by C. C. Wood
I winced. “That’s horrible.”
“I agree,” Mal said, putting his arms around me. “But Carissa is adamant that Rosalie know her grandparents since she no longer speaks to either of her parents.”
“That sucks.”
He smiled down at me. “Yes, it does. You know what doesn’t suck, though?” he asked.
“What?”
“You and I are alone in this house for at least the next twenty minutes,” he pointed out, lowering his head toward mine.
“What are we going to do with all that time?” I teased.
“I can think of something,” he murmured right before he kissed me.
My lips still felt swollen when Stony and Blaine arrived back at the house thirty minutes later.
Both of the rats knew exactly what Mal and I had been up to, judging by the jokes they cracked and the exaggerated leers Stony threw at me. His expressions were hilarious, even if I fought back my laughter. I knew that would only encourage him to misbehave more.
The doorbell rang just after lunch and Stony rolled his eyes. “Damn, you’re popular today, Zoe. I’m beginning to think you have more friends than I do.”
Blaine went to the door and opened it to allow Sheriff Daughtry inside. I was surprised at his second unexpected visit in less than two weeks.
“Sheriff Daughtry.” I put my laptop aside and walked toward him. “How are you doing today?”
“I’m fine, Zoe. Thank you for asking.”
“Would you like some iced tea or water?” I offered, minding my manners since he’d been so polite the last time he was here.
The sheriff shook his head. “Thank you, but no. I won’t stay long.”
“What brings you by then?” Mal asked.
“I’m afraid that we’re at a dead end regarding whoever drugged y’all,” he stated. “There were no fingerprints on the bottle and most of the people who sent you letters were at least a hundred miles from here the day that the bottle was left on your porch.”
In the insanity of the last two days, I hadn’t thought about that Scotch once, but I was grateful that the sheriff was taking the investigation seriously.
Sheriff Daughtry scowled at me. “It pisses me off that we haven’t found who did this, Zoe, but I’m not going to stop looking.”
“I appreciate that, Sheriff Daughtry,” I replied.
“I just wanted to let you know the status of the investigation.”
The sheriff said good-bye and left. Blaine shut and locked the door behind him, a pensive look on his face.
“What are you thinking?” Mal asked Blaine.
“I’m not sure,” he replied. “It just seems odd to me that the sheriff would come here, personally, and give us an update rather than calling. Or having a deputy call.”
I agreed with that. Especially considering that the sheriff had never been overly fond of me.
“That is a little strange,” Mal stated, “But this is a small town and the sheriff knows Zoe’s parents pretty well. Maybe he’s just trying to make an effort.”
I shot him a disbelieving glance, which made him smile.
“What?” he asked, “I can’t give the man the benefit of the doubt?”
“I guess so,” I answered with a shrug. “It’s just not your usual behavior.”
“Maybe not, but the sheriff has been pleasant lately, so why rock the boat?”
“Good point,” I muttered. I definitely preferred the polite, almost friendly Lamar Daughtry to the angry one I’d known for the last ten years. “Honestly, I’d forgotten all about that damn Scotch,” I admitted to Mal.
“Well, we’ve all been a little distracted this week and you haven’t received any more strange gifts, so maybe it was a one time thing.”
“Do you really believe that?” I asked Mal.
He shook his head. “No, but at this moment there’s nothing I can do about it. And considering the demon, Victor, has attacked you twice now inside your own home, I think he’s the larger threat.”
I had to agree with him there.
“I don’t like the idea that there’s someone else out there that intends to hurt me,” I mumbled, wrapping my arms around my waist. “I don’t even understand why they would want to. It’s not like they know me.”
Mal hugged me close. “There’s no ready explanation for that kind of mental instability, Zoe. I wish it was as easy as that, but people with mental illness or straight up evil souls have their own agenda and their own motivations.”
He was right, though I didn’t admit it out loud.
“Group hug!” Stony cried, crowding up behind me and wrapping his arms around both of us.
I grunted as his tight embrace squeezed the air out of my lungs. Then squeaked as I saw Blaine approaching with a wide grin on his face.
“You guys are ridiculous,” I groaned as Blaine followed Stony’s lead, hugging us all.
“Yeah, but do you feel better?” Stony asked.
As much as I hated to admit it, I did.
“Ha! Group hugs will now be our go-to when Zoe’s upset,” Stony announced.
Mal shoved them away. “Get your hands off my woman,” he demanded with a grin on his face.
“Your woman?” I asked in a low voice.
“Well, I did see you first.”
Chapter
The next day was chaotic. As soon as we got up, both my cell phone and Mal’s started ringing.
The first call was from a friend of Mal’s, asking him to meet in Fort Worth that evening to discuss a paranormal problem. Mal tried to reschedule, but I insisted he go. Carissa would need a ride to the airport and he could drop her off.
He tried to argue, but I put my foot down and told him that I would be fine with Stony and Blaine.
When that disagreement ended, my cell phone rang. It was Jonelle.
“I feel like it’s been forever since I saw you last,” she complained dramatically. “Can I come over tonight and bum dinner?”
“You haven’t been grocery shopping this week, have you?” I asked.
“Guilty as charged,” she answered. Her voice was cheerful and more like her old self.
“Sure, come on over after you get off work.”
“Awesome! I’ll bring wine and beer! I’ll see you at five-thirty.” With that, she hung up.
Less than ten minutes later, my phone rang again. This time it was Angie.
“Zoe, do you mind if I drop by tonight? I have some books that I think you’ll find useful if you want to learn more about necromancy.”
“That sounds great,” I replied. “Jonelle will be here too. If you’re serious about getting her to come meet the coven, you might bring something for her to read. It might pique her interest.”
“No problem,” Angie said. “What time would be good?”
Thinking about Mal’s reluctance to leave me home with just Stony and Blaine, I asked, “Why don’t you come over around five and stay for dinner?”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you then.”
“Who’s coming over?” Mal asked as soon as I hung up.
“Angie. See? Angie and Jonelle will be here along with Stony and Blaine. I’ll be safe.”
“Maybe from demons but not from bad pick-up lines,” he grumbled.
“Hey, I heard that and I resemble that remark,” Stony quipped from his seat at the kitchen table.
“I meant for you to,” Mal shot back.
I shook my head. It seemed we were all getting a touch of cabin fever.
“Is Teri around?” Mal asked.
I sipped my coffee. “Nope. Why?”
“I’d like to talk to her for a minute. Do you mind calling her for me?”
I rolled my eyes. “You can call her, Mal. Believe me, she’ll show up faster if you do it. Especially if you show her a little skin while you’re at it.”
He smirked at me but let the comment slide. “Teri!” he called out. “Can you come into the kitchen for a sec?”
Sure enough, Teri popped do
wn from the ceiling right above the kitchen table within moments of his call.
“What’s up?” she asked.
I looked up at Mal. “She’s here.”
“Where?” he asked.
I pointed to the space above the kitchen table and Mal looked toward it.
“Hey, Teri, I’m going to be out of the house for a while tonight. Do you mind keeping an eye on Zoe for me?”
I nudged him with my elbow. “I already have four babysitters, why do I need one more?”
He looked down at me. “You know why.”
I relented then. I did know why. If Victor came back, Teri was the only one who might have a chance against him. Angie might be able to hold him off for a little while, but no one except Teri could touch him.
“Fine,” I muttered.
He reached out and squeezed my arm. “I’m just covering all of my bases.” He moved his gaze back to the space above the kitchen table. “Teri? Do you mind?”
She shrugged. “No problem.”
“She said no problem,” I repeated to Mal.
He grinned in Teri’s general direction. “Thanks, Teri.”
She didn’t bother to respond, just floated back up through the ceiling. I glanced at the clock on the microwave and realized it was Preston’s usual work out time. She probably didn’t want to miss another second.
“She’s gone,” I told Mal, moving over to the coffeemaker to make myself a cup of coffee.
After I made breakfast for everyone, I spent a little time on my laptop, but there wasn’t much for me to do. Now that I knew who Teri’s killer was, I was at loose ends. I helped Mal with some location research, but my heart wasn’t in it.
I felt as though I were going stir crazy.
Finally, at eleven, I looked at Mal. “I need to get out of here for a little while,” I told him. “I haven’t left my house in days.”
He gave me a sympathetic look and asked, “Why don’t we go have lunch at the Mexican restaurant?”
I nodded enthusiastically. “I’ll just be a minute.”
Though it was just a casual meal, I took the time to fix my hair and put on light make-up. It would be the most time Mal and I had spent alone together in weeks. Even though we were alone in my bedroom at night, I was well aware of how thin the walls were and that Stony and Blaine were also in the house.
When I came downstairs, Mal smiled at me. “You look pretty.”
“Thanks.” I felt my cheeks heat at his admiring glance and compliment.
“Now, you kids don’t stay gone too long,” Stony admonished from the sofa. “Our little princess has a curfew.”
Mal shook his head. “Ignore him,” he murmured.
Opening the front door for me, Mal put his hand on my lower back to guide me outside.
Just before the door shut behind us, I heard Stony call out, “And remember, if you whip it out, keep it covered.”
I rolled my eyes at his ridiculous remarks, though I couldn’t control the laugh that bubbled up in my chest.
“He’s a pain in the ass,” Mal complained as we climbed into his car.
“Yeah, but he’s great comic relief.”
“True,” he agreed reluctantly.
By the time we reached the Mexican restaurant downtown, I was able to put my situation out of my mind and enjoy Mal’s company. Mal even opened my car door for me when he parked the car a couple of blocks from the restaurant. He took my hand as we strolled down the sidewalk. When we walked by the salon where Jonelle worked, I caught her eye through the large windows of the storefront and waved. She smiled at me and waved before turning back to the client in the chair in front of her.
Lunch was nice. Mal and I were able to talk without interruption but also without the pressure of expectation. It didn’t feel like a date, just a lovely hour together.
Unlike the last time we’d had lunch alone together at this restaurant, there was no ghoul staring at me or following me down the street.
After the meal ended, I put a hand on my stomach. “I am so full,” I moaned. “It was too much food.”
Mal grinned at me. “Hey, I offered to eat part of yours.” His hand reached out and clasped mine once again as we walked out.
“Yeah, but it was mine,” I pointed out.
He opened the car door for me once again and helped me inside.
When he climbed into the driver’s seat a few moments later, I said, “Thank you for lunch, Mal. It was nice, just the two of us.”
He turned toward me. “It was. We should do it again as soon as we can.”
The smile faded from my face. “Yeah.”
Once again, he was able to read my mood easily. “Don’t worry. I have every confidence that this will all be over soon.”
I knew he wasn’t entirely sure of that, but I appreciated his attempt to reassure me. “I hope so. I like hanging out with Stony and Blaine, but they make my house smell like feet.”
Mal laughed and started the car. “Why do you think I refuse to share a room with them when we’re traveling to locations?”
When we arrived back at my house, Stony and Blaine left to grab their own food. By the time they returned, it was time for Mal to leave and pick up Carissa. He would have to drop her off at the airport before meeting his friend in Fort Worth.
“Have fun with Jonelle and Angie,” he said as he got ready to leave.
“What about us?” Stony asked.
Mal kept looking at me as he stated, “And try not to kill Stony and Blaine.”
I laughed until he gave me a quick kiss that made my lips tingle.
“I’ll be back by eleven,” he promised.
After he left, I unrolled my yoga mats and Stony, Blaine, and I went through a beginner video in the living room. With all the upheaval in my life at the moment, I needed to decompress.
I showered after our workout and had just come downstairs when the doorbell rang. Blaine shot me a speaking glance when I moved to answer it, so I stayed back and let him open the door.
It was Angie with a big bag of books in her hand.
“Hey,” she greeted us.
After I got her something to drink, we settled at the kitchen table and she pulled out book after book on witchcraft and necromancy.
“Wow, this is a lot,” I murmured, staring at the stack on my table.
She shrugged. “Not really. It’s more of a start. There’s a lot of history in the craft and even though your power isn’t quite the same as a witch’s, it’s good to have the knowledge.”
Since she knew more than I did, I just nodded.
I was paging through one of the older books that Angie brought when the doorbell rang again.
“That’ll be Jonelle,” I called to the guys, biting back a smile when I saw Stony shove Blaine aside so he could answer the door.
While Angie, Jonelle, and I sat in the kitchen, looking through the books, Stony and Blaine sat in the living room and watched television.
A half hour later, Jonelle closed the manuscript in front of her. “I could use some wine,” she commented, getting to her feet. “Do y’all want some?”
“Just a soda for me,” Angie insisted. “I have to drive home.”
“If you’re getting drinks, I could use a beer,” Stony called from his spot on the couch in the living room.
Though Jonelle rolled her eyes and scoffed, I noticed she pulled two beers out of the fridge for the guys.
“I’m going to run upstairs to the bathroom,” I told her. “Pour me a glass of wine too.”
I was washing my hands when my cell phone rang. It was Mal.
“Hey, how are things going?” he asked.
“Fine.”
“Has Jonelle killed Stony yet?” he teased.
“Not yet, but she’s only been here thirty minutes,” I replied. “Did you get Carissa to the airport in time?”
“Yeah. I’m worried about her. She seemed even more anxious today than she did yesterday. I’m going to call her in a couple of days and m
ake sure everything’s okay.”
“Good idea.”
“Is Teri around?” he asked.
“I haven’t seen her, but I can feel her, so she’s close,” I answered.
“Good. I’ll see you in a few hours, okay?”
“Okay. Have a good time at dinner and be careful driving home.”
Mal was silent for a moment. “I like that.”
“What?”
“You telling me to be careful coming home. I’m beginning to think I’d like to hear that every day.”
My pulse jackrabbited at his words, but I managed to squeak out, “Me too.”
“I’ll see you later tonight,” he replied.
To me it sounded like he was talking about more than just seeing me, but I didn’t have any words to respond.
“Bye, Zoe.”
“Bye, Mal.”
After I disconnected, I had to splash cool water on my face because my cheeks felt hot.
I came down the stairs and noticed that Blaine and Stony both had their heads back on the sofa, beer in hand, sound asleep.
Smirking, I walked into the kitchen saying, “Y’all, the guys are passed out. Should we draw mustaches on them?” I never would, but I figured Jonelle would get a kick out of it.
I stopped short when I saw Angie slumped over in her chair, Jonelle nowhere in sight.
“Jonelle?” I called out, feeling the first tendrils of fear unfurl inside my belly.
“I’m right here.”
Her voice came from behind me, so I whirled around.
Her eyes gleamed at me with an unholy light. “So we meet again, sweet Zoe Thorne,” she said, her voice unnaturally deep. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.”
Her hand lifted, something black and boxy in her grasp. I heard a sizzle and everything went black.
Chapter
Gentle taps on my cheek brought me back from the darkness.
“Time to wake up,” a low voice crooned.
When I didn’t respond quickly enough, the light tap on my cheek turned into a sharp slap.
“I said wake up, bitch,” the hoarse voice growled. “You won’t like it if you make me wait much longer.”
My head jerked to the side and I blinked rapidly, trying to bring the room into focus. The sudden movement made my stomach twist sickeningly and, for a moment, I thought I was going to throw up. I managed to gain control of the urge and tamp it down, but my temples throbbed in time with my pulse.
