Jane The Nymph: The Boxed Set (The Circle Series Book 2)

by Naomi L Scudder

  Jane fished a sweatshirt out of her backpack and tugged it on.

  “Zora’s really excited you stopped by.” Jade lowered her voice. “She hasn’t been doing well these last few days. I think you’re just what she needed.”

  Jane didn’t have a response to that. She made herself comfy in one of Zora’s overstuffed armchairs as she sized up the emerald-eyed Jade. “You’re a green witch, like me,” she said.

  “Yup, but you’re not just a green witch, are you?” Jade smiled at Jane’s visible discomfort. “Don’t worry, Zora only told me that you housed something really special. She didn’t give away all your secrets.”

  Jane sighed. The fewer people knowing she was anything other than a green which, the better. She didn’t like Zora telling anyone anything about her, but at least she didn’t give away her demon secret.

  Not that Zora knew. Jane didn’t even know the creature within her was a demon when Zora pulled her out of the woods. It was a secret Zora couldn’t give away.

  “JANE! I’m so happy you stopped by!” Zora appeared from the back of the condo, broad smile not quite hiding the purple smudges under her swollen, red-rimmed eyes.

  The nearly six-foot tall woman bent down to hug Jane. She ended up buried in Zora’s frizz-fro.

  Zora gasped as embraced Jane. She pulled away and looked at Jane, long and hard. “Are you OK? You’re even bonier than when we first met. Jade, would you get the samples from that bakery for Jane?”

  Jade nodded and Jane looked at the ground.

  The training time with the katana, plus the concentration it took to manipulate the demon’s magic every day was an extra drain on her metabolism that Jane couldn’t afford. The others hadn’t noticed the gradual hollowing of her cheekbones, or the safety pins keeping her pants from sliding off her narrow hips. But Zora hadn’t seen Jane in months.

  “I’ve been training hard.”

  Zora nodded. “Preparing to meet Droshin?”

  Jane nodded. “That’s where I came from, actually, it’s why I’m here.”

  “Oh! Do the girls need a place to stay? I have a room and a couch, they’re more than welcome to it.” Jade handed Zora a pink box. “Here,” Zora said offering Jane the pink bakery box. “We’re thinking about carrying some of their desserts in The Laughing Cat, so the owner stopped by with some samples of their most popular items.”

  “Thank you.” Jane opened the box. The white tissue paper covering the samples had the name of the bakery written in gold foil - Xan’s Pâtisserie. Jane smiled and looked at the tiny cakes and tarts in the box. “I know the owner,” she said and picked out a small glazed cake with a blueberry on top. She resisted the urge to shove the whole cake in her mouth at once, it would fit, and she was always hungry but Jane didn’t want to look like she wasn’t taking care of herself.

  She took a small bite and savored the delicate cake. The light lemon flavor of the glaze, the perfect texture of the moist cake, the vanilla flavor that came from actual vanilla beans, not extract. Jane sighed and sat back in the armchair, relaxing into the depths of its cushions.

  “This is really good.”

  “Just wait, it gets better,” Jade said.

  Jane couldn’t imagine how the cake could get any better. She took another bite, finishing the small dessert and started giggling.

  She didn’t know why she was giggling, or what was so funny. In fact, Jane didn’t want to giggle at all, but she couldn’t help it.

  Zora smiled at her. “Those are called Tahitian Giggle Cakes. Tahitian because that’s the kind of vanilla she used and giggle cakes because the owner infuses her desserts with fae charms. Isn’t it wonderful?”

  “No,” Jane said between giggle fits. “You’ve basically drugged me without my consent.” Jane paused as another fit of laughter gripped her. “I wanted to be clear headed.” Jane doubled over, holding her sides as she laughed.

  Jade and Zora shared a look. “Don’t worry, it’ll wear off in a few minutes,” Zora said to Jane. Then, to Jade, “Let’s make sure we put a warning on the menus. We don’t want people saying we giggle-raped them.”

  Jade nodded. “I’ll make sure all the servers and bar staff are trained to inform customers of what they’re buying.”

  As the charm wore off Jane got back to business, albeit with the occasional lingering giggle breaking into her sentence. “I might take you up on that offer later, but I’m not here about using your condo.”

  Zora sighed. “What do you need Jane? I’ll try to help any way I can.”

  Before she asked for something else from the woman who’d saved her life, Jane thought it was important to acknowledge what Zora was going through. “I’m really sorry about Amari,” Jane said, hesitating with each word. She held Zora’s icy blue eyes and continued. “I didn’t know him well, but he was fair to me, and I know he did his best with the people in The Circle.”

  Tears pooled in Zora’s eyes but she blinked them away before they fell to her cheeks. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  7

  “Every time I think I’m getting better, every time I think it’s starting to hurt less it hits me in the face again. I don’t know how long I can keep doing this.” Zora hugged her arms around herself and sobbed.

  Jade threw Jane a dirty look and tried to comfort her friend. “What’s wrong with you?” she mouthed at Jane.

  But Jane had done it on purpose. She wanted Zora raw and emotional. Jane slid out of the armchair and sat on the floor at Zora’s feet. She looked the tear streaked woman right in her puffy eyes. “The pain, the anguish you’re feeling right now, I want you to use it.”

  Zora shook her head. “I don’t want to feel this way anymore.”

  “Then let’s transmute it into something helpful.”

  Zora nodded and wiped the snot off her lip with her wrist. “How?”

  “Do you remember the spell you did to figure out if Droshin had followed me out?”

  Zora sniffed and nodded. “Yeah, his energy is easy to pinpoint.”

  “Could you rework that spell to find him?”

  “Well, yeah, that’s actually what the spell is made for - I cast for a specific energy.”

  Jane sighed. “Droshin moved from the compound. I have no idea where he or the other girls are. Would you find him for me?”

  It was Zora’s turn to sigh. “Jane, I haven’t used any kind of magic since...”

  Jane was tempted to use the demon’s telepathy to help win Zora over. No, I don’t want to rely on the demon’s abilities any more than I have to. And, she didn’t want to manipulate Zora into helping her any more than she already had.

  “I have to help these girls, Zora. I can do it without you, but I’d really like you to help.”

  Zora chewed on her lip and looked at Jade.

  Jade nodded at her. “It would do you some good to stretch those magical muscles.”

  “Please, Zora. Help me find these girls. Help me find the evil fucker that captured and enslaved me.”

  Jade petted Zora’s head, her hand buried in the massive halo of frizzed out curls. “At the very least it’ll be a good distraction,” she offered.

  Zora took a breath and nodded.

  Jane blew out the breath she was holding. “Do you remember what his energy feels like?”

  Zora nodded. “I’ll never forget what that monster felt like.” Zora closed her eyes and focused. A moment later, she opened them again. “Um, can you guys give me some space?”

  Jane and Jade both backed off as Zora lowered her lids and again tried focusing on Droshin’s new location.

  She’s out of practice, the demon whispered in Jane’s mind. I can help her.

  No, leave her alone, Jane said and shut the mental door she’d been keeping open since discovering how useful the demon’s magic was.

  As soon as she closed the door separating her mind from the demon’s Jane felt her tattoo wriggle circles around her arm.

  She tugged at her sleeve, hoping it would cover the
magical Ouroborus which linked the two souls together, and focused on something other than the electric zings wrapping around her arm.

  And then the air in the condo grew thin. Zora’s skin glowed as she channeled every bit of herself and the ambient magic in the ether into her spell. “He’s far,” she said. “Really far, his energy his hard to home in on.”

  “Try expanding your spell,” said Jane.

  “I am, but there’s only so far my net can reach.”

  “Don’t push too hard, Zora. It’s been-”

  “No, I’ve almost got it.” Zora’s nose scrunched as she finally found Droshin’s energetic signature. “There you are,” she said, opening her eyes. “He’s way north of here. Centralia?”

  “Pennsylvania?” Jane asked.

  “The burning oil place?” Jade asked.

  “Yeah.” Zora shook her head and brushed her arms. “I really hate reaching out to him, he feels so...” Zora searched for the right word. “Stifling.”

  Jane scoffed. “Try actually being imprisoned by him, then you’ll know how stifling he is.”

  Zora bowed her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

  Jane holstered her attitude and apologized as well. “Sorry, it’s just now I have to come up with a new plan. And I don’t know a thing about the layout of the area or what kind of place he’s staying at. He’s got me at a disadvantage.”

  Before Zora could say anything, someone banged on her front door. Not just knocking. Banging like the police when the neighbors call and complain about the noise from the party, banging like they have a warrant for your arrest.

  Jane looked at Zora who drew in on herself. She folded her arms and tried to take up as little space as her six feet would allow. “I’ll get it,” said Jade.

  “Lucy!” Jade said when she opened the door.

  “Come quick! I just saw Gunnar being dragged up the street!”

  Jane was curious what the strange woman meant but turned to see Zora’s reaction. Anger and hatred seeped into every part of her face. She gritted her teeth and the ambient temperature in the room rose by at least twenty degrees. “Is that so?”

  Lucy nodded. “I think it’s The Garrison,” she whispered.

  “What do you mean you think?” Zora asked.

  “You know how they are. I couldn’t actually see them.”

  Just then, Jane felt a strange tugging in her center. An odd sensation she’d never experienced before.

  Lucy and Jade gasped and both touched their middles.

  “It’s a trial.” Zora sneered as the words left her mouth. “Come on, that’s the only invitation we’re getting.”

  8

  The four women followed the insistent tug on their middles until they and the rest of the magical community were gathered in the center of town.

  As Jane stepped over the curb and into the infamous traffic circle, warm tingles of alien magic fell around her head and shoulders. The ward designed to keep non-magical eyes from prying sent a single shiver down Jane’s spine. As soon as she crossed beyond it the tugging at her bellybutton stopped.

  The ward was like no magic Jane had ever felt before.

  She elbowed her way to the front of the crowd.

  There the huge and powerful Gunnar stood, steely eyes wide, perfect suit wrinkled, and shaking in his Italian leather shoes. As hard as she tried Jane couldn’t see who or what else was in the circle with him. Her eyes refused to focus, like looking at something with only peripheral vision.

  An unseen gong sounded, the low, metallic tone brought silence to the soft murmurs of the crowd, and the figure holding Gunnar allowed itself to be seen.

  Bending and folding the light around it, the creature came into view. Black hair and cloak, sharp pointed feature, and huge crow’s wings that spanned over the heads of the onlookers, from one end of the traffic circle to the other.

  “Holy fuck,” Jane said under her breath.

  She was magnificent in a terrifying way.

  “What is it?” she whispered to the small fae woman next to her.

  The woman’s eyes almost bulged out of her skull. “It’s The bloody Morrigan!” she whispered and fixed her gaze on the creature before them.

  Jane wracked her brain, trying to recall exactly what The Morrigan was. It sounded familiar but she couldn’t quite remember what her deal was.

  She’s the emissary for The Garrison. Although it seems she’s got her executioner’s hat on today, the demon breathed in Jane’s mind.

  Be quiet. When I want your help I’ll ask for it. Jane hated the demon barging into her thoughts, even if the info was useful.

  “Thank you all for answering the call.” The Morrigan smiled, full red lips stretching under her beak-like nose. “Not that you had a choice.” Her throaty alto voice bounced off the walls of the ward, the sheer volume drawing a grimace on everyone’s face.

  Jane had to keep herself from covering her ears - she didn’t want to be rude.

  “Gunnar Ahlstrom,” The Morrigan continued. “You are charged with crimes against the magical community including: intentionally keeping energy imbalanced in your assigned sector, defying direct orders from The Garrison, and most importantly, keeping wild magic locked away to use for yourself. Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

  Shoulders bowed inward and knees visibly shaking beneath his once perfectly pressed and hemmed slacks, Gunnar stammered, “I-I...”

  “Speak up!” she shouted, and with her words The Morrigan snapped the man’s head upward, focusing his attention on her terribly beautiful face. “Say what you will but say it so the people you abused can hear you.”

  Tears ran down Gunnar’s ashen cheeks. “Please, please let me look away.”

  Jane had a hard time looking away from the crow-woman’s face herself. The angular points and beak nose shouldn’t have been appealing, but Jane was transfixed.

  Don’t look in her eyes, warned the demon.

  Jane didn’t question it and forced herself to look at a point just beyond The Morrigan’s head.

  “Please!” Gunnar begged, fists balled, arms and shoulders shuddering as he sobbed.

  The Morrigan’s lip curled as she let go of whatever magic held his gaze on her. “Say your peace, Norse Man.”

  Gunnar took a heaving, shuddering breath and to his shoes said, “I knowingly defied The Garrison and kept the enthrallment and imbalanced energy problems in The Circle, that is all true. But I did not do it for my own benefit. And you know that.” The last Gunnar whispered, barely more than breath in the air.

  “The reason matters not.” The Morrigan’s voice bounced off the ward again, this time making the onlookers duck their heads as if her booming voice was something they could escape. “You’ve admitted your crimes publicly, now it’s time for you to pay for them. Gunnar Ahlstrom, you are sentenced to-”

  “Wait. Why doesn’t motive matter?”

  Everyone in the circle gasped at Jane’s interruption.

  What are you doing?! hissed the demon.

  The Morrigan turned in Jane’s direction. Slow and deliberate, the woman’s neck swiveling too far around to be anything but a fucking owl.

  Jane averted her gaze before she got caught in whatever eye mojo the demon warned her about.

  “Step forward, Jane.”

  “Oh fuck,” she whispered.

  Jane walked to the center of the circle, eyes on the ground not daring to look the crow-woman in the face.

  In for a penny, right? Jane took a breath. “It should matter, shouldn’t it? If he had a good reason, then his punishment should be less than if he did those things because he’s a power-hungry narcissist. Right?”

  “Ms. Moretti, why do you care what happens to the man who actively sabotaged your attempts to free yourself of-”

  “Because,” Jane cut her off before the hag gave away all her secrets. It was bad enough she knew her last name. Even Droshin didn’t have that info. “I’d want the same done for me. The pun
ishment should equal the crime, and you can only be certain of that if you understand why a person acted.”

  Jane focused on The Morrigan’s nose, which had the benefit of letting her read the woman’s expression while also keeping her sane.

  The crowd was silent, the air inside the ward stilled as the crow-woman smiled at Gunnar.

  He screamed as The Morrigan invaded his mind with tendrils of foreign smoky magic.

  Jane couldn’t help a step back.

  Again, the crow-woman smiled at Gunnar, retracting the magic as she did. “This tiny girl has just saved your life, Norse Man.”

  Gunnar sobbed, head frozen and eyes locked once again on The Morrigan’s.

  “Gunnar Ahlstrom, you are hereby stripped of your standing in this community. All knowledge, abilities, and resources will be seized, and The Corporation will be dismantled. Do you understand your punishment?”

  Gunnar nodded.

  Jane met The Morrigan’s eyes.

  And retched in her mouth.

  9

  Blackened sclera dotted with silver strands of clotted protein gave The Morrigan’s unseeing, over-sized eyes a beautiful marbled galaxy effect.

  Jane was both transfixed by their beauty and horrified at the cold, empty feeling they elicited within her.

  It was like looking into the void of space.

  A chilling dampness formed in Jane’s middle, spreading through her organs, into the very bones of her limbs. Jane was certain, even as she stood gasping for air, that she was experiencing the coldness of death.

  I told you, the demon said to Jane’s mind. It gets worse.

  Noble, Jane Moretti. Very noble indeed. The Morrigan weaved herself through Jane’s mind, picking out thoughts and memories at will. But I must forbid it.

  Forbid what? Jane sobbed as she stared into the vacuous depths of the eyes of death.

  You must not get involved with that vampire again.

  Droshin? I have to.

  The crow-woman sighed in Jane’s mind. Yes, you are a noble girl, but The Garrison will deal with Droshin. You are ill-equipped to deal with such a monstrosity. Even with the demon you’ve bent to your will.