"So you think she's fitting in."
"I think she's doing okay, but even if she wasn't fitting in, like I said, I don't think there's anything you can do about. And if you did try to do something, she'd likely kick you in the kneecaps."
He huffed in laughter at that, taking Callie's tone to heart. "All right, I won't interfere."
"Henri says we're going shopping this weekend for stuff for the Coven Ball. I'll try to talk to her then. But I think it will be okay."
Callie's advice reminded him why they'd been friends since they were children. She was good at parsing things out and making him relax about worries that were generally out of his control. Being groomed to be Coven Leader from such a young age had made him hyperaware of his surroundings and ingrained the desire to always 'fix' or 'handle' things that didn't necessarily require his attention. Callie had a way of getting him to see that quickly. Usually without coming to blows.
"Okay, I'm going to poke around about people's magic and maybe try a few more minor spells of my own to see if I can figure out any useful information."
"Thank you," Paris said. "Hannah is also doing some work and hopefully we can get this sorted out quickly, before it becomes too much of a problem."
He hung up with Callie's promise to come by his office tomorrow morning ringing in his ears. He heard the shower turn on upstairs and glanced sideways at the coffee pot. If Jade came down and there wasn't coffee, Paris would likely get an earful. He had to stand next to the pantry as he worked and as soon as he did, he got a sense of 'wrongness'. He tentatively loosened his hold on his magic, letting it brush up against the pantry. It was akin to reaching into a toilet tank. The brain kept saying it was clean, but the hand screamed otherwise. He snatched his magic back. Paris wondered if it was just the consequence of demon magic - perhaps once a space had been used as a portal, as Jade's pantry had been, it would forever carry a taint. He'd have to keep looking in his mother's grimoires and see if there was anything about a lingering effect.
While the coffee was brewing he heard a strange thud from upstairs and was about to call out to see if everything was all right when he heard Jade's elephant footsteps coming down the stairs. He knew she could be quiet when she wanted to, but she clearly felt comfortable enough in her cottage to be as loud as she liked. It wasn't much, but he supposed it was something to show she was settling in.
Jade entered the kitchen in yoga pants and one of her graphic t-shirts. He didn't understand most of the clothing she wore and this was no exception. There was some kind of chemical compound detailed on the front and he frowned at it, wondering what it meant.
"Eyes are up here, English," Jade said. Her grey eyes stared at him coldly.
Paris started as he realized he'd effectively been staring at her chest. "My apologies. I was... your shirt..." he made a vague pointing notion, not letting his eyes wander down again.
She glanced down. "Oh yeah," she said with a smile. "That's the compound for caffeine. Cool, huh?"
He nodded once, not sure what the appropriate response was.
"So," she continued. "Have I broken the Coven or what?" She made a waving motion toward the grimoires on the table.
Paris turned back toward them, grateful for the shift in conversation. "As far as I can tell, no. It wasn't you."
"Oh thank fuck," Jade replied, sagging slightly. "I was starting to question I really knew anything if I'd somehow managed to break the Coven without even realizing it."
"Well, while it's good news for you, it's bad news for me. Or rather, the Coven."
"Puts you back at square one?"
"Just so," he said, nodding slightly. He pushed the demon grimoires away from him a bit as he sat down, still feeling a lingering, grimy feeling on his hands. "I'll call in the department heads tomorrow and see if anyone is working on anything large or unusual. There's always Research and Development. They might have done something untoward in their work."
"What are the chances it's another demon?" Jade asked as she stepped over to the coffee put, pulled a mug down from the cupboard and started pouring.
"Contrary to your experiences when you first arrived here, we don't have a problem with demons. They stay in their dimension and we stay in ours."
She shrugged. "So you think, anyway."
"I assure you, what happened to you with Matthew making a demon deal and then with..." Paris made a vague gesture that he hoped conveyed the demon Seth who had taken an interest in Jade. Paris disliked saying his name, especially when surrounded by demon grimoires. Seth was the kind of demon that would stretch the rules as far as he could. If he could make it seem like Paris or Jade called him forth, into their dimension, he would. Jade nodded, understanding his reluctance. He continued, "Those things are not common. I'll certainly look into it, but I'm fairly confident it's not demon magic."
Jade sipped her coffee and shifted a bit on her feet. "Um, do you want me to look into it? I'm better at the demon stuff than you are."
Paris hated to admit she was right. Not because he had any problem with Jade being better at something than him, but because it highlighted her acuity with demon magic. She was astoundingly good at it and could read the demon grimoires for longer than he could. He wasn't sure what it meant, but it made him uneasy to say the least.
"For now, no. Although I appreciate the offer."
She shrugged again. "Suit yourself." She took another sip of her coffee. "So what's with this mixer?"
Paris had no clue what she was talking about. "I'm sorry?"
Jade waved her hand. "The mixer. The Coven Ball thing. What's that all about?"
"It's a social event organized by the Coven for the Coven. It promotes togetherness and familiarity. Gives the Coven a chance to socialize outside of work."
Jade snorted into her coffee a bit. "Jeez you sound like you rehearsed that from a brochure. Don't make it sound too great or anything."
He frowned. "It's generally a nice event."
"Oh my god, stop. You're making it sound worse." She fiddled with her cup. "So, everyone has to go?"
"Generally speaking, attendance is not mandatory, but most people choose to go. I had hoped to present you formally to the coven."
"You'd hoped to what now?" Jade asked back quickly, eyes narrowing.
"When a witch comes of age, there's a ceremony of sort for family and friends. An introduction of the new witch into the Coven proper as a functioning member of the whole. It's a good way for our children to feel like they've finally achieved a certain status."
"I'm not a child. I pay utilities and have to clean out the fridge and take stuff in for dry-cleaning. Full-on adult. Have been for a few years now."
Paris nodded in agreement. "Yes, but you've not yet had a chance to be introduced to the Coven as a whole."
"Getting almost killed by one of your members and bickering with a demon was introduction enough, thank you."
He studied her carefully. She'd begun to inch away from him as though the very thought of being formally presented to the Coven, or being considered part of the Coven was anathema to her. Paris didn't want to push, but he couldn't help but feel like this would be an important step for her in belonging.
"Please consider it," he asked. "It's ceremonial and has no impact on your power or your magic, but I do think it would be a good gesture. For the Coven and for you."
Jade shrugged noncommittally and Paris felt his own shoulders sag. He didn't think he'd get more from her tonight and decided he should cut his losses.
"Let me know. I won't bring it up again." The silence hung between them for a moment as he gave her the chance to speak, but she remained silent. "All right. I'll leave you to your studies," he said, indicating the grimoires. He felt his nose wrinkle slightly in distaste at the books. "While I don't believe your work has anything to do with our Coven magic problem, please continue to be careful."
"Sure," she said causally.
Paris made his way out of her kitchen, pausing at the front doo
r when he heard a loud thump, like before, from upstairs. He glanced sharply at the ceiling. "What was that?"
"Uh, window. Open."
"It's fairly cold outside."
"I like the fresh air. Okay! See you tomorrow!"
Jade swung the door open and made a sweeping gesture to usher him out.
"Good night, Jade."
"Yep, 'night."
He saw her looking up the stairs with a resigned scowl on her face before she shut the door on him.
#
When her alarm went off the next morning, Jade again woke up with Bruce pressed against her back, almost pushing her from her side to her stomach. She slapped her alarm and then nudged her body backwards, trying to get Bruce to move over a couple inches.
He didn't budge. Jade pushed back a bit more, rolling a bit onto her back and over top of him. One of his feet came out and kicked her in the kidney. It wasn't hard, but it was definitely a 'stop moving' kind of kick.
Great. Her bed was taken over by a giant lizard.
Rolling out of the other side, she grabbed her running clothes and dressed quickly. She set the coffee pot up and then headed out to meet Daniel. She decided to give him a break today and left her MP3 player at home, figuring yesterday's run with pop tunes was enough punishment.
By the time she was back, sweaty and feeling a little gross, Bruce was sleeping on the heat vent in the foyer, his serpentine-like belly pressed up against the grate.
"You're gonna burn yourself," she said disapprovingly. He flicked his tongue at her and settled back down. The house was chilly with the windows she'd left open for him. She'd have to think of a better solution. So far, it seemed it was working. She hadn't yet found any lizard-messes about (and god, she didn't even want to think about what that might entail), but it wasn't a permanent solution with winter coming up. Maybe she could get a doggy-door installed or 'magic' the door to let Bruce in and out.
Such was her life these days - worrying about how she was going to let a seventy-pound lizard in and out of her house easily.
Jade shook her head at Bruce, rolling her eyes slightly. Fine. If he wanted to scald his belly, he could have at it. She headed for the kitchen for coffee. She'd finish going through her routine - having a cup or two, shower, getting ready - and then head to the Coven.
She paused as soon as she stepped foot in the kitchen, her eyes immediately drawn to the pantry.
"Seth," she muttered.
The pantry door swung open slowly and she wanted to bolt from fear as well as roll her eyes again at his theatrics.
"Hello, possum. Miss me?"
CHAPTER SIX
Seth looked the same as the last time Jade saw him. He was unbelievably good looking - dark hair, dark eyes, but he was too slick looking, too... slippery. She guessed it had to do with his demon nature, but she wasn't about to ask. Dressed in dark jeans and a grey Henley, he looked so regular and casual. If she passed him on the street, she would've been hard pressed to identify him for what he was. Except for his eyes. They were black obsidian; glittering like an oil slick on a sunny day. He must have his power dialed down. Sometimes, Jade couldn't look at him without getting sick and dizzy. Seth had some kind of ability to turn his 'otherness' down lower, so Jade could look at him without feeling like she was about to tip over.
Seth showing up in her pantry wasn't exactly a surprise. After the last time they talked Jade knew she hadn't seen the last of him. Seth wanted her to make a deal with him and Jade had the feeling he'd keep showing up until she did. She was prepared to keep saying no; no matter what carrots he dangled in front of her. Even if they had to do with Lily.
She forced her shoulders down and back - she tended to hunch them up and forward when she was scared. She grabbed a mug from the cupboard and poured herself a cup of coffee, keeping her movements methodical, even and slow. Next was creamer from the fridge and then she stirred her drink as though she didn't have a care in the world.
"A little help here, possum. I seemed to be trapped in your pantry."
"I know," Jade replied, feigning the casualness she didn't feel. "It's the only part of the house I didn't ward." She turned back to face him, feeling fortified by her coffee cup, holding it in front her like a shield.
The door to the pantry was open, Seth standing just inside, leaning against the jamb. "Afraid you would miss me?"
"More like, I figured you'd show up again and at least this way, I've a good guess of where it'll be."
"Ah, the devil you know." He smiled, dark eyes shining. "You do remember anytime you want to see me, all you have to do is call."
"I left the pantry unwarded so I would know where you would show up, not because I wanted to see you again."
"Me thinks the lady doth protest too much." When he smiled, his teeth were like sharp, pointed pickets, lined up in his mouth - hard and dangerous.
"Why are you here?" Jade asked, trying not to let Seth get a rise out of her. That's what he wanted, to keep her off balance - probably in the hopes that it would eventually lead to her making a deal with him. She wasn't going to let that happen.
"Once again, I'm here to offer you a bit of goodwill, possum. I can't help but feel like we got off on the wrong foot."
"You came into my bedroom in the middle of the night and threatened me."
"I offered you information," Seth countered. "There was another demon after you, one called by a witch in your Coven and I graciously offered to give you details."
Jade rolled her eyes so hard they almost hurt. "You wanted a deal."
"Still do," Seth admitted showing off his teeth again. "That's why I'm here again, out of the goodness of my cold, black heart to tell you there's trickery afoot, possum. Trickery afoot."
Jade wanted to ask him if this was about Coven magic being compromised, weakened, or whatever was wrong with it, but she always felt like Seth was fishing for information at the same time he was offering it. She hated to think that she would let something slip that he didn't already know. He paused waiting for her to say something and she had to nearly grind her teeth together to fight the urge to speak.
He smiled again at her silence, lips curling and eyes lighting up. "Clever possum. You're quite good at this. Are you sure you haven't dealt with demons before?"
"There've been a few bottom feeders in my life. You're kind of all the same."
Seth held up a hand against his chest in mock affront. "You wound me."
"Are you going to continue to posture and grandstand? I've gotta get ready for work." Jade jerked her head toward the kitchen door.
"Very well, possum. Have you noticed something amiss in the Coven's magic?"
"Maybe," Jade hedged. "So what?"
"Well, maybe," Seth said, matching her tone, "I know something about it."
You sure didn't waste anytime coming to talk to me about it, thought Jade. As far as Jade knew, something had been wrong with Coven magic only since last night. It made her nerves tingle to see how fast Seth showed up at her door. Well, in her pantry. Whatever.
"And you think it's worth a deal."
Seth shrugged, casually tapping at the doorjamb with the tip of one of his fingers. "You'll have to make one to find out."
"No dice," Jade said, shrugging one shoulder.
"I could be persuaded to add in some extras. Maybe some information about Lily?"
Jade felt a stone sink in her gut. If there was one thing that always got to her, it was Lily - even just the mention of her name. She forced herself to take a measured breath before she spoke. "You keep playing that card and I've yet to hear anything worthwhile."
"I can't play my biggest card without something from you first."
"Then I guess we're at a draw," Jade replied. She told herself Seth didn't know anything about Lily. No one did, no one but Jade. People may know her name and know that she was someone from Jade's past, but that was it. No one knew anything else. No one knew the truth.
Seth made a low, quiet 'hmm'ing sound that made the
hairs on the back of Jade's neck stand up and prickle. "You know, you're not my only iron in the fire, possum. It could be that I end up growing tired of playing these games with you and move on to greener pastures."
"If you want to threaten me, you shouldn't make it sound like something I actually want."
Seth stared hard at her, his obsidian eyes glittering. Sometimes Jade thought they moved, like liquid held back by a thin meniscus. "You're dying to ask me questions, aren't you"
"You tried this game once already and I did just fine without your help last time."
She saw something flicker in his eyes. "Tell me, how are the scars healing? Demon wounds often get infected. All sorts of nasty things like to hide out in our claws."
It made her want to run upstairs, grab some peroxide and start swabbing at her healing wounds. She stayed still by reminding herself that Dr. Gellar was quite good at her job. The stitches were out now and Jade's skin appeared to be on the mend with no sepsis in sight.
Still... hell, she should take a bleach shower just to be on the safe side. Demons, sewers... blergh. A tickety-tack sound on the linoleum broke through her thoughts and she saw Seth's eyes go wide with humor.
"What is that? Possum, have you gotten yourself a pet?"
Out of the corner of her eye, Jade could see Bruce waddling into the room. He took one look at Seth and his lizard-Elizabethan collar flipped up, a hissing sound emanating from him. Seth laughed and Bruce scurried forward, stopping just outside the pantry, spitting and snapping at the demon.
Seth laughed. "Oh my, you are entertaining. Wherever did you get such a creature?" He eyed Bruce thoughtfully and then sniffed the air a bit. "Is that the distinct aroma of magic and... sewer, I detect? What a horrid little thing."
"Hey, you shut up about Bruce," Jade said before she could stop herself. It was one thing to come in here and insult or taunt Jade, but it was another thing to do it to Bruce, who clearly didn't realize he was totally out of his element and probably thought he was protecting her.
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