Damned and Cursed (Book 2): Witch's Kurse

by Bullion, Glenn

  "Hi, Kevin," she said. "When did you get here? We're gonna have some pizza. You want some?"

  "Hey, Tiffany. How's everything been going?"

  "Good. We got a lot of candy at Halloween."

  "Tiff," Jack said. "This is your babysitter while I'm on my business trip."

  To Kevin's surprise, her face fell. Her entire demeanor changed. Her mouth hung open as she put her hands on her hips.

  "Andee's not babysitting me?"

  "Andee goes to school, sweetie, just like you. She can't watch you. He can. He doesn't have a job, he doesn't really even have a life."

  "Thanks, Jack."

  "Shut up."

  "Okay."

  Tiffany was indignant, throwing her hands in the air.

  "I just can't believe my babysitter is Glinda!"

  Kevin's eyes shot open at someone besides Jack using his nickname. Jack leaned over and laughed so hard he had to hold himself up using his knees. Kevin wondered what he'd gotten himself into as he looked back and forth between Jack and Tiffany.

  "She calls me Glinda?" he asked.

  "Jack always calls you Glinda when he talks about you," Tiffany explained.

  "Well, you already know my real name is Kevin—"

  "Why couldn't it haven't been Alex?" Tiffany asked. "Alex has wings, and he's a lot cuter than Glinda."

  Jack continued to roar with laughter. Kevin crossed his arms, amazed that a nine-year-old was tearing into him.

  "Yeah," Jack said between breaths. "Glinda is a bit of a dog, isn't he?"

  "I am not ugly," Kevin said weakly.

  "Call Alex," Tiffany ordered. "Or Aunt Victoria."

  "I can't, Tiff. Alex is in Florida. Even if he wasn't, he's got a job, a wife, a new job he's working on. He's a busy man. Victoria's not even in the country. Glinda here, he doesn't have anything happening in his life right now—"

  "Alright," Kevin said. "I think we all get the point."

  Tiffany's head hung low as she crossed the room and gathered her backpack and homework.

  "I'm gonna do my homework in my room."

  "Okay, you do that," Jack said. "Glinda and I have a lot to talk about."

  Kevin and Jack watched Tiffany as she went upstairs. They heard the door shut as she retreated to her room.

  "Wow, I thought she liked you," Jack said. "I guess I was wrong."

  "What did I ever do to her?"

  "Well, you are ugly."

  "Hilarious, Jack."

  Jack smiled. "Okay, let me show you the house."

  Kevin shook out of his coat and set it on the arm of the couch. Jack shook his head.

  "What?"

  "Do you always carry your witch bullshit everywhere you go?"

  "Hey. Never leave home without it."

  He gave Kevin the quick tour, and the witch almost felt as if he should have been taking notes.

  "I'll be gone a week, maybe two at the most," Jack said. "I'm not asking for much, just keep my damn daughter alive for that long. Can you do that?"

  "Yeah, I think I can manage."

  "You'll have to take her to school, pick her up, make sure she takes her baths and gets to bed by nine."

  "I don't really have a car." He pointed to his coat. "Magic is the way I get around. You want me to drive your car?"

  "You will not get near my truck. You will not even look at my truck for longer than four seconds at a time."

  Kevin rolled his eyes as he peered through the front window. Like everything with Jack, his vehicle was a surprise. He didn't have a driveway. An old, beat-up pickup truck sat in front of the house by the curb.

  "Your truck's older than you are. I see why you don't want me looking at it. It might fall apart. Not even magic could fix that."

  "A car will be dropped off. They'll leave the keys through the mail slot."

  Kevin looked to Jack, his brow furrowed. "That sounds a little…shady. Do I have to sign for anything? Is it a rental car?"

  "It's a rental."

  "I don't think that's how they do things."

  "It is when I own the rental company."

  "Oh, okay. Well, I guess when you own your own car rental company—"

  "There's a full bath on each floor." Jack frowned at what he had to say next. "You can use the one I use, here on the first floor. Tiffany has the one all to herself upstairs. Just…try not to get your witch germs all over the place."

  Kevin fought a smile. "I'll do my best."

  Jack waved around him. "Everything's real simple. Living room, dining room, kitchen. The laundry's downstairs. Follow me."

  They went to the second floor. Jack put a finger to his lips, signaling for quiet, and put his ear to Tiffany's door. All they could hear was low music.

  "She's fine," Jack said. "Come this way."

  Jack led Kevin to his bedroom. Kevin couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as he stood in the doorway. He was looking at the bedroom of a man who hadn't slept in nearly two hundred years. His magic was the reason Jack's bedroom existed now.

  Jack reached under the bed and pulled out a small suitcase. He set it on the bed and opened it, revealing several stacks of money. Kevin's eyes lit up. Unease crept over him, like he was doing something wrong. The only time he saw that much money sitting in a suitcase was in mobster movies, and they didn't normally end well.

  "What's that?"

  "Just twenty grand. All small bills. I figure that should be enough for you to keep things going with Tiffany while I'm gone."

  "Jesus, Jack!"

  Jack frowned as he sat on the bed. "What? Not enough?"

  "Well, that depends. Does Tiffany eat gold-plated Cheerios?"

  "Hey, this is new for me, too, so shut your mouth. I figured expenses, and you having to order food—"

  "I'll just cook. I don't mind. It's no big deal."

  "You won't be cooking in my kitchen."

  Kevin smirked. "You're still mad that I cook better than you?"

  Jack eyed the witch, deep in thought. "You…really believe that, don't you? Is mental illness normal with witches? I know all the witches I've killed, they were a little off—"

  "Jack," Kevin said, wanting to keep him on track. "I can't shove fast food into Tiffany every day while you're gone. I'll need to cook."

  Kevin held in laughter as he watched the pain play across his face. Jack's fists opened and closed as he debated internally.

  "If you fuck that kitchen up—"

  "I'm not going to mess it up. It's a kitchen. And I promise, I won't make any weird potions."

  Jack's eyes were full of panic. "Weird potions—?"

  "I'm a witch. It's what I do, make potions—"

  "Yeah, but not cures."

  Kevin ignored him. He was terrified of Jack when they first met, and was still leery around him. But the terror was gone.

  "All common household crap. Don't worry. Man, if you weren't cursed, you'd have fifty ulcers."

  "Fine! Fine. Make your potions, whatever." Jack let out a breath and gestured to the money. "Anyway, that's also your fee. Babysitters need to get paid, too. Whatever's left over when I get back is yours."

  He thought Jack was joking. The man had an odd sense of humor and biting sarcasm. Jack's face didn't twitch; there was no hint of a smile. He was serious.

  "Look…I'm not watching Tiffany for money."

  "Oh? For our strong friendship, then? Our unbreakable bond?"

  "It's just a favor. You know what that is, right?"

  Jack didn't look convinced. Kevin rolled his eyes, and his gaze fell on the pocket-watch, the magical trinket he gave Jack. It sat on the nightstand.

  "It's just like the pocket-watch there," he said, pointing. "Sometimes it's just cool to do something nice for someone."

  Jack glanced back and forth between the trinket and Kevin.

  "You're an idiot," he finally said. "But, speaking of the pocket-watch…."

  He opened a drawer on the nightstand and pulled out a check.

  "What's this?" Ke
vin asked.

  "It's a check for a million dollars. I've kept it here since the first night I fell asleep. Payment for the trinket. It's not a cure, but I told you I'd make it worth your while."

  Kevin's hand shook as he glanced over the check. He looked at the dollar amount, and Jack's signature.

  "A million dollars," he whispered.

  "Six zeroes before the decimal, two after. You can read."

  "I…can't take this."

  "Of course you can. That pocket-watch has changed my life. I figure that check will change yours. We're even."

  "It's not about being even."

  Kevin could see Jack waiting for further explanation. He didn't know what to say. How did he explain the feeling of a good deed to someone like Jack?

  "Is this that unbreakable bond thing again?" Jack asked.

  "Just forget it." He handed the check back to Jack, surprised at how difficult the action was. "I don't need a million dollars."

  "No one needs a million dollars." Jack waved the check like a lure. "But imagine how many cats you could buy with that much money."

  "Funny." Kevin was embarrassed to admit the money was tempting. "Can we move on, please?"

  He shrugged. "Whatever. I won't tear it up just yet." He put the check back into the nightstand, and waved around him. "Obviously, this is my bedroom. You won't be sleeping in here."

  "Where will I be sleeping? You have a guest bedroom?"

  "No. But there is a couch downstairs."

  Kevin frowned. It'd been over a year since he'd slept on a couch, ever since Victoria gave his sister and him a house. He had to admit, his own bedroom spoiled him.

  "A couch?"

  "Hey, buy a bed and set it up. I don't care. The most important thing to remember is you're not sleeping in my bed."

  "Alright, I got it. No sleeping in Jack's bed."

  Jack grabbed a piece of luggage on wheels and went back downstairs. Kevin noticed a limousine in front of the house with its lights off.

  "Is he waiting for you?" Kevin asked.

  "Yeah, that's my ride. And he'll wait for as long as I want." Jack clapped his hands together. "Okay, are there any questions?"

  Kevin's mouth fell open. He suddenly felt overwhelmed. Jack's simple request of house-sitting and babysitting over the phone suddenly seemed like so much more.

  "Uh, yeah, just a few."

  "Of course you do," Jack said with a sigh. "What?"

  "Where are you going?"

  "That's my business. Not yours."

  "I'm just thinking about like an emergency contact number or something. A hotel or whatever."

  "You are one of five people that have my personal cell number. That's your emergency contact."

  Kevin smiled. He felt like he was a part of a special group.

  "Really? One of five?"

  "Don't let it go to your head."

  "No, no. Listen, about Tiffany…how much does she know? She does run around school bragging about how her father can't die, and she knows a witch?"

  Jack's shoulders slumped as he sat on the arm of the couch. He looked up at the stairs. In that moment, Kevin could see how much Jack cared about Tiffany, and how protective he was of her.

  Tiffany had seen Jack and his circle of supernatural acquaintances in action one time before. She'd seen demons, a vampire, whatever it was Alex was. She'd even seen Kevin throwing potions to the ground. He hoped she didn't truly understand what she saw, and that it didn't scar the child. The last thing he wanted to do was talk about witchcraft if she didn't know it was real.

  "She doesn't know much. The only thing that really sticks out in her mind is Alex. I guess it's kind of hard to forget about demon wings. And of course, how cute he is. She doesn't know about the rest of us. I'd like to keep it that way, so please, no magic talk. She…still has nightmares sometimes."

  "You got it. Nothing supernatural. There was just, uh, one more question I wanted to ask…."

  Jack waited, but Kevin had trouble with the words.

  "If you could form a complete sentence? What, Glinda?"

  "Would it be alright if I brought Leese and Oscar over?"

  Jack frowned. "Who the hell is Oscar?"

  "My cat. And you know Leese, my girlfriend."

  Jack wrinkled his face in exasperation and irritation. "A damn cat. Christ, what next? I don't care, whatever. Just make sure it doesn't shed all over the house. Are you and the blonde smacking skin yet?"

  The question came out of nowhere. Kevin's face turned red as images of Leese from two nights ago flashed through his mind, in his bedroom. Those images transitioned to the things they did at Leese's apartment, when her roommate was away.

  "Uhhh…."

  "That's a yes. You want to show your woman your broomstick while Tiffany's in school, go for it. Obviously the bedrooms are all off-limits. And the kitchen. Oh, and the bathrooms, too."

  Kevin laughed. "That leaves the couch and laundry room."

  "No, not the couch. Tiffany and I watch TV there, you sick bastard. I'm not going to sit in a pool of your witch jizz."

  "Okay. The laundry room, then."

  "Have fun. Watch out for the spiders down there. You got any other stupid questions?"

  "No, but…thanks, Jack. For trusting me with this."

  "You weren't my first choice. Andee's in high school, so she was out."

  Kevin shook his head at Jack's version of You're welcome. "Like I said. Thanks so much."

  "You weren't my second or third, either. The best thing you had going for you was that you're unemployed."

  "Okay, okay. Point taken. And I do have a job."

  "No shit? No more middle of the mall crap?"

  "No shit."

  "Doing what?"

  Kevin hesitated. He wasn't proud of it, but he was making money once again doing something he was good at.

  "I…write papers for first year college students. Basic English crap."

  Jack nodded. "Glinda's Magic and English Papers, Inc. It has a nice ring to it."

  "Oh, shut up." Kevin glanced out the window to the limousine. "Are you going to miss your flight?"

  "Nope. I own the jet, too."

  "Ah, who doesn't? Good thing I don't need a jet. You want to save some time? Print off a picture of where you're going, and I'll send you right there."

  "Tempting, but the flight's just what I need. Give me some time to think." He took a deep breath and walked to the bottom of the stairs. "And now for the not-so-fun part. Tiffany!"

  The little girl opened the door to her room and poked her head out. "What?"

  "I'm getting ready to leave, partner. Glinda will finish cooking dinner."

  Tiffany ran down the stairs so fast Kevin thought she'd fall. She leapt from the third step into her father's arms. Kevin was amazed at the sight. Jack truly disliked the world, but loved his daughter.

  "I don't want you to go," Tiffany said. "But I'll be good until you get back."

  "I know you will. Don't give Glinda too much of a hard time."

  "I'll bring your roller-bag out to the car."

  She pulled the luggage through the front door and down the steps, all on her own. Kevin and Jack were on the porch when the witch realized something.

  "Your pocket-watch. You forgot it. It's still upstairs in your room."

  Jack shook his head. "With the trip I'm going on, sleep will be the last thing on my mind."

  A driver emerged and took the bag from Tiffany. She stood next to Kevin on the sidewalk. Jack hugged his daughter one last time and acknowledged Kevin with a nod. He paused as the driver opened the rear door.

  "I'll call you tomorrow," he told Tiffany. "And Glinda…thank you for watching my daughter."

  Kevin smiled and filed the moment away. A thank you from Jack.

  "Oh, one last thing. Don't make any plans for Friday night."

  "I won't make any plans. I'm here watching things. What am I going to do? Run out to a club or the beach?"

  Jack said nothing.
He just smiled before ducking into the limousine. Tiffany ran out to the middle of the street as it drove away, waving frantically.

  She walked past Kevin without looking up. Some of the finer details of what Kevin agreed to dawned on him. He knew nothing about nine-year-old girls. He didn't know what their hobbies were, what they liked to talk about, what they liked to eat. The main reason he agreed to Jack's request was that he was tired of looking at his bedroom day in and out. A change of scenery would do him good. The scent of the beach in the air was certainly nice. Refresh the soul, maybe inspire some new magic. Now he wasn't so sure.

  Kevin forced himself to calm down. Watching a young girl, how hard could it be?

  "Hey Tiffany," he called behind her. "I'll finish making dinner. Was he putting together a pizza? I can cook a mean pizza."

  "Don't worry about it. I'm not hungry."

  "You said you were starving before."

  "Well I'm not starving now. And you don't cook as good as my Dad."

  He stopped as he watched the girl go back in the house. A terrifying thought crept up on him.

  Would he possibly be spending the next two weeks with a miniature version of Jack?

  "This is going to be so much fun."

  CHAPTER 14

  Marie didn't like cemeteries. She didn't imagine many living creatures did, with the exception of the odd, twisted vampire she knew was out there. She'd once heard of a vampire that thought sleeping in a coffin in the cemetery would grant great power. All it granted was moist dirt and worms.

  Her reasons for dislike were different than humans. There was certainly the heavy air that seemed to surround a cemetery, the overwhelming melancholy. For Marie, it was the scent that made her shiver. Old death mixed with new, maggots feasting on flesh, human bone and tissue, mahogany caskets and marble headstones. None of that blended for a pleasant smell.

  She sat in her car, watching the men put Erica Hernandez in the ground from a distance. There was no service, no man reading words from the Bible as family and friends gathered. Only Marie came, watching from as far away as her vision would allow. She was surprised when no family or friends contacted the bar, Erica's last place of employment.

  Last place of employment. The thought brought ache to Marie's heart.

  She was the one who bought the casket and headstone.

  Marie didn't consider Erica a best friend, but had a feeling they were on their way, before fate decided to step in. It might not have been a good idea for an employer and employee to strike a friendship, but they'd spent time over each other's apartments after work. She'd helped Erica bring in a new dresser for her bedroom. The common ground of starting over was strong, and Erica was a genuinely nice person that Marie enjoyed spending time with.