I collapsed onto my back, breathing hard.
The cops swarmed the scene, cuffing Eli and shoving him into the back of a waiting cruiser. He’d be able to cool off and shake off the grip of the blood in jail. Nice and easy, like any other drunk. By the time they’d be able to question him, he’d probably be long gone. Bishop would know what to do.
I lay on the concrete like an exhausted starfish, staring up at the flickering streetlight. Damn him. Damn Oren. Damn Bishop. I was having such a nice little life. Now everything was fucked up. I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping that I could forget everything and just sink into the concrete before the cops came over to question me.
“Fee! Fee! Oh my godddd!” The sound of frantic footsteps and the familiar voice made me open my eyes.
I sat up painfully, “Lacey?” Sure enough, my co-worker’s eager face was pressed close to mine as she fell to her knees beside me and wrapped me in a tight hug. “Lacey what the fuck are you doing here?”
“Miss?”
Too late. Cops. Lacey clung to my arm like a barnacle, jabbering about what she’d seen as the officer led us towards the paramedics.
“He was drunk! He must have been drunk, I just saw him run up and attack that man. He jumped right on his back and hit him, and then I screamed and called 9-1-1. If only I’d called sooner...” she trailed off into a dramatic wail, and I patted her hair ineffectually as she buried her face in my shoulder.
The cop turned to me, “Did you know this man, Miss?”
“Askew. Sarah Askew,” I said confidently. I’d deal with wiping Lacey’s memory later. “No, I didn’t know him. I was just walking home, and I saw him attacking the man. I tried to stop him, but I was... I was too late.”
“Did he say anything to you?” The officer wasn’t writing anything down, but I didn’t have much to say.
“No. Nothing.”
Lacey opened her mouth as though she was going to say something, but I glared at her and she leaned her head against my shoulder again, tears running down her face. The last thing I needed was her asking a stupid question in the wrong company. Lacey obviously recognized him as the guy who’d been lurking outside the coffee shop, and she definitely knew that my name wasn’t Sarah Askew.
Lacey watched with wide eyes as a sheet-covered stretcher was slid into the back of the ambulance beside us. She burst into a fresh bout of noisy tears and I did my best to comfort her.
The officer asked us a few more questions, and then we were escorted to my apartment with the promise that we would contact her if we needed to talk.
Lacey lingered outside my front door, and I didn’t invite her in. The last thing I needed was an intrusion. I needed to figure out what I was going to do about Eli... about myself. Bishop would have heard about what happened by now, and I hoped that he would be quick about securing Eli’s bail. The Laudan should have a slush fund for things like this. I hugged Lacey quickly and unlocked the door of the building and stepped inside.
“Go home and have a couple glasses of wine, you’ll feel better in the morning, Lacey, I promise,” I wasn’t super sure that it would help her, but it’s exactly what I was going to do.
Lacey’s eyes filled with tears, but she nodded and tried to blink them away. “Okay, Fee... can... can I call you in the morning?” Her voice quavered just a little, and I smiled.
“Of course you can,” I said softly. “Now, go home and get some sleep, it’s been a shitty night for all of us.”
That was the understatement of the year for sure.
Lacey nodded, her lower lip trembling. I was not good with criers. It was always so awkward for everyone involved. Especially me.
The door swung closed and I waved at Lacey through the window. Her shoulders slumped and she turned away, heading in the direction of her own apartment, which wasn’t too far away. At least, I didn’t think it was. I shrugged and walked up the stairs, my fingers trailing over the bannister.
The spells I’d cast showed some signs of cracking, as though something had crashed against it. A different kind of magic.
I paused reaching out to gauge the extent of the damage. There were cracks starting to show around the edges of the spell. What the fuck was going on? Did my magic work like those ‘90s commercials said? ‘Use it or lose it?’
No, that didn’t make any sense. My magic came from Hecate... from the moon. I could have ignored the power inside me my entire nine lives, and its potency wouldn’t have dimmed at all.
My phone buzzed in my jacket pocket. Shit, I’d landed on it really hard back there in the park. I pulled it out, wincing as I saw that the screen was webbed with cracks. Fuck.
“Lacey?”
I could hear snuffling on the other end of the line and I held the phone away from my ear and sighed. Great. Here comes the guilt trip.
“Fee? Fee, I’m so sorry, I just... I don’t want to be alone tonight. I could really use some girl time.” She paused. I knew what was coming next. “Would it be okay if I came over?”
Shit.
“Yeah... yeah, okay, Lacey. You can come over. Buzz Apartment 5 when you get here,” I said with a sigh. I knew I shouldn’t be inviting anyone over right now. It was a really bad time. Oh shit... my apartment was also full of drying herbs and other, um, accessories.
“Oh. Em. Gee. Fee, you’re the bestest ever. I don’t know what I’d do without you. I’m so happy that we’re friends,” Lacey gushed.
Were we friends?
“Sure, Lace. It’s no problem. I’ll see you soon.”
Great. The only visitor I’d had in my apartment in the last twenty years had been Eli, so it was safe to say that my apartment wasn’t exactly baby proofed. I had a bunch of shit to put away, and no time or space to do it in. Certain things could be explained away, but there were a few other things that would have to be hidden... and fast.
Luckily for me, my apartment was small, but that also came with the unfortunate side effect of having literally nowhere to hide anything. Books I could shove under the couch, and a few sensitive papers were shoved under my mattress. The box of antique trinkets that I sold and auctioned for my rent money was moved to the top of a high bookshelf. It was a good thing I didn’t have much in the way of sensitive material, but what I did have was pretty important... at least to me. It might not mean anything to someone like Lacey, but I couldn’t just leave my spell books lying around.
My buzzer echoed in the room, vibrating a wine glass on the kitchen counter. Dear goddess, I hated that thing. I hated myself for jumping when it went off, but it happened so rarely that when it did go off, I was always surprised.
I looked around the apartment, there wasn’t much else I could do... it wasn’t perfect, but it would have to do. Besides, I planned to wipe her memory before I sent her on her way. Suki sat on my bed, watching me with feigned interest.
“Do you want to go greet our guest?” I asked her. Suki meowed loudly and jumped down from the bed. “Of course you do.” My familiar sat by the door, purring expectantly. She loved guests, and I suspected that she would leave me for the pizza guy if he asked nicely.
I sighed and punched the buzzer that unlocked the building’s front door before pulling my apartment door open just enough for Suki to wind her way out into the hallway.
I paced nervously, and opened a bottle of wine. After the way today, and especially tonight, had gone, I needed it.
“Oh my GOODNESS what a spoopy little muffin you are!”
I rolled my eyes and took a drink. It was a good thing Suki couldn’t talk, although I was curious about what she’d have to say about being called a ‘spoopy muffin.’ I smirked and pulled another wine glass out of the cupboard.
The apartment door pushed open and Lacey marched in with Suki draped over her shoulder.
Traitor!
“Oh my squee, Ophelia Turner this apartment is amazing!” Lacey gasped, setting Suki down on the floor and pushing the door closed. “Somehow it’s exactly what I pictured your apartment looking l
ike!” She moved towards the kitchen with her hand outstretched, reaching for my drying herbs. “Ohhh, what are these? What are you making? What is this?”
Oh my fuck, I just wanted her to stop trying to touch things and sit down. I shoved my full wine glass into her hands to try and distract her and steered her towards the couch.
“Those are herbs. I grow them on my fire escape. I drink a lot of... tea.” I hoped she wouldn’t ask any more questions. I mean, I did drink a lot of tea, but some of these herbs had more important uses... like keeping the wound on my ribs closed.
“Do you make bath bombs? You should totally make bath bombs,” Lacey said excitedly. “I have a friend in Georgia who makes bath bombs, but she buys all of her ingredients and it’s soooo expensive, but if you grow your own it would be so much better and oh my god, I could help you set up a website—“
“Lacey... I’m not making bath bombs,” I said with an exasperated sigh. I held up the wine bottle and waved it back and forth. “I make wine.” I smiled and poured some into my own glass.
Lacey stared at me and then at her wine glass with wide eyes. “Ohhh... smart kitty.” She took a tentative sip and then another bigger gulp. She sighed and leaned back against the couch cushions, tucking her legs up underneath her.
Suki wound around my legs, and I leaned down to stroke her ears.
“How long have you had her?” Lacey asked, sipping at her wine again.
“Suki? She’s been with me for a really long time...” That was an understatement, but Lacey didn’t need to know how much of an understatement it really was.
“I’m so jealous, I’ve always wanted a cat. They’re like the perfect witchy accessory,” Lacey announced. I raised an eyebrow and Suki flicked her tail and stalked off to the bed to make herself comfortable on my pillow.
She wasn’t anyone’s accessory.
I smirked and shook my head and sat down on the couch next to Lacey. “Suki’s the closest thing I have to a best friend, I don’t know what I’d do without her,” I said. “Are you okay? Tonight was a little... fucked up.” Call it what it was, there was nothing to sugar coat.
Lacey looked into her wineglass and was silent for a moment. “It was really scary. Just watching that guy... he just attacked the other guy, they didn’t know each other or anything I don’t think. This is the kind of stuff my mother warned me about when I said that I wanted to move here.” She shook her head. “Maybe I’m not cut out for the city.”
“It’s a pretty brutal place... I’ve lived here a long time, and it never really gets any easier.” Lying by omission wasn’t the worst sin I’d committed. I’m sure Hecate would forgive me.
“Is that why you gave the cop a fake name when you gave your statement tonight?”
Shit. That didn’t take long.
“Yeah, well... I like to have an uncomplicated life. Sarah Askew has come in handy a few times over the years. You know, when those horrible guys at the club ask you for your number and you give them a fake one instead?” Lacey nodded emphatically. “It’s just like that,” I said. I mean, it kind of was. Wasn’t it?
“I get it, Fee. I’m glad you don’t lie to me,” Lacey said, taking another sip of wine.
Hoo boy.
It was late, and I had hoped that Lacey would have left by now, but we were four bottles of wine deep, she was drunk, and my fingers were starting to tingle. It took a lot to get me drunk. And when I say a lot, I mean a lot. But I was starting to feel it. I had to be careful. The last time I had been really drunk it hadn’t ended well for the people I’d been drinking with... my memory spell had been a little too strong, and some of them had forgotten a lot more than I’d intended.
“Fee... you have to be honest with me. That guy. The guy I called the cops on. You know him, don’t you.” It wasn’t even a question; Lacey was staring at me with a serious expression that looked almost sober.
I sighed and poured another glass of wine. May as well lean in to whatever was happening here. “No, Lace, I don’t know him. I told you that already.”
“No,” she replied. “That’s what you told the cops... I’ve seen him hanging around Haven waiting for you. Is he your stalker, Fee? A jilted lover? Please tell me he’s a love-sick suitor that you won’t give in to and now that you know he’s dangerous your heart is truly at war—“
My laughter drowned out whatever she was going to say next. I laughed so hard that I spilled my wine. “Oh, wow, Lacey. You read way too many badly written, sloppy romance novels, don’t you?” Lacey looked a little put out by my guess, which meant I was right. Which made me laugh harder. “No, no, don’t answer. I can tell.”
When I finally got control of my laughter, Lacey was glaring at me. “Oh, come on, Lace. It’s just a joke.”
“I’ll have you know that those novels are a very important part of my life,” Lacey huffed.
“As long as you don’t use them as a guideline for your romantic expectations...” I paused, watching as Lacey’s face fell just a little. Oh, shit... she was one of those. I should have guessed. “But hey, maybe there’s a badboy billionaire out there for all of us, right? A jerk with a heart of gold who’s just waiting for the right woman to break his curse and show him what true love is?” It was gross, and I felt sick just saying the words, but Lacey brightened just a little.
“Do you really think so, Fee?”
I took a sip of wine and grimaced. “I guess so.”
Lacey seemed satisfied by that, but she also knew that I hadn’t answered her question properly. “So... this guy. Do you know him?”
I sighed heavily and set my wine glass down on the coffee table. I was going to wipe her memory after this anyway...
“Yeah, Lacey. I know him. He’s my boyfriend.”
Lacey’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Shut. Up.” Silence settled between us and then she squealed and punched me in the arm. “I always knew you had a thing for tortured souls, I just knew it!”
I rubbed my arm and glared at her, Lacey stopped giggling immediately and covered her mouth with both hands. “Sorry,” she mumbled.
“He’s been hanging out with this new group of guys, and I don’t trust them... I think they’re leading him down the wrong path, and I can’t stop him, I can only watch as he just does dumber and dumber shit.”
Lacey’s eyes were wide, “Oh my god, Fee... like drugs?”
“Yeah, Lace... something like that.” Omission. Omission wasn’t lying. It was just protection.
Lacey put her hand on my arm, and stared into my eyes. “I’m so sorry, Fee. But it’s not your fault. He’s making his own decisions, even if they’re shitty ones.”
I nodded, even if she didn’t know what I was talking about, her words helped just a little. More than I could tell her. “Thanks, Lacey. I think I needed to hear that.” I took a deep breath and held up my hand, “I’m sorry, honey.”
Lacey looked at me strangely, “Sorry? Sorry for what?”
I smiled and pressed my middle finger gently between her eyes and felt my magic surge within me.
“Forget,” I said quietly.
17
Lacey stayed the night, I didn’t feel bad about setting most people loose after wiping their memories, but somehow, I felt a little guilty thinking that it would be just as easy for me to let her go wandering Brooklyn’s streets in the early hours of the morning after a wipe.
After the wipe, Lacey had seemed disoriented, unsure of how she’d gotten to my apartment. She remembered being in the park, but what was about it, so I just went with that.
It didn’t bother me that she was staying over, and we were supposed to show up at the café tomorrow morning anyway to get our work schedules for the coming week. Lacey seemed to accept that without much difficulty. I was always nervous after performing a wipe. Men were easier; they seemed more than willing to give up their memories.
She was passed out on the couch now. I draped a blanket over her and put her wine glass into the sink. Five empty bottles stood o
n the counter. I’d have a headache tomorrow, make no mistake. Thankfully, I was only a little unsteady on my feet. I walked to the living room window and slid it open with a small gesture. Drinking made my magic a little more potent, as my blood thinned; the power flooded my system more powerfully. At least, that’s what I guessed was happening. The few times I’d made any real headway (or mistakes) with my magic had been after a few bottles of wine. Research.
The sky was starting to lighten, but sunrise was still a little way off. I stepped out onto the fire escape and leaned against the railing. I trailed my fingers over the dying petals of the wilted rose he’d brought me.
“I’m sorry, Eli,” I murmured. The problem was, I was sorry, but he was Bishop’s problem now. I wasn’t babysitting anyone; besides, I had enough to worry about without having a blood drunk immortal on my hands.
“What are you sorry about?”
I jumped, startled by the voice, “Shit!”
Eli was perched on the railing, balancing easily on the balls of his feet as he crouched on the thin piece of wrought iron.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Eli?” I lowered my voice and pulled the window closed behind me to muffle the noise. Lacey might have been drunk, but I didn’t know what she could hear, and I definitely didn’t want her to hear this.
“Bishop bailed me out,” he said. He was lying. He had always been a shit liar. I pressed my lips together and stared at him darkly.
“Uh-huh. So. Now what?” I asked, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear what he’d planned. Chances were, he hadn’t planned anything. If I knew Eli, and I definitely did, he was just going to make it up as he went along.
“I think I’m going to head down to NOLA. Come with me. It’ll be a nice vacation from all of this.” He looked so sincere, and I was tempted. Really tempted.
“New Orleans, huh? I mean, what better place for a witch and her Laudan lover to hide out, right? Anne Rice would lose her mind if she could hear this.” I smiled, hoping he would do the same. I wanted my old Eli back, not this imposter.
Sticks & Stones: (Urban Fantasy) (Daughters of Hecate Book 2) Page 12