by Deanna Chase
“Why not?”
“I’m not a demon,” she snapped.
“No? What are you then? A black magic witch? A rogue angel?”
“I’m your worst nightmare.” She bared her teeth to me and dove straight for us again.
Kane stepped forward, trying to shield me.
“Out of the way.” I shoved him, my magic already streaming from my fingertips. This bitch wasn’t going to stop until she breached the barrier. My only option was to neutralize her. The magic poured from my palms, bolting straight through my already weakened circle. The flash of light hit her in the chest, barely causing her to flinch. A second later, the evil being twirled and vanished right before our eyes. “Dammit!”
“What?” Kane asked glancing around. “She’s gone.”
“No, she isn’t. She’s just hiding out.” I scanned the confused crowd. Many of them were fleeing toward the front door, but many more sank into chairs to recover from however long they’d been watching the dancer.
“Do you feel her?” Kane pulled me through the club, scanning for any sign of her.
I shook my head. “There are too many people here. We have to shut down. Send them home before someone gets hurt.”
Kane gave me a short nod and led us to the front door.
Jeff was standing outside, his feet shoulder width apart, his arms crossed over his chest, taking up as much space as he could to keep the rowdy crowd on their side of the velvet rope.
“We’re shutting it down,” Kane told Jeff. “Send them home. We’ll be inside clearing out the club.”
Jeff raised an eyebrow in question. “Seriously? That’s some major cash you’re throwing away.”
“Doesn’t matter. Just do what you have to.”
“You got it, boss.” Jeff spoke into a hand-held walkie talkie, informing the other two bouncers there was a change in plans. “We’ll spread the word. Any official line you want us to use?”
“Say there’s a plumbing problem.” Kane glanced at me. “Do you want to wait out here?”
“Hell no.” What was he thinking? “The illusionist could show back up at any moment. The people in there are in danger.”
“I know. But I also know how that energy affects you. I just wanted to make sure you were all right.” He squeezed my hand. “Come on. Let’s go kick some evil ass.”
Chapter 11
The moment we stepped back into the club, my head started to buzz with that internal warning. “She’s back.”
“Where?” Kane took a step, half-blocking me from the crowd.
I cast him an irritated look. “I’m not sure, but I feel her. And so do they.” I waved toward the crowd once again pressed up against the stage, staring up at nothing. “She’s compelled them, and they’re waiting for her.”
“We have to do something.” Kane’s fists curled as he paced in front of me. His left hand reached for his dagger, finding his belt empty. “Dammit,” he mumbled, yanking his hand back down.
He was clearly missing the magic he’d become accustomed to.
“Call Lucien,” I said. “Tell him to get Rosalee and meet me here ASAP.” I was about to have some sort of magical showdown and I needed backup.
Kane whipped out his phone while I took a step forward, magic already crawling up my wrists. I had to get the crowd to leave, but I couldn’t spell them all into submission…or could I? I didn’t have enough power to compel them all to do anything. But I could give them a suggestion.
My limbs felt like lead as I forced myself across the room toward the crowd. The obsessive adoration for the dancer streaming from them was so intense, it chipped away at my imaginary glass barrier. My stomach rolled and my head started to pound as if I’d been poisoned.
But I pushed through. If she’d spelled them all by herself, she was extremely powerful, and who knew what she’d do to them? The closer I got, the harder it was to control my magic. It turned unwieldy, trying to spark and sputter, searching for something to connect to.
I paused and reached for the source of my magic just below my heart. Focusing, I pulled on the threads, reeling my magic back until it pulsed just beneath my skin. Confidence replaced the out-of-control feeling, and I glided over to the crowd. I raised my gaze, pretending I was one of them as I searched for the dancer. And then, ever so casually, I brushed my magic-tinged fingertips over an arm, leaving just a suggestion.
Go home. Relax.
The woman took a step back and frowned before she backed up toward the door.
Good. My magic was working. I worked my way along the crowd, brushing just enough suggestive magic over hands, arms, and backs. One by one, slowly but surely, people tore themselves from the crowd and migrated toward the exit.
As the crowd thinned, my limbs became lighter and wielding suggestive magic became second nature once more. My headache vanished as my stomach settled. I moved quicker through the crowd, skimming and brushing, barely touching.
But then a hand wrapped around my wrist. Red-hot anger crawled up my arm, boiling the magic that pulsed there. My knees buckled as I let out a cry of anguish. “Release me!” I demanded in vain.
“Drop the magic, witch,” the dancer ordered.
“Let the people go,” I countered, sending a bolt of power back at her. The magic burned and sizzled as it collided with hers. But as soon as my magic engulfed hers, she pulled her hand back and hissed.
“You’ll pay for that, witch.”
“Call me witch one more time and I’ll magically gag you.” It was a lie. That wasn’t something I could do off the top of my head. With a spell or potion, maybe, but I couldn’t just will it to happen like I did other bits of magic.
“Go ahead and try it.” She reached a hand out, and tendrils of gray smoke emanated from her fingertips.
“Stop that,” I said, my tone low and dangerous.
“Make me.” She glared and all but snarled.
A burst of magic shot from my palm and collided with the mist. Both trails ignited into a line of fire.
A collective gasp from the remaining crowd rose over the music still filling the club.
Her lips spread into a slow, self-satisfied grin. “That’s right, witch. Feed my power. Give me what I need.” She shot more mist from her finger toward the crowd.
“No!” I didn’t have a clue what her mist would do to our guests, but the energy radiating from it made my skin crawl. Her tainted power could do anything from knocking them over to turning them into zombies. The image sent a bolt of panic straight to my heart. Power welled up and exploded from me, collided with her mist, and created a connection. Our lines of power were locked in a tug of war as the line erupted into flames, dancing between us.
“Kane, get them out of here!” I saw him ushering people out of the club from the corners of my eyes as she and I circled each other, each trying to gain control over the other. The more I focused on her, the more the flames inched closer toward her. My confidence grew as I realized that whoever or whatever she was, I was the more powerful one.
Pressing forward, I said, “My coven’s on the way. It’ll be better for you if you give up now.”
Her green eyes narrowed with righteous indignation. “Give up? Never!” A burst of gray mist shot from her open mouth and rushed toward me.
“Ahh!” I cried as my eyes burned first, then my skin. “Stop!” Pain radiated from everywhere. My nerves screamed from the burning acid of her mist. I writhed in place, my magic still locked with hers, flames jumping all around me, fueled by her horrifying mist.
My brain had shut down. All I knew was anguish. Raw, unfiltered agony. I couldn’t stop her. Couldn’t do anything. Her acid was eating me alive.
“Jade!” I heard the faint call of Kane’s voice and wept in silence. He was here. He was going to watch me die.
I wanted more than anything to answer him. To tell him I loved him. To tell him he was the best thing that ever happened to me. That I would’ve loved to grow old with him. To have his children… My thro
at closed. I gasped for air, unable to breathe. My vision was already gone. I was nothing but darkness. And evil. It was there. Right in front of me. The black shadow of a broken soul. In my mind, I reached for it. Somehow I knew if I gave in, the pain would stop. I’d be free.
“Yessss,” the voice hissed. “Relent to me.”
The voice was seductive. Smooth. Inviting. “You’ll be with me now. The nightmare will end. I’ll take care of you.”
My magic started to fade as the will to fight slipped away.
“Jade!” Kane’s sharp voice penetrated my senses. “Come back to me. Do not give up.”
“Kane?” I said weakly.
“He’s here, waiting for you,” the voice whispered. “Let go, now. Kane’s here.”
“Jade!” The intensity of Kane’s call shot straight to my core, filling me up with unwavering resolve. “Fight this. Do not let the mist take you!”
His words broke through the haze and as I focused on him, my body convulsed with shock as my own magic burst around me, breaking her hold.
The world tilted and swam in my vision as I slammed to the floor, the hold on me broken. Blinking, I stared up at the ceiling.
Familiar magic pulsed in the air. Magic that called to me. My instincts responded and I reached for the magical current surrounding me. Cool relief filled me, numbing my raw nerves.
“Jade?”
I shifted my gaze to Lucien, who had his arm around Kane, holding him up. Kane was pale and holding his gut with one arm. The warning bells went off in my head as reality closed in around me. “What happened?” I croaked, trying to sit up.
A spasm seized my lower back and I sucked in a breath as I stiffened, unable to move.
“You were attacked,” Lucien said.
Frustration rose and threatened to choke me. “No kidding.” I cut my gaze to them as Lucien lowered Kane to the floor. My strong demon hunter reached out and grabbed my hand.
He was just as emotionally drained as I was. Nothing was radiating from him except relief and weariness.
I squeezed Kane’s hand, wishing I had some energy I could share with him. But right then it was all I could do to even stay conscious. “Where’s the demon?” My attacker had to be one. She wasn’t a witch or an angel. I would’ve recognized the energy signature. All demons were filled with darkness, just like the illusionist had been.
“Not a demon,” Kane said.
I gazed up at him. “No?”
He shook his head. “I can tell. I was stripped of my dagger, but my senses are still intact.”
“She’s a lesser Goddess. Calling her a demon will likely only anger her more,” Rosalee said, coming up from behind Lucien. The pretty witch was wearing tight jeans, a black T-shirt, and boots fit for an ass-kicking. She definitely looked ready to battle.
Crap. A Goddess. I didn’t know anything about lesser Goddesses, but the moon Goddess Lailah had summoned for us last year had been scary powerful. I hadn’t actually feared her, though. “Is she still here?” I rolled over on my side, peering through the dark club.
“She’s been…contained.” Lucien glanced at Rosalee, his green eyes gleaming with his considerable power.
The feeling was coming back into my limbs and while my arms and legs were stiff and heavy with fatigue, at least they weren’t burning anymore. Curling into a ball, I rolled over on my knees, careful of my back. Of all my injuries, it was the most debilitating. I met Kane’s eyes. “Are you all right?”
He nodded. “Just drained.”
I caught Lucien’s gaze then turned my attention back to Kane. “What happened?”
Lucien cleared his throat. “Rosalee and I had to use some of his energy to reach you.”
I stared wide-eyed at Lucien. “You were able to tap Kane’s energy?” I was the only empath of the group, and for me it wasn’t much effort to manipulate energy. But that wasn’t a talent of Lucien’s or Rosalee’s.
He nodded. “It wasn’t easy, but since you two already have a connection, it was the only thing I could think of. We had to tap his aura. He might be a little out of sorts for a while.”
Aura. I’d never thought of that. I’d never had to, since emotions were easy for me to see and feel…and manipulate if necessary, but manipulation was a last resort. “Yeah, he might.” I held out my hand to Kane and we both stood on shaky feet.
He didn’t say anything, but his arm came around me as he closed his eyes.
I tightened my grip on his waist, more than grateful he was okay. Then I glanced around the club. The lights had been turned on and shone down on the blue crushed velvet chairs. Everyone had left, including the staff. “That’s one way to close the place.”
Kane let out an ironic snort of laughter. “Maybe next time we’ll just announce last call and close the bar.”
I nodded. “Probably a better plan for sure.”
Neither Lucien nor Rosalee seemed amused with our jokes.
I took a deep breath. “Okay, tell me about this lesser Goddess. What kind of power are we talking about, and how is she being contained?”
Lucien glanced at Rosalee, who was pacing. “Maybe we should go somewhere else to discuss this.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Really? Why?”
Rosalee stopped and stared me in the eye. “Because even though she’s gone, she could be back at any moment. Our magic won’t hold her for long.”
“All right, but if she’s a Goddess then why did she attack everyone?”
“Goddesses aren’t all good, you know,” Rosalee said, her wide dark eyes narrowing. “If they want power, and most do, they’ll do whatever it takes to get it. Including trying to drain a white witch.”
Foreboding took up residence in my chest. “You’re saying she was here for me?”
“No,” Lucien said thoughtfully. “She was here for the incubus.”
Chapter 12
“Here for Kane?” I exclaimed. “But why?”
“Power, most likely,” Lucien said. “This place is so highly charged, any supernatural being who’s looking to boost their own powers will be drawn here. It’s why we need to go. The fabric of this place is too vulnerable. And so is Kane, considering he’s had his dagger stripped from him.”
“Is everyone for sure gone?” I asked, glancing around the empty room. Leaving anyone behind wasn’t an option.
“We need to do a sweep of the building.” Kane let go of me, looking slightly stronger. “We’ll do it in pairs. Lucien and I will take the upstairs. Jade, you and Rosalee check the back rooms and next door.”
“Got it.” As the guys took off toward the back hallway, I called, “Make sure to check on that new tenant, Zoe.” Suddenly Duke’s reaction to her hallway took on another layer of worry. Something must have been there for him to react that way. What if it had been this Goddess? Or some other supernatural creature waiting for an opportunity? “Tell her the place is being fumigated for termites or something. Send her to a hotel if you have to.”
“I’m on it,” Kane called back.
Lucien and Kane disappeared into the back hallway, and I cast my gaze on Rosalee. “Where did you two send the Goddess?”
“We didn’t send her anywhere. She slipped away into another dimension, I suppose. But there’s nothing to keep her there. After we broke the hold she had on you, we were trying to bind her, but she got away. She was sucking your power from you, you know.”
My heart sped up as I realized she was correct. She’d said something about feeding herself and she’d meant my magic. “I thought you said she was contained? How did she get away?”
“Lucien was just starting the binding spell when she seemed to slash a hole in the fabric of our world. Orange-red light flowed from it as she dove through the opening. Then when she was gone, Lucien and I sealed the hole, effectively locking her out of the club…for now.”
I nodded. If she could tear a hole in our dimension so easily, there was nothing to stop her from doing it again. They were right. She could be back at any m
oment. “Thanks for that.”
Rosalee, one of the more powerful witches in our coven, shrugged. She graduated from college not long ago and was currently managing a Wiccan bookstore. “It wasn’t anything you wouldn’t have done.”
I smiled at her. We didn’t say much else as we checked the office, the two storage rooms and then the cafe next door. Empty. Everyone had cleared out. A few minutes later, Lucien and Kane met us back in the club. “All clear?” I asked.
Kane nodded. “Zoe wasn’t there. I left a note and my cell number.”
“We should call her.” Without waiting, I shuffled back into the office and started rummaging through the file cabinets.
My fingers closed over her file just as Kane reappeared. He grabbed my hand and said, “Time to go. Now.”
The world shifted into an array of muted colors. Kane’s strange energy pressed against my skin, caressing me seductively, invading my senses until I was hot all over with reluctant need. My body responded, but my heart didn’t. There wasn’t anything inviting about the lust trying to claim me. In fact, it was just the opposite. All my instincts told me to run.
The world righted itself again as my feet slammed back into the ground, sending a bolt of pain through my back. Damn that hurt. A rush of light blinded me and my eyes watered from the shock of it. I blinked rapidly and yanked my hand from Kane’s.
“Jade?” he asked.
I took another step, putting more physical distance between us. His clothes rustled as he shifted closer, but I raised one hand. “Please, I need space.”
“Sure.” I heard the concern in his tone, felt the pang of it in my gut, but I couldn’t let him touch me. Not right then. Not after what I’d experienced in the shadows. It was still tainted with his incubus energy. But it also had an evil edge. One that had bile rising in the back of my throat. Kane wasn’t evil. I knew that. Knew it deep in my soul. Whatever or whoever had made this happen had used his energy and infected it. But that didn’t stop me from having such a visceral reaction to the awful reality that I now associated Kane’s energy with evil.
I blinked, finally registering our surroundings. We were standing in the driveway of a small yellow carriage house with vibrant hibiscus plants lining the porch. “That’s new,” I said, pointing to the security light that had blinded me.