Chapter 11

Our investigation took us through a maze of trees, houses, and enough red herrings to start a supernatural seafood market. And we eventually ended up in a library in the middle of the main town to gather more information. It was surprising to see an entire society in Glimmerford. It was like being in just about any small town around the world.

When we"d first reached civilization, I wanted to uncloak our group and ask about Olive. We'd been sent to Salem because she had vanished from her house. Somewhere along the way the mission had changed from searching for her to looking for whoever was behind this plot to take over the world. Although, my gut told me it was far more personal than that. This wasn't about wanting power. All the chaotic crap that we kept running up against was designed to distract. But for what purpose was anyone's guess.

Putting those questions aside, I"d abandoned my concern for Olive entirely when Esmerelda pointed her out. Olive had been in the middle of a ritual with a handful of other witches. We'd retreated to an abandoned alley and discussed how we should proceed. It was unanimous that confronting her wasn't worth the chance to learn more about who was behind everything. Olive wasn't as important as stopping her leader.

Lots of people were living in Glimmerford, proving part of what the other woman we'd faced had claimed. This witch had an army behind her. And every cult member appeared to have a role to play. A part in the witch's twisted theater. Learning as much as possible was the only way we would be able to unmask the real players. Hence, the reason we were huddled in the back of the small library.

"This place is insane," Todd muttered. "How are we not on Earth right now?" It was the same thing he'd been asking for the past couple of hours.

Stella patted her husband's arm. "You're doing it again. Magic takes some getting used to."

"Sorry. I can't get past this. Aside from the lack of electricity, it doesn't seem like a magical realm." Todd shook his head. "I'm not helping any. You should send me home."

Aidon narrowed his eyes at Todd. "If not for you suggesting we check out the library, we wouldn't be here."

I nodded in agreement. "And I think we might actually find something on these scrolls."

Todd's gaze flitted to the rolls of parchment we'd grabbed and taken to the back corner. We were away from the picture window and the clerk at the front desk. It had taken several heart-stopping seconds and a magical distraction spell to get all of us through the front door without being noticed.

"They're what caught my eye. I figured they could hold information since only those with an overinflated ego would write anything on them. Everyone else puts what they have to say in a book," Todd gestured to the tomes lining the shelves all around us.

"You're not wrong," Stella said before she frowned. Her gaze was fixed on an old scroll. "There has to be a pattern to their rituals. Something that will guide us to the leader and what they are doing."

I hummed as I sifted through the documents. "What if their ritual nights coincide with the phases of the moon? Or they could be tied to the seasons or the weather or the time of day." I snorted as my mind started spiraling through the millions of possibilities. To keep from falling down an endless rabbit hole, my snark came to the fore. "Or maybe it"s all about their favorite snacks. Cultists gotta have snacks, right?"

Aidon chuckled and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Someone's hungry. I"m not sure it's what they're tied to as much as uncovering the motives behind each ritual. That's where we"ll find the common thread."

I saluted him with a mock-serious expression. "Motives it is, Yahweh. But if we don't find something here, we need someone who has eyes on the inside. Someone to spill the magical beans."

Todd raised an eyebrow. "We need to interrogate Olive. She blatantly broke one of your sacred laws by allowing herself to be transported when and where mundies were able to witness it. That gives you leverage over her. Something you can threaten her with if she refuses to cooperate."

I gaped at Stella's husband while Aidon clapped him on the back. "I like the way you think. We will grab her after we finish here."

Todd's gaze flitted to the front of the library. "We could send some of us to follow her as she leaves that ritual. If not, it could be impossible to find her."

Murtagh tapped the side of his nose. "I've got her scent. I can find her."

"I forget you and Tseki have super sniffers. That must come in handy," Todd said.

Tuning them out, I refocused on the dusty scroll and continued reading under the dim glow of mystical candles. The name Order of Umbra caught my eye at the end of the page. My heartbeat quickened, and my hope surged.

I held my breath as I read the passage. There it was. The answer was hidden in the words on a dusty page. A mention of a connection to Eris, the mischievous goddess of discord. She was behind this. I knew that as certainly as I knew I loved Aidon with all my heart. Rereading her name, I scoffed at the irony. Of course, our little supernatural drama wouldn"t be complete without a goddess of discord tossing her golden apple into the mix.

I lifted the document like a dramatic actor, revealing a pivotal plot twist. "This is it. I know who is behind this. It seems as if that witch was serious when she said her goddess. It turns out we"re going to need to know how to convince Eris, the goddess of discord, to back down."

Stella looked up, her eyes narrowing as she took in the revelation. "The goddess Eris? Seriously, Phoebe?"

I shrugged theatrically. "Hey, don"t blame me. Blame the goddess of strife and her questionable taste in devious plans."

Aidon, who had been engrossed in a scroll, looked up with an odd expression. There was a flicker of something I couldn"t quite decipher. "Eris," he muttered, more to himself than to us. His demeanor was not right for him. He was surprised, distracted, and pissed. And that made my spidey senses start shrieking like an alarm bell.

"You okay?" I asked my mate.

He nodded his head but didn't say anything. He just sat there staring off at nothing. His face was a stony mask, and his mouth was compressed in a thin line. Stella shot me a questioning look, making me shrug in response.

I gave him a few minutes before finally saying, "Okay, Aidon, spill it." I was leaning against a shelf containing mystical artifacts with all the nonchalance I could muster while my insides were squirming like a woman in dire need of a bathroom. "You"re giving off weird vibes. What"s the deal with Eris?"

The hitch in Aidon's breath was the only indication he heard me. His gaze remained distant as if grappling with unseen forces. After what seemed like forever, he sucked in a breath, and he looked my way. "Eris is a force of unpredictability, Phoebe. She's devious and dark. She revels in creating discord everywhere she goes. I would know. I dated her eons ago."

My heart froze, and I couldn't breathe. He'd dated a powerful, gorgeous goddess. I'd known I wasn't his first girlfriend, so it shouldn't surprise me. But it hit me like a ton of bricks, taking out the ground beneath my feet. Suddenly, every insecurity I'd ever had hit me at once. And the ugly green monster reared its head. I was jealous!

Unaware of the turmoil I was going through. Or perhaps because of it, Stella asked, "How does this change our approach, Aidon? We need to know if Eris is trying to win you back or just enjoying the show from the VIP section."

Aidon"s response was cryptic, his words laced with a sense of foreboding. "Eris weaves webs of unpredictability. And she never does so without malicious intent. Our challenge is to navigate them without getting entangled."

"Why would Eris be involved in this?" I ran a hand over my stomach, keeping a neutral look on my face. Or trying to. I didn't want him to know how this was affecting me.

Aidon glanced up with a mix of curiosity and caution in his expression. "What makes you think she"s involved, anyway? Perhaps you're wrong. I've never known her to get involved with mortal matters."

My heart dropped to my feet hearing that. He and I didn't have the same lifespan. At least, we didn't think so. It was unclear if I'd gone through during the trip to the Underworld to save him had changed me or not. And then being mated to him might have extended my expectancy. However, we weren't certain and it wasn't something we talked about.

Clearing my throat, I dropped my gaze back to the scroll. "This scroll talks about the divine powers of Eris and how she will lead them to a position of power. Unless there's a VIP guest list, and Eris managed to snag herself an invite, she's behind this," I said, waving the dusty paper in the air. "Oh, and she's your ex! It's not a coincidence I was lured here."

Aidon"s jaw clenched, and his eye color flickered. It was a subtle sign that the mention of Eris had ruffled his metaphysical feathers. "Our relationship was over thousands of years ago. Sure, I've seen her since then, but it was nothing. I just can't see bothering herself with minor conflicts like ours. She"s more into the grand spectacles, the kind that shape civilizations and topple empires."

I frowned. "Forgive me for thinking our little escapade through Salem might be slightly important."

Esmerelda lifted a hand and said, "I found her mentioned on this scroll, too. She created this pocket realm and handed it over to her followers to secure and use as they saw fit."

The gnome cleared his throat. "She's mentioned in this one about teaching them a spell that allows them to teleport here."

Stella's eyes widened. "There's a spell to be able to travel to other places with magic?"

The gnome shook his head, his long, white beard swaying with the movement. "Not exactly. It only takes them to Glimmerford."

Aidon shook his head with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Eris thrives on chaos of cosmic proportions. Wars, revolutions, the whole Middle East situation. That"s more her style. She doesn"t concern herself with the nuances of minor magical disturbances. It doesn't get her off."

I flinched and fought back the burn of tears in my eyes. "Excuse me for not realizing our supernatural showdown doesn"t meet the goddess"s drama standards," I retorted, my sarcasm escalating. "It doesn't change the fact that she is mentioned in this scroll as someone important and worshipped."

Stella stared at Aidon. "Aidon, Phoebe has a point. If Eris is somehow involved, we need to understand why. Our little conflict might be more significant than we think."

Aidon sighed again. "Fine, let"s entertain the idea for a moment. But don"t get too carried away. Eris"s focus is on a grander scale. This is likely nothing more than a blip on her divine radar."

I scoffed. Hurt made my chest ache for some stupid reason. "Great, so we"re not even worth a proper blip. Just our luck."

Aidon reached for my hand, but I pulled it away. His face crumpled as he said, "It's not that you aren't worthy. I'm sharing what Eris is known to focus on. It has to be worth her effort, and she has an overinflated sense of herself."

Stella wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer to her. "Where does that leave us? What do we do now?"

Lifting my chin, I stuffed the hurt into a box and put the extra weight I was carrying on the lid to keep it contained. "We need to talk to one of the witches out there. If they are following Eris, they will give us confirmation. And then we head home. I'm exhausted and hungry. I can't stay here any longer." I turned to the side, getting to my hands and knees and then standing.

The babies rolled in my belly like they were gymnasts. Aidon was next to me and putting his hand over mine where it rested on my abdomen. His gaze searched mine. I refused to let him see the hurt and insecurities bothering me. I was being ridiculous. He'd given me no reason to be jealous or insecure, and I wouldn't burden him with my craziness.

His forehead furrowed, and he cupped my cheeks. "Are we okay?"

Emotion overwhelmed me, and all I could do was nod. He opened his mouth to say more, but I headed for the door. He silently twined his fingers with mine and kept pace with me. I noticed the difference in the feel of the pocket realm before I ever reached the door.

"Wait," Aidon said and raced ahead through the door. "Something isn't right. Let me check this out." Thank the gods, no one could see or hear us. They could see a door opening without anyone being near it, though.

Esmerelda moved closer to my mate and wrapped her arms around herself. The nymph and gnome looked as frightened. I concentrated on ensuring Aidon was hidden as he slipped out the door. His face became a mask of confusion as he turned our way and said, "There's no one here." His voice was muffled by the glass separating us, but I heard him clear enough.

So did Tseki and Murtagh because they were pushing out the door saying, "What the hell happened?" and "The streets were crowded when we went inside."

I swiveled to the office at the front and noticed the clerk who had been there when we walked in was gone. The rest of us filed out and stood in the middle of the street. "What the hell?" I muttered.

Stella clutched Todd's hand and asked, "How did they vanish like that?"

"Why are you surprised?" Todd asked. "They knew you were here. It makes sense after you cast that spell hiding us. Word likely traveled fast, and they fled a sinking ship. Unlike me, they understood the danger of having a god loose in their town."

"Can we get out of here now?" The nymph asked.

I looked to Aidon for his opinion. He lifted a shoulder. "We can look for any stragglers as we make our way to the grove where we arrived."

"Sounds good to me. Tseki, Murtagh, can you go ahead? I want one of you to search the side streets and the other to look for witches waiting to spring. I'll use my magic to look for enchantments that could trip us up," I said.

Tseki and Murtagh both dipped their heads and took off into the shadows while I led the way. I was too pissed about Aidon's ex-girlfriend to be worried about being out front. I'd fry any asshole that dared cross me.

"Can you cover the rear?" I asked Aidon when he stepped up beside me. The hurt look on his face made me want to take it back. I wasn't trying to be mean, but none of the other members of our eclectic group was capable.

Snagging his hand before he got away, I gave him a small smile. "Our group has grown like a magical mushroom patch after a rainstorm, but you're best suited to warn us if we're ambushed from behind."

He nodded and lowered his lips to mine. "I love you, Queenie. You're my everything. Never forget that," he said before he kissed me senseless.

I was flushed and breathless when he broke away. I watched his backside as he walked for a second before sighing and continuing. I caught Todd's smirk and rolled my eyes. Noting what was in his hand, I grinned at him. "I was just about to ask you to get your gun out. Esmerelda, you keep your eyes peeled to the left. Todd will handle the right. Warn us if you see movement. But don't shoot before ensuring it isn't Tseki or Murtagh first."

Todd nodded, and our little group moved swiftly. Each of us was eager to return to Earth. We hadn't gone five feet when I felt something powerful to our left. "Hold on. There's something in that park," I said, pointing in that direction.

Todd tilted his head to the side. "This is where that line of people were standing watch."

That made me increase my steps. Todd had been sure they were guarding something important. He'd told us the way they held themselves and were on alert was more than watching some play in the park.

My arm flew out, stopping everyone before they got any closer to the foreboding statue standing in the center of Glimmerford. It was a stone representation of a witch, her features twisted into an ominous grin. Stella and I exchanged a knowing glance, a shared suspicion that this statue was a focal point for the malevolent spell wreaking havoc in Salem.

"Let"s dismantle this source of mischief," Stella suggested in a voice brimming with determination.

Aidon, Todd, and the others formed a half-circle around us. Stella and I stepped forward with our hands joined. Drawing upon the mystical energies surrounding us, we channeled our magic into a collaborative spell. The air shimmered with ethereal hues as we wove incantations to break the spell anchored to the witch statue. It took several minutes, and I had to add some extra oomph when we encountered resistance. I was getting dangerously low on energy. It was a good thing we were going home to rest.

A radiant glow enveloped the statue, and the atmosphere crackled with the release of pent-up magical energy. As our incantations reached their zenith, Stella and I thrust our hands forward in unison as if guided by an unseen force. Power surged through us, directed at the witch statue.

In that pivotal moment, the statue trembled, its malevolent grin contorting into a twisted expression of agony. The spell, woven into its stone form, resisted the force of our combined magic. The very ground beneath us seemed to vibrate with the struggle between opposing enchantments.

Stella"s eyes met mine, determination burning in their depths. "Hold steady. We've got this."

I nodded, and we intensified our efforts. The magical energies, entwined and potent, wrapped around the witch statue like a torrential wind. The air crackled with an otherworldly symphony, resonating with the breaking point of the spell"s resistance. And then, with a resounding crescendo, the statue shattered into countless fragments.

A shockwave rippled through Glimmerford, dissipating the malevolent energies that had held the supernatural inhabitants of Salem captive. The shards of the statue scattered, falling to the ground like stardust.

"If this place isn't empty, we'll have visitors soon," Todd said with a shake of his head. "That was impressive, babe." He gave Stella a heated look and brought her to his chest and kissed her.

"Come on, love birds," I interrupted. "We need to keep moving."

Stella was blushing when she pulled away. The silence as we got underway again was eerie. Especially when you considered how loud it had been on our way through. Every noise had us jumping at shadows and Todd shooting the ground more than once. There had been a handful of spells that we easily dismantled. The witch cast them to protect her property well before that day, so they weren't aimed at us.

Murtagh rejoined us first. "I didn't go inside the houses, but I didn't pick up the sounds of anyone inside. If you want to do a more thorough search, we can. But I wasn't about to risk my ass with questionable witches."

"And we don't want you to," Stella agreed. "If anyone was left, we would have come across a booby trap by now."

When we reached the grove, Tseki was waiting for us. "Anything?" I asked him.

"I felt some enchantments, but nothing all that strong," he replied.

Todd clapped his hands together. "Okay, how do we get back?"

Stella and I shared a brief, panicked look before Esmerelda said, "They just need to open the way using the remnants of the spell they cast to bring us here. It's not as hard as getting here."

"I was just about to ask how we got back," I said and then looked at Stella. "Ready?"

Stella cracked her knuckles. "As I'll ever be."

With a chuckle, I concentrated on finding the threads of our previous spell. It didn't take long before we had the portal open, and we were back in the forest in Salem. Esmerelda waved to us and took off to return home right after the gnome and nymph did the same.

Aidon wrapped an arm around me as we headed back for the car parked near downtown. "Looks like that statue was the source of things. There's no one out here."

Todd lifted his wrist and smirked. "That's because it's the middle of the night here."

Aidon lifted one eyebrow. "Lots of paranormals are nocturnal. I will be worried if we don't encounter any."

Todd seemed on edge until we encountered shifters who knew Murtagh. Leaning close to Stella, Todd whispered, "They look like they"re right out of one of those fantasy books you love."

Stella chuckled and gave Todd a mischievous look. "Let's hope they don't find that offensive because they can hear you."

Todd went pale, and his hand drifted to the handle of his holstered gun. We encountered about a dozen paranormals until we came to a woman who was floating in the middle of a cemetery.

"That's a banshee," Aidon said. His comment drew the woman's gaze.

"If you're here to try and convince me to do your bidding, you can fuck right off," the banshee snarled.

Stella smiled serenely at her. "Oh, we would never do anything like that. My name is Stella, and this is my husband Todd. That's Phoebe and her mate, Aidon. And the handsome pair over there are Tseki and Murtagh. What can we call you?"

I wanted to tell Stella to leave cray-cray alone when the banshee's eyes snapped in my direction and stayed there. "I'm Siobhan. You're the one I was sent here for."

"What?" I blurted, at the same time, Aidon snarled and lunged for the banshee. I grabbed him, keeping him in place.

"Banshees predict death," Aidon ground out. "If she is here for you, it's because the Fates have planned for your imminent death. And I will not allow that. I can obliterate her before she opens her mouth." I had never seen this side of Aidon before. It was as dark as his father. I wanted to soothe him, but I couldn't.

My mind was too busy going over the ramifications of what he'd said. I was going to die. If it was soon, it would cost the lives of our babies, too. I didn't want to die. Fear made it difficult to breathe. I had too much to live for now.

Siobhan held up her hands. "No. You heard me wrong. I was brought here for her. I didn't come here." The way she emphasized those words made them seem important.

When Aidon"s power subsided, it was easier to keep my shit together. "Tell me everything."

Siobhan floated over to us. Her flowing silver hair shimmered like moonlight as she flew. "Let's walk. You never know when ears are around," she said. She told us how the Dark Fae conjured her and tried to force her to predict my death. Her refusal pissed them off. But thankfully, there is no way to force a banshee to do that. The relief at hearing I wasn't marked for death was immense and made my knees buckle. Aidon caught me and held me to him for several seconds.

"This place gives me the creeps," Siobhan said, breaking the silence. "And that"s saying something coming from a banshee." Her eyes, pools of sorrowful wisdom, surveyed the scene with an otherworldly intensity.

Happy to focus on anything other than my demise, I nodded in agreement. Creepy was an understatement. The building had become a dark fairytale gone wrong, and we were the ill-equipped heroes trying to rewrite the ending. The energy was familiar.

Gasping, I stared up at Aidon. "The cult of Umbra is tied to this place. Any brilliant ideas on how to tackle this problem here and now?"

Aidon sighed. "No. I"m open to suggestions. Unfortunately, "magically erase the cult" isn"t in my repertoire."

Siobhan interjected, "We could always try scaring them away. Banshee wails are quite effective."

Stella raised an eyebrow. "As tempting as that sounds, let"s focus on something a bit more strategic. We should regroup at the house with food for this conversation. We can come back here."

My stomach rumbled then, and fatigue made my eyes droop. "I have to have a break or I am going to pass out. Besides, these babies need some ice cream."

"I'd like to be part of this to get my vengeance," Siobhan said.

I looked to Aidon for his opinion and saw him nodding. He gave her directions, and we hurried to the car. The banshee was waiting for us when we arrived home. The couch called to me when we entered.

Aidon nudged me toward it. "Go. I'll get you something to eat."

"Thank you. You're the best," I told him. A smile lifted my mouth when he walked away happier. "Pudding and pickles, please," I called out.

Aidon turned to me with a horrified expression. "Anything you'd like."

Stella sank down next to me, and Siobhan floated to the floor in a cross-legged position. "Why was I brought here for you? Who did you piss off?"

I lifted my hands in the air. "I have no idea. I'm a nice person. But I have been hunted for my power."

Siobhan shook her head. "Even if I had come for you, they couldn't take your power. I can feel its tie to your family line."

"That's because Aidon's ex, Eris, is after her," Stella said.

Siobhan's form flickered. "Wow, okay."

"Can we focus on why that building was selected? We have no proof Eris is involved," Aidon said as he brought a tray with several choices on it.

Stella grabbed a piece of cheese. "This isn"t a random visit. There"s a purpose behind Eris choosing this place this time."

Aidon"s usual composure slipped just a fraction before he composed himself. "Chaos might be her forte, but there"s a method to it. We need to figure out what game she"s playing." I wanted to cry when he said that. It felt like he was defending her which made me worry he would want to go back to her. I was relieved that I was more important to him.

"Game? More like a diabolical chess match with the fate of my sanity as the prize," I muttered, half-joking but fully aware of the stakes.

Siobhan floated closer. "If Eris is drawn to conflict and thrives on it, we need to be prepared for the storm she brings."

"Prepared?" I chuckled as I thought about how we often went by the seats of our pants. "Our idea of preparation is bringing sarcasm and a dash of luck to the table."

"No matter what you bring, you win. And you guys do best without dictated plans," Aidon said. "We learn what we can and confront Eris and whatever she brings. No holding back."

I squeezed his hand. "Who knew saving one witch would be such a pain in the cauldron?" I muttered, and the group chuckled.

Just another day in the chaotic life of a supernatural detective, right?