“I haven’t seen him in a few days either,” said Missi.
“That marking is from Blackbeard’s treasure. But I don’t remember seeing lions on any of the gold pieces he showed us,” said Jasmine as she pushed in close to Missi. “My spirit guides are telling me it’s all as it should be but I’m not buying it.”
“Spirit guides?” asked Curt, looking around.
The women knelt, each reaching for a coin at the same time. A tall man in an army jacket bent quickly and touched Jasmine’s wrist, preventing her from making contact with any coins.
“They burned me. I think they might have something on them that prevents other magics from interfering,” he said, his gaze lingering on Jasmine longer than need be.
Was that a spark of interest she saw between the two of them?
“Missi touched the coins already when she was throwing them at the cursed guy.” Jasmine didn’t make contact with them. “Did they burn you then, Missi?”
“No. They didn’t,” she replied. “They felt cold to me.”
Army jacket guy touched one and jerked his hand back fast, blowing on his fingers. “Ouch!”
Jasmine swallowed hard and moved her hand back and forth over the coins on the ground. “I sense the spell now. It’s cloaked. Wow. That is powerful magic on those. More than one kind of magic too. It feels like three or four. How can that be?”
Missi’s stomach tightened as she thought of the implications. Someone actually wanted Curt dead. Looking up, she locked gazes with him. “Who else have you tried to run over or am I the only lucky lady?”
His full lips quirked before a sexy smile slid over his handsome face. “Just you.”
“Thanks. I think.” She remained bent, but he joined them all.
The four of them stayed crouched around the coins.
Jasmine kept moving her hand over the gold pieces, careful not to touch them. “When did you first notice them appearing?”
“Few hours back,” said the guy in the army jacket.
“You’re familiar to me, boy,” said Missi’s father to the man. “Where have I seen you before?”
Wilber, who was now sitting in the front passenger side of the sheriff’s car, leaned out, still holding a vase on his lap. For a second it seemed to glow with white light. “He’s a Gibbons, Walden.”
Shock covered her father’s face. “No. How? I thought that line of hunters died out.”
Wilber nodded to Jake, who Missi knew because he’d been friends with her family since before she was born. Jake had spent time in Hedgewitch Cove before heading off to the big city to be a police detective. He’d later moved to Maine for a change of pace. “The centaur saved one of their lives way back when. His own kind turned on him for it.”
Her father shook his head, his gaze going to Jake. “That’s why your people cast you out?”
Jake inclined his head but said nothing on the matter.
“All these years and I never knew,” said her father softly. “You know you always have a place here should you want it. Maybe we’ll get lucky and mate you off at some point.”
Jake grinned. “I’m mated now.”
“What?” asked her father. “When did this happen and who is the lucky young woman?”
Army jacket guy groaned. “My sister. I’d argue that she’s the cursed one in this scenario. She got him.”
Missi’s father laughed. “Jake, your mate is from a line of hunters with magic powers?”
Jake nodded. “She is. Her name is Kelsey and she’s so incredibly perfect, Walden. I don’t know how I made it through the day without her in my life before. You once told me that was how you felt when you and Murielle ended up mated. I never understood it then. I get it now. We’ve a little one on the way. I wanted to be back home with her, but she pretty much threw me into the van to hit the road with this group.”
Missi’s father laughed more. “Ah, pregnancy hormones. I remember them well. Murielle done tossed me out on my ear for a week with each pregnancy. Actually, two weeks with the twins. Pretty sure a week for each baby she was carryin’. I slept in the RV parked out in the driveway. If her mother would have gotten her way, I’d have slept with the fishes, if you know what I mean.”
Missi had never heard that story. She did know that her father and her grandmother did not see eye to eye. With the long history of hunters killing witches, the last person on earth Mémé had wanted one of her children mated to was a hunter. It didn’t matter that her father’s line of hunters had been cursed long ago to have supernatural blood in them. He was still a hunter. And while her parents had been mated for a century, that didn’t mean Mémé had taken a shine to her father. And her father certainly hadn’t grown any fonder of Mémé.
Jake snorted. “Oh, I’m positive Marie-Claire would have preferred that. I’m shocked she hasn’t tried.”
Missi’s father flashed a cocksure smile. “Who says she hasn’t?”
“Daddy?” asked Missi. “Ms. Cherry was joking about the hexing thing at your wedding celebration, right?”
He winked at her. “It’s fine, darlin’. And it’s between me and Mémé. We’ve played the game too long to stop now.”
“Want a cookie?” asked Petey out of nowhere. “You could give her some too. Trust me, it will help.”
Hugh, Curt, and Leo shouted “no” at the same time.
Missi and Jasmine glanced at one another and shrugged. Men were very odd creatures.
She began gathering up the gold coins in her hands. Strong, large male hands moved over hers with a speed that stunned her. Heat flared through her palms at the man’s touch. With a sharp intake of breath, she realized it was Curt who was touching her.
“I know you said they don’t burn you like they do Leo, but what if whatever chaos-death-thing that is on them gets on you? I don’t want you hurt,” he said, his deep voice softening slightly. “I’ll happily keep on making change and carrying around a death note so long as it means you’re not affected too.”
She simply stared at him, his words moving her. Her eyes misted up and she swallowed hard in an attempt to keep from being outright emotional. It didn’t exactly work. She sniffled.
Petey was behind her quickly. He whipped out a rather used-looking handkerchief and thrust it at her, sniffling himself. “No one cries alone on my watch.”
Curt snorted.
Missi stared at the handkerchief as if it might bite. “Thank you, but I’m good.”
He blew his nose on it and then shoved it back into his pocket.
Curt tipped his head and lowered his voice. “Sorry about him.”
“He’s fine,” she said, continuing to hold the cursed coins, too swept up in his green gaze to think much beyond it. Why did the man have to be so good-looking? What was it with rich men? Did a secret factory spit them out? You-Know-Who had been very attractive as well. Jasmine had always said his smile was too white. That anyone with a smile that white should not be trusted.
Jasmine had been correct.
Curt’s brow creased. “Did you hear me, Mississippi?”
She blinked up at Curt and realized he’d been speaking to her. “Huh?”
Jasmine groaned. “Not again. Didn’t You-Know-Who teach you anything?”
“What?” asked Curt. “Who knows who?”
Petey grunted. “No, Warrick. Know-You-Who. Not Who-Knows-Who.”
Missi couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. Her laugh came out more like a strangled cry.
“Mississippi?” asked Curt. “Are you okay?”
“She goes by Missi,” said Jasmine to Curt, her tone clipped. Missi knew her best friend was only looking out for her and she appreciated it, but it wasn’t needed. “And if you dare break her heart I’ll send a horde of zombies after you and they’ll tear you limb from limb before they feed you to the gators.”
“I’ll kick his butt for the fun of it for you,” said the man in the army jacket to Jasmine.
“Leo,” snapped Curt.
/> Leo grinned. “What? She’s prettier than you.”
“Can we not unleash a zombie horde on anyone?” asked Missi. “Save that for after I go to dinner with him.”
“So, it’s a yes to dinner?” asked Curt, sounding hopeful.
Missi blew out a long breath. “I didn’t mean that. I just meant…um…yes. It’s a yes so long as you don’t think of driving in town again.”
“Deal,” he said quickly.
Petey bent over them. “She’s a step up from Hugh holding you, huh? I don’t know what Penelope sees in him. He’s not that good-looking.”
Curt grinned.
Hugh rolled his eyes.
Petey kept going. “I’m actually ordained by more than one church and religion. I can totally marry the two of you if you want. With all the matings happening in Everlasting I went on the internet and got certified in as many things as I could. Seemed wise and handy.” He then put the back of his hand to the side of his mouth. “Warrick, her father looks like he could break you in two without really trying so I’d advise keeping a chaperone around until you mate her proper. Want for me to do it now? By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you Lion and Witch. You may kiss the witch. There. It’s a done deal.”
Ms. Cherry smiled wide. “Oh, that was lovely.”
Petey nodded. “Thank you.”
Missi jerked her hands out of Curt’s and the coins fell away. As they hit the ground, they vanished. Every single one of them disappeared into thin air like they’d never been there at all.
A round of gasps followed.
Missi touched the ground, half expecting her hand to go through it. That didn’t happen.
Jasmine stood slowly, and Leo assisted her, holding her arm gently. “Do you feel the residual power in the air?”
“Yes,” replied Leo.
“Not to break up the moment, but this doomsday vase is less than pleased,” said Wilber. “I’ve got some other artifacts I need stored safely. They’re in the crate in the van. The one Warrick kicked and broke. I’m starting to think Warrick was cursed from the very start of this trip.”
Missi couldn’t think much past the fact that Curt’s face was close to hers. She had a ton of things she wanted to say, not to mention more yelling she wanted to do over his murder of Shirley, but none of that came out.
He leaned, and his lips drew even closer to hers. His eyes closed and just before his lips would have met hers, Petey lost his footing and fell right onto Curt, knocking him backwards, away from Missi, and onto his backside on the street next to Shirley. The bike then bumped Missi, knocking her down as well.
Petey landed in Curt’s lap with a loud oomph.
Jake snorted. “Is it me or was Warrick about to kiss Missi only to get a Petey instead?”
“It wasn’t you,” said Wilber.
Jake’s eyes widened. “Curt, you really are cursed.”
“Tell me about it,” said Curt with a groan as he tried but failed to get Petey off his lap. “Hugh, a little help would be nice.”
Petey looked at Curt, still on his lap. “I don’t know. You’re married now. Wait. That is a curse. Jumping jack-o-lanterns, you are so cursed, Warrick. Best of luck to you. Married life has neutered every male I know.”
Hugh, who was laughing so hard he wasn’t making any sound, bent and lifted Petey off Curt with ease. Curt then pushed to his feet rather ungracefully and extended a hand to Missi.
She eyed it like it might bite. “I don’t know. If I touch you again, will a plane fall out of the sky on us?”
“I already had a Petey fall on me so I’m ready for anything,” he said with a wink. “Wife, can I help you up?”
She tensed at the word wife. “Only if you don’t joke about that again.”
“Who is joking?” asked Petey. “It’s official. I married ya both. You were there. You should know this already.”
Curt grinned at the older man. “Funny.”
Petey shrugged, looking lost as to what was amusing.
Ms. Cherry blinked and touched her collarbone. “I, for one, thought it was simply lovely. We’ll need to celebrate.”
“Sounds good to me. Might want to wait until Warrick isn’t so cursed,” replied Petey.
She put her hand in Curt’s and he eased her upright. Stepping back would have been a really smart move especially considering the day she’d had so far and Ms. Cherry’s words of warning on falling in love, but that wasn’t what happened. Missi eased closer to the man and found her gaze locking on his neck, where his expensive collared shirt was open. He smelled like expensive cologne. It was amazing.
She sighed.
Jasmine leaned in close to her. “Way to stand your ground there, Missi. No rich bigwig is going to run over you.”
“Hey, is it me or is there a guy in a tracksuit waving his arms at us frantically down the street there, all while missing a head?” asked Leo. “I’m seeing that right, aren’t I?”
Petey jumped up and down, pointing in the direction of Headless Hank, who was down the street in front the bookstore. “See! I told you I knew a guy who lost his head. That’s Hank. He’s the barber. Gives great haircuts but try to catch him on Wednesdays. That’s the day his head stays home from work. He’s a talker when his head is on the counter at work. Best to just get the body or you’re there for hours.”
Missi’s father nodded. “That’s true. Hank is a talker. You get him goin’ and there is no stoppin’ him.”
Curt’s lips twitched. “This place has a headless guy?”
Hugh stepped back. “This might be the strangest town ever.”
“Thank you,” said Missi, Ms. Cherry, and Jasmine at the same time.
Ms. Cherry gave a slight wave. “I’m off to find Marie-Claire to give her the good news. I looked for her before at the cemetery, but she wasn’t there. I’m sure I’ll find her soon enough.”
With that she hurried away.
“Hedgewitch Cove has their own version of the headless horseman,” said Leo, looking surprised.
Missi moved even closer to Curt, feeling drawn to him. “What do you mean our version? He’s the only version. Hank is the headless horseman. I mean, he was. He stopped riding around on a horse way before I was born. He drives a car now. I wish he’d go back to the horse; it was better for the environment.”
Curt’s hand found hers. “How does a headless guy drive a car?”
“How does a guy with a head not know how to drive a van?” she countered.
He grinned.
She sighed again.
Jasmine groaned.
“Is that a boxer dog running down the street at us with a head in its mouth?” asked Hugh.
Missi tensed. “Oh no. Furfur has Hank’s head.”
“Again?” asked her father. “Damn hellhound. Luc really has gotta get better invisible fencin’. Maybe sprinkle holy water around the property or somethin’. Anything to keep that mutt from wanderin’ around town.”
Jasmine swatted Leo in the gut lightly. “Hurry. Go to that side to block him. The rest of you fan out.”
Just then Sigmund appeared behind Furfur, running full force at the dog. He whistled, and Furfur came to a complete stop, sitting like a good boy in the center of Water Street. He dropped Hank’s head.
“I really thought a head from a headless guy would be bloody and gory,” said Hugh.
“Me too,” added Leo.
“Nah,” said Jasmine. “Magic took his head. Magic keeps it pristine. Also helps him be able to function without it on his shoulders.”
The rest of Hank rushed out into the street and swooped up the head. He pointed at the dog with his head tucked under his arm. “Bad dog!”
Missi failed to keep from laughing at the sight.
Sigmund looked down the street at them and then smiled wide.
Petey put out his arms. “Bails, I missed ya! Let’s hug. Don’t hug Warrick. He’s cursed so many times I lost count!”
Chapter Ten
“Still nothing?�
�� asked Missi of her father who was on the other end of the phone.
“No, darlin’,” he said. “Louis showed up about an hour ago and has been helpin’ Wilber, Leo, Jasmine, and I sort through texts down here in the basement of the antique shop. We can’t find anythin’ on the curse Curt has over him.”
Since her brother’s shop sat on a goldmine of information that was in an underground bunker that extended well out and under the property his shop sat on, something should have been found. Hunter libraries and artifact-holding facilities were always stocked with information on just about any supernatural or curse out there. The very fact nothing was turning up was alarming in itself.
“What do you want me to do with him?” she asked, glancing across her shop at Curt, who was sitting on the stool behind the counter, flipping through a magic book on spells. So far, their day together had consisted of her mother showing up at the shop with Jasmine to help ward it with protection spells since everyone’s main concern was the death note end of the curses.
Oddly, Curt hadn’t seemed altogether that bothered with it all, and she had to wonder how often he had people wanting him dead or if it was just the way he handled difficult matters.
It didn’t look like their dinner date was going to happen. Not unless they figured out who had cursed Curt to start with, why they wanted him dead, and what Blackbeard’s treasure had to do with it all. Basically, it was all still a mystery and they were no closer to answers than they had been in the middle of the street, hours ago.
“Has anyone seen Blackbeard yet?” asked Missi, drawing Curt’s attention.
Her father was silent a moment. “No. Not yet.”
“Nothing?” asked Missi. “And you’re sure York didn’t do anything stupid again?”
“Darlin’, we’ve not been able to reach York or any of his crew members.”
Missi tensed. “He should have been back hours ago.”
“I’m sure he’s fine. That boy knows the water like no one else. He’s an expert boater and fisherman. That being said, Petey, Sig, Hugh, and Jake took out a boat. They’re headin’ to the area York was supposed to be in today. They should be reportin’ in soon.”
Don’t Stop Bewitching_A Happily Everlasting Series World Novel Page 11
