Page 15 of Shadows of the Soul

I squeezed my eyes closed for a split second and calculated the chances of Hudson missing that red flag. Perhaps a hole would open up and I’d fall straight into the pits of hell. Yes, that seemed far more likely.

Time for your big girl panties, Cora. The devil wasn’t coming to rescue you today. I cast a glance at Hudson. A tiny frown was etched on to his features as he tried to put the pieces together. Good luck, buddy, I’m not sure I even know the fabric of my being. Not completely.

I shoved past Rockhard into the back of the store. Rows and rows of bottles and containers lined the walls of the room. A stone table with various lab equipment sat proudly in the center. “I need something,” I said when we’d all gotten inside and shut the door.

“How did you meet?” Rockhard asked.

I groaned. “I don’t have time for this. We aren’t having sex, but I do need a few potions from you.”

“Shame,” Rockhard muttered.

Lenson leaned against the table and crossed his ankles. “What do you need?”

I relaxed my shoulders. “A detector spell.”

Rockhard’s eyebrows climbed into his hairline. “For elementals?”

This was the tricky part. “Broader. For everything. I’ll also need a neutralizer potion, and lastly, a telepathy charm.”

Lenson squinted at me. “What the hell have you gotten yourself into?”

I folded my arms. “Someone has kidnapped my aunt.”

Rockhard jerked. “Stella?”

I shook my head. “No, Dayna.” He had a soft spot for my Aunt Stella going back some years and an incident nobody would tell me about.

“And you suspect foul play?” Lenson guessed.

I shrugged. “Something feels … off.”

“Always trust your gut, kid,” Rockhard said with a twirl of his hand. “Follow me. Will your friend be coming?”

I glanced at Hudson. He narrowed his eyes. I sighed. “Looks like it.”

We followed the owners down the hallway, then a narrow set of stairs to what would be the basement. We rounded a corner and descended again.

I could feel Hudson’s unease behind me. “Doing alright back there, big guy?”

“I’m fine.”

I chuckled as the giant underground atrium came into view. Water sloshed against our feet as Lenson and Rockhard waded into the enormous pool. Several caves made up the room, each filled with waist high liquid that was lit blue from underneath by enchantments. I climbed into the warm pool after them and started across to the next cave. I glanced over my shoulder, finding Hudson still on the edge. “Come on, is the big bad kitty cat afraid of the water?” I taunted.

“This is why you changed into a tank and shorts?” he asked.

I shrugged. “That and a cocktail dress was a little over the top for a rescue mission.”

His jaw ticked, then he dived headfirst into the water and swam straight past me to the opposite side of the pool before climbing out and shaking his head.

“Showoff,” I muttered, following him and descending into the next pool. We found Lenson and Rockhard muttering to themselves three caves in. They moved through the water, grabbing various items from the nooks and crannies on the cave walls and popping them on a round table raised above the water.

“Why the water?” Hudson asked from beside me.

“They make potions. Dangerous potions and spells that, if they spilled or leaked, could have disastrous consequences. A lot of the spells they weave are also volatile and go wrong. The water acts as a neutralizer. It’s enchanted to absorb any magic.”

“Clever,” Hudson mumbled.

“Let’s talk about payment, boys,” I said.

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