Raging Inferno (Delphine Rising Book 1), page 3
“When I reached the attic, there was no fire and no Paul. Everyone assumed he was consumed by the fire and nothing but ash was left behind. I searched frantically all around the space and found nothing resembling a burned body. All I found was that talisman. Uncharred, unblemished, not even a speck of ash was on it.
“Awash with confusion and grief, I called on the coven immediately. I didn’t know what else to do. The fire—it was supernatural and to this day, there’s no trace of who or what caused it. Now, I believe it was the talisman.” Mamma’s hands were shaking a bit more than before.
“Rumors circled the coven that someone must have released the deadly magic in Delphine’s talisman, causing an unnatural fire, claiming your father’s body and soul. They said his soul was no longer on this plane. I never wanted to believe such nonsense because our family was entrusted to keep that thing safe from the clutches of evil hands that would wish to unlock the magic inside and bring back that dreadful woman.
“Paul and I would’ve buried it under ten tons of concrete if we thought it would remain in the ground. There’s no destroying it, believe me, we tried,” she muttered, clenching her teeth.
“I tried scrying for your father over and over, but the coven was right: his soul was no longer on this plane, it was beyond the veil. Francesca, our coven leader at the time, brought an urn of ashes with Paul’s name on it for the memorial ceremony and consecration, but now I know those ashes weren’t my Paul.” Her words had turned to a whisper and she began crying again.
“Abby, the only way you could have called upon the ancestors within Marie Delphine’s illusion is if the rumors were true. Your father had a strong, unbreakable connection with the ancients, an unprecedented power, not even the High Priestess herself could explain. If what you say is true and Marie was draining your essence and your father recognized it within the stone, then he sent out his connection to the ancients back into you, giving you the power in an alternate plane. That’s how you were able to break the illusion. Do you understand, baby?”
“Does that mean the souls within the talisman are alive or still have some sort of connection to ancestral magic? Can they feel pain?
“That bitch took our Daddy! It’s bad enough she tried to kill me today, but knowing she took Daddy away from us when we were so little…ripping him from our lives, shattering his dreams, your dreams, Mamma? It’s too much!” I stood, uncontrollable rage bubbling inside me.
“Abby, you must calm down. We need to process a few things before we go off halfcocked and into a full-blown Abigail-rage-a-thon. Look at your hands, Abby. Do you want to set the shop on fire? Sit. Down. Now,” Mom growled, eyeing me like she would pounce at any moment.
I knew that look all too well. Not about to face that rage, I sat my butt right back down, still pissed.
Liz just stared, slack-jawed. She hadn’t said a word during the entire exchange or my near meltdown. I scowled at her and nudged her with my elbow.
“Earth to Liz.” I snapped my fingers in front of her face. She swatted my hand away with a bitchy frown.
“What the hell was that for? I’m right here! I’m just…taking it all in. It’s a lot, ya know. Not all of us jump in head first, damn the consequences,” she chided in a snarky tone, arms folded across her chest for dramatic effect.
Oops. She forgot the hair flip. I smiled inwardly.
I snorted at that one; this coming from someone who pranced around New Orleans with a freakin’ sword, wielding magic like a terminator, badass. But if she needed a moment to be delusional, I’d let her have it. She was, after all, hiding it from Mom for some odd reason. Whatever. Mom had eyes in the back of her head.
I’m sure she knows, but I’m not telling.
She was right though; it was a lot to swallow, especially in one day. I shouldn’t have teased her.
“Okay, Mom. What do we need to process first? What happened to Daddy and how? Or what happened to me today?” I asked, sagging on the edge of the sofa, as thoughts of Delphine’s evil plan raced through my mind. “To be honest, I believe the two are connected somehow. We just need to find a link. In order for Daddy to be sucked into the talisman, someone had to rub the jinni in the bottle, so to speak, but who?”
That perked Liz up. It looked like she was back in action and ready to kick some Delphine ass. Her eyes were sparkling with mischief and mayhem. She looked at me and asked, “What do we need to do? I’m all in, Sis.”
“And she’s back.” I evil-grinned, giving her a side-hug, and giggled like a schoolgirl.
“First things first, we need to discuss the similarities between what happened to me today and the fire that killed Daddy and Uncle Julian. I also believe something’s up with the coven. The old coven leader, Francesca knew something and it seems to me she was hiding or trying to cover for someone or something. I just can’t put my finger on it. Why else would she bring Mom ashes, knowing they didn’t belong to Daddy?” I asked and Mom agreed.
“Mom, I know it’s painful reliving the day of Daddy’s death, but we’re going to need every detail, along with what you said to the coven and how they reacted, especially Francesca. I believe she might be the key to unlocking the mystery of who tampered with the talisman. It could also explain why the talisman is active now and why that crazy old bat’s coming after me.
“I don’t remember Uncle Julian very well, only bits and pieces. He wasn’t around much as far as I can remember. Is there anything you remember about him, like trouble with other witches, the coven or anything significant?” I asked, while Mom gave me her best death stare.
Good grief, she can be scary… Those Mom eyes.
“Okay, I know it’s hard to think of your brother in this way, but we have to explore all options at this point. He could’ve been lured in like many others in the past or even blackmailed by the coven. You said yourself they acted very mysteriously back then. There has to be some sort of connection.”
Liz nodded along as I talked, eager to jump in at any moment. I could see it in her mischievous eyes: they were glowing a wild shade of green, encircled in a yellowish hue. I swear, her eyes could be neon lights, giving Bourbon Street a run for its money. Magic and mayhem, that’s what she was. Gotta love her.
“What about you, Liz? What do you think?” I asked, as Mom sat quietly in thought, still looking as if she could choke her own daughter.
Time to pass it off to baby Sis. Sheesh. If looks could kill…
“Well, I agree with everything Abby’s suggesting, Mamma. I know you don’t like it, but you have to think about those of us who are still alive, your daughters. It’s painful to relive and to even imagine your brother having a hand in Daddy’s death, but Abby could’ve died today. Julian’s gone, but we’re still here and we have to do everything within our power to stay alive and fight this evil. We owe it to Daddy and to ourselves,” she pleaded, and I nearly cried because she was thinking of our family as a whole, and me, her big sister who had always been the protector. When did she grow up?
Momma looked at her with new eyes, the same shocked face I held inside, and acquiesced. She knew we were right, but it took her baby girl to convince her. We definitely had our work cut out for us, but at least we had somewhere to start. Next, we needed to decide who our allies were and who couldn’t be trusted, but it was late and we could work out the details tomorrow morning over baguettes, coffee, and inMom’s case, jasmine tea.
***
Mom stayed to close up the shop. I wished she’d allow Liz and me to renovate the apartment upstairs on the other side of the store, but she’d always insisted it wasn’t safe. I guess maybe now I know why —the damn talisman. Either way, it would be so much more convenient than driving all the way back to our house on St. Charles Avenue.
Liz and I piled into her black 2016 Ford Mustang. I barely had time to buckle my seatbelt before her lead foot had us tearing down the street. I glared at her. “Uh, Sis. I’d like to make it home alive. Thanks. I almost died today. No need in tempting death twice.”
Apparently, my critique of her lack of driving skills only pissed her off further. We skidded around a corner, nearly on two wheels as I grabbed the “Oh Shit Handle.”
“Okay. Enough. What’s your problem?” I asked, pissed off, telling her to pull over. Seriously. Enough was enough.
Liz jerked the car to a stop and glowered at me like I killed her pet cat. This, I wasn’t expecting…
“What crawled up your ass?” I asked, about fed up with the glaring game of hers.
She huffed, looking like a blowfish, and finally said, “Mamma. That’s what.” Then folded her arms across her chest and began to cry.
“Okay, Sis, what else is it?” I asked and leaned across the seat and hugged her. She didn’t do crying or emotions well.
“Everything we thought, everything about Daddy’s death was a lie. It’s all just hitting me now and I’m mad as hell. I’m mad the coven could’ve possibly betrayed Mamma or even her own brother. We don’t know who to trust anymore, Abby.” Her sobs subsided, turning into fury. Her eyes were glowing again, but this time not with mischief… something scary. Yep, she’s pissed.
“With a sigh, I said, “That’s the thing. All of this uncertainty will drive us forward. It’s what’ll help us honor Daddy’s death and make it right. We have to learn the truth in order to fight the evil that awaits us. Believe me, if I never see Marie Delphine’s raggedy ass again, it’ll be too soon.” I offered a half-smile and she smiled back, hugging me in return.
“I love you, Sissy,” she said, and I told her I loved her too, forever and ever.
Chapter 5
We pulled into our driveway on St. Charles Avenue—home—finally, and I heard Liz snickering mischievously, pulling me out of my nostalgia. She looked at me, covering her mouth and pointed toward the house.
Dammit!
Danny DuPont, the bane of my existence, sat on my front porch step waiting for me like a stalker. I dated that guy for almost a year and broke up with him because he was so freakin’ clingy, among other things. We had a connection at one time, but life happened and things changed. I changed. Dude won’t take no for an answer; two years later and he still followed me around like a lovesick puppy.
I looked toward my sister. “Elizabeth…” Full name this time. “Did you cast a love spell on him?” I asked with a look that could kill.
“Who, me?” she giggled. “No. Seriously, Sis. I wouldn’t. He’s still in love with you or addicted to your golden—”
“Don’t you dare say it,” I cut her off. “Eww! That was so long ago. I want to erase it from my memory… Oh, a memory spell,” I exclaimed as a light bulb went off in my head, then drooped as I remembered we couldn’t harm innocents. Shit.
He got on my damn nerves. He was a nice guy, but geez… So what if he was hot? Six foot two, chiseled abs, black messy hair with ocean blue eyes does not a boyfriend make if he was crazy as a loon. I didn’t care if he had kissable lips with matching, gorgeous dimples.
Whatever… So he’s hot. And a good kisser. I don’t care. I don’t like him or his face, even if it’s drool-worthy. Liz can laugh it up all she wants. Traitor.
“Well, you’re on your own, Sis. Bye-eee,” Liz said as she jumped out of the car, winked, and then bounded up the stairs without so much as a glance at Danny.
Brat. She is not my sister right now.
Danny looked toward the car, no doubt searching for me, and I sank lower in my seat, hoping he wouldn’t see me. I honestly didn’t want to deal with him tonight. My day had already gone to shit. He just made it a shit sandwich.
A disappearance spell would come in handy right about now.
The next thing I knew, Danny was knocking on my window. Double damn. I rolled my eyes and stared at him with a “Go to hell” look. It didn’t faze him, if the goofy grin on his stupid gorgeous face was any indication.
I couldn’t stay in the car all night and Liz had left me out there to rot. “I’ll get you, my pretty” rang through my head. Yep, I was the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz. I wished I had her broomstick so I could fly away.
I took a calming breath, stepped out of the car, and closed the door behind me, but before I could utter a word, Danny pulled me into a backbreaking hug. Oh hell no! As I tried to untangle my arms from his death grip, he began speaking so fast I could barely understand him. Once I freed myself, I said, “Danny, slow down. Tell me what’s wrong and why you’re at my house.”
Danny tried to catch his breath, while I stood there tapping my foot with an annoyed look on my face. Finally he spoke. “I had a vision, a dream of you dying, but you didn’t die. There was some kind of wraith-like creature hovering over you. You…you were in a tomb, lying on a concrete slab and I couldn’t reach you… I couldn’t save you. I woke up sweating, knowing there was more to come. I tried your cell, but it went straight to voicemail. A few minutes later, I was pulled into another vision, but you weren’t you; you were someone else, but I knew it was you, Abby. Somehow, I just knew… Your aura. It speaks to me.”
To that statement, I had to roll my eyes again. My aura spoke to him? Or was it his witchy, creeper vibe reading my aura? Whatever…
“There was a woman in red,” he said, breathing erratically. “She was crazy, talking about stealing your soul, the souls of others and taking your body. It didn’t make any sense. I had to come here and make sure you were safe.”
Well, I had to hand it to him. His visions were lacking a few details, but were pretty much spot on.
“Danny, you’re right. Those things did happen to me, but it was all an illusion. I’m tired and I don’t have time to go into detail right now, but I promise I will later. There’s more to this than you know. It’s not just about me.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“I need to know I can trust you and that you won’t go all stalkerish on me,” I ground out, cringing, not really wanting to involve him, but it seemed the ancestors had included him against my will.
Stupid visions.
“Of course. Of course. I’d do anything to protect—help you, Abby,” he sounded almost desperate.
“All right then. Meet back here at seven a.m. We’ll discuss everything with my mother and sister, but I mean it, Danny—we are not together.” I pointed between us and held my ground, eying him so he would firmly grasp my meaning.
“I get it, Abby. You’ve made yourself clear more than once, but I can’t help the way I feel. I’ll do my best,” he said as he hung his head and kicked invisible rocks.
“No trying. You will, Danny, or no deal. Got it?” I asked, irritated.
“Yeah, Abby, I get it,” he nearly whispered as he walked away with his hands in his pockets.
“See ya at seven then,” I threw over my shoulder and headed toward the front door.
Home at last… I loved this place, even when I wished for my own apartment. This house was truly home.
I kicked my boots off in the vast foyer and padded up the polished, wooden staircase to my bedroom.
I opened the door to my room and let out a high-pitched squeal. Liz was lying across my bed on her stomach, resting her face on her hands with a huge grin. “So, how did your little meeting with Daaaanny go?” she teased.
I could’ve totally strangled her at that moment. She looked like a little girl swinging her legs back and forth. The only thing missing was pigtails. I had to laugh. Who was I kidding? I could never stay mad at her, even if I tried.
“Fine, I guess, if you call him having visions of what happened to me not creepy at all,” I said, shrugging my shoulders and flopping down on the bed next to her.
“Huh? He knows? But how? Oh, never mind. You won’t listen to me anyway. I’ve told you before your souls are connected and you know it. You’re the Yin to his Yang.” She smiled wistfully.
“I’m gonna rip your arm off and beat you with it if you tell me that again. What on earth would make you think such a thing? It’s absurd.” I threw a pillow at her head.
“For one, you haven’t dated anyone else since Danny and you only complain about him annoying you. Two, it’s so obvious he’s still in love with you and you do what you do. You push him away because you don’t want anyone too close, since you think you’ll lose them anyway, so what’s the point, right? Oh, and I see the way you look at him when you think no one’s looking. You can’t fool me.” She grinned like a Cheshire cat.
Damn her… Ugh, she’s right and I hate it, but I’ll never admit it. Nope.
“I’m not having this conversation with you. I’m too tired to argue. No trying to play matchmaker in the morning either. He’ll be here at seven,” I warned.
“Uh huh. I’ll do no such thing.” She winked, hopped off the bed, and sauntered out of my room.
I threw another pillow at her head, and she dodged, laughing all the way to her room across the hall.
Alone, I stripped, changed into my fuzzy “I love me” pajama pants with matching tank top and climbed into bed, too exhausted for a shower. It could wait until morning.
Sleep claimed me as soon as my head touched the pillow.
***
I heard a faint knock at the door. “It can’t possibly be six a.m. yet. Go away,” I groaned.
My door creaked open and I pulled the covers over my head. “Mom, please. I don’t even smell coffee yet. I just went to sleep—”
“Abby, I need your help. Mom’s asleep. Get up. The Hybrid Coven called and they need us right away. I can’t do this without you tonight. Please, Abby,” Liz begged.
I had one eye open at that point because she turned my bedside lamp on—she was cruel. Had I not just gone to sleep?
