by Deanna Chase
Philip moved to stand beside me. “Guardian angels are usually kept secret.”
“You didn’t seem to have a problem telling everyone you’re mine.” I glared at him, frustrated I couldn’t sense any of his emotions.
He shrugged. “They’re in danger. They had a right to know.”
One. Two. Three. I sucked in a breath and mentally finished counting to ten. It didn’t help. Through clenched teeth, I asked, “And Dan? Is he…I mean, since he’s gone, does that mean…?” I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.
“He’s still assigned to me,” Lailah said with a huff of impatience. “I am capable of watching over more than one soul at a time. For the record, I’ve been assigned to Bea for about a year now. Long before Dan was put on my radar.”
I gaped at them. “But why?”
Bea placed a reassuring hand over mine and squeezed. “Because you were coming, dear.”
Chapter 10
Holy shit. What was I? Destruction central?
Well, so far, Lailah had been all but useless. I’d been the one to cure Bea when she’d compromised her life energy after banishing Roy to Hell. I’d also been the one to save her from Meri’s black magic.
What had Lailah done besides expose Pyper to a demented ghost, get Kane kidnapped into Purgatory, and poison Bea? Some angel she was. Hopefully Philip didn’t share her talent for fucking up.
Anger lashed out at me from across the room. I raised my eyes to Lailah’s slanted gaze. You’re forgetting a few details, she spat in my mind. Like how without my help, Bea never would have been able to banish Roy, or how Kane would still be in Purgatory if I hadn’t brought him back. You’re far from perfect yourself, Jade.
Shame seized me. I’d forgotten she could hear my thoughts. And she was right. She was hardly to blame for all the crazy we’d been subjected to. I took a deep breath. I’m sorry. Bad day. I’m not thinking rationally.
Obviously. She turned her gaze from mine, a twinge of despair seeping through her anger.
Shit. I was a terrible person.
“Jade.” Bea gently laid her hand on my arm.
I eyed the fingers pressing into my wrist, only looking up when she said my name again.
“None of this is your fault,” she continued.
Shaking my head, I clamped my mouth shut. I didn’t want to argue with her, but it was clear if I hadn’t moved to New Orleans, none of this would be happening.
But if you hadn’t, your mother would still be missing. This time it wasn’t Lailah intruding in my head. It was my own subconscious reminding me of at least one good thing that had come of all this.
My gaze traveled to Kane. Okay, two good things.
Bea shifted beside me. “White witches attract those who seek power. Considering your magical strength, it’s not a surprise you’d be at the center of such chaos.”
I gave Bea my full attention. “What about you? Why did Lailah only show up months before I appeared? You’re plenty powerful.”
Bea stifled a soft chuckle and cleared her throat. “I have lived a long life. Lailah isn’t the first angel to appear on my doorstep.”
“I’m not?” Lailah perched forward on the loveseat.
Bea gave her assistant a small smile. “Like I said, I’ve got a lot of years behind me.”
Kane and Pyper were staring at Bea, no doubt just as curious as Lailah and I were about Bea’s past. But now wasn’t the time for memory lane.
“Okay. So I attract trouble. I guess I’d better get used to putting out fires.” I sucked in a breath and steeled myself. “I need your help.”
“I know.” Bea eyed the delicate watch on her wrist and stood. “Ian should be ready for us now.”
“Ian?” Pyper glanced around, nervous energy coming off her in microbursts. “He’s here?”
Ian was Bea’s nephew, a semi-professional ghost hunter and Pyper’s current love interest. Last I’d heard, they’d been on a date or two. Since Dan had disappeared, I hadn’t exactly kept up with all the details. Judging by the anxious crinkle of Pyper’s eyes, maybe things weren’t going as well as I’d thought.
Bea plucked her elegant, cream-colored leather purse from a side table and shook her head. “No. He’s pulling some strings to get the crowds cleared from the circle.”
I leaned forward in my chair. “Why?”
Bea pulled her front door open. “It’s where we’re going to test Philip’s theory.”
Kane moved to stand behind me and rested his hands on my shoulders. “You mean, to see if Jade’s tainted with black magic?”
“Exactly.” Bea took a few steps and called over her shoulder. “Hurry, now. We’ve only got a short window of time.”
***
I don’t even remember leaving Bea’s house or climbing in Kane’s car. Ten minutes later, I was sitting in a parking lot surrounded by yellow caution tape stamped with production studios #13.
“Someone’s filming a movie?” I asked as Kane grabbed my hand and pulled me from the car.
“That’s what it looks like.”
Somehow we’d been admitted past the metal barriers holding back a small crowd. They held protest signs that read Jesus hates magic and chanted, “Banish the witches, remove the evil. Save the people of New Orleans.”
I rolled my eyes. Goodwin had certainly reached his target audience this morning.
Three production trucks were lined up together, blocking the path leading to the circle. A couple of workers with headphones milled around with clipboards.
One of them, a woman wearing a Saints ball cap, scanned the parking lot and then waved us toward an RV sitting off to the side. “Hurry,” she said. “You’ve got less than an hour.”
“Wait!” Kat came running up behind us. “Ian called and said to meet here.”
Damn Ian. I’d hoped to keep Kat out of whatever we were going to be doing today. Her love for Dan made her too volatile. Given the chance, Kat wouldn’t hesitate to put herself on the front lines. Hell, it’s what I planned to do, and she knew it. No way to make her go home now.
Her running shoes barely made a sound on the cracked pavement as she caught up to us. She’d dressed the part at least. Jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt, and sensible shoes. I, on the other hand, hadn’t taken the time to plan decent footwear. The platform wedges I’d slipped my feet into had been right next to my bed. I hoped I wouldn’t have to do any running. My ankles would never survive.
Out of breath and red-faced, Kat fell in step with me as we followed Pyper and Kane. “That’s twice you haven’t called me,” she huffed out.
“Sorry.” Guilt formed a small ball in my stomach. “After we saw the newscast this morning, everything happened so fast. I didn’t have any idea we’d end up here. Besides, Bea is only going to confirm or deny Philip’s claim.”
“Only.” She stopped and turned serious eyes on me. “You think I don’t know how scary this is for you? Don’t even try to push me away like you usually do when crazy crap is going on. Because I’m having none of it.” I opened my mouth to defend my actions, but she shook her head and slipped a hand through the crook of my arm. We started walking again. “Nothing you can say will change my mind, so don’t bother. No matter what happens, I’ll be here.”
Her fierce determination kept me silent. I wanted more than anything to order Ian to take her home, but I knew none of them would leave. I wouldn’t. Why would they? Friends. Can’t force them to bend to your will. Well, I could…with the right spell. I shook my head and banished the thought.
“Did Kane hurt his leg?” Kat asked.
“No. I don’t think so.” I frowned, noticing a slight limp in his gait. “He said his thigh was stiff. Maybe he pulled a muscle.”
“He should take one of Bea’s healing herbs.”
I let out a noncommittal grunt. I sort of felt the same way about enhanced healing herbs as I did about prescription drugs: only taken as a last resort.
Kane disappeared into the shadows of the old oak trees and a sudden familiar
energy brushed my conscious. I clutched my chest, trying to stop the pounding of my heart. “Come on,” I whispered to Kat as I tugged her into the canopy.
My focus narrowed on the dirt path cluttered with patches of grass. Her long legs quickly outpaced mine and she disappeared into the circle clearing. I stopped in my tracks, alone in the middle of the oaks.
Each person’s energy was distinct, unique to them. If I knew someone well, I could sense the person anywhere.
Dan was with me in the trees.
I spun, lowering my barriers, trying to latch on to the fading thread I knew belonged to him.
“Dan?” I whispered into the shadows.
“Jade!” Kat called.
The sound of her voice broke my concentration, and Dan’s energy fled. I ignored her, running through the small clump of trees. If Dan was within half a mile, I’d find him. I sent my awareness out, but Kat’s worried impatience slammed into me.
Muttering a curse, I retraced my steps back in her direction, careful to keep an open eye. I sensed nothing but Kat and a faint trace of my friends already gathered near the circle. Had I imagined Dan’s signature? It was possible, but somehow I didn’t think so.
“What are you doing?” Kat asked when I stepped into her sightline.
“I thought I felt someone, but I could be wrong.”
“Oh.” Mild concern crossed her features. “They’re waiting for you, but I’ll take a look around.”
I started to shake my head, not wanting her to wander around alone. Then I changed my mind. “Can you get Ian to help you? Two is better than one.”
She nodded and disappeared back into the clearing. I opened my senses and sent out a probe, still searching for Dan. Barely a thread of energy materialized. Too faint to identify, the tenuous connection was suddenly cut off as Kat and Ian neared.
Deciding not to get Kat’s hopes up, I stifled a sigh and said nothing. How could I have sensed Dan? I’d seen Meri take him to Hell with my own eyes. The whole damn coven had witnessed the scene. Even though Meri’s power had been compromised later, he wouldn’t have been able to escape Hell on his own. Could he? He was the son of an angel. Was he trying to reach me somehow? First the dreams and now this. Except I had no idea how to contact him. I made a note to ask Bea.
Kat returned with Ian at her side. His six foot, lean frame towered over her average height. He wore his signature all black jeans, T-shirt, and Converse shoes. Somehow that tiny bit of normalcy comforted me.
“Go.” Kat gave me a gentle nudge. “There isn’t much time. We’ll do a search for any rubberneckers.”
“Bea’s ready for you.” Ian patted my arm awkwardly and flashed me a tight smile, sympathy shining from his light blue eyes. “I’m sure everything will be fine.”
Who could argue after that enthusiastic endorsement? I gave him a flat smile of my own and turned, finding Kane waiting for me at the edge of the tree line. His serious eyes and crinkled brow told me he’d been watching me.
“Ready?” he asked, snaking an arm around my waist.
“I think so.” His solid form steadied me. “I noticed your limp. Leg still aching?”
“Yeah, I’ll get a healing pill from Bea later before she slips one in my drink.”
I laughed. Bea had been known to spell my tea every now and then when she thought I needed a boost. Since I usually stubbornly refused to take her pills, she improvised. What could I say? I didn’t trust magic. Too often things went wrong. I was happy to wait out my particular ailments.
Kane didn’t have my hang-ups. He’d willingly take whatever she gave him.
“In fact, if I keep hanging out with you, I’m probably going to need to stock up,” he teased.
I mock-punched him in the arm. Still, I didn’t argue. As Kat has been known to say, weird shit happened around me and healing herbs were just about as tame as one could get.
The wind shifted, bringing with it the stench of decaying river rot. The awful smell always reminded me of death. Of road kill left on the side of the road, baking in the sun after a thunderous rainstorm. I took shallow breaths, trying not to gag. Even Hell had to smell better than that.
“There you are,” Bea called from the northern most position of the circle. “I need you to stand in the middle of the pentagram. And Kane, stand directly across from me in the southern position.”
“Why?” I gripped Kane’s arm and pressed close, as if to shield him from the answer.
“We can’t use members of the coven because of what happened last time. They’re too sensitive to magic. Kane, Pyper, and Kat are the best choices to complete the circle since they’re who you’re closest to.”
“What about Philip?” I glanced around for my so-called guardian. “And Lailah? They didn’t come?”
Bea shook her head. “They had council business. Besides, we don’t need them for this. I’ve got it covered.”
“It’s fine.” Kane gently pulled his arm from my death grip and took his place on the circle.
“Good. Pyper, you take the eastern point,” Bea ordered as she picked up a black pillar candle.
I wanted to argue. I wanted to grab them both and tuck them away in Kane’s house until this was over. Not that I didn’t think they could take care of themselves. They’d both been victims of paranormal craziness in the not-so-distant past. If anything happened to either one of them, I wouldn’t be able to function. Enough was enough.
But Kat and Ian reappeared before I managed to formulate a response. Kat shook her head, indicating they hadn’t found anyone, then took the western position without being asked. Clearly they’d discussed the procedure while I’d been in the trees. She sent me a determined look, obviously bracing for the coming argument. I let out a long breath, knowing I’d lose this round.
Please, Goddess. Keep them safe. Do what you will with me, but protect them from the darkness.
“What’s Ian doing?” I asked as I slowly dragged my feet to the center of the pentagram.
“I’m keeping watch in case anything goes awry.” He held a small electronic device that looked suspiciously like one of his ghost-hunting EMF readers. A green light came on after he flicked a switch. He nodded and moved to stand next to Kane. “I’m ready.”
I placed my hands on my hips and stared him down. “What are you doing?”
Ian fiddled with a knob on the black piece of equipment, and when no one answered me, he finally made eye contact. “Oh, you mean me. I told you, I’m keeping watch.”
“No, Ian.” I didn’t bother to temper the impatience in my voice. He had a bad habit of studying every last odd occurrence that went down in my life. Even though his readings were sometimes useful, it didn’t stop me from feeling like a lab rat. “What are you doing with that thing?”
A blush crept over his cheeks. “You never know when some readings might come in handy. Do you mind?”
The contrition in his voice, combined with the cloud of anxiousness clinging to him, pushed my irritation aside. Why was I so moody? This was what Ian did. I should expect it by now. Heck, I’d even asked him for help on more than one occasion. I waved a dismissive hand. “It’s fine. I guess you just caught me off guard. Don’t worry about it.”
The slight tension in his shoulders eased. He nodded at Bea. “Better get started. The production crew can only cover us for twenty more minutes.”
“No movie?” I asked.
Ian shook his head. “Not here. They’re filming something uptown at the college. I called in a favor.”
Shame washed over me for being irritated at him. My reaction to his reading was due more to my own issues with the paranormal. Ian was one of the good guys. I caught Pyper staring at me, her eyes narrowed accusingly. I sent her an apologetic smile and focused on Bea. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Face me,” Bea said and held up her candle. “After I say the incantation, light this with your mind.”
I nodded. “What is the goal of the spell? How can we tell if I’m tainted?”
>
“Don’t worry. You’ll know when you see it.”
Standing in the middle of the pentagram, surrounded by my loved ones, I should’ve been nervous. This was the moment I’d find out if my soul was in danger.
Instead, I concentrated on the love filling my heart. These people were my family. Emotion welled in my chest. After years of trusting no one but Kat and Aunt Gwen, I never thought I’d be part of such a group. They’d be by my side no matter what.
Bea closed her eyes and held the candle straight out toward me. “From the points of north to south to east to west, let the glow of the candle represent the inner light. With the spark of flame, search for the hidden darkness.”
Her eyes flew open, dark brown pools of intensity. Magic pulsed from her in tight, controlled waves. She held her power back, waiting for me. My spark rose from my chest and rushed through my limbs, pulsating at my fingertips.
I raised one hand and aimed for the black pillar. “Ignite.”
The candle sprang to life, a perfect tapered flame glowing bright in the afternoon sun.
Small threads of apprehension bubbled from my friends surrounding me, but I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the flame, now growing larger with each caress of the gentle breeze.
“Search now,” Bea rasped, her voice husky and strong.
Tendrils of gray smoke rose from the mini-inferno and snaked its way around the circle. Kat shuddered as it passed through her. Pyper stood rooted to her spot, as if to ignore the intrusion. Kane’s body trembled as it invaded him. And then the smoke shot straight at me.
Icy probing fingers pressed into my skin, reaching deep into my body. I writhed, blinded by the smoke, clutching my chest as something resembling an ice pick stabbed my heart. I cried out in terror, debilitating fire burning through my veins.
But no one heard me over the gut-wrenching scream coming from the east.
“Pyper,” I called, stumbling in her direction. My skin warmed, erasing the icy pain, and the smoke vanished, giving me a clear view of Pyper’s empty spot on the circle.
I spun, catching a glimpse of her hot-pink-streaked hair. She was on the ground, arms around Kane’s shoulders. Black, translucent ropes had wrapped around his limbs, binding him to the earth.
