by Kathy Love
As if he felt my eyes on him, he turned his head to stare directly at me. I wasn’t sure how someone with such dead eyes could also look so intense, but he did. I wrapped my arms around myself, seriously uncomfortable. Then he stood and walked out of the bar.
“He left,” I said, glad that I had only just been made aware of him and even gladder that he was gone. The fact that I hadn’t been the least bit aware of him really drove home the fact my magic was as useless as ever. I didn’t even have the acumen of my human friends. I was hopeless.
Nora sighed with relief, then took another drink of her beer.
“This city is filled with all kinds,” Calista said, shaking her head. She polished off her drink and slid the glass toward me. “Thank you, boo, but I think it is time for me to pack up my equipment and head on home.”
I understood. I was ready for my shift to be over, too.
Nora hopped off her stool. “Agreed. This was a strange night.”
Again, I was irritated with myself that my two human friends were more attune to their environment than I was.
I cleared away their drinks and started my closing work. The deejay, who took over after the live band finished for the night, turned up the volume. The bass pounded loud enough that I could feel it pulsing in the floorboards under my feet. The rhythm calmed my nerves a little and soon I was lost back in my work. By the time my shift ended, I’d dismissed all thoughts about the creepy guy and was ready to just get home and crash.
“Night, Mal,” Beau said, still standing sentry at the front door. He grinned, his big dimples deepened. Beau the baby-faced bear Shifter. A big teddy bear until it was time to get ferocious.
“Good night, Beau.”
My walk home at this time of night was relatively quiet and fortunately, it was only a quick ten-minute walk to my place on Kerlerec Street. I pulled out my phone and texted Violet. I fibbed and told her I was already home and goodnight. She replied immediately as if she’d been staring at her cell, anxiously awaiting my text. She really was a ridiculous worrier.
I dropped my phone back in my bag and I turned down my street. Almost instantly, an electric chill tingled across my skin. I paused for a second, glancing behind me. I didn’t see anyone, but the streetlights cast dozens of shadows around the rows of squat shotgun houses and along the cars parked on the street. Lots of places where someone could hide.
I wished Jocko wasn’t passed out in his ball inside my bag. I would actually appreciate one of his far-fetched stories right now. Anything to distract me. I jostled my bag slightly in hopes of waking him. Nothing.
I started walking again. Faster.
Behind me, I heard the crunch of footsteps on the uneven and crumbling sidewalk. I didn’t look back this time. Instead, I broke out into a jog. I still had my sister’s protection charm around my neck, nestled inside my shirt. I fumbled with the cord, pulling the bottle out. It bounced on my chest as I ran.
“Hey!” a deep, guttural voice shouted from behind me.
I shot a look over my shoulder, just in time to see a large figure rushing up behind me. Then a strong hand grabbed the back of my T-shirt, digging into my shoulder. I jerked away, but my frantic movement caused me to stumble. I fell to the ground face first, quickly rolling over to see a giant man looming above me.
Even shadowed against the streetlight, I knew he was the creepy guy from the bar.
To quote, Jocko— “Oh merde.”
“What—what do you want?” I managed to stammer out.
“You,” he said in that harsh, raspy voice.
“Me?” I croaked. That didn’t sound good at all. I shook my head. “Nah, you don’t want me.”
Did I really think I was going to talk this huge sleazebag out of whatever his intentions were?
“You’re exactly who I want, witch.”
I frowned. “How do you…” I shook my head again. “I’m not a witch. Well, I’m a witch, sort of, but I can’t really do any magic. I’m a dud witch. Like really, really sad in the whole witchy department. You could totally find a much better witch.”
I knew I was rambling, but he was slowly coming closer, leaning over me, and I was panicking. I scooted backwards in an awkward crab crawl.
“It’s true,” I assured him. “I’m like the worst witch in the world.”
He paused, still towering over me. Then he smiled to reveal large, strangely pointed teeth—like he’d filed them down or something. He looked even more sinister, if that were possible.
“I seen you. And your magic.”
I gaped at him, then sat up, unable to keep the excitement out of my voice. “You saw it? Really?”
His eerie smile slipped, and I could tell he was debating whether I was insane. Admittedly, it was a strange time for me to be so pleased. But someone had seen my magic. It had been real. That usurped the impending attack—at least for a moment.
Then the reality of my current situation returned. Maybe I should figure out how to get away from this skeezy oaf before celebrating. “What do you want from me?” Then my previous thought occurred to me again. “Are you the rougarou I healed?”
Even though I’d only seen him in beast form the other night, this was nothing like how I would’ve imagined him look in human form. Truthfully, he was less scary as a wolfman.
“I ain’t no filthy rougarou. Shut up.”
Well, that cleared up that.
He leaned forward, his meaty hands outstretched. I grabbed the protection talisman around my neck, holding out in front of me.
All right, Iris, please let your magic work.
The bottle lit up in my hand, much to my surprise. A swirling cloud of black and orange mist escaped the glass, twirling around me. The man stepped back. I smirked at him. Then the mist pulsated a couple times and sucked back into the bottle with an audible pop.
I frowned at the stupid charm, shaking it. “Oh, come on.”
Unbelievable. I could even mess up other witch’s magic.
The man laughed, the sound rough and evil.
I stared up at him, still shaking the bottle weakly. Okay, it was time to admit this situation was not going well and might end up worse. I hated to lie and now I really regretted lying to my sister. If she hadn’t heard from me, she would have come looking for me. And I could use a little of her magical butt-zapping right now.
But it looked like I was on my own. I moved to get to my feet, but before I could stand, the brute grabbed me around my waist, my face mashed against his huge chest. A damp, rotting, earthy smell filled my nose. Not pleasant, but not as odorific as the rougarou. Although I think I’d take the stench right about now.
“Help!” My cry was muffled against the brute. “Help!”
The man lifted me with the obvious intent to sling me over his hulking shoulder.
“No,” I shouted, wriggling against his crushing hold, when all of a sudden baby blue and gold sparks flew out of my hands as I shoved at him. The magic wrapped around my arms and torso like it had in the alley.
The man yelped, releasing me. Instead of dropping to the ground, I levitated in front of him, held up by the dazzling pastel magic. I gaped from him to myself and back to him. Was I doing this?
He tried to grab me again, only to snatch his hand back with another pained cry.
I raised an eyebrow and grinned. “Whatcha going to do now, fugly?”
He glared at me.
I smirked at him, when suddenly my magic flickered, and I dropped slightly in the air.
Oh no, no, no.
The magic flashed again, and I landed back on my butt on the hard sidewalk. This was not good. With one last flash, the blue and gold magic disappeared like a candle being snuffed out.
The creeper blinked and then chuckled menacingly. “You are a sad witch. But that ain’t going to save you.”
He lunged toward me, and I closed my eyes, waiting for his brutal attack. Instead, I heard a fierce growl and then the thud of something hitting the ground. I opened one eye, the
n the other, to see the creep tumbling across the grass of someone’s front yard with...a rougarou.
The rougarou stopped their roll and pinned the man to the ground with his deadly claws. The wolfman’s lips pulled back to bare those sharp fangs, and saliva dripped from his lower jaw. The man stared up at the vicious beast. For the first time, I saw emotion in the man’s dead eyes. Fear.
Then to my surprise, the man began to change, morphing right in front of me. Within moments, the rougarou was holding down a giant alligator.
Well, I guess that explained the weird, unblinking eyes. The dude was a gator Shifter.
What the what was going on? Rougarous and gator Shifters both stuck to the bayous. They definitely didn’t brawl on someone’s front lawn in the middle of Marigny. I looked around, but all the houses were silent. Some crazy crap went down in the Big Easy, but how was no one hearing this? I looked back to the wrestling shifters.
The rougarou drew back his giant hand/paw ready to slash the gator who was still on his back, his stumpy legs flailing and his long tail swishing.
I winced, looking away and scrambling to my feet. I was glad the rougarou had arrived when he did, but I couldn’t watch what was about to happen. My gag reflex could not handle carnage, and it was hard to barf and make my escape at the same time. Plus, I was not taking the risk that I might be next on either of their violent attack lists.
I grabbed up my bag and took off in a full sprint down the sidewalk, not stopping until I reached my apartment door. I fumbled with my keys. Behind me, I heard a howl, but it wasn’t close. Thank Goddess.
I hurried to turn my lock and rushed inside. Slamming the door and bolting it, I reprogrammed my alarm. I pressed my back to the door and slid down to the floor, my breath coming in reedy, panicked gasps.
Holy, holy crapola. What was going on? Who was the creepy gator Shifter, and what did he want from me? Why had the rougarou been here tonight? And were the group of goofy teens somehow a part of all this?
From my bag, I heard a low groan, then Jocko muttered, “Putain, woman. Can you keep it down out there? Some of us are trying to sleep.”
I made a face at my bag, then let my head fall back against the door.
I had absolutely no idea what was going on. But one thing was pretty clear. I was a part of it and I had no idea why.
Chapter Five
Somehow, I managed to sleep. Although, I did keep a big, kitchen knife under my pillow, and Jocko in his ball on my nightstand. Like he’d be any help. But it was better than being totally alone.
I woke to bright sunlight shining through the blinds of my window and a hungover, cursing crawfish tapping at his ball. Everything seemed perfectly normal.
My day passed quietly. I stayed home until work, then armed myself with two pepper sprays and took an Uber to work. I saw no signs of the dead-eyed gator Shifter. Or the rougarou. Or the goober teens. But I still felt watched. Something had to give, because I wasn’t going to go on like this. It was a serious drag.
But it wasn’t as if I could call the cops. “Yes, I’d like to report being attacked by a super-creepy gator Shifter. But I was rescued by a rougarou. Oh, and I also think I’m being watched by four teens that looked vaguely like they wandered off the set of a Dr. Seuss film.” The police would write me off as a complete crank.
Going to my family wasn’t a great option either. They would likely believe me, but I didn’t want them mixed up in this. I wanted to be able to protect myself. I had to figure out how to protect myself.
So, over the course of my work shift, I came up with an idea. Possibly an insane idea, but it was all I had. I just hoped it didn’t backfire. I didn’t relish the idea of abduction and possible death. But I needed answers.
“Hey, Mally,” Beau called to me from the bar doorway. “Your Uber is here.”
I gathered up my bag. Jocko was already inside it, singing some Cajun song and three sheets to the wind. I really wondered how long a crawfish’s liver could handle the rate and amount my familiar was drinking. Heck, I wasn’t even sure crawfish had livers.
“Is everything okay?” Beau asked as I stepped out to the sidewalk. “You never get a ride home.”
“I’m not going home. I’m, ah, heading to my parent’s house in the Garden District,” Like I said, I hated to lie, and I was never particularly good at it. Add that to my list of inabilities.
He studied me, then nodded. “If you ever need my help, you know I would be there for you. Just call. Seriously.”
I smiled. He really was such a sweetheart. “I appreciate that.”
I got into the car and gave the driver my address.
The ride home was quick, much quicker than I would have liked given I was still totally unsure about my plan. But I thanked the driver and got out. As the car drove away, I glanced around the street.
It was all quiet. I walked onto my front porch and sat down on the top step. This really could be the stupidest plan ever. I got my pepper spray ready, finger poised on the release button. Then I called, “Come, doggy, doggy, doggy.”
“How much is that doggy in the window?” Jocko warbled drunkenly from inside my bag.
“Be quiet,” I hissed, flipping back the flap to glare at him. “I’m trying to listen.”
He widened his buggy eyes more than usual, then pressed a claw to his mouth. “Sorry.”
He hiccupped.
I sighed and propped him up so he could see outside of the bag. “You can help. Listen closely, too.”
He nodded and pressed an antenna to the side of the ball. “I’m all ears.”
I sat silent for a moment, then tried again. “Here doggy, doggy, doggy.”
“Here doggy!” Jocko called, too.
We were silent again.
“Did you lose your dog again?” Jocko asked, peering up at me.
“I don’t have a dog.”
His antennas twitched, and he looked confused. “Right. That’s right. Then why are we looking for a dog?”
I started to explain, although I wasn’t sure why I was bothering, when I heard rustling in the narrow line of bushes next door.
I put a finger up to my lips, and Jocko mirrored my action, pressing a claw to his mouth. He looked wildly around.
I peered into the shadows, my pepper spray raised out in front of me. “Are you there, doggy?”
I heard a low growl in response. I immediately got to my feet, scanning the bushes. I couldn’t see anything. I moved slowly across my porch, getting closer to where I heard the noise.
“Hey,” Jocko cried. “Where are you going?”
I shushed him. He bent his antennas forward and crossed his claws across his chest, giving me a proper pout. I ignored him, keeping my gaze locked on the bushes.
“Doggy?”
I saw the shadows shift and suddenly I saw a pair of gold, glowing eyes. My heart pounded violently in my chest. The rougarou was here.
“Hi,” I said a little breathlessly. “I should let you know I have pepper spray.” I waved the small canister toward him. “And mad magic skills.”
Behind me, Jocko chuckled. “Good one.”
I ignored him, keeping my sights on those glowing orbs in front of me.
He moved closer, although he clung to the shadows, until he was at the edge of my porch. His head rose above the rails, reminding me how totally huge this creature was.
I thrust the pepper spray out, then asked. “Have you been following me?”
The rougarou dipped his head.
Okay, this was a good sign. He wasn’t immediately attacking, and he seemed willing to communicate with me. I think.
“Are you planning to hurt me? I mean, planning to try to hurt me,” I added quickly. “Don’t forget my crazy, powerful magic.”
Jocko laughed wildly behind me. “The crazy part is right.”
Dear Goddess, he was the worst familiar ever.
The rougarou lowered his head and blinked slowly, and a thought occurred to me.
“Oka
y, let’s do this. One blink of yes and two blinks for no. Are you planning to try to hurt me?”
His golden eyes disappeared twice.
Well, that was a relief. If I could actually trust a lurking rougarou.
“All right, that’s good. It would be pretty rude to maim or kill the witch who healed you.”
He blinked once. At least we were on the same page about that particular bit of ettiquite.
“Are you watching me because of the gator Shifter from last night?”
He blinked once again, followed by a low growl.
“Yeah, I wasn’t a fan of that guy either.”
He growled again.
“Do you think he will be back?”
The rougarou cocked his head to the side, looking like a confused dog. The action would have been almost cute, if I didn’t take it to mean he wasn’t sure. A cold chill snaked over my skin, even though the night was quite warm. I didn’t want to encounter that toothy, dead-eyed creep ever again.
“You can’t watch me forever,” I said almost to myself.
He lowered his head and one of his pointy ears twitched. Was he really planning to be my guard dog forever? I had saved his life, but that seemed a bit much.
“Do you think we could—you know—actually talk? Like person to person?” It would make this all so much easier.
He blinked once.
“Tonight? Because it feels a little weird to be the only one doing all the actual talking.”
He made a noise that almost sounded like a barking laugh. Jocko laughed, too. Why did I get the feeling I was the butt of some private joke?
I frowned and straightened up to my full five feet—well, five feet with my Doc Martens on. “So, are we going to actually talk? Like tonight?”
He blinked twice.
“No? Why not?”
He glanced around, then growled.
“Because you're acting as my guard dog right now?”
He growled, but then blinked once.
“Okay,” I sighed. I supposed if he was willing to prowl around in the dark all night to keep me safe, I could be a little patient. I lowered my pepper spray. “Can I at least get you something? I think I have some hamburger in my freezer. I could thaw it for you in the microwave. Or do you like your meat cooked? Do you like meat at all? Maybe I shouldn’t make assumptions.”
