Page 81 of Shadows of the Soul

“I could easily stop anything from reaching my house. You aren’t even here.” I reached out a hand and swiped it through his body. “Your magic can seep into the dirt I stand on, but you can’t reach me. No matter how many sacrifices or rituals you perform, I will always be stronger.”

He grinned. “Except the danger isn’t outside your house, Cora.” He disappeared.

Oh fuck. What the hell was in my house?

Lenson and Rockhard had left with their new sword. My grandmother was recovering in her room, being attended to by Aunt Dayna and Aunt Anita. Dave had strode into Aunt Liz’s room with her draped in his arms and slammed the door closed behind him. They had people, people who loved and cared for them. I was glad, but also a little jealous. It was an ugly emotion, but as Hudson retreated to the stables, my heart sank. I’d survived without him before. I would go on again. It wasn’t like I was alone. I had my vampire entourage and spiritual guide, who was currently floating around the sink and staring out across the garden. He was pivotal in the next step of my plan and I’d had enough of being on the back foot with Stephen Proctor. Starting with getting rid of the blood magic infiltrating my grounds, I was going to do everything I could to negate the threat he posed. I think it had already served its purpose by letting in a demon. I wasn’t sure of the point of that possession. Perhaps we had banished Bune before he enacted whatever evil plan he had stored up his sleeve? I wasn’t that lucky, but I was that hopeful.

“Why are you wearing those?” Sebastian asked as he came striding into my kitchen.

I tugged on my other pink spotted rain boot. “Thick soles, and protection for my legs,” I explained.

“Are you doing something which requires protection?” he asked, leaning against the door frame.

“I had a visit,” I started.

Rebecca breezed into the kitchen and eyeballed my quirky rain boots. “From who?” she asked.

“Stephen Proctor, the Satanic priest responsible for Aunt Liz’s possession.”

They both froze. “When?” Sebastian snapped.

I sighed. “Don’t get your panties in a twist. It was after the exorcism. But he wasn’t actually here. It was a projection.”

“What did he want?” Rebecca asked as she filled the kettle and popped it on the stove.

“What all evil nemeses want, to gloat.”

“But we beat him, Bune is banished, and we saved Aunt Liz,” Sebastian stated as he came to sit next to me at the kitchen table.

“Excuse me, Miss Roberts, I believe I have sighted our target. I shall return soon,” Harry said as he flew straight through the wall and out into the garden. Excellent, and just in time. First, I needed to fuel up, because this next part was likely to suck big hairy balls.

“It’s not that easy,” I explained. “I’m not clear of the purpose and therefore we can’t be sure if he was successful. He hinted that the threat exists within my house, so with that in mind I’m cleaning house.”

“You’re going to unpick the blood magic?” Sebastian guessed.

I nodded. “That’s a good place to start.”

“You’ll need to eat,” Rebecca stated, opening the fridge. She compiled a plate of sugary goodness together in two minutes. My stomach rumbled in anticipation as I picked up a slice of lemon cake.

Rebecca rolled her eyes. “Always going for cake first.”

“Or cookies,” Sebastian said, swiping an oatmeal cookie from my plate. Rebecca smacked his hand, but he ate it anyway.

“Hey,” I complained. “Only the crazy elemental about to unpick a blood spell gets cookies.”

He chuckled as he stuffed it into his mouth. I made quick work of the rest of the meal, dosing myself up nicely to negate the inevitable downer.

Harry reappeared with wide eyes. “I believe I have found our foe, Miss Roberts, if you would follow me.” He floated straight through the wall. Then shoved his head back into the kitchen. “Not exactly follow me, but I will meet you outside.”

He was taking death in his stride, and had seemed to find a purpose in his afterlife that he didn’t have in life. He might even be happy.

“When are you doing it?” Sebastian asked.

I stood, took my plate to the sink and washed it. “No time like the present.” Rebecca and Sebastian looked at me expectantly. I shook my head. “No, you aren’t coming.”

“Why not?” Sebastian snapped.

“I’m going to be exhausted and strung out after this. I don’t need you overreacting and trying to heal me,” I told him before turning my gaze to Rebecca. “Blood freaks you out.”

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