by R. L. Wilson
“No, your abilities are still working. They are working to keep you alive.” His face fills with worry.
“To keep me alive?” My eyes widen…okay, I’m having a panic attack. It’s suddenly two hundred degrees and I can’t catch my breath.
“Calm down,” Kato says.
“Calm? how can I stay calm, this is my life!” Thunder pierces my throat.
“Once the vine covers your entire body, the magical abilities will cease to exist and the curse will slide to someone else. But it means once the vine covers your body you will cease to exist.”
The floodgates open as tears roll my cheeks. How can I be dying? Except for the fatigue, and blurry vision I’m fine. I eat well, I exercise. Why me—I’ve tried to be a good person.
At least now I know everything. I’m dying, and I’m the one killing myself.
Chapter 11
Staring at myself in the mirror sends me into a state of shock. My eyes have lost their deep color, and my face, its bright shine. Dark circles and huge bags appear underneath my eyes. The tattoo has crept along my left arm, getting closer to my hand. What the hell is going on? I look like death. I have never seen death, but imagine it has to be similar.
I walk into the living room of my mother’s house and see pictures of myself when I was younger and now. I look much older. Stress does real harm to your looks. Somehow this curse is tied to my childhood, and maybe I can get some insight from Momma. She watches her soap operas while having her morning cup of coffee. She holds the remote control in her hand and flicks the TV off when I take a seat.
“I need to talk to you.” She narrows her gaze on me and sits the remote control on the couch. “I’m concerned for you and the company you keep,” she mutters.
She’s talking about Prentiss coming over the other day. He is not the company I want to keep, he’s a nightmare I can’t escape.
A heavy sigh escapes my lips. “He’s not the company I keep.” I hang my head low, ashamed that my mother had to witness such hasty behavior. He’s dangerous, with a dark essence and a venomous smile.
She squints her green eyes the way she does when she is serious. “Stay away from him or he will take you to hell with him.” Her facial muscles tighten.
The words hit me in the gut. It’s true, nothing good can come to me if I’m around a rogue soul.
“But, Momma—”
“No buts, I’ve lived in the Motor City long enough to know danger when I see it.” She clears her throat and relaxes the muscles in her face.
“I’ve been clear-headed these last couple of days. I don’t know why,” Momma says. “Usually the fog consumes my thoughts.”
We continue talking for hours. I haven’t enjoyed her company in years. Either she is angry or her anxiety is getting the best of her. But right now, at this moment, she is the mother I remember before dad died. When she enjoyed life.
The second curse has to be executed. I don’t want to die slow, just so I don’t have to perform healings anymore. This curse is eternally handed from one generation to the next. The price my family has to pay for some wrongdoing in the past, I guess. The vision Momma and I see may be a clue.
I give Momma a hug. “I love you, Momma.” Her floral perfume lingers on my shirt.
“Remember what I said.” She closes her eyes and folds her legs in her meditating position.
I nod and smirk, and for right now I have my mother back.
I scamper down the street because I can’t wait to get home and tell Morgan what Kato said. I didn’t tell Momma because I didn’t want to freak her out. Besides, we had a great visit. I didn’t want to lay the crummy news on her shoulders. It might send her mental state in a downward spiral.
As I step on the porch, a hand comes around my mouth. Fear stabs at my stomach while anger invades my chest. What the fuck now? My muffled screams are not loud enough for anyone to hear, but I kick and scream all I can. The adrenaline flows through my blood. I try biting the huge hand around my mouth, but I can’t get a good grip. I’m lifted off the ground as I kick and scream. It’s a big man’s arm that has me in a death grip.
Next, I’m being tossed in the back of a van like a rag doll. I stare in disbelief at the man stuffing me inside the van. “What the fuck is going on?” I scream.
I know him; he’s the vampire who came to my job. He doesn’t say shit, he just continues to slam the door. Only vampires kidnap an innocent witch for no reason.
How the hell am I going to get out of here? Where the hell are they taking me? The van is dark and empty. I try to stay calm and decrease my racing thoughts. The van shoots down the streets. I know the curves and the potholes in this town. We haven’t left Silver City before the van comes to a halt.
As soon as the door opens, my feet are coming out. A swift kick in the balls will get them off me. The lock clicks and the van door flies open. Prentiss stands in front of the door with a snarl.
“What the hell is this, Prentiss?”
He waves his hand. “Come on out, I wanna talk.”
I hop out of the van in the middle of an alley. The stench of warm garbage pierces my nostrils. I put my finger under my nose.
“What’s so secret we need to meet in the alley? And why did you send your minions to kidnap me?”
“Kidnap?” he frowns. “I’ve got good news: don’t worry, everything is fine.”
I fold my hands and scowl at Prentiss. I don’t trust his snake ass. So, I’m watching everything moving.
Another man walks beside me wearing a long black trench coat. Darkness is glazed across his round face and his strong jawline.
My stomach tingles and I inch away from him, just as the darkness jumps off his body. He is an evil spirit, a demon. He’s tall, with a thick build. My stomach balls in knots. I don’t want to be around him. His spirit makes Prentiss’s spirit bright.
“It’s ok, I have found a new cure for you so you can get back to healing. I will pay you a sizeable fee, and anything you want is at your disposal.” Prentiss says.
“Anything?”
“Yes, anything; new clothes, a car, anything you want.”
This is all very tempting. I want new clothes. But I’m not working for him for the rest of my life. If there is no other way to get rid of the curse, I’ll eliminate Prentiss.
Before I could tell him I will be getting the curse back myself, tall darkness slaps another fucking collar around my neck. I jump back, wondering what the fuck his problem is.
I glare at Prentiss.
“He’s doing his job. It’s another collar and will allow you to perform healings again.”
If I take another step I might fall. The room is spinning and my mouth waters. And before I can complain, I find myself projectile vomiting all over the ground.
“I know exactly what the problem is, Prentiss.” He touches me and suddenly my stomach pains stop. The world has stopped spinning.
I glare at him. “What did you do to me?”
He rubs his slick hair back in a ponytail and looks at Prentiss. “Someone tried breaking the curse.”
Prentiss gives a puzzled look. “What are you talking about?”
“That’s why she felt sick when I put the new collar around her neck.”
“No sir, you don’t know what you are talking about.” I rest my hand on my hip and get up in his face. “No one tried anything on me.” I cough and grab a napkin from my purse.
“Maybe you didn’t know, but someone tried cursing you. It’s broken now.” The corners of his mouth turn up in a venomous grin. The darkness oozes from his spirit.
Prentiss will do anything to keep his illegal operation going. I’d healed many people he feeds on. They leave people nearly dead, sucking all the blood from their bodies. Then come and get me to do the healings. It doesn’t matter what time of day or night it is or if I’m tired. They feed on humans mostly. Some they even converted to vampires.
“You need to be careful of the company you keep,” the dark man said.
The dark guy walks close to me and readjusts the collar.
“Please warn me before you touch me.”
He holds his hands in the air. “I come in peace.”
When he touches me, shock waves go through my body. His sickness is apparent. He needs healing, but he doesn’t know he’s sick, and I for damn sure want to tell him. I need to find Kato and fast.
“We have a lot of healings to do, so keep your phone on.” Prentiss says.
“Please don’t call me in the middle of the night, I have a job.” I roll my eyes and fold my arms.
“We have to make this money by any means necessary.”
“Are you onboard or not?”
Do I have an option? Even if I say no they will come to my house anyway, demanding I come.
“Yeah, I’m on board?”
I have to play this game with him for a little longer, but as soon as I figure out a plan, I’m going to get rid of his ass. He has the whole town fooled or working for him, while he floats poison in the community.
I will get rid of Prentiss once and for all, or expose his ass of all his wrongdoing.
“Excuse my manners. I’m Randy,” he extends his hand. I slap his hand and shoot him a mean stare. “I’m Prentiss’s Hoodoo priest.”
What the fuck, Prentiss has a Hoodoo priest working for him? A Hoodoo priest is very similar to a Voodoo priest. He has to know Kato. And it will come spilling out of his mouth any minute now. I don’t trust his ass. His eyes are tight and sneaky-looking.
“When you had the collar removed, the person you trusted cursed you. Maybe you didn’t even realize it, the man is really slick,” Randy says.
I’m praying he doesn’t tell Prentiss it was Kato. I don’t want Prentiss to be after him for helping me, I consider him a friend now. This is my fault, my error in judgement. And the reason me and my family has to live in fear.
Prentiss narrows his gaze, his eyes peering under his bushy eyebrows. Staring at his lips, I get lightheaded anticipating foul language to flow from his mouth.
My knees turn into sponges and I fall to the unpaved alley, hitting my left leg on an empty beer bottle. I glance at the tattoo which has now grown to the other arm. I sit here for seconds, unable to move.
This luminous glow consumes the tattoo. A bright neon-green glowing in the dark.
The last thing I expected to ever happen does. Prentiss extends his hand and at first, I flinch. Is this bastard going to hit me while I’m on the ground? He grabs my hand and helps me up. He has a heart, underneath his tough exterior.
He does have some kindness in him. But this doesn’t excuse all the other scandalous shit he does. Who am I fooling, he doesn’t care for me, he is protecting his assets.
Prentiss’s eyes turn as big and round as saucers. “What’s wrong with this tattoo?” he asks.
After Randy examines the area, he cuts his eyes to Prentiss, his eyes drooped like a sad puppy. “It means she’s dying. As it grows, her abilities to heal decrease.”
My body jerks at the words coming from his mouth. All magic comes with a price, and this is mine.
Prentiss stares at me with a sense of sympathy. It’s one of the first times I have seen his gentle side. I can’t be sure, but it seems genuine.
“I will do everything in my power to take care of you.” Prentiss lowers his head and looks at the floor.
No need for him to have any empathy for me now. He didn’t care when he was working me like a horse. However, it’s not his fault I’m dying. This curse has haunted my family since long before I met him.
“I’m going to start by giving you a better place to live and not expecting you to clean up every mess.” He glances over at Randy. “Maybe we need to find another healer who can do some of the work.”
Shrugging. “Where am I going to find another healer?” Randy wonders.
“Don’t worry, I will take care of everything,” Prentiss says before calling me an Uber.
Chapter 12
My Uber comes to a halt next to a large moving truck parked in front of my apartment. My next-door neighbor Mrs. Rose watches from her porch. She always comes out to be nosey. She is a one-woman neighborhood watch committee.
Screams come from the apartment and I know it’s Morgan’s voice. Now, where has this happened before? I could swear this same big white truck and Morgan yelling at the movers happened yesterday.
A black cat scurries onto the porch and peeks in the hall. Even the cat wants to know what all the commotion is for. Carrying my couch are two large men. They are buff and both have several tattoos. Not like the tattoo I have. My tattoo is blinking on one arm. It’s not growing as quickly as it was before they threw the new collar around my neck. Still, I have to get this collar off. I’m not a branded animal.
“Hey, what’s going on over there?” Mrs. Rose asks.
She has on a bathrobe and rollers. I’ve only seen her in clothes one time at the grocery store. The long brown locks of hair reaching mid-back complemented her thick shape. All she needs is a man, then she could stay out of everybody’s business.
“Everything is ok, Mrs. Rose.”
“Morgan doesn’t sound happy.” She pulls her glasses off.
She’s yelling and screaming so loud she could wake the dead. My heart pounds rapidly as I race up the stairs. Fearful of what I might observe. From the sounds of the screams, the movers are in trouble. I continue through the door to find Morgan with her fingers pointed directly in the face of one of the movers. He couldn’t be any taller than five feet, with a lean build. Morgan continues her verbal assault against the man.
He put his head down and continued filling out a form. His face had turned a pale pink with the veins in his neck protruding.
“Ma’am, I’m doing the job they paid me to do.” He says.
“Well, who the fuck paid you? Because I sure the fuck didn’t, and this is my shit,” Morgan says.
The man takes off his hat and rubs his forehead. He seems really frustrated with Morgan but she doesn’t care.
I grab Morgan. “Let me talk to you for a minute.”
She cringes. “This motherfucker is stealing our shit.”
“No, they’re not; let’s go in the kitchen.”
She keeps talking, her face flushed with anger. Once Morgan gets warm, it’s hard to get her back to reality. She is a pistol.
I yank her by the arm and drag her to the kitchen, which doesn’t stop her from shouting swear words.
I pulled my arms out to show my glowing tattoos. It brought silence to her mouth. She is choking at the sight of my arms.
“What happened to your arm?”
“A lot. Everything will be ok. Prentiss is going to move us to a better apartment.”
She frowns. “Wait for what?” She shakes her head. “Why would he do that?”
I’m sweating bullets because the ceiling fan is not circulating any air. Shit, I don’t know how I’m going to weasel my way out of this one. Morgan hates Prentiss almost as much as I do.
“You are free from the curse, right?” Wait, you have the collar around your neck again, so what the hell is going on?"
“I was, but…”
Scott races in the kitchen. “Morgan, I came as soon as I could. Why are these men moving your furniture?”
We left on a rather tense moment and now I feel awkward around Scott. I know I shouldn’t; we are still best friends. But his scent drives me wild. Was it just a drunken moment we shared? It was one of the most fulfilling moments of my life. Imagine…friendship and love, together.
“Tell me what’s going on,” Morgan says.
“I was free. I couldn’t perform any healings, and my momma, she was normal. My curse is tied to my childhood, I think.” I nervously continue to ramble.
“Doesn’t explain why Prentiss would get us a better apartment.” Her
eyes bulge.
Scott’s jaw flexes under his skin and he sighs deeply. He seems to be shocked or disgusted that l will accept help from my oppressor. I need to shoot it straight and get to the point. I have no other choice.
“I didn’t want the apartment from Prentiss, but you see this tattoo. Once my entire body is covered, I could die.”
Morgan’s mouth drops as her eyes fill with tears. “Did you say die?” she mumbles. This is the lowest her voice has been all day.
Scott blinks and his face became pale, as if all the blood has disappeared. Like he’s staring at a ghost.
“Yes, I’m going to find Kato. He will know what to do,” I whisper.
The movers are still up front, scratching the floor with our furniture. I didn’t want them to hear me since they work for Prentiss.
This is the curse’s way of telling me when my magic is done. I want it to be over now, I want my life back, I want my mother to be happy.
“We have to go along with this apartment thing for now.”
Morgan nods her head. She’s concerned for my wellbeing and so is Scott. But I got myself in this mess, and I will find a way out, with Kato’s help.
I go searching for Kato. I know he can help. I’ve got to get this collar off and get this curse reversed. “Kato.” I scream hoping he would appear.
My hands tremble as I view my long, ugly tattoo. It’s taking over.
I scream, “Kato,” my voice shaking and tears flowing. I need his help, don’t fail me now. My pace is a jog as my feet pound into the ground causing a mini quake.
I need to get away. I need to get out of this body. I slow my jog now to a brisk pace. I get to the heights and head straight for the Burnt Ridge dead-end street I found him at before. This is the only place I know to look for him since he didn’t answer my call.
I get to Burnt Ridge and there’s a parade of people. I continue to the last booth. A trickle of fear enters my chest. I’m paralyzed with fear. What will I see? The last time, Kato’s dealings looked sketchy. Will he be sacrificing a chicken? Putting a curse on someone? I get to the booth and gasp; it is worse than I imagined. He isn’t there. Damn, where can he be? I exhale and stay calm.
