Sigils and spells, p.28
Sigils & Spells, page 28
Since I had no intention of hiking up three flights of stairs, I hurried over to the elevator and jabbed the call button. Repeatedly.
“But I swear to you all I wanted was her name, then the police, you and Harding, would have someone to question who actually was a criminal instead of me, and then you could find Jonah. I really hope he’s still alive.”
“Where are you?!”
“I got her name all right.” A bitter laugh wrenched out of me. “Congratulations, you’re right. Where my business and reputation are concerned I am self-centered and shallow. Although, I never thought I’d be forced into a situation like this. I want you to know I’m not proud of myself and I’m not doing this voluntarily.”
“I’m in my car. Tell me where you are. Now.”
The elevator door opened.
I gave him the address. The button marked ‘three’ lit up when I pushed it. “I’m getting in the elevator so this call might drop.” The door slid shut. “I’m not usually so stupid. But I was hyper-focused on finding out Leesa’s name and I talked to Vixen, who is one of Rafi’s blood bunnies. I don’t like that description but she is a conniving—no, never mind. She showed me pictures of a grimoire and told me, Franz—he’s a vampire scholar—probably found a potion that increases a vampire’s power. They think it’s in the grimoire. Rafi wants it. And what he’s doing is basically blackmail.”
“Marin, listen to me. We’ve confirmed there was black magic used on the basement door. Don’t do anything.”
“Can you put out an APB on Leesa Lang and Franz? Pick them up? Question them? Leesa is with a guy from Rafi’s blood crew. I don’t remember his name.” The elevator door opened. “I don’t know where they are. She has platinum-blond hair though, great skin, a lip ring, and wears a blood-red ruby. It’s huge. Franz is at the University.” I scanned doors for apartment numbers. Guns ‘N Roses blared through 310’s door. “You should question him about Jonah. Crap! He’s working with my dad. Will you call my father and warn him about Franz?”
“I just left your dad. He’s the one who confirmed the black magic. I’m on my way.”
I could hear someone’s TV through the door marked 313.
“Marin, are you listening to me? Meet me in the lobby.”
“315.” I stood in front of Leesa’s apartment. “This is weird.” I didn’t sense my magic. Had she paid another witch to ward the door?
“Do. Not. Go. In. That. Apartment,” Aidan ground out.
I didn’t want to go in there. Staring at the door, I disconnected the call, then silenced my phone. What if I didn’t find the books? What would Rafi do to me then? And if I found them? Thinking about the grimoire in Rafi’s possession terrified me. At least when I’d broken into the other apartment building I’d done it for a worthy cause.
That thought parted the storm clouds of dread with a shimmering thread of light. I could still help Jonah. Somewhere inside this apartment, there might be a clue as to where he was or what happened to him. Holding onto that promise with a death grip I focused on the door once more.
Unsure of what protections were on it I cast my first spell. I froze when the deadbolt snicked open. That was too easy.
Tension hummed through me. What if this was a setup? My imagination served up the faceless body, depleted and withered like a mummy, crumpled upon a concrete floor. Was I walking into a trap? Could I be the next Raven?
This was insane.
I pressed my ear against the door to listen. I didn’t hear anything, which did not reassure me. At all.
Stupid vampires.
For the umpteenth time, I wished I hadn’t called Vixen.
Drawing in an unsteady breath, I gripped the doorknob. If someone was waiting for me I wouldn’t go down without a fight. I gathered my magic around me, turned the knob, and opened the door.
Heart galloping out of my chest, I stepped inside.
No one attacked me.
With a giddy rush of relief, I closed the door. Then the muscles in my arms and legs shook so violently it felt like an earthquake had taken over my body. I collapsed against the door, struggling not to throw up.
I did not have the constitution for a life of crime.
While I waited for the involuntary tremors to calm I played through my conversation with Aidan. Had I described Leesa using only her hair color and her smooth complexion? The man must think I was a blithering idiot. Had I told him about Rafe? Aidan said my dad was with him. Why?
No. That wasn’t right. Try as I might, I couldn’t remember exactly what he said. I was reasonably sure he told me there’d been black magic on the concealed door though.
That sobered me.
I took in my surroundings. The living room, kitchen, and tiny dining area were a combined open space. A tan couch and a big-screen TV on a low plastic table were on opposite sides of the spartan living room. No knickknacks. No pictures on the walls. No books. The air smelled faintly of greasy takeout food.
Still shaky, I pushed off the door. I’d taken a few testing steps when I noticed the familiar hum of my magic.
I followed it to a bedroom. Two unactivated hide-its lay on the nightstand next to a queen-sized bed that took up most of the room. The mattress was so thick I wondered how Leesa got into it without a step. A mirror and dresser flanked a closet door on the far wall. I walked over to the dresser and spotted a lock-tight and a few more hide-its on top of it. Why did she need so many? What else did she need to hide?
The second bedroom was significantly larger than the first and was set up as an office. Rows of books lined two barrister bookshelves. A sturdily built walnut desk sat in the center of the room with an ornately carved, high-backed chair behind it. An overstuffed easy chair and reading lamp were tucked into a corner. Several spiral-bound notebooks covered the top of a matching ottoman.
Magic emanated from both rooms but there weren’t any charms laying out in the open in the office. I decided to start there and search for activated spells.
The first charm I discovered in the back of a desk drawer. It hid a slender white box with Hollanders Fine Jewelry stamped on the cover. Remembering the receipt in Jonah’s backpack, the name sent a jolt through me. I lifted the lid—unsurprised to find a charm bracelet, along with a cameo pendant and two rings. Why had Leesa hidden these pieces? I had the unsettling thought I was looking at trophies.
I found the next spell beneath the easy chair, concealing a cloth-bound journal marked with blood. Someone had traced a sigil on the book’s cover. It was clumsily drawn but it resembled the one I saw on Vixen’s phone. I opened the book. For a moment I saw words written in a looping script. Then the letters blurred. I placed the book beside the jewelry box and continued hunting.
The last hide-it took longer to track down. I had to move boxes and stacks of books out of the closet. Then get a butter knife from the kitchen to pry up the floorboards. I reached in, sweeping my hand around until my fingers bumped into the charm. I removed it and used the flashlight app on my phone to search the hidey-hole. Whatever she’d hidden here was gone. Why had she left the charm behind? Had the grimoire been in there? Or was it hiding in plain sight? I didn’t sense any more active spells in the room.
With a heavy sigh, I stood up and brushed dust bunnies off my slacks. I scanned the shelves of books and the ones I’d removed from the closet. Unfortunately, a tan spine didn’t jump out at me. How much time did I have left? I rifled through the notebooks on the ottoman, skimming the pages for Jonah’s name. I didn’t find it. Parts of each notebook seemed to be written in code. Unlike the spikey handwriting from Vixen’s photo this writing resembled the journal’s.
I looked over at the desk. When I opened the journal I hadn’t felt compelled to look away or close it. Maybe if I focused a little more I could read the entries. A clue would certainly help right now. I picked up the book.
Someone knocked on the front door. I froze like a rabbit. My grip reflexively tightened on the book. Had I locked the door? Maybe whoever it was would go away. More knocking, harder and louder now.
I tiptoed out of the office, closing the door to hide the mess I’d made.
“Marin! I know you’re in there.”
Aidan. The memory of him saying he was on his way slapped me.
What if the journal and notebooks didn’t satisfy Rafi? What were the odds Aidan would let me keep searching? Not good.
I could hit him with my paralysis spell.
Jail time or Rafi destroying my life?
“Marin!” He pounded on the door.
Ugh!
Still holding the journal, I marched through the living room. I turned the thumb latch and then tried to open the door. It didn’t budge. Disgusted with myself, I flipped the latch back and jerked the door open.
Aidan stood there, fist poised—ready to pound again, scowling like a pissed-off dragon. He opened his mouth. Before he could yell at me, I grabbed hold of his upraised arm and yanked. Hard.
Off-balanced, he pitched forward, knocking me into the door. He took several lunging steps into the living room while I righted myself, dropping the journal in the process.
“I told you to wait in the lobby,” he shouted as I shut the door. “We cannot be in here!”
I engaged the deadbolt. “Stop yelling or the neighbors will call the police.” Even though I’d heard the click, I turned the doorknob and tugged to confirm it had locked.
“I am the police—” He stiffened. Slowly, he turned.
I bent to retrieve the book. Aidan remained stock-still.
“Aidan, what’s wrong?”
“I feel him. Jonah. He’s here.” He raced to the bedroom.
“Here?” Stunned, I ran after him.
Aidan went straight to the closet. He tried to open the door. “The knob won’t work.” He threw his shoulder against the door. “Jonah? Jonah! Can you hear me?”
Why hadn’t I searched this room more thoroughly? Glaring at the charms resting on the dresser, I tossed the journal onto the bed and joined Aidan. I ran my hands over the wood. The magic beneath my fingers stung. I jerked back, bumping into the bed and nearly falling onto it.
A muted thud came from the other side of the door.
We both called out, “Jonah? Jonah!”
Another thud.
Aidan turned to me. “Can you get it opened?” Desperation darkened his eyes.
“My spell is faint, but it’s there. I don’t know what’s layered over it.”
“Black magic augmented the amplification magic on the other door. That’s what your dad said.”
“This feels different. I’m going to try, but I think you better call in your spell breakers.” I’d take all the help I could get.
He shoved the bed over until it hit the nightstand, giving me a little more space to work, then started making calls.
The magic binding the closet door fought with mine. Heat built beneath my hands. The persistent stinging radiated through my palms and up my arms. I didn’t hear Jonah call out, but found his slow, rhythmic blows against the door reassuring.
With all my focus on breaking the amplified spell, I didn’t hear the snick of the deadbolt or the front door opening.
“It isn’t my fault!” Leesa all but shouted.
I wheeled around. Aidan held a finger up to his lips. He drew his gun from its holster.
“I nearly lost control,” a man with a soft German accent said. “You have to make me another potion. I don’t know what we’re going to tell him. He expected results by now.”
I knew that voice. Suitcase man.
“Franz, I told you it’s magic, not science.” Leesa slammed the door shut.
Franz. Cold fear seized me. Suitcase man was a vampire. A gun wouldn’t stop a vampire. Had I told Aidan about the elixir?
Aidan took a step forward. I grabbed his arm, drawing him back. He tried to shake me off.
Frantically, I whispered in his ear, “He’s a vampire and hopped up on some power potion.”
He mouthed, “Down.” We wedged ourselves into the space between the closet and the bed.
“If Gabriel hadn’t left when he did, I would have attacked him.”
I shoved my fist into my mouth to keep from crying out at the same time Jonah thumped against the door.
“This is not acceptable,” Franz said. Could he hear our hearts beating? Could he smell us?
“It’s too hard. I’m working out of my element. I need more time.”
I turned my head to look up at the mirror. From my angle, I could only see half of the doorway. Wishing I were anywhere but here, I stared at the mirror and the doorway’s reflection.
Jonah thumped again.
“We don’t have the luxury of time. That shifter is in there hammering away. If your shield spell doesn’t hold, we’re going to have to kill him.”
“We need him.” Leesa came into the bedroom, cradling a hand against her reddened cheek. “You need him.”
“Do what you have to. Sacrifice another—” he broke off. “What’s this?” Franz roared. He grabbed the journal off the bed. “You told me you burned this. Does it have his notes in it? What else are you keeping from me?” He backhanded Leesa with the journal. The force of the blow sent her crashing into the wall.
Aidan jumped up from his crouched position. “Police! Freeze!”
The vampire spun about and streaked away.
Aidan followed, scrambling around the bed and jumping over Leesa.
As I rose I heard what sounded like a miniature explosion in the living room. Leesa moaned. She’d curled into a ball, slowly rocking.
“Stop!” Aidan called out. “Police!”
I edged around the bed. She rolled, hand coming up to cast a spell. I hit her with my paralysis spell.
My gaze went to her upraised hand as I stepped over her. Thin white scars crisscrossed her palm.
Only a jagged edge of the front door remained. The rest of the shattered pieces lay in the hall. Cautiously, I poked my head out of the apartment. Several neighbors were doing the same as me, peeking out to see what was going on, but not venturing out. They tossed rapid-fire questions back and forth at each other.
Approaching sirens wailed. They sounded beautiful.
I returned to the bedroom, stepping over Leesa once again. Jonah hit the closet door again. I placed my sore hands on it and went back to work.
“Marin, will you release your spell?” Aidan stood next to Leesa. “I need to get the anti-magic cuffs on her.”
Another officer loomed in the doorway.
I had no idea how much time had passed. Exhaustion draped over me like a wet blanket. My hands throbbed. The damned unbroken spell mocked me.
“Sure.” The paralysis spell obediently crumbled.
Aidan and the officer helped Leesa sit up. Her head lolled like a newborn’s.
“How’s it coming?” Aidan brought her hands behind her back and snapped on handcuffs. Eyes unfocused, she grinned up at me.
“I need help. Are the Master Breakers on the way?”
“They are. Harding will be here soon too.”
In a slurred voice, Leesa said, “They can’t help.” She started laughing.
“I think she has a concussion.” I flexed my fingers. Small blisters had formed on them as well as my palms.
“Jefferson, where are the paramedics?”
“They’re on their way up.”
Leesa laughed all the while the two men helped her onto her feet. Braced between Aidan and Jefferson, she continued to laugh as Aidan Mirandized her.
“Do you understand the rights I’ve just read to you?”
Head down, she answered, “Poor Jonah. He’s going to die before you break my spell.” Her head lolled back. “I liked him. Poor Jonah.” Her knees gave out. Aidan and Jefferson supported her.
A tall woman with Bassett hound eyes came in. “Building is secure. We’ve started questioning the neighbors. Do you need help in here?”
“We’re good. Just need the paramedics to look her over.”
“Stupid little witch.” Leesa tilted her head, squinting at me. “You don’t have what it takes.”
“Let’s get her out to the living room,” Aidan said. “We can wait for the paramedics there.”
She laughed and kept laughing as Aidan and Jefferson walked her out.
I turned back to the closet. What spells had she used to seal this door? Gently massaging my palm, I considered her words. I didn’t have what it took.
I didn’t have experience with shield spells. Was that what she meant? Until the other night, I’d never gone up against a black magic spell. Breaking it had wiped me out, but it hadn’t burned my hands like this.
What had she said to Franz? I’m working out of my element. Had she pushed herself too far? All I needed was a hairline fracture in her spell work. I thought about the thin, white scars on her hand. Had she started out using gray magic to power spells beyond her capabilities? Could I use it to augment my magic? A dangerous idea sprouted in my mind.
Aidan walked into the bedroom. “Is there anything I can do to help?” He nodded at the closet.
My plan might not work. But if it did and I could free Jonah it would be worth it. Right?
What would the cost be? I could endure a little pain. Would that be all I’d have to pay? I’d seen firsthand how gray magic had changed my mother. She’d always been brilliant and ambitious. And before her dabbling, she’d also been warm and loving. Some witches could resist the allure of gray magic, using it only now and then. Others became addicted to it and craved more and more power, finally turning to dark magic.
“Do you have a knife?” I asked.
His eyebrows furrowed. “Yeah.”
“Is it sharp?”
“Yes.”
I held out my hand.
He pulled out a pocket knife and gave it to me.
I swallowed hard. It was only one spell. Freeing Jonah was worth it.
How many other witches had assured themselves the same thing?
I was not my mother.
I sliced my palm. Holy Hecate, it hurt. Blood welled up in the short, shallow cut.
“Marin! What the hell?”
