Magic Awaken: Magic Bound, #2

By J.E. Cluney

Being dead would suck, being partially dead sucks too.

I'm called into work one day to discover a co-worked has been murdered, and despite my grief, my colleagues and I are determined to find out what happened and uncover who would commit such a heinous act.
But finding the justice needed builds tension between my new somewhat boyfriend, Percy Dray, and I.

I'm determined to find out the truth with or without his help, and team up with some childhood friends while learning more about my own powers and what I truly am along the way.

To add fuel to the flames, things get heated with Alex once more. 
Can I sort out my feelings for the two men in my life while finding the killer?

 

***Previously published as Ghostrealm in the Portland Ivy series, contains adult scenes***

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.E. Cluney
• Release date: Apr 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393724940

Book preview

1

Being dead would suck, but being partially dead sucks too.

I’d know, considering I was apparently a ghost. To some extent at least. I was unlike any other ghost, I could become solid at will, drive, touch people and things, have sex, eat, drink. After an accident where my vampire boss drained me after being injured, he’d tried to turn me. Something went wrong; I vanished and reappeared as what I am now. Some kind of hybrid ghost I guess.

I huffed as I entered the office, wondering why I’d been called in on my night off. I’d left my German shepherd/husky mix at home alone with the bathroom door open. I was grateful he’d somehow taught himself to go to the toilet in the shower if he couldn’t get outside. It’d been too late to ask my neighbor Maurice to mind him.

It’d been almost a month since we’d freed Millie the ghost girl and her father from the world of the living. We’d also put down her murderer and saved my now somewhat-boyfriend, Percy Dray, from being murdered for not being a werewolf fighter in a cage match. Derek Pearse, the coyote shifter who had blackmailed a packmate of Percy’s to sell out potential fighters, had been executed last week by the pack for his crimes. And Renae, the woman he’d used, had her son back and was serving out her punishment. Some form of werewolf community service was my understanding.

The other shifters involved had also met the same fate as Derek after the children they’d kidnapped from mothers in other packs were returned, and we’d come to the conclusion from the interrogations that the vampire who ran the cage fights played a part in it all. How big of a part was still unsure, the shifters knew little of whom they’d been ultimately working for. But from all accounts, it seemed Philip Murdoch was the main player in the game, although the Council had been alerted to this crime against the ‘wolf packs.

---

Hey Ivy, Danny murmured as I reached him standing before the hallway. Danny was an associate lawyer in the firm I worked at, a vampire, just like my boss, Alex, the owner of the firm.

Any idea why I’ve been called in? I asked.

Yeah, Danny’s voice was low and sad. Nothing like his usual cheery self. My heart sped up, which is quite a feat considering it barely beats at all considering I wasn’t even really alive.

What’s going on? I pushed for more information, hating the look of despair on the usually bubbly vampire’s face.

It’s Alena, his face was taut and grim as he said the words.

Alena, our accounts lady. She’d been hired the same time as me nearly two years ago. A sweet, petite woman who was always bringing in sweets for us, including her famous brownies, a recipe of her grandma’s that we all enjoyed. A recipe I was still determined to get from her.

What’s wrong with her? the fear gnawed at me as Danny shook his head.

Alex is in her office, he mumbled as he shifted his feet, his blond hair a disheveled mess, nothing like his normal sleek style. He looked lost and broken. I found her when I came in.

Found her? my voice broke. No. Surely he didn’t mean?

I rushed past him to Alena’s office, praying that I’d see the cheery woman perched on the edge of her desk with Alex helping her bandage up a sprained ankle or something. As if it’d be that simple though. I knew it was much worse, but one could always hope.

I froze in her doorway as Alex knelt down beside the body behind her desk.

The body.

Alena.

I could’ve believed she’d just laid down to take a nap, but her skin was pale and her open eyes were unseeing as she stared across the room. My breath caught as a chill ran down my spine.

The bloody mark marring the skin on her neck made it clear. Someone had drained her.

She’s dead, Alex stated as his shoulders slumped.

Why? I managed to say through the lump in my throat.

Danny called me, he came in and found her like this. She was dead quite some time before he came in, Alex murmured, unable to answer my question.

Should we call the police? I asked softly, but I already knew the answer.

It’s a vampire killing, the Council will need to get involved. And they’ll suspect Danny and I first, Alex dragged a weary hand down his face as he stood up.

Surely they’d investigate more? I stared at Alena, unable to believe it. The memories of the sweet woman who’d been regaling us all about her trip to the Rocky Mountains for her four-year anniversary with her boyfriend recently. Who’d shown me hundreds of photos of the breathtaking sights and had worked with me almost every night for two years. We’d laughed many times in the office, always ganged up on Danny, joking with him and making fun of him, an easy feat against such a young vampire.

And now she was gone.

She’s not still around, is she? Alex asked.

It dawned on me now why he’d called me. If her spirit was still here, I could question her. Ask who would’ve done such a terrible thing.

Alena, are you here? I asked the air, but I already knew. I couldn’t sense her, and nothing but silence greeted us.

That’s a no then? Alex finally said after a few moments.

No, she’s not. I slouched against the wall in defeat, trying to look anywhere but at her body.

I should’ve never agreed for her to come in early, she was having issues last night with some discrepancies in the accounting system. She wanted to get in early today to try to fix it, he scolded himself.

None of us started until 8pm, and considering she’d already been here when Danny arrived, it made sense. Someone had got to her before our shifts actually started.

But who? And why? Why would anyone want to hurt her?

We can’t inform the Council yet. She was one of our own; we need to figure out who could’ve done this before we go to the Council.

Suspects. Being an obvious vampire killing, the Council would put Danny and Alex right at the top of the list. Danny first, considering he found her. And I’d read somewhere that those found with the bodies were quite often the killers.

Her boyfriend. Jeremy. He was a vampire as well, quite newly made. But I couldn’t picture that he would be responsible. He’d popped by so many times with flowers and treats while she worked. He couldn’t have done something like this, they were too in love.

Not to mention they’d just celebrated their four-year anniversary not even two weeks ago.

Has anyone informed Jeremy yet? I finally asked, dreading the answer.

No, I thought it’d be best in person, Alex murmured.

We should cover her up, I choked, my eyes falling back on her small frame sprawled on the floor.

Lifeless and cold.

We will. I want you and Danny to go see Jeremy. Tell him. He can come see her if he wants. I’ll get a witch here to assist in tidying her up. Her family doesn’t know of her relationship. Well, the fact he’s a vampire. We don’t want them to know she was killed this way.

Right. That made sense. Although how he’d been able to think ahead for all this was beyond me.

A witch could make her death look like something else. A powerful witch. My friend Maria was only a lower witch, a psychic and potion making one. There were witches who were capable of much more.

But her family. My chest tightened at the thought. Finding out their sweet Alena had passed.

They’ll be crushed and broken beyond belief. Do you think you’re up for that? Alex finally turned to me.

Jeremy, I reminded myself of what I’d been asked to do. He was just as sweet as she was. I didn’t want to, but I owed it to him.

I think it’d be best for you both to leave the office for now. I’ll be calling both Janet and Catherine to let them know as well what’s happened. If you can remember her saying anything, someone threatening her or anything that struck you odd, please let me know.

Okay, I breathed. How Alex was able to handle this so calmly was beyond me. But someone had to. And I was grateful it wasn’t me.

Ask Jeremy as well if you can, he might know of someone who could’ve done this, Alex said softly.

I nodded and turned back, jumping to find Danny right behind me. His sad eyes looked so lost. They had been close, great friends. Danny had helped her with many questions and advice with Jeremy during our time here, like dating a vampire and what to expect.

I’ll drive, Danny stated, pulling his eyes from Alena to focus on me.

I let him lead the way, all the while trying to understand who would possibly want to hurt her?

---

She was so happy yesterday, I said, my voice a bare whisper.

Danny didn’t say a word as he focused on the road.

Why would anyone hurt her? I murmured as I pulled my cardigan tight around my shoulders. An unease chill had settled over me.

I don’t know, Danny said quietly.

She was so sweet, always so helpful and constantly bringing us baked goodies, I swallowed in an effort to remove the lump caught in my throat. She’d even helped me move into my new apartment.

I always asked her about my lady friends, things to get them, romantic suggestions, Danny managed a sad smile. I told her some of the best vampire places to take Jeremy to. He couldn’t have done this. This is going to ruin him.

I know. I thought of Alena’s partner. I still remembered one late night when he dropped by with a box of chocolates and wine for all of us to keep us motivated. Alex allowed him to stay around the office, chatting and conversing with us all. We were even allowed to enjoy the wine.

But what if something had gone wrong? If Alena had upset him somehow? Was he still so newly turned that he’d react badly?

Can vampires control themselves well when they’re newly turned? I asked.

At first, no, but as long as someone teaches them. Jeremy has been a vampire for seven years now, he has good control.

When you told us you were just over fifty years old, did that include your human years? I wondered out loud.

No, those are turned years. Vampires don’t include their human years in their age.

Right.

Does it hurt? Being turned? I turned to look over at him. His long-sleeved white button up shirt was wrinkled and hanging loose from his waistband. He normally tucked it in, always looking perfectly handsome.

I guess tonight was not a night he cared for appearances.

A bit I s’pose.

I let the conversation die as I looked out the window at the lights whizzing by.

Being drained would’ve been a slow death. Had she screamed? Had anyone heard her?

I’ll miss the way you two would taunt me and joke with me, Danny murmured, keeping his eyes firmly on the road.

Yeah, she had some spark in her, I said as my lips tugged into a smile.

I once asked her what the most romantic thing was that I could do. What would make a woman feel loved, Danny sighed.

And?

She said simply making time. Always answering texts, even if it was only something short. Messaging them sweet things, making sure they knew their man was thinking of them.

I slumped deeper into the seat. The way Danny spoke, you would’ve thought they were more than friends. Maybe.

You guys were close, maybe even closer than we were, I said as I watched him carefully for his response.

I did care for her. Alena reminded me of a sister I had, Belle, before I was turned. She was like her so much.

Now it made sense.

I never asked how you were turned. I tried to change the subject.

My family died in a house fire, I was the only survivor. Our neighbor was the one who stopped me from going back in after them. He told me they were already dead, and I’d be throwing my life away as well if I went in. He told me I had to live for them, keep their memory alive, Danny’s shoulders relaxed. He took me in, taught me how to work hard on his farm. It was hard, living right next to my old home, but eventually we moved closer to the city, and he took up practicing law. I learned under him, and eventually ended up as his partner in business. He was the one who finally pieced everything together as more evidence came to light. My house fire hadn’t been an accident, a scorned man, someone my mother had had an affair with, a few times, wanted my parents to burn. He didn’t care about my sister being in there. I got home just as the place was going up in flames.

Danny’s face tightened as his eyes flickered with a vivid memory. I gritted my teeth at the moment of pain he showed before he shoved it aside. Anyway, he pushed and we eventually charged the man and he was locked away. He died in prison. And I made it my job to help as many families as I could. Eventually, he asked me if I wanted to do this forever. To help people forever. I agreed, and that’s when I found out he was a vampire. You would’ve thought I’d known considering we did everything at night, but he always said it was because of the heat during the day, he couldn’t cope with it. He turned me and I’ve been practicing law ever since.

I just stared at him, taking in his life story. It was… incredible, to say the least.

Do you keep in touch still? I asked.

No. My sire was murdered by a client, a vampire older than he was. Alex was a friend, and he took me in, offering me a job with him. I do keep in touch with his other prodigy though. His own daughter who he turned. It’s been quite some time since I’ve seen her, but she’s like a sister to me as well.

I’m so sorry to hear that, I gave him a sympathetic smile. I had never known about his past. About any of this actually. He’d lost all his family, and then his new father figure. I would never have guessed it.

Don’t be, it’s been decades, he shrugged it off. Anyway, we’re here.

Danny pulled into the parking lot and shut the engine off. I climbed out, drawing in the cool night air to prepare myself. This was going to crush Jeremy.

I managed a sad smile at the glowing neon sign across the top of the bar. ‘Vampire’s Delight’. When Alena had told me about it, I hadn’t realized that was the actual name.

We strode up to the door and inside, Danny leading the way right over to the bar. I spotted Jeremy as soon as we walked in, his cheery demeanor already killing me inside. He worked behind the bar, chatting vibrantly to his many customers.

This sucks ass, Danny mumbled in my ear over the sound of drunken laughter and some old rock music from before my time.

I know, I said as I sidestepped a waitress bringing food to the small booths lining the walls.

Ivy! Danny!

Shit, Danny muttered