Chapter 47

The Gentleman Warlock

I knocked on the door of the rundown mobile home I’d grown up in. The shit-hole of a trailer park was nearly deserted. A few curtains had been pushed aside so nosy neighbors could peer out when I’d parked, but they were all closed now.

“Who is it?” Beatrice called out through the door.

“I’m here with the police, Miss LaCroix,” I responded with a pleasant smile. She was watching me through the peephole. I still couldn’t believe she’d stayed here after our parents left. My sister had never been very bright.

“I’m finally going to get my body!” Katya chirped excitedly.

I ignored her, not wanting to make Beatrice suspicious. The Council of Witches had already called the police to tell them I was a suspect based on my bitch sister’s testimony. She should have learned her lesson about how stupid it was to cross me years ago. Apparently, some witches were too stupid to learn from their mistakes. There was only one way to deal with Beatrice. She had to die, which meant Katya could escape her incorporeal state earlier than expected.

The door slid open just a crack, and Beatrice glared at me. “I’ve already answered enough questions. I don’t have anything to add.”

It was hard resisting the temptation to lash out at her. As I rolled the small globe with the tranquilizer spell around in my hand, I reminded myself of the importance of getting her to invite me in, or at the very least open the door enough for me to release the spell. I’d never been good at casting spells myself, but one could get anything from the police evidence room.

“I’d just like to ask you a few more questions about your brother,” I said with a reassuring smile. “It’ll only take a moment.”

“I don’t know where my brother is or what he’s been up to,” she snapped.

Her response made me hesitate as I rolled the spell around in my hand. It was possible she hadn’t told the council anything to make them suspect me. That would mean I couldn’t kill her. It wouldn’t be right to kill her if she wasn’t guilty of betraying me.

“The Council of Witches told me you spoke to them earlier today about your brother,” I began. “I’d just like to clarify a few details.”

Beatrice’s eyes flashed with anger. “I haven’t seen Desmond in years. If he’s responsible for that witch disappearing, she’s probably already dead, and you’ll never find him.”

Looking around the area to make sure no one was watching, I pretended to consider leaving. I turned to Beatrice with a smirk. She panicked and tried to shut the door. She was too late. I slammed my body against the door and pushed my way inside.

Before I could toss down the spell, Beatrice swung a bat at me, nearly hitting me in the head.

“Fucking bitch,” I hissed.

“I’m just as happy to see you, Desmond,” she replied with a sneer. “I take it you’re here to kill me.”

“Why would I kill my own sister?” I asked.

She snorted and swung the bat at me again. This time, when I ducked, I tossed the spell her way. My sister was smarter than I’d given her credit for. The spell hit an invisible shield and disintegrated.

“A spelled bat?” I asked with raised eyebrows.

“It’s not all I’ve got,” she shot back.

“Come on, Bea,” I crooned. “Be a good girl, and maybe I won’t kill you.”

“I’m not nearly as stupid as you think,” she snapped.

“You were a fool to talk to those witches about me,” I told her. “Now, I have no choice but to make sure you don’t interfere with my plans. It’s your choice, Bea. We’re family, so I’m willing to let you live. Naturally, you’ll have to stay locked up until you can’t cause any more problems for me, but I really don’t want to kill you.”

“You promised to kill her!” Katya screeched. I ignored the irritating shade.

“You’ll really let me live if I go with you?” she asked hesitantly. She seemed to be considering my offer. My sister was too stupid to live.

“Of course, Bea,” I promised. “I still remember all the fun we used to have trying to turn into birds. Do you remember how fun that was?”

Bea smiled. “Yes, we did have fun. You said it was impossible, but you still tried it with me.”

I hadn’t really tried, but I’d enjoyed watching my sister fail. “Come with me, Bea, and you’ll be safe. You already know I’m going to have to kill you if you don’t cooperate. I won’t have any choice.”

My sister was too gullible to realize she was walking into a trap. She reached down with one hand and smoothed the billowing dress she wore. It looked ridiculous on her.

“I’ll go with you, Desmond,” she finally agreed as Katya continued to seethe at my side. Once Katya had a body again, I’d slap her. For now, I simply ignored her. Katya should know I wasn’t really making a deal with my sister. Once I’d decided someone’s punishment, I didn’t change my mind. Not often, at least. Had I discovered Beatrice was innocent, I would have spared her life, but she was guilty of betraying me.

“We should hurry,” I told her.

“I’ll grab my things,” Beatrice replied.

“I’ll get you whatever you need,” I assured her. “We don’t have much time. I have to work tonight. The police force has to deal with the scum of the Earth and demon realms.”

Beatrice’s jaw clenched, probably from her effort to bite back a snarky comment. I followed her out of the crappy trailer I’d grown up in.

“I’m looking forward to spending a few hours catching up with you, dear sister,” I remarked with a pleasant smile.

Beatrice turned to me with a smile of her own. “Catching up?” She laughed before she continued. “First, you’ll have to catch me.”

The billowy dress dropped to the ground, and Beatrice took off running. I ran after her, knowing I’d easily catch her. Even in this borrowed body, I was faster. To my utter shock, she leapt into the air and changed forms. She flew up into the sky in the form of a falcon.

“That deceitful bitch!” I snarled.

“It serves you right for considering sparing her life,” Katya taunted.

“You stupid cunt,” I snarled. “With the sedation spell broken, I had to trick her into coming with me. Now, she’s gone. Who knows where she’ll go? She could go to the police.”

“Not likely now that she knows you’re with them,” Katya told me. “How are you going to get her now?”

“I’ll come up with something,” I muttered. “When I get my hands on my sister, she’ll wish she’d chosen to do things the easy way. She will definitely pay for this.”