JINXED: (Karma Series, Book Two)

by Donna Augustine

  “I'd like to hear why you seem to have such an interest in recruiting me?” That might have been the first truly honest thing I'd said in a month. Why me? Couldn't they find someone else to drag into their mess? First Suit and now him? Don’t you people ever chase willing girls?

  “I'm sure you've noticed that this world isn't running very well.”

  “That depends on your perspective, to a certain degree, doesn't it? Perhaps it's not going the way you prefer, but maybe it is for others?” I weighed the risk of being poisoned and decided to take a sip of wine. I'd strolled into his lair. If he wanted me gone, he didn't need to poison me.

  “Have you noticed how unbalanced things seem?” His voice dared me to deny the obvious.

  I'd been thinking the very same thing myself, just the other day, as I'd done a job in Montreal.

  “No, not at all.” I denied it anyway. Hopefully he’d assume I was stupid and therefore worthless to him.

  “I can see you aren't as open minded as you'd like to have me believe, but that's okay. I have confidence you'll come around.” He lifted the bottle and topped off my glass. “I think it's time for new management. I want you to join me.”

  “You think you could do a better job?” Of course he did. His type always thought that. To be fair, though, this place did look quite a bit better than what we had going on over at the office.

  “Definitely.”

  “But why me? Why do you want me so badly you have to drag Kitty into this?”

  He reclined back in his seat and crossed his legs. He looked like a southern gentleman, but I was sure he was anything but.

  “Cigarette?” he asked, opening up a jeweled case that sat by the wine.

  “No, thank you.”

  He lit up and then blew out a stream of smoke before he began to talk. “I need people who have control. Did you know you had more control over your existence than any other human I've ever encountered in all the years I've been around?” He stared at me while he spoke, watching for a reaction.

  And I was having a strong one. The idea that he’d been in my life—on some level—for longer than I knew, revolted me, but I tried to hide my disgust. “You clearly know me very well. Who exactly are you?”

  “For now, let's just say I'm someone that thinks it's time for a change.” He smiled and said nothing more on the subject.

  I leaned back and took a sip of red wine. He could smile, because as of right now, he had all the control. In fact, he had everything I didn’t; control, money, and information. I was the epitome of the underdog in this situation.

  I smiled now. That was okay with me. I liked being the underdog. Victory’s never as sweet as when you’re coming from behind.

  “What is it you want to do?”

  “The short answer is, take complete control.” He took another drag of his cigarette and the light glittered in his eyes, making me wonder if I was sitting with the devil himself. I knew some things didn’t dwell in our dimensions, but perhaps they came by for visits?

  “The first part would be the hardest. We'd have to do some restructuring of management.”

  Getting rid of Harold? Yikes, that was one thing I might be interested in. Why did this guy have to scream “evil dude?” Why couldn't there be a sane person suggesting restructuring?

  It didn't matter. If Malokin was serious, he wasn't going to get very far targeting Harold. He was simply the paper pusher. Maybe this guy didn't know too much. That was a good sign.

  “Of course, Harold doesn't pull the strings. His departure would be simply to upset the apple cart and shake a few loose.” More wine, another puff and he continued. “But you have a unique in with someone who does. Paddy.”

  My leg stopped in mid swing. “Paddy is just an old man. Why would you be interested in him?”

  “I didn't initially recognize him, but I'd never gotten that close to one of them before.” He looked at me, smoke swirling around his head like he really was straight from hell. “Strange how familiar the two of you were, though.”

  “One of who?” I scoffed. “I'm telling you, Paddy's just some old guy I met at the grocery store.” I started swinging my leg again.

  “He's upper management.”

  “You're mistaken.” I think you’re dead on.

  “I could be, but I’m not. It's like spotting a unicorn when you’ve never seen one before. It could be a horse, except for the massive glowing horn on its head.”

  And what had been Paddy’s horn that had given him away? The curiosity building in me wasn't enough to ask and confirm. I agreed. I wouldn't be responsible for slipping and giving him something he could use against Paddy. Although I had no real knowledge, it didn't mean something I said wouldn't be of use to him. It was time for another subject switch. “Where’s Kitty?”

  “You know I can’t tell you that, right now.” There was no emotion when he spoke; he simply stated the obvious.

  “Is she alive?” I had more emotion than I wanted, but I tried to swallow it back.

  “Perhaps,” he said, purposefully leaving me hanging.

  It was hard not to grab one of my knives and go for his neck. “She'll need to be released for me to continue on in good faith.”

  “If you sign on, I won't have any further need of her or any of your other co-workers.”

  “And what about Kitty?”

  “We’ll come to a mutual agreement about her as we proceed.” He stood and I followed suit. “I know that's the only reason you’re here, but it doesn't matter. I have every confidence you'll find your place with us.”

  “What is it exactly you want me to do?” I asked as I watched him open the door to the interior.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll be in touch.” He held it open for me, signaling the end of the meeting. All I could think as I passed him was if he was standing just a few feet closer to the railing, I’d be tempted to end this now and figure out where Kitty was afterward.

  Chapter 12

  A Dark Ride

  It was dark day at the office. Even the employees who came in weren’t speaking much. After Kitty’s disappearance, everyone was off balance, wondering what would happen next. I was right with them, wishing someone would fill me in as well.

  Jockey strode over and stopped by my side. “You ready?”

  “Ready?” I looked up at him, having no clue what he was talking about.

  “To see the Night Mares.”

  “Yeah,” I said, and grabbed my bag. I’d forgotten about our agreement, with Kitty’s disappearance on my mind and now Malokin breathing down my neck.

  “You have to come now. They're expecting you.” Jockey turned on the heel of his riding boots and headed off.

  I followed him down the hallway to a door I'd never noticed before. Strange, I'd thought I'd seen them all. This was going to lead to the stables? I'd walked around the building before and I'd never once seen a horse. I couldn't deny I was beyond curious, especially with this being such an elusive experience. Why so secretive?

  It opened onto another hallway that stretched out fifty feet in front of us, this one much more dimly lit. An aged and rustic door stood ominously at the very end.

  I followed him in. When the door behind us slammed closed, the lights dimmed even further. The walls and ceiling seemed to fade into the abyss. I reached out my fingers to the side but didn’t feel anything.

  A cool gust blew the hair off my shoulders and it didn’t feel like it came from an AC vent. The screams started then, children, adults, male and female. The entire spectrum of the human race seemed to be letting their voices be heard. I walked a little quicker, following right behind Jockey while trying not to step on his heels.

  “You sure this is okay with them?” I asked Jockey.

  “Yes.” Jockey paused before the door with his hand on the large iron handle. “I'll go first, to let them know you're here. Open this door in five minutes.” He leaned in slightly and stared directly into my eyes. “Once you are in, I tell you to leave, immediatel
y run for the door.”

  He turned back to the door and I grabbed his arm before he could go in. “Why? What would happen?”

  His face scrunched up. “Just don't stay.” He opened and closed the door so quickly I didn't even get a peek inside.

  The wind kicked up again and the screams got a bit louder. It might have been the slowest five minutes in my life before I pushed open that door.

  Even though there should've been bright midday sun, the sky was sparkling with stars. A field, instead of the paved parking lot outside of the building, seemed to go on for miles and miles. Grass, moist from a recent rainfall, sparkled with the reflection of the moon. Trees lined the entire perimeter. But the most beautiful vision were the horses, all black and sleek. A more perfect creature couldn't possibly exist.

  Jockey made a clucking noise with his tongue and the largest of the horses turned her head and trotted over. Its sleek muscles rippled in the moonlight as they worked beneath the glossy mane. Jockey tilted his head as the horse stopped beside him and nuzzled his neck.

  “So beautiful.” She was massive at close range, larger than most of the horses I’d seen in my life by about a foot. I was in awe.

  “Her name is Terror,” Jockey said, his hand running down her neck. “She’s the queen of the herd.”

  “May I touch her?”

  “If she'll let you. She doesn't take to strangers well.”

  I took a hesitant step forward and reached out my hand. Terror approached me with confidence then ducked her muzzle beneath my palm. When she came closer, for a moment I feared she was going to trample me, but then she brushed gently against my side.

  “She wants you to ride her.” Jockey looked at me. “This is an honor.”

  All thoughts of bailing out politely went to hell with that statement. Why not? How often did you get a chance to ride a Night Mare? A lap or two around here wasn’t going to take very long, considering the size of these beasts.

  He didn’t ask if I wanted to do it, just cupped his hands in front of me. I took his offer. Guess it was giddy up time.

  Terror didn't have a saddle or reins so I leaned close and tangled my hands in her mane. The moment I was settled in, we were off, and within a few seconds we were flying full speed ahead, right at the tree line. I ducked low, hoping not to get clobbered by branches, but they disappeared into nothing, along with the field. The grass beneath us was gone as well.

  We were galloping at full speed through nothing but blackness for a handful of seconds, and then our path was lined with images on either side. As soon as I got a glimpse of one, they changed. We whipped past them and more sprang up in a distance with no end in sight.

  It was one of the most terrifying and invigorating things I'd ever experienced. Suddenly, Terror slowed to a trot and we moved into one of the scenes playing out around us.

  It was Malokin, with an image of a female who looked too similar to me to be anyone but. She, or I, was standing in the center of an empty room as Malokin circled around her. From his fingers sprung a web. Slowly, he kept circling the girl, thickening the sticky covering that she struggled to get loose from. I could see her hands pressing outward as her mouth opened in a cry, but she’d lost her voice. Turn after turn, the web got thicker and denser and she struggled less and less.

  “Are we in Malokin's dreams? What does this mean? I don't understand.” The horse neighed in response and then we were sprinting forth again, until we were in the field once more.

  Jockey grabbed my waist as I slid down Terror's side. She nuzzled my arm before taking off into the field, leaving me standing there, shaky and breathing heavily.

  “It's quite a trip, isn't it?” Jockey asked, mistaking my demeanor for excitement and not the fear that it was.

  “They're just dreams, right?” I crossed my arms and rubbed my palms over them.

  “Yes. Everyone's. Anyone's. Where did she take you? Did you get to see a good one?”

  “Just a random dream.” I'd never seen Jockey so animated, and I wished I could partake in his enthusiasm, instead of wanting to run for the door.

  “They can go anywhere in the dream world. Any mind that's sleeping.”

  “Thank you, but I really need to go,” I said, my voice flat, no matter how I wanted to fake it. I took a couple of steps toward the door, wanting nothing more than to get the hell out of there.

  “What about the manual?” he called after me when I finally succumbed to the urge.

  “Of course. I'll give you an outline of what I need this week,” I replied without stopping.

  Chapter 13

  On the Job Training

  We met at the end of the pier in Surfside. He was already there, standing amidst a brewing storm. Thunder clapped in the near distance and lightning flashed behind him, silhouetting his body.

  He was facing away from me, hands resting on the railing. His head was angled slightly to the side, just enough to catch a glimpse of me in his peripheral vision. He knew I was approaching.

  I took every step towards him as if I were approaching the gates of hell. Perhaps I was. I'd still keep going, even if it were the devil himself I marched toward. If Kitty was in hell, she was simply my seat warmer. I wouldn't let her burn for me.

  I stopped by his side, just close enough to hide my aversion but hardly warm and cozy. I leaned on the railing, and bent over it slightly to watch the waves churning. The ocean smashed against the pier's support, trying to take it down, annoyed at a foreign presence where there shouldn't be one. I understood the ocean's anger at the intrusion. It was how I felt about Malokin walking around in my universe.

  He leaned forward as well and rested his forearms on the railing, as I was. Every action he took was intentional. It was a common tactic, to mimic someone's actions to put them at ease. He wanted me to feel that we were alike.

  We weren't. I didn't care what had happened in my past life. I'd made mistakes, and had regrets, but I'd never be like him.

  “I'm assuming that you're ready to start work?”

  “Kitty's situation needs to be resolved.” The fact that I’d walked away from our meeting with no answers had grated on me since the second I left. What bothered me even more was that I still couldn’t do a damn thing about it.

  “Of course.” He turned and offered me his arm. It was a little too cozy, but I went along with the gesture. I swallowed back my aversion and placed my hand in the crook of his elbow.

  “I know we aren't starting off with ideal conditions, but this will work out for both of us.” He spoke with so much confidence it worried me. He'd been around a lot longer than I. Did he know something I didn't? Was he aware of something about me that gave him surety?

  No, I couldn't think like that. I made my choices, no one else. And as soon as I started rationalizing away from that, the quicker I would be like him. Whatever he believed, I'd prove him wrong.

  “And if it doesn’t work out? What then?”

  “Let's not make this meeting unpleasant for no reason. You're with me now; let's think positively about the future.” He patted my hand that rested on his arm. I'd let him. And then I'd use that same hand he touched with familiarity to break his neck as soon as I got Kitty out of this mess.

  We walked toward the Jaguar, parked at the entrance to the pier. It was something I'd expect him to drive. He held the passenger door open for me, keeping to his gentlemanly demeanor, regardless of what lay beneath.

  “No driver?” I asked as he got behind the steering wheel.

  “I wanted to give us some privacy.”

  Or to kill me with absolutely no witnesses. “Where are we going?”

  “We need to make a stop before Kitty.”

  “Where?” Maybe he really did want to kill me? If that was the case, he was going to get a run for his money. I wasn't going down easy.

  “I wanted a little demonstration of you stopping something that was meant to happen.” He looked over at me. “I've never seen you in action. You don't mind, do you?”
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  I found his statement odd, but nodded. “Sure.”

  I resisted the urge to fidget or show any nerves. When I'd done this before and killed the man in the forest, I hadn't realized the full picture. I’d seen someone about to get hurt and acted on instinct to protect them. It hadn’t been a planned intervention to mess with the larger scheme of things.

  This was exactly the type of thing that could kill me—as in gone forever, no passing go. You lost and you didn’t get a lousy reincarnation to soften the blow. You got nothing but erased, as if you never existed at all. I knew it well now and was certain he did, too.

  But I still turned and asked him, “What did you have in mind?” I asked because—right now—I didn’t have any other option.

  “You'll see.”

  It was exactly those types of answers that had my hand itching to grab one of the knives holstered at my ankles.

  Chapter 14

  A Storm is Brewing

  He parked at a marina, not far away from the pier we'd just left. I followed him to the beginning of a large dock, lined with decent sized boats and the occasional yacht. It was empty for the most part, due to the rough weather caused by the hurricane riding up the coast.

  The ones that moved their boats were smart. I knew about the storm Mother was sending our way. She'd been carrying on about it, back at the office, for more than a week, raving to anyone who would listen that it was some of her best work to date. The fact that we weren't in hurricane season didn't seem to take the wind out of her sails, or anyone else’s.

  Without a word, Malokin indicated a boat all the way at the end, which was holding up under the waves better than the smaller vessels. It had to be a sixty-five footer, a beautiful craft, with multiple decks made of gleaming teak.

  Light from the inside cabin filtered through the shades and I could see shadowed movements within.

  “There are two men on that boat tonight who are arguing.” He looked at me intently and I dreaded what words would come from his lips next. “One will shoot the other in the next thirty minutes.”