Allison Brennan - Carnal Sin

“Hmm. Maybe.” Moira squirmed. She really didn’t care much for the whys and what-fors. She just wanted to stop the demon before anyone else died.

“And this is tied to Velocity?” Jackson asked.

“No doubt. We were at the club and I felt dark magic in the employee room. But it was Wendy Donovan’s locker where it was the strongest.”

Jackson couldn’t hide his surprise, and Moira added softly, “My skills have improved; I don’t make the same mistakes-”

He held up his hand to cut her off, and her heart skipped a beat. She wanted so badly to apologize for what happened with his daughter Courtney. Four years ago, she couldn’t face him for more than the few minutes it took to tell him she’d failed. To see the pain and shock and rage on his face. The accusation that she was to blame. She couldn’t beg for forgiveness then … and now he wouldn’t let her.

Jackson said, “Wendy Donovan is the high priestess of an all-female coven. Half the witches are employees at Velocity. She’s also part-owner and runs the place. Her co-manager, Julie Schroeder, is also high up in the coven.” He looked at them pointedly. “They’re an Azabet coven.”

Moira’s stomach flipped.

“What does that mean?” Rafe asked.

Moira said, “They have a devotion to a succubus. Once a year they sacrifice an unfaithful man to such a demon, who steals his soul, resulting in his death.”

“But there are three victims, not one,” Rafe said.

“Perhaps they’re working a more dangerous ritual,” Moira said. “But if it’s a succubus, maybe we’re wrong about the demon Lust.”

“It makes no sense,” Rafe said. “The marks on the bodies were made by one of the Seven-they are far too similar to the marks we saw in Santa Louisa.”

Moira stood and paced the small room. How could Jackson, or anyone, work in such tight quarters? “I don’t know!” she exclaimed, her aggravation leaking out. “I only know that a succubus is summoned by a coven and in exchange for whatever the witches ask for, the succubus is given a soul.”

“Then what happens?”

“The succubus goes back to Hell with a full stomach?” Moira threw her hands up. “Why do you think I know everything about demons? I’ve never called on a succubus, I’ve never-”

Rafe didn’t move, but he caught her eye and she felt foolish. She stared at the wall. It happened to hold a picture of Jackson with Courtney and his younger daughter, Caroline. She averted her eyes, her face red with embarrassment.

Rafe said slowly, “Maybe Wendy Donovan’s coven found a way to trap Lust, thus the marks on the bodies.”

“That would explain what’s happened,” Jackson said. “Who were the victims? Kent Galion and …?”

“A college student,” Rafe said. “Craig Monroe died in the alley behind the club. Moira witnessed his death imprint, saw a demon draw out his soul.”

Moira looked down, still not understanding what had happened in the alley.

“The third victim was a married man who died in his home after an apparent romantic interlude while his wife was out all night with her ex-husband, according to the police reports. He’d been at Velocity earlier that evening.”

Jackson said, “I have information about Wendy’s coven that I’m happy to share, but I must warn you that she is extremely dangerous.”

“Aren’t they all?” Moira said flippantly, glancing at Jackson.

“Perhaps. But Wendy is … ruthless. Perhaps borderline psychopathic. At any rate, her background may prove helpful.”

“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.”