Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, she started talking again. “That’s not soon enough.”
“I have to meet the medical examiner today. The bank is too far away for me to make it back in time.”
“You go get that damn necklace, right now! I won’t allow that woman to possess it!”
I screamed in surprise when I opened my eyes to find her hovering over me. Her eyes were dark pits of nothing, hair flying round her head in different directions. “Stop that! You know that scares the shit out of me.”
“That’s the point!”
Sitting up, I glared at her. “I’ll have Jenna keep an eye on her. For now, I’m taking a nap, and then going to meet the medical examiner.”
My mother shook her head in disappointment. “I hope you aren’t going to regret this. You have no idea how important this necklace is.”
I closed my eyes and put my hands on the side of my head in frustration. “That’s why it’s in a safety deposit box, Mom!”
When I didn’t hear anything in response, I opened my eyes to find that she was gone. Impressed that I managed to get rid of her in under a half hours’ time, I laid back down, allowing sleep to take over me.
*
The medical examiner’s office was in a small building just outside of town. It looked like an animal shelter from the outside, kind of rundown and out of place with the businesses around it. I expected it to be near the police station, but it was at least five miles away.
I climbed out of the van, wiping my forehead with the back of my hand. It was incredibly hot outside already. I wanted to go back to the hotel room and veg out in front of the TV. Sadly though, I had to find a killer before any more Witches turned up dead. Why couldn’t the van have air conditioning? Daphne probably bought it that way on purpose because I was the one that always ended up with the beast.
Opening the door for the office, I stepped inside to find it incredibly cool. There was no one at the front desk, which had me mildly irritated. I rang the bell that sat on the corner of the desk. Waiting patiently, I looked around the room and examined the pictures of the city. They were actually really good and complimented the lobby nicely. The building looked decrepit on the outside, but the inside was a lot better.
A man started up the hallway from behind the desk. He was shorter than I was, and I was short. His glasses laid on the end of his nose, beady eyes focused on me. He glanced down at his watch and sighed. “You must be Sophie, from the Witches’ Council.” When I nodded, he motioned for me to follow him. “I’m Albert, a local Warlock. The only reason why I’m letting you see the bodies is because of your status in the community of Witches. I want the murders solved just as much as you do. This is the last day we’ll be keeping them. The families want them home and buried.”
Nodding in understanding, I followed him to the farthest room in the back of the building. The smell of a sterile environment hit my nose, making me curl my lip in disgust. I hated the scent. It reminded me of dead bodies every time, ever since I worked my first case at the age of eighteen.
The room was colder than the rest of the building, sending a chill up my spine. The man worked around the space, shuffling through piles of paperwork until he found the stack he was looking for. “I discovered some additional things that I have yet to add to my report. The Council was in such a rush to get the information, I couldn’t complete my examination of the bodies.” He shook his head, irritation flickering over his face.
“What other things did you find?” I asked, really curious now.
He opened up the door to one of the boxes that held a body inside. When he pulled out a tray where a body laid, I held my breath, worried that I might not remember what it was like to be around someone dead. When he uncovered her, I was fine. It was like it all came back to me. I relaxed my shoulders a little bit, examining the cadaver. Her lips were tinged blue, eyes closed, and hands by her side. She was beautiful, dark hair sprawled out around her. Drake probably would have been attracted to her.
Jealousy reared its head just thinking about it. He did fire her. What if they’d had a relationship, and he fired them to get rid of the needy behavior that resulted from it? Realizing I might have been used by him in the same way, my anger began to rise. I clenched my fists, wanting to find an easy victim. When I glanced at Albert, he was looking at me expectantly.
“What? Sorry, what did you say?” I asked.
Sighing dramatically, he said, “All of the women were drained. I found Vampire bites in all of their necks.”
Confused, I leaned forward to examine the bruised marks on her neck. “But I thought it was a Witch?”
“You did? How did you know that?” he asked, immediately suspicious of me.
“Someone told me,” I replied, getting a closer look of the bite. Sure enough, it was from a Vampire.
He pointed to his paperwork. “Vampire. That’s my finding.”
“She has magic on her,” someone said from behind us.
I spun around, drawing my magic to me automatically. Mikey glared, shaking his head. “You are on edge, love. What has you so alert that you pull on your magic like that before you even knowing who’s walking up?”
My first reaction was to ring his neck. Maybe even zap him with a bolt of lightning. He scared the crap out of me. My heart was pounding in my chest, and it felt hard to breathe. Taking a deep breath, I waved him over so he knew that I wasn’t about to blow his head off with my magic. Reluctantly, he came in our direction, hands in his pockets.
“How can you possibly know she has magic on her?” Albert asked, skeptical.
“I can sense magic. For example, if you were practicing magic in your backyard, the next day I could tell that. Magic in the area is attracted to me. I can feel when it’s around.” Mikey glanced down at the body, unmoved by the victim lying there. He was more used to it than I was.
“So, she has magic on her. Were there two people there? I don’t get it.” I looked to him for the answers.
“Me, either. Maybe there were two killers. Which makes your job even more complicated.” He gave me an apologetic look.
“Shouldn’t the magic have faded after so much time has passed?” I asked him.
Shaking his head, Mikey walked around the body. “Whoever did it has a lot of power. It’s still heavily cloaking the body.”
“Shit.” I shook my head. If they were powerful, then how was I supposed to compete? My mother always said I hadn’t come into my powers completely, but I think she was just trying to make me feel better. What decent Witch matured so late in life? I didn’t have a witchy disease, so I just assumed it was a lie.
Thanking the medical examiner we left the building, heading toward the van. Mikey made a face of disgust as if he realized I was still driving it. “I heard you blew it with Drake,” he said, raising an eyebrow.
Alarmed, I turned toward him. “How do you know that?”
“You know Daphne has her spies. I’ll probably get into trouble for even being here because she threatened Jenna and me if we even came within a mile of this place.”
“Are serious? She’ll send her pet assassin, but not people that I actually like.” Shaking my head, I climbed into the van. Damn, it was already hot! I turned it over and then rolled the windows down. Sweat was forming on my forehead and down the center of my back instantly.
Mikey stood staring at me, not making a move toward the van. He removed the sunglasses he had been wearing the entire time. “She sent Kevin?” When I nodded, he swore. “He’s the contingency plan. If you fuck up, you’re dead! How can you not see what’s happening here?”
“How can she order my death over a damn case? No one on the Council is going to approve that.”
“She searched your apartment with a bullshit warrant, and you don’t think she’ll have her personal assassin kill you for her? No one would even know it was him! I bet he doesn’t even really work for the Council.” He started to pace, shaking his head. “This is bad, Sophie.”
Not seeing his point, I said, “I’ll be fine. The guy already offered to help me. So, I really don’t think she sent him here to kill me.”
Mikey laughed, not at all amused. “You can’t be this dense. I know you’re smarter than that. What the hell is wrong with you? First, you sleep with a suspect, and now, you’re friends with the Elite Bitch’s assassin?”
Not sure what to say, I stared at him, my mouth open in shock. Did he really just insult me? He never did that! Things were always light and fun between us. Maybe he was being for real, which meant I’d better focus more. I had to catch a murderer and try to avoid getting murdered all at the same time. I knew in my heart that I shouldn’t trust Kevin, but he was a badass. He would be an amazing asset, but he was also a loose cannon.
“I’ll be careful, Mikey,” I promised him.
Hesitating, he finally nodded. He came over to me, putting one hand behind his back. Not sure what he was doing, I raised an eyebrow questioningly. After a second, he revealed a gun. I stepped back, not sure where he was going with this. “I want you to take this. Your magic won’t save you all the time.”
“We don’t carry guns, Mikey. It’s against the Witch laws!” I hissed at him.
Mikey rolled his eyes. “The same people who always turn their back on you? This is for your own protection.”
I took it from him, holding it between two fingers. “This is a bad idea.”
“That’s not how you hold a gun, hon.” He took it from me and showed how I was supposed to aim. I knew how to do it. I took classes before, and practiced at the range, but I didn’t want it. I felt like it posed more of a danger to me.
Sighing, he handed me the gun. “Just take it. At least carry it so you’ll have a backup.”
I turned to put it in the van, but when I glanced over my shoulder for him, he was gone. His disappearing acts were really annoying. It was a good way for him to escape arguments or conversations about him whoring around. He didn’t like confrontation of any sort. But he was right; I needed all the backup that I could get, especially if I had two killers after me.
Chapter Twelve
The club was thumping by the time I arrived. I parked the van, ignoring the judgmental stares at it as I climbed out. What did it matter what vehicle I had? I looked hot, which meant I was very fuckable. Not that I would do any of that, of course. Unless it was with Drake. No, no, no, not even Drake, my brain scolded me. I needed to get my head in the game and not think so much about men. But right now, sex was all I could think about. Though, it was with one man only, so that made it better, right? Hell, I didn’t know.
Straightening out my dress, I glanced in the side mirror of the van to check my makeup. I had dramatic, dark eyes on and clear lip gloss. My hair was down, silky and shiny. Then my dress, which was specifically bought with Drake in mind, was a black little number that barely made it past my ass. Even I could agree I was sexy as hell. Part of me hoped I would run into Drake, but then the logical majority knew that I had to make sure no one was following him.
The bouncer held the door open for me as I came up, giving him my best smile. As I passed, I looked over my shoulder to find him checking me out. Yep, Drake’s mouth would definitely fall open when he saw me. It was nice to feel good about yourself every once in a while. I wasn’t an attention-seeking whore, but having a man stare at you like he wanted you naked was always a good feeling. Man, I was acting like a slut.
Coming through the doorway to enter the dance floor, I grinned when a man rubbed against me, giving me an expression that dared me to take him to one of those fancy rooms. When I didn’t come to him, he moved on to the next victim.
Looking around the room, I spotted Drake dancing with a redhead. Immediately, I became jealous, anger shooting through me like white, hot fire. Next thing I knew I was pushing through the crowd, my hands in claws. I was too focused on getting close to her that I didn’t notice Kevin coming my way. He was dressed in a black suit, tailored specifically for his body. He looked expensive and darkly delicious. I paused, realizing what I was about to do to Drake’s shiny toy.
“On a mission, I see.” Kevin chuckled when I shot him a glare.
“I’m just watching,” I replied, my gaze returning to Drake. How could he be with another woman so soon? Why would he come back to the sex club if he wanted to be with me forever? Hurt filled my heart, causing it to ache.
Kevin leaned in toward me, eyes directed at Drake. “Want to make him jealous?”
I didn’t even have time to answer because suddenly I was swept up into his arms as he moved our bodies with the beat of the music. It was uncomfortably sexual. I didn’t think of Kevin in that way. At least, not completely. He was drool-worthy for sure, but the image of him tossing that head on the table at our Council meeting kept popping into my mind.
I briefly closed my eyes, debating if I should make a fast escape, but Kevin’s hands went down over my hips, close to my center. Unfortunately, my body betrayed me. I moved back into him, letting my head fall back against his shoulder.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Drake’s voice washed over me like hot lava. He was pissed.
“Just dancing,” I said, opening my eyes.
“Over me so easily?” he demanded.
Stepping away from Kevin, I poked Drake in the chest. “What about that redhead?”
When he didn’t answer, he all but confirmed that he was trying to move on. It wasn’t his best friend or cousin, but some bitch he wanted to take away his pain. I felt bad for lying to him, but he was the one getting jealous enough to approach me. Only, I was supposed to be watching him, not trying to piss him off.
“I think it’s best I leave,” Kevin said. He winked at me, disappearing into the crowd of people. The man enjoyed conflict; that was for sure. Now I had to somehow calm Drake down, because I could almost see the steam coming out of his ears.
Drake growled, fangs appearing the angrier he got. “You came here to make me jealous? Wasn’t lying to me enough?”
“I came here for a job. I didn’t plan on falling in love with you. I’m going to go.” I spun around, only to be jerked back.
“You didn’t expect to do what?” he hissed.
Then I realized what I’d said. I just told him that I was in love with him. Oh, my gods. Spinning around, I hurried through the crowd, ignoring him calling my name. He was chasing after me. It would only be seconds before he was right beside me, due to his crazy Vampire speed. Hurrying out through the main door, I ignored the call of the bouncer. He wanted to make sure I was okay, but I had to get away from Drake. There was no way in hell that I could face him.
“Sophie!” Drake shouted, stopping at the door of the club.
If he wanted to, he could have caught up to me. Just as I rounded a car to head to my van, I nearly tripped over something. Stumbling to stay upright, I slapped my hand on the hood of a car to prevent a complete face-plant. “What the—”
My gaze went to the tendrils of red hair that were on the ground. I followed them to the head, finding a dead body there. My hand fluttered to my mouth as I opened it in a silent scream. By then, Drake was next to me, his eyes traveling over the body, nostrils flaring from the blood that covered her neck.
“That’s the girl you were dancing with!” I shrieked.
“I didn’t do this,” he said immediately.
My gaze traveled over his face, noticing that he was just as surprised. “You were the last person to be seen with her. And this just happened. Who else could have done it, Drake?”
“Are you fucking kidding me? I’m not a murderer. I drink from a woman from time to time, but I’m not this sloppy, or this bold. The Vampire Council would be on my ass for this.”
The bouncer called over to us, asking what we were doing. Drake raised his head and said, “Call the Vampire Council, Dylan. There’s been a murder here.”
*
“I didn’t do this,” Drake snarled at me.
Moving away fr
om him, I frowned. “Who else then? Look! Your cufflink is right there on the ground next to her.” I pointed at the gold button.
Drake went to reach for it when someone came up from behind him. “Don’t even think about it, Drake.”
Both of us stared at the attractive man that appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He wore a pinstriped suit, looking more 1940s-chic than modern. His black hair was slicked back, giving me the impression he preferred another time period. “That’s evidence.” He walked over to the body, snapping on a glove so he could reach for the cufflink. Then he dropped it into a plastic bag. “I suggest you don’t leave town.”
“Are you kidding me? I danced with her—that was it.” Drake looked over at me with pleading eyes. I wanted to defend him, but his cufflink next to the body pointed all signs to him.
I sighed. “He didn’t have enough time to do this. Once he found out I was in the club, he left her behind.”
The man looked at me, eyes narrowed. “Who might you be?”
“Sophie Dexter,” I replied.
Chuckling, the man took off the glove and handed it to one of his helpers who came up behind him. “I told the Witches’ Council to keep their noses out of this.”
“I’m not—” I began.
“Don’t even think about lying to me. I know every member of that Council. Including Merlin’s daughter.” He shook his head. “I’m Finn Zanders, and I am the Head Councilman for the Vampires. Once I get ahold of your Head Mistress, shit is going to hit the fan. This isn’t Witch business!”
Getting angry, I stepped forward. “It is when Witches are coming up murdered in this town. We have every right to be here.”
Drake touched my arm, shaking his head. “We should go.”
“I want her out of Riverdale, Drake. She’s to be nowhere near this place.” With that, Finn spun on his heel and walked away.
“Well, I’m not leaving town.” I stomped toward the van, pulling open the door. “He can’t tell me what the fuck to do. I’m in the middle of an investigation. We should be working side by side, Drake. Our Witches are being murdered by a Vampire.”
Spell Hell: An Undercover Witch (Witch's Brew Book 1) Page 8
