Chapter 38

Anissa allowed me to leave two hours later. I'd had so much blood I was sloshing, but it had done its job. Whatever made a hybrid vampire tick was ticking away inside me and clearing the remnants of the curse from my system.

Connor stayed with me the whole time and I filled him in on everything that had happened, including the crazy-ass prophecy that might not be totally crazy. He wasn't thrilled at the idea that one day I'd be squaring off with the beast beyond the barrier, but then neither was I.

Once I was released from hospital, he drove me back to the office so I could find out how the search for Mum was going. The folding tables and new computer equipment had been set up and we had our own work stations again.

Fluffy bounded over to me and checked me out. I rubbed his head. ‘I'm fine, buddy. Newly uncursed and ready to go.' He barked. Shadow lifted his head from Sidnee's lap, looked at me with golden eyes then snuggled back down. Typical.

‘What's the news?' I asked Sidnee.

‘We've cleared a quarter of our search grid, but nothing yet. We have three more suspects to interview in the next hour.'

‘Did you call in the new gem witches?'

She nodded. ‘Yes, they came in. No red flags.'

I suppressed the urge to point out that we hadn't had any red flags on Elsa Wintersteen until after she'd gone super-villain on us. ‘What about the old gem witches?' Kostas, Vitus and Adelheid were still rumbling around Portlock.

‘I talked to them all,' Sidnee assured me. ‘Nothing stood out.'

‘And the black market? Has anyone been there?'

She shook her head. ‘It's gone.'

‘What do you mean gone?'

‘The market left Portlock and is on its way to the next supernatural town.'

‘How can that be? It was only here for a week?'

‘They only ever stay a week. It helps prevent them from being shut down.'

Fuck: that had been my back-up plan. I was sure someone at the market knew something about the curser; now I didn't even know what town it was heading to.

Laura had called Gunnar when Jeff was cursed so maybe my boss still had her number in his phone. I called him and he answered on the second ring. ‘Bunny, how are you?'

‘I'm fine,' I said briskly. ‘Do you have Laura's phone number?'

‘Laura?'

‘The lady from the black market.'

‘Oh, yeah. Hold on. Let me check my call log.' A pause. I could almost see him in my mind's eye thumbing through his phone looking for the number. ‘Got it.'

‘Send it to me, please.'

‘You got it.'

A few seconds later, a text pinged with the number; now to find out if she'd speak to me. I thought for a few seconds then sent a text: Laura, this is Bunny Barrington from Portlock. We helped with Jeff when he was cursed at the black market. I really need to speak to you – do you have a time I can call?

I stared at the screen as though that would make her text back faster. I got lucky for once, though, and she answered quickly. Sure, I'll call you later if that's okay. I don't know when I'll be free. I thanked her – but now I had nothing constructive to do.

When Mum and I had searched the black market, Laura hadn't been there – or we hadn't seen her – but she seemed to be in charge. If anyone knew who was demanding protection money, surely it was she. I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of it before.

There had been too many distractions: Mum, the cursings, my dog, the barrier. It was a miracle I remembered to eat and sleep – had I remembered? Other than the blood that Anissa had made me drink I couldn't remember when I'd last had food. Huh: maybe I was living off auras without even knowing it. That was a creepy thought.

I must have stopped moving again because Connor was suddenly at my side. ‘You should go home and rest,' he murmured as he pulled me into his arms.

‘I can't. Mum has limited time – I have to find her and I can't rest until I do.' If I didn't find her, the only remaining option was to hand over the gems in some sort of sting operation that would undoubtedly put the whole of Portlock in danger. Could I risk three thousand lives for my mother's?

I suddenly had an idea. ‘Did anyone check the building the black market was in? Maybe we'll find some sort of clue to the curser there.'

Sidnee's head popped up. ‘Um, no – because they'd left town and you never told us where it was. You said it was a warehouse by AML, but not which one.'

I hadn't? I shook my head. I was losing it. I searched my memory: nope, I wasn't because I could remember the location clearly. ‘Connor, Fluffy and I will go check. Are you all right here?' I asked her.

‘Yeah, go. I've got to keep this search going.' She went back to clicking on her new computer.

I turned to Connor. ‘You up for trying one more place?'

‘Wherever you need to go, I'm your man.'

I pulled him in for a fast kiss. He was my man, thank God. I grabbed my trusty black bag, and Fluffy's vest and lead. ‘Put your vest on, too,' Connor reminded me firmly.

I didn't have time to argue. I went to the bathroom, strapped it on and pulled my shirt over it, then we headed out. I was battling despair, fully aware that we were clutching at straws. I had to pray that I could be Rumpelstiltskin and turn them into gold.