Corruption (Grumpy Old Wizards Book 2) (8 page)

“You’re obsessed with creatures of the night,” Josephine teased.

“That term is so old-school. The modern lingo is blood-suckers or blood addict,” Alice corrected her.

Josephine chuckled and shook her head with amusement. She sobered when she thought back to her problems at hand.

“I won’t be able to finish my scans of the police department before my timeline for the magical batteries is up. I’m pretty sure that stalling won’t work with Lorcan,” she said.

“Can you think of a way to sabotage them?” Helen asked.

“I was thinking the same thing but if I mess with the configuration, he’ll detect it.”

“Even if it’s just a teensy weensy bit? Maybe small enough that they’ll work for just a couple minutes or so?” Alice asked.

“I have a feeling they have tools that can measure the specifications of an enchantment.” Josephine’s brows furrowed with thought. “But I have an idea that might work. It’s really risky.”

“Tell us,” Helen prodded.

“If I infuse some wild magic in some of the key energy strands and cover it up so that the energy strand looks the same. It would have to be just tiny occasional grooves at key points in the matrix,” Josephine explained.

“I didn’t think that was even possible.” Alice regarded her friend with admiration. “You’re amazing.”

“I did it by accident a couple weeks ago and have been experimenting ever since. I can only detect it if I do a deep scan and it’s so subtle that I think only a six could perceive the anomaly. The only problem is I can’t predict the results. Wild magic is what gives manifestations and jinxes the ability to seem self-perceptive and to take on objectives. The way I’m planning on using it, I’ll give instructions to throw off the spell. Unfortunately, this may just change how the batteries work. I can’t risk more than just a few tweaks or it may become detectable or cause the enchantment to mutate before it’s used and to collapse in on itself.”

“It’s too complicated for a normal wizard to even try. Are you sure it’s not too risky?” Helen asked.

“I’ll be careful.”

The next morning, the power vortex at the beach was radiating discordant waves of energy. This was a cycle that occurred to all vortexes and usually only lasted a couple of days or so. Josephine found it unpleasant but still felt compelled to link with it. Power flowed through her and her magical awareness expanded but it was a mixed bag this time. Because of the angry, seething energy of the vortex, a bit of pain mixed in with the usual euphoria. Josephine couldn’t maintain her link while jogging because of the instability. She strolled over toward the center of the vortex and sat down on the soft white sand facing it. Josephine spent all her time just letting her thoughts flow. She occasionally glanced at her watch and left when it was time to move on. Josephine wondered if it was her imagination but the vortex seemed just a little more balanced now.

When Josephine returned to her condo, she bustled through her morning routine and was ready for Alice and Helen when they arrived. The three of them gathered at the table. Josephine dealt the cards for the first game of rummy and couldn’t believe what a great hand she’d given herself. She couldn’t have done better unless she’d actually cheated. Josephine chewed on her bottom lip to keep from grinning with excitement. There was no way she could lose.

“That’s just great.” Alice regarded her with disgust. “I can tell there’s no hope of winning this one.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Alice adopted an innocent expression on her face.

Someone knocked at the door and Josephine went over to answer it. She left the wards up until she opened the door and saw Mark standing in front of her. Josephine deactivated the wards as a shiver of foreboding whispered at the back of her mind. Mark shot a telekinetic wave from his bracelet just as Josephine activated her shields. She wasn’t quite fast enough. Josephine’s body hurled backward and she slammed against the wall and landed on the couch. Mark stepped into the room and the glamour melted away from his exterior to reveal Lorcan. Helen and Alice activated their shields and shot at Lorcan but he’d already brought up his own protection.

“You don’t stand a chance against us.” Josephine pushed herself up from the couch and glared at Lorcan. “You broke our arrangement.”

“I’m modifying our deal.” Lorcan pulled a thin box about two feet long and opened it to reveal a small black wand.

Josephine gasped with horror as dark magic emanated from the wand. Alice and Helen flinched so she assumed they could also feel it.

“What in the hell is that?” Josephine asked.

“It’s an immortality curse. With a rogue vampire running loose, I need to be sure you’re firmly in my control so you don’t blab about their existence.”

“You’re the one who creates those things, aren’t you?” Josephine eyed him with loathing.

Lorcan leveled his wand at Josephine and activated it. A thick stream of black smoke gushed out of the end. The smoke occasionally flashed with blood-red energy as it swarmed over Josephine and pressed against her shields.

“It won’t give up until it has you,” Lorcan said.

Josephine couldn’t be seen beneath the swirling black mass of smoke. Helen and Alice attacked Lorcan but his protection was so strong it didn’t even make a dent. Lorcan put the wand in his left hand so he could shoot out a telekinetic blast at them with the rings on his right hand. Josephine gathered a dampening field around her and worked on making it as strong as possible. The curse continued to squeeze tightly against her shields. Josephine was determined to keep it out. She wondered how long she could do this. She could hear Lorcan and her two friends exchanging fire. Josephine opened her second sight further so she could examine the energy matrix that comprised the curse. Even as she did everything in her power to keep her shields up and make her dampening field stronger, she searched for a weak spot in the immortality curse. It was so complex, she suspected it was a hopeless task.

With Lorcan’s next attack, Helen’s shield wavered then collapsed into nothingness. Lorcan took a step closer as a savage grin transformed his face. Alice stepped in front of Helen to shield her as her protection was still active.

“You made a mistake crossing me.” Lorcan fired another telekinetic blast at Alice.

“If you hurt my friends, I’ll kill you,” Josephine promised.

“You won’t be able to, my dear. You’ll be my slave,” Lorcan smirked.

“I’m going to kick your ass,” Josephine said.

“Promises. Promises.” Lorcan leveled an amused look at the black, writhing smoke swirling around Josephine.

Alice and Helen used the distraction to prepare another attack. Alice had gathered a large mass of energy with three of her telekinetic rings at the same time. Helen did the same. The two of them struck Lorcan while he was still taunting Josephine. Lorcan’s shield wavered and he was thrown backward. Lorcan lost his footing and he fell flat on his back. The wand slipped from his left hand and rolled out of reach. Lorcan’s shield was still active but weak and his eyes widened with panic as he made a desperate grab for his wand. Alice shot the wand with a telekinetic wave and it hurtled across the room and underneath one of the couches.

“You stupid woman! You don’t know what you’ve done!” Lorcan shouted with rage and fear.

The black smoke continued to flash with blood-red energy as it moved away from Josephine and gathered into a large roiling mass near the center of the room. Josephine retreated several steps from the curse which seemed to attract its attention. It moved several inches towards her but stopped when she did.

“What’s it doing?” Alice asked.

“No one’s controlling it so there’s no way to predict who it will attack now,” Lorcan said in a quiet voice.

Everyone stared at the curse as it continued to float in the air. Without warning, it twisted and streamed towards Alice and Helen. Both women gasped with terror and made a hasty retreat while Lorcan took the opportunity to retrieve his wand. The curse swept past Alice and began gushing into Helen’s mouth and nose. Helen screamed as the black smoke continued streaming into her body. When it had completely disappeared inside her, she continued screaming for several agonizing seconds. She clutched her head with both her hands and her knees hit the floor. Josephine and Alice rushed over to Helen. Lorcan’s smug grin returned as he watched the scene unfold. A wet, ripping sound could be heard as the curse infiltrated the cells in Helen’s body.

“What’s happening to her?” Alice threw Josephine a desperate look.

“I don’t know.”

Helen’s wrinkled skin rippled as though it were liquid. The wet, tearing sounds continued and made Josephine cringe with sympathy and fear for her friend. Helen’s eyes were squeezed shut and she continued to clutch her head. Josephine and Alice could only watch with helpless expressions on their faces. Soon, the wrinkles in Helen’s skin smoothed out and vanished. Her hair darkened until it was curly and dark brown. The disgusting ripping sounds ceased. Helen took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She lowered her arms to her sides as she rose to her feet and gazed around the room with wonder.

“Everything is so much clearer and focused now,” Helen said.

“Does this mean you’re a vampire?” Alice asked.

Josephine, Alice and Helen turned to face Lorcan.

“It depends on the type of person she is,” Lorcan said.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Alice demanded.

“In any case, Helen is under my control.” Lorcan directed a chilling gaze at Josephine. “And you will cover up any cases the Valituras order you to. Otherwise, your friend will do terrible things.”

“I’m going to kick your sorry ass.” Josephine moved toward Lorcan as she gathered energy for an attack.

“Helen, stand on one foot and slap Alice,” Lorcan said.

Helen blinked with surprise as her body obeyed the commands without conscious thought. Her hand struck Alice in the face. Alice stepped away from Helen as she held her cheek. Josephine halted and turned to throw Helen a surprised look.

“I couldn’t help it. I’m sorry,” Helen apologized.

“She is compelled to do anything I ask,” Lorcan said.

Josephine turned to face Lorcan with an expression of dismay.

“I’ll do anything you ask if you remove the curse from her,” Josephine said.

“It can’t be removed. It’s permanent and there’s no cure except death,” Lorcan said.

Lorcan retreated out the door and it slammed shut behind him.

“I hate it when people slam my door,” Josephine griped.

Alice turned to examine Helen who now had flawless skin and not a single gray hair on her head. Her dark, silky hair flowed to her shoulders and her green eyes seemed more vibrant somehow. Helen now appeared to be in her mid-twenties like Josephine.

“You look great,” Alice said after a lengthy pause.

“Yes, you do,” Josephine agreed.

Helen smiled at her friends as she straightened to her full height.

“I guess if I was going to be cursed with anything, immortality isn’t so bad,” she said.

“You’re not looking at my neck right now, are you?” Alice eyed her friend with a speculative expression on her face.

“No.”

“Are you feeling hungry? Do you have an urge to drink blood?” Alice asked.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry, I’ll warn you if I have a sudden urge to bite your neck.”

“Good.” Alice was obviously relieved by Helen’s promise. “What should we do now?”

“We need to research dark magic and find out as much information as possible. Maybe there’s an antidote. Obviously, Lorcan wouldn’t want us to know about it so we can’t take his word on anything,” Josephine said. “I’ll call the station and tell them I’m sick.”

“You can’t do that,” Helen protested. “You’re still on probationary status. I think it’s important you keep your job. You have access to things that civilians don’t. Maybe you can do some digging while you’re on the job.”

Josephine hesitated. “All right. I’ll go to work. You shouldn’t be alone though.”

“Helen can stay with me,” Alice said.

Helen was stroking her arm and staring at her youthful, flawless skin with fascination. She crossed the room and stood in front of the large mirror hanging on the wall so she could take a look at herself. She stared at her reflection in stupefied amazement and brushed her fingertips against her cheek.

“Does it hurt?” Josephine watched her friend with sympathy.

“Not at all. The process was painful but it’s all gone now. I’ve never felt so alive in years.”

When Josephine made her way outside to her parked car, she had to pass through about a dozen picketers. Three of them held onto their walkers with one hand while holding their signs at awkward angles with the other as they couldn’t quite keep them straight with just one hand. One elderly woman marched over and planted herself directly in front of Josephine’s car. Josephine recognized the woman as one of the residents of the complex. Her name was Marjorie and she was in her late seventies. She’d never given Josephine any trouble before but had never been friendly either. She was always heavy-handed with her makeup which made her look like a clown. Today, her lipstick was cockeyed and smeared just a bit past her lips in spots. She wore a fashionable red wig with black highlights but it was lopsided and her natural gray hair poked out from the side by about three inches.