Open-Haunted-House Read online

  “How are the injuries?” Benny asked, and her three companions looked resigned.

  “I am nearly recovered. Still getting used to a few things, though.” She held up her dark grey hand, and Benny laughed.

  Neekil cocked his head. “You don’t have a problem with the exposure?”

  She looked around and said, “I don’t think that any of the men in this diner would assume for a moment that I was a sex kitten or up for grabs.”

  She gave Neekil a bland look. “I am not saying that they won’t try something in the future, but they are not thinking of trying anything today.”

  Her food showed up, and she grinned, grabbing for the carafe of syrup.

  She attacked her breakfast while Neekil ordered his and watched her with an amused horror.

  Hannah gave him a sneer. “Don’t look so horrified; you have seen worse. I grew up on job sites, remember? This is how I start my day.”

  He blinked and nodded. “Fair enough.” He turned to his team and said, “Gentlemen, the lady would like some privacy for her meal. No one can enjoy her savagery but me.”

  His team snickered and returned to their table. Hannah continued to work her way through her breakfast, and when she finally completed the last triangle of toast, applause rang out around the diner, and several bills were exchanged.

  Neekil smiled and accepted his own breakfast from the server. “You are remarkable in strange and unusual ways.”

  She reached over and stole a piece of bacon off his plate, resuming her human appearance. “You say the sweetest things.”

  He grinned and began methodically demolishing his meal.

  She sat back and finished her stolen bacon and the second cup of coffee that she had been served. It was just a fun breakfast with her partner in a room full of heavily armed men—the usual.

  Chapter Four

  Once breakfast was done, he walked her to her car. “So, where is your appointment?”

  “It’s with my boss. I got a text yesterday that she had heard about some unusual activity at the Grunwald mansion, and she needs to talk to me about it.”

  “Do you need backup?”

  She grinned. “No. If she is going to fire me, she will fire me. Either way, I have the contract with the mayor and other listings to work with.”

  “What about the mansion?”

  “If she wants to assign it to another agent, she has to let me move through my contract period. I have until the first to sell it, and I already have an offer.”

  “So, she fires you, and you move on?”

  She laughed. “Pretty much.”

  “You are not worried at all.” He finally seemed to put that together.

  “I am not. I have a string of backup plans a mile wide. Signing with an agency was just the easiest way to get my feet wet.”

  He laughed. “Boy, did that backfire on you.”

  She squeezed his arm. “I don’t know. I got a good prize out of it.”

  “Here, I think I got the prize.” He slipped his arm around her. “Even if she wants me neutered.”

  “Not neutered, just rendered sterile... your body would heal itself in time.” She grimaced. “I made sure to look up the regeneration abilities of the dark elves before I said anything.”

  He sighed. “At least you knew it wouldn’t be permanent.”

  “I don’t want you knocked out, I just want you stunned.”

  “I can work condoms.” He turned her to face him.

  She blinked and blushed. “Good. I can’t. I am all thumbs.”

  He leaned in to kiss her. “Finally, something you can’t do. I was thinking about developing a complex.”

  She met his kiss and looped her arms around his neck. The public display didn’t bother her. When they separated, he smiled. “I have to check in on my team’s open cases. My clearance has been reinstated. If you don’t need me, I have studying to do.”

  Hannah stroked his chest. “The ways I need you are many and varied. But, go and study.”

  He smiled and reached into his pocket. “This is me.”

  He dialled with his thumb, and her phone buzzed the indicator that there was a text. She reached for her phone, and there was an image of her backside in the skirt she was wearing.

  “When did you take that?”

  “In the doctor’s waiting room. I haven’t seen you in a skirt before. Well, not while outside your body. It looks nice.” He grinned. “It is going to be my screen saver.”

  She made a fist but didn’t punch him or summon a hammer. “Fine. Have your fun, but just imagine all the fun photos for your phone you just smugged yourself out of.”

  He paused, and then, his eyes went wide. “I will delete it immediately.”

  “No. Keep it.” She kissed his cheek. “I have to be going.”

  She opened her car door and pulled herself up and into position. He stepped into the open door and kissed her again. “Text me when you are done. It is more common now than it was five years ago. I need the practice.”

  She nodded. “Right. Now go and play with your paperwork. I have to wrestle with the head of my agency. This is probably not going to end well for one of us.”

  “Is this related to what you were printing out last night?”

  Hannah grinned. “It certainly does. Now, shoo. I have a metaphorical dragon to confront.”

  He finally left her, and she closed the door and buckled up—time to talk to her boss.

  Mrs. Northrup was waiting outside the mansion and looking nervous.

  Hannah stepped out of her vehicle with her portfolio in the crook of her arm. “Good morning, Mrs. Northrup.”

  Her boss looked confused. “Good morning, Hannah. I have been getting some reports from around town about the goings-on here, and I need you to confirm them.”

  Hannah smiled. “Certainly. Would you like to come inside? The troublesome entity has been removed.”

  “Has it? How?”

  “That is a trade secret, I am afraid, but the darkness and threat to future occupants have been removed.”

  Mrs. Northrup nodded. “I would like to see it.”

  Hannah used the lockbox and opened the door. She opened it wide, and Mrs. Northrup followed her inside.

  “Everything here looks to be in good order.”

  Hannah smiled. “Yes, everything is fine in the house. The difficulty was localized in the main ballroom.”

  Mrs. Northrup quickened her step. “What about the mantlepiece?”

  “Oh, that was the source of the murders. It had to be removed.”

  Her boss stopped in shock. “That mantlepiece was priceless.”

  “That mantlepiece was a wood god with an XIA agent wedged in him. They have both been removed, and a mantle of commensurate value has been acquired. There hasn’t been any damage to the property value.”

  Hannah walked into the ballroom, and the stone mantlepiece was nearly complete.

  Mrs. Northrup exhaled and inhaled sharply. “Is that...”

  “It’s dark elf stonework. This makes it the fourth piece of this size in the world and dramatically increases the value of the property.”

  The realtor took out a magnifying glass and examined the carvings. “Oh, my. They are...”

  “Intimate tableaux? Yeah. They aren’t done yet. The artisans will finish it tonight.”

  Mrs. Northrup paused. “There are dark elves? There will be dark elves here?”

  “Sure. Their sibling was the one who was trapped in the mantlepiece. This was a replacement for the one that was destroyed and a thank you for the return of their brother.”

  Mrs. Northrup reached out to caress the stone. “It is exquisite. Can it be removed?”

  “No. It is bound to the stone and soil beneath the mansion. It will be removed only when the house comes down.” She smiled. “It is also bound to the structure with magic, so if you try and move it, all that stone falls to pieces.” That was a l
ie, but she could see Mrs. Northrup trying to figure out a way to get a few quick millions.

  “It’s a shame that the city will reap the benefits of this sale.”

  “It isn’t finished or ready for sale yet, but yes, they are the legal owners.”

  “What remains to be done?”

  “Upgrading electrical, getting inspectors in. The usual in a house that hasn’t been occupied in years.”

  Mrs. Northrup nodded. “Right. Um, Miss Lee, I have also been hearing rumours about you.”

  Hannah smiled. “Have you now? What kind of rumours?”

  “Well, my housekeeper’s sister is a nurse, and she mentioned that you had to be under XIA guard for violence over the weekend.”

  Hannah smiled. “Did she now? That is amazing considering that it means she was breaking the law and is going to lose her job.”

  Mrs. Northrup drew herself up. “You know that we have morals clauses. I am afraid that if you have been arrested, your employment with us is now terminated.”

  Mrs. Northrup caressed the stone. “Please leave quietly.”

  Hannah nodded and said, “Just a moment.”

  Hannah reached into her portfolio and pulled out the acknowledgment of immediate termination. She signed, dated, and marked the time, then she handed the document to Mrs. Northrup.

  After two minutes of perusal, she signed. “I am very sorry about this, but no hard feelings. I wish you well in your career. Just not with us.”

  Hannah nodded and put the document back in her portfolio. “I will send a copy to your offices this evening.” She pulled out her phone and dialled. Leonora answered. “Hello, Leo. Yes, I have been dismissed, as you guessed. You will? Excellent. Thank you.”

  She disconnected the call. Mrs. Northrup was staring at her. Her phone started ringing.

  She pulled out the phone. “Northrup Realty. Yes? Oh, good morning, Miss Wicks.”

  Hannah walked to the window and looked out as her boss was fired from her job as representative of the property.

  There were a few splutters of argument, but eventually, Mrs. Northrup nodded and agreed. “It has been pleasant working with you, Miss Wicks. Please forward that opinion to the mayor as well. Thank you.”

  The beep at the end of the call heralded the start of the tantrum.

  “You knew about this?”

  Hannah looked back at her. “What? I knew that you would fire me because this house tried to kill me. I suspected. He had whispered to me about worshippers, so I am beginning to think that you actually sent me here as a replacement for the agent that was in a coma. He was interfering with the entity’s digestion.”

  Mrs. Northrup looked angry. Magical energy was sparking around her.

  Hannah watched her and laughed. She opened the image of herself pierced by the vines and held it up for her. “I survived this and am standing here in front of you now. Do you think your sparks and lack of focus can freak me out?”

  She smiled at the look of horror on Mrs. Northrup’s face. “Maybe you can’t get the full effect. Here. Allow me.”

  She did the projection spell, and they were standing next to a limp and bleeding Hannah. “Yeah, that was not a fun day. But you want to know the funny thing? If I had given in to him, he would have made me a god. He was whispering it while I tried to avoid him in his little dimensional space.

  “The XIA agent with me in the hospital wasn’t my guard; he was my lifeline. There was a lot of damage left by those vines. My family had to dig deep for healers, but they got me back together. It is amazing that you would think it is appropriate to fire me, but thank you for stating it. It means I can continue my own career path.”

  Mrs. Northrup blinked. “What are you going to do?”

  “Oh, I am going to change the lockboxes and the entry code at the gate. Then, I am going to get this place up to code.”

  “What? You were fired as well as we were? You work for us.”

  She held her phone up and played the audio of Mrs. Northrup firing her.

  “My career path is no longer your concern. And as there is no non-compete clause active in my contract, I can do whatever the hell I want. Now, please leave this listing; it isn’t open to the public.”

  She smiled brightly with her best agent expression. “Thanks for coming out.”

  She escorted Mrs. Northrup to the door and changed out the lockbox, as she had stated. She would get the locks rekeyed immediately. Leo’s words were final.

  Hannah called her favourite locksmith and got a rush order out. She needed the house locks and the main gate with similar locks.

  She sent a text to Leonora telling her about the change in representation for the home as well as the substantial addition to the home’s value.

  There was a smiley face before the words, The contract is for market value. That means market value at time of hitting the market. So, do what you can, Matthias can bear it. So, what is your new company called?

  Hannah paused. I will have an answer by the end of the day.

  Excellent. I want to know who I can put on our recommendation list. Have you had a chance to look over those other properties?

  That is my plan for the afternoon. I hope to look at the first before dinner.

  Keep me informed of your findings.

  That was it, and it was succinct. She was working for the mayor’s office now, which involved a lot more scrutiny than anything else in her life. It was a good thing that she thrived under pressure.

  Now, she just had to tell her parents about the day’s events. Talk about pressure.

  Chapter Five

  Once the locks were taken care of, she warded the house for protection against anyone but a dark elf. If the guys showed up before she got back, she didn’t want them locked out.

  She had spilled enough blood in the house and grounds to make her wards particularly effective.

  Neekil sent her a text. How did it go?

  I am fired. Hooray!

  Do you want to go for lunch?

  The magic expenditure had made her rather peckish. Sure. Where?

  How do you feel about tacos?

  She grinned. I can be there in twenty minutes.

  Meet you there.

  She laughed, locked up, and got into her car. The mansion was secure, and she was a free agent with a ton of contracts. There was nothing like a fresh start with a focused direction.

  Hannah put the vehicle in gear and drove around the wide cul-de-sac and down to the gate. She put in the new code on the internal keypad and watched the gates swing inward.

  She drove through when she had clearance and then waited in the drive for them to latch behind her. Once her job site was secure, she drove off toward the industrial sector, where Dem-rah had his taco truck. Any meal but breakfast was available. He closed before dawn and reopened at eleven.

  Hannah hummed to herself and drove the ten minutes from the mansion to the taco truck. A line was already forming.

  She pulled up and got out of her car with her purse cross-bodied for safety. This wasn’t precisely a safe area for a woman alone.

  Hannah looked around and did some math. There would still be a table available when she got to place her order. There were three people in front of her, and no one looked like they wanted to stay.

  She listened to the orders and smiled. They were thrill-seeking. It was obvious by them ordering off the displayed menu. She caught his scent a moment before Neekil’s arms wrapped around her.

  She stroked his hand over her waist. “Hey, Pookie. How was your morning of paperwork, and why are you sweaty?”

  He pressed a kiss to her neck. “I left my car at your place and ran here.”

  She snorted. “You could have told me. I could have picked you up.”

  “I will soon be arresting folk for that behaviour.”

  “For picking you up while you are jogging? Wow, you are strict.” She stepped forward and hauled him with her. They
were next.

  The counter server was taking orders, but Dem-rah looked over his shoulder, and his eyes lit up. “Ar-Thuat! You’re back!”

  Neekil grinned. “Good to see you, too, Dem-rah. How is business?”

  “Ah, the humans keep coming. Benny wrote an article about me on that paper she used to work for. Now, I am a tourist attraction.”

  They were speaking goblin, so Hannah ignored them as she stepped forward and ordered four tacos, extra hot, spiced cider, and a bottle of water. She also placed her order in goblin.

  The counter person stared, and she rolled her glamour across her features.

  She paid for her food and looked to Neekil. “I will meet you at the table. You catch up.”

  She stepped firmly out of his embrace and went to wait with the others. Neekil rattled off his order and smiled. “You really have to meet her, Dem-rah. She is something else.”

  “Little Hannah? I have known her since she was a teenager.”

  “Come speak with us when you have a minute.”

  She listened to Neekil rattle off his order for ten tacos at goblin hot. He also ordered lemonade and a bottle of water.

  When he moved over to the waiting group, he wrapped his arms around her again. She put her arms over his and dropped her glamour. The gasps were gratifying, and the phones aimed at her were annoying. She let the images be taken. Neekil kissed her neck again.

  “You are into public displays?”

  “With you? Any chance I have is welcome. When we are both working, there will be fewer opportunities for moments like this.”

  He wasn’t wrong. His days off might not coincide with her downtime. This was really one of the few chances to just enjoy being out together.

  She turned her head, and he kissed her. She yelped when her number was called, and she squirmed free of his grip.

  It was Dem-rah that handed her the food. His eyes were wide, and she confirmed the number before walking away to a table with a parasol. The dark elf skin did retain more heat. She would get used to it, but it was going to take some doing.

  She used some of the water to rinse her hands, and she crossed her fingers and tasted the hot sauce that came on the side. Hannah fought the urge to inhale; it would only make things worse.