Three For A Funeral (Black Crow Chronicles Book 3)

by Jen Pretty

  I knew the answer. I had to use the knife the ancient witches had given me in the cemetery; I just didn't like it. Luckily, Falcor figured it out before I had to say it.

  "I'll go grab it," he said. "Sit tight."

  When Falcor disappeared, I sighed and leaned back against the brick wall to wait. I just closed my eyes when a voice startled me.

  "Hey, what are you doing?"

  I looked up to find a security guard staring at me.

  "Oh, nothing, just waiting for a friend." I grinned at him and tried to look innocent.

  "You shouldn't be in here."

  I looked around. The alcove didn't seem like an employees-only area or anything, but I needed the guard to skedaddle before Falcor returned.

  "I'm sorry." I took a few steps forward, intending to walk past the guard, but he blocked my way. "Is there a problem?"

  "Yes, you will have to come with me."

  He took my arm roughly and my magic whipped around, the sparks attempting to jump out and lash at the man, but I held them back, sure it was some kind of mistake and would be cleared up in a moment.

  "Where are you taking me?"

  "Shut up," he said. "I knew that trick would get you back here."

  The prickling feeling got worse. What trick was he talking about? The wraith had brought me back. I looked at his uniform more closely and realized he wasn't dressed quite the same as the other guards I had seen at various places around the airport. I pulled harder but wasn't sure what good that would do me since it looked like he was a guard.

  His fingers bit into my skin as he tugged me through a set of doors into a back hall. As soon as the door shut behind us, I raised my voice. "Let go of me!"

  "Stop struggling, Black Crow or things will get much worse for you." He sneered and I realized he was holding a gun, pointed right at me.

  I froze, not quite willing to test my invincible theory.

  "That's good. Now walk."

  I remembered the knife in my pocket. It wouldn't do anything against a gun, but maybe if I chose the moment right, I could use it to get away from this guy.

  A noise behind me was the only warning before something hard hit my head and it was lights out.

  CHAPTER THREE

  My eyes opened, but it was pitch black. I couldn't quite remember where I was, but the damp smell and the cold, hard floor was unfamiliar. I tried to move, but my hands were trapped behind me. I began to struggle but remembered the airport and the fake security guard. That stopped me dead. There was definitely a dark bag over my head. My hands and legs felt like they were tied with rope.

  "She's awake," someone said.

  I pulled at my magic, but there was none. I was empty.

  "What the fuck?" I muttered, tugging at my wrist again. I felt completely weak and at the mercy of whoever the fuck was near me.

  "Calm down, girl." The gravelly voice of the fake security guard only sent my panic higher. I thrashed against the restraints and tried to call out to Crow in my mind. He had always come before when I needed him. Where the fuck was he now?

  "Chill. We aren't going to hurt you." Whoever said that had a slightly mocking tone that defied his words.

  "Let me go," I huffed, kicking my feet since I had already hurt my wrists trying to pull free of the rope.

  "Now, we can't do that. We are going to need you on our side in this war. Can't let those disgusting blood drinkers get their hands on you."

  "I will never help you."

  "Oh, I think you will," the security guard said. "We have your little friend."

  I immediately assumed they meant Colvin and my heart dropped. I would absolutely do anything for him.

  "That's better," the guard laughed.

  Footsteps moved away from me and the sound of a door closing on squeaky hinges met my ears. I was in some kind of dungeon. I pulled my knees into my chest and curled around them. Fear took over and shivers wracked my body. There was no more magic inside me and I was trapped. I pulled at the tiny spark of magic that remained deep in my stomach. The little flicker. It wasn't enough to do anything, but it was still there. If I was careful, I could use it somehow. Just knowing it was there was enough to calm me a bit.

  I wanted to just stay there and hope someone came to save me, but after a moment of weakness, I bit my lip hard and scolded myself out of that. Just because I had no magic didn't mean I was helpless.

  I used my elbow to prop myself up, then tipped forward and shook my head until the bag fell off. Once I could see, my panic slowed. I was definitely in the basement. The wooden rafters above creaked as people walked overhead. There was a tiny window, much too small for me to get through, but it allowed enough light that I could see around. The squeaky door I had heard was a trap door in the low ceiling. They must have used some kind of magic as they used in the school there because there was no magic at all.

  I twisted my arms around to my pocket, hoping they hadn't found my cell phone or the pocket knife, but both were missing. "Fuck." I collapsed back to the cement.

  A light tapping on the window pane caught my attention and I rolled over to find Crow standing at the glass, peeking in.

  "Come in," I whispered. He just tapped the glass again like he did when he wanted me to open a cupboard or a box of crackers. "Then go get Falcor."

  Crow fluffed his feathers and shook, then settled down in the window well, leaning against the glass.

  Super.

  I wiggled and rolled across the damp cement floor until I was just below the window. With my arms and legs bound, I couldn't exactly stand up. I propped my body up on my elbow again, even though it pulled painfully on my wrists.

  I needed to get my hands untied. There was nothing I could do all bound up.

  There was a round steel support post in the middle of the cellar. It had a sharp corner on the bottom, but I wasn't sure if it was sharp enough to cut the rope.

  After another rolling session across the dirty floor and a ton of wiggling like a worm, I got my hands to the steel point at the base of the post and began to shift back and forth. I had no idea if it was working, but the sound of men above me laughing encouraged me to move faster. My muscles burned and wrists screamed at the tension. I had to stop and rest a couple of times, but fear at being found pushed me on. I would have time to rest when I was out of here. Not that I had a decent plan for that. But in Crow I trusted. He was waiting for me to do something. I was sure.

  Just as I was about to take another rest, the rope gave way. "Thank God." I rubbed my wrists, the feeling returning to my fingers so quickly they screamed with sharp stabs. I pushed up to my knees and crawled back to the window where Crow still sat, staring in.

  He stood and took a few steps back then bobbed his head.

  "What do I do?" I asked in a whisper as if he could reply.

  He stepped forward and tapped the glass, then stepped back again.

  I wasn't sure why he couldn't just come in. Unless maybe the house was spelled like the coven house in Phoenix was.

  The glass was solid, it wasn't a window that was meant to open, just allow a bit of light in, so if I was going to open it, I would have to break it. I sat down and untied my legs. I had no idea how it would help to get the window open; I wouldn't fit through. But if Crow wanted in, I would trust him.

  I pushed to my feet and pressed against the glass. It was solid, no wiggle at all. I checked around the edges, hoping maybe I could pick at it or pull away the caulking, but it seemed like it was made to withstand a hurricane. I glanced around, hoping for something that I could use to pry it out or whatever. I didn't know anything about removing windows.

  All I had was the rope, so I gave up on being quiet and wrapped the rope around my fist and up my wrist. It would have to protect my knuckles. The rope burns had healed, so I presumed I still had enough healing powers that if I slit my wrist, even without magic, I wouldn't bleed to death.

  Though I wasn't looking forward to bringing the warlocks back down. Their laughter upst
airs was making me more nervous.

  "Back up," I whispered.

  Crow hopped to his feet and then took flight. I watched him circle the yard outside the window for a moment and then pulled my arm back and slammed it forward quickly, expecting my punch not to be enough to break the glass. But I had underestimated my strength and the glass shattered, pieces of broken glass lodging in my wrist and arm.

  The laughter from upstairs died and heavy footsteps crossed the floor above my head, heading for the trap door that led to the cellar.

  Crow called out once loudly and suddenly I knew what he had planned.

  His eyes trained on my bloody arm where it hung out the window. I closed my eyes and waited as he came around the yard, heading directly towards me.

  "Hey, what are you doing?" An angry voice called behind me.

  The man was getting closer, his boots rang out on the cement floor. In a moment he would pull me back into the house, but my magic was trickling back in slowly where my fingertips touched the grass beyond the house. They must have been just past whatever spell was holding the magic away from me.

  The skin on my arms was knitting back together.

  The force of Crow hitting my hand pushed me back inside the building, but I was no longer in my body.

  "What the hell!" the man yelled, "Someone get that bird!"

  I hopped across the grass, then spread my wings and took flight. They couldn't stop me; I was the Black Crow and I was beyond their reach.

  My wings tore through the air, carrying me higher and higher until I was looking down at the neighbourhood. The men were in the yard, like ants scurrying around, but I was free. No longer their captive. My wings stretched out to catch the wind and I soared across the pale blue sky, my feathers ruffling.

  As I climbed higher, I could finally see a place I recognized. My old apartment. I dropped quickly, aiming for the window I knew was my own. I was safe there, comfortable.

  I dove straight at the glass and sailed through as if it wasn't there, flapping to slow myself until I landed softly on the countertop beside the sink.

  It felt good to be free, but lonely, too. I needed to find Nick.

  The thought had come so quickly I hadn't had time to block it and a split second later I regretted it because now I felt completely alone. Nick was still back in Phoenix. I was alone. Except something was niggling at me. Almost tugging.

  It felt familiar, like a trace of something even more comfortable and safe than my apartment. Not something, someone.

  I knew all at once it was Colvin. His magic was flowing toward me like a freight train and he was getting closer and closer.

  I hopped off the counter and my short legs carried me to the apartment door a moment before there was a knock.

  "Selena!" Colvin's voice called out.

  I opened my mouth and a loud caw came out. I had almost forgotten I was a crow, but I was so glad that the security guard had been lying about having my friend. I had assumed he meant Colvin, though. He never actually said it out loud. I had to wonder who he had if it wasn't Colvin. Magic flowed under the door and puddled around me.

  "Jesus," Falcor muttered before something or someone crashed hard against my apartment door, throwing it open and allowing Colvin to come rushing in, following his trail of magic. He collapsed to the floor and threw himself on me. His thin arms were stronger than they appeared as he scooped me up like I was a kitten.

  I didn't care. I was home.

  I closed my eyes and relished the feeling of peace that flowed over me, content to ignore the problem of not having a human body at the moment. That was future-Selena's problem.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  "Alright, Colvin," Falcor said. "We need to get Crow, or Selena, to lead us back to wherever Selena is. Or her body. Or whatever."

  It was a confusing situation, I had to give him that. But it seemed like Falcor was exaggerating the weirdness of it, just a bit.

  I called out, but since I couldn't talk, it wasn't helpful, so I just hopped past my broken door and headed for the stairwell. My landlord would start charging me for my broken doors if this kept happening. Thankfully, Falcor pulled the door closed and it looked normal. That would have to do until this situation was resolved.

  I found myself scanning the corners of the stairwell for something to eat and promptly scolded myself. I would not eat anything gross while I was a crow this time. Too bad for Crow.

  We made it outside without passing anyone, thankfully.

  Falcor stopped beside a Jeep in a long line of Jeeps. I scanned them but didn't recognize anyone until a man stepped out of one three cars back. It was Zander. The agent from the Department of Paranormal Investigations.

  I cawed at him and his lip ticked up in a crooked grin. "Hello to you, too. I brought reinforcements."

  He definitely had. There were probably over twenty agents among the vehicles.

  "We have this." He held up a small device with some thin straps. "It’s a tracker, built to fit Crow."

  Super, hook me up. I hopped closer and Zander crouched down.

  "It might not be the most comfortable since we haven't actually tried it on you, I mean Crow, yet. But it tracks through satellite, so unless you are deep underground, it will find you."

  Check. No cave diving like in Phoenix.

  His hands worked quickly but gently to attach the tracker. Small straps went around my neck and body, carefully avoiding my wings. It felt strange to be tied up and my body writhed in resistance, but once I fluffed my feathers a few times and stretched out my wings, I was sure I would be fine to fly with it on.

  "Alright, let's move out," Zander called and every car started. He moved back to the car he had come from and slid into the passenger seat while Falcor ushered Colvin into the jeep. "We'll save you, Selena!" Colvin said just before the door shut.

  I glared at Falcor as he turned around. I didn't want Colvin anywhere near this.

  "Don't look at me like that. We never would have found you without him. Plus, I'll keep him in the car and zip out at the first sign of trouble."

  I wasn't sure that I could count on Falcor with such an important job. I would rather Colvin was back at the Sanctuary, but since I couldn't say that, I stretched out my wings and took to the air with a silent prayer to whatever God or Goddess would listen. I would believe in anything to keep him safe.

  The city stretched out below me, a patchwork of buildings linked by roads. It felt so good to fly that I found it hard to focus on the job at hand. I needed to get those agents back to the house. I kept reminding myself so I wouldn't forget and go off on a dumpster dive or whatever Crow did in his spare time.

  I felt a tug, not unlike the feeling of Colvin's magic, but it was different somehow. Even more familiar than his. I knew it was my body without knowing how I knew that. I dove toward a run-down section of town, my wings tucked tight against my sides. The rush was insane, but quickly over when I approached the roof of the house I had been held captive in.

  I listened but didn't hear anything within. Had they left?

  I wanted to jump in there and get back to being myself, but I could feel the compelling magic that locked me out. So instead I waited and watched for the line of vehicles. A sound below me caught my attention and I peered down to find the fake security guard from the airport throwing a bag in the back of a beat-up old truck. He was leaving.

  I was torn between getting the team to the house to get my body and following the bastard so they could catch him. Whatever he was planning, it was bigger than me. He backed out of the small driveway and I made my decision. I jumped from the roof and soared down to the bed of the truck, landing inelegantly on the bed squishing in between his bag and some rusty tools. The quiet street gave way to the noise of the downtown section of the city.

  I stayed tucked in close to the bag. It was soft so I assumed it had his clothes. Wherever he was going, it wasn't a quick trip. I wished I could stop him somehow, but I had no magic like that. Which was ridiculous.
Whatever.

  The tall buildings passed, and the truck rattled down the highway to the airport.

  He was going to get away if the caravan of vehicles wasn't following us.

  I peeked up out of my hiding spot and over the back of the truck. There were plenty of vehicles, but one stood out. A Jeep was three cars back in the left-hand lane. I couldn't see any passengers, but the driver could have been Falcor. I saw the driver's hand come off the wheel and talk into a walkie talkie and I knew for sure it was him. We had the guy.

  I tucked back into my hiding place, just in case. I was pretty sure he was heading to the airport, but I waited to be sure.

  Whatever the jerk was planning, it was over.

  When the truck slowed and turned into the airport long term parking lot, I wasn't surprised. What did surprise me, was that before he even got through the gates, several cars and trucks moved in to block his way. He slammed on the brakes and I tumbled forward, but before he could back out more vehicles blocked behind him. I took to the air to watch them arrest the fake security guard.

  Guns were drawn as they subdued him. He went to his knees, but he was laughing, and my blood ran cold.

  "You think you can stop this? I'm just a tiny piece of this."

  I hovered lower and could see the moment he saw me. His eyes grew wide and then angry.

  "You stupid bitch! You just killed your vampire King," he howled. "They won't bother to keep him alive if we don't need him to keep you in line."

  All the air left my lungs and my wings. I fell toward the ground.

  "No!" Colvin screamed, his magic flashing out to catch me just before I hit the pavement. I couldn't even be glad he had stopped me. Had I just killed Nick? How did they get him so quickly?

  "We already have people heading to the vampire mansion in Phoenix," Zander said. "He's probably lying."

  He was right. It was just words from a mad man. I righted myself and hopped across to the jeep where Falcor held a struggling Colvin.

  "I'll call him," Falcor said, setting Colvin down.