by Rhys Rowlyn
“He looks like a prize asshole. What was he, a slave owner and he got my grandmother pregnant?” Chi pulls his hands from hers, and the vision disappears.
Ciara returns to her chair, smiling as if unaffected by Chi’s remarks about her family. It is kind of creepy the way these women react to things. It’s as if they know what is going to happen, and maybe they do.
“Probably so. I’m not going to make excuses for him. He was born after us, and you’re right. He was a spoiled brat. He never wanted to study and only wanted to do things the easy way. Our grandmother caught him doing dark magic and we don’t know what else, but she stripped him of his power and banished him. He was stripped of his memories of family and magic and sent on his way. My family kept tabs on him to be certain he never used magic again. He died a long time ago.” Cara’s face flushes as she tells her story, her eyes bright with shame.
“So we are cousins? And my family is offspring of the black sheep.” Chi rolls his eyes, sitting back and crossing his arms over his chest.
“Yes, but I sense something is not right in your family line. I can’t follow it through, and that shouldn’t be. Dark things are going on here and have been for some time.” Ciara draws her brows together, rubbing her palm as if it were in pain.
“Does it have to do with my mother?” Fleur’s voice has a slight tremor, and she coughs lightly.
Holding out her hand, Cara nods at Fleur. “Do you have the item we asked for?”
She hands Cara her mother’s crucifix. Ciara draws a circle on the floor and strange symbols around it. Cara places the necklace in the center. I’m fascinated by the things the women are doing. I’ve never spent much time with witches, so this is all new to me.
Cara motions for Chi to step forward. “Chi, come join our circle. You need to start getting to know your power. It is a part of you after all.”
Chi’s eyes widen, and he looks around. If things weren’t so serious, it would be comical. “But I won’t know what to do. I don’t want to mess it up for Fleur.”
“Come, silly, all you are going to do is breathe and open yourself up to feel the power. We will do the heavy lifting.” Ciara grabs his hand and pulls him up from his chair.
Chi moves into their circle and takes Circe’s and Ciara’s hands. Cara stands across from him, taking her sisters’ hands. They begin to chant in a foreign tongue, and I glance at Bram. He takes my hand and gives it a squeeze.
As they chant, the necklace rises from the floor and spins, Cara yells to Chi. “Breathe, open yourself to the power.”
Chi’s eyes widen but he nods, rolling his shoulders and taking a deep breath. His head falls backward, and his eyes roll back as an evil voice comes from his mouth. “Darkness is my name, and what was once yours is now mine. Leave!”
Chi falls forward, but the sisters grab him before he hits the floor.
He shakes his head and looks around, confused.
“What happened? Why am I on the floor surrounded by women looking at me funny?” He pushes them back, sitting up.
Kneeling down beside them, I shove the women aside to check on my friend. “You don’t remember what happened?”
“No, so don’t you think you should tell me?” He cocks a brow at the sisters in typical Chi fashion, and I let out a short laugh.
“You channeled the darkness, and it doesn’t look like it affected you in any way.” Circe grabs his arm and helps him stand. “Chi, I’m sorry, but you have no choice. In the days coming, we are going to need all the help we can get.”
“What does this mean for Fleur’s mother?” I glance at Fleur’s stricken face, and tears roll down my cheeks. I hate that she is having to go through this.
Circe sits beside Fleur, takes her hands, and pats them. “I’m sorry, so sorry. If it had just been the magics combining to form the darkness, that would be one thing, but there is something else at work, and I don’t hold out much hope for her. We will go tomorrow and cleanse your father’s home and business of all residual negative energy and place wards to keep the darkness from him, but there is nothing we can do for your mother at this time.”
“Thank you for finding out. I believe the not knowing and wondering if she could be saved and we weren’t doing enough was the worst.” She sniffs, lying her head on André’s shoulder.
“Chi, how often do you see your family?” Cara pinches the bridge of her nose, her eyes closed.
“Rarely. I’ve seen them more in the last couple months because I wanted to learn about the supernatural presence in the area. My grandmother was happy to oblige, thinking I was showing interest, but the last time I was there, she became angry with me and called me a traitor, telling me to leave and come back when I figured out who my true family was.” Chi shrugs as if it’s no big deal, but all three women’s heads snap toward him.
“When was that?” Circe is staring at him intensely.
“Yesterday. I planned on not going back until her funeral, crazy old biddy. But I should be used to it.” He waves it off and is trying to be nonchalant.
“Chi, I’m sorry. You never talk about your family.” Giselle moves to sit on the arm of Chi’s chair, putting her arm around his shoulders.
“Yeah, well, my mama was crazy and a drug addict. She tricked my daddy into a one-night stand before he married his wife. My grandmother hated my mother. She wasn’t pureblood enough for my daddy. Anyway, Daddy married a witch my grandmother picked out, and I have a brother and sister. André and Phillipe met my sister Jade. She lives with Grand-mère.” Chi leans forward and props his elbows on his knees.
“That was your sister?” Phillipe gives him a disbelieving look.
Chi side-eyes Phillipe, and Giselle and I burst out laughing. “I know. We don’t look anything alike. Different mamas. Hers was white and mine wasn’t. Our daddy is very light-skinned, and I don’t know who his daddy is. Nobody talks about him.”
“Do you have contact with anyone in your family on a regular basis?” Cara ignores us, continuing to question Chi.
“Yeah, Jade and I have always kept in contact, even though she’s only twenty and I’m several years older than her. I worry about her living there with that mean old lady. She was always such a sweet girl. When I started coming back around, we got even closer, so she calls or texts when she can.” Chi sits back, rubbing his neck, and Cara nods.
“I sense your power is buried deep, under much hurt and fear.” Cara sits up straight, lifting her chin. “I’m glad you never showed your true self to them, or the darkness may have touched you. It knows we’re here now, and things are going to get worse before they get better.”
Standing, I look around the room. It’s after eight and I promised to go by the shelter and check on Anne and Carrie. Bram stands, and so does everyone else.
“Ladies, welcome, and I look forward to learning more about you, but for now I must go. I have to check in at the shelter, then I need to go into the club and do some work. Wolves’ night is coming up, and I need to plan for extra security.” I shake their hands and turn to leave.
Bram hugs the sisters, bidding them good-night, and everyone else decides to stay. We walk silently down the sidewalk. It’s only a couple of blocks to the safe house, and it’s a nice night.
Bram grabs my hand, linking our fingers together. “I hated the sisters didn’t have better news for Fleur.”
“Yes, I agree, but you told us not to hold out much hope. At least she was semi-prepared.” I stop, turning to face him. “What did they mean about something being wrong with Chi’s family? Since finding out he’s a witch, I’ve done a bit of research, and his grandmother controls most of the witches around here. She’s the queen bee.”
I know several witches in the quarter, and Chi’s grandmother never came up. It surprised me to learn how powerful she is.
“I’m unsure, but I’m worried about things to come. I now am conflicted about bringing them here.” Bram leans forward and touches my forehead with his.
“You’re not to blame for that
. They were coming anyway. Besides, if something evil is headed our way, I’d rather have powerful, good witches on our side than none at all.” I pull on his hand, and we continue on our way.
Cassie
“Cassie, have you seen Tara? She’s been gone for about a week, and I’m worried about the child.” Juanita is wringing her apron, a sure sign she’s worried. “She may have gone back to her boyfriend. He almost killed her the last time.”
Bram and I had checked in the night the witches arrived, but we haven’t been back since, and it’s been a week. Halloween is coming up as well as wolves’ night at the club, so I’ve been busy trying to find extra security. With Chi leaving, I’m also in need of a new bartender. Now I feel guilty for not making sure the women were safe. I will never forgive myself if something happens to Tara.
“No, do you have an address on the guy? I’ll go by.”
“Let me check her file. I’m not sure. Hopefully it’s in there.” Juanita goes into the small office to the left of the kitchen, and after a short time, she returns. “Here it is, but the more I think about it, I don’t know if you should go by there. Maybe I should call the cops.”
Bram walks into the kitchen and puts his arm around my waist. “I’ll go with her. I don’t think the police will be much help yet, and besides, if she’s in trouble, they may cause her more problems.”
“Bram!” Carrie squeals, running into his arms as he kneels down.
“Hi, little one, I’m so glad to see you. I got you a present.” Bram pulls out a pink teddy bear from the backpack he’s carrying.
“Oh, I love it. I’m going to miss you so much.” Carrie hugs the bear with one arm and Bram’s neck with the other.
He grins, hugging her back. “I don’t know why you’re going to miss me. I plan to come visit you often.”
“Mommy and me are leaving.” She pushes back, taking his face in her hands.
Anne walks into the room, and she looks like a different woman. She’s smiling, and gone are the bags under her eyes. She has a bounce in her step.
“Oh?” Bram glances up at Anne and she nods, smiling. “Where are you going?”
“My mommy’s granny wants us to come stay with her,” Carrie says excitedly.
“Anne, are you sure it’ll be safe?” I’m worried. Some of the men are tenacious about not letting these women go.
Anne nods, smiling brightly. “The police picked Ray up a couple days ago. He attacked a guy at work and then a policeman. They came and talked with me, about my restraining order, and said he should be in jail for a while. My grandmother wants us to come live with her on her farm. She lives in Monroeville, Kentucky. It’ll be a fresh start for us.”
Hugging her against me, I whisper in her ear, “I’m so happy for you, but will he be able to find you?”
“No, he doesn’t know much about my family. He thinks most of them are dead, and for some reason, I let him keep that belief,” she whispers back. “We will be fine.”
Stepping back, I squeeze her shoulder. “That’s wonderful. When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow. I think it’s best to get out of town while he’s still in jail and unable to follow.” She glances down at her child and ruffles her hair.
“Sounds like a solid plan, and I wish you all the best.” Even as much as I’ll miss them, I only want what’s good for them, and if they can get away, it’s for the best.
“Thank you. I hate good-byes but am looking forward to starting over.” Anne’s eyes are bright with unshed tears, and she has a slight tremor in her voice. “I don’t know how I could ever thank you. If you hadn’t shown up that night with that bouncer guy, we may not be alive. This is because of you.”
Bram narrows his eyes at me, and I wink at him.
Kneeling in front of Carrie, I take her small hands in mine. “Carrie, we need to go, so give me a hug and promise to be a good girl for your mother. Also, when you get grown and are graduating college, look me up.”
She throws her head back like I’ve asked her to clean her room. “Aww, Cassie, that’ll be like in a million years.”
“Still, do it. Pinkie promise?” I hold up my pinkie finger for her to grasp.
She loops her finger with mine and very seriously dips her chin. “Pinkie promise.” She then gives me a hug.
“And who knows, I may still be around and have to join her to celebrate the big event.” Bram kneels and gives the child one last hug.
Bram and I leave, and I look back once more at the mother and child, knowing the chances of me seeing them again are slim at best. I hope their lives will improve and they can finally be rid of the horrible man who terrorized them for years.
“What did Anne mean about you saving them? And who was the bouncer guy?” Bram stops me from getting into the truck.
“A few months back, I was bringing an employee home, and she lived in a particularly bad part of town. I heard a child crying and decided to check it out, and that’s when I saw Anne’s husband beating her with Carrie in the corner crying. He had threatened that if Anne made a sound, he would start on Carrie, and she wasn’t even whimpering.” My fists clench as I remember the horror of the scene I stumbled upon. “Of course, me being me, I burst in and stopped it, knocking him out, and then I rearranged their memories to think I had someone with me. I took them to the shelter.”
“Very noble of you. Most vampires would have considered it a human matter and left it alone.” Bram leans in and kisses my forehead.
My face flushes, and I dip my chin. “Would you have not gotten involved?”
Bram’s right. Most would have turned a blind eye to the situation, so I’m curious about his view on the matter.
He slowly shakes his head. “No, I wouldn’t have walked away. Only, I may have done more than simply knocking him out. I probably would have killed him. I believe I told you I don’t like the strong taking advantage of the weak when they should be protecting them.”
“Well, I may have gotten too close. I’m going to miss them, but I know it’s for the best.” I open the truck door and slide in.
Bram walks around the front of the truck and gets in the passenger side but looks longingly at the steering wheel. With a shake of his head, he glances at me. “Yeah, I’ll miss the little scamp also. I hope they’ll be safe.”
“As long as her husband doesn’t find them, they should be fine. Now it’s up to them to make a better life for themselves.” I’ve helped numerous women throughout the years, and some move on to better things while others tend to stay stuck in the same cycles. I’m hoping for Carrie’s sake that Anne isn’t one of those women.
“We can have someone watch out for them. Maybe there’s a wolf pack or coven near where they are moving, and they can keep an eye out for them.” Bram turns toward me, leaning his arm on the back of the seat.
“That’s a good idea. I’ll check with Hollis and see if he knows anyone.” I put the address Juanita gave me into the GPS and pull out onto the street.
“Who’s Hollis?” Furrowing his brow, Bram growls lowly.
Rolling my eyes, I chuckle. Vampires and their jealousy… Thank heavens Phillipe has chilled since he and Giselle bonded. I wonder if Bram will once we have.
Wait, so now I’m considering bonding with him? I glance over at the next traffic light, taking in the man. He’s big, burly, and looks like he could kill without breaking a sweat, but he’s also tender, protective, and generally a big softy. Yeah, I guess I am thinking of bonding.
Biting my lower lip, I turn my attention back to the road. “The local alpha. He’s helped me with some security issues in the past and will know if the pack is trustworthy. Some are not as civilized as others.”
“Ahh, so he’s the alpha? I take it he’s mated.” Bram twirls my hair around his finger, not meeting my gaze.
“Yes, he’s very mated and has children. I’ve met his mate, and trust me, no one would dare lay a finger on Hollis.” I once had to go to the bayou and return one of their errant pups
who was causing trouble at the club, and I met her then. Let’s just say she was a bit intimidating, and I don’t scare easy.
Bram laughs, pulling my ponytail lightly. “Stakes her territory, does she? Maybe she’ll not be so scary once she knows you have a mate.”
“Maybe so.” I look back at the street, now being the one not meeting his gaze.
We drive the rest of the way to Metairie in silence, and I pull up to a small house with peeling white paint, faded black shutters, and a screen door barely hanging on its hinges. The small yard looks as if it hasn’t been mowed in a while, and there are two full garbage cans on the side with a beat-up truck.
Cringing, I get out of the truck and meet Bram on the passenger side, facing the house. “This is the address Tara’s boyfriend lives at.”
Bram cocks his head to the side, drawing his brows together. “He’s home. Do you want to question him?”
“Yeah, I want to get in the house. If she’s here or has been lately, I should scent her.” I walk up to the door and bang on it a few times.
A tall, skinny guy with wild brown hair opens the door a crack, glaring out at us. “What do you want?”
“I’m looking for Tara. Have you seen her around?” I lean my shoulder against the door and push it open wider until I knock the man backward.
He stumbles into a disgusting room with dirty furniture and trash everywhere. “Hey, I didn’t say you could come in.” He steps back, putting his hands up, when Bram moves toward him. “No, I haven’t seen her in a month, and the bitch owes me money. If you see her, tell her I need my money.”
“You sure you haven’t seen her?” I ask over my shoulder as I walk to the back of the house. I don’t scent her anywhere and wonder if she’s ever been here.
“Positive, and like I said, I only want my money. I have no need for the skinny bitch.” The guy steps in front of me when I try to enter the kitchen.
Bram grabs the man by the neck and slams him against the wall. I rush over and try to pull him away.
“Bram, no! He’s not worth it. Besides, she’s not here nor has she been.” I slide my arm around his waist to pull him away from the guy.
