Carnal Sin

by Allison Brennan

  “Thank you,” Rafe said, stepping inside. Moira hesitated.

  “I can’t imagine that this is a social call, however. Let’s go to my study.”

  Rafe took Moira’s hand and forced her to follow Jackson through the house to his study in the back.

  Nothing had changed, Moira realized. The church, the house, even Jackson Moreno himself. Time seemed to stand still, and she felt just like she had that last day four years ago before she went back to Olivet, after telling Jackson that his daughter had left for good: miserable, unworthy, and a failure.

  Jackson’s study was small, dark, and masculine. A modest desk seemed to disappear among three walls of stuffed bookshelves and stacks of files. It was an organized mess. A single window looked out onto the parking lot and the church beyond.

  “May I bring you coffee? Tea?”

  “We’re okay, thank you,” Moira said. “We don’t have a lot of time.”

  Jackson motioned for them to sit on the small couch; he took the desk chair, turning it to face them.

  “I can only imagine. I heard about what happened in Santa Louisa.”

  “Then you know we only trapped one of the demons,” Rafe said.

  “I don’t know the details. St. Michael’s Order is justifiably tight-lipped. I learned, of course, about Father Philip’s death, and that the Seven Deadly Sins are out. I was contacted to keep my eyes and ears open.”

  “We’re here because you know more about the local covens than anyone, and we have a crisis,” Rafe said. “We have reason to believe that the demon Lust is in Los Angeles.”

  “Sadly appropriate. But how in the world did you figure it out? I haven’t heard anything, and I have been listening closely.”

  Moira turned her phone to show an image of the mark from George Erickson’s body. Jackson frowned and inspected the photo while Moira said, “This is a demon mark. It’s highly detailed and unusual—similar marks were on those infected by Envy as well. Three bodies have shown up at the morgue with this mark, and all three have a connection to Velocity, a nightclub which—”

  “Velocity?” Jackson’s head shot up and he handed her phone back. “It’s been all over the news, the gossip about Kent Galion. A shock. Are you saying he was possessed?”

  Moira shook her head. “We don’t think that the men who were marked were possessed, but that they were infected somehow by the demon.”

  “Infected? I don’t understand.”

  “Most demons possess their victims, but the Seven Deadly Sins are incarnate,” Rafe explained. “They can possess a human if they want, but they don’t need to.”

  “And what do you mean by infect?”

  Moira said, “When someone is in contact with the demon, they act on that sin.”

  Jackson looked skeptical. “Then why isn’t everyone consumed by lust? Or greed? Or any of the other sins? Shouldn’t we be hearing about an epidemic of violence?”

  Rafe elaborated. “We all have a conscience,” he began. “Some are better formed than others. We know little about the Seven, but we know a lot more about human nature. We sometimes call our weaknesses our personal demons. Some of us are naturally predisposed to envy, for example. We are unfathomably jealous of other people and what they have that we don’t. Yet our conscience helps us battle our personal sin, keeps it in check, so we don’t steal or hurt people because they have something that we want. But the same person who is envious may not have a problem with lust or laziness or pride.”

  Jackson nodded. “I understand. In my ministry, I counsel many people and most have a primary weakness. But that doesn’t explain why there are only a few who have been affected.”

  “We don’t understand exactly how the demon operates. If the demon needs to physically touch its victims, or how much freedom the demon has in the first place.”

  “Freedom?”

  Moira said, “An ancient spell brought them to Earth. Rafe stopped the ritual, but they were already free. We don’t know how they affect people specifically, but we just learned that one of the original witches in the coven that released them is here in L.A.” She paused, gathering her thoughts. “Maybe the demons are tied somehow to the witches involved in the ritual. Or they don’t have all their strength because the ritual was interrupted.”

  Rafe considered that. “I hadn’t thought of it like that. You could be right.”

  “There’s a lot we don’t know,” Moira said, frustrated. “What we do know is that when a person is marked, they’re pretty much toast.”

  Rafe frowned. “That’s not exactly right. When we capture the demon, its power over its victims is gone. They regain their conscience.”

  “So it appears,” she said, explaining to Jackson. “We have proof that someone was infected in Santa Louisa and he seems fine now that Envy has been locked up.”

  Rafe continued, “The demon goes after the easy targets. A nightclub like Velocity is full of raging hormones. If Nicole somehow brought the demon with her to L.A., it would stay because feeding on those hormones, the physical attractions, would be easy.”

  “Hmm. Maybe.” Moira squirmed. She really didn’t care much for the whys and what-fors. She just wanted to stop the demon before anyone else died.

  “And this is tied to Velocity?” Jackson asked.

  “No doubt. We were at the club and I felt dark magic in the employee room. But it was Wendy Donovan’s locker where it was the strongest.”

  Jackson couldn’t hide his surprise, and Moira added softly, “My skills have improved; I don’t make the same mistakes—”

  He held up his hand to cut her off, and her heart skipped a beat. She wanted so badly to apologize for what happened with his daughter Courtney. Four years ago, she couldn’t face him for more than the few minutes it took to tell him she’d failed. To see the pain and shock and rage on his face. The accusation that she was to blame. She couldn’t beg for forgiveness then … and now he wouldn’t let her.

  Jackson said, “Wendy Donovan is the high priestess of an all-female coven. Half the witches are employees at Velocity. She’s also part-owner and runs the place. Her co-manager, Julie Schroeder, is also high up in the coven.” He looked at them pointedly. “They’re an Azabet coven.”

  Moira’s stomach flipped.

  “What does that mean?” Rafe asked.

  Moira said, “They have a devotion to a succubus. Once a year they sacrifice an unfaithful man to such a demon, who steals his soul, resulting in his death.”

  “But there are three victims, not one,” Rafe said.

  “Perhaps they’re working a more dangerous ritual,” Moira said. “But if it’s a succubus, maybe we’re wrong about the demon Lust.”

  “It makes no sense,” Rafe said. “The marks on the bodies were made by one of the Seven—they are far too similar to the marks we saw in Santa Louisa.”

  Moira stood and paced the small room. How could Jackson, or anyone, work in such tight quarters? “I don’t know!” she exclaimed, her aggravation leaking out. “I only know that a succubus is summoned by a coven and in exchange for whatever the witches ask for, the succubus is given a soul.”

  “Then what happens?”

  “The succubus goes back to Hell with a full stomach?” Moira threw her hands up. “Why do you think I know everything about demons? I’ve never called on a succubus, I’ve never—”

  Rafe didn’t move, but he caught her eye and she felt foolish. She stared at the wall. It happened to hold a picture of Jackson with Courtney and his younger daughter, Caroline. She averted her eyes, her face red with embarrassment.

  Rafe said slowly, “Maybe Wendy Donovan’s coven found a way to trap Lust, thus the marks on the bodies.”

  “That would explain what’s happened,” Jackson said. “Who were the victims? Kent Galion and …?”

  “A college student,” Rafe said. “Craig Monroe died in the alley behind the club. Moira witnessed his death imprint, saw a demon draw out his soul.”

  Moira looked down, still no
t understanding what had happened in the alley.

  “The third victim was a married man who died in his home after an apparent romantic interlude while his wife was out all night with her ex-husband, according to the police reports. He’d been at Velocity earlier that evening.”

  Jackson said, “I have information about Wendy’s coven that I’m happy to share, but I must warn you that she is extremely dangerous.”

  “Aren’t they all?” Moira said flippantly, glancing at Jackson.

  “Perhaps. But Wendy is … ruthless. Perhaps borderline psychopathic. At any rate, her background may prove helpful.”

  “Do you know where she lives?” Moira asked.

  “Yes.”

  “That’s all I need.”

  “I would be extremely cautious in handling Wendy,” Jackson said, concerned. “I’ve heard a lot about her, some of the stories almost unbelievable. She’s powerful and cruel.”

  Rafe said, “It’s wise to be well prepared before acting. We should learn everything we can about her so we know how to handle the situation.”

  “I don’t disagree, Rafe, but the longer we wait, the more power Wendy Donovan and her sister amass. If they really did find a way to trap the demon Lust—or if Lust is attracted to the coven because of their ties to the succubus—more people are going to get hurt.” Moira wanted so much to take them both down. Especially Nicole, who had stood by and watched Envy kill Father Philip.

  “We’ll read the files and come up with a game plan, okay?”

  She nodded reluctantly. People like Anthony and Jackson were researchers—she was a hunter. Yeah, she needed information, but more than that she needed to act. She hated being cooped up. She hated being in this tiny room.

  Jackson said, “I’ll be right back. I only know a few of their hierarchy, but I’m confident that my information is sound. I have it in my safe.” He left the room.

  Rafe said, “I told you it wouldn’t be as bad as you thought.”

  “He has class. He’s being gracious. I don’t deserve it.”

  “Moira, if you keep beating yourself up like this Fiona will know exactly how to get to you. After she used my memories of the mission against me, I’ve been working hard to accept what happened, accept my blame, and move on. I can’t be tortured like that again. I don’t know if I could survive it.”

  “You would.” Moira began to reach for him, then dropped her hand, nervous.

  “I don’t know that I’d want to. And you know you’ll be hard-pressed to survive another attack by Fiona if she can twist your pain and use it against you. She wants you dead, Moira. I don’t think she’s going to play around next time.”

  Jackson stood in the doorway and frowned. “Are you in danger?”

  “No more so than usual,” Moira said with a wry smile.

  Rafe took the folder and sat back down on the couch, Moira next to him looking over his arm at Jackson’s orderly documentation.

  Jackson said, “They use traditional spells with blood and hair to create potions. From what I’ve learned about Azabet covens in general, they offer up one of their members to serve as the demon’s vessel.”

  “They ask to be possessed?” Rafe asked, incredulous.

  “Crazy, I know,” Moira muttered. “Even Fiona wouldn’t risk giving up her control, no matter what it might gain her. But sacrificing someone else? No problem.”

  Jackson continued. “The vessel is required to drink a potion, which marks her for the demon, and during the ritual the vessel is possessed for a specified time, usually twenty-four hours.”

  Moira interjected, “Because the victim is already prone to stray, he’s easily seduced by the demon. After sex, the succubus steals his soul and his life, then leaves the vessel. But they have three victims racked up, and it doesn’t look like they’re slowing down.”

  “Maybe she lost control of the demon,” Jackson suggested.

  “What happens to the witch who was possessed?” Rafe asked.

  “Sometimes she doesn’t remember anything,” Jackson replied. “She’s often physically injured—the demon uses the body in unnatural ways. The possessed can lose their mind. I’m only aware of three of these covens operating in the world right now; they aren’t common.”

  Moira flipped through the folder. She stopped on a picture of a brunette who was all too familiar. “This is her! This is the vessel used to kill Craig Monroe.”

  Jackson looked. “Nadine Anson. She’s been with Wendy since the beginning.”

  “She’s one of them! We know the demon is in her right now—at least it was. We need to find her.”

  “Her address is in there,” Jackson said. “I believe it’s near Velocity, where she works.”

  “We need to find her and figure out what ritual they’re using to trap the demon,” Moira said.

  Jackson said, “I’ll compile the rituals they may use to trap a succubus, but it’ll take me a few hours.”

  “If they’ve trapped the demon Lust, is that going to help us?” Rafe asked.

  Moira said, “It can’t hurt. We have to assume that they trapped the demon Lust either by accident or on purpose. The demon is using the coven for purposes we don’t know. Either way, covens are surprisingly traditional. While they experiment with new spells, when they find something that works, they stick with it.”

  “Maybe they were experimenting,” Jackson said, “and that’s why this demon is killing more than one man.”

  “You could be right. But first, we have to find Nadine. If the demon is still in her, we can at least contain it until we figure out what to do.”

  They all stood, and Jackson said, “I’ll go through my notes, call a few experts, and hopefully have answers for you tonight.”

  “The sooner the better,” Moira said.

  “I understand the urgency,” Jackson said as he walked them to the door. Then he added, “I owe you an apology, Moira.”

  She jerked her head around so fast she gave herself a pinch in the neck. “Excuse me?”

  “I said some things to you four years ago that I’ve regretted. I should have written to you, I suppose, but I thought it would be better face-to-face, so you know I’m sincere. I expected our paths to cross long before this.”

  “You have nothing to apologize for,” Moira said softly.

  “Four years ago, I turned to Philip as my last hope of saving Courtney. I put all my faith in you when he said if Courtney could be saved, you could do it. But I’d already lost my daughter. Not a day goes by that I don’t pray that she’ll come home, and I’ll welcome her. But it was her choice to leave, and good or bad, that’s what God gave us in the Garden of Eden: free will. For better or worse.” Jackson took her hands and squeezed. She swallowed uneasily. “But it wasn’t Courtney who was at risk,” he said, looking her in the eye. “She was already gone. It was Caroline you saved.”

  Moira was confused. “But—I don’t understand. My arrogance sent Courtney away. I was so sure I could turn her away from black magic, but I said all the wrong things. Caroline was never practicing witchcraft. I tested her right when I arrived.”

  “You did everything right, everything you could considering the circumstances. You said exactly the right things. What you didn’t know, what I didn’t know either until weeks later, is that Caroline had planned on going with Courtney that night. She was packed and heard everything you said in the church hall. It stopped her from making the same mistake Courtney did. I didn’t lose one daughter that night; I saved a daughter. If I had lost both of them …” He took a deep breath. “You convinced Caroline to turn away from magic. She’s in college now, majoring in psychology. I lashed out at you then because I only saw my loss; but sometimes, we don’t always see the effect we have on others. I didn’t see how my grief over their mother’s death affected my daughters, just like I didn’t see how my anger at Courtney’s decision turned her against me. You tried to save her, but you couldn’t because I’d already chased her away. But you did save Caroline, I belie
ve with the help of God, and I owe you my deepest gratitude and sincerest apologies. I hope you accept them.”

  Tears burned behind Moira’s eyelids. She wanted to argue with him; he hadn’t been there, he didn’t know how she’d messed up. But she hadn’t known that Caroline was there.

  “Of course,” she whispered. “But I do take responsibility for my failures as well as my successes.”

  “Which is why you are as strong as you are.”

  “I think we have everything we need here.” She handed him the folder, but he shook his head.

  “Keep it. Read it over carefully, and be extremely cautious. These people are devious.”

  Jackson walked them to their truck. “Have you heard from Courtney?” Moira asked. “Or do you know where she is?”

  “No, but I’m looking. She knows she can come home, but sometimes, we all need a reminder that God is a forgiving Father. More forgiving than I showed her before. I just want her safe, no strings attached.”

  It was Moira who now warned Jackson. She took his hands and squeezed. “Jackson, you be careful, too. Love is blind.”

  Rico returned to Olivet with a heavy heart. He didn’t know why he was so uneasy. He’d known from the first report out of Santa Louisa after the demon Envy had been captured that Moira’s blood was a weapon. But now he had proof. Her fate was set in stone.

  He called the cardinal, who answered on the first ring.

  “The test was positive.”

  “It worked?” His voice was calm but hopeful, as if he had doubted it even though it was his own theory that had prompted the test.

  “Yes. The demon died.”

  But the man the demon had possessed would never be the same. The victim was in a special ward of a hospital, one that housed many victims of demons. Few recovered.

  “Good work, Rico. The tide is turning.”

  “I think we should keep this information contained for as long as possible. You understand that if it gets out, Moira will be in grave danger.”

  “You explained your concerns earlier, Rico. There’s no need to reveal the truth at this point, but you understand that the time will certainly come.”