Ruby Shadows Read online

  “Familiar?” Addison’s eyebrows went up. “Where had you seen it or felt it or whatever it is you do, before?”

  “Unfortunately it was back when I was working on that spelled trap that Taylor gave me—you know, the one that was found on Victor’s land?”

  “The one that nearly bit his poor paw off!” Taylor said indignantly. “He’s still got a scar from that on his wrist. Are you telling me that the same magic that made that trap is what’s shielding Eryn right now?”

  “I’m afraid so.” I shifted uncomfortably on the leather sectional.

  “So you’re saying that your spell sent a sweet, innocent angel to him? To the man who was helping that bitch Celeste try to drain all of Taylor’s blood and powers?” Addison demanded.

  “I didn’t do it on purpose!” I exclaimed, jumping up and starting to pace across the expensive Persian rug. Everything in this house was expensive but Laish seemed to take it as a matter of course. Apparently though he had given up his status and standing in Hell, he’d retained quite a bit of wealth to keep us comfortable in the Mortal Realm.

  “Well it was your spell that sent her,” Addison pointed out.

  “I know, I know…” I ran a hand through my hair. “You know, I should have known it was Shadowlock. The Mirror of the Eye showed me him right after it showed me Eryn.”

  “You’re sure it was him?” Taylor asked. “I mean, you couldn’t have gotten a very good look at him that night—everything was such a mess.”

  “It was him all right,” I said grimly. “I’d know him anywhere—I couldn’t make out his face.”

  “I couldn’t either even though I was riding in a car not three feet from him part of the time after Celeste kidnapped me,” Taylor said. “How does he do that? Is it some kind of spell?”

  I nodded. “An obstruction spell. It’s usually used to keep someone from being able to read documents or books that are off limits. But I’ve never seen anyone use one on their face before.”

  “Why is he doing it?” Addison murmured. “What is he hiding?”

  “Maybe he’s a criminal who escaped from jail and doesn’t want to be caught and brought back?” Taylor guessed.

  “Or maybe he’s a well respected businessman and he doesn’t want anyone to know he’s a warlock on the side,” Addison said thoughtfully. “Whatever the reason, that poor little angel!”

  “She wasn’t that little, actually,” I said, remembering Eryn’s lush, plus-sized figure. “She was shaped kind of like an hourglass, a very full hourglass. Not very angelic—or not what we expect to be angelic, I mean. I always thought angels were supposed to be these slender, sexless creatures. But Eryn didn’t look like that at all.”

  “She doesn’t sound like the typical angel,” Taylor said. “But then again, who knows what the typical angel looks like? Well, I mean apart from you, Gwendolyn—since you’re with an ex-fallen angel.”

  “Eryn might not have been a skinny-minny but she was very pretty.” I sighed. “I just hoped Shadowlock isn’t abusing her in some way.”

  “I thought you said the spell was to protect the innocent,” Addison said. “Surely it wouldn’t send her to someone who would hurt or molest her? Would it?”

  “I hope not.” I couldn’t help the stirring of unease inside me. “I just wish it would have sent her to someone else—someone we know is a good guy.”

  “I don’t know.” Taylor sounded thoughtful. “How do we know he’s such a bad guy?”

  “Taylor, how can you say that?” Addison sounded shocked. “I mean, that jerk tried to kill you.”

  “No, Celeste tried to kill me. She just hired Shadowlock to help with the magic part of it,” Taylor said firmly. “And he really didn’t like her—he told her off to her face. I got the feeling it was just a business transaction to him—so maybe he’s not such a bad guy after all.”

  “You don’t understand,” I said in a low voice. “Witches and warlocks are both born with their powers. With witches, they manifest with puberty. But with warlocks…”

  “With warlocks what?” Addison urged.

  I sighed. “With warlocks, their powers are latent. And they stay that way until they do something to release them.”

  “And by something you mean…what?” Taylor looked apprehensive.

  I ran a hand through my hair.

  “They have to do a sacrifice, all right? A human sacrifice. Witches call it ‘killing the hornless goat.’ Without that, their power can never come out.”

  “Oh my…” Taylor put a hand to her mouth. “I remember him saying something like that when Celeste was talking about killing me—he said he’d killed the hornless goat more times than he could count. I didn’t get it then but now…”

  “Now we do.” Addison looked at me. “We already knew that he practiced dark magic. And on top of that he’s a murderer—probably many times over.”

  “Probably.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on. “Goddess, I just can’t understand why the spell would have sent Eryn to him.”

  “Maybe because she is in need of a very strong protector indeed.” Laish came into the room, carrying a tray with a bottle of expensive wine and some glasses, one of which was filled with juice for the pregnant Taylor. “Forgive me, mon ange,” he said as he handed around the glasses. “I hope you do not mind me intruding on your conversation.”

  “Not at all,” Addison answered for me, taking a glass of wine and smiling at him. “Anyone who comes bearing wine is all right in my book.”

  “And it was so thoughtful of you to remember I can only have juice.” Taylor smiled and took a sip of her OJ. “But what did you mean that Eryn needs a strong protector? I thought the demon who captured her and wanted her back—that Dru..Dri…”

  “Druaga,” I told her.

  “Right—the pig-headed one. I thought he was dead?” Taylor asked.

  Laish sighed. “He is. Unfortunately, certain events have come to light that make it clear he was not the only threat to the little angel’s safety.”

  “What? What do you mean?” I’d been about to take a sip of the wonderful smelling wine but now I put down my glass, disturbed. “I thought Eryn was safe now that she’s out of Hell.”

  “I wish I could say that she was.” Laish shook his head. “But I have been speaking to a contact in the Infernal Realm. Apparently, Druaga wasn’t holding Eryn for his own purposes. He had been contracted to capture and hold her for a much more powerful entity—a demon called Azaezal.”

  “Azaezal?” I frowned. “I don’t remember you mentioning him.”

  “That is because it is not wise to speak his name aloud in the Infernal Realm lest you wish him to appear and rend you limb from limb,” Laish said grimly. “Azaezal is the overlord of the Abyss. His power eclipses even my own—or the power I had before I gave it up to stay here in the Mortal Realm.”

  “That doesn’t sound good. At all.” Addison said, frowning.

  “It is not.” Laish frowned. “Azaezal is the strongest of Hell’s overlords, save Lucifer himself. He even has dominion over the Ancient Ones who live in the Abyss.” He looked at me seriously. “We were very lucky that he wasn’t there when we were closing the door you opened into his realm, mon ange.”

  “But what does he want with Eryn?” I asked. “I mean, she’s gone from Hell now—beyond his reach. Wouldn’t you think he’d just try to capture another angel?”

  “First of all, you must not assume that because Eryn is now in the Mortal Realm that she is beyond his reach,” Laish said, taking a sip of his own wine. “And secondly, if he wants Eryn, there must be something different about her—something special.”

  “But what?” Addison asked.

  Laish shrugged. “As to that, who can say? But it sounds to me as though Gwendolyn’s spell knew that the little angel would be in grave danger. It sent her to one of the only mortals in the world who might possibly be able to defend her from such a demonic threat.”

  “Will we ever f