Revelations (The Aria Knight Chronicles Book 2)

1

ARIA

She knew she wasn’t faster than a bullet, especially one to the back of the head.

Aria’s breath caught in her throat as she felt the barrel of a gun pressed to the base of her skull. The pressure of the weapon against her head was just as unsettling as the silence of the person who had the gun trained on her. If he fired a shot, it certainly wouldn’t be a warning. She cursed at herself for making such a rookie mistake, even though in truth, she was a beginner. Joey Marsden didn’t care, but she had to find a way to make him.

I’m not a cop. She thought she’d tell him that part first, in her most soothing voice. Is it okay if I turn around and talk to you?

She heard a sigh escape from Joey. He pulled the cold steel away from the back of her head. What are you doing in my house? Who sent you?

God, Harry’s probably flipping out right now. She was supposed to just walk the perimeter, take a few pictures with her cell phone, and scoop up evidence that Joey stalked the hell out of a young woman who reminded Aria of herself when she was younger. She didn’t want the other girl to end up in the hospital with a broken rib and a black eye like she once did.

Aria slowly raised her hands and turned around to face him. He still aimed the gun at her, but at least he was able to see her face. Aria had discovered over the years that sometimes people had a harder time doing violent things when they had to look the other person straight in the eyes.

Katie Benson sent me. I’m a private investigator.

Joey’s bloodshot eyes shifted, and he licked his dry, cracked lips. Are you a witch?

Aria’s stomach knotted, already knowing what she would say. The wrong answer would get her head blown off. I’m a sin eater, but that’s beside the point. Katie hired me because you didn’t leave her alone, then you tried to deny everything, so now she’s going to the authorities with proof of what you’re doing. She lifted her hands higher, palms forward, to remind him he’d be shooting an unarmed woman. Hey…maybe I can talk to her, get her to not press charges if you promise to leave her alone. For good.

Sweat beaded Joey’s forehead. He licked his lips again and shifted. She caught a greenish gleam in his eyes. It looked like Joey Marsden suffered the effects of a spell.

"I can’t leave her alone. His hands trembled as he lowered the gun slightly. He ran his free hand through his thick black hair. I love her, we’re meant to be together."

And Aria thought her first gig with Harry Storm was a run-of-the-mill stalker case. She didn’t know whether to be intrigued or worried. "You...love Katie? When was the last time she spoke with you?"

Joey rubbed the stubble on his chin. Uh...I haven’t slept for a few days, so, I can’t...we had drinks last month at a bar. Now, she won’t return my phone calls...I show up at her job, her parents’ house, and she treats me like shit.

Probably because that’s creepy, Joey. But, the good news is that I can help you. When you had drinks with Katie, did you have a sweet taste in your mouth that suddenly turned bitter? Maybe you even felt a slight shock on your tongue, like static electricity?

His deep blue eyes widened in response to her question. His head bobbed up and down in confirmation. Something happened to me. What was that?

She lowered her hands. You must’ve drank a love potion. A sloppily constructed one, for you to go obsessive.

He shook his head. My feelings for Katie are real.

They probably are, but I bet you realize you’ve been acting out of character. Have you taken a look in the mirror?

If his reckless actions were the result of a spell’s compulsion rather than his own free will, then Aria would be able to see it clearly in his soul. Gathering her power and fine-tuning her senses, she spun a tendril of energy toward Joey, as easily as whispering into someone’s ear. The tendril, invisible to Joey, connected to his head and sank into his dark hair and pale skin. A cursory examination of the sins staining his spirit like black ink told her that willfully harassing Katie Benson wasn’t one of them.

Joey grimaced and looked on the verge of tears. So...you’re saying the only reason I love Katie is because of some potion?

Aria nodded. Sorry about that. I can lift the spell for you.

He raised the gun and aimed it at her. Then I’d lose what I have with her. I’d rather keep it.

Harry crashed into Joey from behind. He wrapped his right arm around Joey’s neck and placed the crook of his elbow right beneath his chin while pressing the palm of his right hand against the back of Joey’s head. Joey let out a strangled shout and tried to pistol whip Harry, but dropped the gun when Harry forced him to the floor.

Aria rushed forward and swiped the gun from the worn, hardwood floor. Joey grunted in protest as Harry, still holding him in a sleeper hold from behind, wrapped his legs around him and kept him on the ground.

Harry… Aria’s voice cracked as she watched Joey’s eyes bulge and then roll back.

I’ve got him. Harry’s nostrils flared as he tightened his grip on Joey, the veins in his thick arms protruding from the sheer strength being used.

When Joey finally passed out from the sleeper hold, Harry released him, his breath ragged and cheeks flushed. He pushed the unconscious man off him and rose to his feet, giving Aria a critical eye.

I told you not to come in here.

Aria slid the gun behind a nearby vase and faced Harry. She felt a mixture of embarrassment and indignation over her brazen disobedience. The possibilities of what could’ve gone wrong between Katie Benson and Joey Marsden struck a chord with her—a painful one.

Sorry, Harry. She nodded toward Joey’s coffee table just a few feet away. He’s got some of her mail, even some personal items.

Harry dusted off his gray t-shirt and grunted. I’ll take care of it. Should be enough to take to the police.

A long sigh escaped Aria’s lips as she knelt over Joey and cradled his head between her hands. Her hands warmed as a wave of magical energy poured from her center and washed over the young man. She could taste the lingering effects of the magic from the love potion, still rushing through his veins and poisoning his mind. She latched on to the spell with her own magic, reversing the flow and drawing the love magic out from Joey.

She turned her head and glanced at Harry, who busied himself with taking pictures of the incriminating evidence with an HD spy watch he always wore. He then pulled out a pair of latex gloves and bagged a crystal ballerina figurine which belonged to Katie but would certainly have Joey’s fingerprints on them.

Let’s get out of here, Aria. Unless you’re thinking of rummaging through this guy’s house and throwing a party while you’re at it.

She glared at him before turning to face Joey again. He actually slept peacefully, probably for the first time in days. The spell would’ve killed him. She stood and joined Harry as he exited through the back door and passed through the backyard. He had parked his ‘77 Maverick in the alley.

Harry, Aria said in a low voice, we need to go speak with Katie. There’s more to this story. Joey was under the influence of a love potion.

He held the back gate open for her and then beat her to the car so he could open the passenger side door for her. Bullshit, the guy’s a psycho, he’s just blaming it on a spell. Do you know how many people I’ve come across who blame wizards and magic for their crimes?

She slid into her seat and closed the door. When he got into the driver seat, she gave him a pointed look. And what about your Imperare curse?

He stiffened and gripped the steering wheel. That’s different.

Well, she certainly agreed it was nothing like a mere potion. A wizard named Warren Bright had fought Harry and hit him with an Imperare curse. It tore open his mind and allowed three spirits to inhabit him and take control. It was like being possessed, and Harry had only managed to obtain a temporary fix.

Aria crossed her arms. We need to go to Katie’s and get this sorted out. And, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry about barging in there the way I did.

He started the car, and the engine rumbled. Hey, it’s fine. I like my trainees to go and do the one fucking thing I asked them not to do. It’s utterly satisfying.

She crossed her arms and swayed in her seat as the car took off and turned the first corner. 1963, Harry.

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. What?

1963.

What happened then?

Richard Hollister happened. He beat me so badly that I had to crawl to a neighbor’s house for help. That was after I rejected him, and after weeks of stalking. But back then, there weren’t really any protections against it.

The car slowed to a stop at a red light. He hissed and gritted his teeth. I didn’t know. I’m sorry.

When I saw the same pattern with Joey, I thought it was a way for me to help someone, to save her from what ended up happening to me. She shook her head. Her mind told her to follow Harry’s instructions, but her heart told her to jump in, find what she needed, and make sure Joey was taken down before anyone got hurt. She would’ve been the hero—at least, that’s how she wanted it all to play out.

Harry stepped on the pedal when the light turned green. He offered her a half-smile. You look my age. Younger, even. I forget sometimes that you’ve had a long life. Must be a blessing.

Or, it could’ve been a curse.

It was in Aria’s blood and bones as a sin eater to alleviate people, help them...save them. In return for eating away their transgressions and ushering the dead to paradise, she received an unusually long lifespan. The catch though was that if she refrained from sin eating for too long, she would grow old and die.

She had been so engrossed in her thoughts, that she didn’t even notice when Harry had pulled up to Katie Benson’s apartment building on Patterson Street and parked the car. We’re here, he told her in a low voice.

Her chest heaved with a sigh. Okay, let’s go find out why she thought it was a good idea to slip Joey a love potion.

Katie closed her window to shut out the sound of traffic and music blasting from speakers. Her large apartment overlooked an impressive view of the Miracle Falls City Park. Aria caught a glimpse of people gathering across the street at the park. She grimaced when she saw most of them wearing sapphire armbands, a sign that they were pro-Watchers and anti-wizard. Of all times in the city of Miracle Falls, this was the worst to ensnare people with dangerous magic and prove that wizards were what ordinary people always feared. She didn’t want to end up on the Wizard Registry that