19

  Aria

  The Watchers were afraid. Aria watched a small pack of them rush past her and Benjamin as they ducked behind some stacked crates. They kept yelling about a dangerous wizard, and not to waste further gunfire on him. She thought she had seen Harry run along the west corridor at the end of the hallway that led to the large storage area, but she was too afraid to call out

  to

  him

  .

  “We’ll try to find Jacob first,” she told Benjamin. He’d probably knock her out with a spell and carry her to his car if she told him that Harry was under an Imperare curse. Her heart raced as she heard another screech and more gunfire. She felt queasy over the thought that Vlad had assumed control of Harry and was

  now

  free

  .

  Where are the police? They should have been here by now. Aria shook the thought from her mind. They would arrive soon enough. Her main concern was getting to Jacob, Rosito, and Harry.

  Benjamin’s face held extreme concentration. She knew what he was doing. When he had first hired her after discussing the nanny position over coffee, he had offered to walk her to her car. A thug with a knife jumped out, demanded their wallets, but Benjamin’s hands emitted a soft light that carried a tremendous amount of energy. He usually used his hands to heal, but when he needed to, he could also use them to manipulate the body, seize energy, and impart illness.

  And now, it seemed he saw it necessary to use those abilities to help her find her friends. She knew he could never do serious harm, as that went against everything Benjamin stood for, but he still caused havoc on any attackers they came across. His favorite seemed to be making them dizzy and throwing up. Each assailant they came across would double over before emptying the contents of their stomach and stumbling around before falling over unconscious.

  They made it to a maintenance room on the east end, where they heard muffled voices and screaming. When they opened the door, they found Rosito sitting in a chair, blindfolded and cuffed. Harry stood in front of him, brandishing a bloody knife. Erickson lay dead a few feet from them, mouth gaping and eyes glazed over. His yellow mustache was drenched in blood. He could’ve easily shredded Rosito with his magic, but “Vlad,” or whoever he was, enjoyed being

  hands

  -

  on

  .

  Aria gasped, trying to force down the panic rising within her. “Harry. I really hope you can hear me right now. You don’t want to hurt him, he’s a detective. Remember?”

  Benjamin gestured for her to keep her distance. “Please, Harry, is it? Let the

  man

  go

  .”

  “You’ll have to do better than that.” Vlad’s tone was cold

  and

  dark

  .

  Benjamin jerked his arms up and screamed. Streams of blood dripped from his eyes. He dropped to his knees, still shouting, and covering his eyes with his luminescent palms.

  “Harry,

  stop

  him

  !”

  He only laughed in response.

  The last time she read Harry, she had inadvertently knocked Sola out of the top position, letting Jonathan gain control. If she did that again, perhaps Vlad would lose dominance and it would allow one of the others to come through. Hopefully, it would be Harry, though at this point she’d gladly

  welcome

  Sola

  .

  Reaching deep within herself, she gathered her power, forming the mystical tendril of energy like the one she had used earlier at Harry’s office. She called to him, left imprints or breadcrumbs so to speak, until he picked up her signal and let her know that he was still there and fighting like hell to win back control. Vlad resisted fiercely, fighting back internally like a caged animal. Sola was annoying as hell trying to insert herself amidst the struggle, but Aria knew Harry had the upper-hand when she saw him physically hesitate with the weapon and stare at detective Rosito in horror. Harry shook his head and dropped the knife.

  “No. no,” Harry said. “Not this time. I get—No! Stop, Vlad. Stop!” Harry backed away into a corner. He spasmed in response to the inner battle being waged.

  Aria knelt down next to Benjamin. He had stopped screaming, and was calmly reciting an incantation. His glowing hands were still positioned over his eyes. “Get the detective, Aria. I’ll

  be

  okay

  .”

  Harry retrieved the knife from the floor and held it out, shifting the point between Aria and Rosito. “That wasn’t playing nice, now was it?” Suddenly, his face contorted and he

  growled

  . “

  No

  !”

  Aria rushed toward Rosito and pulled the

  blindfold

  down

  .

  “What the hell is wrong with him?” Rosito asked.

  “Imperare curse. Detective…

  the

  key

  ?”

  “The key to the cuffs is in my right pocket,” the detective said through a bloodied mouth.

  She slipped her hand into his pocket and grabbed it. After unlocking the handcuffs, she helped him stand. She threw the detective’s arm around her shoulder when his wobbly knees gave way. She screamed when Harry yelled out in agony, but it seemed the real Harry at least had enough strength to keep Vlad at bay for just a little longer. He even managed to throw the knife across

  the

  room

  .

  “Run! Get out of here!” Harry sobbed. “I can’t hold him any longer.”

  Benjamin was back on his feet, though his eyes were red and bruised, and he had to squint in order to look at them. “Come on, let’s get out

  of

  here

  .”

  Harry let out another roar, and this time Aria felt the mystical connection with him abruptly break. Vlad was back in control. They both had to support Rosito, who seemed on the verge of falling unconscious. Just as they made it to the threshold, a gust of wind blew them back into the room, and they went tumbling to the floor.

  Aria landed next to Detective Erickson’s dead body. She groaned in disgust. She had grown used to death as a sin eater, but an unnatural death like this, it was something she abhorred. She scanned the room and saw Rosito was completely out, and Benjamin was pinned against the opposite wall by an invisible force. She rose to her feet just in time to dodge Harry, now Vlad, who had retrieved the knife and made a jab at her with its bloodied point.

  She cursed in her head when he backed her into one of the corners. She tried to form a connection with him again, to find Harry Storm, but Vlad blocked her with his own magic. “You’ll pay for fucking with me, girl. Pretty

  or

  not

  .”

  Aria sucked in a breath, heart hammering in her chest. She called forth the fire in her S-shaped birthmark, which she had only used to detect sins and protect herself from hellhounds. She didn’t know if it would do anything against Vlad, but was all she

  had

  left

  .

  Suddenly, Edwin Kovar’s voice echoed through the room, filling it with a power that felt like static electricity. A wave of energy hit Harry in his torso, forcing him to his knees. He braced himself with one hand, and relinquished the knife with the other as he clutched his stomach. His entire frame trembled.

  Aria turned and stared at the doorway. Edwin stood there, with Jacob at his side. Edwin’s face was still ragged and tired looking, but when he exuded his power, she saw a clarity and purpose in his eyes that she hadn’t seen in years. Edwin raised his right hand, then nodded toward her. Instinctively, she raised her burning palm as well, sending forth her flame. Both their forces met and mingled, washing over Harry as he let out a scream.

  She wasn’t completely sure what was happening to him, but she could feel Edwin’s power guide her own. Then, Edwin slowly opened his mouth, and a dark mist pulled away from Harry’s shoulders and head. The black mist flew toward Edwin’s open mouth, and he swallowed.

  The Shrivener lowered his hand and ended his spell. Aria did the same, staring at him in disbelief. The invisible force that had been pinning Benjamin to the wall dissipated, and he nearly fell to his knees. He steadied himself and ran over to Rosito. Benjamin pressed his glowing hands to the detective’s head until he awoke. Sirens blared in the vicinity.

  Aria’s heart leapt in her chest when she saw Jacob. She was glad he had survived. She started toward the two men, who still stood at the threshold. “Edwin…”

  The old man raised his hand in warning, gesturing for her to keep her distance. Jacob slipped past him and approached her, framing her face with his hands. His eyes roved over her, as if searching for any injuries—either that, or he was checking

  her

  out

  .

  “Aria…I found the old man, convinced him to help me find you. Are

  you

  hurt

  ?”

  She shook her head, feeling the heat of a blush on her cheeks. “I’m okay. How

  about

  you

  ?”

  He grinned, either unaware or unbothered that his hands still gently cupped her face. “A little beat up, but I’ll live. I was worried

  about

  you

  .”

  “Yeah,” Rosito said, limping over with help from Benjamin. “I got tortured, by the way. I’m

  okay

  too

  .”

  Her legs felt weak and her hands shook, though she couldn’t tell if it was from adrenaline or in response to Jacob’s touch. She gently pulled away from him and rushed over to Harry, wrapping an arm around him. His body felt as cold as a block of ice, but he seemed to at least be in his right mind. She helped him to

  his

  feet

  .

  “Harry, are

  you

  okay

  ?”

  He gave a weak nod. He was as pale as a ghost.

  Edwin leaned against the doorframe, his gaze intent on Aria. “That is a temporary fix, I’m afraid.”

  “What did you do?” she asked.

  Edwin arched an eyebrow. “An old spell, perhaps a foolish spell. I expelled the spirit and absorbed him, though his powers, and the two other spirits possessing your friend, remain.”

  Aria approached him. She placed a hand on his cheek, the same way she used to when she was a child. “Will it

  hurt

  you

  ?”

  He gazed into her

  eyes

  . “

  Yes

  .”

  She didn’t know what to make of him. She could never excuse or justify him helping Cedric Astaroth. He was wrong for it, and she felt that deep down he knew it as well. But, she also understood the pain and anger inside him. She knew all too well how tempting it was to just throw her hands up in the air and give up on a humanity that often seemed bent on destroying itself. Even if she didn’t have all the knowledge, age, and extensive powers that Edwin did, one thing she did possess that he didn’t, was hope. She realized she had it with Margot and the friendship that she treasured. Harry had every reason to hate wizards, but still helped her and treated her like any other person—some might even say he was an equal opportunity offender. Even Rosito, who seemed gruff and unaccepting, actually turned out to be an honorable man who sought to do the right thing. If she was going to side against the sin eaters, she had at least three reasons to

  do

  so

  .

  “

  Edwin

  ,

  I

  …”

  He removed her hand from his cheek. With his other hand, he pulled out a slip of paper. “I have not changed my mind on the course I wish to take, if that was what you were wondering. As a final farewell, I wish to give you this. Perhaps, one day, you will be the one to change

  your

  mind

  .”

  After she took the note from him, Edwin nodded toward Harry. “Your murderous spirit is gone, but his powers remain inside you. They will corrupt you and turn you into a monster unless you finally lift the Imperare curse.”

  Harry groaned. “There’s no way Cedric Astaroth is coming back here. I’ll never

  find

  him

  .”

  “You had better, Mr. Storm. Even if you must tear down the gates of Hell to do so.” He faced Jacob and inclined his head toward him. “I apologize for the misunderstanding that night, Mr. Wolfe. Karina is not in pain, but she is worried about you and wishes to protect you. I’m sure Aria will guide her on toward the Light.”

  “Thank you,” he responded in a hoarse voice.

  Edwin turned and headed down the hallway, vanishing just as police officers were coming down the corridors.

  Aria breathed a deep sigh as she wiped her watery eyes with the back of her hand. She unfolded the note: Clare Harper Knight. She gasped as her eyes scanned over the address written under her birth mother’s name. She reread the last line in the note a few times. She had to be certain that she was reading it correctly. Not only did Edwin give her the full name and address of her mother, but somewhere out there, Aria also had a sister.

  She tucked the note into her back pocket. She accepted Jacob’s arm as he led her out the room. Harry, Benjamin, and Detective Rosito followed closely behind.

  “How did it feel?” Aria asked Jacob in a low voice.

  “How did

  what

  feel

  ?”

  “Coming face to face with Edwin, after all these years of wanting to

  kill

  him

  .”

  His dark eyebrows shot up. He looked cute when he made that caught-off-guard face. “Part of me still nursed that urge, but, you were right. I gave in too quickly to my emotions, was blinded, and blamed Edwin for something he didn’t even do. If had kept my damn mouth shut and listened to him, he would’ve told me what you told me earlier about Karina. I’m just glad I can move on now. So, how does it feel? It feels like I can finally breathe again.”

  She nodded, anticipating that she would feel the same way once she found her mother and sister.

  20

  Aria

  Aria leaned in and sniffed the brew bubbling on her stove. She could pick out the scent of herbs and an earthy aroma, which she hoped translated into a pleasant potion to imbibe. She carefully added all the final ingredients, following every direction to a “T” listed in the handwritten letter Harry found in his coat pocket. Apparently, when Jonathan Larsson (a former Loremaster) was in control of Harry’s body, he wrote the letter, a few encouraging words, plus a list of ingredients to remake the concoction Harry would need to keep the spirits locked away. It was similar to the one the alchemist Mayra Taliki had been making for him at the apothecary. Jonathan even took it a step further by having the foresight to order the ingredients and having them shipped to Harry’s office .

  While Aria worked with the potion, Harry sat on the couch in her living room watching the big press conference. Instead of it being held in the mayor’s newsroom, the conference was outside at the front steps of city hall. Mayor Farley, with slicked back hair and perfect teeth, smiled and said a few trite words, which made Aria roll her eyes, and then he praised Jacob as a hero before pulling him up to the podium. Aria listened from her spot at the stove, grabbing her remote and turning up the volume.

  “… that the Perkins and Campbell murders were perpetrated by Cedric Astaroth and Dominic Belagio in an attempt to foment a war between the citizens of Miracle Falls. They wanted to pit us against each other for their own purposes, and they almost won. I’ve heard and seen the outbreaks of violence, riots, and even the unsettling protests being led by an even more extreme faction of the Watchers.”

  A roar of voices overwhelmed Jacob’s, some from reporters asking questions, and others from a crowd of citizens either expressing agreement or hurling insults. The voices finally subsided.

  “In addition to those murders,” Jacob stated, his voice clear and strong, “the Gaia’s Apothecary explosion, and Mayra Taliki’s death are still under investigation. I am confident the MFPD and Captain Lewis will see to both justice and peace being restored in

  the

  city

  .”

  More uproar. Aria put the final touches on Harry’s potion then used a ladle to pour some into a cup. She took it to the living room and offered it to Harry. He looked up at her from the screen and took the drink with a

  grateful

  sigh

  .

  “

  Thanks

  ,

  Aria

  .”

  “You’re welcome.” She smiled and took a seat next to him on the sofa. She found herself studying Jacob’s muscular build and attractive face as he stood at the podium fielding more questions. She wondered if he was truly ready to move on and forward.

  Ugh. I’m horrible. Sure, I’ll just go ahead and speed his dead wife’s spirit over to the other side so I can have him for myself.

  She felt terrible for thinking that, but Jacob did ask her to come by and perform her ritual tomorrow. Today was all about dousing all the flames that had cropped up as a result of Astaroth’s misdeeds. She pushed aside her thoughts and focused again on the press conference.

  Jacob waited patiently for the crowd to quiet down. “ Warren Bright, aka Cedric Astaroth, and several other names he had gone by, worked diligently with a radical wing of Watchers in an effort to orchestrate murder and chaos. I’ve witnessed for myself, that Astaroth is a vampire. He hid his true nature from the public and his faux allies among the Watchers. His whereabouts are currently unknown, and there is a reward for any information leading to his capture.”