Harry’s head began to ache. Maybe he shouldn’t have been so quick to gulp down the drink. “Well, the sin eater woman, Aria, said that Belagio had hired her to perform a ritual for Perkins because he was dying. They tried to pin his murder

  on

  her

  .”

  Jacob’s jaw went slack. “Yeah. Sin eater.”

  “Long curly black hair, cute figure. I’d smash. You don’t know her? I thought you wizards all hung out with each other in

  this

  city

  .”

  “Go to hell, we don’t all know each other. Is this your way of charming clients?”

  “You’re

  hiring

  me

  ?”

  “Yes. And your first task is to find Belagio and Warren Bright.”

  “Been doing that already, Sherlock.” And if finding Belagio placed also brought him to Warren Bright, then this was one job he was not going to

  fail

  at

  .

  “What does the sin eater know?” Jacob shifted in

  his

  seat

  .

  “Less than I do. She’s a

  dead

  end

  .”

  He shook his head. “No, you need to talk to her again.”

  “You can do it, maybe she’ll tell you something she didn’t

  tell

  me

  .”

  “No…I…don’t want to be around a sin eater. I’ll throw in an extra hundred if that’ll get you to shut up and

  do

  it

  .”

  “You got it, Boss.” Harry’s head throbbed, and the pain trickled down his spine.

  “Hey, do you have anything that belongs to Belagio, or something he’s touched? I can do a tracking spell. At least that will point us in the right direction.”

  Harry’s eyesight blurred, and the next sensation trickling down his spine was icy fear. What the hell? Mayra’s potion was supposed to stave off the Imperare curse for an entire week. Maybe the concoction wasn’t as effective anymore, or, the magic was proving itself too strong. He checked his watch—he could be at Gaia’s Apothecary in ten minutes flat. It was time to wrap up this meeting.

  “I think I have something at the office. Can I bring it by in the morning?”

  “Of course. Stop by my house, 7 a.m., and don’t

  be

  late

  .”

  After repeating the address Jacob told him, he rushed out of the pub and headed straight for his Maverick. He sped off, hyperventilating behind the wheel of his car as the voices came

  flooding

  in

  .

  * * *

  Aww, poor Harry has a stalker, the female voice teased.

  Aria Knight stood at the other end of the parking lot. She actually looked happy to see him. He stepped out of his car and ran through the lot, ready to throw Aria aside if he needed to. He didn’t have time for niceties.

  “Harry!” She looked confused at the urgency of his movements.

  He made a beeline for the apothecary. “Back

  off

  ,

  Aria

  .”

  Maybe he could have his way with her. Then we’d finally get a show. Harry nicknamed that dark voice “Vlad,” as in Vlad the Impaler. He was the one who took Harry’s body for a spin and murdered three people. Fuck

  that

  guy

  .

  “Harry, please! I need your help!” She fell into step with him as he stomped onto the sidewalk and made a sharp left. Just a few more paces, and he could get Mayra to increase his dosage. Aria yelled at him. “Stop pretending you can’t

  hear

  me

  !”

  Just as he was about to tell her to shove it, the apothecary erupted in an explosion. Harry had just enough time to grab Aria and dive into the street. Better that than getting hit by shards of glass and skin-melting heat. A plume of fire rose into the air from the building’s roof, mingled with black smoke. Aria rose to her feet, knees shaking. Harry groaned as he stood and balanced himself.

  He glanced down the street and saw the dark sedan again, but this time it had both the creepy blond guy and Dominic Belagio sitting inside. He didn’t understand why they were just observing him and Aria instead of coming for them. He didn’t doubt for a second that they had weapons or magic of

  their

  own

  .

  He glanced at the apothecary, trying not to choke up. “Mayra…she was in there.”

  “We need to call 911,” Aria said in a broken voice.

  Be careful of the barotrauma, the nerdy voice cautioned. The blast waves can damage your vital organs.

  “Shut…up!” Harry shrieked.

  Aria froze. “I…I’m sorry.”

  “Not you. The voices. Come this way.” Belagio and Blondie were still sitting in the car down the street, just watching. Harry jerked his head in the direction of the parking lot. Aria looked like she was ready to run away in the opposite direction. “Belagio blew up this shop and he will kill you if you leave on your own. Come on. Stay

  with

  me

  .”

  He may have been a cynical ass, but it didn’t mean he wanted innocent people to die. He watched Aria as she bit her lip and made a move to follow him. He lurched toward his car, hoping that the extra vial he had placed in the glove compartment could at least help him stay in control.

  “Harry,” he heard Aria from behind, “the apothecary lady…Oh

  my

  God

  …”

  His chest tightened and dread flooded in. He hastily opened the passenger side door of his Maverick and pulled open the glove compartment. After fumbling around a few seconds, he realized the last of his potion was gone. It looked like Belagio or scary man in the car had stolen it, knowing what it would do to him. No wonder they didn’t make a move after the explosion. They were going to let Harry destroy himself and anyone

  near

  him

  .

  “No. No!” Tears stung

  his

  eyes

  .

  Looks like we’re about to come out and play,

  Vlad

  said

  .

  Dear, said the female voice, I think I ought to be the one on top, if you know what I mean. I’ll take care

  of

  you

  .

  “Do it! Just…don’t let it

  be

  Vlad

  .”

  Aria caught him just as he slunk to the ground. “Harry, you’re scaring me. What do I do? How can

  I

  help

  ?”

  He wanted to tell her to run. She needed to get as far away from him as possible. But at that point, he had slipped away into darkness, one from which he might never return.

  * * *

  Sola Brunson hated the drowsy, stomach-churning sensation that ran through her once she emerged. But, at least, it was she who emerged—not Vlad or the other one. She thanked the stars that she had been paying attention to what was going on, though she wanted to slap the sin eater woman and tell her to shut the hell up. Using Harry’s body, Sola rose to her feet and gestured toward the Maverick.

  “Get in the car, love. I’ll drive.”

  Aria’s eyes widened. “What’s wrong

  with

  you

  ?”

  It must’ve been Sola’s transatlantic accent that gave her away. “Do it. I have no compunctions about leaving you here for the police…or Belagio.”

  That got the sin eater scurrying into the car, jumping into the passenger seat, and buckling her seat belt. Sola slipped into the driver’s side, grabbing Harry’s key from his coat pocket and starting the car. She pulled out of the parking lot and headed east, right as a fire truck with its wailing sirens crossed paths with them. It went straight toward the fire at the apothecary.

  “Ooh, what’s this?” Sola squinted.

  “Harry, turn on the headlights!” Aria shrieked.

  Sola sucked her teeth and turned on the lights. She hit the gas pedal. “I think I see Belagio’s car up ahead.”

  “Are you crazy? We can’t follow them. You said we needed to get away from them, or they’d

  kill

  us

  .”

  “Changed my mind. Do you know how to shoot

  a

  gun

  ?”

  “Please, Harry, let’s go back to my place and figure out what our next move is. I don’t think either of us are ready to take

  them

  on

  .”

  The dark sedan skidded and turned a corner. Sola was determined to follow the car, but she had to slow down and halt at a red light when she saw two MFPD squad cars race past. “You’re no fun,

  are

  you

  ?”

  “Just take me home. I live on Lincoln Avenue.”

  “Very well, but we are going to have to talk about this arrangement.”

  “What arrangement?”

  Sola glanced in the rearview mirror, noting Harry’s face that stared back at her. God, she must’ve been desperate to choose this man as a host. “There’s something you should know about me, and it may affect whether or not you wish to ally yourself

  with

  me

  .”

  Aria sighed and pressed her head into her hands, her voluminous dark hair cascading past her shoulders. She seemed a bit too prissy for Sola’s taste. Maybe she’d shove her out the car when they reached Lincoln Avenue and speed her way out of

  the

  city

  .

  No! Sola heard Harry’s faint voice shout from deep within. Somewhere, he was a prisoner inside his own body, his own mind. You’re going to help Aria, that’s why I gave you control.

  Aria finally faced her. “What’s this big secret, Harry?”

  “I think it can wait until we get to safety. It’s best we go to your

  place

  ,

  yeah

  ?”

  Aria looked like she regretted getting into the car. “I guess…I think Detective Erickson still has someone watching my apartment. We should

  be

  okay

  .”

  Damn it, Sola, don’t fucking throw her out the car. I know what you’re thinking.

  Sola chuckled. “Lincoln Avenue,

  it

  is

  !”

  13

  Aria

  She couldn’t

  believe

  it

  .

  Harry Storm looked the same, but his mind had completely disappeared and been replaced with someone else’s. At first she thought he had experienced some kind of breakdown after the explosion, but once she helped him to his feet, he suddenly grew calm and collected, and ordered her into his car. After a proper freak-out, she gave him directions to her apartment.

  Her hand trembled as she shoved her key into her door’s keyhole and turned. She opened the door and stepped in, flipping on the light switch. Harry followed, closing the door behind him and heading over to a mirror hanging on the wall adjacent to the door. He ran a hand through his thick, dark hair and opened his mouth to view his teeth.

  Aria slid her purse onto the couch. “Are

  you

  okay

  ?”

  Harry ran his tongue over his top row of teeth. “Yes, lovie. By the way, I’m Sola Brunson, I hate the name Harry. Harry. Sounds like hairy.”

  “Is this like a split personality thing? Harry?”

  He sashayed over to the kitchen area and began rummaging through the cabinets. “Imperare, I’m afraid. Cast against Harry by a wizard, Warren Bright.”

  Aria collapsed onto the couch and let out a strangled chuckle. She really wanted to cry. “Of course. Because why wouldn’t the only guy who could help me be stricken with a curse?”

  And it was a nasty one. The Imperare curse basically ripped a hole in a person’s mind and called down any nearby spirits to fill the void. To people who didn’t know how magic worked, or who simply didn’t want to believe such a spell existed, the person suffering from it looked like another Dissociative Identity Disorder candidate. However, those who knew what to look for, understood the curse and its dangers. No wonder Harry was so rattled. And, it appeared he had trouble getting Warren Bright to undo

  it

  all

  .

  “Wait a second, Harry asked me if I knew anything about Warren Bright that night we spoke at the police station.”

  “Yes, it appears Harry’s connected Belagio to Warren Bright. In fact, he spotted Belagio outside the apothecary after the explosion. Ah, sweet little Mayra, we never did get to have that cup of coffee

  with

  her

  .”

  “Listen, Sola, I’m sure you’re a nice person and all, but I need Harry back. Please.”

  Sola, using Harry’s body, was already pouring Vodka into a glass while wearing a satisfied grin. “I’m sure I can help. We can let poor Harry rest a while. What is it that

  you

  need

  ?”

  “Do you even know what Harry and I talked about? Do you know what’s

  going

  on

  ?”

  Sola drank the Vodka and headed over to the couch. She slid in next to Aria and sucked in a deep breath. “Mr. Storm thinks if we’re not talking to him, then we’re asleep. However, that is not the case. We are always watching.”

  Yeah, not creepy at all, Aria thought. “Does he have a lead on Dominic Belagio?”

  Sola cracked her knuckles and slipped her shoes off. “He met with a rather handsome wizard tonight at the pub…Jacob Wolfe. Harry is supposed to bring something from his office to Jacob’s home in the morning. It’s something Belagio physically touched, and it will facilitate a tracking spell. I’ll take you there in the morning.”

  Perhaps this could work after all. Aria stood up. “Good! Is there a reason why we can’t

  go

  now

  ?”

  Sola arched an eyebrow. “I’ve spent an entire year cramped inside this man’s mind. Let me enjoy my freedom. I will help you, but do not think I will let you control me or send me away. Remember, there are two more spirits inhabiting Mr. Storm’s mind, and I am the most stable. He gave me control in his final moments.”

  Aria decided to back off. She didn’t want to provoke Sola. “All right, we’ll do it in the morning. Did you want to sleep on the couch?”

  “I’d love to.” Sola smiled. “May I borrow a nightgown?”

  Aria cringed. “You may be Sola right now, but you still look and sound like Harry, and we are not the same

  dress

  size

  .”

  Sola

  sighed

  . “

  Fine

  .”

  “I don’t even own a nightgown. Where are you

  from

  ,

  Sola

  ?”

  She fluffed a pillow and placed it behind her head. “I died back in 1912, and it was rather pathetic.”

  “Sorry to hear that. May

  I

  ask

  …”

  “I sank on the Titanic.”

  Aria crossed her arms, eyeing Sola with sympathy. “I wouldn’t call that pathetic. It was a tragedy.”

  Sola shrugged. “I suppose you can call it that

  as

  well

  .”

  “What were you doing on the Titanic?”

  Sola stretched and yawned, shutting her eyes and smiling to herself. “I was being the greatest thief who ever lived.”

  14

  Aria

  Aria gritted her teeth as she watched Sola, still using Harry’s body, painstakingly part his hair and comb it to the side. She doubted Harry would appreciate wearing that style. Sola adjusted the rearview mirror and made a pouty face before turning off the ignition and nodding to the tall building across the street. Dawn was just breaking, and they needed to be over at Jacob Wolfe’s house by

  7

  a.m

  .

  “His office is on the third floor. Harry borrowed an ink pen from Mr. Belagio, and the little bugger didn’t even need it.” Sola chuckled.

  “Yeah, can we go get it?” Aria was still pissed that Sola had spent twenty minutes trying to fit into her skinny jeans before finally giving up and keeping Harry’s clothes. And she said she was the most stable of the three spirits?

  Sola hopped out of the Maverick and motioned for Aria to follow her across the street. They halted to let a few cars and trucks barreling down the road pass, and Aria flashed a nervous grin at an elderly man walking his white husky on a leash. The man recognized “Harry” and waved.

  Sola grinned. “Good

  morning

  ,

  Walt

  !”

  “G’morning, Harry. Who’s your friend?”

  Sola fumbled in her coat pocket and pulled out a set of keys, still making her way to the building’s front door. “A friend. A little stuck up, if you ask me, but she’s all right.”

  Walt chuckled and adjusted his scarf. The November morning air had a cold bite that even permeated Aria’s leather jacket.

  Sola opened the front door that led to the lobby. “Taking your meds, Walt? I know you’ve been sneaking to the corner store

  this

  week

  .”

  The white husky whined, and Walt shook his head. “Nah, Harry. My wife would kill me if she

  found

  out