“Traditionally, they are,” Derrick started. “This—Henry must
have found a way to overcome that. It’s rare but not entirely unheard of.”
“Our main focus right now is locating his vessel. If we can
find that, we can reverse whatever magics he’s cast,” Loretta said.
“And how difficult will that be?” Mike asked, glancing at
his rapidly aging niece. “I mean, if we don’t find this thing in time…”
“Don’t think like that. Not right now, Mike,” Victoria warned. “We won’t stop until we save Tina. Did you find anything on the Nexus about him?”
“Imp,” Derrick corrected, “Trust me, they vastly differ from
hobgoblins.” He shook his head as if trying to erase a memory.
“Ok, I took a piece of Nova’s hair. I’m going to try a few
spells and see if I can trace anything through her and maybe come up with a
location of solution to the aging problem,” Loretta said, moving toward the
kitchen.
Retrieving her phone, Victoria looked through the pictures
of the runes she’d taken from Nova’s body. “Sounds good, while you’re doing
that, I’m gonna see if I can translate these runes. I swear I’ve seen some of
these before.”
“And what do I do in the meantime?” Mike asked.
“What Nana said,” Victoria shrugged.
Mike took a seat beside his snoring niece on the couch while
Victoria grabbed one of the books from her coffee table and got to work.
Dropping to the floor beside her, Derrick gave her a hand, peering over her
shoulder at the pictures as he too began researching rune work.
Mike sighed as he watched everyone hard at work, trying to get answers to their latest supernatural problem and shook his head. How long had he been in the dark about all of this stuff. And to see it affect his family, it put a whole new perspective on the world for him. It was bad enough it was happening around him in Avondale, but to reach all the way to Spring Glen. “I think I may be cursed,” he said aloud, inviting Victoria’s curious gaze. “I mean, how else do you explain all of these things happening to me? First Benny, then my legs and now my niece. How can one man have so much bad luck?”
His mouth turned in a thin smile and he nodded. Looking down
at the book in her lap, he motioned with his head, “Who’s that guy?”
Victoria’s eyes returned to the page in front of her and she
traced the lines of the figure with her index and sighed. “His name is Fane
Dragonos. I’m fairly certain he’s my dream demon. The thing that gets me though,
is everything seems to come back around to him and memories I can no longer
access.”
“What do you mean?”
“What’s he telling you now?”
“The runes.”
With that, Derrick looked over and noticed the detailing on
the dragon’s scales and gasped. “That’s where you’ve seen them before?” He took
possession of the book and examined the markings closer. “Victoria, I think
you’re right.”
“Yeah but, I just don’t know what it means. Why is an imp drawing these on a witch? And how is he connected to Fane and/or me?”
Right on cue, Loretta exited the kitchen. “No luck,” she
announced sorrowfully. “Did you find anything, Victoria?”
Victoria exchanged a look with Derrick before taking hold of
the book once more and approaching her grandmother. “I have actually. The
runes,” Victoria said. “I was able to translate a few of them. I don’t know
what she believed they were, but they are actually a binding spell. Henry has
basically taken possession of her living soul while also locking her inside her
body so she cannot escape.”
“Wait…wait, a second,” Derrick said, processing Victoria’s words. “Nova IS the vessel. Think about it. He has her locked away where she cannot escape, incapable of calling for help, bound to him and in a place easily accessible to him when needed and without the ability to leave her body.”
“Well, that’s great news!” Mike said. “If she is the vessel,
all we have to do is figure out a way to make it whatever container again and
stick that creepy ass dentist back inside.”
“It’s not that easy,” Victoria said, “The runes have trapped
Nova. That is irreversible. At best, we can place Henry inside of Nova, but
she’ll then be a host to a devious imp. We could never separate them again.
It’s essentially trading one life for another.”
“But we’d be stopping a literal demon from Hell from hurting
more innocent people,” Mike argued.
“Yes, but at the cost of Nova’s life,” Loretta repeated. “I
can’t do that to my friend.”
“Then what do you suggest? Because as best as I can see, my
niece is the innocent one in all of this. She didn’t ask for your friend’s soul
sucking demon to leach out her life force for a brighter smile!”
“Mike, please, try and remain level headed about this. We all want the same things,” Victoria said, placing a calming hand on her friend’s shoulder.
“Hey, Mike, what’s up.”
“Listen, I don’t know what happened in that basement. And
I’m sorry for what you found. But I have to know what are the chances of
reversing this spell and saving Tina?”
“I’m gonna be honest with you, I’m not sure, Mike. If we try
and remove the runes to reconstitute the Imp’s jar, it could very well destroy
it or even kill Nova in the process. And can we honestly be ok with trapping an
imp inside her body for the rest of her life?”
“YES!” Mike replied emphatically. “I’m sorry, Vik, I really
am. But let’s face facts. We may not be able to save them both and if it comes
down to that, promise me you will save Tina at all costs,” Mike said.
“Mike…”
“Please. I can’t lose her. She’s all I have left of Benny.”
Loretta read silently, her eyes widening in horror as she
reached the final paragraph. “No, Victoria. Absolutely not!”
“And why not? I have the capabilities; you and I both know
that. If this works…”
“That’s a big if.”
“But if it does, we can save Tina and Nova AND send that imp
back into the depths of Hell where he belongs.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking for, Victoria. What this will do. It’s not something any one in our family has ever done before and for good reason.”
“Still, Victoria, why risk it?”
“Because what are our alternatives? You lose your friend or
Mike loses his niece or we lose them both and losing is NOT an option for me,
Loretta. Not now, not ever. So, you’re either with me or you’re not, but decide
now because I am gathering what I need to get started.”
Again, Loretta sighed and nodded her head. “Look, Nana, if
this is because you don’t want me to know more about Fane or because of that
big secret you still won’t tell me when you disappeared the last time I
mentioned dragons, then don’t you think it may be time to come clean?”
“Vik, what’s going on?” Mike asked.
“You’re telling me your blood has the power to change the
past?”
“Yes. I can change the course of events like it never
happened. It’s different than a memory spell where it’s just reordering ones’
recollection. In this method, it makes it so it actually never happened at all.
And since Nova’s destiny is bound to the imp’s I think, if I were to draw the
same runes she has on myself in my blood, I can change her destiny and trap the
imp back in his mystical prison.”
“What are the consequences—to you, I mean?” Mike asked, following along with Victoria’s idea.
Surprisingly, he took her hand in silent comfort and gave it
a squeeze. “What do you need me to do?”
She gripped the necklace; the vial of his blood around her
neck and smiled. “You’ve already done it, Derrick. If things don’t go how I’m
hoping they will…I’ll need a guide for what comes next.”
Derrick nodded and gently kissed the back of her hand. “You
know I’m by your side every step.”
“Wait, what? What does that mean?” Mike asked, noticing the couple’s exchange.
“Ouch, Loretta, ‘night demon?’ And here I thought we were friends,” Derrick said with a wry smile.
“I don’t like this. Not one bit. And I hate that you’re encouraging it,” she countered.
“Loretta, there are two things I’ve learned about Victoria. The first, she can be pretty headstrong. If you tell her no, she’ll do it anyway and without anyone there to help her. So, to cut to the chase. I say yes as long as I can be there if things go sideways. The other: Victoria has grown into a very strong and super badass witch…”
“She can handle what she says she can…even the unknown,”
Derrick finished.
“Thank you, Derrick. That’s a ringing endorsement,” Victoria
smiled and leaned into his arms.
“Is it breakfast yet?” Tina said, stirring from her sound
slumber.
“Not yet, Sweetheart,” Mike said, taking a seat beside his
niece again. “But, I can make something for you if you’re hungry.”
“I’d like that, Uncle. Thank you.”
His pleading eyes met Victoria’s and she nodded. “Let’s get started.”
“It is,” he hummed, focusing himself to maintain control.
“The scent of you is always very enticing, Victoria.”
“Well, there’s always the cleanup,” she joked, he said
nothing but continued diligently painting her body. Victoria gathered his hand,
stopping his writing motion and held his gaze. “I really appreciate you helping
with this, Derrick.”
“Of course, Victoria. Mike is family. If we can’t sacrifice for those we love, who do you sacrifice for?”
“I am but not for me. I just really hope this works. It’s an
untested theory and our only shot at saving both Tina and Nova. If this doesn’t
work…” she paused and took a deep breath. “I can’t let Mike lose another family
member. I can’t watch him go through that again.”
“I know and I’m ready to do what’s necessary to help with
that too, Victoria.”
“You knew?”
“That you’ll sacrifice Nova for Tina if the plan fails? Of
course I did,” he said, pointing toward his chest. “I always know where your
heart is. No matter what, Tina survives the night.”
“We’re ready to go,” Loretta said, knocking on Victoria’s bedroom door. Throwing on a robe, she headed down after her grandmother. Mike and Tina were seated at the dining table having a small meal and he instantly stood as he saw the trio approaching.
“Henry will know the moment the ritual starts, so it’s
important you do everything you can to keep him from stopping us, Derrick.
Victoria, once you’ve disrobed, stand in the center of the room and repeat the
words on the page I gave you. I’ll handle the rest.”
Derrick led the way through the secret passage again and
Loretta grabbed Victoria’s arm before she started down the stairs. “I know
Tina’s life means a lot to you,” she sighed. “As much as my friend Nova. But,
we’re old. We’ve had our time. If things don’t look as though they are heading
the way they should, save the girl.”
Victoria nodded solemnly and joined Derrick down the stairs. She quickly undressed and stepped into the middle of the room in a circle Loretta had drawn on the floor. With a deep breath, Victoria twisted the cap off the vial around her neck, and swallowed the draught of Derrick’s blood. Loretta placed candles around her granddaughter, lit them and nodded for her to begin.
As anticipated, a loud explosion erupted above them and they
could hear the thundering steps of someone approaching. “IT’S HIM!” Nova
shouted, “HE’S HERE!”
“Keep going, Victoria!” Loretta urged. Victoria continued
chanting the words, feeling the runes heat up on her skin. Before long they
were beginning to vanish and she could see the same thing was happening to
Nova.
As the last of the words left her lips, a large winged-beast
flew down the stairs and charged for the group. Derrick quickly intercepted
him, tackling the monster into a corner and the pair began battling it out.
Nova screamed as if she felt every blow, every kick and every swipe of Derrick’s claws. “They’re still connected,” Loretta shouted, tossing a vial toward Victoria. “Drink, drink and repeat the words again!”
With one final strike, Derrick was off his feet and slow to recover. The beast was free and charging right for Victoria. Just as he’d reached her, Loretta jumped in her place and the monster struck her, throwing the elder witch into the wall on the other side of the room. His attention was once again on Victoria.
The spell was complete and the monster froze in place. And as he shrank down to his natural size, the binds that held Nova broke. A colorful receptacle appeared in front of them. Switching gears, Victoria began reading from another page. This time, the incantation was to imprison the imp back inside his enchanted vault for good. Victoria turned and looked the creature in the eyes as she spoke the final word: “Occludo.” (Lock up.)
Retrieving her phone, Victoria placed a call to Mike to her the results of their effort. Sighing with relief she nodded emphatically to her grandmother. Derrick approached from behind, having healed from his battle with the underworld creature. “Are you ok?” Victoria asked, wrapping her arms around her lover’s neck.
“As good as can be,” he smiled, grasping her in his arms.
“I’m sorry, I wanted to help…”
“You had a job to do and I was fine. Although, you could have made him tinier from the start,” he laughed.
Nova stood in front of Loretta, her color and life having returned to her, “Thank you,” she said woefully. “I don’t know how much longer I would have lasted down here.” Loretta wrapped her sister witch in her arms and squeezed her tight.
“I know. Italian food, wine, alone time and then…”
“Exactly. I swear I can never leave you alone for another
second or else Mike is going to pop in with some dire supernatural emergency
that steals you away.” He paused, lost in thought a moment before speaking
again. “Tonight, was especially scary; watching you perform a spell that no one
in your family had ever done before. For a moment there, I thought…”
“Yeah, me too. But, thanks to my pocket vamp, I was prepared
for anything.”
“Pocket vamp?” Derrick laughed. “Yeah, sure. I’ll be
anything you want me to be.” Leaning down, he captured her lips in a passionate
kiss. Hades hopped up on the bed beside them and he groaned. “Looks like
tonight’s just not my night.”
Laughing, he rolled, placing Victoria on top of him and
sighed as she tenderly stroked her fingers down his chest. “No. But you can
have all the others for the rest of my days.”
“Deal!”
“Yeah, tell me about it,” Mike said, waving a hand in front
of his face to diffuse the unsettled dust. “Since the couple’s son predeceased
them, there was no one left to take ownership so the place just sat.”
“Which means, no clean up.”
“That would be correct,” Mike said, leading the way to the room where the bodies had been found.
“So, looks like the bodies fell about here and someone
dragged them to those seats to pose them,” Mike said, reenacting the crime.
“Yes. And it would appear they took their time staging the
area so it would appear as a murder suicide. Reading through the case notes,
the weapon was found in Hank Sinclair’s hand. Gunshot residue tests positively
indicated he could have fired a weapon.”
“Yeah, but you and I both know that could have just been residual transfer from having held a fired weapon.”
“The only reason it was ruled suspicious circs is because
the crime scene techs found traces of Hank’s blood within the drag marks from
the door to the chair. That means he would have had to have already been
injured before ‘dragging’ Maureen to her armchair.”
“Only one wound was discovered on Hank which they determined
to be the shot to the face. However, if the killer was so keen to make it look
like murder suicide, that final blast could have been done in such a manner to
completely conceal his first wound.”
“Which I believe to be the case,” Mike said, circling around behind Victoria, he held her and, using a pretend weapon, staged how he felt the deed took place. “The killer would have incapacitated Hank first. Once he was out, Maureen was shot as she entered through the library door. Spots of her blood was found in the hallway leading into the room from a blast radius.”
“Well, obviously, there was a second set of keys made. The
problem is, no one copped to having them.”
“Of course not, that would make them an instant suspect.”
The two detectives stood for a while, going over the circumstances of the case
and taking in the facts of the crime. After a while, Victoria read over the
other notes in the back of the casefile. “Mike?”
“Hmm?”
“Did you read anything about the first team of detectives speaking to this neighbor here?” she asked, pointing toward a man whose profile stated he was the neighbor to the back of the property.
Handing him the folder, she watched as he read over the last
two lines on the prior complaints form. “Huh. He’d reported the Sinclairs on a
number of occasions for property line disputes. Apparently, he believed when
they installed the back fence, they encroached on his property by 2.5 feet.”
“Enough to kill for?”
“Knowing the kinds of murder cases we’ve handled in the
past, I’m sure there are some who wouldn’t give up an inch, let alone almost
three feet. I think we need to look into this neighbor a little closer.”
“Definitely. He’d be a viable suspect, especially considering no one would have seen him entering or leaving the property since his place is right behind theirs.”
“She’s well. Back home with my sister and none-the-wiser. Of
course, she’s going to need a new dentist but, that’s just something that
happens when yours goes back to Hell. Plus, I like this.”
“Like what?”
“This. Investigating with you. Solving cold cases. It’s nice you know. I’m glad to
have this one off my books. And not only that, sometimes I miss this you know? Cases
like this. Normal stuff.”
“Normal? I don’t think neighbors killing neighbors is exactly
normal.”
“You know what I mean. It’s not supernatural.”
“Well…”
“Well, what?”
“There is still one unexplained element of the case.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that?
“If both the Sinclairs were dead, and the neighbor is
obviously not keen on telling on himself, who made the 911 call? Analysts said
it was the son’s voice, but we know he died years earlier.”
“You had to bring that up, didn’t you?”
“I’m just saying. I think the Sinclairs had a little help
from their deceased son…at least in reporting about their deaths.”
“Some things are just better left unknown.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night, Partner,” Victoria laughed and settled into her seat.
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