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“How dare you bring me here in the middle of the night?” I barked, rubbing my eyes as the wind whipped around me.
I had been fitfully sleeping, only to be rudely awoken when I landed in the ancestors realm.
Blinking, I stared at the ancient witches as they formed a circle in front of me. The clouds above that had previously been black were now a light grey, the breeze slightly stronger than the first time I had visited. Had killing Lucien righted the magic of the ley lines?
Once Paranormal MI5 had cleaned up Battersea power station, my mother had ordered me home to rest. Xvair Harvey was still missing, nowhere to be found. My mother’s team had taken over the job of scouting the house that had been transported to Battersea.
“Gemma,” the head witch muttered, her blonde hair fluttering in the breeze as she shifted the dress of her white gown. “You have gone a long way to securing the safety of the ley line. However, the whole time that Xvair Harvey is alive, there is a threat to our magic system. He is defying Mother Nature’s law.”
Brushing my hair back from my face, I stepped closer to them as they joined hands. Why were they excluding me from their circle? Why had they even called me to them?
A jolt went through me as I remembered their promise. The witches had decreed that once I had disconnected Lucien Harvey from the ley line, they would bring me back from the dead. Not that I was technically dead, the ley line was strong enough to prevent my body from dying.
“What are you saying?”
All four pairs of eyes glanced at me before they let their heads drop back to stare at the sky. A low chant came from their lips, the sound vibrating through my mind as I grasped my head. Were they keeping their promise?
“We’re sorry,” another of the witches said, her voice breaking away from the mantra. “We do not have enough power to bring you back yet. You must prevent Xvair Harvey from gaining a child to drain of magic. Once that is done, the veil between Hell and Earth will thicken. The true threat comes from the evil beneath us.”
Sighing, I tugged on my Harry Potter pyjama top. Dave had taken the piss when he had dropped me home after our encounter with Lucien. The illusionist witch had tricked me into believing that Lucien had exploded his head. I might have punched him once or twice for the sick way he had faked his own death. He could have done something a little less traumatic.
“So,” I said, glancing around at the fields that rolled away from us. “You’re moving the goalposts.”
The chanting stopped as they broke away from each other, turning to face me. Their hands clasped in front of them, grim expressions lining their pale faces.
The main witch stepped forward and offered her hand. “We were trying to show you that our power is not restored. You are connected to us. Every strand of magic that goes through us, now goes through you. Yes, you did defeat Lucien and it helped. However, as the evil of Hell bleeds into Mother Nature’s earth, she is unbalanced.”
Taking her hand, I squeezed, feeling the weakness of her power. Her skin was cold, when it should have been warm. My own skin erupted in goose bumps as I released her and stepped back.
“And you’re sure that if I get rid of Xvair Harvey, everything will return back to normal? You’ll be able to bring me back from the dead?”
Nodding slowly, all four ancestors stepped back in unison. Together, they opened their mouths, speaking as one. “We are the protectors of Mother Nature’s magic. The ley line is compromised, but if you can achieve this mission, we will restore the magic as well as your life.”
“Will you allow me to still use your power? We are running out of time.”
They glanced at one another before the head of the group raised a hand in the air. “Yes, Gemma Abbott, you may use our power to bring down Xvair Harvey once and for all.”
Before I could reply, wind whipped around me, throwing my hair into my eyes. The dark strands flicked my face, causing irritation. When the wind died down, I was laying in my bed, the sound of my phone blasting in my ear.
Groaning, I rolled over and snatched up the phone. My mother’s name flashed on the screen, but I hesitated to answer.
A knock on my bedroom door was followed by Dave’s terrible singing. Without waiting for me to call him in, Dave thrust into the room with a tray in his hand. His eyes studied the newly decorated bedroom.
My books were still my life, but I was getting older now. Sometimes, it was better to only have one room full of my favourite things. The living room was still jam packed with my book paraphernalia.
“Your mum has tried to contact you,” he muttered, placing the tray on the bed beside me.
Two slices of toast, thick with chocolate spread, rested beside a bowl of Coco Pops. Dave obviously knew that my chocolate addiction was as strong as ever.
Running his hand over my newly wallpapered reading alcove, Dave clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth, avoiding eye contact with me.
“The ancestors...”
Hushing me, Dave rushed over and almost bounced on the bed as he sat down. “Wait, why aren’t you back?”
Resisting the urge to push him off the bed, I took a mouthful of the toast and chewed slowly, smiling to myself when my colleague shook his head.
“The ley line is still in jeopardy. Lucien Harvey was causing major damage, but his father is the reason that the veil between Hell and Earth is so thin.”
Snatching the other half of my toast, Dave looked at the ceiling thoughtfully. “Don’t tell me.” Holding his finger to his temple, he closed his eyes tightly. “We have to find Xvair and kill him.”
“How did you know?” Rolling my eyes, I got up from the bed, reaching to take my top off before I realised what I was doing.
When I turned back to Dave, his eyes were glued to my bare stomach. Tugging my top down, I awkwardly laughed to myself as I grabbed my outfit for the day, ready to retreat from the room.
“Your mother wants to see you.” His gaze had dropped to the breakfast on the bed.
Taking a deep breath, I tried not to let my shoulders slump. “She’s not going to let me find Brianna. I have to combine the two if I want to save my friend and the Earth.”
Getting up from where he sat, Dave grabbed the tray and headed towards the door. “Well,” he said, flicking my hair as he walked past. “Before we can do anything, you need to get dressed.”
My phone started ringing again, the urgency clearly coming from my mother. Grabbing it, I pressed the button and greeted her with a grunt.
“Agent Gemma Abbott,” she said, rather officially. “You are requested to join me in my office within the hour.”
The harsh words were followed by beeping. Apparently, my mother had ordered me to the Paranormal MI5 building before hanging up the phone. Nice woman.
“Told you she wanted to see you,” Dave said, rushing out of the door before I could throw my phone at his head.
Not bothering to shower, I threw on my clothes and rushed through my morning routine. For my mother to call me by my official agent name meant that something was wrong. As soon as I had found out that Brianna had been kidnapped by Lucien, my gut instinct had told me to try and find her before anything else. Now that the ancestors had intervened, I would have to find a way to do both.
Tempted to flash to the building without Dave, I forced myself to stop just as his heavy footsteps came back up the stairs.
Meeting him at the bedroom door, I grabbed his hand and flashed us with the magic that the ancestors had kindly provided.
When we landed onto the pavement outside the building, Dave almost stumbled. He scowled at me, his firm chest rubbing against my ear as I steadied him. Taking a moment to compose himself, he tied his soft hair into a man bun, winking when I shook my head.
“I wonder what she wants,” he said, trotting ahead of me.
Dodging the pedestrians, I joined him as he went through the doors and into the old library.
A pang clenched my chest every time I walked into the historical building. If only I could have seen it in its former glory. My books were my life, but my life was suddenly very complex.
“Straight up to the top.” Dave indicated that I follow him to the elevator.
My skin tingled as I caught several pairs of eyes glancing at me, their stare intent as their gazes followed me across the foyer. I pulled on my leather jacket, trying to close it to cover the T-shirt that I had chosen. It read Please don’t ask me out, my book boyfriend might get jealous.
“Kate stayed at the scene last night to use her seer powers,” Dave said as we hustled into the lift. “She’s written what she found in a report, but the Harveys went back to hiding their actions with the blurry scenes. Kate did, however, mention that Archie Roberts could do with a visit. I happen to agree with her there.”
The doors pinged shut and the elevator started to rise. Running a hand through my hair, I tried to get it to look as if I had bothered to make an effort.
“I agree.”
Glancing at Dave, I froze as an overwhelming urge to hug him fizzled through my body. I managed to stop myself from reaching out, but he watched me, a frown on his face. Taking his arm, I linked mine through it.
“You’re pleased I’m not dead, aren’t you?” The tone of his voice was playful as he leant his head sideways and rested it on mine.
The intimacy made me close my eyes, unable to look at our reflection and see that we were sharing a moment. The tall illusionist witch agent had become far too important to me. I hadn’t realised until I had seen his head pop off of his body. It was a good job that he was a great illusionist, otherwise I would no longer have an agent partner.
Smiling at him, I nudged him in the ribs as I replied. “Who else would I-?”
“Marry? No one, I agree. Although, you did have a perfectly willing man just yesterday morning.”
Slapping his arm, I bit my lip as I tried not to laugh at his reference to Lucien.
Unfortunately, when he stood straight and did an impression of Lucien - by getting down on one knee - I couldn’t help but giggle.
When the doors slid open, my mother barked an incoherent request. She was standing in the corridor, her hands on her hips. Her disgust at our immature behaviour was obvious as she spun on her high heels and marched into her office.
“Oh dear,” Dave said, thrusting up to his feet. “The boss is not happy.”
Following my mother, I zipped up my leather jacket. Her anger was pulsating from her as we slunk into her office and stood in front of her desk. What was wrong with her? Why was she so mad at me?
“Did your team tell you the full details?” I asked as I went to sit.
Pointing at the chair as she took her own, she wagged her finger. “No sitting, you won’t be here long.”
Frowning, I glanced at Dave who swallowed hard and shrugged. It seemed my partner didn’t know what was going on either.
“Gemma,” my mother started, crossing her arms on the desk and taking a deep breath. “I have requested that you be taken off this case.”
Opening my mouth, I went to protest. She held up her hand, forcing me to be quiet as she shook her head and glared at me.
“No. You will not dictate to me. Your life is in danger and the reason that the other women were killed was because of you. If you think that Paranormal MI5 will allow you to work on a case against Xvair Harvey, you can think again.”
Forcing my jaw to lift from where it had dropped, I clenched my hands into fists. “We saved the woman that Lucien had kidnapped before he killed her. Why would you take me off the case now?”
Dave cleared his throat, shaking his head in warning as I went to step forward.
Pausing, I swallowed hard as I crossed my arms over my chest.
My mother sighed deeply as she took out a piece of paper from a file that lay on her desk.
“Ever since your father came home and told me that he had lost you in a bet, I have tried to protect you. By not telling you the whole truth, I put you in more danger. Xvair Harvey will not stop until you have a child by one of his sons. If I allow you to work on this case, it means that I’m risking my daughter. I cannot imagine what could happen if you come into close contact with him. I cannot allow it.”
Why would my mother suddenly gain a guilty conscience? For twenty five years she had pushed me into the idea of honouring my father’s debt. Now, she wanted me to do the opposite. If I was confused as a child, I was more confused as an adult. Why should I give up the fight that I had promised to win?
“What would you have me do?”
Licking her lips, my mother handed me the piece of paper. My gaze scanned it, reading the decree that announced that I should take a sabbatical for three months. Heat seared my insides as I resisted the urge to screw up the order and throw it in her face. I could see what she was doing. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, she was trying to protect me.
In a way, the freedom to find Brianna would be granted. However, if I wanted to be brought back from the dead, I had to find and kill Xvair Harvey myself. With or without my mother’s permission.
“You want me to sit around and do nothing?”
Dave took the paper off me and read the words, a frown coming to his face. “No disrespect,” he said to my mother. “But Gemma is a vital part of our investigation. I can protect her.”
Pushing up from her seat, my mother stared at me. “There will be no discussion on this matter. You mentioned to me briefly last night that you wanted to find your friend. I give you permission to do that, but you must stay away from the MI5’s investigation. I know you, Gemma.” Flicking her hair behind her shoulder, she held out her hand and gestured with her fingers. “I need your badge and gun.”
Fury raced through my veins, the heat of it burning my skin. How dare she dictate what I do? Surely, they couldn’t kick me off the case? This was my job. This was something that I had been doing my whole life. If I was no longer an agent, what would I be?
“Don’t glare at me like that.” My mother sneered. “Just give me your badge and gun. You are dismissed.”
My breath came short as Dave inspected his hands, his wary expression creasing his forehead as he avoided looking at either of us. Would the illusionist witch be able to handle the case without me? Jake and Kate would need to be directed every day. Would they agree to carry on the case without their leader?
“How can you do this to me? The ancestors want me to get rid of Xvair Harvey so the balance of magic can be restored. Me, Mother, no one else.”
Coming around the desk, my mother stomped her high heels into the carpet. Without waiting for me to reach for my badge, she grabbed the zip of my jacket and tugged it down.
My hand reached out to shove her, but Dave managed to get hold of me before I could.
Placing his arm across the top of my shoulders, he pulled me back and whispered in my ear. “Hand them over.”
Swallowing as a lump came to my throat, I reached into my pocket with one hand and into my holster with the other. Handing my mother the very items that made me an agent, left a bitter taste in my mouth. At least she could never take away my blade, that was my ancestral birth right. The Essex dagger could only ever be used by myself.
Taking my identity, my mother dropped her gaze to the floor before she straightened her spine and turned away. “I’m doing this for your own good. It’s time I protected my daughter.”
Keeping my mouth shut, I ripped away from Dave and stormed from the office, not bothering to give her any more of my time. If the witch thought that I would leave my team to tackle one of the hardest cases that Paranormal MI5 had ever seen, she had another thing coming.
“Gemma?” Dave called as we marched into the elevator.
Gripping his arm as the doors closed, I looked up into his eyes. He was about to speak, but when he saw how intently I watched him, he sucked his bottom lip into his mouth.
“Dave,” I whispered, keeping my hands on his arm. “Are you with me, or are you against me?”
The corner of his lip lifted into his cheek, creating a half grin. His handsome dark eyes twinkled as his jaw softened. Leaning closer, he traced his thumb down my cheek. I fought the urge to shudder as his touch left a tingle in its wake.
A grin spread over his face. “I told you, Gemma Abbott, I’m going to marry you one day, so of course I’m with you.”
