else.”

  “You think it was?”

  “God, I have no idea. I… Damn.”

  “It was strange to see it. I myself have only seen him a few times. Generally, it’s what he does-- not how he looks. Maybe the face was one he chose, but I had seen it, and you must have, to paint it so well.”

  “So I am possessed.” He managed a smile and poured himself more wine.

  “You know you’re not.”

  “I do? I don’t know how I got it or from where. Maybe a dream.” He grimaced. “I always thought my art was a gift but maybe it hasn’t been. Maybe I’m like Pete and don’t know it.”

  She understood then why he had look fearful for that long moment. He didn’t like being out of control. He hadn’t had much experience with it given his career. He’d been the one who called the shots, and now someone else was. It would give anyone feelings of terror. Nick quickly had put it away. She supposed it came out of his training. They had that in common, years of training, just from a different school, but perhaps the outcomes weren’t so different.

  She tried to think what might reassure him when she also didn’t know what was going on.

  “When inspiration comes from outside, artists call it the muse,” he said. “We get inspiration, and we think it’s from inside ourselves or some good… outside inspiration. The muse. What the hell is the muse?”

  “You hadn’t always painted that face. You said it was new.” He nodded, sucking in a breath before he lit another cigarette. “I cannot tell you what is going on,” Denali said. “This is different for me too. Usually we look for a spiritual source behind an event, but much of what we do as detectives is find logical reasons for actions and reactions. I am not sure there is one for this. Except your work has always been beautiful and loving.”

  “Until...”

  The knock at the door ended any chance she’d hear the rest of his response. It was Frank Whorley. “We would like you to come down to the station,” he said after a polite hi to Denali.

  “Is there a reason?”

  “DNA test and fingerprints. No arrest, at least not yet. My captain would like to ask you a few questions.”

  “I suppose if I refuse, you’ll be back.”

  “I’d have no choice. To be honest, I see nothing to connect you to the murders, but you can understand we have to ask.”

  “Can I ride my Harley?”

  “Sure. I’ll follow you.” Nick turned back to her. “This shouldn’t take too long. I hope.”

  Maybe not, she thought, as the cycle roared to life, but it was going to take the rest of their afternoon. She debated whether she could come up with something to fix for dinner, but her mind was blank. With the next knock at the door, she knew who it would be before she opened it. “John, good to see you.”

  “They arrest him?”

  She shook her head. “John, Mom wanted me to ask you a favor. Saturday, we are going out to the Circle C to try and get our heads around what is happening, calling up our spirit guides and asking to strengthen the protection around us all—in particular Nick. Would you come?”

  His face showed his contemplation. “What would I offer?”

  “Your wisdom. Your seatka.”

  He stared at her. “You know I have that.”

  “You also know. It’s your choice how you use it.”

  “I will come.”

  “Good. It should mean leaving here about ten. I am not sure how we will drive up there but we’ll take several cars. Supper afterward at the ranch. Have you been there?”

  “Years ago.”

  “It’s much the same.”

  It was an hour after John had left before she heard the roar of Nick’s Harley. She had almost decided she should go to the station and felt a surge of relief. “How did it go?” she asked when he came inside.

  “Not good or bad. They have nothing, but they will hope to find it. They sure won’t be looking skyward for their answers.” He gave a snort as he opened one of his beers. “Those guys mean well but are under pressure to find answers.” He looked into the beer. “Frank said the report on the DNA didn’t appear to be like anything they’d seen, so he doubted it’d be mine.”

  “Spiritually corrupted possibly, if it was a man and a demon.”

  “Maybe. He didn’t like seeing you here. Guess you knew that.”

  “We briefly dated.”

  “Sounds like the brief was your decision, not his.”

  “I never let him think it could be more.”

  “Well, it doesn’t always help his liking of me, but he’s a pro.” He smiled at her. “He wasn’t your type, huh?”

  “He wasn’t you.”

  “You were waiting for me?”

  “I didn’t know it, of course.”

  “I’m a bad bet.”

  “Are you?”

  “A lot of darkness, the PTSD, weight on my shoulders, and not just the death of Richard James. I worked too many assignments, too many places, and saw too much—dealt out death too many times.”

  “Did you ever want to?”

  “No, but like it would have been with Pete, it happened.”

  “You know, I am not asking anything from you.”

  “I understand, but you make me want to give it. Give you everything I have… except I am not sure that’s worth much.”

  “Come with us tomorrow. See what we do, how you feel about it.”

  “The problem is being with you makes me feel out of control.”

  “I understand, and control is important to you.”

  “It used to be.”

  “I don’t feel in control either. This has been so strange. A week ago, I didn’t know you existed. And then… I gave myself to you in a way I’d resisted for years. Maybe we aren’t either of us in control.”

  He let out a breath. “All right, I’ll go and take the risk that I get turned into a rat for your hawk to eat.”

  She laughed. “You are believing a lot of things about witches from fiction books. Or the kind of thing some witch writes as a how to do it. It’s not like that for those of us born to it. We are as much shamans as witches anyway. It’s both and yet not either.”

  “You do have an interesting family background.”

  “You have no idea.” She smiled and came to him putting her arms around him. She liked the feel of his muscular body against hers. “Want to go for a ride?”

  “You’d dare the Harley again?” he teased.

  “I meant on me.”

  “I have a concern that I didn’t buy condoms and should before we do this again.”

  “I’ve been on the pill for several years. I wasn’t regular and that was the treatment.”

  “In that case, you’re on top.” He smiled, kissed her, and carried her into the bedroom.

  ><><

  When Nick had suggested she be on top, he
gave up control of what they would do, let her set the tempo. He felt the desire flow through him for an experience he’d never had. He’d always been in charge when he had sex. With Denali, it was all different. He understood her power. It wasn’t her kind of magick. It was a sense of herself, an inner confidence. To be with a woman stronger than himself was a new experience.

  He let her take off his clothing piece by piece. When he was naked, she told him to lie down. She lay beside him, still clothed, to play. He gritted his teeth against letting go before he was ready, before she had mounted.

  His self-control was tested, even more, when she got off the bed and did a slow striptease. When she finally straddled and took him into her, he felt like a wild man, grateful when he heard her climax, and he could find his own release.

  They slept, showered and went into the kitchen where he put together a big salad, while she made a tarragon vinegar and olive oil dressing. “One of the few things I know how to make,” she said as they ate on the patio, Harvey rubbing around both their legs.

  Sipping wine, Nick said, “Since you talked to him, Harvey hasn’t left the yard and house.”

  She smiled and reached down to stroke the cat. “He didn’t know it was important to you.”

  “It was. He’s important to me.” He didn’t add you are too, but he felt it surging through him. She was too important. He’d been in a lot of dangerous situation, but nothing had been like this. She could be killed. Harvey could be killed. Could he protect either of them when he didn’t fully understand what he was up against.

  “I see it in your eyes,” she said reaching out to stroke his hand. “It will be all right. Don’t worry.”

  “You truly believe that?”

  She smiled. “I worry too. So let’s do what we can and take down this murderer and would be dictator.”

  “Is it just him?”

  “He’s using people as his tools. He’s being used by a spirit entity, but he doesn’t know it. For now, our war is just against Braddock.”

  “For now?”

  “There could be another time… But for now, let’s deal with what we know. Tomorrow, we will go out to the ranch, work our own magick to strengthen ourselves.”

  “And then?”

  “We will confront Braddock. Depending on what he says, we will take away his ability to use dark magic.”

  “Does that mean kill?”

  “It wouldn’t have to, but it might.”

  “You’ve done this before?”

  “When it comes to this, innocent lives and someone abusing power, yes. It’s why I am confident when we all stick together, when we form a cohesive bond, we can stop him—one way or another.”

  Her phone rang and she answered. “Yes,” she said. “He will.” She was silent, listening. “Thank you.”

  When she hung it up, she looked at Nick. “That was my mother. My grandmothers have connected with their guides. It is just Ornis we are dealing with.”

  “Is that good?”

  “Well, Azaziel had to agree to what he’s doing, but it means he won’t take an active hand in what comes next. It sounded like he finds it amusing. Maybe he doesn’t like Braddock either or likes seeing Ornis taken down a notch.”

  “Competition?”

  “In that world, it’s constant.”

  “Do they watch us… I mean like when we make love?”

  “If we don’t block them.”

  He smiled. “They’re voyeurs?”

  “Curious about human life, looking for a way in, for permission to intervene. At any rate, tomorrow Morris, Elsa’s guide, will come out with us to help us build power. He is bringing Jeff, and they are part of your family… sort of.”

  “You have an unusual family.”

  “I suppose in some minds. You might practice out there throwing plasma bolts.”

  “You are joking.”

  “Nope.”

  “I am reasonably sure that’s not one of my skills.” He chuckled. “I’ll take my gun. It’d be more effective.”

  “But leaves evidence. Let’s take this man out without leaving anything to get you in more trouble.”

  His smile was dry. “Works for me.”

  Saturday, after breakfast, John Cordova showed up and accepted a cup of coffee. “Any instructions?” he asked.

  “This is a training and planning session. I expect you’ve been through many in your life,” Denali said. She was wearing jeans, a sleeveless blouse, and her boots. To Nick, she looked good enough to eat. He was wishing they were not going anywhere, and he could put that into practice instead of trying to do magick, for which he was definitely not cut out.

  Maria showed up with her truck. She and two older women got out and were introduced to him.

  “I’m Jessamine Cordova, but call me, Jess.” Maria’s mother winked. “My, he’s better looking than his photos.”

  “And I’m Elsa Hemstreet. Don’t ma’am me. Makes me feel old.”

  Nick flushed. “Glad to meet you both,” he said.

  They turned then to John. “Why you old devil,” Jess said, “where have you been hiding?”

  John grinned. “Here in the Barrio.”

  “You haven’t been at the celebrations.”

  “No.”

  “But you are coming today.”

  “I was invited.”

  “And are welcome,” Elsa said. “You’ve been filled in, I assume.”

  “I have.”

  Jess stretched out her hand and to Nick’s amazement, a flame seemed to grow from it. “You in practice?” she asked with a clearly wicked grin.

  John cleared his throat. “Not so much.”

  She giggled. “You will be. This isn’t just about two murders, but I suppose you know that.”

  He nodded as Devi, Torre, and Elke drove up. “Are you all ready?” Elke asked. He recognized in her the temperament he’d seen in officers, those who would take charge if nobody else had.

  After the witches put a protective shield over Nick’s and John’s homes, they took two vehicles. John rode with the sisters, while Nick rode in Maria’s truck with Denali and the grandmothers. There was little talk as they moved out of Tucson and into the hills. His mind was not just on what they’d be doing but what it all meant. There still was no answer for why he’d been pulled into what looked like an old grudge, possibly mutual dislike. He was usually pretty good at reading motives, but this had him stumped.

  At the ranch, Luke came out to see them. “Need the buggy?” he asked as he looked at Jess and Elsa.

  They gave him one of those looks. He laughed and went into the barn to saddle horses with the help of Nick and John.

  “Do I know you?” Luke asked John. “You look familiar.”

  “There were two Gabriel Cordova’s—not just Rafe’s brother. The other one was my great grandfather.”

  “Well, I’ll be damned. You sure do have the look.”

  “Not the money side though,” John joked.

  Nick noted Luke hadn’t saddled a horse for himself. “You’re not coming.”

  “I’ll hold down this end,” the foreman said. “Make sure you aren’t interrupted—at least on the human plane.” He chuckled.

  Five minutes later, the nine of them were heading down the road he’d ridden only a couple of days earlier. Time seemed to be going faster, and at the same time, he’d have sworn his visit here had happened a month ago. He rode alongside John, while Maria rode with her mother and mother-in-law, and the four sisters led the way.

  “So you’ve been out here before,” he said to John observing the older man handled his horse with a practiced hand.

  “Many years ago. Seems like eons.” John laughed. “Another lifetime even.”

  Nick well understood that feeling. He had been given Jock, which he appreciated. He liked the gelding’s steady gait. He was a big enough horse to handle his weight. He considered for the first time getting himself a horse. He wondered if the Hemstreets would sell him Jock.

&n
bsp; Ahead, he admired Denali on her beautiful white mare. Her sisters also rode mares, one black and the other two chestnuts like Jock. Maria rode a black stallion-- an unusual choice, but the horse was handled well by her as she gigged him in the side and passed her daughters.

  “I would have figured her on a mare,” he said.

  “That was Marcus’s horse,” Jess replied, who had dropped back to listen to their conversation. “Maria wouldn’t let him go and only she rides him.”

  “He must have been quite a man given the daughters, and that Maria’s never really gotten over him.”

  “I think sometimes visits her. Can’t let go of her,” Jess said.

  Nick turned to look at her, met her sharp gaze. “You mean hanging around as a ghost?” Another thing he found hard to believe he’d even asked.

  Jess shrugged.

  “If so, that wouldn’t make him such a great man after all-- if he couldn’t let her go onto another man.”

  Elsa also had been listening and said. “Perhaps he knows she will need him, and he can’t go on until he knows that’s no longer true.”

  “Being he’s your son, I understand how you’d think that,” Nick said, not believing it for a minute. Sounded like a selfish soul to him. Maybe not the hero his daughters believed either.

  “And, of course,” Jess said with a cackle, “you don’t believe in ghosts anyway.” She looked then at John. “How about you? You believe in ghosts?”

  “I don’t believe in much of anything now.”

  “But once you did.”

  “Once I did.”

  She looked away but said no more.

  Chapter Fourteen

  With Maria leading the way, when they reached the boulder-lined meadow, they loosened the cinches on their horses and left them by the creek with ground reins. Nick had no idea what he would be expected to do but stuck close to John as it seemed his best bet to not do something regarded as sacrilegious.

  “We should form the circle,” Maria said, and they sat on the round boulders. Denali was on the opposite side from him. He worked not to stare at her and lose track of the serious purpose they had in coming to this place. Sexual attraction might weaken whatever they hoped to do. He fought back the smile at his disbelief. It rose to the surface despite what he’d seen.