That Old Black Magic

“Eden destroyed that,” Darrak said. He leaned against the wall right next to the glass door surveying the small office space. “Her black magic made it go boom.”

“When was this?” Andy’s voice went a bit pitchy.

“Yesterday morning. Didn’t she mention that to you? Not surprised about that. She likes to keep things to herself.”

Andy’s brows knitted together. “I sense that you two aren’t exactly in a good mood. What’s the problem?”

“We’re fine,” Eden said, with a pointed look at Darrak. “Aren’t we?”

“Stellar.” He shrugged and focused on Andy, his expression now turning concerned. “Forget about us. How are you feeling right now?”

“Me?” Andy pointed at himself. “I’m fine. I feel fantastic, actually.”

“You would. Lycanthropy usually brings with it a renewed life force, kind of like a sip from the fountain of youth.”

Andy’s jaw tensed. “I hope this evening will prove to the two of you once and for all that you’re wrong about me.”

Even though his words were firm, there was now a sharp edge of worry that slid behind his eyes. They were close now. That had to be scary when he didn’t know what to expect.

“It’s going to be okay, really. The moment I sense that you’re changing”—Eden held up her hands at his immediate bristle—“if that happens, of course, Darrak and I will leave, and I’ll read the spell from out in the parking lot.” She glanced over her shoulder at the sunset. “We don’t have too long to wait.”

“Great.” Andy stood up and began to pace. “This just… it feels wrong. It’s not going to happen. I can make the choice not to be a werewolf.”

Darrak shrugged. “You can try.”

Andy walked to the glass door and then back to his desk. Twice. “I’ll be fine.”

He was keeping up a good front, but Eden knew him well enough by now to see it was all fake. He was scared. He hadn’t mentioned much about the attack, but it had been bad. He’d been bloody, torn up, and if he’d been attacked by a regular wolf, there was no doubt that he would have died from his horrible injuries. As it was, they healed up quickly, leaving him with no scars.

There was no doubt in Eden’s mind what was going to happen after the sun went down. All she could do was try to be here for him and contain the situation.

Control it.

She smiled wryly as that word flitted through her head. Everything could be controlled with the right amount of will. And a little bit of magic didn’t hurt.

After all, she’d controlled the Malleus situation. Last time she’d been face-to-face with Ben, his boss Oliver Gale, and his new witchy girlfriend Sandy, Eden had unleashed her black magic as self-protection. It had practically killed them, and at the time, she hadn’t cared if she had.

It was as disturbing as it was empowering. She might still look like a nice girl, but underneath… she knew she wasn’t. Not anymore. Eden didn’t want to hurt anyone, but if they tried to hurt her first, what choice did she have?

Just the thought scared her. She pressed her hand over her amulet, feeling the cold stone surface like ice over her heart.

She sensed Darrak watching her and she looked at him, surprised to see the concern in his gaze.

“You okay?”

She nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

Other than the flu still circling her like a vulture waiting to swoop in, and a tendency to latch onto black magic at the drop of a hat, she was fine. Sure she was.

She held his gaze. “I’m sorry about… well, I–I’m sorry, Darrak.”

He nodded. “Me, too.”

Well, that was a start. Just because they argued, or disagreed, or got angry with each other, didn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. It wasn’t like they could break up — not like normal couples could, anyway. They were bound together whether they were romantically involved or not.

She really would prefer to have a choice about that. But, much like who her mother was, fate hadn’t given Eden much of a choice in anything in her life.

So be it. She’d deal.

There was a jingle as the door opened, and Eden glanced over her shoulder.

Great, she thought. Speak of the devil.

Caroline Riley peeked her head in. “Hey there.”

“Hello,” Andy greeted her cheerily. “Come in. We’re about to close, but we have a couple minutes left.”

Caroline grinned. “Andy McCoy.” Her gaze slid down the front of him. “You’re still looking rather delicious, even after all this time.”

His eyebrows went up. “Why, thank you. I have to say that the feeling is utterly mutual.” He held out his hand. “And you are?”

She smiled and took his hand to squeeze it in hers. “Let me give you a clue. Vegas. New Year’s Eve, five years ago. Strip poker. You lost.”

He blinked. “But, I — uh. That was… I mean, I remember… vividly… but…”

Eden wanted to move this along. “Yeah, that’s my mother, Andy. She’s back from the grave and renting the body of a lingerie model.”

Caroline looked at her sharply. “Aspiring actress, actually.”

“Whatever you say.”

Andy gaped at her. “You’re kidding me. Caroline? Is that really you?”

“In the flesh.” She turned in a slow circle.

“Christ on a cracker!” Andy exclaimed. “You’re alive!”

Caroline grimaced. “Sort of. My original body is gone for good. I’m stuck on earth until I redeem myself. It’s proving to be a challenge. Apparently, I was more of a bad girl than I ever gave myself credit for.”

“But… but this is wonderful. Just wonderful!”

“I’m glad someone finally thinks so.”

Andy always had a thing for her mother. It had never really been discussed between them, but Eden was fairly certain there had been more than just a poker game during the fateful night when Andy had lost 49 percent of Triple-A to her, which she’d left in her will to Eden.

But strip poker? There were some things she really didn’t need to know.

For Andy it might have been love. For her mother — it had been yet another fling with a man who paid her some attention.

Frankly, Eden wanted better for Andy than that.

“Mom, what are you doing here?”

“I want to talk to you,” Caroline said, then flicked a disapproving glance at Darrak. “In private. Can you do that for me, honey? Five minutes of your time is all I’m asking for. Please.”

Eden looked at Darrak, who nodded.

“It’s okay,” he said. “Let her give you an earful about why you should have me exorcised at your earliest convenience. I’ll keep Andy company.”

“Five minutes,” she assured him. “Then I’ll be back and we’ll… you know… do what we have to do.”

“Sounds good.”

There was still a lot left unsaid between them. Later that night they would have a serious conversation and Eden would force herself to get into it. She’d tell Darrak why she wasn’t able to give her heart to him completely. He’d understand. He’d give her time to get comfortable with everything. After all, time together was one thing they could count on.

She looked at her mother. “I’ll buy you a quick coffee. Have your say. And then I’m really sorry but I have other important business to deal with.”

Caroline shook her head. “My daughter, always so serious. Must come from her father’s side.” At Eden’s