Something Wicked

by Brian Harmon

  Delphinium followed his gaze. “It’s always been Grandpa’s dagger, to me,” she told him. “But I think now it’s yours.”

  Eric looked up at her, surprised. “I don’t want it.”

  She smiled. “I know. I’ll keep it safe for you. In case you ever need it again.”

  “God, I hope not. That thing scares the hell out of me.”

  She looked down at the weapon again and nodded. “Me too.” Then she turned her eyes on him again and managed a smile. “Let’s go outside.”

  Eric nodded and followed her out into the hallway, where she turned and headed for the back door. Along the way, they paused in front of the bedroom at the end of the hall. Shondra and Siena were there, lying together in the bed. Both of them were asleep, exhausted.

  “We suffered a lot of tragedy today,” whispered Delphinium, “but we also avoided a few. After listening to Charlotte, I consulted the water and it confirmed our suspicions. If none of this had happened, Shondra would’ve died. Probably not at that hospital. If Sissy hadn’t awakened the creature in the basement, it would’ve slept on and she would’ve recovered. But her life was already traveling in a very unfortunate direction. They would’ve lost their home. Tragedy would have found them. It was unavoidable. Siena would’ve ended up alone. And I would’ve found her. She would’ve joined us eventually anyway…”

  “But without her mother,” realized Eric.

  “Yes.”

  He stood there watching them sleep for a moment, reflecting on what a sad thought it was. Then Delphinium turned and stepped out onto the back porch.

  “So you’ll go back to rescuing more girls now?”

  “I’ve already started. There’s a young girl in Louisville with a remarkable talent for charming the local boys into doing her bidding.”

  “Sounds to me like she’s perfectly capable of taking care of herself.”

  Delphinium smiled. “True. It might be the boys I’ll actually be rescuing.”

  “Very kind of you,” agreed Eric. “You’re sure you won’t…”

  “Find the next Sylvia out there? Not likely. Not now that I know what to look for.” She gave him a confident smile. “We won’t make that same mistake again.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “But first, Poppy’s been telling me of a remarkable woman living not far from here. I think she might be a kindred spirit.”

  “Clara,” said Eric.

  “I owe her a debt for taking such good care of Poppy these past few months. I’m going to find her and offer our services to pay for the damage Sissy did. And if she’ll agree, I’d like to help her in her cause.”

  “Finding women in need.”

  “I think we could work magnificently together.”

  “Sounds like another blessing in all this misfortune.”

  She smiled. “It does.”

  They walked around the side of the house toward the front yard. The Dirty Bunny guys were gathered around in the driveway, talking about their exciting battle with the monsters, comparing close calls and body counts, showing off their cuts and bruises. Eric thought they were probably having a ball exaggerating, given that the monsters didn’t leave behind corpses to prove them liars.

  Helen and the brunette were with them, but he didn’t see Margarita or Emily.

  For that matter, he hadn’t seen Holly since they began preparing to bury Sylvia. He hoped he’d get a chance to say goodbye.

  “I’ve also grown a little fond of these guys,” Delphinium confessed, gazing over at the group.

  Eric raised an eyebrow. “I think at least one of them is pretty fond of you, too,” he told her, remembering how Bernie had asked him if she was seeing anyone between killing monsters.

  He wasn’t sure, but he thought Delphinium might’ve blushed a little at that.

  Suddenly, Alicia appeared at his side. “I wish you could stay,” she told him as she stared up at him with those big eyes.

  He gave her a smile. “I do, too,” he told her. “But I have to get home.”

  She pouted at him, then threw her arms around him, hugging him. “Thank you,” she said.

  “Thank you,” he told her. “You’re a pretty amazing little witch.”

  She blushed bright red and slunk away.

  The girl was cute. But he was happy he didn’t have to see her every day. He was pretty sure that would get extremely awkward. “She does know I’m married, doesn’t she?” he asked Delphinium as she disappeared into the house.

  “I don’t think she cares,” replied Delphinium.

  Eric nodded. Yes, that would definitely get awkward.

  She turned and met his gaze. “Before I forget, I wanted to tell you that we consulted the water about that voice you told me about.”

  He nodded again. The voice that spoke through the drunk at The Dirty Bunny and Mr. Hamblin at the hospital and again through Norval in the midst of the battle. It has to be you! “Yes?”

  “It told me nothing. Not even a murmur. It’s strange.”

  “How strange?”

  She frowned. “I usually get something, even if it’s nothing meaningful. But there was nothing at all.”

  “So…what does that mean? It wasn’t real?”

  “I’m sure it was real,” she assured him. “But it’s like there’s a void around that voice. It’s…unsettling.”

  It was unsettling.

  Delphinium’s smile returned. “I don’t think it’s anything worth worrying about. It’s just curious. And whatever the source, it certainly didn’t seem to be malicious.”

  “It saved your life,” Eric agreed. “If not for that voice…”

  “I’d rather not think about it. I was so sure of myself, so convinced that I had to…” She shook her head and then reached out and touched his shoulder. “Whatever it was, I owe it and you my life. I’ll never forget that.”

  “You don’t owe me anything. I just did what I do, apparently.”

  She smiled. “Yes, you did.”

  Eric cleared his throat and glanced out at the fields. “I should get going,” he said. “Big day tomorrow.”

  “Tell your wife I wish her a very happy anniversary.”

  “I will.”

  “And that I envy her.”

  Eric blushed again. He really wished they’d stop doing that.

  “And one more thing, too.” She stared intently into his eyes. “Tell her not to be afraid. I asked about you in my last spell. I caught a glimpse of your destiny. You and Isabelle are going to have a lot more adventures. You’ll see so many amazing things. You’ll meet so many amazing people. And although the future is always in constant motion and anything can change, it was very insistent that you’re always going to make it home to her.”

  Eric stared at her, surprised. “It told you all that?”

  “Very clearly.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be very happy to hear that.”

  She smiled. “She’s such a lucky woman.”

  He turned away from her smile, uncomfortable and found that Marissa had now emerged from the house and was walking toward him. She gave him the best smile she could manage. The swelling had gone down a little, but she still looked pretty rough. The bruises had spread and darkened. Her eyes were still puffy.

  She didn’t say a word as she approached. She just walked right up to him and gently kissed him on his cheek.

  By the time he left here, his face was going to be permanently colored bright red.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “Take care of yourself,” he told her.

  “I will.”

  A truck pulled into the driveway and parked with the others. Margarita jumped out and hurried around to the tailgate. She must have made a trip to town for something. Supplies to help with the cleanup, maybe. Or maybe just beer. It was hard to say.

  Eric didn’t pay her much attention. He turned and looked back toward the house. Charlotte and Cierra had managed to move Poppy to a chair on the porch, where she could wave goo
dbye. Alicia had joined Marissa at his side, apparently determined to remain close to him right up until he left. Jude was leaning against the van, waiting. Even Shondra and Siena had risen to see him off and were standing in the doorway.

  It was time to go.

  “If you need me again,” he said. “Don’t hesitate.”

  “We won’t,” Delphinium promised.

  A part of him didn’t want to go. He liked it here. He liked this family.

  “And if you need us,” added Bernie from behind him. All of the beefy bouncers puffed out their enormous chests. “You know where to find us.”

  Norval nodded. “Anyone gives you any trouble, you let us know.”

  Eric smiled. “Thanks guys.”

  He looked back at everyone.

  Almost everyone.

  Holly…

  “I should get going,” he decided.

  Jude jumped into the driver’s seat of the minivan and started the engine. He was clearly eager to get this trip over with. He could hardly blame the boy. By the time he returned home late that evening, he would have made the trip to Wisconsin and back four times for a grand total of thirty-two hours on the road. He had to admire the kid’s stamina.

  But Eric hesitated a little longer.

  Delphinium smiled. “She’s coming.”

  “Holly!” shouted Cierra. “Move your butt!”

  “I’m coming!” Holly shouted back from somewhere inside the farmhouse.

  Eric felt himself smile. He couldn’t help it. After all the awkwardness of their naked first meeting, it was weird to think how relieved he was that he was going to get to say goodbye.

  “We’re going to miss her,” said Delphinium.

  Eric smiled a little brighter at her. Then his smile melted away completely. “Wait… What?”

  Holly emerged from the house with Emily in tow, a small bag slung over her shoulder. Margarita met her at the steps. The thing she’d retrieved from the back of her truck was a large, purple suitcase. “I’m coming!” she shouted again.

  “Where did you get luggage?” asked Charlotte.

  “Margarita got it from my apartment.” She gave her a swift hug. Then she hugged Cierra. “I’ll miss you guys so much!”

  “Don’t get into any trouble,” demanded Cierra.

  “Wow,” said Poppy, eying the huge bag as Holly bent to hug her. “How many G-strings does that thing hold?”

  “Shush!” laughed Holly.

  Eric watched her roll the oversized bag toward him. “What’s going on?” he stammered.

  “I’m coming with you, silly!” replied Holly.

  “Coming with me? No… What?” He turned to face Delphinium.

  “My spell also told me that you needed Holly,” she explained. She was practically beaming. “The two of you were destined to work together. Not just here. Not just last night. But from now on. She’ll be your guide. Like Isabelle.”

  Eric felt his jaw fall slack. Somewhere deep inside, he knew he must look completely stupid standing there like that, but he couldn’t help it. He couldn’t seem to comprehend how completely fouled up this was.

  Holly hugged Alicia and Marissa and then turned to her Dirty Bunny friends. “Thank you guys so much!” she said. “I’ll never forget this!” She turned to Margarita. “Promise you’ll take care of Emily.”

  “Holly…” groaned Emily.

  Margarita ignored her. “Of course I will. Stop worrying. Besides, after today, I’m thinking she can take care of herself just fine.”

  “I’m half-blind,” she grumbled, “not incompetent.” But no one seemed to be listening to her.

  “Tell Mitch I’m sorry.”

  Helen nodded. “I’ll explain everything.”

  Eric turned to Delphinium again. “I really don’t think—”

  “Don’t worry,” she told him. “You’ll see. You’re going to need her. And her magic. I told you, the spell never lies. You’ll understand in time.”

  In time? How much time could he possibly have left if she was sending him home on the eve of his anniversary with a stripper?

  “Keep in touch, okay?” said Holly. “All of you. Promise.”

  There was a loud sniffle, and she looked up at Norval, who quickly swiped at his eye.

  “Aw, Norval…” she said.

  “Smoke…” he muttered. “I got dry eyes…”

  She gave him a hug. The top of her head barely reached the middle of his chest. “I won’t lose touch,” she promised. She looked up at him. “I’ll send you those cookies. Macadamia nuts, just like I promised.”

  He sniffled again. Bernie clapped him on the back.

  Eric rubbed at the back of his aching neck.

  Don’t screw up again! Karen had told him.

  She was totally going to kill him.

  Holly turned and ran to Delphinium while Norval carried her oversized bag to the minivan and slid it between the seats as if it weighed nothing at all. “I’m going to miss you so much!”

  “I’m going to miss you, too,” Delphinium assured her. “But you have an important role to play now. Eric is going to need you as much as we needed him today.”

  Eric frowned. When was he going to need her? And why did she have to come home with him now? Couldn’t Jude just drive her up next week?

  Holly turned and grabbed his hands. She was actually bouncing on her heels, like a child on Christmas morning. “It’s so exciting!” she squealed. Then she jumped into the minivan and slammed the door shut.

  Eric turned back to Delphinium. “Really?”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “The magic never lies,” she told him. “Trust me.”

  He sighed. He did trust her. After all they’d been through together, he’d trust Delphinium Thorngood with his life.

  But he didn’t have to like it.

  He opened the door and slid into the passenger’s seat as Holly rolled down the window and shouted, “Bye! I love you all!”

  As everyone waved goodbye, most of them shouting back that they loved her, too, Jude started down the driveway. The long drive home lay before them.

  “I can’t wait to meet your family!” Holly told him.

  Eric gave her the best smile he could manage and then buried his face in his hands. Somewhere deep down, he was sure a part of him was thrilled that he didn’t have to say goodbye to her. After all they’d been through, he couldn’t deny that they shared a strong bond. But now he had to come up with some way to explain this to Karen.

  His cell phone chimed.

  YOU ARE SO DEAD, Isabelle informed him.

  Eric sighed. “I know.”

  ###

  About the Author

  Brian Harmon is an author of horror fiction, suspense and dark adventure. He grew up in rural Missouri and currently lives in Southern Wisconsin with his wife, Guinevere, and their two children.

  For more about this author, visit

  www.HarmonUniverse.com