The Hex Files: Wicked Moon Rising

by Gina LaManna

  My relationship with Matthew was nebulous, uncertain, like a baby’s first steps, but growing stronger by the day. Overall, my life was chortling by with all the normalcy a detective dating a vampire could hope to achieve. Things had been looking up.

  Except, I thought, for the one niggling, outstanding issue I hadn’t been able to let go of since it was first introduced to me a few months back. I pondered over The Hex Files, letting the familiar chant sink over me—the words now engrained somewhere deep in my psyche—as I waited for an epiphany.

  Like usual, there was no magical epiphany, and I was once again at a loss. The Hex Files—a mysterious bunch of files that were mostly missing—were thought to be some huge prophecy.

  A prophecy that had the potential to change the future of the borough. One that could end lives or save them. One that could overthrow good and bring about a reign of evil. The files were something that I had been determined to investigate ever since my murderous ex-boyfriend had mentioned them off-hand, but all my efforts thus far had led me to one dead end after another.

  The fact that someone wanted me dead wasn’t all that news worthy. Fifty percent of the time someone broke into my apartment, they wanted me dead. What stumped me this time was the why.

  “Hey,” I yelled for Grey. “How’d you know I needed help, anyway?”

  “What do you think?”

  I glanced up at the question, unable to stop my jaw from dropping at the startling juxtaposition of Grey standing in my bedroom doorway dressed in Matthew’s clothes. Normally, Grey opted for a cowboy style of dress with the rugged jeans and a form-fitted, worn short-sleeved shirt. It was Matthew who dressed in the finest, most expensive of suits, claiming anything less than the best materials made him feel itchy and uncomfortable, thanks to his super-sonic senses.

  Grey, however, wore Matthew’s clothes in an entirely new way. Where Matthew took the cake for tall, dark, and mysterious, Grey cornered the market on rugged good looks and charm, his eyes glittering with amusement as he scanned me for a reaction.

  “Not bad, huh?” Grey asked, tugging at the collar of the white shirt he wore with a few buttons undone. “A little constricting for my taste, but I can see why your vamp likes it.”

  “You look—” I cleared my throat. “Don’t let Matthew see you.”

  “Don’t let Matthew see what?”

  The voice echoed around the room as both Grey and I swiveled to find Captain Matthew King of the Homicide Unit standing in the doorway to my apartment. It was a very awkward moment indeed, seeing as Grey lounged halfway in my bedroom, looking mighty smug and proprietary, in Matthew’s clothes.

  “Well,” Matthew said, his fangs descending as he smiled. “Isn’t this fun?”

  Chapter 2

  “It’s not what you think,” I said to Matthew. “Actually, I’m not sure exactly what you think because this looks pretty strange, but I guarantee it’s not that.”

  Matthew simply crooked an eyebrow upward. “I’m listening.”

  “I was working that stupid case for the chief—the one with the stolen bike and the jewelry store heist—and it ran late. Hence the reason I cancelled our dinner plans,” I said. “I came home and climbed in bed.”

  “If I may interrupt,” Grey interrupted, “I’m curious to know what constitutes ‘dinner plans’ for a vampire?”

  “Shut up,” I said to Grey. “I woke up in the middle of the night when I heard a noise. I’m not sure exactly what it was—the brush of something against the window, a breeze, or just sheer instinct, but I crammed pillows under the covers and skedaddled from the room. Seconds later, a Choker Curse filled the room and tried to kill me.”

  “Naturally,” Matthew said, seemingly unimpressed by the attempt on my life. “And that clearly explains why the wolf is in vampire’s clothing.”

  “Funny,” I said. “I was fighting off the attack just fine when Grey broke into my apartment and distracted me. My Breather Bubble popped, and—”

  “I saved her life,” Grey said easily. “You’re welcome.”

  Matthew turned a stony face toward the wolf. If looks could kill, Grey would be halfway through cardiac arrest.

  “Who sent the Choker?” Matthew turned abruptly to me.

  “Well gee,” I said dryly. “I don’t know. I’ve just about died. I’m glad to see you are concerned.”

  Matthew’s eyes flicked past me and studied the remains of my pepperoni pizza on the floor. A flush of embarrassment crept up my cheeks and down my neck. I was known for having a strong stomach in the department. Turning, I closed my eyes and muttered a Cleaner Charm that had the place smelling like lemons and bleach seconds later.

  “Nifty,” Grey said.

  I glared at him.

  The room fell into awkward silence.

  “Well,” Grey said, “I should be going.” To Matthew, he gave a grin. “Thanks for letting me borrow some clothes. Your girlfriend said you’d prefer that over my walking around in the buff.”

  “Hold on,” I said, raising both of my hands. “I’m a little confused here.”

  Both Matthew and Grey swiveled their gazes to me.

  I pointed an accusatory finger at Grey. “You still haven’t told me how you knew I was in trouble.”

  Matthew’s lips curved into a smile at my dismay.

  I swiveled my finger to point at him next. “You’re not off the hook, mister. Why aren’t you more upset about a naked werewolf in my apartment? Wearing your clothes?”

  Matthew’s smile froze in place, looking as if it’d been chiseled in granite.

  Grey coughed. “I’m going to let the vamp take this one.”

  Matthew’s gaze flicked to Grey for the briefest of seconds. The vampire blinked—a stalling tactic, not a necessity—before he spoke. “I am...” He hesitated, looking pained. “I’m grateful to the wolf for being available to help you.”

  I crossed my arms, shook my head. “Try again.”

  Matthew flinched under my gaze. “I’d rather the wolf save you than the Choker take your life.”

  I made a buzzer sound. “Wrong again. Answer the question.”

  “Grey,” Matthew said, “how did you know she was in trouble?”

  Grey shifted his weight from one foot to the next and looked thoughtfully at Matthew. “Lucky guess?”

  “You’re both idiots,” I said. “What’s going on here? I’m a detective. You’re not fooling me. When you’re ready to talk, come find me.”

  I stormed past both of them and out of my apartment. I flung the door shut behind me, satisfied with the fulfilling slam and ensuing tremble of walls. I strode through the skinny, second floor hallway of the two-story building that functioned as both my apartment (on the second level) and place of business (on the first).

  I jogged down the narrow spiral staircase and pushed open the swinging door that led to the employees-only room of DeMarco’s Pizza—the family owned pizzeria I’d kickstarted during my almost-year-long break from the precinct. While I still tried to keep on top of the business, most of the day to day responsibilities had fallen on the shoulders of my youngest brother, Jack DeMarco, and the apple of his eye—my new best friend Willa Bloomer.

  Speaking of best friends and little brothers, I thought as I came to a dead stop in the glittering kitchen that serviced the restaurant. I took a glance at my watch, then back up at the two folks standing there.

  “It’s barely seven in the morning,” I said to Jack and Willa. “What are the two of you doing here?”

  Willa turned her nose up and sniffed. “We have a party coming in today—kids party at noon. I thought I’d get an early start. Your brother thought he’d interrupt.”

  Jack glared at Willa. “I’m in charge of prep this week. Business has been booming the last few nights, and we’ve gotten behind. I came in early to make sure we had enough prepped to last the full day with the additional birthday party.”

  “A likely story,” Willa growled, snapping a large wad of bubble gum. “I’d b
e more productive if you cleaned the tables and left me alone. Too many cooks in the kitchen and all of that.”

  “Do I need to separate the two of you?” I asked, watching the bickering pair like I would two children. “Or can you handle operating in the same space like adults?”

  There was a sullen silence as Jack turned a downcast expression toward the floor and Willa’s cheeks bloomed peony pink.

  “Good,” I said. “Time and a half for coming in early to help with the party. Let Jimmy close tonight so the two of you don’t have to stay all day.”

  “I don’t mind,” Willa said quickly. “I can use the overtime.”

  “I don’t mind either,” Jack said. “I’m staying, too.”

  “Great,” I said. “Then try not to kill each other and have a great day. I’m off to work.”

  “Willa, can you hand me—” Jack started as I brushed passed them.

  “—shut up!” Willa snapped and smacked his hand away. “No, I will not hand you another rag. You’re using them like tissues.”

  “If you—”

  “I’ll use my Gabstopper on you if you can’t pipe down,” Willa said and snapped her gum again. “I’ve been practicing, and I’m sixty-eight percent sure my charm will work this time.”

  “I’m forty-eight percent not scared,” Jack said. “If you’ll just hand me—”

  “How could you?!” A new voice joined my bickering brother and friend as Matthew stormed downstairs and through the kitchen, trailed by a frothing Grey. “How the hell could you put her in that kind of danger, Matthew?”

  “What are the two of you talking about?” I asked Matthew and Grey.

  “Will you please just hand me a towel?” Jack bellowed. “This one is sopping wet.”

  “You’ve used enough towels!” Willa called back. “You’re cut off. Wring the bloody thing out!”

  “You are not allowed to get upset over this.” Matthew rounded on Grey. “You don’t know Danielle like I do.”

  “No,” Grey retorted. “Well, you weren’t there to keep her from dying this morning.”

  “Will everyone shut up?” I hollered.

  Then I channeled my mother’s most favorite charm, muttered an incantation and snapped my fingers to loose a Whistler on the room. The room became so silent it was almost painful.

  “For crying out loud,” I said. “Is something in the water? What’s everyone’s problem?”

  Grey looked livid as he took a step forward. His eyes raked over me, pierced through me. “The vamp is playing games with your life, and I won’t stand for it.”

  “This is between Dani and me,” Matthew countered, matching Grey’s pace. “Keep your paws out of it.”

  “I won’t stay out of it when Dani’s life is at stake,” Grey said. “You’ve opened Pandora’s box, and there’s no closing it now. Whether you like it or not, I’m involved.”

  “There’s no way—”

  “People!” Willa chomped her gum faster. “Matthew, you’re only going to piss off Dani more—you should know that. Grey, I don’t know what you’re stomping around over, but none of us want Dani dead. So, if we can just—”

  “Stay out of it?!” Grey snarled to Matthew. “No. If I stayed out of things, Dani would be dead on the floor up there, and you’d be—”

  Willa blew a bubble the size of her face with the gum, and then leaned forward and, as if she were blowing a kiss, sent the bubble in Grey’s direction. It twinkled with a hint of magic. Then she did the same thing and sent another bubble in Matthew’s direction.

  As the pink bubbles floated lazily toward the two perplexed supernaturals, Willa happily muttered a charm I’d never heard before.

  “While you have the gift of gab,

  Peace and quiet can’t be had.

  Zip those lips and take a rest,

  So we don’t think you’re such a pest.”

  I blinked at Willa. “Um, what was that?”

  “Watch!” She giggled, then raised her hands and crossed two fingers. “I’ve been practicing. Jack was helping me until he turned into a jerk.”

  “I’m not the jerk! I asked you out,” Jack said. “You’re the one who turned me—”

  Before Jack could finish, Willa blew another bubble at Jack, and we all watched, mesmerized, as the three bubbles found their places on each of the men’s lips. The bubbles burst—one, two, three little pops—and suddenly, the room was silent all over again.

  “There,” Willa said happily. “Silence. Go on, Dani. What did you want to say?”

  “Um...” I glanced at my brother, my boyfriend, and the man who’d saved my life. “Are you sure they’re okay?”

  Matthew, Grey, and Jack all looked mildly surprised as they tried to speak—and found no words came out.

  “They’ll be fine,” Willa said. “I’m pretty sure it wears off at some point.”

  “Pretty sure...” I said weakly. “Like how long?”

  “What were you saying?” Willa said sweetly. “Better speak quickly before they all start arguing again.”

  I gave Willa a somewhat terrified nod before turning to Grey. “You still haven’t answered my questions about how you knew to be here. Do you and Matthew have some sort of little deal going on? A protective watch of sorts? It might explain why Matthew wasn’t spitting nails to find you naked in my apartment.”

  “Naked?” Willa asked, looking more than a little curious. “Sorry—which of them was naked?”

  “Never mind,” I said. “Matthew—why the hell is Grey mad at you? What is none of his business?”

  I waited, the moment stretching into a long, pregnant pause, until Willa leaned over and whispered to me. “They’re sort of muted.”

  “Right,” I said. “Er, well—fine. I expect answers to these questions when you can speak again. And you, Jack—” I whirled to look at my brother—“be nice to Willa, won’t you, please? We need her to run this place.”

  Willa was beaming. “I knew this spell would come in handy. I’ve really been practicing a lot lately. I think my powers are growing.”

  “I think I’m done,” I said quickly. “Will all of you behave?”

  Each of the men nodded, some more grudgingly than the others.

  “Okay, good,” I huffed. Then to Willa, I added, “Go on and reverse it now.”

  “Um, reverse?” Willa said weakly. “I thought—er, maybe it would just wear off. Don’t spells usually do that?”

  I rolled my eyes to the heavens. “First my furniture, and now this?”

  “What happened to Marla?” Willa gasped. “We were just becoming friends!”

  “Forget it,” I said. “I just—I have to get to the office. You four...figure this out. Matthew—don’t make plans for tonight. You either, Grey—the three of us need to talk.”

  “Oooh...” Willa fluttered. “How fun! Will anyone be naked this time around?”

  Matthew glared, and Grey looked intrigued.

  “Seven p.m.,” I ordered. “Don’t be late, or I’m siccing Willa on you all over again.”

  Willa clapped her hands. “And you really don’t want to be the guinea pig for my next curse,” she said, eyeing Jack keenly. “I call it the Ball Buster. No further explanation needed.”

  Chapter 3

  “Why would you do this?” I asked the young punk who I’d just caught robbing a jewelry store in the Golden District. “You had to know we’d catch you.”

  The spellslinger looked up and gave me a cheesy smile. “It was fun while it lasted.”

  “I can’t fault you that,” I said. “Get on the broom.”

  “Man, I don’t like heights!”

  “Should’ve thought of that before you lifted a gold necklace from the most secure store this side of the Goblin Grid,” I told him. “Move it or lose it, kid. I had a rough morning, and I’m not in the mood for a rough afternoon.”

  “Girl, I’ve had a rough morning too,” he said. “And I think I’m gonna puke on your shoes if you make me get on that broomstick
.”

  “Ten seconds,” I said, glancing at my Comm as it buzzed with another call. “I’ve got a slew of punks to deal with today, and your sensitive stomach is the least of my problems.”

  “But—”

  “Five, four...” I began counting, then lifted the Comm to my mouth. “DeMarco.”

  “Detective,” the chief’s voice barked. “You’re needed on an urgent call.”

  “I’m hauling in the thief from the Golden District, sir,” I said. “I need a few minutes until backup arrives. I was called in to check for Residuals and was the first on the scene after the alarms sounded. I can’t leave him alone.”

  “I don’t have a few minutes for this nonsense.”

  I glanced around at the expensive street, thinking it wasn’t exactly a place where cops hung out for fun. Most of the foot traffic on the street belonged to tourists gawking at the golden-rimmed displays on every building, every street corner, and glancing wide-eyed through the windows at the magnificent shop displays.

  “I already called it in,” I said. “I just need—”

  “It’ll solve all your problems if you just let me go,” the kid said. “I don’t want to puke on your shoes, but I will. I won’t steal again.”

  “Three, two, one...” I counted down.

  “Are you counting at me?” Chief Newton barked again over the phone line. “Detective—”

  “Not you, Chief,” I said. “I’m trying to—where do you think you’re going, kid? Chief...er, be right back.”

  The kid took off, hands bound behind his back, and began running straight down the middle of Platinum Alley. He was pretty fast for someone with sagging pants and two unusable arms. I sprinted after him with the department issued broomstick in hand, gaining ground until the kid ducked behind an ice cream stand and pushed the entire cart backward toward me.

  I managed to mostly dodge the cart, but the stupid thing ran over my big toe. The flash of pain sent me spinning in a circle for a second too long. By the time I bit back my string of curse words and yelled at the vendor to get out of my way, the kid was gone. He’d ducked down one of the many alleys, and I’d have as much luck finding him as I would a rat in a sewer system.