Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
Erasmus
My neck and shoulders ached, but not nearly enough to make an appointment with the doctor. I nearly folded under Momma’s persistence. She wasn’t wrong. Getting rear-ended was no joke and could have caused lasting damage. I still refused. Momma wasn’t happy. While avoiding Momma’s unhappiness was always a top priority for me, this was one time I wouldn’t cave. That, more than anything, probably indicated just how badly I hated going to the doctor.
Lying on my couch, I packed a couple of pillows behind my lower back for support, adding another under my neck. I wanted nothing more than to start digging into the list of necromancer mother names, but every time I attempted to find a position that felt comfortable enough to stare at the computer screen, my body protested too much. I could activate one of Pops’s pain charms, but I was afraid if I did that I could cause more damage. Pain wasn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes it kept us from making a situation worse.
I had activated a pain charm last night. It was the only way I’d gotten any sleep. I’d lied to Franklin this morning when he left, telling him I felt okay. I’d downplayed my discomfort. I’m not sure if he bought it or not. If he doubted me, he hadn’t said. Franklin had simply planted a warm, toe-tingling kiss on my lips. I really wish my body had been up for some sexy times last night. After what happened yesterday, the intimate contact would have done both of us good. As it was, my hurting body hadn’t had a lot of interest in more acrobatic endeavors.
“Fuck,” I winced when I shifted and my neck twinged. Maybe I did need to go to the doctor. I absolutely hated that thought. A GP wouldn’t be enough. She’d refer me for imaging. Most of the time I had the mental wherewithal to put up with others’ shitty comments and barely veiled disgust. When I was hurting or ill, my self-preservation skills took a nosedive.
The doorbell rang and I groaned in response. I debated whether or not it was worth getting up to see who was there. I really needed to get one of those cameras attached to the doorbell. Pops had warded my property. It was difficult for anyone with ill intentions to get past them. We’d learned that hadn’t been enough and I’d installed human-grade security cameras. There was an app I was supposed to download to my phone, but I hadn’t gotten around to. I’d had months to do it and was regretting my laziness.
The doorbell rang again, and I sighed. Pushing off the couch, I swallowed a hiss of pain. It wasn’t just my back and neck. My chest sported a spectacular bruise from my seatbelt. “Coming,” I yelled while walking toward the door like an octogenarian. Momma and Franklin had keys to the house, so I knew it wasn’t them. Aurelia just popped in and didn’t bother with something as mundane as a door. It could be Mrs. Hart. She occasionally traversed our adjoining yards when she needed something, but those cases were rare.
Carefully going up on my tiptoes, I peeked through the peephole and felt my eyebrows shoot skyward. Unlocking the door, I opened it, staring through the screen at Captain Cicely. I’d rarely seen her outside the precinct. The scarlet coat looked good against her dark skin. Gloveless, her ringed fingers glinted in the pale, late morning winter sun.
“Captain Cicely? How can I help you?” Panic suddenly seized my gut. “Did something happen to Franklin? Is he—”
“Detective O’Hare is fine,” Captain Cicely hurried to reassure me. “I should have considered that might be your reaction before I stopped by.”
My thundering heart ached, adding another area of discomfort to my growing list of painful bits and pieces.
“May I come in?” Captain Cicely asked.
“Oh shit. Yeah, of course.” Momma would smack me upside the head regarding my lack of manners. “Can I get you something to drink? I’ve got sweet tea, water, milk, and the lemonade Franklin likes.” The last had been a newer addition.
“Some sweet tea would be lovely if it’s not too much trouble.”
“None at all,” I lied. I straightened my bent body as much as possible while making my way to the kitchen. I wasn’t aware Captain Cicely followed until I heard her tsk before slapping my hand away from reaching for a higher cabinet.
“O’Hare’s right. You’re as stubborn as a mule. Go sit and let me get the glass.”
I didn’t like being thought of as a mule. The stubborn part was inarguable. It was strange, watching Captain Cicely rummage around my kitchen. She certainly acted comfortable enough. “I’m pouring you a glass too,” she informed me.
“Thank you, Captain Cicely,” I said as she set my glass in front of me.
“Loretta,” she corrected me. “When we’re out of the precinct, please call me Loretta.”
I managed a grin despite my physical pain. “Thank you. Please, feel free to call me Erasmus.”
Loretta’s sip turned into an appreciative gulp. “Mmm, this really is delicious. O’Hare said it was good. Nice to see he wasn’t bullshitting me.”
I opened my mouth, ready to defend Franklin. I couldn’t imagine him bullshitting his captain, but she waved me off before I could utter a word. “You’re right, that’s not his style. It’s one of the reasons I don’t just like O’Hare but respect him too.” She took another drink before setting the glass down.
Loretta took a moment to glance around my kitchen before her deep brown eyes focused back on me. “Your home is lovely. Very comfortable.”
“Thank you.” My response was automatic, but I was still wondering why she was here. If Franklin was okay, then the only thing that made sense was that she wanted to talk about a soul she needed returned. I didn’t know why that would necessitate a visit to my home instead of a phone call, but I’d try and role with it. “Is there a case you need me to—”
“No, nothing like that.”
My mouth clicked closed and I simply stared. The kitchen chair wasn’t the most comfortable and my back was beginning to truly protest. I was going to need to give in soon and activate one of Pops’s pain charms.
My constant pain made me less accommodating than usual, and I asked, “Why are you here?” I struggled to soften my words when I realized how blunt and offensive they sounded. “I mean, it’s not that I don’t want you here, it’s just…” I struggled to find the right word. Odd, strange, confusing… A litany of others came to mind.
Shifting, Loretta dug around in one of her pockets before pulling out two charms. Scooting them across the table, she pushed them near my glass of sweet tea. “O’Hare told me what happened yesterday.” Loretta sighed while leaning back into her chair. “There were a lot of grunts involved and a more than a few fisted, white knuckles. He also said he suspected you were hurt worse than you’re letting on. From what I see, I think O’Hare’s right.” Loretta leaned forward, tapping a manicured finger along my table. “Word of advice. O’Hare’s a detective. It’s damn difficult to hide things from him, especially given how attentive he is towards you.”
I stared at the charms. They appeared to be the same thing, but they were witch made, not warlock and I didn’t recognize them.
“Healing charms,” Loretta answered my unasked question. When my eyes lifted to hers, Loretta’s gaze softened. “O’Hare told me about your aversion to doctors. I hate the fact that I’m not surprised. This past summer, when you had to be hospitalized, you were out of it for a fair portion. Warlock Holland’s penchant for assholery came in handy. I don’t think they would have dared treat you with disrespect. However, Holland’s not here now and I get why you don’t want to go.” With a nod in the direction of the healing charms, Loretta said, “I made those myself. I’m gifted in the healing arts.”
I swallowed hard. Had I gone to the hospital, most likely they would have tried a healing charm on me but would have wanted to know the root of the problem first. Healing charms were most effective when you knew what kind one needed.
As if reading my mind, Loretta said, “They’re one of my more specialized healing charms. The healing power is drawn to inflammation. It should zero in on the area in need of repair. They’re not specific until they enter the body.” Loretta winked. “I’m terribly proud of them, just in case you couldn’t tell by my obnoxious grin.”
I fingered the charms and felt them give under slight pressure. Not charms then, potion packets.
Reaching across the table, Loretta picked one up, held it over my glass of sweet tea and squeezed its sides. A shimmering amethyst liquid vanished within my glass, mixing with my drink.
“Make sure you drink the entire glass and do the same with the other charm twenty-four hours later. They won’t heal you completely, but they’ll kickstart the process and repair the damage instead of covering it up. You’ll be right as rain within a week. Probably sooner.”
I didn’t know what to say beyond “how much do I owe you?” This kind of potion couldn’t be cheap. I had the money and would gladly use it.
Loretta waved me off. “Your money’s no good with me.” I started to protest, and she shushed me. “How many times have you charged the precinct so little as to be entirely meaningless?” Loretta huffed a laugh. “One dollar. Please, Erasmus. It’s just enough to ensure chain of evidence and satisfy the legal department. I can never repay you for what you’ve done for the department and surrounding community. This is literally a drop in the bucket…or sweet tea as the case may be.”
I felt the sting of tears burn my eyes. They weren’t tears of pain, but something else. I wasn’t just needed. I was appreciated. “Thank you,” I finally managed.
“No need for thanks, but they’re appreciated anyway.” Slapping her palms on her thighs, Loretta stood. “Now, I’d better get back to the precinct before someone starts asking questions. And by someone, I mean O’Hare.”
“Why didn’t you tell him?” I asked, truly curious.
“Because I know O’Hare. He would have insisted on paying me for the potions and I don’t want that.”
I chewed on my bottom lip. “Do you want me to keep it secret?” I wasn’t sure I could do that. I didn’t like lying to Franklin.
Loretta shrugged. “Not necessarily, but by the time he finds out, you’ll be well on the road to recovery. That’s good enough for me.”
I tried to nod but pain shot through my neck. Deciding I’d wasted enough time, I grabbed my glass and downed the entire contents in one go. I hadn’t chugged sweet tea like that in years. When finished, I wiped my mouth and released a heavy sigh. When I looked back up at Loretta, she was smiling.
“It should start taking effect within the next thirty to sixty minutes. You need to rest for the next few days and let the potion do its thing. Don’t aggravate the situation,” Loretta cautioned.
“I’ll do my best.”
“That’s all I can ask.” I started to rise to walk her out, but Loretta laid a hand on my shoulder, holding me down. “I can see myself out. Don’t be a stranger, Erasmus. And don’t hesitate to ask if you need something. As far as I’m concerned, you’re a part of the family and I take care of family.”
With a final pat to my shoulder, Loretta walked out of the kitchen, through the living room, and out the front door. I should get up to lock it but couldn’t make myself move. My scream of pain erupted when I jumped, Aurelia’s presence surprising me.
“Shit.” I gritted my teeth, wincing against the piercing pain.
Aurelia ignored me. Her arms hung by her sides, fists clenched, and mouth pinched tight. “Witch,” she hissed. Her Caribbean blue eyes glowed from within when she stared at me, her gaze piercing me.
I couldn’t move. I’d rarely seen Aurelia this upset. Of course, I knew she hated witches. It was something so ingrained in her I wondered if there would ever be hope of diffusing the volatile emotion. It was also difficult to blame her. Aurelia’s witch creator, all the djinn’s witch creators, had been horrid. They’d taken a human life, hollowed it out until there was only the shell of a body left, packed it with magic and enslaved that being and the magic they wielded. Their souls could not be destroyed and were turned into yet another chain, attaching them to an indestructible object, and whoever controlled that object, controlled the djinn within. Those djinns had eventually slaughtered their creators, down to the very last one.
Aurelia had been alive for millennia, and yet her hatred had not cooled. I had no idea how long Aurelia was present. She’d indicated recently that she’d been in my home without my knowledge.
Inhaling deeply, I attempted to control my pounding heart. Assuming she had been present, then Aurelia had shown self-control by reigning in her temper while Loretta Cicely was still present.
“How long have you been here?” I asked. I need some frame of reference.
“Long enough,” Aurelia hissed. “You welcomed a witch into your home.”
“I did,” I answered, keeping my tone as even as possible. “Loretta came here to help me.”
“You cannot trust a witch,” Aurelia snarled.
“Funny, nearly everyone says that about djinn, but I always give you the benefit of the doubt.” I wasn’t sure that was completely true, but it was true enough.
Aurelia lips pressed together, but her eyes dimmed, the fires within receding if only slightly. “You should not trust a witch,” Aurelia repeated, crossing her arms under her chest, pulling at the backpack straps. No doubt the hamster was inside.
“Loretta Cicely is Franklin’s captain. She’s proven trustworthy. While I understand your animosity, I don’t share it. Your creator is dead, Aurelia. The ones responsible have been wiped from the planet. Witches destroyed any knowledge of how to create a djinn. Even they realized the error of their ways.” That wasn’t completely true. From what I understood, some information survived but was being kept under very tight lock and key.
Aurelia sneered. “Do not fool yourself. Witches only had a change of heart when theirs were torn from their bodies. If they could fully control us, then witches would still be creating us.”
I couldn’t argue that point of view, no matter how much I would have liked to. “You could be right,” I answered. If Aurelia’s widened eyes and softening features were anything to go by, I’d surprised her. “I think that’s true of nearly any species. Except maybe pixies. Brownies too. We’re all power hungry, looking for the next thing that will give us an edge in the game of survival and destruction.”
Aurelia appeared at least partially mollified. “You did not include fairies in that short list.”
“Yeah, I’m not really sure where they fall. Brownies seem pretty content with their individual lots in life. Gaia help us if they were power hungry like fairies.” I’d hate to see the destruction that could cause. It was one of those quiet truths that everyone knew and rarely spoke of. Brownies were the only other truly magical creatures. Like fairies, they were made of the stuff. While Fairy Law was sacrosanct and had probably saved the planet, it had only done so because brownies hadn’t fought it. Like I said, they were a content lot and had no desire to rule anyone. If that ever changed… Well, I don’t think any of us wanted to contemplate that possibility.
Aurelia’s gaze shifted as her body relaxed. So far she hadn’t made a move to extract the hamster from the backpack. I got the feeling she wasn’t comfortable enough to do that, or maybe she wasn’t sure if she was staying or not.
Eyes trained on the remaining potion, Aurelia’s attention zeroed in on my empty glass as she questioned, “You were injured?”
“I was. Yesterday.”
“How?”
With a heavy sigh, I related yesterday’s events and just as Franklin and I assumed, Aurelia was mostly upset by the fact she’d missed the action. “You should have alerted me,” Aurelia said. “I would have enjoyed the entertainment.”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course you would have. When you’re mortal, getting shot at isn’t so enjoyable .”
“You do seem tragically fragile,” Aurelia readily agreed. “That is what the witch was speaking of.”
I stared at the remaining potion. “The rearending and running me off the road caused more damage than the bullets.” That wouldn’t have been true if not for Pops’s shield charm. “Pops is a warlock. Healing isn’t really in his wheelhouse. Pops can make charms to cover and mask pain, but not repair the body. That’s witch work.”
Again, Aurelia sneered. “That does not mean witches are good.”
“No, no it doesn’t. They’re like all the other species. There are good ones and not so good ones.” I felt like I was channeling The Wizard of Oz . “Kind of like you and Janus. He was a djinn also, but he wasn’t like you.”
“No,” Aurelia huffed. “Janus was nothing like me. He was a fool.”
“He was also bloodthirsty and totally without conscience.”
Aurelia’s head ticked to the side and an odd smile twisted her lips. “You believe I am a good djinn?”
We were walking on some very treacherous ground. “I believe you’re better than Janus.”
“Of course I am. Janus is dead, and I am not.” I don’t think Aurelia understood that wasn’t the line in the sand I’d drawn. Regardless, she dropped the subject and went back to something else she’d mentioned earlier. “I will start wearing the alert charm again. Should something interesting happen, you will alert me.”
Aurelia didn’t wait for a response. She was simply there one minute and gone the next. I’d need to let Pops know. The last one had been activated and was no longer useful. I was surprised he hadn’t demanded I keep another on hand. Then again, he’d created the shield charm with an extra feature—one that alerted him when it was activated. Perhaps Pops thought that was enough.
My head hurt and it wasn’t from the accident yesterday. However, when I hung my head, I was pleased to find the action didn’t send shots of lightening down my spine. Loretta’s healing charm was already hard at work. I wouldn’t say I felt fantastic, but definitely better. Maybe the day was looking up.