Chapter 51

The first thing I did when I woke up was call Anissa. ‘Hello?' she answered after a beat.

‘Hi, Anissa, it's Bunny. I have the spell to uncurse my dog.'

Her voice grew warmer. ‘That's great news. Are there other instructions – potions or anything?'

I hadn't looked at it, just shoved it in my pocket. ‘Hold on, I'll look.' I dug the folded piece of paper out of my pants and opened it. ‘No, it's an incantation as far as I can tell.' Mum's handwriting was neat and precise.

‘Oh.' Anissa sounded disappointed and my heart sank. That didn't bode well. ‘No matter. I'm not familiar with witch magic but I'm sure it'll be fine,' she said, once again upbeat. ‘Can you text it to me? I'll talk to the elders and prepare, then call you back with more details when I'm prepped.'

‘Thanks so much, Anissa. I'll text you a pic of it now. Talk to you soon.' We hung up. I made sure to take a good clear photo of the spell and texted it to her. ‘Fluffy, we're one step closer. I sent her the spell and now we wait. We'll have you de-cursed soon!' He wagged his tail so hard the entire bed shook.

I got up, slipped on my clothes and shoes and went out of my bedroom. The house felt odd, somehow empty. I looked in the kitchen diner, then in the lounge. Nothing out of place. I frowned and knocked on Mum's door but Arabella didn't bark. I opened the door and blinked in surprise: Mum's bags were gone, all seventy million of them, and she was gone too. So was Arabella who, I would now concede, wasn't as evil as I'd originally thought.

Mum had stripped and remade the bed. On the pillow there was a note; I gave a small smile at the Bunny written on the front.

My dearest Bunny,

I know I have apologised a lot for my past actions and I think I will be apologising forever for them. I am so sorry that I let you down so much. I've taken enough of your time and you deserve your space. I'll return to London post haste.

I'll guard your secrets forever.

Mum X

It was hard to say what I felt, but my primary emotion was relief that she'd gone home. She'd been a constant strain on my emotions and I was looking forward to having some space again. I felt bad that her month-long trip had been cut drastically short, especially given how I knew she felt about flying, but I also wondered if her retreat wasn't a little cowardly. Was she nervous about the werewolf that Fluffy would become?

I fed my animals and made myself some breakfast. When I felt ready, I took the animals and marched to work. We entered the Nomo's office in time to hear raised voices. Sidnee was sitting at her table, leaning towards the sound – the shouting was coming from Gunnar's office. I sat down and whispered, ‘What's going on?'

‘Mafu, Thomas and Calliope are in there with Gunnar. They're arguing about Liv.'

‘Where's her lawyer?'

Sidnee shook her head. ‘She refused one, said she wants an immediate ruling by the council. We're supposed to take her over to the council building in an hour.'

Even if Gunnar would like to see her locked up for a millennium, it almost certainly wouldn't happen because Liv had made herself indispensable to the town. ‘What do we need to do?' I asked.

She pointed to my chair. ‘Sit and help me get the paperwork ready, I'm only halfway done. Oh, and Payne's lawyer will be here Monday.'

I nodded. Posie's charges would have to be changed as well; I needed to drop the kidnapping, but we still had plenty on her. I'd need to get a few statements from the black-market vendors about the racketeering, but I was confident Laura could facilitate them if it meant that Posie would be locked up. Still, it all involved paperwork.

I blinked when I saw new animal beds lying next to my desk. ‘What this?' I said to Sidnee.

She grinned. ‘Connor dropped them by. He's so thoughtful.'

I sighed happily and settled Fluffy and Shadow down in their brand-new beds. April had left a few notes, but there was nothing too pressing. I turned on my new computer and loaded up the program I needed.

Calliope and the mayor strolled out of Gunnar's office ten minutes later. The mayor left looking steamed but Calliope stopped by my desk. ‘Hi, Calliope,' I said.

‘Bunny.'

I studied the powerful woman. ‘Any chance you'll tell me the next time the black market is in town?'

She smiled. ‘Maybe.' She sashayed out of the office without a backward glance.

Thomas came out, nodded at me and gave Sidnee a smile, which she instantly returned. ‘How's the paperwork going?' he asked casually.

‘Slowly,' she admitted.

‘You reckon it'll be done in an hour?'

‘It will be now Bunny's helping.'

‘Great. Well then, maybe after all this is over we could grab a coffee.'

Sidnee smiled again. ‘I'd like that.'

His eyes lit up. ‘Great. I'll see you later.'

I waited until he'd gone then looked at Sidnee. ‘You going there?' I asked, waggling my eyebrows. ‘He seems smitten.'

Sidnee blushed. ‘I think I'd like to,' she admitted. ‘I'm feeling a bit smitten myself.'

I was pleased; I liked Thomas and he'd be good for her. And only the thickest of mermaids would dare to mess with Sidnee if she was dating Thomas. He might be human but he was a council member and we all knew that he was deadly as hell.

We fell silent as we typed away at the mountain of forms.

‘Bunny, Sidnee, get back here,' Gunnar hollered.

We both jumped but scrambled to our feet. ‘You bellowed, boss?' Sidnee said cheekily.

I smiled at how quickly these little things had become part of my new norm: Gunnar's loud bark, which was surely worse than his bite, and Sidnee's inevitable response. I really did love everything about my job.

‘Bunny, go get the prisoner. Sidnee, have you done that paperwork?'

‘Yes, sir.' We both snapped out sloppy salutes then laughed.

Gunnar rolled his eyes. ‘Well, get to it.' He shooed us away.

I wasn't looking forward to seeing Liv; I'd be lucky if she didn't try to turn me into her personal vampire slave after I'd arrested her. I'd thought she was growing to like me until this –but she still scared the shit out of me. I grabbed the green cuffs and went in the back.

Someone must have brought Liv a change of clothes and her toiletries because she was made up, her hair was tied into tight bun and she was wearing an ivory dress with golden jewellery at her throat, neck and ears. I didn't even know we allowed those things in jail. I guessed she was getting special treatment.

She held out her hands and I cuffed her. ‘I thought we understood each other, Bunny,' she said, her tone heavy with disappointment.

‘I think we still do,' I shot back.

She smirked. ‘You may be right.'

The four of us walked to the council chambers at the mayor's office. Sidnee, Liv and I sat on the front row facing the paranormal council and Gunnar took his place with them. Everyone else was there – Connor, the mayor, Calliope, Stan and Thomas.

Once we were settled, the mayor stood up. ‘This informal hearing has been called by council member, Liv Fox. We are here to decide if this matter will be brought to trial. The charges are that Liv cursed two members of the community, including one of our council members, Stan Ahmaogak. It is suggested that both of the cursed would have died without the intervention of the Nomo's office and the medical team at the hospital. It is further alleged that Liv Fox knowingly sponsored the black market. Finally, it is alleged that she attempted to subvert the gems that are powering the barrier in such a way that the barrier would fail.'

He looked at everyone to make sure they understood the gravity of the charges then at Liv, who looked down. ‘Each council member will have ten minutes to state their piece. We'll start with Gunnar.'

Visibly upset, Gunnar got to his feet. For once Liv didn't look at him salaciously but stared down at her hands. I could almost believe that she felt remorse for her actions, but this was Liv we were talking about…

Gunnar's jaw was clenched and when he spoke it was a rumbling growl. ‘I vote that Liv Fox be tried for her crimes against this town and her fellow Portlockians.' He didn't elaborate: we all knew his wife was one of the cursed. Liv had also attacked Stan, Gunnar's de facto son. He would like to see her booted out of town at the very least.

Stan was next. I was surprised that he was allowed to vote given the clear conflict of interest. Liv looked resigned.

‘Although, I nearly died as a result of Liv's actions, I think this town needs her. Necromancers of her skill and moral fibre are rare. At the time of her actions she was under the influence of some powerful, malicious magic. I understand that she has been freed from the influence of that magic and is no longer a threat to this town. I vote to drop the charges.'

I was stunned – and so was Liv. He'd called her moral. Stan was far more mature than I'd given him credit for; a lot of people would have struggled to see past being cursed.

The mayor called Calliope to speak. Since she and Liv were often on opposite sides of an issue, I expected her to vote in the negative. ‘I agree with my learned colleague Mr Ahmaogak. Miss Fox's actions, though egregious, were under the influence of potent deadly magic. I vote to drop the charges.'

The mayor, Mafu, stood up as Calliope sat down. ‘I think that council members should be held to the highest standard. I vote that Liv be tried for her crimes, at which juncture she may be exonerated – but the town deserves a full trial.' He looked over at Thomas. ‘Patkotak?'

Thomas looked at Liv; he was a wild card and I had no idea how he'd vote. He took his place at the podium. ‘I don't think council members should be above the law.' He held Liv's gaze until she looked away. ‘But I've never seen anything as strong and perverse as those gems. It's a miracle Liv remained free of their influence for as long as she did. It is noteworthy that she was resisting them and still trying to help us even when she was under their influence. I don't think her actions under the gems' influence are indicative of her natural responses. I vote that the charges be dropped.' He sat down again.

It was three to two. Whatever Connor said at this point would either free Liv or tie the vote and automatically send her to trial.

Liv looked worried. Vampires disliked necromancers because they were the walking undead. She was an extremely powerful necromancer; she could play with vampires like they were puppets and she'd had no compunction in letting Connor and the other vampires know it. She enjoyed messing with him; it amused her to let us know she could control us with little effort. If anyone actively disliked her as well as Gunnar, it was Connor.

He was quiet for several beats. ‘God knows, Liv and I are tolerant of each other at best and I could easily condemn her for her actions. I'm of the opinion that the black market is a necessary evil and I believe it is better if it's under the control of the council; however, it should have been brought to the entire council.' He looked at Liv sternly, then let his gaze linger on Calliope. He knew that she was also involved somehow.

He continued, ‘But I was there when we broke the gems' hold over Liv, and again when we broke the curses and freed the possessed souls inside the gems. Although I believe that we councillors are beholden to the law, in this instance I cannot condemn her for actions beyond her control. I vote to drop the charges.'

Four to two: the council was going to free her with no charges. I wasn't sure how I felt about that.

Mafu stood up. ‘The council has spoken. Formal charges will be dropped. However, you will undertake community service at a date and period to be determined, and you will pay for the damage caused to the Nomo"s office.'

Gunnar leapt to his feet, outrage on his face. When he spoke to Liv, his voice was low and dangerous. ‘You may be a free woman but if you ever come near my wife again, I'll kill you myself.'

Everyone froze. The air was charged with static and he was glowing slightly as his magic amped up. The hairs not confined to my braid were standing up, as were Sidnee's. Thomas reached out and touched Gunnar's shoulder lightly. Gunnar shrugged him off but the static died down.

‘Don't look at me,' he snapped at Liv. ‘Don't come on to me. Don't call me if it isn't council business. If it is council business, call someone else. You and I? We're done.'

Liv was trying for a poker face but her eyes showed how miserable she felt. As Gunnar stalked off, she slumped into her chair as if she'd been punched in the gut. Maybe she'd learned one thing from all this: Gunnar may be nice, but he had a hard line and she'd crossed it.

Since she was now free, I carefully removed the cuffs from her wrists. She gathered what dignity she had left and stood with her head high. ‘Thank you for fixing the barrier,' I said. ‘I'm sorry I had to arrest you, but that's how I protect the town.'

She gave me a curt nod. ‘Given Gunnar's comments, I'll be dealing more with you in the future, Bunny. I'll do my best to move past the arrest.'

I smiled tightly. ‘And I'll do my best to move past you cursing my friends.'

She flinched but gave me another nod, then swept out. The dynamics had undoubtedly changed between us; the question was, for better or worse?