Demons of Bourbon Street

chapter 7

“Jonathon,” Lailah said, her voice thick with disdain. “To what does the wondrous state of Louisiana owe the pleasure? Here to

condemn us all to Hell again?”


“You know him?” I whispered.

Later, she scolded me through our connection.

I glanced in her direction, but her eyes stayed glued on Goodwin.

“Now, Lailah,” he drawled. His entire demeanor shifted as the tension and anger vanished from his face. Candlelight glowed around

him, bouncing off his sun-kissed bronze skin. “My only mission in life is to save souls. Looks like God has a new assignment for me.

”

“And who exactly do you think should be the unfortunate recipient of your attentions?” She raised her chin and crossed her arms

over her chest.

Reverend Goodwin kept his intense gaze trained on her as he moved across the circle. Lailah took a step back.

When he didn’t stop, she put her palm out, holding him at arm’s length. “That’s close enough.”

A flash of amused determination flickered in his energy. “We’ll see.”

The rest of the coven started to clump together, whispering quietly among themselves as Kane and Kat walked up behind me. Philip

moved off to the side, silently watching the exchange between Lailah and Goodwin.

I cleared my throat, ready to come to Lailah’s defense, but Kane wrapped an arm around me and shook his head. What did he

know that I didn’t?

“Your assignment?” Lailah persisted.

A slow grin spread over his perfect features. “You, of course.”

She scoffed. “Back off, Goodwin. I don’t need to be saved. If I did, you’d be the last person I’d ask for help.”

His grin vanished and his face hardened. “You’ve made that perfectly clear on previous occasions. Your refusal doesn’t change the

fact that you and your coven of magic abusers summoned me here. You know how this works. Everything for a reason. I’m sure my

orders will be waiting for me back at the hotel.”

Lailah’s thoughts burst into my mind as if a dam had broken. Egotistical, useless, good-for-nothing piece of angel turd. What did I

ever do to deserve this? How could I have ever thought he was my mate?

I stifled a gasp. Your mate?

Get out of my head, Jade! She turned her icy blue eyes on me, anger and frustration consuming every inch of her aura.

Sorry, I mouthed and pressed closer to Kane. Her mate? I’d recently learned angels really did have soul mates, and once found,

they were bound together for eternity. I glanced at Goodwin and shuddered. How awful to be connected with someone so…

dogmatic.

I think the words you’re looking for are ‘judgmental and intolerant.’

Now who’s in whose head? I pulled away from Kane and joined the uneasy members of my coven. We were all still a little wary since

battling a demon.

Joel, the young male witch Rosalee spoke with earlier, shifted from foot to foot, twisting his hands. I lightly touched his arm and

pushed a tiny bit of calm in his direction. It wasn’t an energy transfer. More like a suggestion.

Instantly he stopped fidgeting. Hmm, easily controlled, that one. I’d have to keep an eye on him in sticky situations. “Don’t worry. This

seems like personal business between the two of them. I’m certain Lailah’s soul isn’t in danger.”

“You sure?” Joel glanced in her direction, his worried eyes resembling a lost puppy.

Stifling the urge to pat him on the head, I nodded. An angel’s main job was to protect souls from danger. I’d been under the

impression their mission was human souls, but Lailah had been through a terrible ordeal. It wasn’t totally inconceivable an order

would come down from the angel council to protect one of their own.

“Then why are there three angels in New Orleans?” Joel clenched his hands into fists and narrowed his eyes as he stared at me.

“You’re not telling us something.”

The rest of the coven went silent with his accusation. Distrust pressed on me from all sides. I turned to Lucien, silently asking if he

knew what was going on.

He gave me the slightest head shake and stepped up next to me in a display of support.

Together we faced the witches. Though none of them were as powerful as either of us, combined they could do some damage.

Especially if their power was aimed at someone without any magical defenses.

Kane and Kat moved to stand beside me.

“Jade,” Rosalee said, her voice laced with a dangerous edge. “What exactly is going on here?”

“Please, everyone stay calm.” The coven’s unease ratcheted up, making it hard for me to breathe. My gaze found Rosalee’s. “I don’t

know,” I gasped out. “We already explained what we were doing. But the spell didn’t quite work as planned.”

Pain shuddered through my chest. I clutched my breast bone with one hand, wishing I had healing abilities that didn’t require

brewing a potion.

“Jade?” Kat’s hand rested on my shoulder. Her loving energy circled me, creating a thin shield from the coven. I could still sense

their hostility, but at least it wasn’t suffocating me anymore.

I placed my hand over hers and squeezed. My best friend always knew what I needed. Kane’s concern brushed against my psyche,

but he stayed still and silent. I appreciated that, knowing he would rush to my defense if I asked. This was my coven. My problem. A

white knight wasn’t going to help.

Standing straight with my shoulders back, I summoned as much poise and calm as I could muster. “I don’t know what caused this

sudden breach in trust, but rest assured I’m not hiding anything. We were only supposed to summon the image of any angels

nearby. It wasn’t our intention to transport them here. As witches, we’re taught all spells carry risk. The place, people, and intentions

of everyone involved matters when spell casting. Not everything is going to go right when we have so many variables within the

collective.”

I paused and met the eyes of each of the eleven suspicious members standing before me. “We are a coven. Trust matters. I trust

you. I trust Lucien. The question is, do you trust me?”

I held my breath. I’d only been their leader for ten days. In that time, they’d almost lost Bea, the beloved former coven leader, and

they’d been subjected to a demon from Hell. Thankfully we’d defeated the demon and saved both Bea and my mother, but we’d lost

Dan in the process. To have any chance of finding him, I’d need their help.

“No,” Alan said over the grumbling crowd.

“Not me,” someone else cried.

“Why should we?” Rosalee asked with defiance. “You’ve done nothing but cause us trouble.”

“Rosalee!” Lucien scolded. “You don’t believe that.”

Her eyes blazed from caramel to almost black as she advanced on us, her arms raised.

“Enough!” A loud boom sounded, and Philip appeared out of thin air right in front of me. A second ago he’d been across the

clearing.

Silence filled the night, each of the coven members gaping at the impressive transportation spell.

I glanced back at Lailah, still standing where I’d left her moments earlier. Goodwin stood beside her, eyeing the scene with mild

interest. Turning around, I gave Philip my full attention.

He stood, legs slightly apart with his hands resting on his hips. Power and authority streamed off him. “All of you, remove yourselves

from the circle.”

When no one moved, he barked, “Now.”

I couldn’t tell if he put magic behind the command or if he’d just startled them into action. Either way, they all marched out of the

circle, toward the giant oak trees. On the way, their normal chattering started back up, and I even heard some laughing.

What the hell?

“Want to explain?” I asked Philip.

He gestured toward the retreating coven. “Ask them.”

I shot him a look of disgust and jogged to catch up with Rosalee. “Hey, hold on a second.”

She stopped and waited.

“Talk to me. What was that about back there?”

Her brows pinched in confusion. “What was what?”

I frowned, searching her emotional energy for clues. No anger. No frustration. Only mild concern. For me.

“Are you feeling okay?” she asked, moving closer. “Do you need an energy pill? Magic sometimes drains me if I’m not careful.” She

started rummaging around in her designer purple handbag.

I put my hand on her arm to stop her. “Rosalee, I’m fine. Do you not remember what just happened?”

She tilted her head to the side, and a bit of worry clouded her eyes. “Did the spell not work?” She glanced past me. “Are those not

the angels you were looking for?” Before I could answer, she called to the other members. “Guys, hold up. Jade might still need our

help.”

“No, no. Don’t worry about it. Go on home or whatever your plans were.” I waved them off just as Lucien joined us. “Something’s not

right,” I said to him.

“I noticed.” He jerked his head back toward the circle. “Philip’s still not talking, and Goodwin’s hitting on Lailah. At least, I think that’s

what he’s doing. Doesn’t look like he’s getting very far.”

The Reverend Goodwin was following Lailah around as she picked up candles, talking nonstop. Her silence seemed to only egg

him on. On the other side of the circle, Kat appeared to be badgering Philip, no doubt about Dan. Kane stood next to her,

embodying the role of a protective older brother. Good. She’d be safe with Kane…unless Philip spelled him.

“Guys?” Rosalee asked. “I’m totally in the dark here.”

Right. “Can you just tell me what you think happened tonight?”

She frowned and straightened her spine. “What’s wrong?”

I raised my shoulders and hands in an ‘I don’t know’ motion. “That’s what I’m trying to find out.”

“Well.” She glanced toward the circle. “Lucien said the opening prayer. You recited the incantations, and then those two angels

showed up. Lailah seems to know both of them, but that makes sense since she’s an angel. After they appeared, you told us we

could go. End of story. Except for the fact the two guys are physically here when we only tried to summon their images. But things

happen, right?”

Lucien and I shared a wary glance. “Yeah, things happen,” I said.

She ran a hand over her dark hair and pushed her bangs to the side. “There’s more, isn’t there?”

I nodded. “Yeah, but we can talk about it at the next meeting. First I need to figure out exactly what happened.”

“You sure? I can stay and help if you want.” Her gaze drifted to her watch, but she shook her head, as if talking herself out of leaving.

“No, it’s fine. You go ahead.” I gave her a quick hug, truly appreciating the offer.

When I let go, she met my stare, her light brown eyes wide. “Call if you need anything.”

“I will. Thanks.” As she left, the image of her blackened eyes flashed through my mind. I’d only seen that particular effect two times

before. And both were caused by black magic. I grabbed Lucien’s sleeve and tugged. “Come on.”

Once we joined the remaining group, Goodwin sent me a look of contempt and said, “You’re back.”

“And you’re still here,” I snapped, wishing he’d go away. There was no way we’d be able to work together.

“Transportation is hard to come by in the middle of the night. My rental car is still in Baton Rouge. One of you—” he glanced at

Lailah, “—will need to drop me at the hotel.”

We both ignored him. I turned to Philip and crossed my arms, positive he was the cause of this mess. “They don’t remember

anything. I think you have some explaining to do.”

Lailah froze, a candle clutched in each hand.

“You seem to be making a habit of modifying people’s memories lately.” I sidestepped, putting myself between Philip and Kat. If he

tried anything, I didn’t want her on the receiving end.

Philip’s face hardened. “I don’t have that particular ability. Even if I did, I certainly wouldn’t use it.”

“But you did with me, last night,” Lailah spat. “Jade saw you when she did a tracking spell. You were the only other person there.

Then you showed up on my memory recovery. Twelve hours I lost.”

He turned in her direction, his eyes softening. “I was there, but that’s not why you don’t remember.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line.

“Why then?” I asked, breaking the silence.

“It’s the circle.” He gestured around the clearing. “It’s been compromised.”

“What?” I took an unconscious step backward, putting distance between me and the circle.

“It’s tainted. All spells performed here have the potential to do serious harm.” He stopped and turned back to me. “They can’t

remember because they were infected by the circle’s magic. It took over their conscious thoughts, with only one goal in mind.”

“And that would be?” A pit the size of a crater formed in my stomach.

“Destroy the one who tainted it.”

I stopped breathing and forced out, “Me?”

“Yes.” Compassion and no small amount of apprehension radiated from him. “Your magic tainted the circle. Your black magic.”