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Larissa’s gaze came to mine. For the first time, horror rather than fear lurked in the golden depths. “I said I’d pick her up after work. I wasn’t going to lose money because she was suddenly spooked.”
Yet more evidence that Larissa still didn’t understand the true direness of the situation she was now in. “What happened?”
“The front door was open, so I went in.” Color leached from her face, and her voice shook as she added, “Frankie was in the lounge room with a man I didn’t know. They’d had sex—I could smell it in the air. She was sitting astride his body, but leaning over him, her mouth open and a couple of inches away from his. She looked to be drinking in this weird sort of sparkly mist that was coming out of his mouth. He was shaking, you know, like it hurt, but his eyes were closed and I’d swear he was asleep.”
“Did you recognize the victim?”
Larissa hesitated. “No. He wasn’t a wolf, though.”
“Did Frankie say or do anything when you arrived?” Aiden asked. “Did she even see you?”
“Hell, yeah.” She shuddered. “Her eyes—they were dead, you know? Not just lifeless, but colorless. Black.”
“And that’s when you ran?” I asked.
“Wouldn’t you? It was weird, you know? After her phone call, I wasn’t going to take a chance. And then Aron and Marlinda were also killed, and I feared it might be coming after me next.”
“Did she run after you?”
“Yeah, but I got outside and she didn’t follow. She stood in the doorway and screamed at me to come back. I didn’t. I just got the fuck out of there. It was pretty obvious that whatever we’d let in had taken her over.”
Not just taken her over, but had dined on her soul and was in control of her flesh. “So why did you try to kill me?”
“I didn’t want you dead,” she muttered sullenly. “I just wanted you maimed. I’d heard you were looking for me, and thought if you were temporarily out of action, I could get enough cash and things together, and get the fuck out of this place.”
“That wouldn’t have stopped me from locating you.” It wouldn’t have stopped a dark spirit, either; not without some major form of magical protection, anyway.
Surprise flickered across Larissa’s expression. “Don’t psychic talents have a range limit of effectiveness?”
“Generally, no,” I said. “You could have been on the other side of Australia and I would still have found you.”
If—and it was a big if—whatever personal item I’d been using to track her had a strong enough connection. But I didn’t bother adding that. I’d rather she think there would have been no escape.
“Do you have any idea where Janice lives?” Aiden asked.
“No, because she was Marlinda’s friend, as I said. You might find something at her place.”
Aiden grunted and glanced at me. “How urgent is closing off that Ouija board?”
“The longer it’s left, the greater the chance of something worse than the soul eater coming through.”
“I didn’t think there could be anything worse.” He shuddered, and then turned around to face the elders. “With your permission, I’ll call one of my deputies to come and pick up Larissa.”
“Will she be charged with attempted murder?”
“Yes. I’m not sure if we can make a case of her being involved in Aron’s murder, but we’ll give it a try.”
“What the fuck?” Larissa said. “I ain’t responsible—”
“You had your hand on the planchette, did you not?” I cut in.
“Yes, but I wasn’t the one who—”
“Then you’re as responsible for this mess as everyone else.” I returned my gaze to Aiden. “Can I suggest you delay taking her down to the station for at least a few hours?”
He frowned. “Sure, but why?”
“With the way the gossip brigade works in town, it’ll only take a couple of minutes for the whole place to know she’s in custody,” I said. “So if the soul eater is hunting for her, it might be wise to arrange full spirit protection around the station to protect your people once she’s there.”
