Elemental Dreams: An Urban Fantasy Series (The Eldritch Files Book 9)

by Phaedra Weldon

  "Thorn's? He's been a Cleric his entire career. Was put in charge of several special interest groups within Parliament. High Level stuff." He rubbed at his eyes.

  Careful, Kyle told himself. "And he thinks Sam was pregnant. Does he have some proof of this?"

  "Not that he's said out loud to anyone. But those in Oregon seem to think of him as some kind of blood hound." He held up his tea. "Think I can have another glass?"

  Kyle took the glass and walked into the kitchen. He dumped what was left in the glass in the sink, rinsed it, added ice, a smaller pinch of herb and then poured more tea. Cosgrove took it eagerly as Kyle sat back down. "You should take it easy on that stuff. It's not decaf."

  "That's all right." He set it down and smeared more cheese on a cracker, making sure to add capers. "I think he wants to exhume the body so he can have some kind of proof."

  "Exhume Samantha?" Kyle's horrific expression was honest, if a bit canned, since he already knew they were planning this. "For what? No judge in New Orleans is going to let him dig up a body for no reason."

  "Sam was murdered. There could be all kinds of reasons her autopsy is half finished. And besides, we have key members of the Clerics in place in the New Orleans government."

  "You do?"

  "Yes. An idea Thorn volunteered two years ago when we first learned there were wolves and a Dragon here. Wanted to make sure the Witches had a larger presence so we could keep control of the city, especially the Quarter. And at the time, Cromwell agreed."

  Kyle wasn't liking anything about Thorn. The fact busy-body Emily Pearson was his stooge didn't help either. He wouldn't be surprised if she put all this nonsense into Thorn's ear. The only problem was, it wasn't nonsense. Sam had been pregnant. But again—how could they have known that? Where were they getting their information? He needed more, but he didn't want to risk it. He spotted something lumbering down the stairs. "Sir," and he leaned in conspiratorially. "Is there a way to get their names? These Clerics? You know…just in case I need to use their services?"

  He wasn't sure if Cosgrove was going to go for it at first. Then the man smiled and Kyle decided he needed to remember that combination of herbs for future use. "The nephew of Arden Vervain? Of course. Now, let me see…there's Ruby Price, she's in the police department. Not a very assuming job. Not sure what it is. But she lets us know when the weird cases come in. The ones that Detective Tulose and Damali take."

  Got it.

  "Then there's Nicole Young in City Hall and oh, Judge Thomas Allen."

  "A Judge," Kyle nodded. "That's impressive."

  That's illegal. >.<

  Kyle wanted to bat the floating text message away. The dude had been quiet this whole time, and now he wanted to spread the SMS?

  The front door opened just as the Link opened.

 

  Cosgrove stood just as Jack came into the living room. He stuck his hand out hesitantly. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Roberts. I'm ah…not that familiar with Lycans."

  "Wolf, is fine," Jack gave him a strong handshake. "And don't worry. It's not a full moon. I'm an Apogee."

  "Right, right…a made one, not a born one."

  "Yes. So…what's going on?"

  "Oh, just talking shop with your ah—"

  "Boyfriend," Kyle finished for him as he stood.

  "I should be going. It was nice chatting with you." He side stepped the coffee table and Kyle walked him to the door. There he paused and the Air Yeti tried to walk through the house and bounced. It looked angry and kept trying to ram the house, but wasn't getting out. He was going to have to go out the mundane door. Only way to get round the wards.

  Dumb Elemental.

  "Yes?" Kyle said, realizing he was watching an Elemental he really shouldn't be seeing.

  "About any kind of heirloom Sam might have had—"

  "Why is that important?"

  "Just something Thorn was looking for. Perhaps something she was buried with."

  The hairs on the back of Kyle's neck stood up at that moment. He plastered a smile on his face and nodded. "I'll find out and give you a call?"

  "I'd appreciate that. Have a good night, Mr— Kyle."

  Once the door was shut and the Air Yeti out, Kyle mentally slammed every ward shut on the house, careful not to lock that bastard and his creepy monster inside the yard. Then he marched into the living room where Jack was about to put a cheese and caper covered cracker into his mouth. He plucked it from his lover's hand, dropped it on the plate, then grabbed the tray with everything on it, walked into the kitchen with Jack behind him and dumped tray and all into the garbage.

  "Hey—that was nearly a whole block of cream cheese. You know I love that snack."

  "Yes I do. And you're not touching anything that asshole has touched. If I had a can of Anti-Witch-puppet Lysol I'd cover the house in it."

  Jack put his hands on Kyle's shoulders. "What the hell happened?"

  Oh shit. Kyle—

  "Not now Ivan!"

  "Ivan?" Jack looked around. "Is he here?"

  "In a way."

  Sorry. I'll butt out but just so you know, that judge, that Thomas Allen? He's the one presiding over the hearing to exhume Sam's body. It's set for Monday morning.

  It was early Saturday morning.

  Kyle put his hand to his forehead. "Fuck."

  TEN

  It wasn't hard to find Bastien in the woods around Gypsy Gardens. The Link they shared honed in on him like radar. Tas walked through the woods, looking up between the trees at the stars. A clear night. She inhaled the smells of the swamp around them. It would be a perfect night, if she only knew where Lizzie was. Was she safe? Was she hurting? Was she being fed? Loved?

  Was she…alive?

  came Bastien's voice in her mind as he stepped out of the trees. He moved to her, slipped his arms around her and pulled her to him. He was hot to the touch, and smelled of musk and earth. Her Earth. Her Element. As he kissed her, the grass at their feet thickened, the leaves on the trees and bushes multiplied and any un-bloomed flowers blossomed, spreading their perfume on the breeze.

  Bastien pulled back first. "Don't think like that. Lizzie will be fine, no?"

  She smiled at him and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "I'm glad I finally realized your no means yes."

  "Was your trip successful?"

  Tas sighed and finally pulled away, but wove her fingers with his before she told him what they found in Ireland. Or, what they didn't. That Sam's grave was empty, but it did look as if something had been there, but taken away.

  "You think it's Crwys?" Bastien's tone was incredulous, but she could see anger in his eyes. "He spirited her away without telling us, and now she's gone again, no? That he…he does these childish things with no thoughts to anyone else."

  "Bastien—"

  "I know what you're going to say, Chérie. You will defend him, and his actions. But I still believe he should be here, searching for his child."

  She knew better than to argue with him again. Instead she released his hand and stepped back.

  "Aw…now you are mad?"

  "No, Bastien. I'm not mad. But I think you should continue searching. I think…" And she looked at the fresh blooms surrounding them, visible in the dim light from the stars. "This is your way of coping with Lizzie's absence."

  "Chérie—"

  "Go, Bastien."

  He turned and shifted into a wolf as he ran, shredding his clothes as he disappeared. Tas sighed. He was going to go through a fortune in clothing. No wonder the Pack liked to shop at local consignment shops, as well as thrift stores. She didn't dare buy him a new suit. Though, the thought of Bastien in a tuxedo was nice—

  "A wolf? Really, sis? A wolf?"

  That voice!

  Tas whirled and had her bow knocked with an arrow before she faced the woman in front of her. She was shorter than Tas, by a foot or so, with long, blue black hair, exotic Asian features and soft, blue eyes
. She wore leather pants, boots, and what looked like a leather bra beneath a thigh-length leather coat. She leaned against a tree, her arms crossed in front of her.

  Lowering the bow, Tas dismissed her weapon and put her hand to her face. "Thea…why are you here?"

  "You didn't answer my question."

  "Which was—"

  "A wolf?"

  "Try it before you knock it. And again…why are you here?"

  Thea straightened and faced Tas. "So…he's good looking. I just…I don't think I've ever seen you with anybody. I didn't even know you knew how to do it—"

  "Thea!"

  The shorter Dragon smiled. "Oh you still have your hot buttons."

  If there was one of Tasoula's siblings she had the most issue with, it was Thea. She was the youngest of the five, a Dragon of Water and true to her element. She believed in communication, telling the truth and never hiding anything. Ever flowing and ever talking. Nothing ever seemed to bother her and if she hit a problem, she chewed on it for a bit, then either moved away from it or solved it. Her choices were random and half-hazard at best.

  She was also the most mischievous of the five—even more so than Dáinn, who often got himself into trouble. But where Dáinn's life appeared to spiral into trap doors, Tas would classify Thea as the one who laid the traps, so to speak. Mostly by just being herself. "Is there a point? I haven't seen you in fifty years, now you show up in New Orleans."

  "I hear you're actually working as a mundane!"

  "I'm a cop, yes." She rubbed at her forehead. "So what have you done now? Is it something Mother can't get you out of?"

  "Hardly," Thea clasped her hands together in front of her. "Mother wants Apollo home. Sent me out to round him up and bring him in."

  Tas straightened. That had her attention. God Mother never requested her children—except on two occasions. When they had done something unforgivable, or something was wrong and She needed their help. "What's happened?"

  "Beats me. Mother never really tells me things."

  "Because you'll blab it out to anyone you meet."

  "Oh posh! Come on, Artemis—"

  "Tas."

  "Tas? What kind of a name is that?"

  "It's a nickname for my human name. Tasoula Damali."

  "Sure. Okay. Tas. Let me start over—"

  But Tas was already walking away.

  Thea scrambled to catch up to her. "No, no wait. Really. I have to ask—why are you hanging around with all these Witches? And is that a real Faerie Cairn back there?"

  Tas stopped and turned. "What? Have you been hanging around and snooping?"

  "I've been looking for Apollo—"

  "Crwys."

  Thea narrowed her eyes. "Cruise? He's gone on a cruise?"

  "Crwys is his name. Crwys Holliard. He's also a cop."

  "Sweet Mother's Milk—what? Has everyone gone native?"

  Throwing up her arms in frustration, Tas continued walking away.

  "Seriously! We have to find Apo—Crewz."

  Again, Tas stopped, but this time she didn't turn to face her sister. "Thea, I don't know where he is. No one does. He suffered another heartbreak—"

  "Again?"

  "At least he has a heart, Thea." Now she did turn and exposed her saddened expression. "Unlike you."

  "I have a heart."

  "You've never been in love."

  "I was never in love when I was human either. Not quite sure what it is, but from the looks of what it does to people? No thanks. So…will you tell me what happened?"

  She really couldn't trust Tas. Not about a lot of things. But maybe having a perspective about what's been happening might help Thea find Crwys. So she gave Thea a brief story about Samantha, and Crwys, and about their strange family here in New Orleans. She talked about Lethe and God Mother's requested destruction of what she thought was a failed child. It became evident in Thea's expression she didn't know about Lethe. Didn't even know she was dead.

  "I'm sorry you had to learn about it from me."

  "I—" The shorter Dragon ran her fingers through her hair over her scalp, then lowered her hand. Some of the black strands tangled as others floated in the air around her like static. "How could she have just commanded the death of one of us?"

  "You hadn't been around, Lethe. What she did to Crwys—to Apollo—was beyond cruel. She used her power to control him, and she was using it to manipulate humans. That's not what we're here for."

  "And this Samantha killed her?"

  "No. She did help us defeat her so in the end, Mother took her back."

  "So," Thea walked a few steps closer. "There's no fifth Dragon?"

  "No."

  "Tas—that can't be. There can't be four without the fifth. She'll have to make another."

  "I think that's up to God Mother. I haven't sensed a new Dragon, have you?"

  "No but that doesn't mean shit."

  "Language."

  "Bite me." Thea stared at the ground. A small spring bubbled up from the loamy earth and formed a puddle. Would it remain there now that it was free? Probably. "There's something else."

  "You always were perceptive."

  "No. Not really. It's just obvious. Mother wouldn't send me to find him if she didn't need him. And the fact she sent me means she can't find him. He's hiding even from her. But what would she need him for?" Thea looked up at Tas and searched her face. "You're not telling me something."

  "Because what I know has to remain a secret. Lives depend on it."

  "I can keep a secret."

  "No. You can't. And I—"

  Both women stopped and looked around the swamp. Tas had felt something—just on the edge of her senses. And then it had moved away, and come back again.

  "We're not alone," Thea said, the second before she vanished, sinking feet first into the ground. Water bubbled up around where she'd been standing. Tas opened her Earth born senses, becoming one with the soil and plants around her, tracking down Thea as she moved through every tiny rivulet and stream of water around them. Tas looked to the right as she heard Thea's cry and then saw in her mind…something.

  It was there with her sister. An ephemeral form—an Elemental maybe? She commanded the Earth to form a cage around it, but it moved fast, much like water. It bore through her Earth, softening it and then barreled into Thea. Tas moved along the surface, following the fight until she stepped into a puddle ankle deep and water erupted up, spraying her and the plants around her.

  Thea climbed out of the small puddle and Tas bent to pull her the rest of the way out. Her sister was covered in mud. Twigs and rocks stuck to her clothing, as well as her hair. She was panting and half smiling. "That was one strong Witch."

  "Witch?" Tas said once Thea was all the way out and standing in the water and not part of it. "That was a Witch?"

  "Yeah it was. I thought…it was an Elemental at first. But it was traveling the Ley Lines. Hell Art—Tas. It was moving through the veins of the Earth! That's how it escaped me!"

  "I didn't know Witches could do that."

  "They can if they're powerful enough. Arcane magic can enhance the ability. In fact, I don't think they can do it at all without Arcane."

  Tas stared at the water at her feet. An Arcane Witch can move through the Elements like his or her Elementals? Had she ever seen Sam do this? She knew Dharma could travel with Ivan into the Cyber World because of the fluidity of her magic, but he hadn't been able to do the same with her. Not successfully. From what she remembered, Ivan had nearly drowned.

  This was a new one. And something she wanted to talk to Kyle and Arden about.

  "Tas—" Thea leaned to the side and twisted water out of her long hair. "What I did get from it, was that it was really interested in what we were talking about."

  Sweet Goddess! Tas hadn't even thought, or considered she could be spied on while standing on Arden's land. This land was warded, but another Witch was able to slip past those barriers…and they did it using the Earthen Ley Lines. She was damn h
appy she hadn't even mentioned the baby out loud. Just talked about Crwys and Sam. So who ever was listening probably didn't know much more than they knew before.

  Still…she really needed to talk to Arden. She pulled her phone out of her back pocket and pressed a number. Thea watched her and leaned forward, sniffing the hand holding the phone to her ear.

  "What're you doing?" Tas asked.

  "Checking that out. I've seen lots of humans use them…they're called phones?"

  "Cell phone."

  "Vervain residence."

  Tas's heart skipped. "Dharma?"

  "Hey Tas…did the wolves have any luck?"

  "No. Afraid not. Bastien's out in wolf form looking with the rest. He'll probably be out all night. Is Arwen there?"

  "No, she was heading over to Bell, Book and Candle. Ivan's there."

  "Did she need something there?"

  "She wanted to see Sam's apartment. Kyle called a little while ago and then she took off. Told me to stay here. What's going on?"

  Tas reached out with her free hand and gently pushed Thea back. She was invading her space with her nose against the phone. "Not sure. I can say for sure that Gypsy Gardens isn't as secure she thinks. I'll head over there too and see what's up." She disconnected and slipped her phone back in her pocket. "I have to go," and she walked toward a clear area. She'd flown in and would have to fly out and find a discrete place to land again closer to the Quarter.

  Thea followed. "I'm coming too."

  "No, you're not."

  "Yes I am! Look, there's fun here, and I want to help. Not to mention I have no idea where Crwys is and Mother will be pretty put off if I don't bring him home. So maybe we can stumble on him."

  Great. Tas glanced at her sister as the two of them changed forms. Two Dragons standing in a swampy field north of Gypsy Gardens, in the dark. Tas in her brown and gold form, and Thea in her blue and green form.

  Fine. Just…stay invisible. And do what I say.

  Don't I always?

  Thea's laughter rattled Tas's nerves as the two of them took flight.

  ELEVEN