Death's Shroud

by Robbie Cox

  Mark turned to face her, and she felt him studying her. “You know the man she described?”

  Laci nodded, sliding her arms over her chest and rubbing her upper arms. “I met him in a dream a couple of nights ago. His name is Tharon.” She turned to face Nazareth. “He’s the man you told me about Saturday, right? The revenant of Death?”

  Nazareth nodded as he slid his hands into his front pockets. “One of them, yes. Ol’ Death has a few of those blokes doing his bidding. Tharon is just one of them. Still, a right nasty bugger.” He pointed to Roger. “I tried to keep him from killing that man, but wasn’t strong enough.” He glanced over at the detective. “He did die of fright, by the way. He was reading a book, one with dwarfs and evil golems. The characters he read about came alive in his dreams, and Tharon trapped him there. The golems overran him, killing him while he slept.” He shrugged. “The story in the book was better.”

  Mark placed his fists on his hips, and by the look on his face, Laci could tell he had feared everything Nazareth just told them. “How do we stop him?”

  Nazareth turned his gaze back to Laci, gesturing to her with a lift of his chin. “First, I have to teach this one what it means to be a necromancer. She has to understand her powers if she’s to help me catch Tharon.”

  Laci gripped her upper arms, holding herself tighter. She was being drawn in again, against her will. Yet, what choice did she truly have. She couldn’t allow Tharon to keep killing people. She sighed. God, I hate magic.

  Eighteen

  Regina watched as her sister set the food on the table in front of the people sitting across from her. Elizabeth would not recognize her, of course, not in this body. Regina had looked so different from Sherri Rockford. For one, Regina had never been a strung out junkie. She ran her thin fingers through her blond hair as she leaned back in the booth, studying her sister. It was fun observing her this way, knowing the precious Elizabeth had no idea she was being scrutinized and judged.

  And soon, Regina would execute her sister’s punishment.

  “Well, hello there,” Elizabeth said, turning around and stepping up to Regina’s table. “Welcome to Cascades. I don’t think I’ve seen you in here before. First time?”

  Glancing around the place, Regina said, “I think the last time I was here it was called The Corked Barrel, but that was a long time ago.”

  Elizabeth’s eyes went wide. “Wow, that was a long time ago. I think they closed down about ten years ago.” She smiled down at Regina. “You couldn’t have even been a teenager back then.”

  Regina just smiled up at her sister. “Actually, I’m older than I look.”

  Elizabeth giggled. “Well, thank god for good genes. Now, what can I get you to eat?”

  “I’ll just take a grilled chicken salad with balsamic dressing and a water with lemon.” Might as well get this body into shape, she thought. Regina intended on using it for a long, long time.

  “Sure thing,” Elizabeth said, smiling, a sick, syrupy smile. It made Regina’s stomach turn. “I’ll bring it right out.”

  Regina watched as her sister spun around, slipping her pencil in her dark ponytail, and walked away. Regina was happy to see her sister had kept the baby fat from her pregnancies. There had even been some salt around the edges of her hair and some bags under her eyes. Perhaps life had not been as easy for her as she thought since marrying good old Cale. Regina grinned as she reached for her napkin-wrapped silverware. God, I hope that’s the case.

  She much preferred this way of doing things as opposed to floating around her husband’s house and tormenting them. As the dybbuk, she had watched her sister, flipping her dress up to embarrass her, pulling her hair and getting it tangled in nearby branches. Regina grinned. I actually miss some of that. Of course, pulling Elizabeth’s hair now would be just as fun and probably a lot more rewarding.

  The main door of the restaurant opened, catching Regina’s attention. Her anger flared, eyes narrowing, as she watched Cale walk in, a small bouquet in his hand. She gave a low growl as she watched him walk to the back servers’ area, holding the flowers behind his back. Bastard never did anything like this for me. She continued to watch as Elizabeth slid out of the swinging door that led to the kitchen, her eyes going wide as she saw Cale standing there, and then wider as he brought the flowers around in front of him. I think I’m going to throw up.

  Elizabeth threw her arms around Cale’s neck; he barely got the flowers out of the way before they pressed their bodies together. Now I really want to throw up. Elizabeth stepped back, taking the flowers, her face red with her excitement and surprise. She then leaned forward, giving Cale a light kiss, brushing her lips against his for only a second before she leaned back, glancing around to make sure others didn’t notice her public display of affection.

  Regina felt her entire body shake with rage, clutching the edge of the table, her knuckles going white as she stared at her husband and her sister. Revenge would taste so sweet when she finally had it. However, not until she was anchored in this body. Not until she knew she would last. Then, there would be nothing to stop her from getting what she deserved. She would live, while those who had wronged her would die.

  Elizabeth caressed Cale’s arm as she stepped away, sliding back into the kitchen area. Cale stood there, watching as the door closed and then stood a moment longer, as if he could still see Elizabeth on the other side. Oh, for crying out loud, how sappy can you get?

  With a smile sparkling his eyes, he finally turned and headed back out of the restaurant.

  Anger pulsed through Regina’s veins. Fuck waiting! She snatched up the knife on the table and shoved herself out of her booth. She followed Cale out into the afternoon sun, her arms rigid at her sides as her rage dictated her actions, moving her to catch up with her idiot of a husband. He wasn’t that far ahead of her, walking down the sidewalk toward his car at the end of the plaza. She would get him there, wait until he went to unlock his car and then shove the knife into his treacherous heart.

  He stepped off the curb next to a dark blue Nissan, rummaging in his pocket for his keys, acting as if he didn’t have a care in the world. She would prove him wrong.

  She went to step off the curb between cars with him when a pain ripped through her head, doubling her over. The knife fell to the concrete and bounced under Cale’s car as a scream erupted from Regina’s lips.

  “Are you all right?” Cale’s voice reached her.

  Regina tried to look up, to shove something into his face, but the knife was gone. She bit down on her lip, trying to control…

  Sherri Rockford opened her eyes, jerking her head around to the man who held her arm, keeping her from cracking her head on the pavement below. She reached out, gripping his shirt, and pulling him closer to her face. “Help me,” she wheezed, forcing each word from her throat as she fought against Regina’s control over her body. The drugs had kept her weak before, but without them now, she was gaining strength. She would get her life back, her body back. “Please, she’s inside….I need her out….help…”

  Regina slammed Sherri’s essence backward as she tried to wrestle control back. Her body collapsed, and Cale caught her, holding her in his arms, and the sight was enough to infuriate Regina even more. She took that anger out on Sherri, shoving the other woman, kicking her, punching her, beating the hell out of her for allowing her to need Cale’s help.

  Sherri screamed, covering herself with her arms, not even sure how she could have arms. It was like everything was a symbol for the real thing, a projection of herself from what she saw whenever she looked in the mirror. Her mind had substance and a shape, twisted itself into something she could understand. Regina kept pummeling her, pain screaming in Sherri’s mind, her body as it took the brunt of their inward struggle.

  “I’ll call for an ambulance,” Cale said as he reached into his back pocket for his phone.

  Regina shoved at Sherri one more time with all her might, knocking the other woman into the dark recesses of he
r mind once more. “Stay down!” Regina growled. “I swear I will make you pay for this, you fucking bitch!” One more swing, and Sherri was down, not able to get back up.

  Regina sucked in a deep breath of air as she reached out, gripping the front of Cale’s car. “I’m fine,” she said, her voice raspy as she tried to get her body back under control. “Sorry, I get these attacks sometimes.” She kept taking deep breaths, sucking in air as her body shook from Sherri’s attack. She would definitely make that bitch pay.

  “Are you sure?” Cale asked, concern etched on his face. “An ambulance could be here in no time. You need help.”

  Regina shook her head, forcing herself to stand up as she took one more deep breath. “No, I’m fine. Promise. It only lasts a few moments. It’s over.” She stood, her hands on her lower back as she controlled her breathing. Her head screamed at her, but it would pass. She had to get rid of Sherri Rockford before that woman ruined everything. Regina needed those witches to help her, and she needed it now.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Sherri huddled in a dark corner, her body shaking as she wrapped her arms around her knees, rocking back and forth. She got closer to escape this time, closer to someone hearing her and knowing she was still there. Sherri, at least, kept the dybbuk from killing that man, which proved Sherri was getting stronger. The magic had purged the drugs from Sherri’s body; now she just needed to gain strength. As long as the witches continued to dawdle in teaching Regina what she wanted to know, Sherri had time. She needed time. She would get free. She would reclaim her body. She would take back her life.

  And she vowed never to do drugs again. This is the worst trip ever.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Regina left Cale standing there once she had control of Sherri’s body again. Cale just stood there, watching as she walked away, his expression pinched with confusion. Regina couldn’t feel Sherri’s presence anymore, but she knew the other woman was there, hiding, waiting to try again to steal her body back. Regina needed to get those damn witches to teach her how to anchor her soul to this body. Time was running out.

  Foolish! I was so damn foolish. Regina continued to scold herself as she walked away, going in the opposite direction of the restaurant. Killing Cale outright like that was not what she wanted, and she knew it. She wanted him to suffer, as he made her suffer. And Elizabeth. They both needed to suffer more than a quick death allowed. They had killed Regina in order to begin their own love affair. She wanted them to agonize.

  How could I have been so damn blind? The scolding continued. How long had they been having an affair behind my back? How did our kids react to having their aunt as their new stepmother? To their cousins also being their stepbrother and sister?

  Regina stopped where she was, standing stiff and staring straight in front of her. Elizabeth and Cale had two kids of their own, a son and daughter. The daughter—what was her name?—was the eldest at twelve years. Regina’s eyes went wide as she did the math. Was Elizabeth already pregnant when they killed me? She did a slow turn back toward Cascades. Was that why they killed me? So they wouldn’t have to tell me he knocked up my sister? Why had she not pieced this together before?

  She stood there, staring back down the plaza as she watched Cale pull out of his parking spot, anger and disgust coursing through her veins. Had Regina’s own children figured it out? Did anyone even investigate her death?

  Turning, Regina crossed the parking lot of Midtown Plaza to the bus stop at the edge of the road. She needed to find out if her kids knew how she died. The question was how. They were still young when it happened, so she doubted they would have questioned much at the time, but what about when they grew up? Did they begin to do the math as she just did? Could she get them to look into her death? Was it even worth it?

  She took a deep breath as she sat down on the bench to wait. It was time to pay her children a visit.

  Nineteen

  Kayla took a deep breath as she stared at the front of the ranch house. Selina had not lied when she said the High Priestess of the Daughters of Darkness lived out in the middle of nowhere. Kayla did not even know there were places this isolated in Harbor City. It would definitely be perfect for carrying out their rituals without prying eyes. Still, Kayla was unsure why such a need for secrecy was necessary. Tansy always did everything right there in The Murky Cauldron, sometimes in the front of the store.

  Let’s see what happens. With another deep breath, Kayla made her way up the cobblestone path to the front door. Selina had asked Kayla to meet her and Cherise, so the High Priestess could ask Kayla some questions before allowing her into the coven, sort of like a pre-screening, Kayla assumed. Another thing different from how Tansy did things. The leader—or, Kayla assumed, she should call Tansy High Priestess, as well—just allowed people to join them who showed a genuine desire to learn. Laci had joined the coven right after walking into The Murky Cauldron that first day. Still, Selina had already told Kayla the Daughters of Darkness did things a little differently, so this meeting didn’t really surprise her. The only thing that surprised her was that she actually showed up. She was still on the fence about pursuing her magic after everything that happened with the demons and her killing Alex Barrister. However, her desire to learn how to control her powers was stronger than her fear, and so she knocked on the wooden door.

  Selina was the one who opened the door, her light brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. “Hey, there,” she greeted as she opened the door. “I’m glad you didn’t chicken out. You seemed a little skittish at the library, so I wasn’t sure you’d show up.”

  Kayla gave a sheepish shrug. “To be honest, I wasn’t sure myself. But, I do want to learn more about my powers, so this seemed the safest bet.”

  Nodding, Selina waved her inside. “Come on in. Cherise is in the dining room. We made some tea. Do you like tea?”

  Kayla found herself smiling as she walked inside the ranch-style home. “It was a staple in the Cauldron Coven. Wanda was always fixing us some, said it helped calm the nerves.”

  Selina stepped in front of her, placing a hand on Kayla’s back as she passed for just a moment. “Well, she was right about that, but it also has other properties. Come on. We’ll get you a cup.”

  Kayla followed Selina, taking the chance to glance around the inside of Cherise’s home. She wasn’t sure what she expected, perhaps something more on the eccentric side that shouted witch to anyone who walked inside the home, but nothing shouted magic to her. It seemed quite similar to Kayla’s home, actually, and that alone helped calm her nerves some.

  When they entered the dining room, a formal room set off to the side of the kitchen which you could see through an arch doorway, Cherise sat at the head of the table in a high-back chair, a cup of tea sending tendrils of smoke into the air in front of her. Long, ebony hair flowed down her back as she sat straight, her thin lips pressed into a faint smile. She had a stern expression as she wrapped long fingers around her teacup.

  As the other two entered the room, she turned at the noise, smiling a smile that didn’t reach her dark brown eyes. “Hello, Kayla,” she greeted with a brief nod of her head. “I’m glad you could join us. Thank you for taking the time to permit us to get to know you a little bit better before introducing you to the others.” She gestured to the empty chair beside her. “Please, have a seat, and let’s enjoy some tea together and get to know each other. Selina tells me you’ve already been active in the Cauldron Coven. That’s Tansy Paxton’s little group, right?” She reached for the teapot as she faced Kayla, smiling.

  “It is,” Kayla said as she slid into the chair beside Cherise. Selina took the seat on the other side of the table. The entire thing had a business meeting feel to it, and Kayla felt her nerves tighten a little. She hated interviews. “I started with her a little over a year ago.”

  Cherise poured the tea into Kayla’s cup. “And what drew you to her?”

  That was a good question. When she first found the Cauldron Coven, she just wanted somewh
ere to belong. She was shy, withdrawn, a college student with low self-esteem and few friends. Alex was one of those few friends. Kayla smiled as she thought back on that day. “Alex Barrister was a friend of mine,” she said, staring down into her teacup. “We had College Algebra together, and he kind of knew I was a loner to a major degree, so he befriended me. He was actually the one who brought me into the coven as a way to make friends and get involved in something. Tansy welcomed me in, and helped me learn quite a bit, even though, I admit, I didn’t really understand in the beginning what I was learning. I thought it was some type of New Age positive thinking mumbo jumbo.”

  Kayla felt the other woman studying her over the rim of the teacup as Cherise took a sip while Kayla spoke. Selina just sat quietly, holding her cup and watching. When Cherise pulled the cup from her lips, rubbing them together as she did, she smiled back over at Kayla. “And when did understanding finally occur? You’re wanting to go deeper, so you must realize by now that magic is more than just the power of positive thinking. Or mumbo jumbo. When did that light bulb moment happen?”

  Kayla took a deep breath, spinning the cup in her hands slowly as she thought about her answer. How much should she tell these ladies? Would they think her bonkers with the things she experienced? Of course, if Kayla wanted them to accept her, trust her even, she needed to let them in to everything she suffered, so they would have a true grasp of who she truly was. Pressing her lips together, Kayla took a deep breath and began. “I’m not sure how much actually hit the news, but about a month ago, some man, Bertram Leary, tried to take over Feather Lakes near the river.”