Folder? I turned to see him pull the folder Levi had brought out of the bag. I'd forgotten about that thing. "Stuff about my mother. Take that back to the apartment with you, okay? But leave the bag."

  "Sure." He tucked the folder under his arm after he pulled his hooded jacket back on. He looked down at me with a strange expression. "Do you know what you're doing? Because Kyle and I would help you. You know that. So would Crwys."

  "I realize that. But it's okay. I need to meet with Dionysus myself. Give him the book and make sure Robin's healed. Then we can all go back to the way things were."

  Ivan smirked. "That's never an easy thing."

  "No, it's not." I put my hand on his cheek. "Get back to the apartment and keep Grey company. I'm sure she's going nuts by herself."

  I watched him leave and waited until his Cooper was out of sight before I transferred the copy of the Hammer into my bag, along with the necklace.

  Ina lay perfectly still, but breathed evenly. I didn't know how long the spell would keep her under, but like this, she would be safe. And once I got rid of Dionysus and Robin was well…Inamorata and I were going to have a long talk.

  TWENTY

  Couturie Forest was part of New Orleans City Park. The park officially closed at night, but that didn't prevent kids and drug dealers from making it their home, especially this night. Halloween.

  I was surprised to see the parking area off of Harrison empty. I pulled in and my ears popped as I moved through a ward I assumed had been set by Arwen. I guessed it was to keep curious eyes blind.

  Once the engine was off, I stepped out and cast a perimeter search around the place. My magic bounced against the barrier and made it visible to me for an instant. Ivan was right. Arcane looked like millions of writhing red worms.

  I didn't find anything Vampire-like on my own magical radar, so I sent a few feels around the area. These would pull along their connection to me when they sensed something.

  I could feel the borders between the worlds thinning, like they always did on this night. With my bag over my shoulder, I locked the Jeep and strode into the park.

  My feels twigged about twenty feet in, which pretty much felt like the sound of someone's nails down a chalk board. Arwen and her people hadn't arrived by any conventional means. I was pretty sure they were here much earlier to set up a perimeter around me.

  Shadows multiplied along the edges of the thick trees as an opaque fog rolled in. Nice touch.

  A figure materialized in the center of the fog. It elongated and then morphed into the curves of a woman with a sexy walk. Arwen remained shadowy, but it was her.

  Four of her ninja Ghouls appeared, two on either side. Arwen had changed from her earlier suit into something long, flimsy, and sheer. With the soft breeze from Pontchartrain moving her hair and the flimsy dress, she looked like a B-movie Goddess. She was also barefoot. I supposed this was Dionysus's attempt at his infamous theatrics.

  With a firm hand on the canvas bag, I stepped forward. Once there was a sufficient distance between us, I stopped. "I have the book."

  "Yes, you do." She gave me a winning smile. Arwen had chosen the perfect place to enhance her beauty, complete with a break in the trees for the moon. I could see her ruby lips and white teeth. She was as ethereal as a Vampire should be. Seductive and dangerous.

  Her Ghouls moved about like liquid shadow, pouring themselves all around. They fanned out in an almost military fashion to encompass the car. "You need to tell your puppets to back off. I'm not here for tricks, Dionysus. I'm here for the antidote."

  She didn't make any gesture, or say anything, but the Ghouls moved away.

  I reached inside the bag and pulled out the book. "This is what you want."

  Arwen held out her left hand, and the Ghoul closest to her placed a phone in it.

  "What the fuck are you playing at?" I said.

  "I have someone near your darling in the hospital. If I get the book, I’ll tell them to administer the antidote. You didn't think I'd hand over an actual Arcane spell to an Elemental, did you? I am a God, little Witch. I'm not stupid." She brought the phone up closer to her lips. "Ginger, can you hear me?"

  "Yes, mistress. I hear you," came another woman's voice from the phone's tiny speakers.

  "Are you ready?"

  "I would be, but there's a Witch guarding the boy."

  I smiled at Kyle's heroics. "Kyle?" I raised my voice. "How many Ghouls are with you?"

  "One."

  Since he and I started our little fight against the Demon Realms, we devised certain protocols for dangerous situations. One of those protocols was if one or the other asked about the number of an enemy, we add two to a spoken numeral if we suspected more. Saying one meant Kyle saw one, but he suspected there were at least two more. "That one Ghoul is supposed to give Robin an antidote."

  "Yeah, that's what she said," Kyle said through the phone's tiny speaker. "But how do I know that's what that is?"

  I arched my brows. "How can he tell?"

  "Ginger, let the boy examine the antidote, but don't let him inject it."

  We waited for a bit while mumbling and some ambient noise came through the speaker. I had no idea how Kyle was going to tell, but I trusted him. I had no choice.

  Then, "Hey Sam? It's good. Not a poison. I don't know if it's an antidote, but it won't kill him any different than the toxin's doing right now."

  Well, that wasn't as reassuring as I'd wanted to hear, but it would have to do. "Okay. Merry meet."

  Merry meet was a simple goodbye to most of the Witch community. In this situation, it was also the name of a spell he should use. A spell that would render any Ghouls nearby immobile.

  "Merry meet." And he understood.

  Arwen lowered the phone. "You have your proof?"

  I walked to her, stopped a few inches away, and offered the book. "Just tell her to inject."

  Arwen didn't take the book. The Ghoul on my right did, and then held it to her chest. She closed her eyes and nodded like an excited puppy.

  Arwen seemed satisfied. She held the phone to her lips again. "Give him the antidote."

  I stepped back and waited. There were a few sounds and a short grunting noise, until Kyle said, "It's all good." I sighed with relief. The spell had been a success.

  When I started to turn, she stepped forward as she handed the phone back to her Ghoul. "Wait."

  I looked back at her. "Our deal's done."

  "The necklace?"

  Christ. "What about it?"

  She held out her hand. "I want it. I saw it at Ina's, and I was very upset she gave it to you." Arwen smiled. "Just think of it as…a token of trust."

  Trust? Was she serious?

  I reached in the bag and pulled the necklace out. I had the flash drive ready; everything I needed was in the bag. I just had to get rid of the Ghouls.

  I tossed her the necklace. Arwen caught it in midair. "Thank you, Samantha Hawthorne, daughter of Elizabeth Hawthorne. I will admit, watching you grow up all these years under my tutelage has been somewhat satisfying. Especially since Medbh stole my host's soul. Eliza tried to hide you from me…and in the beginning I never saw the spell, it was so expertly woven into your life and your father's life. But eventually all things bend to me. Your mother bent. And so did your aunt."

  I knew she was telling me this, saying these things to bait me. But why? She had what she wanted. Did she suspect my plan? Did she already know the book in her Ghoul's hand was empty of spells?

  A thicker mist crawled out of the forest and covered the ground in all directions. A buzzing started in my ears and built into a thundering crescendo as something materialized out of that mist. Horse hooves pounded the asphalt as they raced toward us and then surrounded us as we stood in what felt like the eye of a storm.

  In the front, seated on a white mare, flanked by men in silver armor, was the Obsidian Queen.

  Brendi Ross.

  The very one I'd broken a vow with. Aw…crap.

  She held a simple black staff in one hand and the reins of her horse in the other.

  Arwen approached Brendi and offered her the necklace. Brendi took it, held it up, and smiled. "Yes. This will work."

  I looked from Brendi, to Arwen, and then back to Brendi. "What…what the hell's going on?"

  "Samantha Hawthorne," Brendi said, and her voice carried over the wind and chaos. "You have deceived the Obsidian Throne, as well as allowed the head of the former Queen to be desecrated by a Leviathan."

  Then it all kicked for me. Arwen wanting to meet in the forest on Halloween night, the comments about my mother, luring me to stay. "Arwen made a deal with you, didn't she? Just like she made a deal with Medbh to get rid of my mother."

  "Yes. She wishes the return of her body's soul."

  Arwen laughed. "The Queen's price was Medbh's soul, which you so happily transferred into that necklace."

  I felt the ground drop out from under me. "What…"

  "There was one other condition to my price." Brendi smiled down at me. "You."

  I did not see that coming.

  TWENTY ONE

  Brendi didn't make a move. She didn't even dismount. She just ushered her horse to the edge of my shield and held out the necklace. "You made a deal with me, Samantha. You lied to me. There is a price to pay."

  I put up a shield of false bravado, something I was so not feeling. "You can't touch me, Brendi. You promised your father. You pardoned me, or is the word of a Faerie worth so little now?"

  "I promised my father I wouldn't hurt you. What I'm about to do won't hurt, but it will make me happy."

  I didn't know what she meant. I was trapped in a circle of mist, surrounded by invisible ninja Ghouls, faced with a Leviathan and a Faerie. These were so not good odds.

  Brendi held out her staff. "I sentence you to the same punishment your mother endured, Samantha Hawthorne—"

  I felt the brush of her magic as it bounced against my personal wards. She was trying to force a spell on me, and I wasn't about to let her. I held my arms out and summoned the four Elements, but before each of them could appear, I saw a burst of flame immediately to Brendi's right. Rider and horse were gone in an instant.

  The others and their mounts, including Brendi and her own, side-shuffled away as another Faerie evaporated into flame. Again, along with their mount.

  "Treachery!" Brendi said as she whirled on Arwen and pointed her staff at her. "You have deceived me!"

  "No!" Arwen and her Ghouls backed up into the mist. I saw the first Ghoul ignite with a short scream and burn away to little more than floating ash. She'd been the one holding the book, which fell to the ground with a thud when she vanished.

  More of them vaporized in flashes like road flares along a dark highway. All gone. Until the only one left standing was Arwen.

  "Wait!" I cried out. "She killed my mother!" I looked around. I knew what was happening. I knew where the flames were coming from.

  Crwys.

  He walked through the mist to stand between Brendi and me. Levi sauntered up as well, dressed in black and making it look good.

  "You want a war between our people?" Brendi was staring at Crwys.

  "I don't have a people. I'm sure you've learned that about me by now. My family is long dead. You have your prize. I suggest you continue on with your Hunt."

  "I want her!" She pointed her staff at me, and Crwys moved himself between us.

  "You know the rules, Unseelie Sidhe. One trade. One agreement. You can't claim two and you've already accepted one. Go"—he took a step closer—"or I'll burn all of you. And you know I can."

  Brendi actually hissed as she pulled the reins of her horse. Her remaining contingent of helmed Faeries followed behind her as they galloped back into the mist.

  But when I looked away, Arwen was gone as well.

  "Dammit!" I ran to where she'd been and where the book had fallen. The mist cleared away with the October breeze, and the only thing left was small piles of ash. "She got away!"

  Crwys was in my face in seconds, both of his hands on my upper arm. "What the hell were you doing? Out here by yourself? Are you crazy?"

  I tried to pull free, but he held on tight and I kicked his shin. That made him let go as he stumbled back. I pointed at him. "Don't you ever manhandle me like that again!"

  "I just saved your life!"

  "I didn't ask you to!" I was breathing hard, and my throat ached from screaming. My jacket felt hot, and I dropped the bag as I took it off.

  "Sam"—Crwys took a step closer—"I tried to call you. Went by your shop and found Ivan and Grey. He told me what happened at Ina's, and I'm sorry. I'm sorry she deceived you all that time."

  "Ina was just a tool." I looked in the direction Arwen had been standing. "The Ghouls were a tool. And in the end I was a tool as well. All of it, just so she could get that soul back. And now Brendi's going to give it to her. And Brendi will do it because she hates me."

  "Why don't we just…head back to your shop? We can take a breather and see where we are. Figure out the next step."

  "There is no next step." I turned to him. "Dionysus had Medbh make my mother disappear. She robbed me of her when I was eight years old. She apparently Ghouled Ina when I was young, and she's been spying on me all this time. My life is a lie…" I put my hands to my face. "And she got away with it. I'm supposed to fight for justice, and I can't even win it for myself."

  Crwys put his hand on my back. I felt the heat of it through my shirt and pulled away.

  "Sam…please…let's go back to your place. Is Robin okay?"

  "Robin's fine!" I shouted, grabbed my bag, and headed back to my Jeep. "Go on back to the shop. I need to go see him."

  The two of them followed close behind me as I tossed my bag in and cranked the Jeep.

  "Maybe I should come with you?" Crwys looked like a little boy standing outside.

  "No. I just…I need some time to think, okay? I want to see Robin." I knew on some level saying I needed to see Robin hurt Crwys. But he was a big boy and took it well enough. He stepped back, and I hauled ass out of the parking lot and onto Harrison.

  But I didn't go to the hospital.

  I headed to Ina's.

  It was the one place I was sure Arwen would show up.

  TWENTY TWO

  I was still shaking when I parked the Jeep in its usual spot in front of Ina's. The house looked well-lit from the road, but the barrier to keep it invisible to the Cowens was in full force as kids of all ages dressed in costumes, some homemade and some store bought, ran back and forth along the sidewalk, visiting the huge houses with their expensive candy.

  The air still smelled of rain. I grabbed my guns and tucked them into my back pockets. I took the bag and headed through the gate and up the walkway.

  The closer I got to the house, the more on edge I became. Something was inside, and I was damn sure it wasn't Ina. The fact I'd left her there trussed up and helpless didn't help my anxiety as I tried the door. Finding it open, I pushed it in but stood at the threshold.

  The lights were on, just as I'd left them. Nothing stirred. I pulled a gun from my back pocket with my right hand and thumbed the hammer back. Holding it with the barrel pointed up, I stepped inside. Again, my ears popped like they had when I stepped into the woods.

  My boots were silent on the hardwood floor as I moved into the main room, then into the TV room. I saw movement in the kitchen and slipped to the side to look around the corner.

  Arwen was there, stirring something on the stove. Ina was tied to one of the dining room chairs, a blindfold over her face. She struggled now and then, but didn't make a sound.

  "Come on in, Samantha," Arwen said, but didn't turn to face me. "I've been expecting you."

  I stepped in and pointed the gun at Arwen. "Turn around real slow. I don't think a simple bullet can hurt you—"

  "No, but the magic you infuse your weapons with might do a bit of damage. After all, that is why you couldn't tell what I was." She half turned from her waist and smiled at me. "You did realize that, didn't you? Thanks to Medbh, for all intents and purposes, I'm human."

  Dammit. That's right. The dex wouldn't see Arwen as a Leviathan, or a Vampire, because it would detect a single soul. Not the dual souls. I made an internal groan at my stupidity. "Step away from the stove."

  "Why? I'm heating up some soup. I'm sure Ina's hungry, and a bit uncomfortable, after you just left her on the floor like that. So naughty." Arwen moved the pot off of the stove and set it on the counter to her left. She picked up a towel and wiped her hands before she turned to face me. "So…I see I was betrayed, again, by a damn Faerie."

  "If you mean Brendi not taking me, that's because the rules wouldn't allow her to. One deal, one payment. Getting Medbh and me constituted two."

  Arwen nodded. "And she'd already accepted Medbh. Makes sense. So…where's your demon lover? The one that so swiftly destroyed nearly all my Ghouls?"

  "He's not my lover, and I don't know if he's a demon."

  "Sweetheart," Arwen lowered her shoulders. "He torched how many people in those woods? I'd call that little talent demon worthy. But it doesn't matter. I still get my wish. And soon, I'll have a soul." She glanced at Ina.

  Oh, like 'effing hell! I moved to put myself between Ina and Arwen. "You're not taking Ina's soul."

  "I'm afraid I am. See…you're under the delusion you have power here. But you don't. Nothing is going to stop the Obsidian Queen once she casts the spell. That will happen at midnight. Or it would have if you hadn't given me an empty book." She turned and moved out of the kitchen.

  "Stop where you are!"

  "Don't you want to come see the Circle? It's all been prepared."

  She kept walking through the dining room to the back sliding doors. I glanced at Ina before I followed behind Arwen. The back door was open, and I stepped out into the cool evening. The Circle had been made ready with a roaring bale fire. An altar sat in the southern quarter instead of the north. All the Elements were present.

 

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