I gulped down another cup of coffee while I got ready, fed Lia and then headed straight to the witch’s house.
Many paranormal creatures were nocturnal, which was good news for the innocent citizens of Durham, but bad news for bounty hunters like me. Witches could go either way, but it was worth seeing if Selina was awake. If she wasn’t, I’d go back to the parking lot on west Geer Street and figure out my next move.
Selina lived in North Trinity Park. Her home was dusky light-blue with white trim– white enough that it had obviously recently been repainted. On the second floor, a balcony ran the full length of what were likely bedrooms, offering views of the street. Green shrubs framed the path leading to her door, and her lawn was perfectly uniform and lush with health.
I walked up the porch steps and tapped my knuckles on the door. A few moments later, a woman answered the door. Her skin was a deep black, her eyes an intense, otherworldly blue. A simple peach-colored floral dress swirled around her ankles and she looked like she’d just stepped off a catwalk.
I was wearing jeans and a t-shirt with a coffee stain on the boob. I’d noticed the coffee stain approximately two minutes ago. I’d taken a shower, but I still had to resist the urge to give my armpit a sniff.
She tilted her head, her eyes curious. “Can I help you?”
“I think so. Are you Selina?”
She nodded, her lips curving in a smile as she threw her long, braided hair over her shoulder.
“I got your name from Gary. I’m hoping you can help me.”
Silence stretched between us as she ran her gaze over me, obviously deliberating whether she should let me in. Finally, she opened her front door and gestured for me to enter. I stepped inside, inhaling the scent of incense mixed with some kind of soup.
“I’m just making an early lunch,” she said. Obviously she wasn’t a nocturnal witch. “Come sit in the kitchen while I check it, and then you can tell me what you need.”
I followed her down the long hallway, noting the soft carpet under my feet. Witches were notorious for walking around with bare feet. They said it helped ground them.
Selina glanced over her shoulder at me. “You don’t like witches.”
I checked my shields as she led me into a huge, open kitchen. They were holding strong, and I frowned at the witch. I wasn’t that transparent. Was I?
She watched me as she tied an apron around her waist, then turned her back on me and lifted the lid of a pot simmering on the stove.
“Don’t take it personally,” I sighed, exhausted. “I don’t like most people.”
Surprisingly, Selina shot me a grin over her shoulder. “I don’t quite believe that. I think you don’twantto like most people. That’s a different thing entirely.”
I frowned at that, and she turned back to her soup, letting out a hum as she stirred. Her kitchen was painted in soft grays and whites. Two metallic gold lights hung above the island I was standing behind, and the same gold accented her cupboards and drawers. Above the oven, long cabinets sheathed the walls, and three wooden stools were tucked in beneath the island.
On the other side of the room, a long, scarred wooden table dominated the space. Next to it, French doors could be opened to allow access to the small backyard. It was a cheerful kitchen— the kind that was designed to be the heart of a family’s home.
Selina placed the lid back on the pot, wiped her hands on her apron, and turned back to face me with a smile. “What can I do for you?”
I pulled the knife from my utility belt and placed it on the counter. “This knife was used to murder at least three demons– likely more. I need to find out who it belongs to.”
She examined the knife where it lay on the counter. “My magic doesn’t work like that,” she said. “I won’t be able to tell you exactly who it belongs to, but I believe I should be able to narrow down your suspects.”
“That would be great.”
“My services are expensive,” she warned, and I shrugged.
“I don’t have much choice at this point.” I held up my arm, and her eyes widened as she examined the mark.
“A demon bond?”
“Yes. I have a chance to break the bond if I can solve these murders in time, so I’ll take any help you can give me.”
She nodded. “Pick it up and bring it over to the dining table,” she instructed me. “I’ll need to sit down for this.”
I did as she asked, and we both sat at the wooden table. Selina took a deep breath and then squared her shoulders, giving me a firm nod. I handed the knife over and her whole body jolted as her eyes rolled back into her head. My hands fisted as she went so still it was as if she barely breathed.
“Not demon,” she muttered. “Not werewolf. Not mage.”
