Shadow Demon

by Judith Post

  Damian held it wide, and they hurried inside. He ran after them as they rushed up the stairs to Jimmerson’s room.

  Jimmerson gulped as empty boxes jostled toward him. He pulled his gun. “Stop there!”

  “It’s the girls. Don’t shoot.” Andre stepped between the detectives and the witches. Hecate and Reece reversed their spells and firmed to view.

  “How did you do that?” Jimmerson’s partner’s lips were rimmed in white. He, too, held his gun in a two-handed stance. He didn’t lower it.

  “An obscuring spell. We couldn’t let Nen see us. I'm sorry we scared you.” Reece hadn’t been thinking. “Hopefully, we’ve trapped him, but it won’t last. It’s just to buy us some time.”

  Jimmerson turned to his partner. “They’re friends. They’ve worked with us before. Reece, Hecate, this is Gordy. Gordy, these are the witches who are helping us.”

  Gordy’s hands shook as he tucked his gun into its holster. “Witches, huh? I didn’t know white witches looked so hot. Maybe I should hang out with more of them.”

  An attempt at humor. A feeble one, but something. He was just a kid, probably in his mid-twenties, but if Pete picked him for his team, he must be good.

  Damian’s lips quirked. “That’s the same reaction Andre and I had when we saw them.”

  Hecate ignored them. She stalked to the balcony and glanced down the street to Nen’s house. So much energy swirled around it, it looked as though it might explode.

  “Is it going to hold?” Reece asked.

  Gordy’s eyes bulged. Mortals usually couldn’t see magic, but Nen wasn’t holding back. “You’ve really pissed him off.”

  The house rose off the ground, hit the shield, and dropped back onto its foundation.

  “So far, everything’s intact.” Hecate watched the house bump up and down two more times before it stayed in place. Ten minutes later, red energy so hot it looked like flames burst beneath it. The house rose like a rocket, hit the shield with force, and crashed back down. “He’ll try the windows and doors next.”

  And just as she'd predicted, Nen put his shoulder to the front door, chanted spells, and tried to blast his way out of the house. When that didn’t work, he went from window to window. When nothing budged, the house glowed with angry magic. But the shields held.

  Hecate left the balcony and sank onto a twin bed. “Nen won’t stop trying, but he’ll wait to make a plan. We have a little time. We need to think of something.”

  “I suppose we can't play fish in a barrel,” Jimmerson said, “and try to shoot him while he’s sealed in there.”

  Hecate shook her head. “A bullet would just bounce off.”

  “What now?” Andre asked. “What do we do next?”

  “We try to keep him there.” Reece surprised herself with the thought. "If he can weaken the demon, maybe we can weaken him."

  “And then?”

  “We’re not strong enough to destroy him.”

  Gordy snorted. “What kind of witch are you? In the movie The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Nicolas Cage locked the bad guys in a jug for centuries.”

  Hecate raised an eyebrow. “Do you have one of those jugs handy?”

  “I’m not the expert. You are.”

  A brash answer. Gordy was a brash boy. Reece frowned at him. “Unless you want to handle Nen, treat Hecate with more respect.”

  The look he tossed her wasn’t apologetic. It was more of a challenge. Reece couldn’t wait until Mr. Know It All met Wedge. She shrugged. She had no time to teach little boys manners. “We’ve done everything we can for now. Let’s hope the spells hold.”

  But even as she said it, dark clouds gathered. Winds raged. Trees fell. An oak smashed a gray sedan. Hecate and Reece went to the balcony and joined hands. They started chanting. Forces pushed from Nen’s house. Their energy pushed them back. How long could they contain Nen? Reece could feel her energy waver. Hecate's arms were shaking.

  They were battling back and forth when a cab pulled to the curb and a man and woman hurried out of it to run toward their door.

  Jimmerson pulled his gun. So did Gordy. Damian and Andre took up positions beside them. Andre’s nails grew several inches. His muscles bunched. His shirt slit in back.

  “We’ve come to help!” the woman yelled. “Let us pass.”

  Damian hesitated. “Hecate?”

  Hecate gave a quick glance over her shoulder. “Thank the goddess! Luna! You’re here!”

  Answer enough. Damian stepped aside to let them in. Jimmerson and Gordy holstered their guns, and Andre’s shape relaxed to normal—one of the lucky Weres. The magic Reece pumped into him to help with his first change made it so he shifted with ease. Reece’s great grandmother and her friend stepped onto the balcony, arms raised, and joined in the chant. Reece couldn’t stop to look at them. All of her concentration went into the spell they were casting.

  Their words whirled away, buffeted by the winds. Nen tried a new tactic. The air grew frigid. Sleet pelted them. Lawn chairs blew off the patio next door and bounced down the street. Luna reached for Hecate’s hand. The man reached for Reece’s. Their magic joined, their energy gathered. It built until it hurtled toward Nen’s house. It hit the barriers there and stuck.

  The winds blew themselves out. Sunbeams poked through the clouds. The shields that sealed Nen’s house gleamed with power, and the battle was won. Nen couldn’t escape, not any time soon.

  Hecate dropped her arms, exhausted. “It will do for now. It’s a temporary fix.”

  “Better than last time.” Luna turned to her friend. The two women embraced. “I need a drink, and we need to talk. We have plans to make and a lot of catching up to do.”

  Reece followed the three witches inside. She wanted to cry and cheer at the same time. They’d won. She didn’t think they had a prayer, but they’d managed. When she thought of the consequences if they hadn’t, her stomach did flip-flops. Her great grandmother had come with a friend at the right time. It all felt surreal, like her world was spinning. But she’d survived this round. She needed a drink, too.

  Chapter 17

  Reece sipped her wine, trying to calm herself. Hecate sank onto a chair and took a slug of the beer Andre handed her. Jimmerson and Gordy hovered on the outer edge of the group.

  Reece’s great grandmother looked frazzled. “We felt the energy build on the drive from the airport. We were afraid we’d get here just in time to find bodies. And Nen.”

  “We didn’t know what else to do.” Hecate motioned toward Reece. “We trapped Nen’s demon and sent him home, so Reece decided we should trap Nen, too.”

  Luna’s companion was a warlock—as tall as Andre and Damian. Dressed in black jeans and a black T-shirt, he emanated power. His nose was too long, his expression too fierce—not a bit handsome, but compelling. He stared at Reece. “Luna said you were a new witch.”

  It sounded like an accusation.

  “She is.” Damian didn’t like his tone, Reece could tell. He crossed his arms, his brows furrowed in warning.

  “Play nice, you two.” Luna nodded toward the warlock. “Hecate, this is Aidann.” She turned to study Reece and shook her head. “I was hoping someday I’d get to meet you. You’re almost like my mirror.”

  Damian shook his head. “Your face is oval. Reece’s is heart-shaped, and her eyes are moss-green with gold flecks. Yours are…” He stopped to look.

  “As dark-blue as the ocean’s depths,” Aidann supplied.

  Luna raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t think you’d noticed.”

  Aidann shot her a glance. “Your appearance is attractive enough, it’s your personality that’s less appealing.”

  Luna tossed back her head and laughed. “I enjoy life a little too much for Aidann. He’s Irish, a brooder. If he smiles, his face cracks.”

  “If you were a warlock, you’d brood, too. Witches can enjoy their childhoods. Everyone tries to kill us before we take our first step. My mother had a hell of a time keeping me alive.” He ran a hand thr
ough his shoulder-length, salt-and-pepper hair. His hands were huge, nearly as large as Damian’s. He had a rangy, sinewy strength. “You’re Luna’s great granddaughter, right?”

  Reece shrugged. She got lost between grandma and great-great. “We’re related.”

  Aidann raised a dark brow, unimpressed. “You carry her bloodline. You’re a Rutherford. She lost a daughter. You must survive.”

  It sounded more like a command than concern. What did he want her to say? “I’m trying. Everyone’s doing what they can to help me, but Nen’s stronger than all of us.”

  Aidann stilled, deep in thought. “We have no sure answers either.”

  Gordy stepped forward. “Well, isn’t that great? More witches who don’t know what they’re doing.”

  Aidann’s eyes narrowed. He snapped his fingers, and the young cop found himself thrown against the wall and pinned there. “I’m not that fond of mortals,” the warlock warned. “I practice white magic, but that doesn’t mean I’m friendly.”

  “Sorry, man.” Gordy tried to spread his arms. “I didn’t mean anything.”

  “Only because you don’t think before you speak. From now on, keep silent.” Aidann released him and Gordy slid to the floor. Andre offered him a hand to help him to his feet.

  Gordy glanced at his fingernails and the rip in his shirt. He pushed past the offer of help to stand. "What are you anyway? A different kind of witch?"

  "A werewolf."

  Gordy backed farther away.

  Damian moved to stand beside the detective. “Gordy’s Jimmerson’s partner. They’re detectives who work with me.” It was a reminder that Damian protected these humans.

  “And you are?” Aidann cocked his head, studying him. “A gargoyle, if I’m correct. I’ve only had a few dealings with your kind.”

  “And they went…?”

  “As well as possible.”

  “And you're a shifter?” Aidann turned his head toward Andre.

  “I’m hers.” Andre motioned to Hecate. “I like to cook, and she likes to pet things.”

  Reece put her hand to her lips to hide a smile.

  Luna beamed. “Oh, Hecate! You found someone. A Frenchman! He’s perfect!”

  Hecate nodded toward Aidann. "Are you two together?”

  Aidann’s scowl answered her question. “I’m no one's warlock.”

  Luna glanced at him fondly. “Aidann has intimacy issues, but he’s great in the sack.” When Gordy winced, she waved away his discomfort.

  Damian frowned. “If you’ve bedded each other, isn’t that intimate?”

  “Flesh to flesh, yes. Try to get him to share an inner thought? Impossible.”

  "But you're together?" Hecate asked.

  “Nen destroyed Aidann’s home—every man, woman, and child. We joined forces to fight him.”

  “And now you’ve joined us.” Hecate couldn’t hide her relief.

  “With four of us working together, we might have a chance.” Luna turned her attention to Reece. Her voice wistful, she said, “Not that I like risking my great granddaughter’s life. Marissa didn’t look anything like me. She’d be so proud to see her next in line.”

  Reece could feel a blush start. How did she answer that? “Thank you for always being there for me. I wouldn’t have made it without you.”

  “The rogues?” Luna shook her head. “You’d have learned as you went. And you’d have found Hecate, or she would have searched you out.”

  Hecate blew out a deep breath. “The rogues were one thing. Nen's another. We had to run last time.”

  Luna’s glance slid over Jimmerson and Gordy. “Everyone died. An entire village. I’ve heard it’s considered one of the great, historical mysteries.”

  “It won’t be a mystery this time. There are too many people. Too many cameras.” Andre looked at Aidann, unfazed by his size and attitude. “Were you there when Nen destroyed your home?”

  “No, I was traveling, visiting different covens, trying to increase my knowledge.” His faint brogue became more obvious when he talked of home.

  Andre noticed. “Chasing leprechauns?” he teased.

  Aidann scowled. Obviously not a fan of humor. “Trying to avoid witch hunts.”

  Andre tilted his head, gauging his strength. “Could they burn you at the stake?”

  “No, but news spreads if you crush mortals.”

  They all studied Aidann more closely. The warlock might not practice dark magic, but he wasn’t user friendly either.

  “I’m taking it you’d rather not call attention to yourself?” Damian asked.

  “I’ve learned that strategy can be more helpful than power.”

  A good enough answer. Damian nodded. “So where do we go from here?”

  “You keep standing watch,” Luna told Jimmerson and Gordy. “We’ll go to Hecate’s shop and study more spell books.”

  Jimmerson nodded. “Should we call you if we notice anything at Nen’s?”

  “That’s why you’re standing watch, isn’t it?” Aidann rose to his full height. “And don’t wait. The minute you see something, let us know.”

  Jimmerson bristled at Aidann’s tone, but Damian put a hand on the detective’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about calling for the slightest thing. Nen will try anything he can to free himself.”

  They all headed outside to Reece’s SUV. The ride to Hecate’s was a little crowded. Maybe she should have gotten a mini-van, but how could she know she’d be driving witches and Weres from place to place? Reece pulled to the curb and Hecate led them up the stairs to her apartment.

  Luna looked around. “It’s so English, so you.”

  Reece studied the décor with new interest. Chintz covered the well-used sofa and chairs. When she’d seen them, she’d thought cozy, but Luna was right. The rooms looked like an English cottage.

  Aidann sniffed. “I smell dark magic.” He turned to frown at Hecate.

  Reece hurried to explain about studying the dark spell books to find ways to catch the demon.

  Luna wrapped an arm around Hecate’s waist. “I don’t even like to be around those books. They make me nauseated.”

  “But you still have yours?” Hecate asked.

  “Hidden in a safe place with more spells and chants on them than I can remember.”

  Aidann strode into the kitchen. “Enough with chitchat. We need to get down to business.”

  They spent the next few hours going through books and talking strategy, but when they closed the last spell book, they’d found nothing to help them.

  Reece ran a hand through her hair and felt strands escape from her ponytail. She must look a mess by now. “How long can we keep Nen locked in his house?”

  “The more desperate he grows, the more dangerous he’ll be,” Luna said. “Eventually, he’ll break free.”

  Reece’s stomach growled. Talk about starving… She pressed a hand to it. Damned embarrassing. But she was hungry. When was the last time she’d eaten? The men were starting breakfast when Wedge texted Damian. There hadn’t been a lunch. She glanced out the kitchen window. Almost dark.

  Andre and Damian brought a tray of cheese and crackers to the table. “Sorry,” Andre said, “but Hecate’s kitchen is stocked more with witchy herbs than actual food.”

  Luna grinned, nudging Aidann. “He complains about the same thing.”

  Hecate glanced at Andre. “It’s late. Why aren’t you at the restaurant?”

  “There’s a street fair downtown. Things are always slow for us then. I told Dad I had an emergency. He can handle things tonight.”

  Damian leaned forward, not ready to shift gears. “About Nen—there’s no way to defeat him?”

  Aidann put it bluntly. “It’s according to how many people you’re willing to sacrifice. If you’d slit five or six hundred throats, we could harness that energy and battle him and win. In the long run, it would save thousands, maybe millions, of other lives. But I don’t practice the dark arts. Are you willing to do it?”

  “Garg
oyles can’t. Our creator didn’t program us that way.” As if Damian would anyway. Reece reached to stroke one of his wings. Her gargoyle was the most noble, protective person she’d ever met.

  “You?” Aidann raised a brow to Andre.

  “It might make our clientele squeamish.”

  “Your restaurants are that important to you?”

  Andre nodded. “Besides, my parents raised us not to bully anyone and never to slit their throats. I won’t disappoint them.”

  “There it is then.” Aidann shook his head. “None of us want to tarnish our souls black enough to defeat Nen, not that we could anyway.”

  Reece let out a deep breath. “If we don’t stop him now, his power will just keep building, won’t it? If he destroys Bay City…”

  Luna nodded. “We have to stop him this time, or it will take dozens of witches to fight him.”

  It was Andre’s turn for questions. “What about bullets? Rockets? Laser beams? Something must hurt him.”

  “Only if you get a chance to fire them,” Aidann said. “If Nen calls on a halo of power, he’ll lay the city flat before anyone can aim.”

  Reece pushed her crackers away. She needed something more substantial than a snack. She needed something warm and comforting.

  “Come on,” Damian said, reading her as usual. “Let’s go home. How do chicken fajitas sound?”

  Her stomach rumbled. “You can make those in a hurry, right?”

  “Give Andre and me twenty minutes.”

  She’d have ice cream for dessert. It was a simple pleasure, but she wanted it. She pushed herself to her feet and the others did the same. On the drive to her condo, Aidann and Luna asked about the city. Once they were in the elevator, Luna asked about Jenny and Jonathan.

  “I sent them away on vacation,” Reece said. “I wanted them out of danger.”

  “Smart,” Aidann said.

  Luna nodded. “They’d be easy prey.”

  Reece didn’t like thinking of her brother and sister that way, but Luna was right. That’s how Nen would see them. She ran a hand over her door to unlock it and ushered her guests inside. Luna stopped and stared. “I like it.”