Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

I sat on the upstairs balcony with Claude perched on my shoulder like a moldy, featherless parrot. I’d wanted this spot to be a book nook, but I was far too distracted to read at the moment. If I strained to listen, I could hear the faint sound of Hestia’s summer solstice clock ticking in time to my heartbeat.

Ray materialized beside me. “I was wondering where you were.”

I’d arrived home from the underworld in a distressed state, emotionally dumped on my residents ghosts, then ran upstairs to hide from the world.

“I hoped a bit of fresh air and space to think would help.”

“Has it?”

I shrugged.

“You’re still concerned about Alessandro?”

A hollow laugh escaped me. “Why stop at one worry when I can have twenty?” I was nothing if not an overachiever. Maybe I’d inherited that particular trait from Aunt Hestia.

“Thinking about your home, too? ”

I looked at him. “The underworld isn’t my home, Ray. This is.”

“It’s only natural that you feel conflicted. No reason to fight it.”

I frowned. “This is the part where you’re supposed to tell me ‘don’t go borrowing trouble’ or ‘worrying about tomorrow robs me of today’s peace.’”

“I’m not going to tell you either of those things.”

“Great pep talk. Thanks.”

“I’m not going to tell you either of those things because they don’t apply here. You should be worried. This is exactly what anxiety is designed for.”

I stared at him, wide eyed. “Not helping, Ray.”

“You’re not up here obsessing over a math test. You’re dealing with actual threats to life and limb. To existence. Worrying about survival is hardwired into us. Without it, we’d die a heck of a lot faster.”

I let his response settle in my mind. “It’s normal to worry,” I said, as though testing the idea out loud.

“Not only is it normal, but it’s also necessary. In this case, worry is your friend. It will help you plan better. Protect yourself better.”

“And others,” I added.

Ray smiled. “On that note, I have information that might help one of your problems.”

“Maybe you should’ve led with that.”

“You might want to let him in first.” He nodded toward the gate. “He may be cursed, but the guy has impeccable timing.”

I looked down as Alessandro raced through the gate, setting off the ward.

“Romeo, Romeo,” I yelled.

The incubus glanced up. “Hey, Juliet. ”

“That isn’t the line, but I’ll give you a pass.” I rose to my feet. “I’ll meet you downstairs.”

I retreated inside the house and hurried downstairs with Claude still attached to my shoulder. The revenant seemed to have a death grip even in sleep mode.

I met Alessandro on the porch. Up close he looked thinner and haggard. His eyes were devoid of light, like two black holes of despair. My worry flared.

“I don’t suppose you’ve made any progress with my case,” he said.

“Nothing I haven’t already told you.”

He blew out a breath. “I was afraid you’d say that. There’s been another development.”

“Go on.”

He tapped his cheek. “I lost a tooth.”

Oh, boy.

Alessandro opened his mouth wide and showed me the missing molar.

“I’m sorry. At least it isn’t visible when you smile.”

“Is it too much to hope you’ll find a solution soon?”

Ray materialized beside me. “I told you I have information that can help.”

“Hold on,” I told Alessandro. “Ray has an idea.”

“It’s not a direct hit, but it’s a workaround. I found a ritual that can reveal the maker of a mark.”

I looked at him. “What do you mean by reveal the maker? Their name will be written in cloud letters in the sky?”

“That I don’t know,” Ray said.

I relayed the statement to Alessandro. “The ritual won’t undo the curse, but if we can find who did it…” The prospect made me slightly uneasy for reasons I couldn’t identify. On the other hand, I didn’t see what choice we had. Alessandro was falling apart at the seams.

A spark returned to those black holes. “Let’s do it. Now. ”

I turned to Ray. “What do we need to do?”

We set up a circle of rocks and candles outside near the cemetery. There was no sign of Max, and I wondered whether the cherufe had decided to move on. I’d try not to be offended that he left without a goodbye.

Once the candles were lit, Alessandro took his place in the center of the circle. “Now what?”

I glanced at Ray. “Does he need to say something in Latin?”

Ray’s brow furrowed as he reviewed his notes. “Give me a minute. I can’t read my own handwriting.”

I contemplated Alessandro’s stooped shoulders and slack-jawed face. “I think I should stand in the circle with you.”

“Why?” he asked.

“For moral support,” I lied. In fact, I was concerned that Alessandro would be too weak to stand upright long enough to complete the ritual.

The incubus considered the offer. “Will you hold my hand?”

His request caught me off guard. “Will that give you a jolt of sexual energy?”

“No, but it’ll still make me feel better.”

I climbed inside the circle and clasped his hand. His skin felt rough and calloused.

“Repeat after me,” Ray said.

The words were in Greek, not Latin. Each syllable rolled off my tongue with an ease that shouldn’t have surprised me, yet it did. More of Melinoe meant less of Lorelei, or so I told myself in my darkest hours. A problem for another day.

The wind picked up. Strands of my hair caught in my mouth, and I spat them out. I needed to start wearing a hair tie on my wrist for these unexpected moments .

I squeezed Alessandro’s hand for reassurance as the sky grew dark and the clouds moved swiftly past. I watched in anticipation, still uncertain how the identity would be revealed. Our surroundings blended with the shadows.

All at once the world was bright again. It took a second to regain my focus. The only constants were Alessandro and the circle in which we stood.

An arbor greeted us. The floral archway was comprised of cheerful daisies.

“Should we enter?” he whispered.

“Seems to be the only option.” How dangerous could a courtyard garden be?

As we passed through the arbor, the scent of lavender filled the air. The area was secluded, with high hedges and a variety of sculptured bushes.

A statuesque woman awaited us in the courtyard. She was nothing short of stunning. Flaxen hair styled in a thick braid. An even face that showed only the faintest lines of age. Cheek bones that underscored bright blue eyes.

“Do you know her?” I whispered.

Alessandro’s mouth dropped open. “No, but I’d like to.”

She extended a slender, elegant hand. “I’m Erika Beck, and you must be Alessandro.”

“I must be,” he said, dreamy eyed.

“I’m Lorelei,” I said.

Erika clasped her hands in front of her. “So you are.” She pivoted back to the incubus. “You surprise me, child of Lilu. I’d written you off.”

Alessandro’s features rippled with confusion. “Written me off? Because of this?” He gestured to his appearance.

“No, that is simply a consequence of your inaction. Misfortune has befallen you because you have not answered the call.”

“What call? ”

She dipped her head. “The mark on your chest.”

He glanced instinctively at the spot on his shirt where the mark lay underneath. “Why did you mark me? I’ve never seen you before in my life.”

“No, but you’ve seen my daughter. All of her, in fact. She believed you had the makings of a true champion.”

“What’s your daughter’s name?” Alessandro asked.

“Kelby.”

I didn’t recall the name Kelby on the list. Alessandro’s thoughtful expression suggested he didn’t remember her either.

“A face like a fox,” Erika continued. “Her eyes are small and too close together.” She waited for him to respond. When none was forthcoming, she added, “Her laugh is reminiscent of a hyena.”

Alessandro’s eyes brightened. “Oh, right. Kelby. I remember her now.”

Well, that was one mystery solved.

“Just to be clear,” I interjected, “you’re Kelby's mother.”

“She is one of my middle children, yes.”

And I thought my family had issues.

She returned her attention to Alessandro. “You have been chosen, incubus.”

“Chosen or branded?” he queried. “Is this like when farmers mark their cows?”

“You were chosen as my champion, but because you failed to heed the call, you began to deteriorate.”

“I don’t understand. What’s the call? I haven’t received any instructions or requests. Nothing except bad luck.”

“The magic should’ve summoned you to me when you first saw the mark, then I explain its purpose. That’s how it typically works.”

Typically? How often did Erika mark the men who slept with her daughter? And for what purpose ?

Alessandro grunted. “Well, your magic is broken because it cut straight to the misfortune part.”

She angled her head to study him. “Do you suffer from visual impairment, by chance? That also might explain your willingness to bed Kelby. She is inarguably unattractive in both body and spirit.”

Mom of the Year over here.

“I found Kelby to be a delightful companion,” Alessandro objected. “And her laugh was adorable.”

“Hmm. Again, you surprise me,” Erika said.

While they argued about Kelby's merits or lack thereof, my mind was still stuck on the mark’s malfunction. There was no such thing as ‘broken magic;’ there had to be another explanation.

“What are you?” Alessandro asked.

“She’s a vala,” I said. “A Nordic witch.” Because of course she was a witch. Yet again, Phaedra proved to be the exception rather than the rule.

Erika twirled a strand of golden hair around her finger. “I suppose the choice of rune gave me away.”

“If you knew you wanted me as your champion, why mark me instead of asking me for your help?”

“It’s imperative that I test the prospective champions. I can’t simply grab them off the street and hope for the best.”

“And Kelby was his test?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Why? What do your other daughters look like?” Alessandro asked.

I jabbed him in the ribs with my elbow.

“The gods clearly decided you’re unworthy,” Erika said. “That must be the reason you failed to appear.”

“I’m here now,” Alessandro said.

“Much worse for wear, it seems.”

“He’s dyslexic,” I blurted. “He can’t see the mark the way you intended, which is why it didn’t trigger the summoning.” The magic still registered the mark’s presence on his body, however, and his lack of action triggered the ‘consequences’ portion of the magic.

Alessandro looked at me in surprise. “I’ve never told anybody that.”

“I’m sorry you felt the need to hide it,” I said.

“My father used to call me stupid. He was a professor. I think he was ashamed that any son of his couldn’t read properly.”

I touched him lightly on the shoulder. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

Alessandro squared his shoulders as he faced Erika. “What did you want me to do?”

“I had hoped you would use your considerable charms to retrieve my beloved Oskar from Helheim.”

“Is he your son?” I asked.

“No. Oskar is the love of my life.”

“Kelby’s father?” Alessandro asked.

Her face hardened. “No. That was Tor. Oskar is more recent. We were only beginning to scratch the surface of our relationship when he was so cruelly taken from me.”

Alessandro appeared enthralled by her story. “What happened?”

“He died defending my honor.” She inhaled deeply. “My Oskar was a true warrior.”

“Then why isn’t he in Valhalla?” I asked.

Her eyes narrowed. “You have impressive knowledge for someone outside the pantheon.”

“It’s basic information on the internet.”

“Not to me,” Alessandro said.

“If you must know, Oskar offended one of the gods. If he were in Valhalla, he would’ve been easier to recover. ”

I laughed. “You think it would be easier to break into and escape from an afterlife filled with fallen warriors?”

She gave me a withering look. “The dangers are fewer for precisely that reason. Perhaps the gaps in your knowledge are wider than I thought.”

Alessandro contemplated his chest. “How many have been marked before me?”

“I only choose one hero at a time.”

I examined her closely. “That doesn’t answer his question.”

She flicked the petal off a nearby flower. “Four.”

“You sent four other men to Helheim to retrieve Oskar and not one of them came back?” I asked.

“It seems they lacked the skills required.”

Alessandro paled. “Could I wait and be number seven? That seems like a luckier number.”

“It’s too late, I’m afraid. You’ve been marked. The countdown has begun, and I cannot mark another until… Well, I’m sure you can guess.”

“There are rules against this sort of thing, you know,” I told her. “You can’t go around marking innocent people with magical runes to force them to do your bidding or kill them when they refuse.”

She splayed her hands. “And yet I have.”

Alessandro raised his hand. “I have a question. What is Helheim?”

Erika gave a rueful shake of her head. “Weren’t you listening?”

“I got distracted.” He pointed to the butterfly fluttering near the flowers.

“Helheim is their land of the dead,” I explained.

“But not the good one,” Alessandro said.

“It isn’t that it’s a bad place. The prefix Hel comes from their goddess of the underworld, not because it’s a place of punishment.”

“Valhalla is for champions and warriors,” Erika said. “Helheim is for those who died of illness or natural causes, which Oskar most certainly did not.”

“Not that there’s anything wrong with dying of those things,” I added. “You can live a long, worthy life and die of natural causes.”

“A coward’s death,” she scoffed.

Alrighty then. “Speaking of cowards, let me get this straight. You’ve been using your daughters to have sex with strangers in order to sniff out the right someone to rescue your boy toy from the realm of the dead?”

“Well, I certainly can’t have sex with them. My beloved would never forgive me. The entire rescue operation would be for naught.”

I gestured to Alessandro’s mark. “You’re obviously a talented witch. Why can’t you get him yourself? At least if you fail to return, you’d still be with Oskar.”

Erika’s hands clenched into fists. “I am only interested in speaking to the marked one,” she snapped.

“If you expect me to use my considerable charms, then you’re going to need to restore me to my original form. My confidence is shot.” Alessandro patted his balding head. “I can’t work under these conditions.”

Her gaze raked over him. “Yes, I can see that. Unfortunately, the only way to restore you to your original form is to achieve the task. Once triggered, the magic cannot be undone.”

“And what’s the alternative?” he asked.

“You will continue to deteriorate until you die.”

Alessandro threw up his hands in despair. “And somehow you think this is motivation? ”

“I would’ve thought so, but I admit, the evidence is beginning to mount against me.”

Toothless, hairless, and with an expanding waistline I refused to acknowledge, Alessandro wouldn’t be able to charm anybody in his current condition, except women he catfished on dating apps.

I stepped forward. “I’ll go in his place.”

Erika observed me from head to toe. “I’ve barely registered your presence during this entire conversation. What makes you think you’re capable of retrieving my beloved Oskar?”

“Is charm the only weapon allowed?”

“No, but it’s the one least likely to end in violence. I don’t want to risk anything happening to Oskar.”

“He’s already dead,” I pointed out.

“Yes, but he could be winked out of existence. That wouldn’t do. I need him functional.”

I thumped my chest. “Transfer the mark to me. If I don’t succeed, I’ll be the one to suffer the consequences.” It would take a goddess far longer to deteriorate than an incubus reliant on sexual energy. Alessandro would only have months to live, whereas I’d still have years. It seemed like a worthwhile gamble.

She looked down her nose at me. “I’m afraid that isn’t possible. You may act as his proxy, but he will still be the one to bear the mark and suffer the consequences.”

That was much worse from my perspective. I could handle my own life being at stake. Knowing that Alessandro’s life rested on my performance… That was a bigger pill to swallow.

“You don’t have to do this, Lorelei,” he whispered.

“I know, but I will anyway.” It was the only chance we had to save his life. To do nothing meant a slow, agonizing death.

“Now listen, because this part is critical,” Erika continued. “ You must make certain to use this on Oskar the moment you find him.” She produced a small tube the size of a lipstick and handed it to me. “It’s a potion I made especially for this purpose. Took ages to perfect because of his spirit form. Sprinkle the liquid on him, preferably his forehead.”

“Like she’s baptizing him?” Alessandro asked.

“If you like,” Erika replied. “Without this, he won’t be able to leave the realm.”

“If it’s to help him cross the border, can’t I wait until we get there to use it?” I asked. “What if it takes us longer than we expect?”

“No, it must be the moment you find him.” She plastered on a smile. “Fine, I’ll tell you the rest, although I prefer not to speak ill of the dead. Oskar is a sweetheart, but his anxiety can be draining. He’ll only slow you down with all his questions and concerns, so you might not have time to deal with the potion if you’re running for your life to cross the border. He may even be too afraid to leave when the moment arrives, which would obviously be a problem for you if you’d like your friend to live,” she added pointedly.

Alessandro tugged his ear. “Can a spirit be knocked unconscious?”

“No, but this potion is the next best thing.” Erika tapped an invisible watch on her wrist. “I’ll tell you what? Because I’m a benevolent vala, I’ll give you a three-day grace period, the same as I gave your predecessors.”

“Grace period for what?” I asked.

“Whatever you like. Put your affairs in order. Read your favorite book. Give Alessandro the sex he so desperately craves.”

He raised a finger. “I vote for that last one.”

“Where do I meet you when I bring Oskar back?”

She opened her arms. “Right here is perfect. Perform your little ritual, and I’ll be here waiting for my beloved. ”

“When does the grace period start?”

“Now.” She snapped her fingers.

The garden disappeared, along with Erika. Alessandro and I stood in the circle outside the Castle.

“That was freaky,” he said.

“It was something,” I agreed.

Alessandro cast his dark, beguiling eyes in my direction. “You took my place. Why would you do that?”

“Because I can.”

He buried his face in his hands. “This is bad, so very, very bad.”

“You’ll be fine.”

“I really won’t.” He swallowed hard. “Mr. Sullivan will kill me if anything happens to you.”

“But Josie will reward you, so it all evens out in the end.”

“Not if I’m dead.”

I offered a reassuring smile. “Then I guess I’ll see you in the next life.”