Spellbound Murder Complete Trilogy (Spellbound Murder Box Set Book 1) Page 26

  "What were you even doing out this late? And in this weather?"

  Remembering the trip to her damaged teashop drained some of her animosity. "I had to meet an insurance investigator at the store." She dropped onto the couch and put on her socks.

  "Oh." Some of the fire went out of Gabriel's eyes, but he pushed on. "Still, there has to be something you can do to put an end to this... arrangement."

  "I could ask around to see if anyone else has had any dealings with angels—"

  "No!"

  Mira sighed and slumped back on the couch. "I don't have any spells on how to break the promise of an angel. You made the pact in the Ether. If it's still active here, there's got to be a way you can stop it."

  "I've tried, but I don't know what I'm doing." The last part sounded like it was hard for Gabriel to admit. "Couldn't you just... I don't know. Be more careful?"

  "It doesn't work like that." She didn't want to bring up the other option, but she knew she had to. "Maybe if you told Ian—"

  "No!" Gabriel was even more emphatic.

  "Don't yell at me," Mira snapped. "If you’d talk to him, he might not fight the spell so hard. I'm stacking up more bad karma as we speak."

  "No one forced you to bind my partner." He looked like he was trying to keep his temper, but failed miserably.

  "You're right! I did that to help the community. That's on me and I accept that, karma and all. But no one is forcing you to come track me down every time you think I need help!"

  "You don't understand what it's like!"

  Mira glared at him. "Neither do you!"

  Seething, Gabriel reined in his voice, although he couldn't manage to drown his anger. "Dammit, Mira, there has to be something we can do here."

  Mira's lips twitched.

  "What?" Gabriel appeared bewildered at her sudden change in attitude.

  "Nothing." Mira bit her lip. All her fury evaporated with one word.

  That didn't appear to help Gabriel's mood. "What's so funny?"

  "It's just..." Mira tried to stop the grin, but she was losing the battle. "It's just funny to hear an angel cursing."

  Gabriel sighed and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he glared at her, as she still struggled not to laugh. Shaking his head, Gabriel flopped into a chair.

  "This isn't funny." He sounded resigned, so Mira tried her best to stop grinning.

  Alchemy and Oracle hopped onto his chair, looking for affection, which Gabriel gave.

  "I know it's not funny," Mira said, trying to sound sincere. "You're right, and you're also right about this needing to stop. When you show up I never know if I'm about to die, or stub my toe."

  Gabriel smirked, but didn't look at her. "I get the idea I'd need my gun or an ambulance instead of a bandage when I come to find you."

  Mira rolled her eyes. "Yeah. That makes me feel a whole lot better."

  "Look," he said, "I'm still trying to wrap my head around all this."

  "I know."

  "Maybe—" Gabriel shook his head. "I can't tell Ian until I understand this better. Is there any way you can... I don't know, forestall karma."

  Mira's eyes widened. "No, you're talking about a dark path I refuse to take. I've seen people try to avoid karma and it didn't end well for anyone."

  "What happened?"

  He could probably use the distraction, so Mira, after some hesitation, filled him in a little on her background. "You saw my file—from when I worked as an occult expert for the FBI."

  Gabriel nodded.

  "I was in college at the time. There was... Well, I did something that I didn't think was bad at the time. I made a spell called Bliss. It was..." Mira shivered as she remembered. "It was an amazing feeling. I was having a hard time, and Bliss made everything bad evaporate."

  "Like a drug?"

  "Exactly like a drug. Another witch took the spell, twisted it, and turned it into something much more dangerous. Then he started giving it to other people. Humans, mostly."

  Gabriel frowned and sat up straighter.

  "You know a little about how karma works. It was my spell, so when something bad happened, everything it touched stacked against me."

  "Shouldn't that have been on the other witch?"

  "Part of it, yes. He made the spell and manipulated people with it. He used us." Mira gripped her hands together. She hated remembering, but if it would help Gabriel understand, it would be worth it. "But he found a way to escape the karma, at least for a while, by pushing it off on me."

  Gabriel's eyebrows knitted together. "How does that happen?"

  Mira shook her head. "It shouldn't happen, but it's possible. It nearly killed me, and I didn't even know what was happening. I thought it was all my own karma."

  "What was he doing?"

  Mira studied her hands. "We think he tried to summon something."

  "What, like John did? One of those things from the other side?"

  Mira frowned. "I... I don't know what he was trying to summon. Thankfully, we didn't find out."

  Could he have been trying to summon something from the Ether? Mira's arms broke out in gooseflesh.

  "How did the FBI get involved in something like that?" Gabriel asked.

  "One of the people involved was the son of an influential politician. I had left the group, but she asked me to help her son out, so I went back. The FBI agreed not to press any charges for my part in the creation of the ‘drug’." Mira used her hands to make air quotes.

  "Did they think it really was a drug?"

  "Not all of them. One or two people knew the score and worked with the local conclave."

  Gabriel deflated. "Conclave? I don't even understand what half this crap means."

  Mira covered her mouth to stop from grinning again.

  Gabriel's eyes narrowed. "Crap is not a curse word."

  "Well, no... but still." Seeing Gabriel's look, she hurried to continue. "A conclave is a gathering, in this case, of supernaturals. Um, when you're ready... I mean, if you want... I'd like to take you to one."

  "What do you do at these gatherings?"

  "Usually the elders of each race meet. They bring up issues or things other people in the community should be aware of. For the rest of us, we get the chance to mingle. It's a place where we can be ourselves. Essentially."

  "But not completely?"

  "Well, the werewolves aren't going to shift in front of everyone. The elves aren't likely to spar. Sometimes the witches share or swap spells and those sorts of things, but we all get the chance to be open about who we are."

  "Open?" Gabriel looked morose. "And no angels?"

  "Not that I know of."

  Gabriel perked up. "But you don’t know for sure?"

  Mira shook her head. "You don't have to tell people who or what you are. They won't necessarily expect you to tell them, either. And never ask someone else, it's rude. Extremely rude."

  He looked confused. "Why is it rude?"

  Mira shrugged. "Most of our communities have been massacred at some point. Witches and sorcerers were burned at the stake, werewolves were hunted, and vampires were dragged into the sun and staked. Although, even Lance will admit that many of the vampires deserved it at the time. Some of them got out of control, but almost every race has been feared, hunted, or murdered, even by each other."

  "You mean supernaturals killed other supernaturals?" He seemed shocked at the idea.

  "Yeah. It was a long time ago, but even in the last century, witch hunters were still hunting witches."

  Gabriel rubbed his temple. "Witch hunters?"

  "They're human, but with a little extra, like Sally." Mira felt weighted down, thinking of her friend murdered more than a month ago. "She was clairvoyant."

  "And John was a psychic, right?"

  Mira nodded, and her eyes were drawn once again to the spot where she had written in blood on her carpet to stop John's madness.

  When she turned back, she saw Gabriel also staring at the spot where the struggle took
place. They sat silently for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. Mira reflected that despite Gabriel's earlier anger, it was a comfortable silence.

  "I'm sorry you keep feeling the need to come and help me," Mira said.

  There was a knock at the door and they both glanced up.

  "It's not your fault," Gabriel sighed.

  He looked defeated, and Mira couldn't help but worry about him. Maybe there was something she could do. She had no idea what, but she could at least try.

  Remembering the bitter cold and icy rain, Mira hurried to the door. The sight of Emmit on the other side surprised her, and she pulled the door open wider to let him in.

  "I am sorry to interrupt your evening," Emmit said before spotting Gabriel. When he recognized the angel, he beamed.

  Chapter 2

  Mira was less than pleased to see Emmit, but felt a treacherous flutter in her stomach when he turned his gaze toward her. His beautiful British accent always made her toes want to curl.

  "Come on in," Mira said, gesturing to the coat rack.

  "I should have known Gabriel would make sure you were alright," Emmit said, hanging his long coat. "When I couldn't reach you, I was worried."

  There were so many questions Mira wanted to ask, starting with 'where have you been', and 'why should you care'. She hadn't seen him for a week, after all.

  "Of course I'm alright," Mira said. "Why wouldn't I be?"

  "Your car was spotted. Well, what was left of it," Emmit said.

  "What do you mean what was left of my car?" Mira asked, confused.

  Emmit frowned and turned from Mira to Gabriel. "That was your car on the interstate, correct? On the side of the road?"

  "It might have been mine," Mira said. "It died on the way home."

  "You weren't in an accident?" Emmit asked.

  "No. I was just," Mira waved her hand through the air, "stranded."

  "I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but your car appears to be wrecked," Emmit said, "or so I'm told."

  "What do you mean?" Mira asked. "Who's telling you this stuff?"

  "Reinfield employs a great number of people," Emmit said in way of explanation. "Someone drove into your car."

  Surprised, Mira turned to Gabriel, who stood and didn't meet her eye.

  "I should go," Gabriel said, stiffly.

  "Please, do not leave on my account," Emmit said.

  Since entering the room, Emmit had gravitated towards Gabriel, though Mira hadn't noticed until he stood only a few feet away.

  "You should stay," Mira said, watching to see if he moved closer to the angel. "Maybe Emmit could help us with our situation."

  "No," Gabriel said. His words held a finality that made Mira bite back any arguments.

  It hadn't sunk in yet that her car was wrecked. Mira persisted on the idea that Emmit's people were mistaken.

  "I take it that Ian is still fighting your spell?" Emmit asked.

  Mira sighed. "It seems that way."

  "But the case is over, isn't it?" Emmit asked.

  "No," Gabriel said. "No one will find John. At least not in this world. No one outside of this room is aware of that, though."

  "So Ian is still searching," Emmit said, "and unable to discuss things with his partner." The room was silent for a few moments before Emmit continued. "Is that a wise course of action?"

  "Leave it, Emmit," Mira said. "It's Gabriel's choice."

  "Which is why I am surprised this is the choice he's made," Emmit said. "It puts you at greater risk."

  "Don't make a big deal over it. I'm not in any more danger now than I would be otherwise," Mira said.

  Emmit appeared to ignore her. "It must be grating with that constant little alert going off inside."

  Gabriel glared at him. "What do you know about it?"

  "More than I'd care to say," Emmit said.

  "Stay out of it," Gabriel snapped. "It's none of your business."

  Emmit stiffened and his voice turned cold. "I've made it my concern, where Mira is involved."

  "She says nothing is different," Gabriel said.

  Mira could feel a cool wash of energy that began to radiate erratically from Gabriel.

  Emmit's eyes turned darker and a strange smile appeared. "And doesn't that little lie just irritate you that much more." His words came out as a taunt followed by his own power—more directed and controlled than Gabriel's.

  Mira began feeling queasy as she was buffeted from all sides by energy, running hot from Emmit and cold from Gabriel.

  "What's your problem?" Gabriel asked.

  "I dislike the selfish direction you are taking," Emmit replied.

  Gabriel took a step forward.

  "That's enough!" Mira put herself between the two men.

  They contemplated her in surprise, and the forces building between the two died away.

  Mira scowled at Emmit. "Stop pressuring him. I cast the spell binding Ian. It's my responsibility and my karma. Leave Gabriel alone about it."

  Emmit's eyes pinched around the edges. Oracle began to growl from his spot in Gabriel's vacated chair.

  "Mira—"

  "Shut up," Mira said, interrupting Gabriel while keeping her eye on Emmit.

  Gabriel grabbed her arm and gently tugged her back. "I'll think about telling Ian," he said reluctantly. "I just need some time."

  "Don't let Emmit bully you into anything," Mira said.

  "My decision," Gabriel said. "Remember?" To Emmit, he added, "That's as much as I'm willing to say about it now."

  Emmit didn't appear happy, but he seemed to relax. "Of course. I'm sure you'll make a logical decision in the end."

  Mira took a quick breath, ready to start telling Emmit off.

  Gabriel cut in before she had the chance. "It's been a long evening. I think we should go."

  Mira deflated.

  "I was hoping to get the chance to talk to Mira," Emmit said.

  "Not tonight," Gabriel said. Again, he was so adamant about the assertion that Mira couldn't imagine anyone disagreeing with him.

  Apparently, Emmit didn't feel the same way.

  "I don't think it's up to you," Emmit stated.

  "Tonight it is." Gabriel's voice dropped, but kept its edge.

  Emmit's entire stance said he wanted to argue, but he glanced at Mira and took a steadying breath. "Perhaps you're right. Before I leave, though, I wanted to ask about Tyler."

  Mira's shoulders fell, and any inclination to bicker with the two went out the window. "I still haven't heard from him. Have you?"

  Emmit shook his head.

  "I'm meeting with Ian again tomorrow about Tyler," Mira said. "It's been more than a week since anyone's seen him."

  "I am sorry." This time, Emmit softened. "He's a talented witch. I'm sure he'll turn up soon."

  Mira only nodded, not trusting her voice. Sally died a little more than a month ago. Helen had been found dead almost two weeks past and Tyler had been missing for a week. Mira and Helen hadn't been close, but her death hurt all the same.

  "A conclave is being called for tomorrow night," Emmit said. "Will I see you there?"

  That little internal flutter tried to deceive her again. "I'll be there."

  "Any objections, Gabriel?" Emmit asked, his voice somewhat harder when he spoke to the angel.

  Gabriel shrugged, looking uncomfortable at being asked.

  "I'm sorry I let myself get upset." He held out his hand to Gabriel.

  Gabriel looked wary, but shook hands anyway.

  "It is good to see you again," Emmit said. "Thank you for looking out for Mira."

  Emmit held on for a few seconds longer than a normal handshake required.

  "I'll take my leave of you." Emmit walked somewhat rigidly to the door, stopping only to grab his coat. "I'll see you tomorrow, Mira. If you need anything, I'm sure some of Reinfield's staff will be in the area."

  Mira wasn't sure what to say, so she kept quiet.

  When he left, she and Gabriel stood in silence
for a moment before Mira decided she wasn't going to hold her tongue. "Why did you tell him to leave?"

  "It was..." Gabriel seemed to struggle to find the right words, "… for the best."

  "He wouldn't do anything to me."

  Gabriel sighed. "Probably not. He just rubs me the wrong way."

  Mira rolled her eyes. "I never would have guessed that."

  Gabriel shifted, looking uncomfortable. "Reinfield. Those are the guys who showed up last week, aren't they."

  "Yeah."

  "I'm not sure I trust them."

  "Why not?"

  "Are you kidding? They illegally cleaned up, and then staged a crime scene."

  Mira frowned at him. "Because we asked them to. We needed them."

  "That doesn't make it right. What else are they doing?"

  "Mostly giving rides, I think."

  "A car service? I get the feeling they're far more than that."

  "Maybe," Mira said, not wanting to add anything else she knew about the service.

  "Just be careful around them, okay?"

  Mira sighed and rubbed her temples. "I don't know if you're saying that because they're going to hurt me or because—"

  "Because I'm a cop," Gabriel broke in.

  "That's one less worry, at least," Mira mumbled.

  "I should go."

  "I'm sorry about tonight."

  "Don't worry about it. On my way home I'll call the station to see if someone can track down information about your car."

  "Um, thank you," Mira said, not expecting the gesture, "but not on your way home, please. The roads have to be awful."

  A small grin appeared. "When I get home, then."

  "Thanks."

  ***

  The next day, Mira started to leave the apartment two times before remembering her car was gone. Gabriel had left her a message telling her the vehicle wouldn't be coming back. Whoever ran into it had sent the car far beyond the realms of mechanics and body shops.

  Knowing Ian wasn't a morning person, she didn't call until after eight. Ian practically jumped at the chance to meet her at her apartment instead of the office. An hour later, he showed up looking nicer than a normal day at work required.

  "Thanks for stopping by," Mira said, letting him in.

  "It's no problem," Ian said. He took off his coat and glanced out the window before following her into the kitchen. "Sorry about your car."