Death by Séance

by Jo-Ann Carson

  Her lips pursed, as if part of her wanted to say something and another part did not. I waited.

  “I don’t have anything concrete.”

  I waited.

  “It’s just a hunch.”

  I nodded.

  “But I would put my money on the vampires.”

  Oh poop. Oh, double poop. I did not want to go there.

  “They are killers and Kumar was in deep with them.”

  “But he had worked with them for five years. Why now?”

  “Imagine all the secrets he must know.”

  Chapter 14

  The Man-Witch

  “Seize the moment, ‘cause tomorrow you might be dead.”

  Buffy

  I needed to get back to my office to update my suspect chart, but I needed to see my family more. Trusting that I could keep the details in my head I drove home. Yeah, I knew I’d lose a few, but I’d keep the important stuff. Right? Okay, maybe not.

  The rest of the day flew by. We had pancakes for dinner, because that’s what the kids wanted and, after talking murder all day, I wanted them to have what they wanted. They were so full of life it made the ugly stuff in life fade. And, yeah, I may be a little indulgent, especially when it comes to maple syrup and butter. What started out as a great idea descended into chaos as Jill poured half the last cup of flour on the floor instead of into the bowl and Janey played with it, while Jonathan tried to skateboard down the stairs. Why he thought he could take on a winding staircase I’ll never know, but he did. With an extra lump on his head he sat down at the table and declared they were the best pancakes he had ever tasted. I called him “Camel head.” He grinned. The pancakes vanished.

  After dinner, we played hide and seek, their favorite game in our new home. It’s a large and rambling stone manor and we only live in a few of its rooms, the ones I’ve had time to clean of dust, cobwebs and magic. The kids have great fun hiding in what we call the forbidden zone, a place where moms don’t usually venture.

  Bedtime came an hour later, but it felt like only fifteen minutes.

  The normal routine involved listening to “the magic radio” that played Nordic tales late at night. We kept it in Jinx’s room, because she was the least messy. Eric would tell them Norse legends. He wouldn’t let them see him, but they could hear him. They loved his stories. I pretended his voice came through the radio. But with Eric gone I had to improvise. After a few attempts at getting the radio to work, I threw my hands in the air and announced that tonight we would have regular bedtime stories instead. They grumbled until I got to the part where Harry lived under the staircase.

  I like reading Harry Potter stories because JK Rowling spins such a great story, but I also don’t like reading Harry because Rowling spins such a great story. We stayed up an extra hour, and then another half hour talking about all things Harry.

  The kids fell asleep snuggled in their beds. I sighed as I turned out their lights. Jill and I stayed up late. Over wine we discussed, once again, her traitorous ex-husband and his scuzzy girlfriend. We decided she needed braces, more than the boob job he was paying for and that chemical castration would be too good for him. When Jill sank into sleep on the sofa, I tiptoed up to my room.

  Where was Eric? I had missed him all day, but I missed him more now. We always stayed up late, talking about life and death, of course. I missed our talk. I missed our laughter. I missed everything about my Viking warrior.

  Had he gone to see Guiden again? Probably. Was he getting in too deep? I hoped not. Could I blame him? No. I knew how much he wanted to hold his newborn baby in his arms, how much he wanted the birthing time to be as normal as possible for all of us. It would be his first child.

  Normal? Yeah, right. It had been so long since I did normal, I wasn’t even sure I knew what it meant. I rubbed my baby bump. It grew every day and soon people would notice. They would wonder. They would gossip. I needed to talk to Eric about a suitable story to feed the town’s insatiable appetite for gossip. Who would my secret lover be?

  As if in answer to my question, Dante rapped on the outside of my window. I let him in. He wore his well-tailored, brown leather jacket that perfected his European bad-boy look. Tonight, he smelled of red wine and chocolate. Could things get any worse?

  “Why don’t you come through the door like normal people?” I said, in way of greeting.

  His long eyelashes lowered over sinfully dark-chocolate-brown eyes. “I’m not normal, for one, and I don’t want to wake up the kids.” He jumped to the ground. “I have missed you, Carina.”

  I grunted. “I guess I should thank you for your help, but it’s weird that you come to me through my window.”

  He shrugged, the Italian way, that meant nothing and everything at the same time.

  “I’m not sure Sofia would approve.”

  His eyes widened. “My mother?”

  “I don’t want to get the hiccups again. Thanks, by the way, for helping me out.”

  “My pleasure.” The warmth of his eyes pulled on me.

  “About the sexy, black negligée …”

  “Where’s Eric?” He interrupted me, as he scanned the room.

  “Not here.”

  His right brow lifted. “Trouble in ghostly paradise?”

  “Let’s get back to your mother. Can she hurt me?”

  Mischief danced in his eyes. “She could, but I don’t think she will. It would be bad form, and all that.”

  “Will you protect me?” I hated to ask, but I had to. “I don’t want to get a bad case of hiccups ever again. Maybe you could talk to her. Explain to her that you and I are not an item.”

  “Not an item?” His grin spread wide across his face. “You want to come closer to me and tell me that?” His damn dimple appeared.

  My heart sped up at the thought, and, worse, I knew he knew that it did. But that was just a bodily reaction to a persuasive, shall we say, stimulus. My heart belonged one hundred percent to Eric. I had no doubt about that.

  All the same, I couldn’t deny the effect Dante’s charm had on me. He was too good looking, too sexy and too magically powerful for my good. I shook my head.

  “Remember our kiss, Carina?”

  The kiss. That kiss. No woman could ever forget that, and that was the problem. My whole body remembered the kiss, only too well. His sensuality had no limits. “Yeah, yeah. I remember lips touching. It felt a bit like rubber meeting rubber. And then it was over.”

  “Come closer and tell me that.”

  “First, tell me about the black silk gown.”

  “You looked so beautiful in it.” His voice softened. “The way the silk hugs your breasts, which are the most …”

  “Dante, stop it.”

  “Sorry, I couldn’t help but notice.” His bad-boy smile tugged at the right side, creating that impossibly handsome dimple.

  “Why did you dress me?”

  “I wanted everything to appear normal, so I put you to bed with your jammies on.”

  “Black silk-and-lace jammies.”

  “Only the best for mia Carina.”

  “Did you …?

  “No. I would never. Well, I would and I will. But only when you are one hundred percent awake and willing. Hmmm. I like that image. You and I will make such a good couple. I can see our bodies entwined in passion under the light of the moon. I can feel your soft skin. Smell your scent …”

  “Give it a rest, Romeo.” I could see the image too, and it scared me. “Did you make yourself smell decadent?”

  He wriggled his eyebrows. “So where’s the Viking tonight? Playing poker with the boys?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  With his hands on his hips he stood still for a moment. The air stilled. His smile vanished. “I hear he’s getting in deep with Guiden.” He firmed his lips. “It’s not wise to trust a sorcerer.”

  “Says a sorcerer.”

  “I’m not a sorcerer. I’m a witch, a man-witch, and I behave well by human standards.”

&n
bsp; I glared at him.

  “Most of the time.” The bad-boy grin came back, and with it the damn dimple.

  “Why are you here, Dante?”

  “Look out your window.”

  The full moon had risen. The snow moon.

  The moon! The full moon! How glorious it looked. I walked to the window and looked out. Dante followed and stood behind, close enough that I could feel his breath on the nape of my neck.

  I could deny it as much as I liked, but the moon enhances my witchiness. I had read about it in every book I could find on Wicca, witchcraft and the occult. I wanted to stop it, ignore it, refuse it, but I couldn’t. The moon did things to me.

  As it rose, my inner powers tingled and I felt superhuman, magical. I felt like I could climb high towers, fly to the stars, conquer the universe. I felt a part of nature, and that nature was a part of me. The distinction between me and anything else vanished.

  The moon made me feel fully alive and fully female. That was the dangerous part.

  We walked together to our place in the forest. I discarded my clothes at the edge of the clearing where twenty witches had already gathered. They chanted as they danced, and I joined them. We danced and we danced and we danced.

  Moonlight streamed over my body, licking me with its magic. Dante stayed by my side, always by my side. Around and around the group moved through the night as one.

  As the moon dipped beneath the horizon, Dante leaned in and kissed me. I had sworn I would never kiss him again, but it just happened. Boy did it happen.

  I pulled back. My lips tingled. Reality, or at least my little part of it, sank into my bones, along with a whopping sense of guilt.

  That was when I heard Eric’s voice. “I thought I’d find you here.

  Eric handed me my clothes and I dressed quickly. Dante put his hands on his hips and held his ground.

  I had never felt so embarrassed or so wrong. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and exhaled slowly. “I can explain everything.”

  “Of course, you can.” The sadness in his voice tore at my guilt.

  “Leave her be, Viking. Let her live. She is a witch and she should enjoy her magical energy,” said Dante who stood as naked as the day he was born; a sight I would normally enjoy, but not so much at this moment. He looked like a well-enhanced Michelangelo sculpture.

  I shook my head. “I need …”

  “She’s free to live her life as she chooses, warlock, but as her friend I hope she doesn’t choose you.”

  “Space,” I said, but the men ignored me. They stood face to face, glaring.

  “I’m not a warlock,” said Dante.

  “So, you say.”

  I wanted to freeze the moment, but I didn’t know how. I loved the way This was my life, and no nose wrinkling would freeze-dry, dissolve or fix this situation.

  “Being a witch is hard on a relationship,” I said.

  They both turned to me.

  “I love Eric with all my heart.”

  “Except when the moon is full,” Eric said.

  “Something happens to me. I can’t control it, yet.”

  Dante shook his head. “The moon has power over us. It pulls on the magic in your blood. But, Abby, I assure you, you didn’t do anything you didn’t want to do.”

  I knew he was right. Damn him. I knew a part of me wanted to kiss him. Heck, I’m sure every woman who meets him wants to kiss him. But it was more than a simple physical attraction, and the more part was growing. I didn’t want to admit it, but the truth lay in my heart. I had feelings for the man-witch. He was always there for me when I needed him, and his playful banter had found a way into my heart. But I couldn’t love two men. No, that would be wrong. Right? I mean, women don’t get to do that. Do they?

  They both stared at me, as I stood silently staring at them. Did my warring emotions show that clearly on my face?

  “Just say who you want,” said Eric. “I love you, my äskling, and that will never change. I will accept your decision.”

  “The baby?” It was the first thought that came to my mind.

  “I will always be there for our baby.”

  Dante tilted his head. “I am not looking to fill your place, Viking. I am not interested in raising children who are not my own. I don’t do ‘domestic.’ Wait, your baby?” His eyes widened and he turned to me. “You’re having his baby?”

  “What is it you want?” Eric asked Dante.

  “Abby.” His eyes melted as he said my name. “We are meant to be together.”

  “Whoa. Wait a hexed minute. You can’t have me without my kids. This isn’t a damn horse-trading event. You’re such a selfish …” His dimple grew and I stopped talking.

  “I may be on the selfish side, but I’m honest. I know what I want and I’m not afraid to say it. You are the most beautiful and sassy woman I’ve ever met. And so wonderfully fertile.”

  “So, you want to play with me.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with that. We will be lovers and know passion beyond any mortals’ dreams.” He paused. “You can take care of your family on your own. You’re strong and more than capable.”

  Eric grumbled. “She deserves a man who will be at her side all the way.”

  “Well, that counts you out. You’re never around, and when you are you’re transparent,” said Dante.

  “I have only been away because …” Eric looked at me.

  “You want to be alive again.” Dante shook his head. “You’re a fool. You’re lucky that you and Abby have not yet been hurt by Guiden’s foul magic. If you keep playing with it, anything could happen. You are dead. Accept it.”

  Eric’s specter vibrated with anger. “I love Abby.”

  “Then let her go.”

  This was all too weird. The two men closest to me talked about me as if I were a sack of potatoes, incapable of making my own decisions. It was all too much. “I’m out of here.”

  I wished I could snap my fingers and reappear elsewhere, but I couldn’t, so I settled for stomping barefoot towards the road. When Dante tried to follow, I turned and zapped him with my microwave fingers. Of course, he could zap me back, but he didn’t. Instead he gave me a forlorn expression. Eric stayed frozen on the spot.

  Chapter 15

  The Clue

  “I’m the thing that monsters have nightmares about. And right now, you and me are gonna show ‘em why.”

  Buffy

  The long walk home did little to settle my heart. I loved Eric. I carried his child. But I could no longer deny my feelings for Dante. When I got back to the manor, I found Elif sitting on my front steps. Could the night get any worse?

  “Hi,” I said.

  He sniffed as he took in my disheveled appearance. “Full moon,” he said.

  I nodded. I really didn’t want to talk about it.

  “I came by to see how the investigation is going.”

  “Come in. I’ll bring you up to speed.”

  I motioned for him to sit at my kitchen table and busied myself making a pot of coffee. “I’m sorry I have no blood for you.”

  “I’m fine,” he said in that menacing creature voice vampires use when they talk about feeding. It whispered that, while he was fine, he could always have more.

  I summarized my interviews, leaving no details out. As the predawn light shimmered over the horizon, I talked as fast as I could.

  “I told you to see Maximo,” he said, irritation dripping in his words.

  “And I will. I thought I would rule out the breathers first as they are easier to, uh …”

  “Talk to.”

  I nodded.

  “You need to talk to Maximo.”

  “Did you …” I wanted to say, “Did you find out anything new?” but when I looked up from my coffee cup Elif vaporized into a black, smoky spirit flew out of the room and up the chimney in the living room. I opened the front door and could see it moving like a rocket towards his house. The sun had risen.

  I took my mug up to my bedroom.
Too wired to sleep, I decided to revisit my suspect chart. I opened my laptop and pulled up a picture I had taken of it. I couldn’t leave details of my investigation on the wall. Anyone could gain entry to my office with little difficulty and the town was too small to keep secrets. I spent an hour re-constructing the chart on my computer adding in details I had learned from my suspect interviews.

  I now had six columns: Suspects, Relationship, Opportunity, Why, How and Comments.

  First on the suspect list came Joy. Opportunity: check mark. Relationship: distant friend through Elif. Motive: none. No comments.

  Next came Elif. Opportunity: check. Relationship: boss and possible lover. Motive: none. Comments: Unlikely b/c he’s a vampire.

  Ophelia. Opportunity: check. Relationship: former lover, expecting to hook up. Motive: jealousy. Comments: too stupid to pull it off.

  Ming. Opportunity: check. Relationship: lovers. Motive: jealousy (but I drew a line through it). Comments: She loved the guy.

  Margaret. Opportunity: check. Relationship: acquaintances. Motive: greed/unpaid debt (but I drew a line through it). Comments: Not a murderer.

  Nelson. Didn’t arrive.

  In addition to the suspect list I had two clues: the necklace I found in Kumar’s hand and the mysterious breeze Margaret felt when the lights went out. I made a new file just for them, so I could tinker with them.

  I wanted to sleep, to forget my problems for a few hours, but I didn’t feel tired. I felt invigorated. The full moon does that to me. And my libido. Oh green-eyed newts, I didn’t want to think about that. Despite being pursued by two handsome, virile men, I wasn’t getting any action.

  With less than an hour before someone in the house came running into my bedroom, I pulled the locket out of the safe. My spell had worked well, and no one had touched it. I could tell by its vigor. From my bedside table I pulled out my magnifying glass and took a good look.