Bastien took my hand in his. I didn't pull away. Not this time. "You did this for me, belle. I don't know that I can repay you."
"You can tell me the truth." I pinned his golden eyes with my own and drilled into them as I asked, "Was your wolf half the price for Ivan's sight?"
He looked away. I had my answer. Normally, I liked being right, but not about this. "Bastien…why in the hell did you do that? You were born a Lycan…it's part of you. You can't live without it. You're dying inside."
"You know this how?" His voice was low and he didn't look at me.
I squeezed his hand. "By healing you, I saw you, Bastien. You. Your soul or essence or whatever it is that makes you, you. And I only saw half of it. How could Tzariene demand such a price?"
"I gave it freely, chérie. If we had not known of the Dragon's blood, and drank it with Ivan, then we wouldn't have survived his fire." Now he turned back to me and I saw determination in his eyes. Always the fighter. "You lived. That is all I wanted."
"Bastien—"
"No. You will listen now." He pulled me closer by bringing my hand to his chest and holding it with both of his own. His skin was calloused and warm. So very warm. Like Crwys's. And he smelled of musk and grass and blood. "I declared how I felt to you. It was something I had to do. You needed to know. I would give my life for you. No regrette. Non. In this," he squeezed my hand. "You must trust me, ma petite. Trust me. And above all else…" he let go of my hand with his right one and brushed his thumb against my cheek, catching a tear. "You must trust yourself in the time to come."
I caught his hand with my own and kissed it. "You frustrate the hell out me, you damned old wolf."
"Oui." He smiled. No sharpened canines. No flicker of the animal that once lived inside. "But then there are always rifts and eddies in a relationship, no?"
Arden stepped back into the room and cleared her throat. Her presence still made the hair on my arms stand on end. You might call them my hackles. "Sam—"
"Go away, Arden."
Another figure appeared in the doorway. Cromwell Dryden. He was dressed in a suit and tie and looking more like a banker than the Grand High Master. I liked the way he arrived after all the fighting was finished. I assumed Arden called him. "That's not the proper way to address a High Witch, Samantha."
I looked at him. "I'm not training today."
"I'm not here to summon you for training." He nodded a greeting to Bastien and then turned back to me. "There's another matter you're requested to take a look at."
Another matter? Maybe they'd decided Blackwood's fate. I'd already made up my mind that if there was to be any kind of delivery of that bastard to Tzariene, I wanted to be there. Because Sweet Lord and Lady, I was getting Bastien's wolf back.
Damn that Faerie.
"Go, petite," Bastien said. "Court is gone. So are his potential pack mates. I have the finest care."
I stood with my hands still in his. I leaned in to kiss his forehead, but Bastien had other plans. He released my hands and caught my face just in time to press his lips against mine. He tasted of grass and smelled of sweat and dirt. Even if the wolf wasn't there, its essence lingered.
The kiss was pure, and salted, and given freely from his heart. I stepped back with a gasp, and he smiled before he raised his hands and crossed them behind his head. When he winked, I shot him another bird.
He laughed as I followed Arden and Cromwell out of the cabin and down the path. I took a mental count of the number of Werewolves and Witches and hoped neither of them attacked the other. This wasn't exactly the best mixture of races.
"He still loves you, doesn't he?" Cromwell said.
"I'm not having this conversation with you."
"The rumor is—" Arden began.
"I know what the rumor is. I also know the truth."
"Oh?" She turned to look at me. I was insulted she dared walk beside me. But my Jeep was just ahead and Jack and Kyle were already inside. "You know why he's refusing to shift."
"Yeah. I do. And I'm sure as hell not telling you."
"Perhaps you'll share this secret with me?" Cromwell said.
"Not now." I went around to the driver's side and tossed my bag in. "Where are we going?"
Cromwell answered. "To a house. But I would prefer you ride with me so we can discuss a few things—"
"No, I'm driving." I looked at the two of them over the hood of my Jeep. Her Mercedes was parked alongside mine with his Lexus beside hers. "Give me the address and I will meet you there."
Several emotions played across Arden's face, which in my opinion was a deadly flaw for an official, whether it be Cowen or Witch. Her shoulders lowered before she glanced back at Cromwell, whose only reaction was a frustrated nod. She reached into her purse and retrieved a small notebook. She took out a gold pen, probably real gold taken from the tooth of an ogre, and scribbled something down. When she ripped it off, I moved my hand and asked my Sylph to fetch it. He did but he never manifested.
Once it was in my hand, I got in my Jeep, handed the paper to Kyle in the passenger seat, and made sure I took off before they did.
The ride back to New Orleans was quiet. The car smelled like sweat and blood, and a glance in the mirror showed me just how bad of a beating I'd taken. I looked at Kyle and then at Jack's reflection. "Jack…where did you get the clothes?"
"Ben."
"Ben was there?"
"Yeah. He always keeps clothing in his van."
"I didn't see him."
"He was working with some of the others to get rid of the bodies."
Oh. I was disappointed. I'd really wanted to say hi to Ben and thank him for all his help. After a few more minutes, I looked at Kyle. "You want me to drop you guys off at the shop while I go check this out?"
"Nope."
Another glance at him. "You're coming with me."
"Yep."
"Both of you?"
And together they said, "Yep."
"Fine." I'd let Cromwell sort them out.
The directions led us to a nice neighborhood, but not one I'd ever been in before. The house was easy to spot with all the police tape around it and the black and white NOPD car outside.
I also recognized the red Mustang parked in the driveway.
"Is that Crwys's car?" Kyle asked as we piled out of the Jeep.
"Yeah. It is. I don't see Arden just yet." But I did see Cromwell's silver Lexus. Between the high performance car and the luxury car, and knowing Arden's Mercedes would be arriving soon, my Jeep looked like the black sheep of the family.
Something pressed down on my shoulders as we walked up the sidewalk. I wasn't sure what it was at first until Kyle stopped and put his hand on my shoulder. I turned and looked at him. "Do you sense it?" he asked.
"You mean that overwhelming feeling of dread?"
"Yeah. That. And something else."
I wasn't sure what the something else was, but being empathic was one of his gifts, not necessarily a Dianic Gift, but it was part of who Kyle was. I looked at Jack, who started a low growl. "Stop that," I hissed at him as we continued to the steps.
Cromwell came from around the other side of the house, and though he looked surprised to see Jack and Kyle, he didn't seem as irritated as I assumed he'd be. "Ah…Mr. Kendrick. So good of you to come, though I'm not sure we can use your limited magic. And as for Mr. Roberts—"
"They're with me," I spoke up. "Got a problem with it?"
Cromwell's mouth twitched but he shook his head. "Not at all. Since the area's other Hives are all busy, I thought this place would be a good start for your training, Samantha."
"You said this wasn't training."
He ached a brow. "I lied."
"Training with you?"
"No. I've enlisted a few others to help. Ah, here they are." And he looked over my head.
I turned to see Arden's Mercedes pull up and park behind my Jeep. I expected her to show up, but I hadn't counted on Grey to come bounding out of the car. She ran up to
me and stood, putting put front paws on my shoulders. Are you all right? Ben told me what happened. Bastien's sleeping and they've put a watch out around the cabin, just in case that bastard tries again.
Ah. Made sense. Grey was linked to the pack and they all knew she was my mom. "I'm fine," I said aloud and hugged her. She licked my chin and hugged me back in the best way a wolf could.
"Well, I'll be. She really is your mother, isn't she? Hard to believe the essence of Eliza Hawthorne is under all that fur."
That was a voice I hadn't thought I'd hear again and I didn't really want to. Grey got down and sat beside me as Emily Pearson ambled toward us. She had on a gray and red suit, light material for the New Orleans heat. She still had her Cleric sigil around her neck, declaring her designation in the Hive. Earth, of all things. I felt my Gnome cringe as Emily approached and I had to wonder why the animosity. While I was warlocked, Emily had been the guardian of my Earth Elemental.
Did she do something naughty to her?
I really, really didn't like Emily Pearson. And I couldn't pinpoint why.
I think it's because she's one of those prickly people, Grey said in my head. I'm not that fond of her either. And I'm not happy that Cromwell and Arden thought it was a good idea to tell her who I am.
I wasn't happy about that either and planned on giving the big guy a piece of my mind later. But for now, I had to deal. "Miss Pearson."
"Ooh…Sam. You look," and then she saw Kyle and Jack. "You all look terrible. Maybe you should see a doctor first?"
"We're fine," Kyle said as he moved up next to me. Apparently, my partner didn't like her either. But then, he knew she was part of my warlocking. He looked at Cromwell. The two were pretty much the same height. "May I ask what this is about?"
"Certainly, but let's adjourn to the front room. Our contact in the NOPD is on duty and the two detectives here are aware of our visit. They're busy with their own investigation."
"Whose idea was this?" I asked.
"Mine," Arden said. "And Elder Cosgrove's." She shot Cromwell a rather loaded look, but I didn't question it. Looked to me like they'd had an argument after I left the cabin.
Kyle stepped in behind Cromwell, and I filed in before Jack. Emily took up the rear as the uniformed cop then moved to block to the steps.
The further in we got, the heavier the pressure on my shoulders. But there was something very familiar about it. Something that wasn't so much a feeling or a smell but a kind of recognition. I couldn't put my finger on it as we piled into the foyer. "Nice house."
"It was."
Sam…
I looked down at Grey. What?
This is…this isn't… But she didn't finish the sentence as Cromwell started talking.
"Yesterday, at four in the morning, the NOPD got a warrant to search the premises of this house because of the overwhelming smell of something rotting or decaying. What they found was a house full of bodies."
Oh gross.
"Oh really," Emily said as she came up behind us. "Please tell me they've removed the bodies or their presence will interfere with my ability to concentrate."
Seriously? I gave her a pained look.
"Yes, Emily, they've all been removed and CSI has gone over the house." Cromwell looked a bit put out.
Arden cleared her throat. "The reason Cosgrove and I wanted you here for this, Sam, is because of the report we received on the condition of the bodies."
"Okay…?" I shrugged. "Were they all strangled or something? Ritualistically murdered?"
"Soulless."
Nobody said a word. I think we were all in shock at that moment. Was it a coincidence that I'd been wondering if there are Faerie creatures that steal souls? Or that I'd asked Kyle about that before all hell broke loose at the cabin?
He and I exchanged looks before he cleared his throat. "Can you be a bit more clear, Aunt Arden?"
"Not much clearer than that, Kyle," Detective Levi Tulose stepped out of the left doorway. Just past him I saw Crwys as he came up behind his partner.
He looked around at the gathered group and then spotted me and Grey, then Kyle and Jack, and then he looked back to me. His expression said so not happy.
"I believe everyone here knows Detective Tulose?"
To my surprise, everyone nodded, even Emily. I assumed they all knew he wasn't human?
Levi took a step forward. "A total of fifty-five bodies were found in this house. Since then, we've located another house with thirty bodies inside of it. That's where the police are focusing today. And all of the bodies––all of them––had their souls ripped out."
"How can you tell? You're not a Witch," said Emily.
Levi looked at her and allowed his Demon to come forward. His eyes turned black and his fangs showed. "Because I'm an expert at souls, Miss Pearson. Would you like me to demonstrate?"
"Levi, not now," Cromwell said as he noticed Crwys. "Ah yes…and here is Detective Holliard, whom we all know as Miss Hawthorne's boyfriend."
Crwys didn't smile. He just stared at me. I stared back.
Arden jumped in again. "I picked up Grey because even though she's no longer…what she was, she still has the knowledge of Tracking, which is something you can use your four Elementals to do. We have to identify what it was that did this. Are you up for it?"
I nodded. "Sure."
"Detective Tulose, if you'll show us the basement. It seems like the best place to start." Everyone filed in behind Levi and headed into the kitchen. I hung back with Grey and moved toward Crwys.
He still didn't look happy. "What are you doing with Dryden?" His voice was tight…but looking at his expression, I didn't think it was because he was angry.
"Weren't you listening? I'm here to try and Track…babe, are you okay?"
"No. I've got one hell of a headache. And it happened the moment that bastard stepped into this house." He looked at the end of the line of people as they descended into the basement. "Cromwell told me you are a Cleric now."
Oops. "Yeah, I was going to tell you, but I haven't seen you."
"I know. And I'm sorry." He put his hand on my chest. I took his hand in mine and moved it over the scar. It was sore but healing. His eyes widened when I knew he felt the dip in my chest. "Oh hell…what's up with the scar?"
"I'll tell you later, okay?"
"Sam—"
"Come down the stairs with me. Be with me. And after this, let's go home and talk."
He nodded and pulled me to him.
I didn't want to talk about the attack in the woods. I didn't know if he knew yet. I just knew that the moment I stepped into this house, I felt danger. I felt in danger. For the first time in my life, I feared for my own existence.
And nothing was going to make that feeling go away until Dionysus was as dead as I could make him.
TWELVE
CRWYS
Crwys walked down the steps behind me, his hand on my back as we descended. The feeling of dread felt like a lead weight on my shoulders by the time we got to the bottom. The floor was pretty much basic basement concrete, only it looked like the police had drawn symbols in chalk and marked off in huge squares where the bodies had been.
Cromwell and Arden moved to the right and I moved to the left, distancing Crwys and myself from them. The squares where I stopped had several lines of text in them. Mixed Race. Male. 25-55. All Well Taken Care Of.
The square beside that one had something similar, but different. Mixed Race. Female. 20-35. Upper Income. Expensive Clothing.
"What does all that mean?" Kyle asked as he came up beside us.
Crwys answered him. "The bodies in this room were neatly piled in sections. Here were males, ranged in those ages. Over there were women. The techs wrote down the commonalities they shared."
"What the hell kind of soul sucker is that OCD?" Jack said.
I couldn't help but smile. I'd been asking myself the same thing. "Were the bodies found elsewhere the same?"
"Not as well organized," Levi
said as he moved to the staircase on our side. "They were grouped together by weight, height and sex. We also gathered they were the first bodies taken and killed as they were the furthest along in decomposition."
"This is nuts," Emily said as she moved about the room.
Grey kept her tail tucked in and her ears down as she stayed next to me. I put my hand on the back of her neck and she moved between my legs. Mom, you all right?
No. I don't like it down here. It's like…I can still hear them.
"Who?" I said out loud.
The stolen souls. Baby, I don't think you should do this.
"You think it's bad?"
"Is she talking to you?" Emily moved closer to us and I made sure to shield Grey from her. "Like does she talk to you in wolf speak in your mind? Like in images?"
"That is the stupidest thing I've heard all day," Crwys said. Yeah, he wasn't a Cleric fan. "She talks like a normal person."
Emily gave him an appraising look. "I'm assuming you can hear her. After all, you've been around Samantha long enough."
"Emily," Cromwell said as he raised his hand. "Perhaps you could have a look around upstairs?"
I watched as Crwys allowed his eyes to flash red and he growled at her. The Cleric moved pretty fast back up the steps. "She's not a fan of non-humans," he said out loud.
"Emily's good at her job. And she is the strongest Earth Elemental we have." Cromwell stood beside Levi. "Sam, I believe…Grey…knows how to use your Elementals to Track the room. You haven't mastered Spirit yet, but the combination of their power should be able to give you a better understanding of what happened here."
I looked at Grey and knelt beside her. My mother's eyes looked at me. Is he right? Can I do that?
Yes. It's what I used to do to Track someone. Anyone. All things have essence, whether it's a soul or simply an imprinted personality. Spirit is made up of the four Elements, so therefore, if combined they can give you a sort of…road map as to their location or events.
"But…they're already dead."
Their bodies are. Just so you know, this was Cosgrove and Arden's idea, not Cromwell's. He's not that happy about being here and thinks this is a monumental waste of time.
Elemental Soul (The Eldritch Files Book 5) Page 8