Carnal Sin

“Do you know where she lives?” Moira asked.

“Yes.”

“That’s all I need.”

“I would be extremely cautious in handling Wendy,” Jackson said, concerned. “I’ve heard a lot about her, some of the stories almost unbelievable. She’s powerful and cruel.”

Rafe said, “It’s wise to be well prepared before acting. We should learn everything we can about her so we know how to handle the situation.”

“I don’t disagree, Rafe, but the longer we wait, the more power Wendy Donovan and her sister amass. If they really did find a way to trap the demon Lust-or if Lust is attracted to the coven because of their ties to the succubus-more people are going to get hurt.” Moira wanted so much to take them both down. Especially Nicole, who had stood by and watched Envy kill Father Philip.

“We’ll read the files and come up with a game plan, okay?”

She nodded reluctantly. People like Anthony and Jackson were researchers-she was a hunter. Yeah, she needed information, but more than that she needed to act. She hated being cooped up. She hated being in this tiny room.

Jackson said, “I’ll be right back. I only know a few of their hierarchy, but I’m confident that my information is sound. I have it in my safe.” He left the room.

Rafe said, “I told you it wouldn’t be as bad as you thought.”

“He has class. He’s being gracious. I don’t deserve it.”

“Moira, if you keep beating yourself up like this Fiona will know exactly how to get to you. After she used my memories of the mission against me, I’ve been working hard to accept what happened, accept my blame, and move on. I can’t be tortured like that again. I don’t know if I could survive it.”

“You would.” Moira began to reach for him, then dropped her hand, nervous.

“I don’t know that I’d want to. And you know you’ll be hard-pressed to survive another attack by Fiona if she can twist your pain and use it against you. She wants you dead, Moira. I don’t think she’s going to play around next time.”

Jackson stood in the doorway and frowned. “Are you in danger?”

“No more so than usual,” Moira said with a wry smile.

Rafe took the folder and sat back down on the couch, Moira next to him looking over his arm at Jackson’s orderly documentation.

Jackson said, “They use traditional spells with blood and hair to create potions. From what I’ve learned about Azabet covens in general, they offer up one of their members to serve as the demon’s vessel.”

“They ask to be possessed?” Rafe asked, incredulous.

“Crazy, I know,” Moira muttered. “Even Fiona wouldn’t risk giving up her control, no matter what it might gain her. But sacrificing someone else? No problem.”

Jackson continued. “The vessel is required to drink a potion, which marks her for the demon, and during the ritual the vessel is possessed for a specified time, usually twenty-four hours.”

Moira interjected, “Because the victim is already prone to stray, he’s easily seduced by the demon. After sex, the succubus steals his soul and his life, then leaves the vessel. But they have three victims racked up, and it doesn’t look like they’re slowing down.”

“Maybe she lost control of the demon,” Jackson suggested.

“What happens to the witch who was possessed?” Rafe asked.

“Sometimes she doesn’t remember anything,” Jackson replied. “She’s often physically injured-the demon uses the body in unnatural ways. The possessed can lose their mind. I’m only aware of three of these covens operating in the world right now; they aren’t common.”

Moira flipped through the folder. She stopped on a picture of a brunette who was all too familiar. “This is her! This is the vessel used to kill Craig Monroe.”

Jackson looked. “Nadine Anson. She’s been with Wendy since the beginning.”

“She’s one of them! We know the demon is in her right now-at least it was. We need to find her.”

“Her address is in there,” Jackson said. “I believe it’s near Velocity, where she works.”

“We need to find her and figure out what ritual they’re using to trap the demon,” Moira said.

Jackson said, “I’ll compile the rituals they may use to trap a succubus, but it’ll take me a few hours.”

“If they’ve trapped the demon Lust, is that going to help us?” Rafe asked.

Moira said, “It can’t hurt. We have to assume that they trapped the demon Lust either by accident or on purpose. The demon is using the coven for purposes we don’t know. Either way, covens are surprisingly traditional. While they experiment with new spells, when they find something that works, they stick with it.”

“Maybe they were experimenting,” Jackson said, “and that’s why this demon is killing more than one man.”

“You could be right. But first, we have to find Nadine. If the demon is still in her, we can at least contain it until we figure out what to do.”

They all stood, and Jackson said, “I’ll go through my notes, call a few experts, and hopefully have answers for you tonight.”

“The sooner the better,” Moira said.

“I understand the urgency,” Jackson said as he walked them to the door. Then he added, “I owe you an apology, Moira.”

She jerked her head around so fast she gave herself a pinch in the neck. “Excuse me?”

“I said some things to you four years ago that I’ve regretted. I should have written to you, I suppose, but I thought it would be better face-to-face, so you know I’m sincere. I expected our paths to cross long before this.”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Moira said softly.

“Four years ago, I turned to Philip as my last hope of saving Courtney. I put all my faith in you when he said if Courtney could be saved, you could do it. But I’d already lost my daughter. Not a day goes by that I don’t pray that she’ll come home, and I’ll welcome her. But it was her choice to leave, and good or bad, that’s what God gave us in the Garden of Eden: free will. For better or worse.” Jackson took her hands and squeezed. She swallowed uneasily. “But it wasn’t Courtney who was at risk,” he said, looking her in the eye. “She was already gone. It was Caroline you saved.”

Moira was confused. “But-I don’t understand. My arrogance sent Courtney away. I was so sure I could turn her away from black magic, but I said all the wrong things. Caroline was never practicing witchcraft. I tested her right when I arrived.”

“You did everything right, everything you could considering the circumstances. You said exactly the right things. What you didn’t know, what I didn’t know either until weeks later, is that Caroline had planned on going with Courtney that night. She was packed and heard everything you said in the church hall. It stopped her from making the same mistake Courtney did. I didn’t lose one daughter that night; I saved a daughter. If I had lost both of them …” He took a deep breath. “You convinced Caroline to turn away from magic. She’s in college now, majoring in psychology. I lashed out at you then because I only saw my loss; but sometimes, we don’t always see the effect we have on others. I didn’t see how my grief over their mother’s death affected my daughters, just like I didn’t see how my anger at Courtney’s decision turned her against me. You tried to save her, but you couldn’t because I’d already chased her away. But you did save Caroline, I believe with the help of God, and I owe you my deepest gratitude and sincerest apologies. I hope you accept them.”

Tears burned behind Moira’s eyelids. She wanted to argue with him; he hadn’t been there, he didn’t know how she’d messed up. But she hadn’t known that Caroline was there.

“Of course,” she whispered. “But I do take responsibility for my failures as well as my successes.”

“Which is why you are as strong as you are.”

“I think we have everything we need here.” She handed him the folder, but he shook his head.

“Keep it. Read it over carefully, and be extremely cautious. These people are devious.”

Jackson walked them to their truck. “Have you heard from Courtney?” Moira asked. “Or do you know where she is?”

“No, but I’m looking. She knows she can come home, but sometimes, we all need a reminder that God is a forgiving Father. More forgiving than I showed her before. I just want her safe, no strings attached.”