Demons of Bourbon Street (15 page)

Philip moved to stand beside me. “Guardian angels are usually kept secret.”

“
You didn’t seem to have a problem telling everyone you’re mine.” I glared at him, frustrated I couldn’t sense any of his emotions.

He shrugged. “They’re in danger. They had a right to know.”

One. Two. Three. I sucked in a breath and mentally finished counting to ten. It didn’t help. Through clenched teeth, I asked, “And Dan? Is he…I mean, since he’s gone, does that mean…?” I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.

“
He’s still assigned to me,” Lailah said with a huff of impatience. “I
am
capable of watching over more than one soul at a time. For the record, I’ve been assigned to Bea for about a year now. Long before Dan was put on my radar.”

I gaped at them. “But why?”

Bea placed a reassuring hand over mine and squeezed. “Because you were coming, dear.”

Chapter 10

Holy shit. What was I? Destruction central?

Well, so far, Lailah had been all but useless. I’d been the one to cure Bea when she’d compromised her life energy after banishing Roy to Hell. I’d also been the one to save her from Meri’s black magic.

What had Lailah done besides expose Pyper to a demented ghost, get Kane kidnapped into Purgatory, and poison Bea? Some angel she was. Hopefully Philip didn’t share her talent for fucking up.

Anger lashed out at me from across the room. I raised my eyes to Lailah’s slanted gaze.
You’re forgetting a few details
, she spat in my mind
. Like how without my help, Bea never would have been able to banish Roy, or how Kane would still be in Purgatory if I hadn’t brought him back. You’re far from perfect yourself, Jade.

Shame seized me. I’d forgotten she could hear my thoughts. And she was right. She was hardly to blame for all the crazy we’d been subjected to. I took a deep breath
. I’m sorry. Bad day. I’m not thinking rationally.

Obviously
. She turned her gaze from mine, a twinge of despair seeping through her anger.

Shit. I was a terrible person.

“
Jade.” Bea gently laid her hand on my arm.

I eyed the fingers pressing into my wrist, only looking up when she said my name again.

“
None of this is your fault,” she continued.

Shaking my head, I clamped my mouth shut. I didn’t want to argue with her, but it was clear if I hadn’t moved to New Orleans, none of this would be happening.

But if you hadn’t, your mother would still be missing
. This time it wasn’t Lailah intruding in my head. It was my own subconscious reminding me of at least one good thing that had come of all this.

My gaze traveled to Kane. Okay, two good things.

Bea shifted beside me. “White witches attract those who seek power. Considering your magical strength, it’s not a surprise you’d be at the center of such chaos.”

I gave Bea my full attention. “What about you? Why did Lailah only show up months before I appeared? You’re plenty powerful.”

Bea stifled a soft chuckle and cleared her throat. “I have lived a long life. Lailah isn’t the first angel to appear on my doorstep.”

“
I’m not?” Lailah perched forward on the loveseat.

Bea gave her assistant a small smile. “Like I said, I’ve got a lot of years behind me.”

Kane and Pyper were staring at Bea, no doubt just as curious as Lailah and I were about Bea’s past. But now wasn’t the time for memory lane.

“
Okay. So I attract trouble. I guess I’d better get used to putting out fires.” I sucked in a breath and steeled myself. “I need your help.”

“
I know.” Bea eyed the delicate watch on her wrist and stood. “Ian should be ready for us now.”

“
Ian?” Pyper glanced around, nervous energy coming off her in microbursts. “He’s here?”

Ian was Bea’s nephew, a semi-professional ghost hunter and Pyper’s current love interest. Last I’d heard, they’d been on a date or two. Since Dan had disappeared, I hadn’t exactly kept up with all the details. Judging by the anxious crinkle of Pyper’s eyes, maybe things weren’t going as well as I’d thought.

Bea plucked her elegant, cream-colored leather purse from a side table and shook her head. “No. He’s pulling some strings to get the crowds cleared from the circle.”

I leaned forward in my chair. “Why?”

Bea pulled her front door open. “It’s where we’re going to test Philip’s theory.”

Kane moved to stand behind me and rested his hands on my shoulders. “You mean, to see if Jade’s tainted with black magic?”

“
Exactly.” Bea took a few steps and called over her shoulder. “Hurry, now. We’ve only got a short window of time.”

***

I don’t even remember leaving Bea’s house or climbing in Kane’s car. Ten minutes later, I was sitting in a parking lot surrounded by yellow caution tape stamped with
production studios #13.

“
Someone’s filming a movie?” I asked as Kane grabbed my hand and pulled me from the car.

“
That’s what it looks like.”

Somehow we’d been admitted past the metal barriers holding back a small crowd. They held protest signs that read
Jesus hates magic
and chanted, “Banish the witches, remove the evil. Save the people of New Orleans.”

I rolled my eyes. Goodwin had certainly reached his target audience this morning.

Three production trucks were lined up together, blocking the path leading to the circle. A couple of workers with headphones milled around with clipboards.

One of them, a woman wearing a Saints ball cap, scanned the parking lot and then waved us toward an RV sitting off to the side. “Hurry,” she said. “You’ve got less than an hour.”

“
Wait!” Kat came running up behind us. “Ian called and said to meet here.”

Damn Ian. I’d hoped to keep Kat out of whatever we were going to be doing today. Her love for Dan made her too volatile. Given the chance, Kat wouldn’t hesitate to put herself on the front lines. Hell, it’s what I planned to do, and she knew it. No way to make her go home now.

Her running shoes barely made a sound on the cracked pavement as she caught up to us. She’d dressed the part at least. Jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt, and sensible shoes. I, on the other hand, hadn’t taken the time to plan decent footwear. The platform wedges I’d slipped my feet into had been right next to my bed. I hoped I wouldn’t have to do any running. My ankles would never survive.

Out of breath and red-faced, Kat fell in step with me as we followed Pyper and Kane. “That’s twice you haven’t called me,” she huffed out.

“
Sorry.” Guilt formed a small ball in my stomach. “After we saw the newscast this morning, everything happened so fast. I didn’t have any idea we’d end up here. Besides, Bea is only going to confirm or deny Philip’s claim.”

“
Only.” She stopped and turned serious eyes on me. “You think I don’t know how scary this is for you? Don’t even try to push me away like you usually do when crazy crap is going on. Because I’m having none of it.” I opened my mouth to defend my actions, but she shook her head and slipped a hand through the crook of my arm. We started walking again. “Nothing you can say will change my mind, so don’t bother. No matter what happens, I’ll be here.”

Her fierce determination kept me silent. I wanted more than anything to order Ian to take her home, but I knew none of them would leave.
I
wouldn’t. Why would they? Friends. Can’t force them to bend to your will. Well, I could…with the right spell. I shook my head and banished the thought.

“
Did Kane hurt his leg?” Kat asked.

“
No. I don’t think so.” I frowned, noticing a slight limp in his gait. “He said his thigh was stiff. Maybe he pulled a muscle.”

“
He should take one of Bea’s healing herbs.”

I let out a noncommittal grunt. I sort of felt the same way about enhanced healing herbs as I did about prescription drugs: only taken as a last resort.

Kane disappeared into the shadows of the old oak trees and a sudden familiar energy brushed my conscious. I clutched my chest, trying to stop the pounding of my heart. “Come on,” I whispered to Kat as I tugged her into the canopy.

My focus narrowed on the dirt path cluttered with patches of grass. Her long legs quickly outpaced mine and she disappeared into the circle clearing. I stopped in my tracks, alone in the middle of the oaks.

Each person’s energy was distinct, unique to them. If I knew someone well, I could sense the person anywhere.

Dan was with me in the trees.

I spun, lowering my barriers, trying to latch on to the fading thread I knew belonged to him.

“
Dan?” I whispered into the shadows.

“
Jade!” Kat called.

The sound of her voice broke my concentration, and Dan’s energy fled. I ignored her, running through the small clump of trees. If Dan was within half a mile, I’d find him. I sent my awareness out, but Kat’s worried impatience slammed into me.

Muttering a curse, I retraced my steps back in her direction, careful to keep an open eye. I sensed nothing but Kat and a faint trace of my friends already gathered near the circle. Had I imagined Dan’s signature? It was possible, but somehow I didn’t think so.

“
What are you doing?” Kat asked when I stepped into her sightline.

“
I thought I felt someone, but I could be wrong.”

“
Oh.” Mild concern crossed her features. “They’re waiting for you, but I’ll take a look around.”

I started to shake my head, not wanting her to wander around alone. Then I changed my mind. “Can you get Ian to help you? Two is better than one.”

She nodded and disappeared back into the clearing. I opened my senses and sent out a probe, still searching for Dan. Barely a thread of energy materialized. Too faint to identify, the tenuous connection was suddenly cut off as Kat and Ian neared.

Deciding not to get Kat’s hopes up, I stifled a sigh and said nothing. How could I have sensed Dan? I’d seen Meri take him to Hell with my own eyes. The whole damn coven had witnessed the scene. Even though Meri’s power had been compromised later, he wouldn’t have been able to escape Hell on his own. Could he? He
was
the son of an angel. Was he trying to reach me somehow? First the dreams and now this. Except I had no idea how to contact him. I made a note to ask Bea.

Kat returned with Ian at her side. His six foot, lean frame towered over her average height. He wore his signature all black jeans, T-shirt, and Converse shoes. Somehow that tiny bit of normalcy comforted me.