"Keeping out of the way," Smith replied. "You seemed to have it all under control."
"We did," Kannen said. "More or less." He frowned in the direction the woman had gone.
"We stopped her from getting robbed," I said. "And no one died. I'm calling that a win." I ran a hand over my dark hair and tried not to yawn. It had been a long night and that fact was starting to catch up with me.
"Yes, and no one looted anything," Kannen added.
"That we saw," I said ruefully. "I don't know how many more times we can keep doing this before someone ends up dead. We can't be everywhere in the city." I cocked my head at Smith. "Is there no spell which will counteract this curse?"
"Citywide?" He scoffed. "Unlikely. I'm good, but I am but one man."
"Did you try to whammy Haigwood?" Kannen asked.
Smith paused. "Dear fates, why didn't I think of that? Just a few words, take his pendant, and voila, it's all over."
I narrowed my eyes. "So you tried and nothing happened?"
He clicked his fingers. "Ten more points to the Demon Hunter."
"What happens when I get to a hundred?"
He smiled and tapped the side of his nose. "You'll have to wait and see."
I rolled my eyes. "As much fun as this has been, we really should get back to headquarters. For all we know, Damien or Freya burnt the place down in our absence."
"Not Seamus?" Kannen asked.
"No, he's not old enough to play with matches," I joked. Truthfully, if anyone would do something like that, it would be him.
"Lead the way." Smith gestured toward the street.
"You don't know where it is?" Kannen asked, evidently surprised by this.
"It moved after I left and it's not something I can look up on a search engine, is it, mate?"
"Malachai didn't tell you?"
"He did not," Smith replied.
"I'm sure he has his reasons," I said. "Should I be taking you there?"
"There are many reasons to suspect you shouldn't." Smith smiled. "But my trustworthiness isn't one of them. Believe me, I want to end this curse as much as you do."
"Why?" I scooted around a light pole.
"Because it's not just humans who are affected."
I remembered he wore a piece of obsidian the same as mine and wondered how I could have been so dense.
"Witches and wizards too," I stated.
"It takes a lot more to influence us, but at the end of the day, we're more human than not. And some of us have a lot of power. Imagine that altercation back there, but with magic."
I shuddered, in spite of the heat. "I don't want to imagine that. People would get killed."
"Or worse," he said ominously.
I stopped and turned to look at him.
He shrugged. "Where do you think shifters came from?"
I blinked a couple of times. "Really?"
"So the speculation goes." He gestured for me to keep walking.
I did, but I asked Kannen, "Is that true?"
Kannen nodded. "Magic was involved in some way. Who knows if it was done deliberately, accidentally, an act of vengeance, or what. You get vindictive assholes in all species and walks of life."
"Let me guess, a witch pissed you off in some way?" Smith asked.
"Not recently, but in the past," Kannen replied dismissively. "So you think most witches or wizards would have ensorcelled stones to keep the curse at bay?"
I nodded. Rachael must have had her own protection. The two Kannen and I saw at the traffic lights as well.
"It's standard practice to keep such things to hand," Smith agreed. "Assuming they know what's going on and want to avoid being impacted. Don't worry," he added quickly, "magic can burn out a witch if they use too much. Few with any sense want to be out of control for any length of time."
"It's the ones without sense I would be worried about," Kannen remarked.
"The Paranormal Council will keep an eye on them."
They reached a corner and Smith leaned over to press the button to turn the traffic light green.
"Paranormal Council?" I asked.
"Really?" Smith replied. "What do they teach Demon Hunters these days?"
A few people standing nearby, also waiting for the light to change, turned, and gave Smith a funny look.
He raised his hands and grinned. "Just discussing the latest show on Netflix. Check it out when you get home."
The light turned green and everyone hurried away.
"Is it like that when you go to parties too?" Kannen asked, looking bemused.
"Not at all. I'm the life of the party." Smith stepped onto the road in front of us.
I made a face behind his back so only Kannen could see, and smiled. I liked the wizard, he was charming and funny. Walking in front of me, I noticed how his suit cupped his ass.
I cleared my throat. "Can I ask what the witch from your past did to piss you off?" I was probably overreaching by asking, but once I'd said it, I couldn't take the question back.
Kannen didn't reply right away. When he did, he said, "It's a long story. In short, magic gives me the creeps. Just look at what it's doing to the city. We can't see it or fight it."
"Well, we kind of can." I touched my pendant lightly.
"Until its magic wears off," Kannen said.
"He didn't say anything about the magic being temporary." I looked back at Smith's ass. Would it feel as firm— I pushed the thought away. Now was not the time.
"It's sure to be," Kannen replied. "But even he won't know how long it will last. That's why he didn't tell you. Most likely, the more often it has to protect you, the shorter length of time it will work."
"And this whole thing seems to be getting worse and worse," I said softly.
"Exactly."
"The sooner we end this, the less I'll have to worry about." I would worry though. Only the gods knew if the magic would hold out as long as I needed it to.
21
"Well, this is nice." Smith reclined on the couch, one arm draped over the back.
"Don't get too comfortable." I handed him a mug of tea and gave Malachai a coffee.
Malachai nodded his thanks before I stepped back to the kitchen to retrieve my own cup of the brew.
"How could I not, when you're going to such lengths to make me feel at home?"
"You have stones to ensorcel," Malachai remarked. If Smith was unwelcome, Malachai gave no outward indication. He sat on the other end of the couch and watched Smith over the rim of his mug, his face expressionless.
"My—" Smith looked down at his lap, then looked up, a cheeky grin on his face. "Oh, the obsidian. Of course. My bad."
I snorted. I didn't think for a minute he hadn't understood.
"Can you put a spell on the other kind?" Damien asked from where he sat at the table. He seemed genuinely curious.
"Only if you like them shrivelled, mate" Smith replied. He raised his mug to Damien and smiled.
"I think I'll pass, mate," Damien replied.
"Good choice, mate," Smith replied approvingly.
"Do men ever grow up?" Freya asked me.
"Not that I've noticed," I said. I held back a smile. "Speaking of growing up, where's Seamus?"
Malachai responded by saying," He's gone to bed. Something about a bad headache. I'll check up on him later."
I frowned but nodded. The pressure was telling on all of us. My own head ached slightly from stress and lack of sleep. I sipped my coffee. The bitter liquid flooded my mouth with warmth that soothed my nerves as nothing else could.
I lowered my mug and asked, "All right, so what do you need, apart from the pendants?" I pictured a ring of candles, salt, and some varieties of herbs or spices.
"The blood of a virgin goat," Smith declared.
I blinked. "I beg your pardon?"
"You heard," he replied.
Kannen leaned against the kitchen bench and asked, "Your friend doesn't sell that in her magic shop?"
"You don't keep a jar o
f it in the kitchen?" Smith asked, eyes wide.
"You haven't lost your sense of humour, I see," Malachai said.
Damien let out a bark of laughter. "You don't need that, do you?"
Smith wiggled his eyebrows. "Nope. Just this—" He placed one piece of obsidian on his open palm and the rest in his lap. His eyes half closed. He positioned his other hand over the first. A golden light burst down over the stone. The obsidian glowed with what looked like light coming from inside the stone. In a blink it went out and the stone looked ordinary again.
"There. Nothing to it." He handed the stone to Malachai who examined it closely, then slipped it onto a leather necklace and around his neck.
"I feel safer already." Malachai's tone was just this side of dry. Perhaps he didn't like to accept this kind of help.
"As long as it doesn't shrivel your stones, then sign me up," Damien said. He stopped and gestured toward Freya. "Ladies first, of course."
She rolled her eyes. "Who are you calling a lady?"
"She definitely needs to go next." Damien held up his hands in surrender. "Before she gets all stabby again."
"Don't tempt me," she shot back, but her eyes shone with good humour. The whammy must be taking a break.
For now.
"I'll never stop trying to tempt you." Damien grinned as he lowered his hands. "Malachai, get ready to pull that necklace off and give it to Freya if she attacks me."
I smiled and shook my head. I liked to listen to the friendly banter. The change from the tension was welcome. If the pendants did their jobs well enough and for long enough, we might go back to normal while we dealt with the situation.
Normal for us at least.
"Can we just behead him and be done with it?" Freya jerked a thumb toward Damien.
"I object, your honour," Damien said, "on the grounds that I'm attached to my head." After a beat, he added, "Both of them."
"No one is beheading anyone," Malachai said firmly.
A flash of light caught my eye and Smith handed another stone to Freya. His brow was creased, eyes surrounded by lines which I hadn't noticed before. He looked tired. As tired as I felt.
"I have enough power for two more, but then I need to sleep. It's been a long night and I'm bloody tired."
"We'll find you a place to rest," Malachai assured him.
"I appreciate that." Smith gave him a nod and proceeded to work on the next piece of obsidian.
"We should work out a plan," Kannen said. I turned toward him. The demon, too, looked tired. "We'll need to show up for work tomorrow and try to figure out exactly who or what is behind all of this."
Malachai nodded his agreement. "Can you get Haigwood to trust you? Maybe he'll let you in on the plan."
"That's a hell of a stretch." Smith handed another pendant to Damien. "He trusts me, but he hasn't told me a bloody thing."
"Have you asked?" I arched an eyebrow at him.
"What? Just walk in and say, ‘Hey, mate have you been fucking with magic that turns people, and wizards, into bigger bloody idiots than they otherwise are?’"
"I was thinking you might be more diplomatic about it."
"Diplomatic or not, no, I haven't asked. I, too, am attached to my heads."
"Then it's settled." I nodded.
Silence lingered for a few moments.
"Unless I've missed something, and it does happen from time to time, then what the hell is settled?" Damien asked.
"I'll speak to Haigwood myself," I replied. "It makes sense. I can get in the door. My pendant can protect me from magic and I can protect myself from anything else." I looked around the room.
"Not without backup," Malachai said softly.
"I wasn't proposing to do it any other way," I replied. I watched his face. He looked as though he might refuse.
"Any number of things could go wrong," he pointed out.
"Of course they could, but it's nothing we can't handle. Someone has to do something. Smith tried stealth and got nowhere." I gestured toward him.
"I wouldn't exactly say nowhere." Smith looked piqued. "I've gained his trust."
"What did that get you?"
Smith grinned. "Free drinks."
"I'm glad you have your priorities in order," Kannen said. "Juliet is right, we need to do something before someone is killed."
"Or many someones," Damien interjected. "But why does it have to be Jules? I could—"
"Haigwood doesn't know you," I pointed out.
"Exactly. Who better to sneak up on the bastard?" Damien drew himself up. "Or charm the truth out of him. Who here is more charming than me?"
Freya raised her hand slowly. "Everyone?" she suggested. A smile graced the sides of her mouth.
Damien clutched his chest. "You wound me yet again. I'm starting to think you don't like me after all."
"Of course I like you," Freya replied, "but you're about as subtle as a kangaroo on the Harbour Bridge."
Damien chuckled. "Remember that time a 'roo shifter got stuck up there? They had to close the bridge until they caught her. Poor girl couldn't shift back with all those people watching."
"I thought that ended up being an actual 'roo?" Kannen asked.
Damien tapped the side of his nose. "That's what they want you to think. Who could handle the truth when it's that bizarre?"
I snorted softly. "If people had any idea." I blinked and shook her head. "Anyway, we should probably focus on the matter at hand. I can do this."
"There's something you should know." Smith sounded cagey.
"The magic on the pendant is limited in how long it will last. I already know that." I narrowed my eyes at him for not being forthcoming with that information initially.
"That's true," he agreed. "It also won't protect you against all kinds of magic." He looked around. "What? You're impervious to this particular curse. Immunity from any kind of spell is beyond the capacity of a mere piece of obsidian."
"What would do it?" Damien asked. He appeared to be genuinely curious.
"Remember that virgin goat I mentioned earlier?" Smith asked.
"Yes?" Damien sounded a bit too eager.
"Not that," Smith replied with a grin.
"Do you use those for anything?"
"Lunch," Smith replied. "Seriously though, protection from all magic is a huge spell that would leave the magic user vulnerable for hours afterward. It's not done lightly." He eyed Kannen. "Before you say it, I'm not taking the risk."
"I didn't say a word." He raised a hand as if to ward him off.
"You didn't have to, I saw your expression. If I thought it was worthwhile, or necessary, I'd do it, trust me. As far as I can tell, Haigwood has no other magic than the stone around his neck. Assuming that's the cause of all of this in the first place."
"Could it be a protection spell, like these?" I pointed toward my own pendant. "I know a demon shouldn't need one, but…"
"Not against this curse, but against other things he would," Smith replied.
"Is it possible to use one to keep shades at bay?" Kannen asked. He moved to perch on the couch beside me.
Smith shook his head. "There isn't such a thing. You'd be just as likely to find a spell to keep you safe from smoke or fog. Shades are—problematic."
I gulped down my coffee, which was now almost cold, and stifled a yawn. "That's one word for them. I think we should all get some rest." My pendant warmed again, before going cold. I realised it had been doing that for a while now and I hadn't noticed. What, if anything, did that mean? I glanced around the room, but if anyone else's pendant was doing the same thing, no one gave any sign.
"I second that." Malachai stood. "Kannen, Juliet can show you to the spare room. Smith, you're welcome to sleep on the couch."
"Cheers, mate," Smith said sardonically.
"There's always the floor," I said.
Smith opened his mouth as if he had a retort ready, but he stopped and closed it again. "Couch it is," he muttered.
"I thought so." I leaned
over to pat his arm. "There are pillows and blankets in the drawer under the TV." I gave him a nod and rose.
"It's not too late to ask Kannen to share with you so I can have the spare room," Smith pointed out. "Or better yet, you and I could share. I'm magic in the sheets, as well as out."
I blushed. I was tempted, but far too exhausted to make any magic myself. "I was going to offer to get a pillow out, but now you're on your own. Come on Kannen, I’ll show you to your room."
"Spoilsport," Smith said good naturedly.
"Quit while you're ahead," Damien advised him. "At least you get the couch. There's always the street outside."
"Or the pub on the corner," Freya added.
"Pub?" Smith perked up. "I could handle that. Except—it costs money and I can't be bothered to spend it."
"Of course not." Kannen said.
"He paid for all of that obsidian," I pointed out.
"Yes, I did. I'll send Malachai the bill for those, and services rendered."
"Consider the couch an advance in payment," Malachai said dryly.
"You're a hard man," Smith admonished.
"With no regrets." Malachai nodded. "Good night. I'll see you all in the morning."
I didn't bother to suppress my yawn this time. "Night." I collected the empty mugs and dumped them in the kitchen sink. Someone would deal with them tomorrow.
Kannen followed me up the stairs. I showed him to a room the same size and layout as mine.
"You know," Kannen drawled, "Smith might have a point."
"About what?" I asked. My tired mind struggled to understand what Kannen was getting at.
"About this." Kannen leaned in and lightly pressed his mouth against mine.
He tasted of coffee: strong, bitter, but delicious. I kissed him back before I drew away.
"We should get some rest," I said softly.
Kannen gave me a lopsided smile. "I'm good at cuddling."
I swallowed. "I could use the company."
Kannen gestured toward the empty spare room. "Should we tell Smith?"
"Knowing him," I said slowly, "he already knows and is just waiting for us to step away so he can move in."
Kannen chuckled and offered me his hand. "You could be right there."
At the sound of footsteps on the stairs, I smiled. "Right on cue."
I pulled Kannen into my room and shut the door before Smith reached the top of the stairs.
Hunting Darkness (City of Darkness Book 1) Page 13
