Page 106 of Hopelessly Teavoted
“Nooooo,” screamed the fading specter that had been Chet Thornington. “How dare you, you fucking b—”
Before he could finish, Chet disappeared completely, dissolving into the box. Lex snapped it shut and clapped again. The body and the box disappeared. The pen turned to ash, which trickled through her fingers until it disappeared.
The devil laughed once, and then clapped.
“Very well. Good show, my pets. A murderer, a manipulator, and an abuser. Three souls neatly caught. Victoria, your parents’ debt is paid, and I am sorry that you had to pay it. Unfortunately for them, because they did not repay the debt themselves, they will lose much of what they gained financially as a result of your powers—which you now get to keep, having paid the debt in full.”
“They’ll be broke?”
“Ah,” said Lex, “not exactly. They’re from enough money that they will have plenty to live off, I expect. That’s the thing about wealth: very difficult to take away once the grubby rich get their hands on it.”
“Not like your parents, pet,” Lex said and ruffled Azrael’s hair. Az reeled back as if to punch the devil, but Lex was on the other side of the room in the blink of an eye.
Undeterred, Lex continued, “Your parents were truly special people. They never hoarded more money than they needed. Funny, isn’t it, that the founding family was stingy and cruel, and it was outsiders who came here to escape oppression who invested in the community quietly and steadily, for all those same years they were ridiculed for their differences. Benedict and Persephone Hart left goodness everywhere they went, pets. And for that, I shall grant you all a favor.” Lex winked, and the drastic change in attitude since the last time Vickie had seen him gave her whiplash. He winked. “Since I no longer need a third soul, and you paid in full early, I’ll undo my previous mischief.” His smile was genuine now. “As of close of business, midnight tonight, you can touch again. Azrael, you are a man, and an honorable one, not an object.”
“Even if we don’t cast the sealing spell?” Vickie asked. Azrael looked at her. “And even if we do?”
“If you’d like to, of course, go ahead and set a seal upon your hearts, but either way, you’ll be able to touch again.”
“What about the fake psychic?”
“Who?”
“Madam Cleopatra.”
“Oh.” Lex looked pleased. “I suppose that will be your sister’s problem, but yes, she will wake up, with caveats, of course.”
“What does that mean?”
He looked altogether too pleased for this to be anything good. “It means that she won’t have to fake psychic abilities anymore. Surprise! Her soul scrap will have been released with that insufferable fellow’s demise, and she’ll wake up in time, horribly shocked by the ability to be jolted into the future on occasion, and maybe even into the past!” He cackled. “What a treat for Priscilla Hart to sort out! Every Council member loves an exciting challenge, it has to be said.”
“That’s— Is it reversible?” Azrael looked concerned.
“Not at all, but not to worry. It will make her grift significantly easier, I’m sure. And your sister is in charge of accidental mundane mutations and happenstances. Once she’s on the mend, you can tell her. Or not! I’m quite certain the Council will let her know.”
“That will be a headache,” Azrael said.
Lex nodded, smiled even wider in a lazy, sensual, insouciant expression, and disappeared. It was a devilish move indeed, to catch them beating his game, drop a few bombs, and take credit for the winning move.
But better, she decided, than drawing his ire again in earnest. She had a sneaking feeling this would not be the last they saw of Sexy Lexy.
The unsaid words about what this meant for them together hung between her and Azrael, but they had other things to check on first.
“Priscilla?” Azrael spun, but his sister was already sitting up and scowling.
“I’m fine, thanks to all of you. Though I’m not particularly looking forward to dealing with a fraud-turned-real psychic. An exciting challenge, my left tit.” She frowned, crossing her arms.
Evelyn cleared her throat, and Priscilla sighed and continued more civilly, “But particularly thanks to Evelyn. Darling, would you be so kind as to take me to your place? I need your private attentions.”
“Of course. I’ll finish the spell work to fix you up.” Relief palpable in her voice, Evelyn pulled keys out of the air and tossed them at Azrael. “I trust you two can drop us, and then handle everything else on your own?”
“Yes,” said Azrael. “It’s unlimited what we can handle on our own.”
The words curled warm and catlike, a comfortable flame in Vickie’s stomach.
Once outside, Priscilla and Evelyn climbed into the back seat, and Az stood for a moment, face serious in the moonlight.
“Would you want to drive?” He pulled his hand through the length of the curls at the top of his head.
