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Once he’s gone, I think of Mattie’s journal and slip it out from beneath my pillow. Maybe she can inspire me toward an answer for saving Odai. She couldn’t save him, but maybe through her, I can see more of the wrong questions to get closer to the right ones.
It’s a little weird lying with my junk out as my skin cools from the afterglow, so I put the rest of my clothes back on before I read. The next entry is mostly just relaxing, and interesting, given everything Mattie writes about is history I love.
Until I get to one terrifying part near the end.
August 26, 1885, cont.
This was the first time I realized the incubus kills intentionally. Naturally, I confronted him. I might dabble in revenge and a little eye for an eye, but never outright murder. When pressed, he admitted to killing more than the ones I knew about, all in the name of keeping my interests, my wishes, safe.
I need to be rid of him or accept the guilt of his actions continuing to escalate, of him continuing to kill in my name.
“Odai!” I cry out. “I wish for you to be back here right now.”
Nothing happens. Is he not listening? I know he doesn’t need to be in my presence for wishes to work.
It is time I finished my efforts toward ensuring Mrs. Sherman never stands in the way of Madame Mattie’s again.
I reach for the amulet to try again and—
I’m not wearing it! What did I do with the amulet? I wore it to Fluid Fashion. I took it off when I changed into the new clothes and put it in my bag with the rest of what I wore there.
Which I dropped and left downstairs! My wishes were working before, so if they’re not now…
Someone else has the amulet.
Odai
The back rooms to the offices of Curves are narrow and winding, easy to get lost in—or to remain hidden in. Mrs. Sherman has employees, personal trainers and the like, so she rarely needs to be on the floor of the workout center. After I sneak in through the back, where I assume she will be, it takes little effort to locate the primary office where she is clacking away on her computer.
Blocking her view to the office door is enough clutter, boxes and shelving, that she will not see me until my claws are at her throat. Given the scandal with her now ex-husband, compounded with her failure to discredit Madame Mattie’s, making this look like she left town after those devastations will indeed be easy.
I ready myself to take that all-important first step into her office, but freeze right before I can, as a chill assaults me at the severing of my pact with Jeffrey.
I wish this coffee was still hot.
I can see Cas about to take a sip from her mug. She is wearing the amulet, prompting me to grant her wish. She startles at discovering the coffee is hot, like she wanted, as if freshly poured.
My compulsion to continue the fulfillment of Jeffrey’s wishes falls away. I am reset. Yet I am unsure what to do. I must present myself to Cas. Being in possession of the amulet and making a wish is all the pact requires, but it is my custom that my owner understand as much as I can tell them and first says yes.
Jeffrey erupts from the second-floor staircase. He sees that Cas is wearing the amulet and rushes toward her, but not before another wish leaves her lips.
I wish this paperwork would do itself for once.
She turns away, not seeing that the paperwork on the checkout counter begins to float, rearrange its pages, and indeed “do itself.”
Jeffrey knocks the floating paperwork to the floor.
Dude, what the hell? Cas spins to face him.
Thought I saw a spider! Can I have my pendant back, please?
Huh? Oh, sorry. Couldn’t resist trying it on. It fell out of your bag when you ran up for that booty call. She removes it and hands it back to Jeffrey. As soon as he comes into contact with the amulet, I reset again, but not to the start.
Jeffrey needn’t make a fresh wish. Our pact is renewed, and I am un-paused from how I was torn from being in his service, reinvigorated to fulfill his every desire at all costs.
And to do that, Mrs. Sherman must die.
You’re not helping me with these papers? I hear Cas call after Jeffrey, still seeing them clearly with how vivid my connection is whenever new or renewed.
