“That’s not good at all,” Thruor said. “We don’t need any more trouble.”

“Maybe you and Mike really should pull that disappearing act. Do you have any clue what it was?”

Thruor frowned deeply. “It had no effect on bystanders?”

“I sort of want one, but not without knowing what it really is, what it really does, and just how dangerous it is.” I let out a breath. Something that only hurt supernaturals…if my instinct was right…
“Then it was some kind of spirit bomb. Highly dangerous. And mortals aren’t as immune to them as people think.”

“They can damage people’s souls?”

Thruor nodded. “The damage heals, but if you were to hit somebody with one right as they died… And, of course, they do worse to us. Physical damage. That takes forever to heal.”

“Okay. I don’t want one.” Spirit bomb. “How are they made?”

“Takes some pretty potent magic. We have a witch with more power than sense.”

I nodded. “Any way to protect ourselves from them other than running?”

“Not that I know of. Normal matter doesn’t stop them. Some wards might.” She shook her head. “It’s rare anyone’s stupid enough to mess with this stuff. I haven’t dealt with it in decades.”

“And if that fire giant hadn’t warned me…”

Thea shrugged. “He wants you alive. He might even help stop something like this.”

“You know, in stories, people only have to deal with one case at once,” I grumbled.

She laughed.
Then it hit me.

It hit me hard. “Uh…What effect would one of these have on Tyz’vel?”

“Oh…oh…”

“I mean, if we could steal one and then get him alone with some kind of decoy.”

“It might…it could even kill him.” Thruor frowned. “But…”

“But I can’t use it. And even Kanesha would be hurt.”

She nodded.

I was wanting one again. “Then, it can’t be triggered by a person. Remote detonators exist, after all.”

She shuddered. “Worse than guns.”

“We don’t all have nostalgia for the Middle Ages.”

A spirit bomb. That might kill Tyz’vel. But that was in the hands of somebody I suspected of being my enemy.
An enemy not yet identified.