Chapter 24

When Kendra was out of earshot, Jared faced Adam. “You may have her fooled now, but I’m going to expose you for what you are. Then I’m going to send your demented ass to Hell.”

Adam grinned. “By the time you’ve so-called “exposed” me, Kendra will be mine, and she’ll see what a pathetic weakling you really are. Then it will be me sending your ass to Hell.”

As Adam turned away, Jared’s fist clenched, itching to slam into that arrogant face. The bastard would make a mistake, and Jared planned on being there when he did.

But now, he needed to find Kathleen.

He’d first met Kathleen when she’d come to work at the hotel. She soon let him know she was interested in him and ready and willing to have a good time. Still in turmoil over his mother’s death, he had taken comfort in her arms. They’d had a passionate six-month affair.

Then he’d met Kendra, and his life had changed. He’d gone back to college and broken it off with Kathleen. At first, she’d been pissed, and the animosity between her and Kendra hadn’t helped, but eventually she’d come to see he loved Kendra, and they’d been able to remain friends.

Now it seemed she may have gotten herself into something way over her head, and he would bet everything he had that Adam was involved. He’d attempted to use his mirror to find Kathleen but nothing had happened. The images were being blocked, and as hard as he’d tried he hadn’t been able to break the hold. Adam was the one witch he knew of with that kind of power.

As he entered the hotel, Kendra was telling her group about the nineteenth-century madam who wandered the halls knocking on doors. A plump middle-aged woman with short dark hair and skepticism written all over her face asked, “I also heard there are witches that live here. Is that supposed to be true as well?”

Kendra smiled. “There’re all kinds of unexplained happenings here in New Orleans. Some could be magic. It’s up to you to believe or not believe.”

“Well, I believe in both witches and ghosts,” a young guy wearing a Pat O’Brian’s T-shirt said. “In fact, I can feel the temperature dropping right now. Isn’t that supposed to mean there’s a ghost present?”

“I can feel it, too,” another woman said.

“Oh, God,” a teenage girl squealed. “Let’s get out of here.”

When the chandelier swayed back and forth, a balding man with a New Jersey accent demanded, “Barbara, give me the camera. We don’t want to miss this.”

Jared watched as Kendra’s smile wavered. They were right, it was freezing. What the hell was going on? Yes, the ghosts were there, but as far as he knew, they weren’t known to put on a show like this. Then he noticed the shock on Adam’s face, followed his line of vision, and silently cursed.

Angelique stood on the mezzanine, staring directly down at Adam, hatred blazing in her eyes.

Jared scanned the crowd to see if anyone else could see her and thanked the Gods when it seemed no one else did, including Kendra, who had her back to the mezzanine. Before he could decide what to do, Angelique spoke, each blistering word echoing throughout the room.

“Adam Montief, your dark soul is not welcome here. Leave my home and never return, or know my wrath.”

Jared cursed fluently in French when the prisms in the chandelier danced like castanets. But to his relief the only people who had heard Angelique were himself and Adam whose face had turned a sickly white. Jared smiled. Good, she was scaring the crap out of the bastard.

Some of the tour group, along with guests of the hotel, headed for the exit. Others snapped pictures of the chandelier while a few stood paralyzed, their mouths hanging open. Kendra caught Jared’s eye, the expression on her face a silent plea for help.

When his father entered the lobby, Jared wished he could join those leaving. Instead, he checked to see if Angelique was gone, sighed gratefully that she was, and went to meet his father.

“Jared, what in the hell is going on?” Jacques Dupre asked. “And why is it so damn cold in here?”

Deciding the truth would be worse than the lie, Jared said, “I’m not sure, but I think the air-conditioning must have turned on. I’ll get it checked.”

“It’s February. Why would the air-conditioning come on?’

Not allowing Jared to reply, his father continued. “Isn’t that Kendra?” Jacques pointed to where Kendra was trying to gather her group. “What is she doing?”

“It’s her haunted hotel tour. She told me you gave permission for her to use the Dupre.”

Jacques frowned. “Is she making this happen in order to entertain her group?”

“No, she has nothing to do with it.”

“Then I suggest you take charge and restore some semblance of decorum to this hotel.” Jacques turned on his heel and marched away.

Jared let out a long breath and met Kendra as she hurried across the lobby. “What in the world was that?” she asked. “Half my group are elated, some are heading for the bar, and the rest have disappeared.”

“Angelique decided to put on a show.” He looked over to where Adam had been standing, but he was gone. “Where did Adam go?”

Kendra waved away his question. “I haven’t the slightest idea. What do you mean Angelique? Was she here?”

“Yes, but no one saw her except me and Adam.”

Kendra frowned. “Thaddeus. Why him?”

“I don’t know, but I think she scared the hell out of him and that’s why he left.”

“Oh, for goodness sakes, I doubt that. I have to go finish the tour with those I have left.” She grinned. “Spectral New Orleans will probably get great reviews from this. I’ll call you later.”

Jared discreetly waved his hand. The chandelier stopped swaying, and the temperature in the room rose. The hotel employees were calming the guests, and things were as much in control as they were going to get. He wanted to find Angelique so he headed for his rooms.

Once upstairs, he grabbed his mirror and, trying to keep the irritation from his voice, said, “Angelique, I’d like to speak with you.” The mirror remained dark and he ground his teeth. “Please, I have something to talk to you about other than what just happened.”

The air around him crackled and she appeared.

“What was that man doing here?” she asked before Jared could speak.

“He was part of Kendra’s tour.”

“You will make sure he never enters this building again. Do you understand?”

Jared held up his hands. “Hey, I had nothing to do with that, but after your performance, I don’t think he’ll be back.”

Her eyes flashed. “My performance was minor compared to what will happen if I ever see him again.”

“Okay, okay, I understand. Now, I have a problem. A friend of mine is missing and my mirror is blocked. Can you help me?”

She frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“The mirror won’t show me where my friend is.”

“That’s impossible. No one can stop you from seeing.”

Jared shook his head. “There are times when Adam Montief can. He also has the ability to know when I’m watching him and project his own image to me. I have a feeling he’s involved with my friend’s disappearance, and that’s why he’s blocking me.”

Her eyes opened wide. “He has that much power?”

Jared nodded.

“This is Augustus’ doing. He’s helping the boy. We will see about this. He will not thwart me. Place the mirror on the desk.”

He did as she asked and she laid her hand on the glass and whispered, “Grandmère, once again I need your help.” The glass shimmered, then in a brilliant silver flash the spirit of the mulatto woman Jared had met on the street appeared.

Without preamble she asked, “What happen now?”

After Angelique explained, Taneen glared at Jared. “I tought you goin’ to take care of dat man.”

One dead ancestor was enough. Dealing with two of them was setting Jared’s teeth on edge. Annoyed at getting a scolding from a ghost, he snapped, “I stabbed the bastard and sent his ass over a cliff. What more could I have done? I can’t help it he survived. But he did, and now he’s here, and I think he’s involved with a friend of mine. So wasting time criticizing me isn’t going to help me find her or destroy Adam.”

“You gettin’ feisty wit me, boy, ain’t goin’ to help either.”

“Enough. Jared, I know none of this is your fault.” Angelique turned to Taneen. “Grandmère, are you ready?”

Taneen nodded and the women grasped hands, then placed their fingers from the other hand upon the mirror. Their faces were rigid in concentration. Tiny sparks of smoky black light danced within the glass. They chanted words Jared couldn’t understand, and the light gradually faded to gray, then to white.

They released their hands, and Angelique, her mouth set in a firm line, said, “Augustus tried to fight us, but the spell is broken. The mirror is yours to command.”

“Thanks,” Jared replied. “Will he be able to block it again?”

Taneen narrowed her eyes. “Dat son-of-a-serpent strong, but not as strong as us.”

“He may have a protective spell around himself that keeps you from seeing him, but nothing else should be hidden,” Angelique added before they disappeared.

Jared picked up the mirror. “Show me Kathleen.” The imaged that appeared revealed his worst fears. She lay stretched out on a stone slab, moonlight casting an eerie shadow across her battered face. Her bruised arms were crossed over her chest and her bloody hands folded. His stomach heaved and he swallowed back the bile rising in his throat.

“Where is she?” The image changed to show him a crumbling tomb, its iron door open. “Damn it, which cemetery?” he yelled. The sign for Lafayette No. 1 appeared and Jared took off.

****

Adam had to keep himself from running the entire way back to where he’d parked his car in front of Kendra’s. Breathing heavily, he wrenched the driver’s door open and flung himself in. With trembling hands, he started the engine and screeched away from the curb. He’d never experienced anything that unnerving, and he hoped never to again.

He’d become used to seeing Augustus’ face in the mirror, but to actually be confronted by an enraged Angelique made his skin crawl. He took deep breaths. He had to regain his self-control before he got home. He could never allow Augustus to detect any weakness in him.

Entering his apartment, the control he’d tried so hard to maintain shattered when he saw not just a face in a mirror, but Augustus standing in the middle of the floor.

Spears of light ricocheted off the walls as Augustus bellowed, “What have you done?”

Adam opened and closed his mouth before he was able to say, “Grandsire, I didn’t know you could materialize out of the mirror.”

“Because you were out with that O’Connell wench, I had to fight Angelique and that mulatto bitch alone. They have broken your spell on Dupre’s mirror and he’s probably on his way to the cemetery to find the LeBlanc girl.”

Desperate to hold onto his self-control while reassuring Augustus, Adam said, “Grandsire, there isn’t anything to worry about. No one will connect Kathleen’s death to me.”

“You had better hope not. Your inability to control your temper and your lust has now jeopardized your final goal. Once again, you have allowed your jealousy of Dupre to interfere with your task. You are here to destroy Dupre, not chase after his woman or kill unnecessarily.”

Adam’s shock upon seeing Augustus faded to anger. He was the one charged with killing Dupre, and by damn he’d take care of it when the time was right. As for Kendra, he wasn’t leaving New Orleans without her, and if the Powerful One didn’t like it, well, that was too bad.

With increased confidence, Adam waved his hand and a glass of scotch appeared. Taking a large gulp, he turned his back on Augustus and crossed the room to stand in front of the window. In a calm voice he said, “As for Dupre, I’m working on a plan. We’ll soon be rid of him.”

“You had better hurry. If the police connect you to the LeBlanc girl’s death, your time here will be over. I don’t need to tell you how displeased I will be if you have to leave New Orleans without completing your task.

Adam felt the air in the room grow warm and still and Augustus was gone. He took another swallow of his drink. He was telling the truth when he said he didn’t think he’d be connected to Kathleen’s death, but in case Dupre started sniffing around, he’d better finalize his plans. Kathleen’s energy strikes had lashed him, leaving ugly welts on his arms and chest that would take time even for him to heal entirely. Damn her. If she hadn’t fought him or tried to use magic against him, she’d still be alive. Subjects are to be subservient at all times. That was something he thought she understood.

He went to the table where his crystal ball sat. He’d see if Jared had found Kathleen’s body. “Where is Dupre?” The mist in the ball swirled, then nothing. Adam cursed. “Show me.” Again nothing. Fucking bastard must have doubled his privacy charm. Well, to hell with it. He’d hear soon enough if she was found.

He thought of Kendra. If it hadn’t been for that damn cat, he’d have had her beneath him, and she’d be one step closer to being his. It had taken everything he’d had not to kill the creature, but he knew that would have put an end to any chance he’d have with her. Now she’d be wondering why he’d left her at the hotel. The vehemence of Angelique’s hatred still made him shudder. He’d wait until morning to call Kendra. By then, if there was news of Kathleen, she’d know. He waved his hand and another drink appeared.

****

It was just before midnight when Jared and the head of the Wiccan Council, Woodrow Charbonneau, entered Lafayette No. 1. Using torch light and his mirror, Jared led the way around crumbling tombs deep into the heart of the cemetery. A pale woman in antebellum dress stopped, stared at them, smiled, then drifted away.

Woodrow shivered. “No matter how hard I try, I can’t get used to them. How Deanne and the girls go to visit with Marie Laveau is beyond me.”

Jared shrugged. “They do take some getting used to.” He glanced down at his mirror. “I think we go this way.” They rounded a corner and were stopped by a young man in a muddy World War One uniform, the left side of his chest a dark bloody cavern.

“I’m trying to find my brother. Have you seen him?” he asked.

“No, sorry, we haven’t,” Jared replied.

The soldier’s eyes filled with tears and he disappeared.

“For the love of Odin, let’s hurry and get out of here,” Woodrow said.

“It should be in the next row.” Jared stepped past the rusted iron gate and peered into the open tomb. The smell of damp and decay filled their nostrils as they crawled inside. Flaking mortar dust gathered along the walls, but the center of the floor where Kathleen lay had been swept clean.

At the sight of her body, angry red energy pulsated around Jared. “I know that demon bastard did this, Woodrow. I’m going to hunt him down and make him pay.”

Woodrow placed a hand on Jared’s shoulder. “Now son, I know how you feel about Adam, but we can’t accuse him without proof.” He held up his hand when Jared protested. “And I and the others on the Council plan on talking to him. I’ve already been in touch with the NOPD.”

Jared shrugged, knowing the NOPD preferred to let the governing coven handle crimes involving Wiccans or magic.

“First we need to get Kathleen home to her parents. They’ll want to begin making arrangements.”

Jared flicked his wrist and a blanket appeared. “I’ll carry her.”

“Wait a minute; I want photographs first.” They backed out of the low opening and Jared brushed the dust from his pants. Woodrow withdrew a camera from his pocket and snapped photos of Kathleen, the floor, the entrance, and the outside of the tomb. “All right, that should do. Let’s go.”

Jared gently levitated Kathleen’s still form from the tomb, carefully wrapped her in the blanket, and carried her toward the car, tears blurring his vision. He could tell by the little he could see of her body that she had put up a fight. You couldn’t use magic to kill, but you could cause serious damage. Jared was no healer, but if he had to guess, the wound to the side of Kathleen’s head was what caused her death.

Envisioning what Adam might do to Kendra sent uncontrollable hatred for the man searing through Jared’s veins. Determination blazed in his eyes. If it took all night, he’d make Kendra believe Adam was the monster he knew him to be.

“Do you know where Adam lives?” Woodrow asked.

Jared shook his head. “Kendra might. I’ll go see her after we’ve taken care of Kathleen.”

“Son, it’s after midnight.”

“I don’t care. It’s time for Kendra to learn exactly what her boyfriend Adam is capable of.”