The Catalyst of Corruption (The Final Formula Series, Book 4) (5 page)

“I needed a moment of reflection.” He turned toward Waylon and Rowan. “I heard you found the Hunters.”

“We found where they had been held,” Rowan said. “Your mausoleum.”

“Yes, the agents stationed there directed me here.”

I wondered how accurate that was. Had he asked, or had he been eavesdropping? With Ian, I would probably never know. He kept a lot to himself, yet for some reason, I had always trusted him. It had been my downfall once.

“We speculate that Gavin, being new to the area, had nowhere else to hide them,” I explained, then went on to tell him about finding the bodies of the thugs we had encountered once before, as well as the strange way they had died and the necromancy that had animated them.

Ian absorbed all of this in silence, walking over to study the nearest body.

“The necromancy is subtle. Over a month has passed since the animation.” He gave Doug a nod. “Good catch.”

Doug shrugged off his lab coat. “Thank you for the condescension.”

Ian gave him a smile and walked to the other side of the table, continuing to study the corpse.

“He's a necromancer, too?” Bruner asked.

“Yes.” Doug frowned as he watched Ian.

Ian didn't look up to see it.

“Do you think it was Neil?” I asked.

“We already ruled him out,” Doug said. “Remember, Neil couldn't touch his power a month ago.”

“I suspect Addie means, did Neil use his blood in an alchemical formula,” Ian said. “The answer is no. The necromancer who animated these men possessed no blood gift. Stunted or not, Neil has always had a blood gift.”

“You can sense that?” Doug waved a hand at the corpse. “Now?”

“Yes,” Ian simply answered.

“Was it Xander?” Rowan asked.

“I cannot discern the necromancer's identity, only his power.”

Doug crossed his arms, but he looked uncomfortable rather than angry. “Whoever it was is talented enough to command three corpses to work together to remove a sarcophagus lid.”

The lid had been leaning against the side of the sarcophagus. Not pulled off and slung aside.

“How much does that narrow the list of suspects?” Waylon asked.

“Quite a bit,” Doug said. “Maybe a few dozen within the city, and a couple more individuals in outlying areas.”

“That's better than hundreds, I guess.” Waylon didn't sound that happy.

“How about the way they died?” Bruner asked Ian. “Any ideas?” The guy seemed to have gotten over his resistance to asking the magical for help. Doug must have really made an impression.

“You mean physically?” Ian frowned at the body. “Dr. Nelson is much better versed at that than I am. In my day, we didn't bother looking much beyond the obvious.”

Bruner frowned, and I understood his confusion. In appearance, Doug and Ian looked the same age.

“All three men died of suffocation,” Doug said. “No toxin, alchemy, or physical trauma was found.”

“Curious.” Ian looked up. “You're saying they just stopped breathing? Last I checked, the mausoleum wasn't airtight.” He grinned.

Not that a lack of air would have bothered Ian. Though I suspected that he had spent a good bit of his confinement wandering the land of the dead.

Suddenly, I saw another possibility.

“Wait. What if these guys were pulled into a portal? Would it affect them like this?” I waved a hand at the nearest body.

“Yes, that's it!” Doug smiled, his grin so much like Ian's.

“What are you talking about?” Waylon asked.

“Our assailant pulled these men into the land of the dead,” I explained. “That's how they died.”

“Say what?” Bruner asked. “What is the land of the dead?”

“Show him,” I said to Ian.

“That would be pointless. He wouldn't be able to see it.”

“Oh. Right.” I was always forgetting that the non-magical couldn't see such things. Only the magical… and me.

“It's where the dead go,” Doug told him.

Bruner returned an incredulous stare. “As in heaven or hell?”

“No,” I spoke up. “I've been told that it's a transitional place between the mortal world and where we ultimately end up. Think of it as an alternate plane of reality.”

Bruner cleared his throat. “And you expect me to buy that?”

“It exists,” Rowan cut in. “And the living do not survive there long.”

“No oxygen?” Waylon asked.

“It drains away the life force,” Ian said. “That's why it is called the land of the dead. Only the dead can remain.”

“The life force?” Bruner looked like he was holding back a laugh. “And you missed that?” he asked Doug, sarcasm heavy in his tone.

“I've never examined a person left to expire in the land of the dead.”

“You're serious?” Bruner shook his head. “And just when I was starting to think you were a legitimate scientist.”

“Skepticism aside,” Waylon said, “what if there's something to this? How much does that narrow my list of suspects?”

“The only living necromancers in the area with that kind of power are Neil and Elysia,” Doug said. “At the time of these deaths, Neil didn't have the ability, and Elysia has never been taught how.”

“That's it?” Waylon asked. “Are you suggesting this is someone not from the area?”

“He said
living
necromancer,” I pointed out. “There's also Alexander.”

“Or one of his henchmen,” Doug said. “There was a badly decayed fellow he used to shuttle us around.”

“And there's Psyche,” I said. “Though she didn't seem mentally with it enough to do this.”

“You're forgetting one,” Rowan said.

I frowned, running my mind back over the list. “Who?”

“Me,” Ian said. A smile curled his lips as he met Rowan's gaze. “You will allow that I am mentally capable, and it was my tomb.”

Bruner mouthed the words
my tomb
.

“But you are forgetting something,” Ian continued. “These bodies were blood animated—as Doug will attest. I have none, and beyond that, why would I bother? I would open the sarcophagus the way I've always opened it.”

“Your cousins,” I said, referring to the other bodies buried in his mausoleum.

Ian nodded.

“You could also just remove the lid yourself,” Doug said.

“Truly?” Ian gestured at himself.

“I see your point,” Doug said. “The damage to the waistcoat would be irreparable.”

I started to laugh, then realized Doug was serious. What was it about Nelson men and their clothes?

“So, have we concluded…anything?” Waylon asked.

“No.” Rowan looked at his watch. “And I'm afraid we'll have to leave this mystery for another day. We have a birthday party to prepare for.”

“I'll go change.” Doug turned to Bruner. “I'll need you to let me in the locker room.”

Bruner nodded, still looking uncertain about all of this.

I watched them walk away, then glanced up at Rowan. “I would think Donovan would prefer a backyard BBQ and a game of horseshoes for his birthday, not a night at the opera.”

“My brother has hidden depths.” Rowan gave me that smirk that used to piss me off. “You're just upset that you have to dress up.”

“Horseshoes sound like a lot more fun.” I caught Ian trying not to laugh. “Ian can take Doug and me back to the lab. That'll save you time.”

Rowan glanced at Ian, then surprised me by nodding. “It'll give you more time to prepare. Era tells me I'm really going to like this dress.”

“You'd better not have influenced Donovan's choice of party location.”

Rowan laughed. “You think a lot of my powers of persuasion.”

I arched a brow, and he captured my chin in his hand. Not caring that we had an audience, he leaned down and kissed me. When he straightened, a faint ring of fire encircled his pupils.

“I'll pick you up at seven.” Rowan released me, then he and Waylon left.

I faced Ian. We were now the only ones in the room.

Ian's smile was smug. “I told you he liked it when you dress like a woman.”

“Yes.” I wasn't going to let him distract me with a little teasing. “So, ash alchemy?”

His good humor vanished. “I also told you that I went down a dark path when I lost Isabelle.”

“How dark? Were you successful in whatever you were trying to accomplish?”

“There are some moments in my life that if I could do them over, I would. This was one of them.”

“That doesn't answer my question. What happens if Neil finds your journal?”

“We need to prevent that from happening.”

I held his gaze. “So, you
were
successful.”

“I'm sorry, Addie, but I won't give you those details.”

I crossed my arms. “I get that you've done some things you're not proud of, so have I. But I need to know how much Neil will learn if he finds your journal.”

“Too much. That's why I went to Xander's funeral home to search for it.”

Chapter 4

M
y mouth dropped open as
I stared up at Ian. “You went to Xander's funeral home? Are you insane? That place is always crawling with necromancers. What if you had run into one, or Xander himself? What about your brother?”

“Lex wasn't there, so I knew his pet wouldn't be. As for lesser necromancers, they are easy to avoid.” He offered one of his elegant shrugs.

I frowned. “How did you know Alexander wasn't there?”

“I know my brother.”

I studied the man before me. Alexander had done horrific things to Ian and his family. Though I doubted that Ian would ever forgive him, they were still brothers. Twin brothers. How close had they been? How much had Ian loved him before everything went so terribly wrong? Before Alexander went insane?

Taking Ian's cold hands in mine, I stepped closer. “I want you to make me a promise.”

“Addie.”

“Promise me you won't run off and do something that crazy without consulting me.”

“You wish to join me in my flights of insanity?”

“If I can't talk you out of it.”

He smiled. “You're going to get me incinerated.”

“I think you can manage that on your own.” Movement out of the corner of my eye, and I discovered Doug standing on the threshold. I turned back to Ian. “Promise?”

“Fine,” he muttered. “I won't do anything crazy without your company or consent.”

“I guess that'll do.” I released his hands and faced Doug. “Ready to go?”

He frowned, then walked over to join us. “You've been hanging around Elysia too long if you're holding hands with dead men.”

“Ha ha. Ian, the portal?” I prompted.

A dark doorway opened into the land of the dead. I stepped through into that now familiar warmth. A black plain rolled on forever beneath a black sky, the landscape illuminated by a faint red glow.

“A shame Bruner couldn't see this,” I said.

Doug stopped beside me. “I'm still shocked that you can travel this way. Does it drain you at all?”

Ian joined us and the portal closed.

“Not that I've ever noticed,” I answered.

Doug glanced at Ian. “How did you know it wouldn't hurt her?”

“It was an accident.”

“Ironically, a result of those three guys you just autopsied,” I said. “One had a gun, and I jumped into the portal Ian had opened. When the thug started to shoot at me, Ian had to let the portal go.”

Doug grunted. “Risky.”

“I had a better chance surviving this place than a bullet between the eyes.”

“No, you had a better chance with the bullet.”

“He's right,” Ian said.

I looked up, surprised.

“Then why did you let the portal go?” Doug asked.

“A lapse on my part. I hadn't been around a true mortal in a very long time. Besides, when you work around Addie for a while, it's easy to forget that she isn't magical.”

Doug frowned.

The portal opened, this time into my lab.

I stepped out and instant later, came face to face with a green-eyed hellhound. “It's just us,” I told James.

He watched Doug and Ian step into the room, then took a step and simply vanished.

Doug shook his head, apparently still amazed by James's abilities as well. “I'm going to go shower.” He didn't wait for a response before heading off to the room he and Ian now shared. Rowan had invited Doug to Donovan's outing, as well as Elysia. Though I wasn't certain if it was Rowan's doing or Donovan's.

“How about you?” I asked Ian. I had petitioned for his inclusion. “Will you be joining us?”

“I make the others uncomfortable.”

“Or do you not like opera?”

He gave me a smile. “I was never a fan.”

“Wouldn't you like to see the opera house? It was built in the eighteen hundreds, I think.”

“The late 1870s. A hospital and lunatic asylum sat on the grounds when I was alive.”

I was tempted to tease him that he might need to visit a lunatic asylum, but insanity was a common ailment among necromancers. He might have actually visited someone he knew there.

“Well, you are welcome to come with us. I don't like leaving you here to mope by yourself.” Or to wander off and get himself in trouble.

“I've spent a lot of time by myself.”

“That's no reason for it to continue.”

“Addie, I—” He lifted his head, looking past my shoulder.

I turned to follow his gaze.

Elysia stood on the threshold. “I have been charged, under the threat of oxygen deprivation, with seeing you dressed and groomed for this evening's festivities.” Elysia's expression remained solemn, but there was amusement in her faded brown eyes.

I sighed. “Era.”

“Yes.” Elysia smiled. “James has returned to the manor to dress, so it's just you and me. I've plugged in the hot rollers.”

Ian was watching the exchange, and not bothering to hide his smile.

“It might as well be hot oil,” I said.

“We could do hot wax instead,” Elysia offered.

“Oxygen deprivation is now the least of your worries.”

“Hey, you want to look good for Rowan, right?”

“As I've said before, if he can't take me as I am…”

“I have no doubt he'll take you any way he can get you, but this way, you can make him squirm a little while he waits.”

My cheeks warmed. “Elysia.”

She closed the distance between us.

“Come on. Let me live vicariously through you.”

That gave me pause. “Um,
you
can communicate with
me
, but not the other way around, right?”

She laughed. “Don't worry. You're not sending anything.”

“Communicate?” Ian asked.

“She can speak to me now. In my head.”

“Here it comes,” Elysia said. “Now I will be forbidden to do this, too.”

Ian frowned. “The ability is part of your gift.”

“You can speak directly into my mind,” I reminded Ian.

“I can't narrow it down to one person.”

“Let it go,” Elysia said to me. “No amount of arguing will convince him. He's determined to do penance for destroying my life by making what's left of it miserable.”

“That's not true.” Ian's tone was cool.

“Bullshit. I'm sure you congratulate yourself daily for chasing James away.”

“That isn't true, either. The young man understands what a relationship with him would do to you.”

“Whatever. Come on, Addie. We need to get ready.” She headed for the stairs.

I looked over at Ian.

“She's right,” he said. “You don't want to be late.”

I gave him a final frown and hurried after her. Since we had found out that Elysia was a soul reaper, things had fallen apart between her and James. Well, things had fallen apart when Ian had explained that any interactions with the dead were dangerous for Elysia. Though in Ian's defense, it wasn't just James he was set against; he didn't want Elysia using any of her magic. It was a constant source of conflict for everyone involved.

Even so, I wished Ian would give a little where she was concerned. And I wished she could see that he only behaved this way because he cared about her. Sometimes, I wanted to scream.

I caught up with her in the hall outside our bedrooms. “Elysia—”

“No, don't.” She held up her hands, waving me off. “Just let it go. This is between him and me.”

“And James.”

She sighed. “Let's try to enjoy the evening.”

“Fine,” I relented. “It would be more enjoyable if I didn't have to wear heels.”

“Give it up, Addie.” She walked toward her room.

“It's a shame you can't see the mental image I'm sending you now.”

She glanced over her shoulder, a grin on her face.
Behave
.

 

Cincinnati Music Hall was an
amazing structure. Built in the late 1800s, the gothic building took up two city blocks. Inside was just as impressive. From its two-story entryway with the gilded columns supporting an open balcony, to the enormous auditorium that seated thousands, I fell in love with the majestic old building.

“Beautiful,” I muttered, gazing up at the huge chandelier hanging from the domed ceiling of the auditorium. I stood with Era a short distance from the others in one of the boxes the Elements had reserved.

“Yeah, she is,” Era said.

I glanced over, but she wasn't studying the chandelier. Her gaze was focused on Elysia who stood talking with Cora and Donovan. Elysia wore a gold lamé gown that clung to every curve—and Elysia was in no way lacking in the curve department. Her golden hair had been pulled up in a seemingly haphazard manner around her face and left to cascade down her bare back.

“She certainly is,” I agreed.

Era glanced over, one dark brow lifting over an amber eye. She had chosen to wear black this evening. The fitted gown gave her a mature, sophisticated air. And of course, Era was by no means unattractive, but I knew it was pointless to mention that.

“What?” I asked.

“A beautiful woman doesn't make you a little envious?”

“If she was wearing jeans and tennis shoes, I'd be envious.”

“Addie.” Era laughed. “I'm serious. What if a beautiful woman caught Rowan's eye?”

“Then I would have a problem with him, not her.”

“If she set out to capture him?”

“If he could be so easily captured, she could have him—and I would feel sorry for her.”

“Why?”

“The next pretty young thing to come along would take him from her.”

Era frowned, her attention drifting to Elysia once more. “What you say is true, but I would still want to claw her eyes out.”

A male throat cleared, and I looked up to see that Rowan had joined us. My heart rolled over in my chest at his unexpected appearance beside me. I meant what I had told Era, but it would hurt like hell if Rowan ever decided to cast me aside.

“What are you two so serious about?” he asked.

“Elysia.”

Rowan glanced at where she stood talking to Donovan before returning his attention to me. Unlike most of the other men in the immediate vicinity, he wasn't staring at her. I chewed the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling.

“Is something the matter?” he asked.

“Addie.” There was a warning note in Era's voice. “This is girl talk.”

“Then I won't intrude,” Rowan said. His gaze moved back to Elysia. “I know she doesn't own the name, but Elysia clearly favors her Nelson heritage. Xander's sister, Clarissa, was extremely attractive as a younger woman.”

Era pursed her lips and gave me a frown. I just shrugged.

“Donovan and I have a bet going on how long James can hold out.”

I bit back a laugh. “Rowan, that's terrible.”

“Of course, that was before we saw the dress.”

As I watched, James walked over and said something to Elysia. She moved away with him. Donovan looked up at that moment and, catching Rowan's eye, winked.

I pressed my hand to my mouth to keep from giggling.

“Addie's right,” Era said. “You guys are terrible.”

Rowan grinned, then abruptly leaned over and whispered in Era's ear. She ducked her head, but I still caught the faint blush that bloomed in her cheeks. Rowan kissed her temple before straightening, then turned to me.

“Come find me when the lights dim. If Donovan and James have any bets on me, I don't want to disappoint them.”

I tried not to smile. “You're asking for it.”

“Yes, I am.” He held my gaze for one heart-stopping moment, then moved off to mingle with the others.

I glanced over at Era and she gave me a smile. I wondered what Rowan had whispered to her.

“Program?” Doug asked, joining us. He handed each of us a thick booklet.

I thanked him and flipped through a few pages. “Uh, Doug? I think you grabbed the wrong ones. This isn't in English.”

Doug laughed. “La Traviata is sung in Italian.” He rattled off something more that I didn't follow.

“You speak Italian?”

Before Doug could answer, Era asked him a question—in the same language.

I watched them, caught somewhere between amusement and annoyance as they exchanged several more lines in what I assumed was Italian. I cleared my throat.

“Sorry.” Era didn't look sorry as she turned back to Doug. “I'm more or less an art major. I spent a couple of summers in Milan. I picked up a few words.”

“A few words?” he said. “I'd say you're fluent.”

The lights began to dim, so I left Era and Doug to find their own seats, and searched out Rowan. He sat near Donovan, an empty chair between them with Cora on Rowan's other side.

“Is this seat taken?” I asked.

“It's reserved for you, little alchemist,” Donovan said.

I settled into my seat, smoothing my emerald green dress. The V-neck wasn't quiet as daring as Elysia's, but the satiny fabric did fit close—at least, through the bodice. From the hips down, it spread into a full, glossy skirt that reached the floor. I still wasn't a fan of formal wear, but I had to admit that Era did a good job picking out dresses that looked good on me.

“How did I manage a seat beside the guest of honor?” I asked.

Donovan grinned at me through his beard. It was always so strange to see him in a tuxedo rather than his usual flannel. “Just lucky, I guess.”

I returned his smile. “So, you really like opera?”

“Yes. La Traviata is a favorite.”

“Do you speak Italian, too?”

“No.” He smiled. “I assume you've been talking to Era.”

“Her and Doug. When they lapsed into a full blown conversation I didn't understand, I left them to their own devices.”