Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

Home sweet home. I dragged myself through the gate and paused on the bridge to admire a lily pad floating around the moat. Another sign of spring. I chose to take it as a good omen.

“What happened to you?” Ray asked, as I stepped onto the front porch.

“Duty called and I made the mistake of answering.”

“Maybe next time let it go to voicemail.”

Nana Pratt pointed. “You got goo all over the porch.”

I looked down to see a variety of thick puddles. “That’s special limited-edition goo, straight from the Egyptian underworld.” Forget the broom; I’d need a mop for this task.

“Do I even want to know?” Ray asked.

“Look up Apep next time you’re on the computer. He came looking for his buddy Anubis, who may or may not be under The Corporation’s thrall. I took care of the minions he left behind, and if we’re lucky, Apep will take care of The Corporation.” A girl could hope.

“I took care of the weeds,” Nana Pratt said with a note of pride .

“Thank you.”

“You need white vinegar next time you go to the store. I used your whole bottle to make the spray.”

I pulled out my phone and added ‘white vinegar’ to the grocery list in my Notes app.

“You’re going to need to wipe down that phone,” Nana Pratt said. “There’s goop on your fingers, too.”

There was probably goop in my teeth, too, but I tried very hard not to think about it.

“Why don’t you shower while Ingrid and I clean up this mess?” Ray suggested.

“You sure you don’t mind?”

“I wouldn’t have offered if I did.”

“Thanks, Ray. I appreciate it.” So much for my plan to pick up the slack. On the other hand, I did protect the crossroads from a Ghostbusters-style invasion of gunk.

I walked upstairs, careful not to leave a trail of sludge in my wake. I brushed my teeth, then cranked the shower to scorching hot and scrubbed myself clean. By the time I was dry and dressed, my stomach was rumbling at an alarming rate. Vanquishing monsters was hungry work.

I ventured into the kitchen and made myself a tuna sandwich. It was quick and simple; the kind of sandwich Pops and I would take on our expeditions into the woods. To this day, the smell of tuna reminded me of him. One whiff and I was a child again, seated on a log beside him, enjoying our packed lunches. It was difficult to think about those moments without feeling a sense of betrayal. I’d been closer to Pops than anyone in the world, yet I hadn’t known his biggest secret—that he’d known my identity from birth. That he’d known my parents had been avatars of Hades and Persephone, later murdered by The Corporation when they fled the organization to hide my mother’s pregnancy. That he’d been lying to me my entire life. It made me question whether I’d ever known him at all, or only the version he’d wanted me to see.

The tuna formed a lump in my throat as I swallowed the last of my sandwich. The more I learned about myself, the more complicated my feelings for my loved ones became. I preferred it when I only missed them.

I felt a light tickle on the inside of my wrist. It was too rhythmic to be anything other than the ward. I drank a few gulps of water and hurried to the front door. I counted three heads at the gate; only one was familiar. Alicia, Ray’s teenaged granddaughter.

I intercepted them on the front porch. “Stop right there, truants.”

“We’re not skipping school. It’s teachers only today.” She inclined her head. “These are my friends, Scott and Caeden.”

“Are you here to introduce them to your grandfather?”

“Yes, and to see you.” She peered past me. “Is he here?”

“Hard for him to be anywhere else.” My resident ghosts were tethered to the Castle property unless I commanded them to go elsewhere. Sometimes I thought it would be worth ordering them to visit Wild Acres just to get a little privacy, especially now that I was in full relationship mode with Kane Sullivan, the local demon prince of hell. At least Kane had his own bachelor pad away from prying eyes, except to get there, I had to walk through his nightclub to the private entrance.

Alicia slouched. “I’m tired from that long-ass walk. Can we come in?”

“Language,” Nana Pratt scolded her. “It’s unbecoming of a young lady.”

“Please don’t say ‘ass,’” I said, omitting the last part.

“I can’t believe you live in Bluebeard’s Castle,” Scott said. “That’s so wild.”

Bluebeard’s Castle—also known as the Castle, the Ruins, or as I often referred to it, the Money Pit of Despair—was built during the Gilded Age by a tycoon named Joseph Edgar Blue III. Despite its prime hilltop location with sweeping views of Fairhaven and the river beyond, Blue bought the land for a song due to the adjacent cemetery. His builders used bluestone, which gave the facade its light blue sheen. The moat solidified his flair for the dramatic. He was also fond of hosting lavish parties, complete with seances that took advantage of the location. Years later, the house was abandoned when the son and heir, Joseph Edgar Blue IV, known as Quattro, gambled away his inherited fortune. By the time I bought the house online, sight unseen, the property had fallen into disrepair. Its only visitors were ghosts, squatters, and the underage drinking crowd.

Caeden pointed to the second floor. “Whoa. Can we sit on your balcony?”

“That depends. Neither one of you is stupid enough to try to jump from there into the moat, are you?”

Scott shrugged. “I’m not. I can’t swim.”

Caeden glanced over his shoulder at the moat. “I hadn’t even thought of that until you mentioned it.”

“The water’s too cold for swimming anyway,” Alicia said, the voice of reason.

I opened the front door and motioned for them to enter the house. Ray hovered in the foyer. “Is that my grandbaby’s voice?”

“It is.”

Scott’s eyes grew round as he stepped into the foyer. “Your house is seriously massive.”

“It’s on the larger side,” I agreed.

“Where’s all your furniture?” Caeden asked.

“It’s a work in progress.”

“You have more rooms than you’ll ever use,” Scott said, poking his head into the empty room at the front of the house.

I looked at Alicia. “Why are you here to see me?”

“They don’t believe me that you’re a goddess of nightmares. They think I’m making it up.”

My gaze flicked to Ray, who groaned.

Alicia seemed to notice my less-than-pleased expression. “It’s okay,” she said. “You can trust them.”

“They’re teenaged boys. Since when?”

“I was a Boy Scout,” Caeden volunteered.

“I hear the past tense in that sentence. What happened?”

“I didn’t get kicked out or anything. I got too busy with sports.”

Scott scanned the area behind me. “Alicia promised us candy.”

“I said there might be hot cocoa with marshmallows or whipped cream. I didn’t say anything about candy.”

“It’s too warm for hot cocoa,” Scott said. “I’d rather have candy.”

“I think I can satisfy your sweet tooth.” I crooked a finger as I headed to the kitchen.

Nana Pratt clucked her tongue. “The youth of today have no manners. My children wouldn’t have dreamed of waltzing into a stranger’s house and demanding treats.”

As much as I felt like I should agree with her, I liked that Alicia and her friends felt comfortable here. After Pops died and I entered the foster system, I stopped feeling comfortable in anybody’s house, even the ones I lived in.

I opened the cupboard door. “Fair warning: I don’t have a lot of options.” Mostly because I’d eat the whole bag by myself in one sitting. Safer not to keep sweets in the house at all.

“Ooh, I like peanut butter cups,” Caeden said .

Damn. That eagle-eyed kid was tall enough to spot my secret stash. “That’s not available for consumption.”

“Is it expired? Because I don’t mind.”

“I can’t stuff you full of expired candy and send you home to your families. What if you got sick?”

“I wouldn’t narc on you, I swear.”

Begrudgingly, I retrieved the bag of peanut butter cups. “No one’s allergic?”

Three heads shook.

“They’re better when you freeze them,” Scott said.

“By all means, stick yours in the freezer, and I’ll enjoy it later.”

Caeden unwrapped a peanut butter cup and shoved the whole thing in his mouth. “What can you do?”

I thought I misheard him due to the peanut butter cup wedged between his cheeks. “Excuse me?”

He chewed and swallowed. “What can you do? Alicia says you have magic powers, like Harry Potter.”

I glared at Alicia. “Um, not exactly.”

Ray gave me an apologetic look. “Sorry, Lorelei. She should know better.”

The boys exchanged knowing glances. “Told you she was lying,” Scott said. “Ten bucks.” He held out his hand to Alicia, palm up.

“Okay, look. She wasn’t lying.”

Scott’s hand dropped to his side. “You mean you do have magic powers?”

“It isn’t magic. Have you ever been to a psychic?”

They shook their heads.

“I’m sort of like a psychic. I can tell you what your worst nightmares are.”

Scott’s eyebrows bent with skepticism. “That’s just guessing. ”

“Not the way I do it.” I moved closer to him. “Can I touch your head?”

“Okay.”

I rested my hand on top of his head. An image rose up to greet me. A snarling Doberman stood at the end of a yard, blocking the only exit. Scott stood about ten feet away with a soccer ball tucked under his arm. Beads of sweat lined his forehead.

I withdrew my hand. “You’re terrified of your neighbor’s dog. You think it’s going to maul you to death.”

Caeden’s mouth formed a small ‘o.’ He looked at his friend. “Dude, she knows!”

Scott turned to Alicia. “Did you tell her ahead of time?”

“Tell her how? I didn’t know you were afraid of Rufus. He seems sweet.”

“He barks at me whenever I’m in my yard. I hate that. It makes me not want to be outside at my own house.”

“Do me again!” Scott insisted.

Caeden elbowed him. “No, my turn.”

Scott snorted at his friend. “I bet your worst nightmare involves the Muppets.”

Alicia smirked. “Please tell us if it’s the Muppets. I want to log this information away for future reference.”

I eyed her closely. “You’re not planning to extort money from anyone, are you?”

She shrugged. “A girl’s got to boost her college fund somehow.”

“Your parents are financially successful.”

“I won’t be embarrassed enough to be bribed,” Caeden said. “You can do mine.”

I touched his head. “You’re afraid of losing all your teeth.” I paused. “And returning to elementary school naked.”

Alicia choked back laughter .

I never considered myself a party trick, yet here I was. Better than being reviled and feared.

Maybe.

“What else can you do?” Scott asked.

“I can drive people crazy.”

Alicia rolled her eyes. “We know that already.”

“No, I mean literally insane. Plunge you into madness.”

Her whole face brightened. “That’s hardcore.”

“Which is why I don’t use it.”

“Still, it would come in handy in a dark alley, right?”

“I avoid dark alleys, and so should you.”

Caeden gazed at me in wonder. “Man, I wish I had a power like yours.”

“You don’t need her powers, dude. You can make three pointers,” Scott said.

Caeden fist bumped him. “Yeah, I can.”

“Is Grampa here?” Alicia asked.

“He is.”

She waved to the spot where I pointed. “I got an A on my math test.”

“Good job,” Ray and I said in unison.

“Can we see the balcony now?” Scott asked.

I gave them a tour of the house beginning with the balcony, which elicited excited chatter as well as a few physics questions I wasn’t equipped to answer. Then they marveled over the number of empty rooms and devised creative plans for each of them, none of which I would implement. I wasn’t interested in hosting horror movie nights for teens no matter how politely they asked.

“Sorry about that,” Ray said, once I shut the door behind the trio. “She shouldn’t be sharing your personal business.”

Three months ago, I would’ve been desperate to find a way to plug the leak, but I was a kinder, gentler, less paranoid Lorelei now .

“Let me make it up to you,” Ray continued. “How would you feel about having an actual library?”

“What do you mean?”

“Like the kids said, you have plenty of empty rooms. Why don’t I add shelves to one of them and use them to store books? I’m picturing those floor to ceiling shelves that require a rolling ladder.”

I gaped at him. “You want to build the Beast’s library.”

Ray hung his head. “That might be where I got the idea. Renee was a huge fan of Beauty and the Beast . She was an avid reader like Belle.”

“Can you make the shelves?” Ray had worked as a carpenter before he died.

“If you get me the materials, I sure can. It’ll take a while, but all I’ve got is time.”

“If that’s how you’d like to spend it, I won’t object. I bet Claude will help.” The revenant seemed to enjoy contributing to household chores.

Ray nodded. “A third hand would be useful.”

A tiny thrill zinged through me. My very own library. It would be ideal for the ghosts, too. They’d both been reading more books in the afterlife than they’d ever had time to read during their lives. Psychology, mythology, history, personal growth, thrillers, and suspense. If I wasn’t careful, I’d lose them to the stacks.

“Hailey will be disappointed when she learns I’m building my own. I think she looks forward to my visits.” Mainly as a distraction from the other patrons.

“A good public library is invaluable no matter how many books you have at home,” Ray said. “Besides, it’d be almost impossible to acquire the kind of collection that would completely eliminate your need for other sources.”

My phone vibrated. I pulled it from my back pocket and glanced at the screen .

“It must be His Highness, Kane Sullivan,” Ray said.

“What makes you so sure?”

“Because you only smile at the phone like a loon when he calls.”

Glowering at Ray, I answered the call. “Why, hello, Your Highness. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I have a situation. I’m pulling up to your house now.” He paused. “With a passenger.”

“Anyone I know?”

“I’ll explain in a minute. I only wanted to make sure you were decent before we rang the bell.”

“Define decent.”

“If you have an oversized, shapeless sweater featuring a kitten and a ball of yarn, consider throwing that on.”

I glanced down at my plain blue T-shirt with a hole at the hem. “I’m already dressed.”

“Good. Keep it that way. See you in a minute.”

I stared at the blank screen of the phone, perplexed.

I decided not to wait for the doorbell and ventured outside to meet Kane and my mystery guest. The moment Kane came into view, I forgot all about his companion. I only had eyes for the six-four demon whose angelic looks inspired a host of sinful thoughts.

He greeted me with a surprisingly lusty kiss on the lips that shot straight to my toes.

“Lorelei, I’d like you to meet Alessandro.”

The name rang a bell. “Oh, the new bartender.” The incubus with a backside like a plush mattress topper, according to Josephine Banks, Kane’s right hand and director of security.

One look at Alessandro and I understood how the species managed to survive. Lustrous dark hair. Darker eyes fringed with thick lashes that promised to love you until the end of time. His body was lean and ripped, with a sensual mouth that could tempt even the frostiest of uberbitches. Hell, I was head over heels in love with Kane, but I’d watch those lips recite the ingredient list off the back of a cereal box.

“Hello,” the incubus said. Nine out of ten dentists would agree that his smile was dazzling, and the tenth dentist was an idiot.

“Nice to meet you.” I steeled my mind as he reached for my hand and brushed those tempting lips against my skin. I was glad I made the effort because I had to suppress the rise of chills that the contact incited.

“I’ve heard so much about you. I feel like I know you already.”

I glanced at Kane. “Is that so?”

“Would you mind if we spoke inside?” Kane asked. “I’d rather not leave him standing on your front porch, for reasons that will become clear once I explain the reason for our visit.”

My interest was officially piqued.

“Kitchen?” I asked, as we filed into the house.

The demon prince steered us toward the parlor room. “In here is probably best. Fewer objects.”

Okay, now I was really curious. “What’s going on?”

Alessandro stopped short at the red leather sofa. “Wow. That’s the best-looking sofa I’ve ever seen. I feel like it was made for me.”

The most recent furniture acquisition had divided my critics. From his reaction, Alessandro was firmly on Team Sofa.

Kane scouted the room, as though examining it for hidden listening devices.

My hands moved to rest on my hips. “What’s going on?”

Alessandro planted himself in the middle cushion of the sofa. “I’m cursed. Mr. Sullivan thinks you might be able to help me. ”

“Me?” I shot a quizzical look at Kane, who ought to know better than to offer me up as a cure for what ails anybody.

“You’re very good at solving puzzles,” Kane said smoothly. “Which is what I consider Alessandro’s situation.”

“If I could undo curses, Otto would be able to drink blood, and maybe even see again, and Goran would be a handsome prince and not some Studio Ghibli frog splashing around Bone Lake.”

Both men stared at me, albeit for different reasons.

“Who’s Goran?” Kane asked.

“I love Miyazaki movies,” Alessandro declared. “Which one is your favorite? Mine is Howl’s Moving Castle .”

“ Spirited Away .” I pivoted to Kane. “Didn’t I tell you about Goran, the Slavic water spirit?”

“Must’ve slipped my mind.”

“I’m not a curse breaker, Alessandro. I’m a goddess of nightmares and ghosts.”

Alessandro’s dark eyes smoldered. “An actual goddess? That explains your radiating beauty.”

Kane placed a hand on his shoulder. “Down, boy. This one isn’t available to you.”

“But imagine the sexual energy of a goddess.”

Kane offered a half smile. “I don’t have to imagine it.”

“Down, boy,” I told the demon. “What’s the curse?”

“Bad luck,” Alessandro said. “Misfortune is my new companion.”

I leaned my shoulder against the mantel of the fireplace. “Any idea what’s causing it?”

Kane nudged him. “Show her the mark.”

“Oh, right. The day it started, I woke up with this mark on my chest.” He lifted up his shirt to reveal a symbol in black ink.

I tried not to ogle the sinewy lines of his sculpted torso and, instead, focused on the design. “It looks like a rune. ”

Kane nodded. “That’s what I said. Do you know which one?”

“Looks like a broomstick or a coat rack to me,” Alessandro remarked.

“I think it’s Fehu,” I said, “but I wouldn’t bet my life on it.”

“Fehu?” Alessandro queried.

“It’s Norse. F is the English equivalent.”

“Someone marked me with the letter F?” He looked down at his chest again. “I guess that’s appropriate.”

“Were you drunk the night before?” I asked.

The incubus grunted. “It isn’t a tattoo. I was home the night before. No booze.”

“Any company?” I asked.

A lazy smile unfurled. “One or two guests.”

“You don’t remember how many?”

He sank against the cushions in a dreamy daze. “Oh, I remember. Two. I was trying to be coy.”

“And the bad luck started that morning when you woke up?” I asked.

Alessandro nodded. “First, the mirror in my bathroom cracked when I looked to check my hair. Talk about the ego taking a hit.” He dragged a hand through his thick mane. “I had to find another mirror to make sure I hadn’t woken up ugly.”

I wondered how Goran must’ve felt the first time he’d glimpsed himself in the mirror after the Giver cursed him. Poor guy.

“Who were the guests?” I asked.

“I don’t remember their names.”

“Male? Female?”

“One of each.”

I glanced at Kane. “Local?”

“Not sure. He met them at the club and left with them afterward, so Josephine is trying to locate them on the video surveillance.”

“Does Josie know you’re asking for my help?”

Kane avoided my gaze. “Not as such.”

Alessandro grinned. “Cat fight?”

“Hardly. She doesn’t like me because she thinks I’m a danger to her boss.”

Alessandro leaned forward and stared at me from beneath the set of enviable lashes. “Are you?”

Kane pushed him back against the sofa. “Irrelevant.”

“Danger is great for heightening sexual pleasure, just FYI.” Alessandro looked between us. “It’s in my top five preferences.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said.

Kane arched a questioning eyebrow.

“What happened with your guests the night before?” I asked. “Anything out of the ordinary?”

“I mean, it was extraordinary, totally reinvigorated me, but I don’t see how that’s connected to what’s happening now.”

“I don’t either … yet. Do you know their species?”

“I didn’t pay attention. I was distracted by all the activity. Can you help me?” His dark eyes glimmered with hope.

“I’ll do what I can.” I looked at Kane. “I don’t want to step on Josie’s toes.”

“You won’t. Once she finds video evidence of the guests, I’ll turn that information over to you.”

“How much do I owe you?” Alessandro asked.

“Nothing. I’m not an investigator.”

His gaze swept the room. “Looks like you could use a little money to fix the place up. Seems a shame not to restore it to its former glory.”

I pointed to the wall. “I have a Klimt print. ”

Alessandro turned to look. “Oh, right. I’ve seen that one in a few sorority houses. It’s nice.”

My jaw clenched as Kane stifled a laugh.

“You don’t owe me any money,” I said. “I owe Kane a favor.”

“You do?” the demon asked.

“You’ve helped me on more than one occasion,” I reminded him. “This is the least I can do.” I took out my phone. “Do you mind if I take a photo of the rune for research purposes?”

Alessandro yanked up his shirt, appearing eager to show off his toned torso one more time.

I snapped a photo. “Thanks.”

“Alessandro, would you mind waiting for me outside? I’d like a quick word with Lorelei before we go.”

The incubus nodded. “No problem.” He tugged down his shirt and left the room.

I smiled once I heard the front door close. “Is that how you mark your territory, Your Highness?”

His face was pure innocence. “What do you mean?”

“First, you wanted me dressed like a kitten-loving hobo, then you greeted me with that enthusiastic kiss. You wanted to make it clear to Alessandro that I’m off limits.”

He rubbed his chin. “Isn’t it possible that I was simply incredibly glad to see you?”

“It’s possible.”

“Good.”

“And I’m definitely off limits, even without you peeing a circle around me.”

“You make it sound so romantic.” He snaked an arm around my waist and pulled me flush against him. “When’s our next date?”

“Next one? I don’t think we’ve officially had a first one.”

“Didn’t Magnarella’s gala count? ”

“No, that was work-related.”

“Then we should definitely have our first official date.” He nuzzled my neck. “Name the place. Anywhere at all.”

“Get a room,” Nana Pratt said with a groan.

“This is my house,” I reminded the pearl-clutching ghost. “You’re the one intruding on a private moment.”

“Fine. I’ll go, but you should know that picture is crooked.” She dissipated.

Kane tightened his hold on my waist. “Is the audience gone?”

“Not yet. We have a lurker.” I gave Ray a pointed look, prompting the ghost to disappear. “My place is definitely out for date night.”

“We could go into town. There’s a new Greek restaurant that’s getting rave reviews.” His lips migrated to my earlobe, flooding my body with pleasant shivers. “Or I could arrange something special for us at the club if privacy is more of a priority.”

I closed my eyes and immersed myself in the tingling sensations. “I vote for privacy.”

“Consider it done.” His warm breath on my neck only added to the heady feeling. Too bad Alessandro left. The incubus would be satiated by now.