The City Witch Read online

  Red lightning shot out in front of me, and then Deacon yelled, “Leave us.”

  Whatever it was, Deacon felt it, too. Which was comforting, but it also had me running a little faster. I didn’t look behind me for the others. I felt their auras right behind me. I threw the stairwell door open and flew down the steps. My group’s steps thundered behind me, and it was the only thing keeping me from freaking out completely.

  There was some serious darkness in that building, and I wasn’t messing around with it.

  We followed the stairs down a few flights then pushed through the exit door. When the fresh November cold air hit my face, I sighed with relief. It may have been autumn, but the sunlight was warm enough to chase away the creepy chill in my bones.

  Deacon cursed and shivered.

  Cheryl coughed and braced herself against a pole. “What…the hell…was that?”

  Heather fanned her face and shook her head, though she still looked formidable in her nude Louboutins. “Would you mind explaining what just happened?”

  I shook my head and waved my arms. “I have no idea what that was, but it was dark and aggressive. I felt it the second I got out of the limo. There’s no way our school is going here.”

  “I promise you that’s why this property is still vacant.” Deacon shuddered. “Paulina needs to come and see what’s going on in there.”

  The fact that Deacon agreed with me on this was a huge relief. For a moment, I’d thought I was alone up there in the darkness… It reminded me of that demon who’d possessed Henley. The one who’d tried to get to me. The memories still haunted my dreams.

  Sebastien cursed. “I didn’t feel anything until you two started firing back. That’s unsettling.”

  “I wish I had your level of magic,” Claudia whispered to herself.

  And this is why Tenn sent us. I thought it was simply because we’d been the ones in New York dealing with everything and everyone, but now I realized it went much deeper than that. Which I should’ve known. Tennessee always had bigger plans, especially if my sister had anything to do with it.

  The fact of the matter was The Coven had unspeakably more magic.

  I hadn’t realized just how much of a difference it made.

  Now I did.

  Marshall sighed and ran his hand through his sandy blond hair. “All right, well…I guess we can move on to the third location.”

  “No, no. That place is too small, Marshall.” Claudia pulled out her phone and began typing. “I’ve been saying that all week. It’s not big enough.”

  “Then it’s out,” Deacon said firmly.

  Heather pursed her lips and exchanged a look with Claudia. “We had another place we liked a lot, but it will require more work and resources to get it ready.”

  Hope flared. “I’d like to see it. Please.”

  Chapter Three

  Emersyn

  Half an hour later, we parked on the opposite side of town.

  The second I stood on the sidewalk, I knew we were in the right place. I had no idea where the site was, but there was an energy in the air that was wild yet clean.

  Claudia held a tablet out in front of us with a map of New York. “Okay, see the dot? That’s where we are. To your left is Riverside Park and the Hudson. To your right is Central Park. You also have close access to two different subway lines, which is always an important factor.”

  “The Upper West Side really has everything you could need, but it’s also quieter than the rest of the city.” Heather stepped aside for a woman walking three dogs. “It’s a great area for families, which I think will make it much more comfortable and alluring.”

  I smiled and looked up at the building directly in front of us. It was incredible. The front was a mixture of stone and brick, with stained glass windows and intricate architectural details. A stone set of steps led to a grand wooden door. It looked like a miniature Notre Dame Cathedral—well, maybe one of the side buildings to it.

  I pointed up at it. “If the location site looks anything like this, then I’m all in.”

  Heather grinned. “This is the location site.”

  I gasped. “Really?”

  Claudia climbed the steps and walked up to the wooden doors, then yanked them open. She turned and smiled down at us. “Now, it does need a bunch of work, but I think it’ll be worth it.”

  “I do, too.” I started up the stairs. “It looks perfect.”

  “I love the windows!” Cheryl squealed and bounced up the steps beside me.

  Marshall sighed. “Yeah, the windows are the only easy part.”

  “Ladies, try not to get too excited until you see just how much work we’d have to do,” Sebastien shouted up after us.

  I didn’t wait. I jogged through the open doors and inside.

  My breath left me in a rush. Sure, the air was a bit musty and old-smelling…but the mahogany hardwood floors were breathtaking. And they seemed to be in near perfect shape. Bright golden sunlight streamed in through the massive stained glass windows on three of the four walls. The ceilings towered over us and had to be twenty feet high. Up ahead on the fourth wall was a grand staircase that let up to a doorway.

  I grinned. “Looks perfect so far.”

  Deacon wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close. “Yeah, this feels right.”

  My cheeks warmed. I wrapped my arm around his waist and leaned into him. It sure did. “All right, y’all. Tell us what has to be done so we can pick this place.”

  Marshall nodded and headed toward the grand staircase. “Walk with me.”

  “Brace yourselves, kids,” Sebastien said with a chuckle as he followed Marshall.

  “Goddess, I hope we can afford the work needed here,” Cheryl said with a sigh.

  Claudia handed Cheryl her tablet. “Go ahead and take a peek at our plan.”

  “It is a ton of work, but it’s doable.” Heather waved for us to follow. “Besides, what’s the point of having magic if we can’t use it?”

  I grinned. Finally, something Heather and I agreed on.

  Marshall whistled from the second-floor doorway. “Come on. The fun part starts here.”

  “It’s perfect,” I said as we finally reached the front foyer room we’d first entered. “It’s absolutely flawless.”

  Marshall rolled his eyes, but he was grinning. “Minus all the hard work we have to do.”

  It was a couple of hours later and we’d only just finished the tour of the property. Marshall and Sebastien weren’t wrong—the list of things to fix was intimidating. However, I was still confident. Heather and Claudia had a detailed plan of attack, and it made me smile. One, because it meant they knew it was the right property for the school as well. And two, because they knew I was going to want this one and intentionally saved it for last.

  Cheryl sighed and stretched her arms. “Again, can we afford to do this?”

  Claudia smiled and held out her tablet with a spreadsheet on it. “This is the required budget to do all the work we need to.”

  “And this,” Heather said and held out her tablet, “is the budget Constance sent to us.”

  Deacon took both tablets and glanced back and forth between them. He pursed his lips and nodded. “So this place has everything we need, right?”

  “Sure does,” Claudia said with a grin.

  He handed Claudia’s tablet to Cheryl. “Do you see anything missing?”

  Cheryl pushed her burgundy glasses up her nose and scanned the spreadsheet. “Classrooms, training rooms, weapon rooms…an apothecary. An infirmary. Common areas, exercise rooms, and dining hall. Dormitories with more than enough room for growth—yeah, I’d say they got everything.”

  “Don’t forget the indoor pool and dozens of outdoor spaces,” Heather added.

  Deacon handed his mother her tablet. “So, Tennessee’s plan is to open campuses all over the world, in major populated regions and not. He wants to make sure our youth are properly trained. And he has chosen New York as the first campus. Thi
s is a big deal.”

  I nodded. “It means this campus has to be perfect. If we fail here, he won’t open others.”

  “According to the budget Constance provided and the one you are estimating, we should be golden…” Deacon scratched his jaw and tapped his foot. “There’s just not much wiggle room, and that makes me nervous.”

  Heather clutched her tablet to her chest. “This school is our legacy, the four of us. We have the chance to make a difference and to be the first ones to do it. There’s no way we’re going to let this fail. If money is shorter than expected, we are prepared to fill in the rest.”

  Claudia nodded. “We’re ready if it’s needed.”

  Deacon’s eyebrows shot to the ceiling, and his eyes widened. “Really? Wow. I promise The Coven prays it doesn’t come to that, but the offer is much appreciated.”

  Sebastien smiled down at his son. “We want to do our part, in whatever manner that comes.”

  “Besides, we have more money than we can spend on ourselves.” Marshall winked.

  “Well, Empress…” Deacon turned to me and gestured to the building around us. “Tenn said it was your call. Are you saying yes to the dress?”

  I giggled and smacked his arm playfully. “I am definitely saying yes to the dress.”

  Heather grinned wider than I’d ever seen her do before. “Perfect. Let’s get to work.”

  Chapter Four

  Emersyn

  By the time Deacon and I climbed into the elevator in his apartment, I was ready to collapse. My stomach growled like a tiger and I groaned. I was ravenous, but I really, really didn’t want to leave the house to go to dinner. Especially ones as fancy as Heather liked. I wondered if the super rich ordered delivery pizza…

  “Goddess, is it bad I’m secretly hoping my parents had dinner while we worked on the school?” Deacon leaned against the wall. “Because I’m not going back out. Nope.”

  I pressed myself against him and kissed his shoulder. “If not, we can sneak delivery?”

  He moaned. “So devious. I like it.”

  The elevator doors opened…and Stedman was on the other side waiting.

  “Good evening, Deacon and Miss Emersyn,” Stedman said softly and bowed his head. “Pardon for the intrusion, but Miss Emersyn, I would like to see to your belongings being stored. Will you be taking the guest room again, or shall you prefer to share with Deacon?”

  “Um…I’ll be staying in Deacon’s room.” Heat filled my cheeks. I looked up at him and shrugged. “That okay?”

  Deacon beamed, his violet eyes sparkling. “Of course.”

  I smiled and turned to the butler. “Thank you, Stedman.”

  “EMERSYN!”

  I turned just in time to see a glimpse of Amelia before she threw herself at me. With a chuckle, I caught Deacon’s little cousin in my arms and squeezed. “I’m so glad you’re home. We’ve got serious things to discuss.”

  She pulled back and nodded, then gave a mock salute. “Oh, I’ve got all the dirt on the school’s new students.”

  Deacon laughed and shook his head. “All right trouble twins, where’s my mother?”

  Amelia turned and skipped across the foyer and into the living room. I was so caught up in enjoying the peace and happiness in his little cousin that I didn’t realize the scene I’d walked into. The dinner table was set…like with plates, bowls, cups, silverware—the whole kit and caboodle. At the center of the table was a beautiful centerpiece with votive candles.

  And there were five place settings.

  “Whoa…” Deacon mumbled and stared at the table.

  “Oh, you’re home. Wonderful!” Heather said in a chipper voice as she rounded the corner…barefoot.

  “Mom…what… I don’t… Are you barefoot?” Deacon tugged on his hair and shook his head. “What is going on right now?”

  Heather strolled over to the table then rested her hand on the back of a wooden chair. She smiled, but her eyes were sad. “Your father and I dropped the ball these last several years. We let the importance of spending quality family time together go. So…we’re changing that.”

  Sebastien cleared his throat and walked to the chair at the head of the table. “We’ve had our rude awakening. Stedman has prepared a delicious meal for us.”

  “We would love it very much if the two of you would join us?” Heather met my eyes and flushed. “Emersyn, I know this doesn’t make up for my behavior before, but I would very much like a second chance.”

  I blinked and stared at the scene in front of me.

  There was a part of me that wanted to throw all of this in Heather’s face, and it was alarming just how strong that part of me was. But in the end, the other part of me won out. I didn’t want to hold grudges. Life was far too short for that. I would much rather be happy and enjoy life. At the end of the day, that was all that mattered to me. I’d lost enough friends now to know firsthand how bittersweet things were.

  I smiled and pulled one of the chairs out, then sat down. Heather gasped, but it was barely audible, like she really wasn’t sure how I’d react.

  I looked up and met her eyes, then bowed my head. “So, what’s on the menu tonight?”

  Heather sighed and her shoulders dropped. Her sapphire eyes watered. She took the seat diagonal from mine. “Fried chicken, potatoes, and soup. For you.”

  Amelia plopped down across from me and leaned her elbows on the table. “Your favorite!”

  I peeked up at Deacon and smiled. There had been a time not too long ago when I’d wanted a second chance to behave better for Deacon… Maybe Heather and I had more in common than I realized.

  Chapter Five

  Emersyn

  “Emersyn, DUCK!”

  I cursed and dove to the ground just as a neon blue object soared over my head. “Please tell me you kicked it and they do not fly!”

  Sebastien grunted. “They fly!”

  Cheryl squealed from over by the windows. “Why are the rats flying?”

  “Rats do not fly!” Heather shouted from somewhere nearby. “What the hell are these things?”

  “Dead, that’s what!” Cheryl screamed and jumped back to her feet. She picked up a plank of wood and held it like a baseball bat. “Road kill time!”

  “NO!” I yelled.

  But Cheryl didn’t hear me, or maybe she didn’t want to. Five more creatures popped out from the wall right next to her, and she swung her plank. I threw my hands out and pushed my magic right into her. She gasped and tumbled back a few steps.

  I leapt back to my feet and sprinted over. These creatures weren’t demons—they were from the Old Lands. If Deacon hadn’t shown me that spot in Central Park, I might’ve thought they were demons myself. But that moment of hesitation allowed me to sense the Old Lands magic on them. To me, they were neon blue puffy cats that had translucent wings and yellow eyes. But to anyone who’d never been in the Old Lands, they apparently looked like common New York rats.

  But regardless of what they were, I was only in the business of killing demons.

  Heather cursed and pushed over a pile of wooden planks, and a dozen more creatures came tumbling out and then took off in flight. “Why are the rats flying?!”

  “They’re not rats.” Sebastien dropped to his knee and slammed his fist against the wooden floor over and over. “Out!”

  Another dozen blue creatures popped out from the woodwork and raced across the room right toward Cheryl. She shrieked and bounced over to us like a rock skipping the water.

  I shook my head. It didn’t even make sense. They were appearing out of nowhere. There were only tiny cracks in the floors, yet they came right out. Whatever these animals were, they were more afraid of us than we were them. My gut told me they weren’t harmful or dangerous…and we were in their space.

  “What do you mean they’re not rats?” Cheryl hissed and ducked behind Sebastien.

  He shrugged and pointed to where a few of them were huddled in the corner. “They’re blue. Rats aren’t blue, nor
do they fly.”

  Heather’s eyes widened. She looked back and forth between her husband and the creatures. “What do you mean they’re blue?”

  “Blue, like the color of your eyes, dear.”

  Heather looked at him like he had three heads. “They’re gray.”

  “No, they’re actually blue. You just can’t see that.” Sebastien jumped up and skipped over to the wall on my right. He slammed his hand against it, sending a handful more creatures scurrying out. He shook his head. “These are not rats, or demons. I forget what they’re called, but I see them all over the city. They’re harmless. Just wild house cats with wings.”

  Cheryl took a few steps back and leaned against a beam…and a blue creature landed right on her head. She screamed like a banshee and swatted at it.

  Sebastien cursed and ran over. Without hesitating, he plucked it off her head by the back of its neck then sat it gently on the ground. It hissed in panic and sprinted away.

  He chuckled and shook his head. “See, just wild house cats. They’re super friendly.”

  Cheryl huffed and ran her fingers through her blonde hair. “You call that friendly?”

  “Well, it didn’t try to hurt you, did it?” He laughed and squeezed her shoulder. “I mean, we are in their home right now.”

  Their home. He was right. We were. They’d been living here for a while probably, completely invisible to the human eye—and if they saw them they’d only see rats. I frowned and glanced around. We had to get these little guys out of here for their own protection, but I wasn’t going to hurt them to do it. Except I had no idea how to do it. My first instinct was to call Chutney, but she was in the Old Lands and out of reach.

  The only other person I thought might have a suggestion wasn’t feeling quite like herself. But I had nothing to lose. I pulled out my phone and stepped aside as Cheryl, Heather, and Sebastien dodged and chased the fuzzy blue creatures around.