by Trim, Brenda
The attacker’s red eyes flashed through my mind, followed by its caramel skin and dark hair. Thanos was right about the disguise. “I’ve already encountered the vile being hunting my friends and neighbors. Its disguise was good but did nothing to cover up the malevolent aura that surrounds it. What would help us is if you have any ideas about typical hiding spots for his kind.”
Thanos stood up and took a step toward me, not stopping until we were scant inches apart. “You’re not going to give this up, are you?”
I shook my head from side to side and swallowed. He was too close. My mind was clouded by his rugged masculinity. “Not a chance. This is my life on the line. Besides, the Backside of Forty doesn’t ignore a threat like this.”
“Yeah,” Aislinn agreed. “We like to think of ourselves as the new cops in town.”
“Cops might be going a bit far. We’re more like Private Investigators,” Fiona amended. “And we will never let one of our own become a patsy for whatever Dark dickhead is wreaking havoc in Cottlehill.”
Thanos never shifted his gaze from my face. “I don’t want Violet pinned with the responsibility for this. But I’m not sure there is anything you three can do. I’ve searched the places a blood demon would normally hide. I suspect he’s still under the summoner’s control. I will find him and take him back to the Underworld.”
I heard the promise behind his statement. It was nice to know he would protect us from the demon. It was his job, after all. I wondered if there was a supervisor I could complain to about him. Yeah. That’d be Hades. King of the Underworld.
Not a pleasant thought to have given the circumstances. “What can I do for Faye. You said this was a blood demon. Can we restore her missing powers?”
Thanos pursed his lips. It looked like he just sucked on a lemon slice. “No, we can’t. The demon consumed her powers. There’s no recovering them once they’re gone. I’m sorry. It’s clear you care about this woman very much.”
A growl left my throat before I could stop it. “I’m not close to Faye. In fact, before this, I rarely spoke to her. But she’s a witch, and I’m being set up for her attack. Both reasons I want to ensure she gets better. Besides, she’s always been one of the good guys on our council.”
“How is it that this demon escaped from the Underworld? Don’t you guys have barriers in place?” Aislinn threw that at Thanos like a dagger. We’d already talked about this. I wondered if she forgot or hadn’t been paying attention.
Thanos stepped back to his stool and sat down. He cradled the beer in his hands. “We can’t control what your kind does on Earth. I’m sure Violet told you it was a Dark practitioner that cracked the veil.”
Aislinn nodded once and rested her hands on the back of the stool I had knocked over. “She did. Do you have any clues as to who the culprit might be? We’ve come up with nothing, and we don’t have much time.”
“All I can tell you is that the witch isn’t working alone. The trail led me to Violet. All I can say is that whoever is responsible is extremely powerful. This witch has enough strength to summon a demon, shield its presence, cover his tracks and confuse me. None of those are easy on their own. Altogether, they spell trouble.”
I sighed and rubbed my temples. My head was killing me. I didn’t have the energy for this. “We need to look outside the box to pick up this asshole’s trail. Are you certain he didn’t kill all of the victims we’ve had in town?”
Thanos bobbed his head. “I’m positive. Every time the demon kills and consumes his victim’s blood, he gets stronger. If he’d killed that many paranormals, he would have bucked the summoner’s control already. I haven’t understood why a witch this powerful would want to summon a demon they could lose control over. Now, I wonder if it’s to conceal his actions and pin them on someone else. It would be a brilliant way to eliminate several enemies with one blow.”
My head snapped back, and my mouth dropped open. I never considered I was the target. I assumed the demon was goading me before. When Thanos laid it out like that, it made complete sense. The real perp was hiding behind the monster to ensure he or she wasn’t caught.
Who hated me that much? I didn’t have enemies. I’d lived here my entire life and for the life of me couldn’t come up with one person that hated me enough to want me dead. I should have known better. Someone had managed to curse me when I wasn’t paying attention.
Chapter 9
I parked my car next to the pond and got out. I spent the remainder of last night searching my house for a cursed object and again came up empty. It was busy in the store today, but I combed through the place looking for a thing that marked me every chance I got.
The flaming bird on my chest burned my fingertips when I touched it now. My blood felt like pure lava running through my veins now, and I had no idea what to do about it. The pond looked like a good place to cool off. A blue-haired woman popped her head above the surface.
I lifted my hand and waved at the mermaid. “Hey, Kairi. How are you doing?”
Kairi’s tail flicked the water behind her as she smiled at me. “I’m great. I added onto my home in case some of my friends want to join me here.”
“I thought you’d want to go home now that Vodor has been killed.”
Kairi’s long blue hair didn’t move when she shook her head from side to side. “I love it here. I found where I belong. I miss my family and the palace, but I don’t miss the expectations and rules. My future is here in Pymm’s Pondside.”
“Damn right it is. My kids will be over the moon about having a mermaid on the property.” Fiona’s voice carried from the back of her house.
I turned and smiled at my best friend. We’d known each other since we were three years old and been close ever since. “I found another book today.” I held it up to show her. “It’s not as detailed as the one I gave you the other day, but we should be able to figure out what Isidora is now.”
Sebastian’s large frame filled the doorway behind Fiona. He wrapped one arm around her waist and tugged her close. My heart clenched when I watched them. I was happy for my friend and jealous that I didn’t have someone that adored me like that.
The rumble of a car drew our attention. Aislinn’s dark green car trundled down the dirt road leading to Fiona’s house. She pulled up next to me and jumped out of her car a few seconds later.
“I’m here. The party can start!”
We all chuckled, and I embraced Aislinn in a one-armed hug. Bas and Fiona went back inside the house with us right behind them. I took my slip-ons off in the mudroom then entered the kitchen.
It had become our meeting place. I wanted to have a wooden sign made to hang over the window above the sink that said Backside of Forty. Bas and Isidora had become honorary members. As had Argies and Finarr when they were here. I wondered how both Fae men were faring in Eidothea after we’d killed the evil King that had been literally sucking the life and power out of the realm for centuries.
“Would you ladies like a cuppa?” Isidora asked when we settled around the island.
I should have brought scones and cream. I was hungry despite having eaten dinner. A salad wasn’t precisely a meal in my book, but it was all I had at home, and I had no desire to run to the grocery during my lunch break.
Aislinn jumped from the stool she’d taken a seat on and dashed toward the backdoor. “I brought some cinnamon and berry scones from work.”
“I like her working at Mug Shots,” I observed. “We always have treats for our meetings now.”
Fiona patted her hip. “My mouth loves it, but my butt doesn’t.”
Bas lowered his head to the curve of Fiona’s neck and nipped her skin. “The extra treats have made you better, Butterfly. More to grab onto.”
Fiona’s face turned red as she smacked his chest. Laughter spilled from me in a torrent. Aislinn walked into the house carrying a pink box. She was smiling when she set it on the island. “What did I miss? Seems like it was a good one.”
Isidora told h
er what was said. Up until that moment, I thought she didn’t like the idea of Bas with her granddaughter. I saw the truth of it in the laughter behind her eyes. She was happy for Fiona but acted differently. If I knew Isidora, I’d say she was worried Bas would replace her and Fiona wouldn’t have any time for her.
She felt like that about me for years until she realized she’d simply gained another granddaughter during the summers. Eventually, I came to visit Isidora several times a week. She was there when my kids were born, along with my mother. She was also the first one I told when Dathan said he was leaving me. She took the kids and me into her house that afternoon and let us stay with her until I got my own place and opened the bookstore six months later.
I grabbed a scone and bit into buttery, flaky goodness, then set the book on the marble countertop. “It’s time to figure out what you came back as, Isidora. We have a demon and Dark entity prowling around town, cracking the veil between the Underworld and Earth. There’s no time to worry about you, too.”
Isidora set her teacup down gently and took a deep breath. “I’m the same as I always have been. The only thing that’s changed is I’m no longer the Guardian.”
Fiona put a hand on her Grams’ shoulder. “You’re still connected to the power and the land, but you can’t do magic. Not really. And before you say something. Stabilizing mine isn’t the same thing as doing a spell on your own. I need to know I’m not going to lose you.”
“She’s right, Isidora. You’re different. Your energy isn’t remotely the same as before. Knowing will help us keep you and Fiona safe. You could be vulnerable to wood brownies, and we don’t know.” Bas seemed to get through to Isidora because she grabbed the book in front of me and flipped it open.
I took a bite and set the pastry on my plate. “I saw a passage in the book I gave Fiona about ghouls. From what I have read, it seems like we were right about that weeks ago.”
It had been said in jest but turned out we were onto something. “Grams isn’t decomposing and walking around like a ravenous beast. I know you said you thought that’s what she is now, but I just don’t see it.”
“That’s fair,” I conceded. “But I didn’t read through everything. It’s possible she isn’t a ghoul. Before we decide, let’s read through both books and see what we can learn.” I scooted closer to Isidora and scanned the pages as she turned them.
There was a chapter on zombies. “You aren’t driven by a mindless need for human flesh and brains, so you aren’t a zombie.”
Isidora shook her head, sending her silver hair flying around her face. “Thank the Gods for small favors. If you had made me one of these things, I would have asked you to cut my head off. I can’t imagine walking around with my skin falling off my bones. Ugh.” She shuddered and hugged herself.
Fiona came over and read over our shoulders. I felt her stiffen and shudder behind me. “How do you make one? I never want to do that to someone. It would be an awful existence. Do you really think they eat brains?”
Aislinn jumped from her stool and ran to the kitchen sink to the left of us. Fiona and I both hurried to her and held her hair back while she threw up the scone she’d just eaten.
It took several seconds for her to stop. She rinsed her mouth and braced herself with her hands on the sides of the sink. “Let’s not talk about eating brains. The idea makes me want to vomit again.”
Isidora grabbed a bag of loose tea, put some into a steeper, and then poured Aislinn another cup. The mint smelled far better than the throw-up Fiona was washing down the sink. “That’ll make you feel much better. We can move on from zombies. Although I will say, you don’t have to worry about making one by accident. You don’t perform voodoo.”
Fiona grabbed a kitchen towel and got it wet, then gave it to Aislinn. “What’s the difference? I’ve wondered since I discovered magic was real. I grew up hearing about Marie Leveau and found it fascinating. She was the reason I took the kids to New Orleans. I wanted to visit her grave.”
“Voodoo practitioners use animal sacrifice, dance, and herbs in their spells. They invoke different Loa for their magic. That’s the fuel behind their power. A witch is powered by her relationship with the Goddess Hecate and bond to the elements,” Bas informed us.
“I really hate how ignorant I am about all this stuff. I’ve done something to you, and I have no idea what.”
I patted Fiona’s shoulder and squeezed it to offer my support. “At least you won’t create a zombie by accident. There’s gotta be some consolation in that.”
Fiona smiled at me and nodded. “You aren’t kidding. I would never forgive myself if I made Grams a zombie.”
I couldn’t imagine Isidora running around with superhuman strength and begging for brains. She was a tiny, sweet grandmother. Well, she looked like one. When she opened her mouth, you realized that Isidora was anything but sweet. She wouldn’t hesitate to put you in your place.
Isidora was infamous for telling it like it was and making those on the council look like idiots. When Isidora had a seat in the group, this catastrophe with them believing I was capable of trying to kill Faye would never have happened. She’d have steered the ship in the right direction and rooted out the culprit. She would have been the first one to point out that it took more power than I had.
Used to have. You’ve got more power than anyone on the council now. It was a poignant reminder that I decided to ignore. We were focusing on Isidora at the moment.
Aislinn sat on her stool and pressed the cool cloth to the back of her neck. “What do the books say about ghouls? I never thought about them, but I realize my preconceptions have to be wrong if you two are convinced Isidora might be one.”
“Like a zombie, ghouls are created by magic. One difference,” Sebastian said as he tapped the open book in front of him, “is that ghouls don’t require blood magic like zombies. You just need to have enough power to pull it off without killing yourself.”
Fiona crossed to Bas and looked over the book. “It says here many have saggy, decaying skin. You look better than the last time I saw you.”
Isidora patted her cheeks and lifted one arm. “I told you it’s because I’m not a ghoul. That’s the only explanation.”
Fiona sighed and shook her head. “No. I don’t think that’s the reason. I’m getting my kit. I want to give you an exam.”
Isidora scowled at Fiona, but she ignored it and raced for the stairs. “I’m fine. You don’t need to do anything. We just need another book.”
Something in my gut told me we were on the right track here. “You might as well give it up, Dora. You know Fiona will do what she needs regardless. Besides, I think the magic of Pymm’s Pondside is part of the reason you look so good right now. Think about it. Everything here is brimming with power.”
Fiona returned and set a small pink bag on the island. “I think you’re onto something, Violet. I never thought about it before. Most ghouls weren’t buried in magical dirt. And, I brought you back within a few months, too, so you weren’t buried that long.”
Isidora rolled her eyes and sat in a chair Bas brought over. Fiona unzipped her bag of tricks and took out more devices than I cared to see outside of a hospital. Fiona put the stethoscope in her ears and put the circular part on Isidora’s chest.
“Well, you’ve got a steady heartbeat. Strong as an ox. A little slow compared to before you died. And the sounds are clear and regular. Although they too are slower.”
The cuff she wrapped around Isidora’s bicep took her blood pressure. “I can barely register a blood pressure.” She looked into her eyes and ears, then paused and stood back. “You’re numbers are good. Nothing really concerning.”
“I told you,” Isidora countered.
Fiona cocked her head and looked at her grandmother. “That doesn’t mean you’re not a ghoul.”
“How has your appetite been?” I needed to approach this topic carefully. Aislinn still looked green around the gills. “Do you crave meat more than before?”
<
br /> Isidora glanced at me with pursed lips. “Why are you asking?”
“She’s been asking me for roast almost nightly,” Fiona interjected. “See, Grams. This is further proof you’re a ghoul. You crave flesh. Ghouls don’t want br...uh, sorry Ais. You okay?”
Aislinn sipped the mint tea and waved her hand through the air. “I’m good. I’m thinking of watermelon when you guys talk.”
Bas leaned against the counter behind her and crossed his arms over his chest. “If she’s a ghoul, we need to ensure the demon in town never comes in contact with her. She’s highly susceptible to possession.”
Fiona spun around with her scope in her hand. “What precisely does possession mean?”
Bas dropped his arms and gripped the counter on each side of his body. He was bracing himself for hurricane-force emotions. Fiona felt everything in a big way when it came to those she loved.
“A ghoul’s soul isn’t connected to their physical body, which leaves them like a blank page. It opens them up for demons to step in and take over. It’s right there in the book.”
We all turned our attention to the book he was pointing at. Aislinn and I got up and stood behind Fiona and Isidora. The book outlined how demons liked possessing ghouls because it hid their presence while inside the person and gave them a corporeal body.
I made a mental note to ask Thanos about the demonic possession of ghouls. Most demons that entered these creatures were shadow demons because they could cross the veil without it being opened. They forced their shadow through in search of a body to inhabit. They preferred ghouls because they faced no soul fighting back.
“We cannot allow that demon to take control of me. I don’t want to be used to kill my friends, and I don’t want to start decomposing. That wouldn’t be a good look for me,” Isidora announced.
