The Lost Ones (Here Witchy Witchy Book 12)

by A. L. Kessler

  He slid a plate to me. “Are we going into town today?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, I have a meeting at the club this afternoon, and I need to look at some video footage from Agent Torrid.”

  “Sounds like I missed a few things last night. I thought Agent Torrid couldn’t help you out.”

  “Unrelated case. Princess business.”

  He sat down with his plate with me. “Lovely, on the job two nights, and now you have actual duties.”

  “That’s not even the start of it.” I muttered and picked at my eggs. “Look, I might have to go somewhere for a few months.”

  “I don’t like where this is going.”

  “Remember the night Levi attacked me?”

  “Yeah, you said that Samuel wanted to negotiate for you to study under him and Hannah… oh.” It was like pieces connected in his head. “You and the council are negotiating that, aren’t you?”

  I nodded. “There’s no good way to get out of it, not without risking Levi and Mario.”

  “You will not survive that trip. You know that, right?” Merick put his fork down. “You’re walking into a trap.”

  Guilt filled me. “I know, I really know, but Catalina is going to help me negotiate so that I come back a witch and not a vampire. I’m sure I’ll need people here to help me with the damage.” I swallowed. “I’ve seen what Samuel does to witches. Levi says he hates them.“

  “Then why is he keeping Hannah around?” Merick asked, and it pulled me out of my train of thought.

  “She’s a vampire too.”

  “Yes, but typically if someone has that deep-seated of a hate, it doesn’t matter.”

  “She controls Mario.”

  “And through that Samuel gains something else to hold over Levi.”

  So maybe we should think in the same terms as Samuel. Kill Hannah and weaken Samuel’s defenses and control. The same thing he was trying to do to me. “I need to kill Hannah.”

  “You’re going to have to get her away from Samuel first.”

  “That’s going to be the problem.” I finished eating my breakfast and put the plate in the dishwasher.

  “Get her alone, and the cult will back you up.”

  But how to get her alone without going against the vampire politics? I filed the question away for later. “Good to know. If I can take care of her before I go to Samuel’s, that would be best.”

  Of course, maybe there was a way to negotiate me not going to Samuel’s as well. “I’m going to grab a shower and get ready to go.”

  Merick nodded. “I’ll be here waiting.”

  I climbed the stairs to the bedroom and paused as something ate at me. Was I really considering going into enemy territory for three months? Vampire territory at that. I could barely play the vampire games with Levi by my side, how was I going to manage without him or Mario there to rein me in.

  I was a witch, not a vampire.

  I shook my head and went to get ready for the day.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  I had a few hours before I had to think about going into town, so I got comfortable on the couch to work. I pulled up my email. Just as I thought, I was going to need O’Donald to get a warrant for the information I needed on Ross’s credit card and phone. I forwarded that information to him.

  The next email was from O’Donald.

  ‘There’s a file waiting for you at the front desk, classified, do not let anyone know you have it.’

  I made a note that I was going to need to stop at the front desk. I bet it was the file Nick was looking for. I hoped there was something helpful in it. I wasn’t sure what O’Donald wanted me to discover, seeing as we already knew Christof worked for Samuel.

  My phone rang, and I saw Travis’ name flash across the screen. For a moment, I debated on answering it. I had no desire to get yelled at right now. In the end, I gave in and answered.

  “What’s up, Travis?”

  “What, no demand to know how the love of your life is doing?” There was a low growl in his voice.

  “He called me yesterday and told me he had a lot of healing to do, that the full moon should help. He even invited me up there.” I tried to keep my voice casual.

  Travis let out a grumble. “I’m calling to let you know that he’s shifting on his own now. He’s able to walk in the woods and shift back.”

  That was really good to know. I felt some tension ease in my chest. “Thank you for letting me know, and thank you for taking care of him. Really, Travis, I know you’re angry at me and the situation, but I’m really glad you’re there for him.”

  “You’re welcome. Stay safe, Abigail.” He hung up, and I leaned back on the couch. I still wanted to see Simon, but I had things I needed to focus on other than romance.

  He’d heal. We’d have time before I disappeared for three months.

  I shook my head. I was going to return. I was going to slaughter Samuel and Hannah.

  Speaking of, the next email was from Catalina. The subject: Abigail’s first negotiation.

  I clicked on it and read through it.

  Princess Abigail has agreed to spending three months with Samuel and Hannah in exchange for Levi and Mario’s safe return to the territory and Levi to his position as king. In exchange for Abigail’s willingness, it is stated that Levi and Mario be free of their makers’ influences for five months, including a month before her visit and a month after.

  So far, so good.

  I sipped my coffee and continued.

  “Abigail’s stature as a witch/vampire hybrid is to remain unchanged during her visit and she wishes to perform no black magic.”

  I was glad she had added that in there, because I hadn’t even thought about it. I read over it again and responded. “Is it possible to negotiate not being fed from?”

  I hit send and finished my cup of coffee. I needed to order the steel shutters for the basement and see if Nick was making any headway on the hotels and restaurants. Assuming he wasn’t being an ass about it all.

  I sat back on the couch and Merick walked in and sat down in a chair.

  “Productive morning?”

  “Not really, emails, a phone call from Travis.” I would not mention the negotiations right now, not until I knew what we set in stone. “Most of the stuff that needs to be done is foot work. Nick is supposed to be doing the research. I need the video from the trail cam to try and piece that together. I’m at a standstill.”

  He chuckled. “You’re not good at being at a standstill.”

  “No, I’m not. I’m going to go for a run, want to come?”

  He stared at me. “I don’t have a choice, remember?”

  Oh yeah. “Sorry, do you mind going for a run?”

  He shook his head. “Let’s do a run, lunch, and then head to town.”

  That sounded like a plan to me. I went upstairs to change into running clothes and then met him back downstairs.

  I opened the door to leave and stopped short as Nick stood right at my door. “I thought you couldn’t get past the magic.”

  “Things have changed since I’m not working for my dad anymore, remember? Can I come in?”

  I glanced at Merick, who gave a subtle nod. “I was just getting ready to go for a run, but yeah, I guess so.”

  He stepped in and shivered for a moment, as if adjusting to something around him. I raised a brow, and he shook his head.

  “This place just gives me the creeps is all.”

  I was going to push, because occasionally I heard voices in the house, and I knew Nick had the sixth sense.

  “Where’s my file?”

  I stared at him. “You drove two hours to ask me where your file is? I don’t even know what file you’re talking about, Nick.”

  He let out a frustrated growl. “Someone went through my desk and snagged my file.” He walked into my living room and looked over the things I had scattered. “This is the current case?”

  “Yep, which you’re supposed to be at the office working on research for.
” I leaned against the doorway and crossed my arms.

  He let out a huff. “I’m working on the list of hotels. Each city has at least three of those chain hotels there. It’s slow work, but I need that file.”

  “What’s so important about that file? Why did you have it in your desk in the first place?”

  He sat down and glanced at my map. “It’s a file on my dad, and because I wanted to make sure it was complete.”

  I wasn’t sure if he was lying or not. “You shouldn’t be allowed near that case file because of your relationship to him.”

  “Don’t you think I know that?” He snapped at me.

  I held my hands up. “Look, who knew that you had that file?”

  “No one. It disappeared when I had to come up to your office for some bogus security issue.”

  I shook my head. “It wasn’t bogus. That woman was angry, and I wouldn’t doubt that she would have actually set fire to the place.”

  “Then I shouldn’t have been up on the third floor with you.”

  Okay, that much was true. “I was with you almost that entire time, and if I wasn’t with you, I was with Liz.”

  “Who has access to my desk. So where is my file, Abby? What do you want with it?”

  “Nick, I don’t have the file. Honestly, I just want to push that entire case out of my mind and not revisit it.”

  He sighed. “Does Liz have it?”

  “I don’t know. Look, is there something in there that’s going to get you in trouble?”

  He shook his head. “No, not really.”

  “I’m really trying to come to terms with what happened with that case. If it’s going to paint you in a worse light, I need to know for when it comes around.”

  Nick remained silent, and I threw my hands up with a growl. “Get out.”

  “What?” He stared at me. “I didn’t drive this far just for you to kick me out.”

  “Well, I don’t have your file and you’re being all weird and secretive. I don’t like it. So get out.”

  A chill went through the air and I looked at Nick when his face went white. Merick chuckled. “Oh, she’s not happy with you, Nicolas.”

  “Shut up,” Nick snapped.

  I glanced around. “Am I missing something?”

  They both nodded. Nick looked at Merick. “You haven’t told her?”

  “Why would I?”

  “Tell me what?” I snapped.

  “That your house is haunted,” Nick said easily. “Like, really haunted.”

  Well, that explained the voices. “I always thought that I was paranoid or hearing things.”

  “No,” Merick shook his head. “I wasn’t going to tell you. Nick is exaggerating. It’s not really haunted. Your mother comes and visits now and then. Typically, after I do a trace spell.”

  Nick smirked. “She likes Merick better as a cat.”

  I wasn’t even going to touch it. “My mother’s ghost has been here, you’ve been able to talk to her, and you never thought to mention it?”

  “She didn’t want you to know. She’s left you clues. She couldn’t flat out say what happened that night or who was behind it.” Merick sighed. “I was doing trace spells, trying to find out information. There were a few times you almost interrupted.”

  I sat down in the chair. “She has to let go. She needs to move on.”

  “She’s waiting for Levi to admit something.” Nick shrugged. “Then she can leave.”

  I had a feeling I knew what that was. I rubbed my eyes. “I don’t have time to deal with ghosts.”

  “You don’t have to. Levi’s the only one that’s going to get her to move on.”

  I added it to my list of stuff to ask Levi about. “Anyway, Nick, out.”

  Nick shook his head. “Not until you tell me about my file.”

  “I can’t, Nick. You hardheaded pain in my ass. You have other things to be working on.”

  He nodded. “Research so you and Liz can get all the credit for solving it.”

  “If you haven’t noticed, I’m working from home, and not on the field, so my name won’t be near it.”

  “Fine, Liz then.”

  “If you joined PIB just for the glory of it, you need to reevaluate your life.” I shook my head.

  He raised a brow. “Easy for you to say, most of your cases have been high profile. Your career is made, Abigail.”

  “You’re the one who disappeared on a huge case, Nick. Faking your death? Reappearing much later? Look, what’s done is done. I don’t have your file, so you need to leave.”

  He looked to the side of the room and let out a sigh. Standing, he grumbled something and went to the front door. I let him out and then locked the door behind him. I spun around to Merick.

  “How long have you known that my mother just kind of hangs around here?” I snapped.

  He pressed his lips together. “The first night that I tried to do a trace spell. I saw her lock you in a circle, and then she appeared and yelled at me. Right before you walked in the room.”

  I remembered that night. I could hear the voices from the trace spell. I thought I had been going crazy. “That was before I knew what you were.”

  He nodded. “I was trying to confirm some things. I honestly thought you figured it out, because when you were drugged with Thrills, you were seeing her. She was right there with you.”

  My heart felt heavy. “She’s waiting for Levi to come here and admit that I’m his daughter, isn’t she?”

  He shook his head. “No, he’s admitted it to her several times. He used to visit here. She’s sad he doesn’t anymore, at least not to talk to her.”

  “Because I’m here now.”

  “Look, like you said, you have other things to work on. Let Levi figure out what she wants, and we’ll get her laid to proper rest.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “I wonder if that one woman ever found her final rest?”

  “Go back to the house and see?”

  I shook my head. “Nope, I have no desire to go back there again. Last time I did, I was almost assassinated.”

  Merick shrugged. “Ready for that run?”

  “Yeah, let’s go.”

  After the run and lunch, we headed into town, stopping first at PIB. I walked in and waved to Mandy at the desk. I looked around and double checked that Nick wasn’t lurking somewhere. “Hey Mandy, O’Donald said you had a file at the desk for me.”

  She nodded and pulled out a black 8x12 envelope and handed to me. “He said not to let anyone else know about it. I’m not sure what’s going on, I’m just the receptionist here.” She held her hands up. “I get to deal with all sorts of crazy, but do I every get the fun stuff? Nope.”

  I laughed and stuck the file in my bag. “I don’t know, you get to handle calls about aliens and tin foil hats.”

  She narrowed her eyes at me. “How was I supposed to know that woman was actually being stalked by something?”

  The call we were talking about led to a case that included an underground lycanthropy fighting ring. “You should think about joining the academy.”

  “Oh no, I’m quite happy behind my desk, thank you.”

  “You see your fair share of action up here too, I guess.”

  She nodded. “And I get to go home unharmed most days.”

  “Abby, what are you doing here?” Nick asked from the hallway.

  “I was hoping to grab some lab results, that’s all.” I shrugged. “Had to come to town for some things, anyway.”

  Nick searched my face, and I waited to see if he’d call me on my lie. Instead, he scoffed. “Right, more secrets.” He turned and walked past the desk and out the front door.

  “Has he been this testy all day?” I asked Mandy.

  She nodded. “Sure has. O’Donald says Nick is just sore about being on desk duty.”

  That was a pleasant way of putting it. “Anyway, thanks for the file. I’ll be back tonight to meet with Agent Torrid.”

  I waited a moment at the front door t
o make sure Nick wasn’t just chilling in the parking lot for me. Merick had stayed in his truck while I’d run into PIB and was parked in the closest legal spot to the building. I climbed into the truck and shook my head.

  “Nick is still pissed at me.”

  “Yeah, well, he thinks you’re hiding stuff, which you are. You two were partners, partners are supposed to be open with each other.”

  “He was being controlled by his dad and was supposed to kill me.”

  Merick nodded. “There is that. Come on, it’s about time to meet Titan.”

  I buckled up and looked at my bag on the floor of the truck. I had no idea what the file held or why Nick wanted it back so badly, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go down that road. Maybe I should have just told O’Donald no. What can of worms was waiting for me?

  On the other hand, maybe it had the information I needed to bring justice to the two people who killed my parents.

  “You’re awfully quiet.”

  “I’m just wondering if I should let sleeping dogs lie, or open the can of worms I know is waiting for me.”

  Merick shrugged. “How bad do you want to know what Nick is hiding from you?”

  I guess that was really the question. I debated that question the whole time Merick drove downtown to the club.

  He swung into a parking spot, and I jumped out. “Just keep an eye out up here, and if magic flares, come down, but having an extra person around might scare this guy away.

  Merick nodded. “I’ll text you if something comes up.”

  I walked down the concrete stairs that led to the door of the club. I tried the handle, but it was locked. I knocked and waited for a moment.

  The door cracked open, and I saw Sasha peeking out. “Oh, it’s you. Come on in.” She opened the door wider and looked around. “That guy isn’t with you today?”

  “Asked him to wait in the truck. Figured I didn’t want to spook Titan with an extra person.”

  “Good call.” She shut and locked the door behind me. “He’s in the employee’s back room, said he wanted privacy for the chat, so it’s the best I could do.”

  “Of course, it’s a sensitive subject.” I shrugged and followed her through the club to the back where there was a black door marked ‘employees only’. She opened the door, and I was almost blinded by the bubble gum pink backroom.