Demons of Bourbon Street (11 page)

He stood, legs slightly apart with his hands resting on his hips. Power and authority streamed off him. “All of you, remove yourselves from the circle.”

When no one moved, he barked, “Now.”

I couldn’t tell if he put magic behind the command or if he’d just startled them into action. Either way, they all marched out of the circle, toward the giant oak trees. On the way, their normal chattering started back up, and I even heard some laughing.

What the hell?

“
Want to explain?” I asked Philip.

He gestured toward the retreating coven. “Ask them.”

I shot him a look of disgust and jogged to catch up with Rosalee. “Hey, hold on a second.”

She stopped and waited.

“
Talk to me. What was that about back there?”

Her brows pinched in confusion. “What was what?”

I frowned, searching her emotional energy for clues. No anger. No frustration. Only mild concern. For me.

“
Are you feeling okay?” she asked, moving closer. “Do you need an energy pill? Magic sometimes drains me if I’m not careful.” She started rummaging around in her designer purple handbag.

I put my hand on her arm to stop her. “Rosalee, I’m fine. Do you not remember what just happened?”

She tilted her head to the side, and a bit of worry clouded her eyes. “Did the spell not work?” She glanced past me. “Are those not the angels you were looking for?” Before I could answer, she called to the other members. “Guys, hold up. Jade might still need our help.”

“
No, no. Don’t worry about it. Go on home or whatever your plans were.” I waved them off just as Lucien joined us. “Something’s not right,” I said to him.

“
I noticed.” He jerked his head back toward the circle. “Philip’s still not talking, and Goodwin’s hitting on Lailah. At least, I think that’s what he’s doing. Doesn’t look like he’s getting very far.”

The Reverend Goodwin was following Lailah around as she picked up candles, talking nonstop. Her silence seemed to only egg him on. On the other side of the circle, Kat appeared to be badgering Philip, no doubt about Dan. Kane stood next to her, embodying the role of a protective older brother. Good. She’d be safe with Kane…unless Philip spelled him.

“
Guys?” Rosalee asked. “I’m totally in the dark here.”

Right. “Can you just tell me what you think happened tonight?”

She frowned and straightened her spine. “What’s wrong?”

I raised my shoulders and hands in an ‘I don’t know’ motion. “That’s what I’m trying to find out.”

“
Well.” She glanced toward the circle. “Lucien said the opening prayer. You recited the incantations, and then those two angels showed up. Lailah seems to know both of them, but that makes sense since she’s an angel. After they appeared, you told us we could go. End of story. Except for the fact the two guys are physically here when we only tried to summon their images. But things happen, right?”

Lucien and I shared a wary glance. “Yeah, things happen,” I said.

She ran a hand over her dark hair and pushed her bangs to the side. “There’s more, isn’t there?”

I nodded. “Yeah, but we can talk about it at the next meeting. First I need to figure out exactly what happened.”

“
You sure? I can stay and help if you want.” Her gaze drifted to her watch, but she shook her head, as if talking herself out of leaving.

“
No, it’s fine. You go ahead.” I gave her a quick hug, truly appreciating the offer.

When I let go, she met my stare, her light brown eyes wide. “Call if you need anything.”

“
I will. Thanks.” As she left, the image of her blackened eyes flashed through my mind. I’d only seen that particular effect two times before. And both were caused by black magic. I grabbed Lucien’s sleeve and tugged. “Come on.”

Once we joined the remaining group, Goodwin sent me a look of contempt and said, “You’re back.”

“
And you’re still here,” I snapped, wishing he’d go away. There was no way we’d be able to work together.

“
Transportation is hard to come by in the middle of the night. My rental car is still in Baton Rouge. One of you—” he glanced at Lailah, “—will need to drop me at the hotel.”

We both ignored him. I turned to Philip and crossed my arms, positive he was the cause of this mess. “They don’t remember anything. I think you have some explaining to do.”

Lailah froze, a candle clutched in each hand.

“
You seem to be making a habit of modifying people’s memories lately.” I sidestepped, putting myself between Philip and Kat. If he tried anything, I didn’t want her on the receiving end.

Philip’s face hardened. “I don’t have that particular ability. Even if I did, I certainly wouldn’t use it.”

“
But you did with me, last night,” Lailah spat. “Jade saw you when she did a tracking spell. You were the only other person there. Then you showed up on my memory recovery. Twelve hours I lost.”

He turned in her direction, his eyes softening. “I was there, but that’s not why you don’t remember.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line.

“
Why then?” I asked, breaking the silence.

“
It’s the circle.” He gestured around the clearing. “It’s been compromised.”

“
What?” I took an unconscious step backward, putting distance between me and the circle.

“
It’s tainted. All spells performed here have the potential to do serious harm.” He stopped and turned back to me. “They can’t remember because they were infected by the circle’s magic. It took over their conscious thoughts, with only one goal in mind.”

“
And that would be?” A pit the size of a crater formed in my stomach.

“
Destroy the one who tainted it.”

I stopped breathing and forced out, “Me?”

“
Yes.” Compassion and no small amount of apprehension radiated from him. “Your magic tainted the circle. Your black magic.”

Chapter 8

Chaos erupted. Everyone spoke over each other while I stared at Philip, frozen in shock. He met my gaze, a trace of sadness in his pale green eyes. One blink and the emotion vanished, replaced by stony determination.

Goodwin’s voice rose above the others. “We need to bind her. Now.”

“
Jonathon, don’t be ridiculous,” Lailah scoffed. “Clearly Jade isn’t posing an immediate danger. No need to be drastic.”

Magically binding me would keep my soul from being corrupted. It would also put me in a coma. Forever. Unless someone managed to neutralize the black magic. And I was the only witch I knew strong enough and stupid enough to attempt such a thing.

Goodwin stalked toward me, and I glared at him. Bind me first and ask questions later, huh? Yeah, not gonna happen.

Kat and Lailah appeared beside me, each flanking one side.

Kane stepped in Goodwin’s path. “Turn around and walk away.”

“
Who are you?” Goodwin asked, impatience lacing his voice.

“
The guy who’s going to send you to your own special version of Hell if you don’t get the fuck away from my girlfriend.”

Goodwin started to glow, magic building around him. He took a small, challenging step toward Kane. “Go ahead and try.”

“
Jonathon!” Lailah barked. “Back off.”

Neither of the men acknowledged her. Kane’s arms flexed, and Goodwin’s magic rippled. Jonathon raised his arm, ready to throw the magical equivalent of a punch.

“
Kane!” I cried as he took a swing at an honest-to-Goddess man of the cloth. Not that Goodwin didn’t deserve it.

A bright white light materialized between them and forced them a good five feet apart before either could strike the other. Kane stumbled and grimaced as he clutched his thigh—the same one Meri had stabbed during his stay in Purgatory—but he managed to stay upright. Goodwin tripped over his own feet and landed on his backside.

They both stared at me.

I raised my hands. “I didn’t do it.” Jerking my head toward Lucien, I added, “That’s his magical signature.”

Lucien stormed over and positioned himself in front of me, power still brimming at his fingertips. “Enough. We’re not binding Jade. At least, not until we figure out what’s happening.”

Goodwin scrambled to his feet, a challenge already forming on his lips.

“
One more word and I’ll curse you,” Lucien snapped, an icy calm radiating off him.

I’d never seen him work so much magic by himself. Something suspiciously close to pride welled in my chest. My second in command was growing stronger.

Philip, who’d stayed back assessing the dynamics, moved and whispered something to Lailah. She tilted her face up, studying him. Finally she looked away and cleared her throat. “Maybe we should all go somewhere and figure this out.”

***

A wave of exhaustion washed over me. I brought a steamy cup of coffee to my lips and leaned back into the overstuffed loveseat in Kane’s living room.

The three angels hovered in the corner, arguing in hushed tones. Kane sat next to me, silently keeping an eye on Goodwin. Kat perched on my other side in a wooden chair she’d snagged from the kitchen. Her anxiousness was actually making me nauseated. To keep my dinner down, I raised my imaginary glass silo, blocking everyone’s emotional energy. My stomach settled, and I sighed in relief.

Lucien paced back and forth in front of us, his brow creased in thought. “If what Philip said is true, why didn’t I turn on you?”

“
You think Jade’s tainted?” Kat sent him a hard stare.

“
No. I mean, I don’t know.” He paused and glanced at Philip. “We can’t take anything he says at face value. He’s a stranger. A demon’s mate, even. He could be helping Meri.”

My head started to pound. I rubbed two fingers across my skull. “He’s not helping Meri. He shunned her after she fell, remember?”

“
That doesn’t mean he hasn’t changed his mind.” Lucien stopped and turned his attention to the angels. “What are they arguing about?”

Can she be saved?
Lailah’s thoughts slipped into my brain.