The Incubus Job by Diana Pharaoh Francis

Author:Diana Pharaoh Francis [Francis, Diana Pharaoh]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ghosts, demon, witch, wizard, sorcerer, magic, romance, snark, sorcery, incubus, love, lovers, romantic, alpha male, shape shifter, spell, adventure, old flame, crime, murder, caper, metaphysical, spells, shapeshifter, strong female heroine, hero, mystery, wicked devil, paranormal, mage, sorceress, warlock, psychic, possessive, wealthy, action, ghost, fantasy, contemporary, gritty, dark, darkness, tattoo, passion
ISBN: 9781611385854
Publisher: Book View Cafe
Published: 2016-03-01T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Law was doing a pretty good job of keeping So’la entertained. I turned the box again, hoping to find inspiration. I wondered if I could overload the spells and burn them out. I doubted it. It was too easy, and I was willing to bet So’la’s master had planned for that kind of theft. I needed to finesse it.

“I don’t suppose any of you have ideas?” I asked my ghosts.

A collective murmur of “No” was my reply.

“I didn’t think so. Come on, think, Mallory. How do you open a sealed box?” An idea struck me. “Or maybe I don’t. Maybe I don’t open it at all. Maybe I get the treasure out another way.”

I thought maybe I could do it. I’d turned myself mostly invisible once, which was slightly similar to making myself somewhat insubstantial. Except even if I could reach inside, I’d be too insubstantial to take the contents.

“Can any of you reach inside and grab them? Whatever they are? Maybe take a look inside and tell me what’s there?” I asked the ghosts. Once again the answer was negative.

Before I could go any further, Edna appeared outside the circle. Damn. She couldn’t cross to safety.

“The sorcerer asks if you are well.”

“For now. Ask him if he has any ideas for getting into the box. If I can get a hold of whatever controls the demon, I can put an end to this.”

Edna frowned then nodded and vanished.

I looked at the box again, trying to see it in a new light. Breaking it was out of the question. Offering it a sacrifice was at the bottom of the list. I didn’t have the power to overload the spells. I didn’t have the knowledge to unwind them. So what did that leave me?

I stroked the top of the box again. Once again, I felt malevolence and hunger. Somehow, I needed to satisfy it without killing myself.

An idea ran through me. A very bad idea. A very bad, very possible, very painful idea.

“Tabitha,” I called. “I need your help. I want you to give me your memories of that night again.” My stomach lurched at the thought of reliving them, but it might be enough to appease the box.

Tabitha’s ghost shimmered into view in front of me. She looked down at me. She no longer looked scared. Her expression was troubled. I wanted to ask her why, but she wasn’t going to answer and I didn’t read minds.

“Can you do it?” I asked. “Will you?”

She frowned, her brows furrowing together, her mouth pursing. I didn’t need to hear the question to understand what she was asking. Why?

“It might satisfy the spells on the box. They want a sacrifice of some kind, likely with some violence and gore on top. Your experience is still so vivid, it might work. Once I get the box open, I can use what’s inside to banish the demon.”

“The sorcerer says you must not.” Edna had reappeared and she looked flustered. “The sorcerer says to wait for him.

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