Demons of Bourbon Street

by Deanna Chase

  “Good. It’s working.” Devon adjusted the volume to something slightly lower than deafening levels.

  I glared at him, holding on to the magic, not afraid to use it if I had to.

  He winked and pressed a button.

  Hot fire burned through my veins. “Argh!”

  Beside me, Meri grunted. I tried to turn and look at her, but my vision blurred and my whole body felt heavy. One last thought flashed in my mind: I’d been drugged.

  I came to in a cozy farmhouse. A sense of familiarity put me at ease, except I didn’t recognize the furnishings, and I was certain I’d never set foot in the place. I found myself at the old white porcelain sink, hand-washing a stock pot. Clean dishes were lined up on a rack beside me, drying in the warm summer air.

  The back door banged open, and Philip strode in, his face breaking into a wide grin. “There you are. Get back out here. Everyone’s waiting.”

  “Just a sec, I’m almost done.”

  “The dishes can wait.” He grabbed my hand and tugged.

  The pot slipped from my hands, clanging loudly in the sink. I laughed and tucked a dark strand of hair out of my eyes. “All right, but if I forget, you’re in charge of cleaning the dried-on food in the morning.”

  “Meri, hurry up!” a female voice called. “It’s time for cake.”

  Somewhere in the depths of my consciousness, I realized this was Meri’s memory, not mine, but there was nothing I could do to block it.

  Philip laughed and kissed Meri on the temple. “Come on, birthday girl. Someone else can worry about the dishes.”

  She smiled and let him lead her to the backyard, where her friends and family were gathered.

  A few minutes later, Meri had a piece of cake in her hand as she sat by a pool, taking a moment to observe Philip from afar. He was interacting with her sisters, Felicia and Priscilla, laughing and describing a spell Meri had botched a few days before. She smiled, warmth and love filling her heart.

  A fierce protectiveness settled over her and she knew she’d do anything for her family. Anything at all.

  The scene shifted, and panic flooded Meri’s chest as she ran down a darkened street, desperate to catch up with Philip. He was in danger. Life-threatening, game-changing danger.

  Her lungs screamed in protest as she pushed herself harder, ignoring the cramp in her side. A demon was loose in the city. And Philip had been sent to meet with him, but he wasn’t prepared. He thought he was meeting a witch. His directive had been mistaken.

  She rounded the corner and came to a dead stop at the mouth of an alley. In front of her, Philip kneeled, using every last bit of his magic to fend off not one, but two demons. They had him trapped between them, each throwing ropes of invasive black magic.

  Time had run out. The demons had succeeded in binding him. His strength would be depleted in mere seconds.

  “No!” she cried and leaped forward, unleashing all the power and love she harbored. White met black in an impressive monochromatic starburst.

  Philip collapsed at her feet. Anger and fear bubbled up, mixing with her powerful love. A cloud of black fog circled her and when it cleared, Meri’s magic had turned black.

  The knowledge came to her immediately and despite Philip’s moan, she lowered her arms and stepped back. Even through her rage, she knew Philip would never want her to turn to black magic. She’d sooner die first.

  “Meri.” Philip opened his eyes and stared at her.

  “I’m here,” she got out before the demons advanced on her.

  “Run!” Philip rolled over and a lightning bolt of power shot from his fingers, straight into the closest demon.

  The agent of Hell staggered and then froze right before he toppled over.

  “And miss the excitement?” Meri laughed as her magic turned white again. She hurled a ball of power toward the remaining demon.

  But he was ready for her and somehow sucked it in, using it as an energy source. “You’re mine now, angel. Here I thought today wasn’t going to be any fun. Looks like it’s two for the price of one.”

  The demon redirected Meri’s magic and attacked Philip, but she jumped in the way just before it hit him. Her body convulsed. She fell, her limbs paralyzed. Fully conscious, she couldn’t do anything but pray Philip got them out of this mess.

  Philip let out a roar, his magic crackling, and lunged at the demon.

  The demon’s eyes went wide and then he vanished, barely avoiding the attack. He reappeared inches from Meri.

  She stared up at him, fear churning through her veins.

  In one motion, the demon scooped Meri up and vanished into the earth.

  Into Hell, where Meri waited for Philip to come rescue her.

  For months.

  Only he never did, and Hell claimed her soul.

  The scene faded. Familiar energy reached me before my vision cleared. Stale lust and desperate excitement. There was only one place I connected with those particular feelings.

  Kane’s club.

  It was just like any other night—dancers working the pole as men threw dollar bills at them, Charlie mixing drinks with one hand and popping bottle caps with the other, and music reverberating through the entire place.

  Except I floated in the air over a glass box, and Kane was across the room trying to beat up a ghost. We were floating because Kane had dreamwalked us there. Below me, Pyper was trapped in the glass case, her hands and feet nailed to the bottom.

  My heart thundered as I relived the terrible night I’d switched places with Pyper and become a prisoner of the resident ghost. The vivid memory of being held captive and mentally battling with Roy to keep him from torturing me seared my insides and made me tremble. By the time the scene faded away, all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry.

  Only I couldn’t because I was once again forced into another of Meri’s memories.

  Chapter 28

  I pried my heavy tongue off the roof of my mouth and tried to swallow. “Water?” I croaked.

  One of the lab techs brought a cup with a straw up to my lips. Not caring if the liquid was tainted with some other sort of drug, I sucked it down until the straw gurgled with air.

  “Better?” Meri asked.

  She was already sitting up, her restraints shed. Someone had given her fresh clothes, a white cotton shirt and white linen pants. I glanced down at myself and scowled. Mud caked my sneakers and dirt stained my jeans. Not to mention I was still a prisoner in the lab chair.

  “How’d you end up with the spa treatment?” I asked.

  She smiled. “The dream-inducing drug wears off faster for angels…or former angels. I’m sure they’ll let you shower before the hearing.”

  I tried to sit up and groaned in defeat. “The what?”

  “They’re going to make a decision today.” The smile vanished from her face and her voice became barely a whisper. “We’ll find out which one of us gets to keep your soul.”

  Instead of panicking, my whole body went numb. The drugs had taken us through another round of Meri’s memories and one of my own. Both focused on the same theme: Each of us sacrificing ourselves for someone else.

  After experiencing her fear for her loved ones and her unwavering courage, even I couldn’t say who was more deserving. If Meri was saved and restored to being an angel, wouldn’t she be in a better position to help people? I didn’t speak for a while. Finally I turned to her. “At least we don’t have to go back to the time warp room.”

  She gave a noncommittal shrug. “I guess.”

  Sadness blossomed in my chest. Room or no room, either way I had a fifty-fifty shot I’d never see Kane again. Wrap my arms around him. Feel the gentle caress of his lips. I slammed my fist down on the counter. A metal tray clamored to the floor, the noise echoing off the walls.

  Meri didn’t even flinch.

  I clenched my teeth, my jaw aching with the effort. Screw the council. I wasn’t going down without a fight.

  ***

  I did indeed
get my spa hour. Not long after I woke up, two young angels came and led me to a room where I was given a bath, some food, and then dressed in the most beautiful green-silk dress. My grungy clothes were taken away and my meager possessions tucked in the hidden pocket of my skirt.

  They curled and styled my hair, and when they were finished, they guided me to a full-length mirror. I gasped at the reflection staring back at me. I’d never looked so radiant. My skin glowed and my eyes illuminated the deepest jade green I’d ever seen.

  A sad, ironic smile barely turned my lips up. If this was my last night of existence, at least I’d go out in style.

  I didn’t see Meri again until I was led back into the sanctuary. She sat at one of two throne-like chairs, both positioned in front of the two sections of pews. Every last seat was occupied with white and gold-robed angels. A nervous excitement filled the room.

  My pair of angels guided me to the straight-back chair opposite Meri. I sat, resting my hands on the wooden armrests, staring straight ahead, afraid I’d throw up at any minute.

  The council filed in, one by one, onto the dais. A tiny angel, no more than five feet tall, scrambled from the wings up to the microphone. She pulled on a long velvet rope, causing bells to clang at near-deafening levels. “Court is now in session. Angel Drake Davidson will preside over the proceedings.”

  She scurried off to the side, stumbling over her too-long robe. Her high, tinkling laugh echoed through the room.

  Davidson, the angel with the long white hair, cast the announcer an impatient glance before moving to his seat at the council table. Five more angels followed, taking their positions beside him.

  The bells gonged again, only this time no one pulled the ropes.

  Silence fell inside the sanctuary. An ominous monotone voice came out of nowhere, saying, “This trial is now in session.”

  Davidson rapped a gavel and turned to his fellow council members. “We have balance today. Two character witnesses for each of the ladies on trial. Madeline, please call the first witness.”

  Madeline, an elder angel with age lines gracing her eyes stood and shuffled to the podium. “I call the Angel Philip to the stand.”

  The air shimmered next to the dais, and a golden chair appeared out of thin air. Philip strode in through a thick golden door behind the dais and settled gracefully in the chair.

  “You understand that by voluntarily taking the stand, you’ll have no choice but to answer truthfully?” Davidson asked.

  Philip glanced once in Meri’s direction. “I understand.”

  The head councilman nodded toward Madeline. “You may proceed.”

  The older woman produced a pair of spectacles and slid them on her nose. She shuffled through a few papers and finally settled on one. “Angel Philip, please state your relationship to both the women on trial.”

  He cleared his throat. “I met Jade Calhoun a few weeks ago after I was assigned to be her soul guardian. Angel Meri is my ex-mate.”

  “I understand you are a witness for the ex-demon?”

  “Yes.”

  “And she has lost her own soul? She survives by sharing Ms. Calhoun’s?”

  Philip nodded. “That is correct.”

  Madeline peeked over her glasses, eyeing Meri and then me. “Tell me, why would you witness for an ex-demon over the witch? Is it because Meri used to be your mate? In other words, are you basing your decisions on emotions or logic?”

  He took a second before answering and then looked at Madeline, pain written all over his face. “It’s no secret I take responsibility for Meri’s original fall to demonism. I suppose on some level I feel it’s my duty to help her as much as possible, but that isn’t why I’m here today. The council put me in charge of protecting Ms. Calhoun’s soul, and that is ultimately what I am trying to do.” He took a deep breath. “Right now, Meri is half a being. Somewhere between angel and human. By an odd twist of luck, somehow she ended up sharing Ms. Calhoun’s soul.”

  Some odd twist of luck? When Meri was a demon, she’d done everything in her power to steal souls. She’d have gotten Kane’s, Lailah’s, Dan’s, and my mother’s if I hadn’t stopped her. The only reason she had part of mine now was because she’d marred Kane. Odd twist of luck, my ass! The demon Meri had left an opening when she’d staked Kane. The twist was that I’d been able to almost destroy her. Now as a pseudo angel, she was going to destroy me.

  Philip swallowed and continued with his testimony, “This happened without Meri’s knowledge, and she didn’t seek it in her current non-demon state. If she’s given the chance, I’m confident she will once again return to the mighty angel who saved countless others. As much as it troubles me to condemn Ms. Calhoun’s existence, I believe Meri should be the vessel who carries this shared soul.”

  Madeline made a few notes and then stared pointedly at Philip. “You’re saying you do not believe the white witch deserves to keep her own soul?”

  Philip cast a sad glance in my direction. “No, I didn’t say that at all. I’m being forced to make a decision. Given all the facts, I believe Meri can help the world more effectively.”

  I curled my fists, restraining myself from an outburst. I’d get my chance. Wouldn’t I?

  “You may be seated, Philip. Angel Lailah, will you please take your place on the stand?”

  Lailah appeared from the gold door and as they passed each other, Philip tried to rest a reassuring hand on her shoulder, but she skirted his reach. She stared at him with narrowed eyes as he took a seat behind Meri. I caught a faint trace of her thoughts. His fault. He orchestrated this.

  Lailah sat and was placed under oath. It was declared she was a witness for me. That I’d expected. It had to be her and…Dan? I wished with all my heart that wasn’t a question. But who else would witness for me?

  A different council angel came forward. He was a handsome, clean-cut blond man who appeared to be in his early twenties, though age was notoriously hard to judge when it came to angels. Just like witches, they had ways of slowing down the biological clock.

  He inclined his head. “It’s good to see you again, Lailah.”

  “Peter.” She gave him a skeptical nod.

  His lips quirked in a knowing smile, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. I guessed something along the lines of, I’d rather eat live crawfish than be in the same room with you. But she kept a neutral expression on her face and waited for his questions.

  “You’re friends with Ms. Calhoun?” Peter asked with a fair amount of accusation in his tone.

  “Yes, you could say that.”

  “And you have a romantic relationship with Philip, Meri’s ex-mate?” He lifted a smug eyebrow.

  Lailah glared at him. “Yes.”

  Peter’s expression turned serious and almost angry. “Is that why you neglected your assignment of watching over Mr. Toller’s soul and, instead, decided to do everything in your power to get rid of the ex-angel Meri?”

  Fury, so strong it filled the courtroom, sprang from Lailah. “No! That isn’t what happened at all.”

  “So Mr. Toller didn’t end up in Hell with Meri?”

  “Well…uh,” she sputtered. “Yes, he did, but only because he sacrificed himself.”

  Peter pursed his lips. “So, not only did you not do your job, but your assignment showed braver courage than you did.”

  Lailah stood and faced the rest of the council. “He is introducing conjecture that has no bearing on this case. I respectfully request a new inquisitor.”

  Davidson stood to address her. “I’m afraid that’s not possible. The urgency of this situation has required us to task each interrogation to one council member. Peter is yours. The council is capable of weeding out unnecessary information.” He nodded to Peter. “Proceed, please.”

  Peter went on to interrogate Lailah on how she’d handled herself over the last few months, even going so far as to accuse her of being the cause of Dan’s possession by Meri. She did her best to answer his questions, all the while t
rying to interject opinion on what was happening at the moment.

  “I don’t see what any of this has to do with Jade keeping her soul. It’s hers. It isn’t right for us to decide to take it away because a demon managed to form a connection to her.” Lailah waved an impatient hand toward the angels seated in front of her. “Isn’t that what we’re here for? To protect souls from this sort of thing?”

  “That isn’t what I asked you, Lailah,” Peter said patiently.

  “Well, that’s the answer you got,” she snapped.

  “One last time. Did you or did you not end up in Purgatory with Ms. Calhoun’s significant other?”

  She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, clearly trying to get a grip on her frustration. “Yes,” she hissed.

  He turned to the council. “I declare the angel Lailah unfit as a character witness. Her ties to Ms. Calhoun and the other people involved in this inquiry have clearly clouded her judgment.”

  I gasped. My main spokesperson was being dismissed.

  “Noted,” Davidson said then turned to Lailah. “You may step down.”

  “But—”

  “Now, Lailah. Take your seat.”

  If a bucket of water had landed on her right then, steam would have clouded the dais. She sat where she was, obvious outrage keeping her glued in place. Two guards finally stepped up. She shot them one last glance of disdain and then escaped to a seat behind me.

  Jonathon took the stand next.

  I closed my eyes, praying he’d be gone when I opened them. No such luck. There he was, sitting in the witness chair, staring down at me with tight eyes. God. Could this get any worse? If this good-for-nothing charlatan said anything to contribute to my eminent demise, I’d come back from the beyond and haunt his ass until the end of time.

  A few moments later, he was sworn in, and the first question was asked by yet another woman of the council. Endora. It suited her perfectly, blue eye shadow and all.

  “Jonathon, please tell us your relationship to the ones on trial.”

  “I don’t have one with Meri. Ms. Calhoun is one of my parishioners.”