Page 397 of Castings & Curses

"Cats? Really?" I asked. "The house holds most of my possessions."

"The house has been sealed up for now and the cats relocated. It might not be safe to return yet. Someone seems fixated on you," Carriel admitted.

I feared she was right, and she wasn't talking about Aurelia, who seemed fixated in a good way. That feeling was mutual. At least I had her to take my mind off the other sort of fixation — the one of a killer who might have wanted to take my soul, such as it was. Goddess energy.

"I can hold off for a while, I suppose," I replied, my sense of unease growing.

"It sounds like they might've been looking for something," Aurelia said as she glanced between myself and Carriel. "Did they concentrate their efforts in any specific room?"

Carriel shook her head. "The living room and bedroom mostly. They even cut up the mattress."

My heart sank when I heard that.

"That area has CCTV coverage. See if you can get a hold of the footage, in case the person who did this appears on camera. Were there any sentinels keeping watch?" Aurelia asked.

Carriel shook her head. "Not at the time. I should get back to heaven. I need to report to Raphael before I begin my next shift."

"Shift?" I asked, wondering what she was referring to.

"In the stables," she replied.

My eyebrows rose at that.

"Could you please take a message back to Raphael for me?" Aurelia asked. "I just need to write it down, as it's somewhat complex."

Carriel nodded.

"I'll be back in a few minutes, Melinda. Keep my food warm for me, will you?"

"Of course," I replied.

When they left, I wondered if they were discussing angel business alone. For whatever reason, Aurelia seemed to want to send a written note and not a verbal one. Perhaps she didn't fully trust the messenger, but then written messages could be read too.

Aurelia wasn't gone for long, and Carriel didn't return to the bar. When Aurelia sat down at the table with me, she leaned in close.

"I sent Raphael an update on our progress. The person or people who ransacked your home were obviously looking for something. It's hard to know whether they found it, but if they didn't, do you think it's possible you might still have it with you?" Aurelia asked.

"I — I don't know," I replied. "I suppose that's possible. I only brought a gym bag of possessions back with me. Why don't you finish your meal and we can have a look?"

AURELIA

It wasnice to be alone again with Melinda. I was growing more concerned though with the way she was obviously being targeted. I hoped they were only after something they thought she had, and weren't fixated on harming her, but either way her life was at risk.

"I can't imagine I have anything they're looking for," she said, as she dumped the contents of her bag upside down on the bed.

A pile of her clothes fell out, and I smiled at the lacy things, but what caught my attention most was the sculptures. "Misha created those?" I asked as I reached for the nearest.

It seemed to be white marble with gold veins, and showed two women embracing and melding together. It was on a carved, light wooden base.

"Yeah, he did. When he brought me that one, I always assumed it was his way of telling me that he knew I liked women," Melinda said.

"I get that impression too," I replied as I looked it over.

The sculpture was a lovely piece of work. It seemed simple, and yet it captured a great deal of detail, or maybe it was complexity. I could see his talent showing through.

Melinda handed me the other sculpture she'd brought with her, and I set the first one down.

This one was carved almost like a bonsai tree, only it had a small roof and an owl perched in the branches. As I looked it over, I smiled. I could understand why Melinda chose it from among the sculptures he'd given her to keep. Unlike the first one, it didn't have a wooden base, only a hollow in the clay material he'd used.

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