Kyle's sake. But everyone else stays here. I trust the wards."
Dharma smiled and nodded. "I hope you find him."
I didn't say anything. I just nodded and left the office. Kyle was at his herb shelf and table in the very back. It was a place dedicated to his magic where he could mix and experiment with herbs and incenses. He zipped up a bag of stuff and set the strap over his shoulder as I approached. "Ready?"
He nodded. "You drive."
We took my Jeep. The night was both chilly and thick from the rainy drizzle during the day, but I knew soon enough the cool weather would disappear completely and we'd be wilting through the usual hot, muggy summer days and nights. Summer was brutal in New Orleans. With less than a day before Mardi Gras started, the tourists were already triple their usual number. I had to take a few work around roads over to the Garden District, so the drive took twice as long as it should have.
It was after nine o'clock by the time I pulled the Jeep in front of Arden's place. We were close to Ina's house and I crushed the idea of heading over there to see if the police had snuck in to do any illegal searches. I knew they couldn't take a look without a warrant and they couldn't get that without probable cause. So I figured I was okay for now.
The house was well lit, as always, as Grey, Kyle and I went through the iron gate and followed the concrete walk. I heard voices inside, and they didn't sound happy. When they came close to the door, Kyle and I looked at each other in the light of the house lamps and then all three of us ducked to the side into a huge azalea bush. I summoned a bit of Earth to make us blend in with the bush as the front door burst open and Edmund Blackwood stomped out.
"Edmund—"
He stopped on the walk and turned back to the door. He looked fine from what I could see from my vantage point. Whatever I'd sent at him at Crwys's place probably just grazed him. He'd been well enough to drive his car away. And damn well enough to call and threaten Levi. "The answer is still no. And if you dare change your deal with me, Miss Vervain, I will rain fire down upon your home. You promised me that land deal—so you'd better find a way to make it work. And as for Hawthorne, she's mine to deal with now. She attacked me with Arcane Magic. And no matter how you try and deny it, I know what I saw. I'm sure the Parliament would be happy knowing you've been consorting with the infected! That new title you hold so dear could be revoked just like that!" He snapped his fingers for emphasis.
Blackwood turned and stomped down the walk to the gate. He slammed it shut and after a few minutes, we heard a car start up and then squeal into the night.
"You better come on in," said a gravelly voice from the above us. "And keep that cloak on. The house is being watched."
That didn't sound like Arden, but it had her familiarity. I kept the Earth Magic in place as the three of us came out from under the bush and went up the steps through the front door. If there had been someone watching the house, they would have seen the house and stairs and nothing else. Not us. I'd made the spell to chameleon the surroundings as we moved.
Once inside, I dropped it and thanked my Gnome. She wasn't visible physically, but I'd felt her presence. Arden wasn't at the door, and we weren't greeted by any of her usual female entourage either. The house smelled like a hospital with medicinal scents like ointment and disinfectant. I also saw dirt on the floor and bits and pieces of paper here and there.
"Aunt Arden?" Kyle called out. "Where did you go?"
"Parlor."
Kyle and I looked at each other, and I could tell from his expression he agreed with me. This wasn't like Arden. She lived for show and adoration, as well as being served. I swore the house was empty except for Arden and us. Kyle led the way down the hall and then into the parlor. I'd been in this room a lot in the past few months. Arden did a quantity of business in this