Chapter 19
Chapter
Nineteen
Erasmus
My fingers danced along the steering wheel as a song I loved played on the radio. Yeah, call me crazy, but I still preferred listening to the radio. Momma streamed her music. Pops didn’t care. I liked the unpredictability of the radio.
“Human music is interesting.”
My heart jumped, but thankfully the rest of me stayed seated. Adrenaline rushed through my veins, turning my hands clammy and sending a bead of sweat down my back. I really needed to make do on my threat and put a bell on Aurelia.
Ignoring the fact that she’d just popped up on the passenger’s seat, I asked, “How so?”
“It has many facets. I find it interesting that so many different sounds can be created.” When a chanced a glance her direction, Aurelia’s typically blank face was pulled into a thoughtful frown. “It has the ability to impart many different feelings.”
“That’s what makes it so amazing,” I agreed easily.
“It is one of humanity’s better accomplishments. None of the other species are so artfully prolific. Humans truly are a conundrum.”
“Yeah. I wouldn’t waste your time contemplating it much. You’ll just give yourself a headache.” I grinned, hoping she’d find me amusing.
Instead, all Aurelia answered was, “I do not get headaches.”
I rolled my eyes. “It was a figure of speech.”
I’m not sure if Aurelia understood or not. Evidently bored with the conversation, she said, “Peaches asked me to speak with you and I agreed to do so.” This seemed very important to Aurelia, that it was her choice.
“That was kind of you.”
“Was it?” Aurelia sounded genuinely curious. “I had not thought of it in those terms.”
I hoped that wasn’t a deterrent now. Moving on, I asked, “What does he have to say?” And why hadn’t he just picked up the phone and called? Maybe Peaches wanted to give Aurelia something to do. Or maybe he was testing her agreeable waters. That sounded more like something King Moony would do, not Peaches.
“Peaches asked me to relay that he and Lucroy have spoken with the fairies, brownies, warlocks, witches, werewolves, dwarves, and other pixies. None of them believe one of their species could do what you asked.”
I sighed. “Shred a soul?” I asked, simply for clarification. With Aurelia, that was often necessary.
“Indeed,” she answered easily. “As with Warlock Holland, Warlock Kines said he might be able to do it, but would need the assistance of a necromancer to do so. Wendall also spoke with the fairy queen.”
“Queen Silvidia?” I’m not sure why I asked. As far as I knew, there was only one fairy queen, and given that Wendall was her nephew, it made sense that she would be the one Aurelia spoke of.
“Yes. Queen Silvidia did not understand the meaning of the question. It is still uncertain if she could do such a thing, only that she said doing so would be meaningless and therefore pointless.”
“In other words, she didn’t do it.”
“Peaches and Lucroy deemed that true.”
I turned left and onto my street. Three houses down and my driveway came into view. I slowed to turn into my drive and noticed the graffiti on the sidewalk, just outside Pops’s wards. Filthy Necromancer , Abomination , and Die finished off the well-wishes.
My shoulders automatically rounded as I pulled into the drive. Shivers wracked my body and my heart hammered within my chest. I sat in my car, the engine running and the radio playing. I couldn’t have said what song was currently on. My mind was filled with static. Aurelia was no longer in the car beside me. It was an errant thought, there and gone, just like the djinn.
Eyes squeezed closed, I tried to erase the image from my mind. No one had ever done something like that and they would have had to have done it in broad daylight. Those words certainly weren’t there when Franklin had picked me up this morning. Suddenly, that time seemed so very far away.
I needed to get out of my car. I needed to photograph the images. I needed to call Franklin. I needed… Gaia, I wasn’t sure what I needed.
“Breathe, Erasmus. Breathe,” I commanded my body and prayed it obeyed. Counting, I inhaled, held it, and then exhaled. I could do this. I could get out of my car and do what needed doing. There was a good chance the douchebag responsible was hiding somewhere, just waiting to see what my reaction would be. Well, if they were expecting histrionics, then they were about to be sadly disappointed.
With calculated calm, I stepped from my car and closed the door, careful not to slam it. I wasn’t about to give these fuckers the satisfaction of knowing they’d gotten to me. Purposefully walking down the drive, I found Aurelia already standing on the street, staring at the poisonous words. I wasn’t sure if she currently allowed others to see her or not.
Walking up beside her, I casually took out my phone and took a few pictures. Each one was like a stone sitting in my gut. I hated placing the images into my phone log.
“I do not understand,” Aurelia stated, voice devoid of emotion. “What is the purpose of this?” She waved a hand at the spray-painted words.
“The point is to hurt me,” I answered.
“ Hurt you ? How? They are words with no magical signature behind them. They are not spells that will activate when the word is spoken or looked at. They are nothing more than writing. I do not see the chance of injury.”
As powerful as she was, sometimes Aurelia was terribly na?ve. “Sometimes, words hurt more than a physical blow. Words have power all on their own—they don’t need magic behind them to cause harm.” I wasn’t sure how else to explain it.
Pointing at the sidewalk, particularly at the word abomination , Aurelia asked, “This damages you?”
I shrugged and answered honestly. “It does. Not that I’ll ever admit that to the asshole who did this.”
Dropping her hand, Aurelia stared at the words a beat longer before they simply disappeared. I stared, blinking to clear the dryness from my eyes. “Did you just—”
“It was simple enough and it was something I wished to do,” Aurelia answered with pride. “Such a petty gesture should not cause aggravation. It is also a defilement of the natural beauty already here.”
I wasn’t sure tagging a sidewalk constituted defiling Mother Nature, but I wasn’t about to complain.
“Thank you.” Those two words came out far more choked than I wanted. The sidewalk looked exactly as it had before. If the jackass who did this was still around, they had to be shitting their pants by now. Necromancers couldn’t do what Aurelia just did. Witches, warlocks, fairies, and most likely brownies could, but not little old me.
“It is of no consequence. As I said, it is something I wished to do. You did not force me.”
“No,” I answered easily. “I don’t hold your amphora. Even if I did, I don’t think I would have wished you to do that. Or, at least, I hope not.” Power was a damnable thing. It was far too easy to abuse. Would I be as magnanimous of a master as Peaches? If I were being honest with myself, the answer was no. The temptation was too great. I’d probably hate myself a little for it, but I’d find justifiable reasons to make requests of Aurelia.
I was glad I’d thought to record the area before Aurelia erased its presence. I considered forwarding the images to Franklin, but thought better of it. He had more important things on his plate than run-of-the-mill bigotry.
“He will want to know,” Aurelia said, seemingly reading my mind. “Mates always do.”
“Yeah, I know.” I purposefully ignored Aurelia’s use of the term mate . “I’ll tell him, but maybe not right now. We had a good day today.” Despite the murderous circumstances, it was better than good. Franklin and I had had lunch, picked up my car, and explored a victim’s home. It wasn’t what typical first dates were made of, but we weren’t a typical burgeoning couple either. The hot-as-fuck kisses hadn’t hurt either.
I had another thought and said, “Can you maybe not mention this to Peaches?” I wasn’t sure why, but I didn’t relish the thought of that group knowing this happened. It was embarrassing.
“I do not see why he would care, nor do I find it interesting enough to mention.” And then she was gone, leaving me standing alone, staring at my wonderfully blank sidewalk, wondering what shitty words someone would decide to replace them with later.
“I need a video camera,” I decided. I’d always thought Pops’s wards were enough, but maybe it was time to give human tech a chance. Glancing towards Mrs. Hart’s house, I noted the time and didn’t hold out much hope she’d seen anything. I knew when her favorite TV shows were on. Mrs. Hart often fell asleep watching them, Miss Pattycakes napping right alongside her.
Blowing out a disheartened sigh, I headed back to the house. Pops’s wards washed over me as soon as I stepped foot on my property, wrapping around me like a familiar blanket. I sent him a silent thank you while stuffing my hands into my pockets, fingering my ring of charms. Tears were a near thing, but they were kept at bay by my irritation and the memory of Momma’s powerful words.
Yes, I was a necromancer, but that didn’t make me an abomination worthy of death. I was wanted. I was loved. All the spray paint in the world couldn’t cover that fact. Whoever wrote those toxic words could take their can of paint and shove it up their ass. Hopefully, it would hurt like hell.
I was trawling the internet, comparing different security camera options, when Franklin texted, asking if it was okay if he came over. My of course response was automatic and he arrived less than thirty minutes later, pizza and soda in hand.
“Handsome men bearing gifts of food,” I said by way of greeting, the screen door manifesting its typical complaint at being used.
“I took a chance on what you might like,” Franklin said, his cheeks dusted pink. I wasn’t sure if that was due to the sweltering weather combined with his long-sleeved jacket, or if he was embarrassed.
Ushering him inside, I said, “I’m good with just about any type of pizza. Set it down on the table and take your damn jacket off. Six years you’ve been in this state. I’m surprised you haven’t suffered heat stroke by now.”
I rummaged around in a cabinet, pulling out glasses while listening to the rustle of Franklin shedding a layer of clothes. I nearly dropped one of the glasses when I turned around and saw him loosening his tie. Sweet Gaia, Franklin was built. It wasn’t the body of a gym bunny—it was better than that. Franklin told me he worked out because he needed to keep in shape for his job. Franklin said you never knew when you might need to run down a suspect. I didn’t like the reasons behind his lovely physique, but I did like the consequences.
“Long day?” I asked casually while opening another cabinet and pulling out the paper plates. We’d spent a good portion of the day together, but as far as I knew, Franklin had been at the precinct for a good five-plus hours since dropping me off at my car.
“I’ve had longer,” Franklin answered, which didn’t exactly make me smile.
“Sit down and take a load off.”
Franklin did just that, scrubbing his hands over his face and releasing a deep sigh. “I dropped Remington’s computer off with Becks. She’s got a special kind of knack for that sort of thing. Unfortunately, that means she’s everyone’s go-to computer guru. Becks is a little backed up. She said she’ll make Remington’s computer a priority considering this is most likely a serial killer. Captain Cicely helped when she told Becks this is a priority.”
“Good for the captain,” I answered. Although I didn’t know her well, Captain Cicely had always treated me professionally, and not like the shit on her shoe.
“Yeah,” Franklin more wheezed than said.
I set the paper plates, a couple paper towels and two glasses full of ice on the table. Franklin cracked the seal on the soda, releasing a bubbly, delightful hiss into the air. The pizza was half cheese and half meat lover’s. I took a slice of each, and Franklin dug into the meat lover’s side. I waited for him to eat at least two pieces and refill his glass before peppering him with more questions.
“Did Detective Harrison find out anything from where Linus worked?”
Franklin wiped his mouth before reaching for a third piece. “Not as much as we’d hoped. However, she did discover that Remington had a friend at work he was partial to. I see that look on your face. Harrison didn’t get the feeling it was that kind of partiality. More friendly than romantic. Anyway, the guy was at another jobsite about fifty miles away. Harrison didn’t have time to run out and question him today. When I left, she was still waiting on a response to her inquiry. Hopefully, he’ll agree to meet with her and maybe we’ll get lucky this time.”
I nibbled the corner of my crust. “When’s the coroner’s report expected?”
Franklin grunted. “God only knows. No doubt when it does come in the cause of death will be listed as heart failure. I don’t know why I’m getting so pissy with McCallister. The doc’s right. If that’s the cause of death, then that’s what he has to notate. I just wish he could give us something more to go on.”
I cringed when I remembered Dr. McCallister’s reaction to the latest crime scene. “Is he okay? He didn’t look so good when we took off.” I should have inquired about his health earlier. In my defense, I’d been in a high-speed car chase, shot at, thrown into a ditch, my house assaulted, and… Yeah, things had been a little rough recently.
“I haven’t visited the man, but Harrison says he got his shit together well enough to do his job. Not sure what the blowback will be.” Franklin cringed when I winced. “Sorry, poor choice of words considering the topic. What I meant is that McCallister’s physical attributes haven’t done him any favors over the years. If you ask me, that’s more on him than the rest of the force.”
“How do you mean?” I asked between bites of cheesy goodness.
Franklin took a drink of his soda before answering. “McCallister takes offense to words and phrases that aren’t meant the way he perceives them. My guess is he wasn’t popular growing up and he’s carried that weight into adulthood. It colors his perceptions, and he sees personal digs where there are none. I’m not a psychiatrist. That’s just my take on things.”
Considering Franklin O’Hare was a damn good detective and it was his job to read people and ferret out information, I figured his take on things was believable. Given my species, I could certainly relate regarding the not fitting in and meeting society’s ever-shifting standards.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” I didn’t know Dr. McCallister well—only in passing, really—but my heart went out to the guy. Cruelty was a beast no generation or species seemed capable of taming. Cruelty would always be a feral creature lurking in the shadows, ready to devour good nature.
Franklin leaned back, his hunger finally sated. “And I’m sorry to say it. Looking back, I probably had it pretty easy. I wasn’t the most popular kid, but I wasn’t sitting at the lunch table all alone either. I was comfortably somewhere in the dismissive middle. I skated by and got the hell out of high school with decent grades and my dignity intact. I count that as a win.”
I grinned. “I think everyone who’s managed to make it through their teenage years would agree.”
“And what about your high school days?” Franklin asked, the question so sweetly na?ve.
“I, uh…” I fingered my paper towel, twisting it back and forth. “I didn’t go to high school. I mean, I graduated, but I was homeschooled. Momma tried enrolling me in elementary, but they weren’t comfortable with ‘one of my kind’ mingling with ‘normal’ kids.” I used the appropriate air quotes. “The state said homeschooling was equivalent, and Momma couldn’t do much about it. To be honest, I don’t think she wanted to try. Pops threw a fit and I have vague memories of them standing in Momma’s living room arguing.” My chest warmed at the memory. “Momma held her ground, bless her human heart. You haven’t met Pops, but he’s a stereotypical warlock in every physical way. Pops is tall, broad, and intimidating. His voice is deep and when he’s angry”—I whistled—“it’s deathly cold. Pops is used to others cowering before him, but not Momma. If you ask me, that’s what attracted him to her in the first place.”
Franklin’s expression turned from thunderous to curiously affectionate. “Was it a love match? Sorry, that’s probably too personal.”
It was, but I didn’t mind answering. “I’m not sure it was love. Affection for certain, and Momma and Pops are adamant that I’m a child born of love. They do love each other, but not romantically. Momma isn’t Pops’s one and only and Momma…” I shrugged, unsure. “She’s dated some since Pops, but to be truthful, I think she’s just as happy being alone.”
Franklin nodded like maybe he understood. “My parents loved each other. My dad was nearly paralyzed when my mom died. I’m not sure we would have survived without Nana.”
I reached across the table and squeezed Franklin’s hand. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It was a long time ago,” he answered. “I won’t say that I don’t miss her, or maybe it’s her memory I miss. Regardless, my parents made a good team.”
“Kind of like us.” The words slipped through my lips before I could pull them back. I started to yank my hand away, but Franklin wouldn’t let me. He interlocked our fingers and grinned.
“Exactly,” Franklin answered before bending over and peppering my knuckles with kisses.
Heat flushed my neck, racing into my cheeks. My heart twittered like a hummingbird, making me lightheaded.
“Human mating rituals are interesting.”
My forehead hit the table and I bounced it there a couple of times before I muttered, “Your timing is shit, Aurelia.”
“Aurelia? She’s here? Where?” When I glanced up, Franklin’s gaze swept my kitchen, searching desperately. Evidently Aurelia hadn’t seen fit to show herself to everyone.
I waved a hand to my right. Unfortunately, it was the same hand Franklin had released when I’d said Aurelia’s name. “She’s over here. Aurelia, do you mind?”
Thankfully, she decided not to be too obtuse and, if Franklin’s stuttered, “F-fucking hell” was anything to go by, revealed herself.
Aurelia sniffed and leaned over the table. “Is this pizza?” She poked a finger at the nearest crust. “One of my previous masters was very fond of this particular food. One of his wishes was for an endless supply.” Aurelia grinned and her eyes glowed briefly. “I buried him in pizza. He suffocated and died. That was the end of that master.”
“I think I’m gonna be sick,” I muttered while rubbing my stomach. When I glanced Franklin’s way, he didn’t look much better. It was easy to forget what Aurelia was capable of when she was being so accommodating.
“I believe he died happy,” Aurelia said, sounding disappointed. “I did not consider that at the time. Then again, he was not the worst master I’ve had. Perhaps it was fine that his death wasn’t more gruesome.”
Franklin and I shared a look. Yeah, death by pizza, not gruesome at all. Pushing the box away, I wondered when I’d be able to eat pizza again. Considering how much I loved the stuff, probably sooner than seemed logical. Right now, though, it didn’t hold a lot of appeal.
“Would you like a piece?” I asked Aurelia, confident that Franklin and I were finished.
With her head cocked to the side, she said, “Perhaps in a moment.”
Running my fingers through my hair, I noted my scalp was sweaty and figured it had to do with the adrenaline flooding my body. “Is there a reason you decided to pop in again so soon?”
She’d left not long ago. Franklin didn’t know that and cocked an eyebrow, prompting me to explain. “Aurelia was here earlier.”
I gave Franklin the rundown of what I’d learned. Naturally, he was disappointed. “Can’t say I’m surprised. That coincides with what we already know.”
“Yeah.” Unfortunately, what we already knew pointed to a narrow focus. The more I considered the situation, the more I thought a necromancer had to be involved. I knew it wasn’t me and from what I knew, that should have either eliminated or significantly lowered the pool of possibilities. The sad fact was that I didn’t know my necromancer brethren at all. I knew we were a small group, but I didn’t know how small, and I didn’t know what their capabilities were. Pops told me I was very capable for a necromancer, but I didn’t know much more than that.
“Erasmus, what are you—”
“Did you show him the images?” Aurelia interrupted Franklin, immediately spinning Franklin’s attention.
“What images?” Franklin asked as his eyes flicked between me and Aurelia.
I sighed. Tilting my head, I stared at the ceiling. “Thanks, Aurelia.” I didn’t sound very grateful.
“What images, Boone?” Franklin placed his elbows on the table and leaned forward. “What’s she talking about?”
Instead of answering Franklin, I crossed my arms and stared at Aurelia. “I said I’d tell him in time.”
“Time has no meaning to me,” Aurelia said by way of answer. While I believed that might be true in general, I didn’t believe it applied to the current situation.
Narrowing my eyes, I started to say something that was probably sheer lunacy given the fact I’d just learned she’d suffocated a previous master by covering him in pizza. Before I had a chance, Aurelia snatched a piece of cheese pizza and was gone.
I silently fumed for a full minute before I huffed and said, “That little shit. She just popped in to stir the pot.”
“Is she gone?” Franklin asked and I nodded. “Good. Now, disturbing revelations regarding pizza aside, what was she talking about?”
I went from twisting my paper towel to shredding it. I thought about lying, making some stupid shit up, but I doubted Franklin would believe it and didn’t think it was a good way to start our burgeoning…whatever this was. Momma’s words swam through my head. It might be a good way to stop this thing between me and O’Hare. Maybe I could do what Pops wanted and find a longer-lived species, someone who might fall in love with me and vice versa. But that was a pipe dream. Finding your special someone—your soulmate—wasn’t easy, no matter your species.
Besides, when I gazed across the table, into Franklin’s intense hazel eyes, full of concern and the fiery need to protect, I knew pushing him away would be pointless. Pops loved me enough to want me to be happy, and Franklin made me happy. Ridiculously happy.
I tried to hold onto that happy as I pulled my phone from my pocket, woke it, and opened the picture app. I pulled up my latest gallery of insults and slid the phone Franklin’s way. He appeared skeptical when he twisted the phone so he could see the pictures better. That skepticism died a painful death when he grasped what he was looking at.
Using his fingers, he blew the photos up. That only increased his rage. “Where is this?”
I hadn’t anticipated that and answered, “The sidewalk in front of my house.”
That took a couple seconds to sink in and when it did, Franklin’s ire changed to confusion. “When?”
“It was there when I got home earlier today.”
“I didn’t see anything when I pulled in.” Franklin started to get out of his chair, most likely ready to haul ass to the front sidewalk. Leaning over the table, I placed a halting hand on his forearm.
“It’s not there any longer. Aurelia took it upon herself to get rid of all the spray paint.”
My phone slipped from his fingers. “She did, huh?”
I swallowed. “Yeah. Funny, that.” I laughed, but it wasn’t joyful. “I didn’t ask her to do it. She just—”
“Decided it was something she wanted to do.”
I nodded. “Looks that way.”
“Christ.” Franklin ran his hand over his close-cropped hair. “I’m glad she decided that and not—”
“To dump a shit ton of pizza on my head?”
Franklin choked on a laugh. “God, I can’t believe that really happened.”
“I can’t believe the way it happened, but that she killed him… Oh yeah, I can believe that. I forget it, but that doesn’t mean the past hasn’t happened or that she might not do it again. Especially since her current master has given her a very, very long leash.” I didn’t think regaling Peaches with stories regarding one of Aurelia’s victims would change his mind. Otherwise, I’d already be on the phone.
Franklin tapped the table with a finger. “It wasn’t there when I picked you up this morning.”
It wasn’t really a question, but I answered anyway. “No.”
“That means someone wrote this shit while we were out today.”
I nodded. “That’s the only thing that makes sense.”
Franklin’s jaw worked, and for a moment he reminded me of a cow chewing its cud. “Mrs. Hart?”
“I’m assuming you’re asking if she saw anything, not if she did it.”
“Of course.” Franklin sounded one part amused and two parts exasperated.
“Just making certain. I didn’t ask her. She would have flagged me down when I got home if she saw anything. Besides, given the time of day, she and Miss Pattycakes were most likely asleep in the living room, TV blasting.”
Franklin mulled that disappointing news over before he asked, “And your father’s wards?”
“They don’t extend past the property line. The sidewalk is public space and difficult to ward properly. The wards he set on the house are programmed to go off if anyone trying to enter has any ill will toward me. Legally, the sidewalk is for anyone’s use. Fairy law won’t allow him to extend the wards there. Besides, people are free to have their own opinions. They can stand out on the sidewalk all they want and aim shitty-ass thoughts my way.”
“While that might be true, this qualifies as defacing public property. That’s under human jurisdiction.”
I shrugged. While that was true, I doubted the human cops would be very interested. They had a lot more to worry about than some bigoted graffiti.
Franklin’s finger tapping persisted while he remained verbally silent. Finally, he asked, “Neighbors?”
I shrugged again. “Probably. If not them, then who?”
“How about the guys we chased after yesterday?”
My skin tingled with cold. “I hadn’t considered that. You think they’d come back this quickly?”
“I have no idea. It would be a good way to spook you. Maybe they’re trying to get under your skin. We’d have to know exactly why they were trying to break into your house to know the answer.”
My eyes roamed the kitchen, as if it would suddenly reveal the reason someone wanted to break in. “I don’t have anything? I mean, I’ve got Pops’s charms in a safe. I carry most of them around with me. They’ve got street value, but I can’t imagine someone being stupid enough to risk Nikodemus Holland’s wrath for a bunch of charms they can get elsewhere.”
“My thoughts exactly. So, if it’s not something of material value, that leaves one possibility. What’s the most valuable asset within these four walls?”
I blinked and answered again, “I don’t have anything, nothing that would be worth—”
“You, Erasmus. You’re what they were after. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
My heart dropped like lead, sitting heavily in my belly. “Shit.”
“Shit, indeed.”