Which Witch is Wicked? (The Witches of Port Townsend Book 2)

by Kerrigan Byrne

  Tierra had to do something. Things couldn't go on this way. Nightmares plagued her sleeping moments and sickness her waking ones. She'd lost weight, and her clothes hung on her thin frame. The weight loss made it easier to see her baby bump, and it was harder to hide her pregnancy.

  She and her sisters had taken to studying the Grimoire night and day, but it had yielded very little. Almost as if it was hiding its secrets, not ready or willing to reveal them at this time. The location of the other three wands remained a mystery, too, which made Aerin more determined to find hers regardless of the means necessary. Claire was leaning the same direction, which fueled Tierra's nightmares of losing her sisters to darkness.

  Hammering and the sounds of saws carried from the back of the property. Tierra turned in that direction to investigate. The shed that had caught fire during their last zombie fight had been completely repaired, so what were Sunny's father Basil and Tommy repairing now?

  Tierra reached the edge of the stone steps that led to the lower perennial gardens where she did most of her commercial growing. A large section of forest had been cleared to make way for a beamed structure that was no more than a skeleton at this point. Tierra's eyes widened in shock as zombies weeded the long rows of perennials while another horde worked construction on the new building. Not only were rotted bodies operating power tools, but loose limbs and hands held nails in place to be hammered and operated the dummy end of tape measures.

  Tierra found Claire and Aerin—who looked chic and sophisticatedly breezy in the old clothes they'd found in the attic—in the thick of working bodies and parts. Were they directing the mass?

  "What the hell is going on here?" Tierra asked.

  "Don't you love it?" Claire said. "This was supposed to be a surprise. Aerin had this great idea for a drying shed for the herbs and flowers that are in such high demand on the website. The shed isn't big enough for the quantities we need."

  "But you're using zombies as...as...laborers?"

  "Bet your ass," Aerin said, consulting her iPad. "We're getting shit done."

  "We agreed," Tierra said, dread sinking in. "No more dark magic."

  "You agreed." Aerin lowered her iPad and faced Tierra. The spark in her silver eyes said that she was more than prepared for the argument to come, relished it even. "Using the zombies as organic labor, if you will, is so much better than them trying to kill us every time we turn around." Aerin gestured to Tierra's flowerbeds. "Just look at your plants. They are thriving. Turns out no one knows how to mulch better than the dead."

  "I don't want them in my gardens." Tierra shivered thinking of their flesh-rotten hands touching her plants and vegetables, disturbing the soil around their precious roots. "A lot of these plants are consumed in teas and medicines. Zombies can't be touching them. That's just...gross." And certainly wouldn't meet FDA regulations.

  "Shh," Claire admonished. "You'll hurt their feelings."

  "Feelings? Are you serious?"

  "Yes, she is, and we don't discriminate in the work place," Aerin continued. "Fighting and name calling is prohibited. We're resolute in providing a safe, non-combative environment. It doesn't matter what time period they lived in, what positions they held in society, everyone here is on the same playing field. Dead. Who knew dead would make for one hell of a great workforce? I've never had a better group of employees."

  "And besides," Claire added, "they're stuck here for now. They just want a purpose."

  "They want souls," Tierra stressed. "Our souls."

  "They want whatever I tell them they want," Aerin said in a voice that chilled Tierra quicker than an arctic squall.

  "Aerin, dark magic has a price," Tierra tried to reason. "One you might not be able to pay."

  "You know what, I'm sick of this," Aerin said. "I did this for you, so don't judge me or tell me what to do or how I have to do it. I've been on my own a long time, sister. I can take care of myself, and I have enough money to buy small countries so don't lecture me on what I can or can't afford."

  "You aren't doing this for me. This is all you. I want no part of it." Tierra held up her hands and stared at Aerin and Claire for a long silent moment. "And the price required will have nothing to do with money."

  "Tierra!" Moira called. "It's Sunny. She says it's urgent." Moira hurried toward them and handed Tierra her cell phone that she'd left inside the house. "What in the hell is going on here? I've heard of the living dead before, but the landscaping dead is new to me."

  "Hey, Sunny. What's up?" Tierra stepped away and greeted Sunny while Aerin and Claire made their explanations to Moira.

  "I need you." Sunny's usually cheerful voice cracked over the line, heavy with stress. "I can't keep up with the customers today. It's like there's some sort of evil convention in town, and Ryan won't leave the supply delivery unless you sign for it, and we're nearly out of paper goods," she finished on a note of panic.

  "You've signed for his deliveries before."

  "I know, but with all that's going on in the world, people packing up and leaving without paying their bills, he refuses to leave the supplies without getting paid first. There isn't enough petty cash, and he won't take a check. I'm sorry, Tierra."

  "Where's Aunt Justine?" Justine had been dealing with most of the day-to-day running of Ambrosia's.

  "She never came in today. I figured you two were working together at the manor, or she's involved in the early morning coven gathering."

  "What early morning coven gathering?"

  "From what I've heard, they've performed a powerful ritual. A few of the witches have come in today and were real excited. I thought you knew all about it."

  "No, I didn't." What was the coven up to? A trip to Ambrosia's would get her away from the dead heads and would hopefully help her figure out a way to deal with Aerin and Claire. They had to understand they were dealing with powers beyond their control. "I'll be right there." She hung up and tucked the phone into the pocket of her skirt.

  "Where do you think you're going?" Moira asked. "It ain't safe for you to leave the wards."

  "Sunny needs me down at the shop." And she needed to start living her life, not cooped up in a house that was slowly killing her.

  "Let her go," Aerin said. "Out of all of us, she's the safest. With Death's spawn growing in her belly, none of the Horsemen will dare touch her. Besides the rest of us have work to do. Hey, you slackers!" Aerin rushed to herd two zombies standing off to the side back to work. One looked like a dried corn husk dressed in a Civil War uniform, and another, juicier one wore a three-piece pinstriped suit from the twenties. Both jumped at her words and rushed to do her bidding.

  "You shouldn't go alone," Moira said, laying a hand on Tierra's shoulder. They both watched with dismay as Aerin had the zombies falling into line and doing whatever she wanted. One even saluted. "I'll go with you. I could use a break from this place, too."

  "Suit yourself." Claire shrugged. "Be smart about it and take the squirt guns loaded with that Horsemen repellant."

  "Claire, while we're gone can you try and talk some sense into Aerin," Tierra said. "She's drunk on power right now. She's not thinking straight."

  "Actually, I think she's got the right idea. I'm tired of fighting for my life and worrying about yours. This is a happy compromise. Just look at the drying shed she's had them build for your herbs and flowers. And it's taking less time than a crew of humans. These guys don't need a lunch break and can work day and night without tiring."

  While the drying shed would come in handy, Tierra didn't like the means used to achieve it. "Claire, she's practicing necromancy. That isn't good." In fact, it was very, very bad.

  "Good isn't getting us anywhere, now is it? We're locked up in this house, stuck inside the wards, not able to leave or be who we are meant to be. What has good gotten me in this lifetime? Nothing." Claire answered her own question. "I'm tired of defending and fighting against these bumfucks. Afraid of Dru and his fellow Horsemen coming after me, and if the world is ending,
I might as well live it up any way I can."

  "You can't mean that, Claire. Remember that above all things, evil is seductive," Tierra tried again. "Can't you see that you are being duped into believing that this is easier?" When in the long run, the cost of dark magic would be more than they could afford to pay.

  "You know what, Tierra, I'm sick and tired of listening to you preach."

  "Claire," Moira scolded.

  Tommy sidled up to them, holding a handsaw, blond and guileless as a surfer. He was the complete opposite of Claire's dangerous and fiery appearance with her dark red hair and sleeveless black leather vest and torn jeans. He draped an arm around Claire and drew her into his chest. "You okay, babe?"

  "I'm just fine," Claire directed her answer to both Tierra and Moira. "Just fucking fine." She turned and walked away with Tommy.

  "Tierra." Tears filled Moira's eyes once again. "We have to do something."

  "I know." But what, she didn't have a clue. They had to figure a way to save their sisters and fast, before they were too mired in the muck to be recused.

  Chapter Eleven

  Water Street was deserted.

  "Where is everyone?" Tierra asked. "Sunny said she was overwhelmed with customers, and where is Ryan with the delivery truck?"

  "I don't have a good feeling about this," Moira muttered. "There aren't even zombies hanging around."

  "That's because they're all being used as slave labor up at our place." Tierra parked on the street in front of Ambrosia's rather than behind the building. She left the car running, wondering if she shouldn't head home instead of entering the café.

  Bells hanging from the door rang as Sunny pushed it open and hurried outside, her pile of pink dreadlocks spilling around her shoulders.

  Tierra shut off the car and climbed out, feeling better once she saw Sunny. Moira did the same, but for some reason neither moved away from the vehicle.

  "You're here! Hurry, there's a crowd inside!"

  "Then why aren't you in there serving them?" Prickles of unease chased up her spine, and Tierra scanned the street. She felt...watched.

  "Because you're out here looking like you're ready to bolt and I need you. Shake a leg, T. You, too, Moira. Where are the others? We could use them as well, but the two of you will do, now get a move on." She motioned for them to hurry, turned and entered Ambrosia's in another cascade of warning chimes that Tierra had hung and blessed when she'd opened the shop.

  Tierra looked down the road again, half expecting to see a dried up tumbleweed cartwheel across the barren street. She turned back to Moira. "What do you think?"

  "That we'd best hightail it out of here. I got goose bumps in places that ain't natural."

  Tierra glanced back to Ambrosia's. The sun reflected off the windows, making it impossible to see what was happening inside, painting the building with variegated shades of red and orange. In a weird way the building looked like it was on fire.

  "I think you're right." Tierra reached to open the car door and came to a quick stop.

  Nicholas Kingswood stepped from the shadows, an arrow nocked in his bow and aimed at Moira. "Right you are, Tierra, but it's too late for both of you." Conquest continued in his confident swagger, closing the gap between them. "Ready to kneel and beg?" he asked Moira, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.

  "Like hell." Moira drew her water pistol loaded with the Horsemen repellant that had sent Death flying away months ago in a sizzling fury of burning feathers and smoking skin. Just as she lifted the pistol to shoot, a heavy hand grasped her wrist from behind, disarmed her, and War held a sword to her throat.

  Nick's grin widened. "Thought I came alone."

  "You would need back up," Moira spat. "I've already proved that you can't take me by yourself. Didn't like the little bath I gave you last time."

  "Behave, Moira. I doubt you want me to shoot your sister again." Nick swiveled the arrow's aim to Tierra. "Don't take another step, earth witch. You already know the pierce of my arrow. I wouldn't think you'd be too anxious to experience it again."

  "She's off limits," Moira said, panic causing her voice to pitch an octave higher. "Death said hands off."

  "I can shoot her without killing her. I'll just aim a little lower and take care of that...unexpected problem. Doubt Bane will give a shit about you then, will he, Tierra?"

  Tierra covered her belly protectively with her hands. Conquest might not have pulled the bowstring, but his verbal arrow hit its target true enough. How many times had she thought the same thing?

  Not now. Don't let him play on your insecurities.

  Beneath her flowing skirt, the wand she'd strapped it to her thigh pulsed with power, but she knew Conquest and War wouldn't give her the time she needed to release it. Then there was the matter of how to use it. She hadn't figured that out yet.

  Mentally she sent out a call to Aerin and Claire and hoped they weren't so hindered with their dark activities to hear her. Not knowing what else to do, she relayed the message to the beasts in the forest and asked them to deliver it. If a herd of animals suddenly appeared at the manor, Aerin and Claire should take noticed that all was not right.

  "What do you want?" Tierra asked.

  "I'm pretty satisfied right now." Nick's cool eyes grazed over Moira. "Very satisfied."

  "Probably on account of getting to hear yourself talk," Moira said. "Seems to be your favorite hobby. You and your second-string soldier have me, so let Tierra go. You only need one of us anyway."

  "No, Moira," Tierra said.

  "Don't worry about it, Tierra. These two are fixin' to learn they can't begin to chew what they've bitten off." Thunder rolled overhead.

  "She is a mouthy bitch," Dru said, eyeing the sky that had been clear one moment and now seethed with water-laden clouds.

  "That she is." Nick chuckled, his focus centered on Moira's lips as if he appreciated that fact.

  The door to Ambrosia's opened again and Sunny returned looking put out. "What are you guys doing?"

  "Get back inside!" Tierra hollered. "Call Aerin and Claire. Hurry!" she added when Sunny didn't budge.

  "Yeah, that isn't the way this is going to play out. And you two are taking too long." Sunny motioned for Tierra. "Best come in, like I said, T. That is if you want Moira to keep her head."

  "Sunny?" Tierra questioned, confused.

  Sunny laughed. The sound rasped like high-pitched violin cords and was completely at odds with Sunny's more friendly musical tones.

  Cold dread washed over Tierra. "You are not Sunny."

  "Score one for the earth witch," the woman sneered. "Though it's been fun inhabiting her for a stretch. I do so love this pierced and tatted generation, so creative and open to suggestion. She really does think highly of you, T. I hope that's a comfort. Or not. I don't really care one way or the other."

  "Who are you?" Tierra asked.

  She moved forward as if taking the podium on a stage. "I am known by many names." Her voice amplified over the empty street and seemed to reverberate from everywhere—above, below and inside Tierra's own head. Moira's widened stare locked with Tierra's, obviously experiencing the same thing.

  "Some know me by Deceiver," she continued. "Which is certainly true, along with the Destroyer, a personal favorite of mine. Then there is the Serpent, Adversary, Leviathan, Son of the Morning, and the Dragon." She gave an exaggerated sigh. "How I do miss the Dark Ages—picked that one up there—they literally worshiped me old school. Idols, desecration, cannibalism, sexual rituals, virgin sacrifices." She sighed wistfully again, causing bile to rise in Tierra's throat.

  "You'd be hard pressed to find a virgin in today's world," the woman continued. "Oh, wait. I did hear a rumor that Tierra was such a virgin. Is that really true? How did an earth witch, such as yourself, retain your virginity? And at your age? Unbelievable, a true miracle there. Witches in general are known for spreading their legs for just about anyone, isn't that right, Moira?"

  "Bitch!" Moira spat. "How 'bout yo
u kiss the north end of a southbound mule."

  "Yes, I have been called that and worse. Most address me by the Devil, Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub, though I must admit, that one isn't a favorite. Doesn't sound very attractive, does it? For the last few centuries, those closest to me have called me Lucy." The air shimmered and Sunny's body convulsed. She fell to the ground in a heap, and Lucy stepped out of her like she'd slipped out of a trench coat.

  Moira gasped. "Holy jumping Jehoshaphat. That just ain't right."

  "Sunny!" Tierra's heart pounded in her chest and tears sprang to her eyes at seeing her longtime friend crumpled in a heap on the sidewalk.

  "Don't worry," Lucy said. "She'll wake up, eventually, and feel like she's been on a bender. This isn't the first time I've worn her. All the money stolen from the shop, yeah, my work. She's becoming really comfortable, almost tailor-made." Lucy kicked Sunny's legs aside and slithered closer to Tierra. "But you on the other hand, to be inside you with Death's child budding to life, now that is definitely something I'd like to experience."

  Tierra shuddered with revulsion. Holy Mother of Earth. True evil stood in front of her and radiated out in nauseating waves. Her stomach lurched, and she swallowed the need to vomit. "Over my dead body."

  Lucy had been in their house. Broken bread with them. Tried to act as a confidant, one that had seduced Aerin into thinking that Lucy was an ally. Claire, too. Killian had been right. But why the hell hadn't he told her that the Devil had been the one courting them?

  Lucy smiled as though enjoying Tierra's scrambled thoughts.

  Can she read my mind?

  "I'm right surprised you can change in and out of them bodies so fast, old as you are," Moira said, getting her wits about her faster than Tierra. "And if you're lookin' to get some work done on account of those saggy tits, I can give you some numbers."

  Lucy laughed and pointed at Moira. "You will be fun to play with." She motioned to Nick and Dru. "Get her out of here. Lock her up with Justine. I'm sure the two of them will love the Hell out of that."