Page 50 of Deadly Avarice
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 fewfisted, 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 youchargedthe 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 onlythe 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.
