The Element of Death (The Final Formula Series, Book 1.5) (8 page)

“You’re quick, grim.” She smiled.

“Gertrude.” James pressed a hand to his side and it came away clean. He didn’t even want to think about getting his blood on Era.

“Not exactly, though I am thinking about giving Gertie this body.”

“Winters.” Damn, he had escaped Gavin.

“Gertie might like being blonde.”

James fisted his hands. “Leave her.”

“You have no power here. You can’t take my soul without taking this girl’s as well.”

James growled and looked closer. Era’s vibrant soul seemed to vanish as another swirled around hers, masking the living brightness. Winters.

James suddenly realized why he hadn’t been able to find Rowan before. Rowan’s possession by Gertrude had dimmed the brightness of his soul and made him appear like another ghost in a building teaming with them.

“Ask the Fire Element to step inside. Pulling the building down on the other one did nothing except destroy my cremator.”

“You
intentionally
pulled down the building on top of them?” James gritted his teeth and his oversized canines dug into his gums. He forced down the hound, and the anger, afraid he’d hurt Era if it got away from him.

“These Elements would be an ideal entry point into this world. And he, at least, could lead me to that alchemist.” A shake of Era’s blonde head. “The Elixir of Life. Amazing.”

James shifted form and dropped to all fours. Maybe he could scare Winters into leaving Era. He pulled open the portal.

Winters glanced over his shoulder. “What are you doing?”

James lifted his lips and growled.

No!
A shimmer in the air, and suddenly Gertrude stood before him. James didn’t hesitate. He sprang, catching Gertrude in his jaws before slamming into Era. She stumbled into the open portal, and James jumped through after her. He released Gertrude once inside, then reached back to catch the portal before it winked closed.

Era landed on her butt, her wide eyes still shining with a crazed light. Winters hadn’t left her. Damn it. Did James need to let the portal close?

You’ve been busy
, Gavin commented.

James ignored him, enjoying the terrified expression on Gertrude’s face as she took in his nightmare form.
Welcome to hell.
James smiled, exposing his teeth. She took a hasty step back.

Not exactly
, Gavin said, his tone almost cheerful.

“Can’t take me. Won’t work,” Winters whispered.

If it won’t work, then why are you so scared?
James asked.

Edgar?
Panic painted Gertrude’s voice.

James glanced over and was surprised to find Gertrude as solid as Gavin in this place.

Edgar, what’s happening?!
A dark cloud seemed to be forming around her feet, rising slowly up her body.

“Gertie, go!” Winters cried.

She turned and ran for the portal James still held open with one hand. Out of fear for Era, he didn’t dare let it go. Instead, he lashed out, raking his claws across Gertrude’s stomach. She screamed and stumbled back, the rips in her uniform and flesh growing as he watched.

Edgar!
A dark mist-like substance began to ooze from her wounds, clinging to her clean white uniform.

Winters pushed Era to her feet, then ran for the portal.

James caught him by the upper arm, careful not to drive his claws into Era’s slim biceps.
I guess self-preservation trumps true love
.

Winters whimpered in his hold, trying to pull free.

Drive him out, little brother
. Gavin lifted a hand, rolling his fingers so the light glinted off his ebony claws.

James remembered how Gavin had clawed Rowan’s back to extract Winters. Could he do that to Era? She trusted him. Rowan trusted him.

Shall I?
Gavin offered.

James looked down at the girl he held and snarled at the thought of Gavin ripping into Era’s flesh. He couldn’t see any other way, but he knew he had to do it himself.

I’m sorry
, James whispered. Not letting himself think about what he did, he dug in his claws.

Era screamed and James released her. She dropped to the ground at his feet, but his gaze caught on his hand and the glittering mist that clung to his fingers. He flicked it aside, but it flew only a few feet before reforming into the shape of a man. He grew more solid and James recognized the man from the vision: Dr. Edgar Winters.

Gertrude cried out and threw herself into his arms. As if on cue, darkness began to envelop Winters’ form as if it oozed from his pores.

Then they started to scream.

James laid his ears flat, snarling against the fear that wanted to send him fleeing back to the mortal world.

Ooo, bad ones
, Gavin said. His ears were pricked forward, and he watched the darkness consume the pair with eager interest.

Seconds later, they were gone.

What was that?
James asked. He had ripped three souls in the past, but those had simply faded away when he brought them here.

I’d say you chose well.

“James?” Era’s voice sounded small in the dimness. “My arm hurts.” In the dim glow from the cremator, she held her upper arm, her wide eyes staring up at him.

I scratched you. I’m sorry.

“Are you a werewolf?” She continued to stare up at him, looking more fascinated than scared.

Something like that. Step through and I’ll tell you more.

“Okay.” She did as he asked.

James jumped out after her, landing on four paws.

“And now you’re the dog.” She smiled and reached out to rub his head.

James wagged his tail to reassure her, pleased that she was taking everything so well. Her blood scented the air, but it was minor. If she healed as quickly as the other Elements, the injury would be gone soon.

A low groan rumbled through what was left of the building. Stone ground against stone, and dirt trickled down the walls of their small space. James tensed, ready to pull open the portal. Even if he had to risk taking her through, it was better than being buried alive. Moonlight suddenly broke through from above. A thump, and something big landed in the soft earth beside them. Donovan.

“Era!” he cried and pulled her into an embrace.

“Hey, Don. The coolest thing just happened. Did you know James can become a werewolf?”

Donovan gave James a searching look, and he wagged his tail in response. He didn’t want to flash Era by shifting human in front of her; he’d explain to Donovan later.

Donovan seemed to get the hint. “Come on, honey, we need to go. Rowan isn’t feeling well.” Slipping an arm around her shoulders, he guided her back the way he’d come.

James didn’t follow. He made his own way back through the rubble and returned to Rowan’s side.

“James!” Rowan lifted his head. “Era, Donovan—”

“They’re coming. Winters and his girlfriend had a safe trip to hell.”

Rowan bowed his head, and a fresh trickle of blood ran from one nostril. “I knew you could do it.”

James sighed. “We need to get you home.”

“Home?” Rowan looked up.

“Back to the manor.” James glanced toward the ruins of the crematorium, wishing Donovan would hurry.

“You referred to the manor as home.”

“For you.” James found Rowan watching him. “What is it?”

“Come work for me.”

“What?”

“I’d like to offer you a job.”

“Doing what?”

“What you do best: scaring the hell out of people.”

James lifted a brow. Had Rowan just admitted that he’d scared him? A rattle of stone, and Donovan and Era emerged from the ruins. James quickly shifted back to the hound.

“Rowan!” Era ran over and dropped to her knees beside him. “You’re bleeding.” She touched his upper lip.

“I’m okay.”

“Here, honey.” Donovan held out a set of keys. “Why don’t you run back to the truck and bring me my backpack. I’ve got a set of clothes James can use.”

“Sure.” She cheerfully took the keys and hurried toward the far end of what remained of the building. James shifted human as soon as she was gone.

“The truck’s around the corner,” Donovan said, kneeling beside Rowan. “How bad are you?”

“Going down fast. I hired us a new bodyguard.” Rowan waved a hand at James—or attempted to. The hand barely left his lap.

“Excellent.” Donovan smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. He wiped the blood from Rowan’s upper lip before his worried eyes rose to James’s. “What kind of salary did you hold out for?”

“I’m not sure.” James frowned. Should they be discussing this right now? He wanted to get Rowan out of here.

“Son, you need to get those things in writing before you agree.” Donovan gripped Rowan’s shoulder. “You did at least give him a car.”

“We have a limo,” Rowan whispered.

“He’s an eighteen-year-old boy. He needs a sweet ride.”

“Fine.” Rowan slumped over, but Donovan caught him.

James was already watching with his other sight. “His soul is still firmly attached.”

“It’ll take more than a trip to hell to knock Rowan down for the count.”

“How about a grim with anger management issues?”

Donovan looked up, meeting his eyes. “We all make mistakes. Some you can never atone for.” A sadness entered his voice.

“I nearly killed him.”

“Since you didn’t, it’s clear that you have more control than you give yourself credit for. And knowing Rowan, I suspect you’re not entirely to blame.”

James looked up, surprised that Donovan saw so much. “He said he picked the fight with me.”

Donovan kept his attention on Rowan, but his mouth curled into a sad smile. “That’s a bit more restraint than I’d expect from him at that moment.”

James frowned, remembering how hard Addie’s betrayal had hit him. He hadn’t looked beyond his own feelings. He’d been so hurt that it never occurred to him that he wasn’t the only one. He remembered the way Rowan had fought when Gertrude delved into his memories and got too close to Addie.

“He loved her,” James whispered. “Addie, I mean.”

“Yes. I’ve never seen him fall that hard.”

James released a breath, aware of how it shook. “I loved her, too.”

Donovan laid a hand on his shoulder. “I know.”

“I never…knew love, before. I—” God, he sounded pathetic. But he wanted to confess, to let it all out. “She didn’t care that I was dead. She, she…”

“Loved you, too.”

“Like a brother.”

“Exactly.”

James bowed his head. Donovan had seen it, why hadn’t he? He felt he should say something. Instead, he just sat there, naked and pathetic, kneeling beside the man he’d nearly killed.

Donovan looped a thick arm around his shoulders. “Come on, let’s go home.”

“Home?”

“The manor. Rowan said he gave you a job.”

“I didn’t realize that included room and board.”

“Of course it does. Besides, Era has a closet full of clothing waiting for you. Good thing, since you’re so hard on them.” Donovan patted his shoulder and released him.

Movement out of the corner of his eye, and James turned to find the burned man watching him. “Winters is gone. You don’t need to threaten me.”

“What?” Donovan asked.

James held up a finger, asking him to wait.

I wished to thank you…and apologize.
The burned man’s voice rasped in his mind.

“I accept. Do you want me to take you across?”

I know the way.

“You chose to remain,” James concluded. “To keep him contained.”

I did not wish to see him rise and use my magic for ill once more.

“Your magic? You were a medium? Then what was Winters?”

An alchemist.
A pause, and the burned man faded away.

“James?” Donovan asked, a note of concern in his voice. “Who are you talking to?”

James met Donovan’s worried frown. “I see souls, the living and the dead.”

“That’s….”

“Disturbing, I know.” The truck door slammed and James knew Era was returning. “Still want me as a guard dog?”

The corner of Donovan’s mouth kicked up, and a flash of teeth showed through his beard. “Hell, yes.”

James smiled as well, then became the dog.

Epilogue

J
ames leaned his shoulder against
the tall gray obelisk and crossed his arms. “Like this?”

“Perfect!” Era adjusted the lens of her camera and snapped another picture. “Just a few more.”

James obliged her, wondering what the couple walking along the headstones a short distance away must think of them. Maybe they’d think Era was shooting a few shots of some ancestor’s grave. Good thing they didn’t know she had close to a hundred similar photos taken throughout the cemetery on her camera.

“Got it!” Era pulled the camera away from her face and started toward him, scrolling through the photos she’d taken.

James straightened. “Get anything?”

She stopped before him, clicking through a few more pictures. “No.” She gave the monument a frown. “It was supposed to be haunted. They say the eyes are real and they follow you.”

James studied the bronze bust of a man mounted halfway up the side of the obelisk. The eyes were glass, and he had to admit the effect was unsettling, but the hound saw no spirits.

“Creepy,” he said. “Do you think we’d have better luck at dusk?”

Era’s eyes widened in barely held excitement. “Yes, but three a.m. would be best. That’s the witching hour.” Her voice dropped to a whisper on the last part.

James smiled, amusement and sadness warring to be the dominant emotion. “Rowan wouldn’t want you out so late.”

“We could ask him to come,” she said, latching onto the idea. “He likes spooky things, too.”

James stepped away from the monument, leading her toward the path as the couple approached. If this headstone had such a reputation, they probably didn’t wonder why Era had been taking pictures. The man had a cell phone in hand, and James suspected he was about to snap a few pictures himself.

“Anything else you want to do?” James asked as they walked toward the parking lot.

“Not here, but there’s another cemetery I’m dying to see.”

He bit his lip at the pun she didn’t get and agreed to take her. They still had several hours before the other Elements finished at the Offices. Besides, James had promised to take her ghost hunting.

The phone in James’s back pocket buzzed. He pulled it out and saw that it was a text from Donovan.

“It’s not time to go home, is it?” Era asked.

“Shouldn’t be.” James tapped the screen on his phone.

Addie is bringing the antidote to the Offices in an hour. Drive Era over.

“James?” Era’s voice pulled him back. “What’s wrong?”