Doc joined me. “Well? Are we all clear in here?”
I nodded. “I’m not picking up any signs. How about you?”
“I’d thought I might find Ottó waiting for us, but there’s nothing here besides someone else’s old memories. Is anything going on upstairs?”
I listened for the sound of the lidérc clomping around on its weird horse-like hooves. “It’s quiet up there right now, but I haven’t really focused enough to truly listen for it.”
He shined his light toward the hallway leading back to several small rooms, including what was left of a bathroom and kitchen. “Do you want to check out the other rooms in the back?”
“I suppose we better.”
He turned back to Cornelius, who was frowning at the floor while stroking his goatee. “We’re going to do a quick check to make sure we don’t have any company. You okay out here?”
“Sure. Oh, Violet, take this.” He held out a white candle that was about an inch and a half in diameter. “No, wait.” He pocketed the candle and pulled out a matching black one. “Use this one instead.”
“What’s this for?” I asked, taking the black candle and giving it to Doc to hold. “I have a flashlight.”
He pulled out his lucky lighter and handed it to me. “A black candle is used for protection, but only light it if you need it.”
“What’s the white one for?” I asked.
“Cleansing. It will purify the area.”
“Shouldn’t I use the white one then?”
“Are you going to be reaching out into the dark from the back rooms?”
“No.”
“Then you don’t need to purify anything. I’ll use it out here while I wait for you to return.” He held out the candle for me to light it. After I pocketed his lighter, he held the white candle in front of his face and gave me a spooky grin. “Try to make it back alive.”
“Not funny, Cornelius,” I said and pinched his arm through his coat harder than I meant to. “Oops,” I said in lieu of an apology. “I’m a little stressed tonight.”
He rubbed his arm. “You are unnaturally strong for a woman, Violet, especially when in killing mode. I fear for the Tall Medium.”
“Fear?” I glanced at Doc. I did, too, but I doubted it was for the same reason as Cornelius. “Why?”
“According to what I’ve read, submission during coitus is not easy for a strong woman who is used to being in control. True intimacy comes from learning how to surrender that control. You might want to experiment with allowing your mate to implement a rougher form of intercourse, which allows you to release your pent-up emotions and aggression in ways that don’t hurt the others around you.”
My cheeks caught on fire, or at least they felt like it right then. A gurgling sound came from my throat as I choked on a bundle of embarrassment and mortification.
Chuckling, Doc took my hand. “You’re a fountain of curiosities, Ghost Whisperer. I’ll tell you what. I’ll invest in some leather cuffs and a dominatrix getup for Violet so that she quits hurting you.”
“Excellent.” Cornelius set his white candle on the floor. “The world will be a safer place due to your efforts.”
I was still sputtering as Doc led me and my mace toward the hallway.
“Do you want a whip or a riding crop with your S&M getup?” he asked, grinning down at me. “I can’t wait to see you and those purple boots in a fake leather jumpsuit.”
I pinched the skin over his ribs almost as hard as I had Cornelius.
“I think Curion is onto something with this rough intercourse idea,” he joked, rubbing his side.
My face was no longer burning by the time we returned, but Doc was still grinning in spite of numerous pinching threats I’d given him during our search for potential trouble.
“You were right to worry,” Doc said to Cornelius, who was standing beside a circle of silver-colored rope on the floor next to the flickering white candle. A bouquet of dried weeds had been placed in the center of the circle. “Violet is full of pent-up emotions. I’ll be sure to take her in hand later.”
I elbowed him, making him grunt and laugh. I pointed at Cornelius’s white candle. “Did you purify the area?”
“Of course.” He grabbed my arm and led me into the center of the circle next to the bouquet. “This is your spot.”
I picked up the dried bouquet. It smelled almost moldy, but earthy. “What’s this?”
“Amaranth.” He left the circle. “It’s an extremely powerful protection herb.”
“Protects me from what in particular?” I held the smelly weed further away from me.
“Physical attacks.”
“Really?” Probably due to the smell.
“Yes. I’ve tested it myself in the past.” He switched out his furry Cossack hat for the Viking helmet. “Amaranth is a tricky herb to acquire, though. You have to extract the whole plant when the moon is full. Many who use it keep it under their clothes against their skin for protection.”
“So what do you want me to do with it?”
“Put it under your shirt, of course.”
I grimaced. “That’s going to be itchy.” And stinky.
He sat down at the edge of the circle, indicating for me to do the same. “Would you rather be itchy or dead?”
“Neither.” I sat down on the floor. The cold seeped through my jeans. I crossed my legs, tucking my purple boots under me. “But is this stuff going to work if the moon isn’t full tonight?”
“We’ll see.”
I would have liked more of a guarantee, dang it. “Can’t I just hold it in my lap?”
“Only if you want to die.”
Growling, I set my mace down next to me on the floor and unzipped my coat. “Are you going to weigh in on this at all?” I asked Doc, who stood on the other side of the circle from Cornelius.
“Sure.” He smiled down at me. “I’d be happy to stick it inside your shirt for you.”
I gave him a mock glare. “You need to focus on something other than what’s under my shirt.”
“I am.
