by Dana Davis
She watched Perky a moment as he ran back and forth along the view fence, scolding a family of javelina, who snorted and took off at a run. The beasts were a good deal larger than the dog and might’ve attacked if it weren’t for the fence. The thought of attacks turned Daisy’s mind to Bridgette and her smile faded.
“You all right?” Noah said after a minute or two.
“I’m worried about Bridgette. Male sirens are rare. And dangerous. Worse than a date-rape drug. The women go along with whatever sex they decide they want and never realize they’re being coerced. Bridgette probably figured it out because she’s a paranormal.”
“She seems like a strong woman.”
“She is. Beat the snot out of a few boys when we were kids. They weren’t paranormals, but she pummeled them without using magick. I even took a bruise or two from her.”
“You?”
The fact that he sounded protective made Daisy smile again. “Yeah. While she wouldn’t let anyone else touch me, she didn’t think anything of hauling off and smacking me herself a time or two. I wouldn’t put it past her even today. She’s a good woman, though. Just don’t get on the wrong side of her temper.”
Noah chuckled. “I’ll remember that. How often does she do her little mind-reading stunts?”
“She won’t intrude. Not without good reason. Earlier, she was testing you. Does it when she doesn’t know someone that well.”
He nodded. “Too bad it didn’t work with her ex.”
“Probably did. But it would’ve been too late by then. He had his claws in her. He could’ve kept her from using spells against him too. Sirens are persuasive sons of bitches.”
“What about pregnancy? I know witches can control that but human women can’t.”
“Male sirens are sterile. Female sirens keep the line going by seducing mortal men. But they usually prey on cultures that still have a lot of superstitions. Remote islands and such places. Keeps media attention off them.” When Noah gave a thoughtful nod she added, “We better get back inside. I need to go through the rest of that book. See if I can find something on this ghost fellow.”
“Fellows, don’t you mean?”
“Huh?”
“The one that’s molesting you too.”
“Right. If he’s real.”
“After what you’ve told me about paranormals, I think he’s real. If only I could see the sonofabitch.”
His eyes grew dangerous and Daisy loved him even more. “You’d kick his butt right and proper,” she quipped.
But her gut quivered to think this dream molester, or ghost, or whatever the hell he was, existed and had access to her anytime he liked. And now they had this hat-wearing spook and a siren to worry about. If only her mother were here to advise her.
After almost an hour reading through the book that had summoned her, she grew sleepy and Noah tucked her into bed for a nap. He promised to continue searching.
“Maybe a mere mortal can find something a witch can’t.”
“Thanks.” She tried to reciprocate the kiss he planted on her cheek but she was out just afterwards.
Someone stroked her then climbed on top of her, weight holding her to the bed. Her legs were wrenched open and she fought against the invasion. Someone whispered in her ear. Hard as she tried, she couldn’t get her eyes open and fell into the abyss of pleasure and pain.
When she finally managed to pull from slumber, an hour had passed. Her heart raced, knowing he’d gotten to her again, and her hands trembled. Her leg hurt and she pushed the covers down to see a bruise the size of a finger on the inside of her right thigh. Her clothes were still in place, as though nothing more than a dream had happened. But the bruise....
Fear crept into her gut and she went to find Noah. The fireplace was on and the family room held its warmth. Noah lay dozing on the couch and she slipped into his arms.
“You all right?” he mumbled. “Daisy? That sonofabitch came after you again, didn’t he?”
“Yes. He’s real, Noah. He has to be. I don’t know what to do. I can’t seem to stop him.” Panic began to take over. Tears pushed from her eyes and Noah held her closer.
“You’re shaking.” He snagged the blanket from the back of the couch and covered her with it. “Tell me what I can do.”
Nothing, she thought. Not a damn thing. You’re a mortal. “Just hold me.”
“Always.”
After a while, she stopped trembling and got up the nerve to talk about it again. “I can’t let this bastard keep doing this to me. It usually starts out like an erotic dream. Then he gets forceful.” Noah’s arms pulled her closer and she snuggled to him. “It doesn’t feel real most of the time. When I wake, it’s like a bad dream, only I know better. He’s getting stronger too. I can feel it. And I have bruises to prove it.”
“I hate that he can get to you anytime he likes,” Noah said in a dangerous tone. His breath was warm and comforting on her neck. “I hate that I can’t see him. That I can’t fight him.”
“I’m not sure I’d want you fighting him. He’s strong to be able to control me like that.”
“We could get away for a while. Drive up to Flagstaff or down to Tucson. I’ve got some vacation days.”
She gave him a smile. “I’m not sure that would do any good. He’s probably connected himself to me. If that’s the case, it won’t matter where I am.” She fought a shiver at that thought.
Noah let out a long breath that blew several strands of Daisy’s hair around her cheek. “There has to be something we can do.”
“I’ll help you get rid of him, Cousin.” Bridgette stood under the archway that led to the hall, arms folded, hard eyes on Daisy. “You can count on that.” She walked to the couch, scooped up the magick book and stormed back to her room.
“I hope she can,” Daisy uttered. Noah pulled her closer.
Chapter 8
Witch Memories
They spent the rest of the day searching through magick books with little success and decided to eat in, since Bridgette was tired. Noah offered to pick up dinner at a local Mexican restaurant and that suited Daisy just fine, as she didn’t feel much like cooking tonight. Comfort food and a family evening might just do them all some good. Bridgette admitted she’d missed the southwest favorite.
“Not much Mexican food in Banff,” she had said. “And what’s there doesn’t even compare to home.”
When Noah returned, they gathered around the small dining table.
Perky lay on the tile next to Bridgette’s chair as she prepared to delve into a chicken chimichanga. Southwest America meets Mexico.
“He really likes me,” Bridgette uttered.
“You reading his mind?” Noah said with a smirk.
Bridgette let out a chuckle. “Not much there to read. A lot like some men I’ve known.” She bit into her chimichanga, cheese stringing down to her plate.
Noah grinned and shook his head.
“You’re horrible,” Daisy chided. “She can’t read animals, Noah. No witch can. Want me to put Perky in his kennel?”
Bridgette shook her head. After she swallowed, she said in a thoughtful tone, “He’s not bothering me, really. As long as he doesn’t start jumping in my lap or humping my leg, we’ll get along just fine.”
Daisy peered around the circular wooden table that had belonged to her mother. “His belly’s full and he’s napping now.”
Bridgette gave the dog a skeptical gaze. “How’d you train him not to beg?”
She raised her brows and gave her cousin an amused look as she shoved a forkful of sour cream enchilada into her mouth.
“Daisy Rhiannon Hammel-Kavanaugh. You used magick on your dog?”
She smiled as she finished her bite, then said, “Only to get him started. Puppies are difficult.”
“Shame on you.” Bridgette looked amused. “Is that how you intend to train your future kids?”
“Why not?” She laughed at the appalled expression on her cousin’s face. “I’m kidding
. But I suspect my mom used magick a few times on me. Especially that night she caught me sneaking out of the house. Imagine my surprise when I got to the car and found her already there.”
“Yeah. Mine too.” Bridgette’s shock had disappeared and she glanced at Noah. “I tried to get out of a cotillion once and sneak off to Daisy’s house. Big mistake. My hands tingled for hours after I ran into my mom’s amped-up barrier spell. Human deterrent mode. Damn she’s good at those.”
“I remember that,” Daisy said. She also remembered how much her cousin hated those awful cotillions, the false smiles, and the waving about of money. But Aunt Marge had wanted her only daughter to marry a wealthy paranormal. And what better way to find one? “You bitched about her all week at school. Barrier spells can be nasty. I had to quit using one for the critters around here. Sent Perky into fits.” The dog lifted his head briefly at the sound of his name but put it down and closed his eyes again. Daisy smiled.
“At least your mother was fair with your punishments. Remember the time I got grounded for a month?”
“Oh, yeah.” She pulled her attention from Perky and turned to Noah. “Bridgette snuck out on a date with an older mortal boy, one with an awesome body but not much in the brain department. Aunt Marge was livid when she found out. Kept a magickal lock around their property.”
Bridgette grew a sour look on her face. “I couldn’t go anyplace without my mother knowing.”
“Like house arrest, huh?” Noah said.
“Fucking paranormal version. Didn’t hurt like a barrier spell, but at the time, I wasn’t sure which was worse. Since it was summer, I didn’t even have the excuse to go to school. I must’ve read a dozen books. That was the longest summer of my life. Though I did learn more about magick.”
“You’re mother was so pissed when she found out you’d been practicing some of the more dangerous spells.”
“What about your dad?” Noah said.
“Never knew him.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
Bridgette waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t be. He knocked my mother up then ran off when he found out she was pregnant. A troll trait from what I’ve heard. Mom wanted to be pregnant, of course, but she thought he’d stick around once he knew. She never even added his name to my birth certificate so I’m still a McDougal. He died when I was two. Boating accident or something.”
“I don’t think she ever forgave him for leaving,” Daisy said.
“Yeah. I think she actually loved him.”
Daisy nodded and focused on Noah again. “Bridgette’s mother is my mom’s aunt, my great-aunt.” She’d told him this at their wedding when she introduced her cousin to him for the first time but doubted he remembered.
“Ah. So you two are second cousins,” he said.
She nodded. “I’ll have to show you the family tree someday.”
Bridgette let out a burst of laughter. “I want to be there when you do.”
“Stop it, Bridge. It’s not that bad.” Though it might shock any mortal. “How’s Aunt Marge doing these days? I haven’t heard from her since December.”
“Same old Mom. Ornery as ever. Keeps trying to find me a husband. Ever since she retired to Sedona, she seems to want grandchildren. I told her if she wants them she’d better adopt a few.”
Daisy chuckled. “You’d make a great mother.” From the look Bridgette gave her, she wondered if her cousin was thinking of giving her a good slap.
But the woman’s eyes drifted to Perky and she said, “Maybe I’ll get Mom a cat.”
“What’s a witch without a familiar, right?” Noah quipped.
Bridgette’s green eyes moved to him and she said, “I hate that stereotype.” There was no anger in her voice. “I don’t like cats. Never have. But my mother could use a distraction. Do you know she put my name in the Single Witches online dating service?”
Noah’s eyes grew wide, and with a cheek full of food, he said, “I didn’t even know there was such a thing.”
“Believe it,” Daisy uttered. “We witches have infiltrated the internet like mice to an abandoned house. Of course, certain websites are only accessible with the right password. If you know what I mean.”
“Keeps the riff-raff out,” Bridgette said.
“Bridgette Kelly McDougal! I’ll have you know my husband is a mortal.”
“Yeah, yeah. But Noah’s an exception. I know too many who’d drag us to the nearest church for an exorcism if they knew we were paranormals.”
Daisy laughed. The room had grown chilly again and she got up to flip on the fireplace. As the sun headed toward the western horizon, the sky grew brilliant orange with pink streaks, like a child’s finger-painting. She stepped to the patio door and peeked out the glass to see her ghost man standing at the far edge of the patio.
“He’s back,” she said in a low voice, waving the other two over.
“I see him,” Bridgette said from behind her. “What the hell does he want?”
“You try. I can’t get anywhere with him.” She opened the sliding door, cursing at the static spark that left her fingers tingly, then pushed the screen aside.
“I still don’t see him,” Noah said.
“He’s right at the edge of the patio.”
“That close?” He put a protective arm around Daisy’s shoulders and she drew him outside.
Bridgette stepped not two feet from the apparition and said, “What do you want, you old spook?”
“Subtle,” Noah uttered.
“Shh,” Daisy said, but she couldn’t help smiling.
The ghost disappeared and Perky played right where he’d been standing, oblivious to any presence.
“Guess he didn’t want to talk to me,” Bridgette said, a bit dejected. She turned back to Daisy. “Maybe I came on a bit strong.”
“Maybe.” She nudged Noah in the ribs when he chuckled.
“Don’t bother doing that to him.” Bridgette’s arms crossed and she cocked her head to one side. “I know I’m a strong personality. How do you think I survived my mother all these years?” She gave a crooked smile.
Noah grinned. “Maybe with you around, we won’t have anymore dead people come near the house.”
“Glad I could be of service,” Bridgette said with an exaggerated bow.
She turned to the wash, made her way across the granite yard and stopped on the lighted flagstone path that surrounded the pool. Daisy and Noah followed. Bridgette stood there long enough for the sky to change from orange to purple. The waxing moon began to cast faint shadows across the yard. Daisy’s depth perception was limited in the dim light but at least she could see. She took Noah’s hand, trying to be as quiet as possible.
After what seemed an eternity, Bridgette shook her head.
“Anything?” Daisy said.
“Well, one of your neighbors is having an affair with the nanny. His wife just found out. Another is wondering why she had kids. The brats have been terrible all week.”
“Very funny. I mean the apparition.”
“Not that I could lock onto. I sensed an afterglow but it’s very weak, not strong enough for a living person. Which means he’s just a ghost. Nothing more.”
“Great. So, what do I do with a ghost I can’t communicate with?”
Bridgette shrugged. “This can’t be the same fucker who’s been attacking you.”
That, at least, was of some relief. “My very own ethereal stalker. Or a Peeping Tom from the afterlife.” After her cousin chuckled, she added, “And a frustrating one too. I can’t hear a word he says. I have no idea why he’s here or what he wants.” But she still didn’t know who, or what, had been attacking her.
Bridgette faced her in the shadowy light. “Cousin dear, we need to have a good old-fashioned séance.”
Daisy’s heart jackhammered against her ribs and her mouth went dry. “No way.”
“It’s the only way to find out what’s going on around here.”
“It’s too dangerous. We might let something in w
e don’t want. You of all people should know that.”
“What’s so dangerous about it?” Noah said. He had Perky in his arms and the dog snuggled close and licked his chin.
“Let’s get inside. Away from any prying ears.” Daisy ushered them inside and said, “Bridge can tell you all about the time we contacted a murderous spirit. One that hadn’t crossed over, yet. I was only ten at the time. Bridgette was twelve.” She shivered at that memory.
“My mother was pissed beyond repair about that one,” Bridgette said, as Noah secured the patio slider.
Static sound found Daisy’s ears, followed by her husband’s exclamation of pain.
Bridgette smirked and added, “I remember your parents were a bit miffed too.”
Penelope and Margaret trained their daughters in séance art once they reached their late teens, so they wouldn’t repeat that childhood mistake of conjuring a hostile spirit. But the training didn’t make Daisy feel any better. She hadn’t performed a séance since those days and was content to keep it that way. Her mother had frowned on séances, and now that she was an adult, she wholly agreed with the woman.
She sat at the dining table. “If it hadn’t been for our mothers, we might not be here now, Bridge.”
“Yeah,” Bridgette said, as she and Noah took their dinner seats again. “I still say the experience was enough of a shock. I didn’t need a grounding on top of it. Not to mention having my powers trussed by my own mother.”
Daisy shook her head. Trussing powers was the ultimate punishment for any witch and a great deterrent for a disobedient teenager. Just the threat of it kept most in line. “I got punished too, remember.”
“Yeah, but you were always the dutiful daughter when it came to magick. They knew it was my idea. My stupidity that got us into that mess. That’s why my mother did what she did. I understand the danger now but I didn’t speak to her for a long time after that night.”
“I thought my parents were going to resort to corporal punishment,” Daisy said with a smirk. “Like stocks or a whipping post or something.”
