Desert Magick: Superstitions

by Dana Davis

  “Could be. But we can’t exactly waltz into the museum and borrow it.”

  “Guess this calls for covert ops.”

  Daisy found herself staring at her cousin. She glanced at Noah and saw her feelings reflected in his expression. “Are you nuts?” she said, turning back to Bridgette. “We can’t steal an artifact from a museum.”

  “Why not? I stole plenty of candy bars from the mini-market when we were kids.” She looked at Noah. “The owner was an asshole.” Her gaze found Daisy again. “And I didn’t have near as much power as I do now.”

  “But—”

  “We’re witches, Daisy. How hard can it be to disable an alarm and a few cameras at a local museum? Besides, the Southwest Native Museum is small. My mother took me there when I was a kid. Hell, the mini-market we used to go to probably had a better security system.”

  “I won’t steal an artifact.”

  Noah placed a hand on Daisy’s arm but his eyes fixed on Bridgette. “Are you sure about the Kachina?” he said.

  “The disclosure spell showed that doll for a reason. It’s old. Aunt Maureen said this specter who’s been attacking Daisy is old. You already suspected he was from Native lore. I’d bet my new car the two are connected.”

  “Noah,” Daisy said. “You can’t seriously be listening to this nonsense. We can’t steal.”

  “To protect you, I’d swipe a whole roomful of Kachinas.”

  Daisy shook her head. “Great. I’m sandwiched between Bonnie and Clyde.”

  The laughter was cut short when the doorbell rang and Perky went flying toward the front of the house, yipping the entire way.

  Daisy said, “I’m not expecting anyone. You?”

  Noah waved her off with a dismissive hand. “Probably some kid selling something.”

  Bridgette made an eager grunt and said, “You think he’s selling chocolate bars?”

  “Only one way to find out.”

  Daisy stopped Noah with a hand. “There’s another way.” She raised a brow at her cousin.

  “Oh, all right. But if it is a kid, I get to slap you. They never think anything useful. Just a whole lot of fucking nonsense.” Her eyes narrowed in the direction of the front door then she said, “Don’t think they’re selling chocolates. It’s that couple from the restaurant.”

  “Wonder what they want.”

  “Can’t tell.”

  The doorbell rang again. The three of them went to the front. Noah scooped up Perky and flipped on the porch light. He peered out the shutters and back to Daisy. “Yep, it’s them.”

  “How the hell do they know where we live?”

  “Open the door,” Bridgette told her. “I’ll truss him if he tries anything. You take her.”

  Daisy had a spell ready and she opened the door with Noah and Bridgette both pressed against her back. “Can I help you?” she said, peering through the security screen.

  “I think we can help you,” the man said. “You’re in a great deal of trouble, right?”

  “I don’t know what you mean, sir. But we recognize you from the restaurant.”

  “Yes. My wife told me you’d remember us.”

  The woman smiled.

  “And just how did she know that?” Bridgette said in a dangerous tone. Her breath caught several strands of Daisy’s hair.

  “Please,” the woman said. “This beast that’s after you—he’s powerful.” When no one said anything she added, “I know you’ve seen the Buffalo Kachina.”

  Bridgette tensed against Daisy’s back.

  The man studied her, bringing his face to the screen. “May we come inside? You have strong magicks here. I can feel them. We can’t harm you.”

  Daisy glanced at Noah then Bridgette. “All right. But you’d better not try anything. My cousin here is easily agitated.”

  The woman chuckled. “Yes. I can see that.”

  Noah handed Daisy the key and she unlocked the security door. The man pulled it outward and let his wife in then followed, squinting at the bright lights of the ceiling fan. Unlike at the restaurant, he wore turquoise jewelry around his neck. His graying hair was pulled back into a ponytail and lines marked his tanned face. Dark smudges stood out beneath his deep-set eyes, giving them a bruised appearance. The woman was in a skirt and sweater with a turquoise beaded necklace. Several turquoise rings circled her fingers. Her smile seemed genuine.

  Protection, Daisy mused. If she remembered right, turquoise meant protection for several Native cultures.

  “I’m Joseph Running Bear,” the man said as Daisy locked the doors behind him. “You can call me Joe. This is my wife Maria. You can check us for weapons if you like.”

  Bridgette crossed her arms. “I already checked. I got that much out of you. You’ve got a bit of magick yourselves.”

  “Yes. Runs in our families.”

  “Let’s go sit,” Daisy said. She let Noah lead their guests through the kitchen and into the family room. “Would you like some tea?”

  “Thank you,” Maria said.

  Noah motioned them to the couch and put Perky down then pulled two chairs from the dining table. The dog trotted straight up to Joe, no fear at all, and jumped into his lap.

  Daisy gave Noah an astonished gaze across the bar as she filled the teakettle.

  Joe smiled at Perky and scratched behind his ears.

  “He likes you,” Daisy said. “If he’s bothering you—”

  “No. Animals don’t bother me. I like them better than some people.”

  Bridgette, who’d taken a seat on the overstuffed chair and, from what Daisy could tell, had been trying to get into Joe’s mind, made a disgusted sound.

  Daisy put the kettle on the stove instead of heating it with an inferno spell—no point letting them know all her magickal secrets right up front—and crossed into the family room to sit near Noah at the dining table. “How do you know about us?”

  Joe pointed to his temple. “I have visions, dreams. My wife does too.”

  Maria added, “Lately, we’ve both had the same dreams about you three. Especially you, Daisy. That’s your name, right?”

  She stiffened and felt Noah’s eyes on her. “Yes.”

  “What do you know about this—person—who’s been attacking me?”

  Fear flashed across Maria’s face for an instant. “He’s old. Ancient in fact. Very dangerous. And not of this world.”

  “But I bit him.”

  “What?” Joe’s dark eyes grew suspicious.

  “Drew blood.” She held up the vial they’d been using for the disclosure spell. “How ‘not of this world’ can he be if he bleeds?”

  “May I see that?”

  She glanced at Bridgette who shrugged. “Sure.” She took the vial to Joe and scooped Perky from his lap. With a toss of a ball, the dog ran into the kitchen.

  “This is his blood?”

  “Yes.”

  He uttered something in his native tongue. Sounded very much like cursing. Maria took the vial and frowned.

  “What’s wrong?” Bridgette said. “We tried to find out more about him with a disclosure spell but all we got was that damn Kachina.”

  “If he bleeds, then he’s crossed over to this world,” Joe said.

  “Yeah, that’s what we figured,” Daisy said.

  “This is very bad.” Joe gave her such a hard stare that her skin erupted in goose flesh. “What happened after you bit him?”

  “Well, I couldn’t see him. He’s managed to stay invisible to me somehow. But I popped him in the nuts and got away from him.”

  Joe looked relieved. “The nuts, huh?” He chuckled.

  Maria gave the vial back to Daisy and said, “If he can be invisible, then he hasn’t completed the transition into this world, yet. We still have time.”

  “Time for what?” Noah said. “Just who is this guy that’s been attacking my wife?”

  “He comes from ancient times. When the world was new. Spirit made flesh.” Maria looked around as though someone might h
ear. “We think he may be Yenaldlooshi.”

  Daisy glanced at Bridgette and Noah and saw her confusion mirrored in their faces. “A what?”

  “Skinwalker,” Joe uttered.

  “I knew it!” Daisy said. “Sorry. That was a little too enthusiastic. But we guessed he was some type of shape-shifter. Noah here brought up the skinwalker theory. They take on animal traits, don’t they? Why the people impersonation?”

  Joe shook his head. “Not sure. He seems to be trying to break into this world again. Whatever he’s after, you’re the key, Daisy. He’s very dangerous. And we’re not sure he’s acting alone.”

  That last statement didn’t sit well with her and she fought a shiver. It made sense, though. Powerful or not, skinwalker or not, Gran had said this being was a specter. Only a living person could assist a specter in coming back to a corporeal life. A very complicated and dangerous ritual dealing with the dead like that. Would take one very disturbed person. “Why me? I’m not Indian. My ancestors are from Ireland and Scotland mostly. A bunch of Celts.”

  “Indians today still have powers but not like our ancestors did,” Maria told her. “Your line is very strong. That’s probably why he’s latched onto you. He needs your power. Though why anyone would mess around with the spirit world is beyond me.”

  Noah had turned his chair away from the table to face Maria. “Why rape my wife?” His anger was palpable and Daisy took his hand. “Why not just try to steal her powers? Is he just some sick bastard looking for kicks?”

  Maria gave Daisy an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know he’d done that. Our visions are sometimes vague in places.”

  Thankfully for me, Daisy thought.

  “Sex is a powerful tool. Rape a power in itself. He’s probably trying to make you vulnerable. If he weakens you—”

  “Then he might take my powers more easily.”

  “Maybe,” Maria said. “If he’s really what we suspect, then he’s extremely dangerous. Very potent. And one with access to original magick, well, I can’t say what damage he could do in this world.”

  “What about this Buffalo Kachina?” Bridgette said.

  “Kachina’s are teaching tool. Originated by the Hopi,” Joe said. “For children mostly. The Buffalo Warrior is a powerful guardian to the Dineh, the Navajo, able to protect against evil spirits. I remember my grandmother telling me that.”

  Daisy fixed her gaze on him again, “You think it’ll help me get rid of this skinwalker?”

  “Since you saw him in your vision, that would be my guess.”

  “Does your tribe have anything that will get rid of my attacker? Know of anything else we can try?” She tried not to let her desperation show. “A protection spell or something.”

  Joe lowered his voice. “Maria and I are Maricopa born in the Gila River Community here in Phoenix. We’d need to contact the Dineh tribe near Flagstaff where my grandmother was born to find out more on this—skinwalker. If there truly is one. And if they’ll talk about it. The Dineh are a proud people and won’t like that someone is messing with this evil spirit.”

  Daisy nodded. I don’t blame them one bit. “This Kachina we saw was in a local museum. Any suggestions on how do we get our hands on it? Just to borrow, of course.”

  “We’re psychics not miracle workers.” Joe smiled and Daisy realized he was making a joke. She chuckled. “I’m not involved with museum business. But you saw the Kachina in your vision so you must need it.”

  Maria nodded then said, “You could see about getting someone to bless your house. Though I don’t know if it’ll do much good against such an ancient evil.”

  No blessing would get rid of this thing. It was just too strong. Daisy felt Bridgette’s eyes on her and turned to her cousin.

  “What about a new Kachina?” Bridgette said, her gaze moving back to Maria. “One we can purchase from a local tribe.”

  “This is an ancient evil you’re dealing with,” Maria said. “It needs an ancient power to go against it.” Her fingers fiddled with one of her turquoise rings. Dark eyes weighed Daisy. “Have you noticed any odd behavior from wild animals around your place?”

  “Yeah,” Daisy said. She looked to her cousin.

  Bridgette said, “I sensed a coyote was trying to communicate with her. You think he’s a skinwalker?”

  Joe shook his head. “I didn’t sense that in my visions. Coyotes can be tricksters. But in this case, I actually think he’s trying to warn you. Animals don’t like evil any more than we do.”

  Daisy nodded and blew out a noisy breath. “So, we need this Buffalo Kachina from the museum to fight some ancient skinwalker who thinks I’m his way to flesh and blood.” She motioned to the bloody vial. “And this sonofabitch is already partway to human. Just great. Just a shitload of great.”

  Joe leaned elbows on his knees and peered at Daisy. “We’ll help any way we can. But we have a daughter to think of. We won’t put her in danger.”

  “I understand. And I don’t want you to put your daughter in danger. She’s too young and can’t defend herself. But I appreciate anything you can find out about how to beat this bastard.”

  He nodded then he and Maria stood and offered Daisy their cups. “We should get home.”

  Maria smiled. “Thanks for your hospitality, Daisy.” She held out a business card. “Here’s my contact information should you need to contact me.” It had the Mesa Community College logo on it, along with Maria’s name and phone number and email.

  “You’re a professor?”

  “Yes. I teach Native history. I’ll keep looking into this for you but I can’t guarantee I’ll find anything other than what you already know.”

  “I appreciate that.” Daisy put the cups on the bar. “I just hope you have more luck than we’ve had.”

  She followed them to the front door, Noah, Bridgette and Perky trailing.

  Maria turned after she stepped onto the porch and fixed Daisy with a penetrating stare. “Be careful.”

  “We will.”

  “We’re going to see each other again.”

  “You have something to share?” Bridgette said. One hand gripped the doorframe as she peered from behind Daisy.

  “Nothing particular. Just that we’ll see each other again.” With that, the couple walked down the flagstone path to the sidewalk, climbed into a late-model truck and left.

  Chapter 15

  To Steal or Not to Steal

  Joe Running Bear didn’t get much information from his Dineh cousins, other than for Daisy to avoid anything having to do with skinwalkers, but he promised to keep looking into it. A couple of the elders offered assistance if she got desperate, but like a lot of paranormals nowadays, the tribes’ powers weren’t as strong as they’d once been. Daisy couldn’t put them in danger. Not yet. If she had no other choice, then maybe. So, she decided to try another tactic.

  After she got her latest auctions set up, she shut down the computer and closed up the office.

  “You ready?” Noah said as she entered their bedroom.

  He’d taken the day off to accompany Daisy and Bridgette to the Southwest Native Museum. He’d cajoled a meeting with one of the directors by using his father’s status as a linguist. At least it quelled her cousin’s talk about stealing the Kachina. Bridgette always did have a dangerous spirit.

  “Daisy?”

  “Be ready in a sec.” She dashed into the closet and changed from sweats to slacks and blouse, trying to look as presentable as possible without overdoing her attire. She snagged her vintage leather jacket from the trunk at the foot of the bed and shrugged it on then stepped into a pair of boots with three-inch heels. A quick glance in the mirror left her pleased and she ran a brush through her hair.

  “You look very nice,” Noah said. “Delicious in fact.” With four strides, he had her around the waist.

  “Hands to yourself, lover boy. We got work to do.”

  He laughed and kissed her neck. “Don’t want any wet spots on those new sl
acks?”

  She smacked him on the arm. “You’re getting as bad a mouth as Bridgette.” She couldn’t help grinning. “Let’s go. I hope you have a convincing argument. We need that Kachina.”

  “We’ll tell him the truth.”

  “Let’s hope that works.” She wasn’t convinced every Native accepted their magickal ancestries. Or even knew they were anything more than legends and myths. She followed Noah down the hall. “Even if he does, doesn’t mean he’ll lend us that doll?”

  “Only one way to find out.” Noah sounded very optimistic. Maybe for her sake. Whatever his reason, it worked and she relaxed a bit, making the knot in her stomach retreat.

  “I think your dog wants to go out,” Bridgette said when they entered the family room. “Don’t let him piss on any of my stuff.”

  “I’ll get him,” Noah said. “You two wait in the car.” He and Perky went out the patio door.

  “That man of yours is getting a bit bossy.”

  “Funny, Bridge, I was thinking the same thing about you. Come on. It’ll take us nearly half an hour to get there.”

  Fortunately, the only accident was on the other side of the 101, heading north. Unfortunately, every looky-loo seemed to be in the southbound lanes.

  “Great,” Daisy uttered. “Are they hoping to see blood? Or a corpse maybe? Move it!” She shouted to the mass of cars and trucks in front of them.

  “Human nature, Cousin,” Bridgette said from the back seat. “Blood and gore attracts even those who pretend not to look.”

  She grunted. “We could walk faster than this.”

  “Traffic here is worse than I remember. And will they ever finish messing around with the construction?”

  “You sound like a snowbird, Bridge.”

  Bridgette snapped a hand against Daisy’s seat, causing her to jump. “Watch it.” She chuckled when Daisy gave her a sour look. “Not nearly as bad as L.A. freeways. But seems to be headed in that direction.”

  “Can you two do something about it?” Noah said.

  Daisy shook her head. “Not without a lot more witches and several hours of spell-casting. Way too many lives to influence.”