Mortal Sin (56 page)

“You killed Richard.”

“Dammit!” He jumped up and closed the door. “This is a court of law. I’m the District Attorney.”

“Explain.”

“I didn’t know you had given the orders, otherwise I wouldn’t have touched him. But he lied to me, and—”

She put up her hand and Martin couldn’t speak. “What order do you speak of?”

He tried to talk, but his voice didn’t work. She snapped her fingers.

“Matthew,” he said. “Richard was being sneaky. I found the location of the blade, and Richard and I were supposed to retrieve it together. Then I get a call that someone had been killed. When I got there, the knife was gone and Sheriff McPherson was all over the case. I confronted him, and he denied it. At first I believed him, but a few days later, I grew suspicious because he wasn’t concerned about your wrath. I confronted him at his house and he tried to zap me with his pitiful magic. I forced him to his knees and hit him over the head. I didn’t mean to kill him, but I was so angry that he had betrayed us! Then I learned that it was Matthew who had the blade, and I thought you’d cut me out.”

“Matthew,” she murmured.

“After I left Richard’s house, I saw him. Put two and two together.”

“Where did you see Matthew?”

“At, um, Kimberly’s house.”

Kimberly. The head of the triad.

“When was the blade retrieved?”

“Two weeks ago—it was a Thursday.”

And Richard was killed on Friday—more than a week later.

That
traitor.
He wasn’t supposed to be in Santa Louisa all that time.

“After the fire and Father Isaac’s sacrifice, I realized that there was something bigger going on. Matthew asked me to find Juan and give him a notebook, which I did. Exactly as you ordered.”

But I didn’t order it!

Fiona almost lost her temper, but the hurt of betrayal had her sidelined. This time, it was a good thing.

“Where is the notebook?” She enunciated each word carefully.

“Skye McPherson has it,” Martin said. “I called Matthew and told him everything.”

He’d told Matthew. Matthew was giving orders without telling her.

“I just arrived,” she said through clenched teeth. “I had a matter to attend to in Anacortes. To make sure I have this straight, Father Isaac was sacrificed to the blade on Saturday night, correct?”

“Yes, and I made sure Matthew was able to get out of town. No one knows he was involved. There was a security tape, but I had one of my people in the sheriff’s office destroy it. Sheriff McPherson has been suspended, and everything is set for tonight.”

“Very good,” Fiona said, doing everything in her power to control her temper. She rose from her seat and looked down at Martin. “Your sister, Tiffany, made it back safely, correct?”

“She’s on her way,” he said eagerly. “She assured me she’d be here in time.”

“Good. She’s been
such
a strong and loyal sister to me.” Fiona would break her neck. She’d saved her on the island, untied her and given her strength, and yet she had planned to betray her all along. Would she have killed her if given the chance?

He nodded. “She is completely devoted, just like I am. We come from a long and illustrious line of magicians.”

“I know you do. I will see you tonight.”

She walked out of the office, out of the building, and down the street. She stopped at the corner. She waited for a man to stop at the light. The first one who did, she raised her hand and waved, then stepped over to the passenger door. “Would you be so kind as to give me a ride?” She waved her hand slightly. The easy spell gave her a headache, but she smiled. She’d made three sacrifices last night to ensure her looks held together for a while longer

But each sacrifice was more difficult and gave her less benefit.

“Of course, sweetheart.”

She smiled, though inwardly she wanted to break his neck. She was no one’s sweetheart.

Not even Matthew’s.

How could he do this to her? How could he dismiss thirty years of history? She had given him everything; she’d thought he had given her all.

They’d met during the ritual where she’d conceived Moira. She had nearly died, and he had taken care of her. She might have fallen in love with him then, but when he returned years later while she was in New Zealand, it was serendipitous. She’d conceived Serena during a week of passion with a man she barely knew, yet felt she’d known all her life.

Matthew had his own coven; Fiona had hers, so they didn’t spend much time together. But when they did, Fiona felt more alive. She would never tell him that because she needed to maintain control, but she craved him.

When Moira ran away, her traitorous daughter who had slowly been killing Fiona by refusing her fate, Matthew returned and promised to help Fiona force Moira to take her role between worlds. He knew, as did Fiona, that the promises she’d made on Moira’s conception must be fulfilled or Fiona would lose everything—her power, her beauty, her youth. For seven years they’d worked on finding an alternate solution because Moira was nowhere to be found.

A year ago he’d come to her with the answers. One of his most trusted members had found the
Conoscenza
and would infiltrate St. Michael’s Order to retrieve it. If they released the Seven Deadly Sins to complete a mission begun by Lucifer himself, they would be given the Tree of Life. Fiona’s promises to the Underworld would be erased as soon as she possessed the Tree of Life. She would have her power, but more importantly, eternal youth and beauty.

They’d combined their covens, two strong groups made stronger together. The result was better than she’d ever expected. Except for Raphael Cooper.

That man needed to die.

He’d interfered at the mission and they’d had to change strategies to open the portal to the Underworld by sacrificing one of their own. Then he’d fought them during his coma when they attempted to retrieve the spirit of Jeremiah Hatch, the only one who had the final spell. He refused to share until the ritual was complete, but because of Raphael Cooper, he’d died.

Everything that could go wrong had. Moira and Raphael, they interfered in everything. They had ruined Fiona. Weakened her. She used to be the leader, the Supreme Mother, the all-powerful witch who had united covens all over the world! She’d been powerful and strong and everyone—
everyone!—
bowed down to her.

Her firstborn had run and aligned herself with the enemy. And Raphael had thwarted her attempt to make amends for Moira’s betrayal.

Yet… Matthew and Serena. They’d been plotting against her all along. Hadn’t Matthew given her the information about the ritual that was supposed to have worked on Anacortes? But it didn’t! And Fiona had grown even weaker with the attempt.

The man she loved had tried to kill her, but didn’t have the courage to look her in the eye when he did it.

Her daughter… her sweet, good, second daughter… had been plotting with Matthew. Fiona had always wondered why Serena had the power to read the
Conoscenza
and not her, when she was the more powerful witch. Now the answer was clear. Serena had made her own promise, her own deal, and that promise had not included Fiona.

The selfish little bitch.

Matthew and Serena planned on completing the
Conoscenza
ritual without her. After talking to Martin and summoning a small demon, Fiona knew the truth. The Blade of Jezebel had already taken two pure souls—some drunk and then the priest—which meant Matthew had used it. Because Matthew had been in Santa Louisa during both sacrifices.

The third soul the blade took would give
him
the youth and beauty that was rightfully Fiona’s.

When they finished the ritual tonight, Matthew would be granted favor and Fiona would die.

She would die.

He planned all along to kill her. Matthew and her traitorous spawn he’d implanted in her, Serena. The daughter she thought she could trust.

She would prove to both of them that she had more power than either of them. She’d been more powerful when they’d first met, she would be more powerful after tonight. And they would be dead and suffering. She’d make sure of it.

“Hello? You okay?” the driver asked.

She’d almost forgotten she was in the passenger seat of this little sports car.

“Tired,” she said, and that wasn’t a lie.

“I asked where you’re headed.”

“Do you know where Good Shepherd Church is?”

“The church that had the gas leak? It’s no longer there.”

“That’s where I’d like to go, if you’d be so kind.”

“Um, sure.”

“And I have one more favor to ask.” She waved her hand and cast an easy compliance spell.

“Anything you need.”

She smiled.

Only your soul, sweetheart.

#

Moira was still sick. By the time they arrived in Santa Louisa, landing on a private airfield just outside of town, Moira began to fear her mother had done something more to her than she’d thought. She slept the entire flight, and when she woke up, she was dizzy.

There weren’t many places to wait for Skye to pick them up. Rafe picked Moira up and carried her to the lone bench next to the small, closed airstrip office. Rico followed. Phineas and Nikolas stood next to the plane, uncomfortable. As well they should be, Moira thought as she leaned against Rafe’s shoulder. The others had stayed in Anacortes with Glenn Younger and his wife. Though they probably needed the people to combat Matthew Walker and Serena’s plans, Rico didn’t trust them—except for Nikolas. All Rico had said in explanation for including Nikolas was, “He proven himself to my satisfaction.”

Which, for Rico, was not easy. But Moira concurred. Out of all of Phineas’s people, Nikolas was the only one who’d been suspicious of Adrienne. That told Moira that he had good instincts, and they needed those instincts now more than ever.

Rico sat down next to her and checked her temperature and pulse. “She lost a lot of blood,” he said. They both glanced at Phineas.

“I’m fine,” she said. “Just exhausted.”

“You slept for four hours on the plane,” Rafe said. “It’s more than exhaustion. I already called Rod to meet us at Skye’s.”

“I just need more food and water.” Though the thought of eating made her feel ill again.

Rafe inspected all her bandages again. “Just making sure nothing is infected.”

“Rico would have told you if I had a fever. He’s been poking at me too.”

Rafe didn’t smile. “Humor me,” he said.

She did. She was far too tired to argue. She had better get her energy level up before tonight.

She turned her head to Rico. “Do we know where Lily or Kyle are? Do we have any idea how to save them?”

“Anthony sent me a message that he believes he knows what they’re doing. He’s on his way from the mission now.”

Skye’s truck turned onto the short tarmac. Moira stood, but Rafe grabbed her. “Lean on me.”

“I have to get myself out of this funk.”

“Like you said, food and water. We have time.” He held her to his side, but let her walk instead of carrying her.

“Not much.”

Skye jumped out of the truck and gave Moira a once over. “You look like shit,” she said.

“Good to see you too, girlfriend.”

“Get in my cab. Your friends can ride in the back. Everyone is at the house. Including Jared and some kid from St. Michael’s.”

“Gideon,” Rafe said.

“Yeah. Gideon tracked Lily, don’t ask me how—he might be part bloodhound for all I know. She’d confronted Jared at the high school. Definitely not all there.”

“Did they restrain her?” Moira asked.

“She overpowered them and ran.”

“Ran?” Moira repeated. “What’s going on? That makes no sense.”

“What makes less sense is the call I got from the Acting Sheriff.”

“Acting Sheriff?” Moira said. She felt like a parrot. “I think I’ve been gone far too long.”

“Yeah. Well, Truxel was able to get the board of supervisors to remove me before I could get the proof that he killed Betrand. Fortunately, the Board appointed the most senior available deputy, and that’s Hank Santos.”

“What did he say?”

“He saw your mother leave the courthouse thirty minutes ago. Security cameras confirm it.”

“How did she beat us down here?” Moira asked.

“Maybe she has a fast broomstick,” Skye said, and Moira almost smiled.

#

Anthony put up the map on the wall with a perfect triangle and explained how he made the connection.

Moira looked around Skye’s small living room. Phineas and Nikolas standing off to one side. Gideon and Rico on the other side. Jared sat at the dining table behind them, and Skye was leaning forward, her butt barely resting on an armchair. Moira had happily taken the couch, and Rafe wouldn’t leave her side. She felt a million times better since Rod had checked her out and given her a vitamin shot. He’d informed her she likely had a vitamin and iron deficiency and needed to rest and eat. Eating she could do. Rest would have to come later. She didn’t like flying, and she really didn’t like small planes, so figured that’s what made her sick.

“Knowing this, I thought we could disrupt their ritual without them realizing it,” Anthony continued. “But I believe they’ve already been there.”

“Explain,” Rico said.

Anthony glanced at Moira. “I think Moira is better versed in this than I am.”

She was surprised he gave her the floor. She leaned forward and said, “Each of the points of the triangle were places where a supernatural death occurred. The priests at the mission, the cliffs where the Seven were released, and Rittenhouse Furniture.”

“What about Good Shepherd? Or Lloyd’s, the bar, where several people died after being infected by Wrath?” Skye asked.

“No one died at Good Shepherd,” Moira said. “And while I would have to inspect Lloyd’s to be certain, I doubt there was magic involved there. The other three sites each had a specific ritual, a cast circle, in place.”

“So it’s magic plus a breech into the Underworld,” Rico said.

“Exactly.” Moira stood. Rafe tried to pull her back down, but she walked over to the map. As she grew stronger, Rafe’s over-protectiveness was clouding her emotions. She couldn’t think clearly if she felt his worry for her.