Elemental Storm (The Eldritch Files Book 6)

by Phaedra Weldon

  And that, of course, made me stop looking. Scars were personal. I had a few of my own…they were just on the inside.

  "Samantha," Cosgrove's voice boomed out in the shop. He was a tall man, probably a few inches taller than Cromwell Dryden had been. His handsome face offset the stern expression in his eyes. He had been a member of the Eldership for ten years and served as a Cleric for two of them. And from what I'd learned from Arden, Cosgrove had been a very good Cleric.

  Made sense though, since he used to be a New York detective. I just recently found that out, because Crwys had seen him hanging around the station recently and started asking questions.

  "Hello, Martin." I leaned on the counter and smiled at him. "Miss Delacroix. To what pleasure do we owe this visit?"

  He approached the counter and leaned on it with his right side in a casual pose. His right elbow stabilized him as he clasped his two hands together. Ethel stood behind him, a pen and a notepad in her hand. Old school girl. No tablet or cell phone for her. "I'm here to check up on you. I was at the hospital yesterday, but wasn't allowed to see you. Emily filled me in on what happened. How are you feeling?"

  I sighed. Kyle had been right. Emily Pearson had beelined it to Cosgrove. So I was pretty sure she'd told him everything that happened in that house. "Like something's missing. Kyle's been feeding me this nasty tasting tea—"

  "Peppermint is not nasty," Kyle interrupted.

  "—Which has been helping me cope with the loss. If I stay still too long and think about him being gone, I'm afraid I'll lose it. So I'm keeping busy."

  "That's understandable." He glanced over at the Elementals in the corner. What differentiated Cosgrove's from mine were the different shades of their primary colors. "I can't even imagine what that must feel like—losing an Elemental." He refocused on me. "Emily said it literally cut its ties to you."

  I wrapped my arms around my chest. I really didn't want to talk about this. But this was Cosgrove, the new Grand High Muckity-Muck, as Crwys would say. "Yes."

  "I'm sorry. I don't mean to upset you." He smiled. "Have you heard anymore from the Arcane voice?"

  Oh, so it's going to be one of those talks. I glanced at Ethel behind him. She was blinking at me through her lenses and diligently taking notes. "Only when I ask her something."

  "Her?" Ethel spoke up. "It has a gender?"

  I narrowed my eyes at her. "I'm not sure we've ever been properly introduced, other than your very curt emails accusing me of mishandling Cleric requisitions." I moved forward and offered her my hand. "I'm Samantha Hawthorne."

  She stared at my hand like I was pointing a gun at her. Cosgrove intervened by motioning me back to him and then leaned over the counter to whisper. "Miss Delacroix isn't into social norms. She's a bit of an…odd duck."

  I'll say. I shrugged and redirected my answers to Cosgrove, not Miss Odd Duck. "She's requested several times for me to refer to her as a she."

  Cosgrove nodded, and Odd Duck wrote furiously on her pad. "You ask advice from it—her?"

  "Not so much advice, but opinions. Information."

  He shrugged. "And did she have any information about what happened yesterday?"

  "No. She was just as stunned as I was. I think more so. She…likes being a part of the family in a way. So I think my Sylph leaving like that scared all of them. Even the Arcane."

  "I see." He took in a quick breath. "When Emily described it to me, I had a faint memory of reading of this before. Two instances. I had Miss Delacroix look them up for me. She found them in our books in the office. The old diaries? And there were two cases where Witches lost their Elementals in a similar fashion. There was Shiori Davenport, whose Water Elemental nearly drowned her getting away when it joined up with a Principality."

  "A what?"

  "A type of Angel. Of all the Choirs and their creations, the Principalities are the worst in my opinion. They're angry with mankind and their creator, and they march to their own drum."

  "I thought the worst were the Dominions." And having faced off with one of those, I was pretty sure I was right in that opinion.

  "Dominions are terrible. But they at least have a goal of saving the helpless and punishing the righteous. A Principality seems to have no real code. They even judge other Angels and destroy them." He resettled on the counter, and I glanced at Kyle. He was still online and had flipped the images onscreen from Nadeen's altar to the shop's shipping inventory. Kyle hated paperwork, which meant he was listening in.

  "The other incident," Cosgrove continued, "involved Circe. Olivia Graham. I heard you were involved in capturing her."

  "Yeah."

  "Well…did you know she actually cut her Fire Elemental loose so it could do her bidding and kill a number of Ceremonial Magicians, as well as Witches?"

  I straightened up. "No. I've never heard that. And why would she have cut it loose? Elementals—" I realized where he might be going. "Elementals can't really kill."

  "No. They can't operate with the intent to take a life. Yes, others have died because of the actions of Elementals, but not because they directly intended death. Upon reading this, I found out she still maintained control of her Elemental even after it was severed."

  "Was the severing done so that it could kill?" I was a little confused. "My Sylph severed itself. It took the knife we saw those boys using and cut its tie with me. I don't have control over it."

  "Are you sure?" Miss Odd Duck said.

  I started seeing something I didn't like at this point. Something in his questions, his calm manner, the fact he was in my shop. I didn't like being questioned by an assistant either. "Positive," I said, focusing my gaze on Odd Duck. She didn't hold the look long and refocused her attention on her notepad.

  "As long as you're sure." Cosgrove straightened up and slipped his hands into the pockets of his slacks. "I'm sure you've heard about Nadeen Lefebvre?"

  Sam, be careful with what you say from here on. Cosgrove's fishing. Grey remained behind the counter with me, so unless Cosgrove actually leaned to look over the side, he wouldn't see her.

  Yeah…I just realized that. It means he knows something we don't.

  I'd bet on it.

  I needed to get a hold of Ivan to find out what. He could hack in to the Clerics' files, even Cosgrove's personal emails to find out what. Wait—did Cosgrove know what Ivan was? What he was really capable of? Dryden had known, but had Arden and anyone who knew shared that with the new head honcho? If he knew, it was possible he wasn't keeping secrets on anything electronic.

  I couldn't fret about that now. I had to maintain a stoic face and pretend I was interested. "I did. I'm engaged to a cop, remember?" I smiled. But it wasn't a sweet smile.

  "Ah, yes. Crwys Holliard. We spoke at the hospital. Very interesting individual. He seemed more human than I remembered on our fist meeting. A lot less…intimidating."

  I noticed the rumble of thunder overhead, but still no rain.

  "He's been through a lot. So…why did you bring up Mambo Nadeen? What does that have to do with us?"

  "I've been given some very interesting information about her cause of death," he said as he sort of wandered around the shop, but he remained close as he looked at the displays of Tarot cards, self-help books, fountains, and candles. "I hear that the coroner is going to rule the death an electrocution."

  Kyle finally turned and faced Cosgrove. "She was electrocuted? By something in her house?"

  "I was waiting for you to chime in, Mr. Kendrick. Arden's nephew, now studying what I believe Emily called hoodoo?"

  "You can call it that."

  "You do realize we're not voodoo, Mr. Kendrick. As a Witch, those sorts of arts are—"

  Kyle and I waited for him to continue. He finally smiled. "Well, let's just say they're frowned upon."

  "Mr. Cosgrove," Kyle began as he crossed his arms over his chest, "I am classified as a Hedge Witch, not a Dianic Witch. I am a male Hedge Witch, the fact of which has given my family and I a significant amount o
f grief over the years, since my abilities with herbs and words manifested. It is my duty as a Hedge Witch to further educate myself and grow stronger in the arts of herbs and intent. How I learn this isn't really any business of Parliament's or the Cleric Office."

  I wasn't sure I'd have said that to Cosgrove. No…I wouldn't have been as polite as Kyle was, or kept my tone as calm. My sentiments on anything being frowned upon would have been a bird finger to the face of the one who said it. I already possessed a type of magic that wasn't regarded very highly, so I could understand Kyle's defensive posture. Sort of.

  "On the contrary, Mr. Kendrick," Cosgrove countered while keeping his hands in his pockets and his voice even. "It is our business. Dangerous elements, such as with Circe and Blackwood, are what could start the burnings all over again. And that's not something we want. Your learning hoodoo has raised a few eyebrows, and you may be called before Parliament itself to justify your actions. Just as Sam could be called upon to justify her own."

  I blinked. "Justify what?"

  "I'm not very happy to hear you've been taking advice from your Arcane, Samantha. Key members of Parliament are well aware it's based off of a piece of Dionysus's essence. That in itself has several members a little uneasy. Once you add in the disappearance of your father, his wife, their nurse, and his home"—he stared at me—"things start adding up. And the sum of them starts looking very dark."

  "I've already assured everyone my Arcane isn't a danger."

  -They don't trust me at all, do they? What did I ever do to them?-

  And it had a way of talking at the wrong time. Shush. You didn't. But your…I don't know…originator was a nasty piece of work.

  -I know this. Why do you think I worked to stop him from taking over the Dragon?-

  I could see that, so why couldn't they?

  "For now."

  "It helped us avert a catastrophe. Imagine what would have happened if Dionysus got control of Crwys's body?"

  "Indeed." He smiled, and I did not like the way it looked or felt. All of the hairs on my arms stood on end. "As of this minute, it is the Parliament's decision to suspend your participation in Cleric work, Samantha, until we can look further into the alleged defection of your Air Elemental."

  My jaw dropped. Lady Darksome! It was happening all over again! I was getting blamed for something I didn't do. "Cosgrove…"

  Sam, Grey said. Hear him, but don't trust him. He smells like he's lying.

  Now he smiled, and I thought I saw a spark of sympathy in his eyes. A spark. A very small one. "Samantha, this is not my decision, but theirs. I had to bring up the instances of Elemental severing that happened before. You might only have to be subjected to a few tests, that's all. But for now, be happy they have decided not to warlock you."

  Like 'effing hell.

  -I will never allow that to happen again.- I could actually feel my Arcane's sincerity and intent in that one statement. I believed she wouldn't. And I hated to think what she would do to those who tried.

  -And besides, you didn't like doing Cleric work anyway. Consider this a needed break while we track down that Sylph.-

  True. But I still think he knows something.

  -Absotively, posolutely.-

  I glanced at Kyle to see his reaction. But he really didn't have much of one. He looked like he was a million miles away. Possibly thinking about Jack.

  Sam, do you seriously not see what Cosgrove's thinking? He suspects you killed Nadeen with your Sylph! Grey interjected.

  That idea made me gasp. Sweet Lord and Lady! I did not!

  Then why else would he steer this conversation the way he did? Grey sounded upset, and I wouldn't have been surprised if she'd shifted into human form. He cited two isolated events that have nothing to do with the other, and he quoted a coroner's report. You need to call Ivan.

  I needed to talk to Crwys as well. I checked the time. Three fifty-two. I wouldn't see him for several more hours. If anyone would know about this report, it would be Crwys.

  Cosgrove put his hand on the counter. "Stay in town, Samantha. Don't take any trips. And don't use your magic if you can help it." He patted the counter top, nodded to Kyle, and left the shop with Ethel right behind him, her head still down.

  I turned to Kyle. "Did you hear any of that?"

  He blinked at me and looked a bit confused. "Yeah…I did. Call Ivan and have him get a copy of the coroner's report. When can we go look in Nadeen's house? I'm assuming we'll be breaking and entering?"

  I hadn't picked out a time, but I sure as Diana's Well planned on it now. "Tonight if we can. No one's blaming me for that woman's death. I didn't even know her, and I didn't kill her."

  "A better question is," Kyle said as he slid off the stool, "what did?"

  TWELVE

  Cosgrove had been gone maybe five minutes when the door opened again and a new customer entered. She did what most people did on their first visit. Stepped in and stopped. Waited for their eyes to adjust so they could get a layout of the place. But this pause also gave us a moment to look them over—as long as one of us wasn't with a customer.

  She was tall with an angular face, dark hair pulled tight behind the nape of her neck. She wore a nice gray women's suit with a white shirt and I saw the small gold crescent pin over her left lapel. A detective, but not one I'd seen before.

  "Welcome to Bell, Book and Candle," Kyle spoke up. "Anything we can help you with today?"

  The woman slowly shook her head as she stepped further in. She looked around at things, even up at the crystals and stuff Kyle had hung from the ceiling. When her dark gaze landed on me, her smile widened. "I have found what I came to see."

  Kyle and I looked at each other, and Grey moved with me to the break in the counter. That way she could see her and I. I conjured my dex, again thrown out of balance without Air, but managed to half point it at her. The pentagrams spun just a second before it said unknown.

  I'd been getting that a lot lately. Time to update the dex's database. She seemed human and nothing really gave off any supernatural vibe. Of course, that didn't mean she wasn't dangerous. "Have we met?"

  The stranger came straight toward me and stopped less than a foot away. She offered me her hand, which was warm and a bit clammy. She smelled like Ina's garden used to smell in the spring. Was that a perfume? "My name's Tasoula Damali. I work out of the station over on Royal."

  That was Crwys and Levi's station.

  "I see, Detective Damali." I took my hand back. "Neither of them has ever mentioned your name before."

  "Call me Tas. And you are Samantha Hawthorne"—she nodded to Kyle—"and Kyle Kendrick. It's an honor to meet both of you. Oh, and I'm new. I just transferred a few weeks ago. Had to go through a few classes." She nodded to the door behind her. "I saw Chief Cosgrove leaving. I assume he's told you the news?"

  "You know Martin Cosgrove? Wait…Chief Cosgrove?"

  "Yep. He's the new chief of detectives."

  I stepped back. "He's what?" I looked accusingly at Kyle. "Did you know that?"

  Kyle's wide eyes and shocked look were enough to say he didn't know either.

  Tas nodded and her ponytail bounced. "Yeah, he was sworn in a month ago, but they're keeping it secret. Weird, huh?"

  I put my hand on Grey's head. "Why the secrecy? What happened to Antoni Norene?"

  "Won a lottery ticket and was able to move his family back home to Italy." Tas smiled. "I thought you should know, especially since he was recently sworn in as your Parliament's highest ranking for this, ah…what do you call it…this area? I'm still getting all my facts straight."

  I didn't like people I didn't know showing up and knowing more than I did…and shoving it in my face. It was rude. And this was my shop. I was also peeved that Crwys had a gorgeous new knockout working around him and he didn't tell me. "You can leave, Detective. We're closing early for the day." I nodded past her. "You know where the door is."

  "Oh no, no, no." She held up her hands. "I didn't mean to make you
angry. I'm really not that good with people. I have a borderline personality disorder that puts people off. I'm really just here to help where I can."

  I didn't say anything. Kyle joined me, taking up a position on the other side of the counter break on my left with Grey between us.

  "I only gave you the news about Cosgrove so you'd be prepared, that's all. I promise. I knew Chief Cosgrove's appointment had been kept quiet—I don't think even Holliard or Tulose know yet. They didn't mention it when I spoke to them yesterday." She tilted her head to the side. "But I wanted you to know. To be careful. Cosgrove retired from the police force many years ago and showed no interest in returning. But now, once he replaced Mr. Dryden, his interest in law enforcement was rekindled."

  "You mean his interest in Crwys," Kyle said.

  "And Tulose. A Titan and a Vampire. Very interesting partnership, don't you think? I don't want to alarm you, but I wanted to forewarn you."

  I blinked at her. "How do you know all this?" That diagnosis of unknown was starting to alarm me now. "And why are you in here telling us? We don't know you."

  Tas sighed. "I'm really bad at this. Nuances. But I don't spend much time with people. Let's just say I've followed the boys for a long time. I admire the work they've done. So here's something to think about—" She leaned on the counter much like Cosgrove had, but she had a much less overwhelming aura. In fact, she didn't feel threatening at all.

  Arcane…?

  -Listen to her.-