Be My Banshee (Purple Door Detective Agency Book 1) (13 page)

“Yeah. You’re probably right. Aine might be able to take on one of them.”

“That’s difficult to say.”

“Well, thanks for your help.” She stood to leave, her insides quaking before she asked the next question. “Aine says the agency acts as a beacon to creatures like this. What do you think?”

“I think Aine is an ancient who knows far more than she will admit. Be wary, Miss Merryweather. There is definitely danger ahead.”

Sunshine thanked him again and left the dark office. She wished Aine had never made her think about Mr. Bad—who he was and why he was here in her building. Now she couldn’t stop thinking about it and wanting to ask him.  It could only lead to trouble.

“I got a hit on Amos Johnson,” Jane told her when she had left Mr. Bad’s office. “He’s been admitted to the hospital. His condition is critical.”

“Thanks,” Sunshine said. “I’m going there right away. I’ll call Lloyd as I go. When Aine gets back, send her there.”

“I will,” Jane promised. “Would it be okay if I take a few minutes for lunch? There’s still plenty of cereal and nuts.”

“Take whatever time you need,” Sunshine said. “Just answer the phone if it rings.”

“Okay.” Jane nibbled on the side of a pencil. “I will.”

“Not the pencil.”

“Sorry.” She put the pencil on the desk and went toward the kitchen.

Sunshine considered her aunt’s words about Jane’s life not being what nature intended. She knew it showed in her actions every day. She should’ve had a thousand mouse babies by now and none of the stress working in her office. She hadn’t given up on trying to reverse that spell. It had eluded her so far, but she was determined to take care of it.

In the meantime, Aine was observing O’Neill having lunch with his girlfriend. The artist lived in a high rise with a huge window overlooking the blue water. Elena Spiros was indeed very beautiful—with wide enough hips to imagine her bearing at least one or two children. She wore her long, black hair loose on her shoulders and gazed lovingly into O’Neill’s eyes.

“Here.” He smiled as he held a tender morsel of chicken near Elena’s brilliant red lips. “I know you must be hungry.”

She leaned forward and kissed him. “Only for you, my love. We don’t need food. It’s enough that we have the nectar of the gods—love.”

It was hard for Aine to listen to such tripe. She could not completely disappear as Sunshine could, but she could camouflage herself and blend in with any background. At that moment, she was standing against the ivory-colored wall behind O’Neill and his beloved.

The room was filled with Elena’s paintings. There were landscapes, portraits, even a nude study of O’Neill. Aine looked at it as well as the other drawings and paintings of him. The O’Neills were always a handsome lot with plenty of charm that they spread abundantly with the people in their family as well as those who knew them casually.

“Are you sure you can’t have some wine?” Elena didn’t wait for an answer before filling his glass.

“No. Only coffee for me. I have to be back on duty again in a few minutes.” He leaned close and kissed her. “But it’s been a wonderful lunch. We should do this more often.”

“Stay with me. Forget your job for once.” She wrapped her arms around him so tightly that Aine feared she might be about to choke him. “What is it that keeps you doing what you do? Why would you put yourself in danger that way?”

“Someone has to do it,” he said. “Why do you paint?”

“Because it expresses my soul.” She bit his ear and then licked it. “Stay with me. Let someone else discover who killed those people.”

“I don’t think my partner would like that, Elena.” He kissed her and then got to his feet from the blanket they’d shared on the floor. “Dinner tonight?”

She pouted. “Must I be a corpse to get any attention from you?”

“You get all my attention because you’re so alive.”

“I can’t have dinner tonight with you. The gallery called. They’re going to be exhibiting my paintings beginning next week. Can you come for that?”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can. I can’t wait to see the exhibit.”

Aine followed him out of the apartment. She was careful not to let him see her. It seemed earlier that he’d glimpsed Sunshine while she was spelled to be invisible. The O’Neills had never had the sight, but perhaps this one was different.

She got off the elevator with him. Shards of lightning were beginning to fragment the sky as rain started falling in large drops, the breeze bringing the smell of wet pavement to her nostrils.

Because she was so intent on following him without being seen, she almost didn’t realize it when she suddenly appeared before him in the courtyard. The space was empty except for them, set behind a large wood fence that separated them from the busy street.

“O’Neill.” Her voice was hoarse and deep. The gray cerements of her burial shroud surrounded her, fluttering in the strong breeze. She was the hag again and realized she was bringing him news which she hadn’t foreseen. “This is the first warning of your death.”

Chapter Fourteen

O’Neill took a quick step back from her gaunt face and dark eye sockets. “Aine?”

“You cannot outrun your doom, young O’Neill. Your death is at hand.”

The warning was ripped from her, torn from what soul remained in her. It had never happened this way—no warning to her at all—even though in the past she had been close with the other O’Neills whose deaths she had forewarned. This time it was as though her intentions were not her own. She had changed form again without wishing for it.

It was wrong, and yet she couldn’t control it. The first of three warnings had been issued. She wailed loudly, bemoaning O’Neill’s impending demise, as was her duty. He stared at her, unblinking, in his terror.

Aine didn’t bother to resume her middle-aged form clothed in black. She let the storm winds lift and carry her away from the spot in the pleasant courtyard. She was not human any longer after all, having been dead herself more years than she could remember. The storm carried her back to the red brick building with the purple door. Inside, she went to her room and collapsed on the floor in tears.

She wasn’t sure if she was more amazed at the death warning that had come over her without thought or knowledge—or if the tears that slid down her face were more astonishing. The last time she could remember crying was at the death of her infant son. She had been alive at that time, still the warrior Queen of Ulster. She’d hidden her tears from her army, lest they think her weak.

Why was she crying for O’Neill? How many of the family had she seen die? More than she could count, down through the centuries. This was why she’d been called here. This was why she’d awakened. Her job now was to give O’Neill two more warnings before his death. Then she would be there to comfort him as he died and escort his soul to the underworld.

Aine would be free of her curse at that time. The last O’Neill would be gone with no heir to carry on his bloodline. It was good. It was right. Her penance would be done. She would fall to dust, her life behind her.

There was a tiny knock at the door. “I’m sorry to bother you.” Jane’s voice was barely audible. “I saw you come in and wanted to be sure you were okay.”

The tremor in her tone made Aine realize what strength it took from this most pitiful creature to approach her this way. She forced herself to take on the middle-aged human form before she opened the door.

Jane was still a woman but barely holding on to that image. Her nose twitched and eyes bulged. Terror was written on every aspect of her countenance.

Because Aine respected the mouse’s courage, she was gentle with her. “I am as I have been. Go back to your duties. There is nothing you can do for me.”

“All right. I-I just wanted to check on you.”

Aine managed a smile. “You have the bravery of a lion, child. Warriors have trembled when they spoke to me and would not have done so if they were not forced. Carry it proudly.”

“Thanks.”

Jane crept away from the door. Aine went back into the room to stare at the city around her from the window. A short while later, Sunshine was there with a more insistent knock.

“Where were you?” She opened the door before Aine could answer. “I waited at the hospital for you.”

“I had matters of my own to settle.”

Sunshine sat on the bed. “What happened? Did you catch O’Neill with his lover or something?”

“I observed the two as they shared a repast.”

“Not sure what that is, but it doesn’t sound all that great. Are you in love with O’Neill? Before you answer, I know you’re not supposed to be. I’ve read everything I can find on
beane sidhes
. You don’t fall in love with the ones you serve. You just take them away when they’re dead. But this one is different, isn’t he?”

Aine remained at the window. “Once long ago, I did love one of the O’Neill men.” She thought about the miniature portrait. “I believe he loved me too. But it could only end in heartbreak. I am not a woman of flesh and blood any longer. When he died, and I left him in the underworld, a part of me stayed there with him. It made what came after harder to bear.”

“So you can fall in love with them, but it’s really stupid because you keep going. I get it. I’ve fallen for some normal humans too. We have to love where and when we can, Aine. We aren’t ordinary women. It will never be easy for us.”

“I had to announce O’Neill’s death to him today.”

“What? He’s dying?”

“At this time he is well and healthy. I can only assume his premature death comes from his investigation into this case or another. I cannot see into the future. It may be the harpy that takes his life.”

Sunshine bounded off the bed. “All the more reason we need to take out this creature. Between us it should be a snap. We’re as big and awesome as women can be.”

Aine thought about her conversation with Mr. Bad. “A harpy may be impossible for us to slay.”

“Maybe.” Sunshine repeated her words. “We’re strong together. We can take her. Did you warn O’Neill?”

“Of his death.”

“Did you mention how he might die? He could protect himself. There’s a big difference between getting shot by some punk in the street and being ripped apart by a harpy.”

“No. It is not my place to give him notions of how he might die.”

“Or what? You burst into flames? The earth swallows you?”

Aine held her hands tightly together. The witch was starting to anger her. She resisted changing form into the crone. “It is not allowed. There are rules.”

“And you gave him warning of his death. Does that mean he has to die? Have you ever warned one of the O’Neills and something changed so that he didn’t die?”

“Yes, but—”

“So there you go. We have to see him and tell him what we suspect. Maybe he could start wearing protective gear. At least he’d have a fighting chance. Or are you just happy it will be over when he dies?”

An immediate change came over Aine. The room around them shook with it. The force of her transformation shattered the mirrors and the glass in the window she’d been looking out of.

“Don’t you imagine I want to save him?” Her voice was like nothing human as it came from her skeletal form. “I would help if I could. Being with him is all that matters. There is nothing left for me when he dies.”

Aine didn’t realize until the rage left her that she was grasping Sunshine by her plump, white throat and shaking the breath from her. As she came back to herself, she released her, praying she hadn’t taken her life. Sunshine dropped to the carpet and dissolved into it. Puzzled, Aine pushed at the floor with her foot.

“Over here.” Sunshine whistled to draw her attention. “I told you I read all about the
beane sidhe
—including that they have a bad temper and little use for humans not in the family they serve.”

“You tricked me.”

“Sort of.” Sunshine grinned. “Better that than Jane running up here trying to get revenge because you killed me.”

The image of the mouse attempting to avenge the witch made Aine laugh. It hadn’t happened in so long that she choked on it, and her form changed to the young queen. Rosy-cheeked and pink of flesh, she continued to bubble with merriment.

“All right,” Sunshine said. “That’s gotta put you in a better mood.”

The laughter slowly died, but the young queen’s regal beauty remained. “It is forbidden for me to tell O’Neill how he might meet his death. To do so could mean he and I would both wander the earth forever without peace. I would not wish that for him.”

“But I’m not governed by those rules.” Sunshine stared deeply into her bright eyes. “I’ll tell him about the harpy. Let’s save him now instead of mourning him when he’s gone. We can kick this harpy out of our town. Don’t give up so soon.”

Aine had never felt as strong a bond as she did with this woman that she had only known a few days. She knew the pain behind the brilliant blue eyes that stared into hers. She could feel the strong magic in the witch.

Slowly she nodded as her form reverted to the middle-aged woman in black. “You are wise beyond your years, Sunshine Merryweather. Let us vanquish our foe and show no mercy. I swear my allegiance in this matter to our cause.”

“Awesome! Then let me tell you what I learned at the hospital as we look for O’Neill.”

Sunshine told Jane to take the rest of the day off as they headed out to the car.

“Lloyd met me at the hospital,” she told Aine. “We sneaked in to see Amos. He was barely alive. I haven’t had a chance to research harpies yet, but I saw the claw marks all over him. She nearly scratched him to pieces. Some man came into the alley where she was attacking him, and she flew away.”

“Flew away?”

“Yeah. That’s what I thought too. The big, bad harpy of ancient mythology just takes off if someone sees her at work. Does that sound right to you?”

“No. Harpies have no thought of self. They do what they are sent to do. She should have finished killing Amos and probably killed the man who interrupted her.”

“Why didn’t she?” Sunshine pondered. “This way she left Amos alive to tell people about her.”