Page 49 of Hopelessly Teavoted
“It will kill him a little bit if she is,” said Persephone, her gentle whisper full of worry, clutching at Benedict’s arm. He wrapped a translucent palm around hers, but didn’t break eye contact with Vickie.
“Better alive and brokenhearted than dead,” Benedict said, and Vickie could feel tears threatening with the rush of emotions swirling in the wake of so many extremes. She swallowed.
“He’s right,” said Persephone. “I don’t think there’s any way to undo the curse, though I can’t fathom how Olexandre could make your gift function on a person when it is so clearly meant for objects. He must have spelled something to Azrael, something that could transfer on contact.”
“An objectification spell,” said Benedict gruffly. “Shadow craft. Devils may do it too.”
The ghost of Persephone Hart frowned.
“It is impossible for awitchto undo, but as long as one is careful with the terms of the contract, it doesn’t have to be deadly.”
Benedict looked at Persephone now, their shared gaze heavy with meaning.
“Victoria Starnberger,” Benedict said, voice heavy. “You must now deal with two devils. The person loose in Hallowcross who has made themselves a worser demon by attempting to steal lives and souls in exchange for corrupt power, and Olexandre, the one who gifted you with your own power, to whom you are indebted.”
“There has to be a way to undo this. How do I keep him safe? What can I do?”
The elder Hart smiled sadly. “It won’t be easy. You’ll have to untangle the corruption here in Hallowcross. The church, and whatever bargain has been struck to cause harm.”
“Do you know anything else that could help us?”
The ghost regarded her quietly for a few seconds, precious time slipping away.
“The psychic. I would start with puzzling out what it means. For her to be unreachable like that, in a coma, well, it’s some sort of spell blowback. Someone tried to take her soul and then stuff it back in. There will be consequences even if you can revive her.” His eyes darkened. “She’ll come back different. Don’t forget it.”
It didn’t make sense to her. What would a power-hungry creature linked to Brethren of One Love want with a roadside fake psychic?
“Why her? She’s a known fraud. A tourist trap. And what about the church?”
Benedict’s shade shook his head. “Everything to do with that church is murky. Shielded. I can only see that Madam Cleopatra is in danger. She wasnotwhat the evil sought, in the end.”
His wife clutched his arm.
“Please,” Persephone begged. “Don’t let Azrael get caught in the cross fire. He’d die for you. Don’t let him.”
“I’d sooner die myself,” Vickie said, moving her hand to her heart, against her jacket, to stop it from inching toward Azrael’s. Az’s head was still in his hands, and Vickie wanted so desperately to comfort him, but to touch him would be murder. What if he reached for her in desperation, unthinking, and touched her hand? Her face?
He would never touch her face again.
The thought slammed into Vickie, and she was crying now, slow sobs ramping up, escalating into breathlessness so different from the heady one she’d shared with Azrael only minutes before.
Benedict was looking at the flaming ring.
“The object.” He frowned. “It shouldn’t burn when you’re not touching it.” Understanding creased his brow. “Transfer spell and then objectification. An order of operations sequence spell. Very tricky. Highly personal.”
Vickie blanched.
“Olexandre must have enchanted it to capture your touch,” said Persephone. “Devils are clever, calculating. Whatever it is he needs from you, he must need it more urgently now. Get it to him quickly.” Persephone’s eyes bored into Vickie’s, red mouth set serious. “Be careful. Tell my son the same. And that we love him. Tell Priscilla we love her too. Do not despair, Victoria. All that is made can be unmade, and so long as you are both breathing, you may find a loophole, and a way to each other yet. Have faith in your love, darling.”
Their ghosts flickered now.
“Az,” Vickie said softly. “Azrael.”
Az lifted his head out of his hands. He looked absolutely destroyed, tear tracks on his cheeks and a muscle jumping in his jaw.
“Your parents love you very much. They said we have to deal with two devils now, but they love you. So much.” Vickie’s voice broke again a little.
Azrael ran a hand down his face. “No one I love can touch me anymore. And it’s all my fault.” His voice was gravelly.Broken. It was an exaggeration, of course, but correcting him wouldn’t kill the pain, or the fact that it was, in this moment, his truth.
