by Jasmine Walt
Ethan laughed in agreement but shook his head, still disturbed from finding out Sam’s feelings. “Come on.” He sat up. “Let’s find you some clothes.”
Once dressed, I walked down the hall behind Ethan. I felt like a child playing dress up; Ethan’s clothes were so big on me. As soon as I set foot in the living room, I could sense the seriousness of the situation. A swirling gray cloud of confusion hung in the air. Part of it was speckled with resentment. I looked around and, sure enough, Sam was sitting with her arms crossed sulking in the corner. With a deep breath, I tried to push everyone’s emotions out of my head. Steady rain panged against the glass in the windows. Thunder rumbled above us as the storm raged on.
Along with Sam, Julia, and David, an older man with gray hair and a matching beard sat in the living room. He was holding a tarnished silver flask. His clothes were faded, and his face looked tired and worn. He had many wrinkles around his eyes and mouth. Scars that looked very much like they were from giant claws ran the length of the left side of his face. A dirty brown duffle bag was on the floor next to him. He screwed the lid back on the flask when we walked into the room. His face lit up as soon as he saw Ethan. With a bit of difficulty, he stood.
“Ethan, my boy!” he exclaimed and held out his arms. Ethan stepped over, greeting the old man, who clapped him on the back. “It’s been too long. And who is this beauty?”
He pushed Ethan aside to get a better look at me. I smiled politely, and the fact that I wasn’t wearing a bra became suddenly very salient to me. I crossed my arms over my chest.
“This is my girlfriend, Anora,” Ethan said, taking a step back. “Annie, this old man is Isaac. He’s knows more about Pricolici than anyone probably should.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said politely.
“Ahh.” Isaac reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a pair of ancient-looking glasses, which he then put on. “You’re the famous Anora Benson then.”
I looked at Ethan nervously.
“Um, I guess, though I wouldn’t call myself famous,” I said with a shrug.
“You are the only known remaining kin of the Coven. That makes you famous to us.”
Not knowing what to say, I just nodded. Ethan linked our fingers and led me to the couch. We sat next to each other, close enough that my leg brushed against his.
Isaac slowly turned toward the couch. Before he sat down, he looked back at Ethan with a wink. “It’s not safe to shower during storms, you know,” he said and flicked his eyes to me, raising his eyebrows.
Oh crap, they had heard us. My face instantly turned red, and Isaac laughed. David and Julia chuckled, and Sam sulked, glaring at me. I wished I could sink down past the cushions and disappear.
“It was worth the risk,” Ethan said, grinning. If it was possible, my cheeks flushed even more.
“Okay, business first,” David said as he walked to the center of the room.
The heat of my embarrassment wore off, and I shivered again. I tucked my legs up under me and leaned on Ethan, who wrapped his arms around me. Julia tossed a blanket over to me and I gladly draped it over myself.
“Tell me what happened,” David instructed.
Ethan quickly explained about Julia’s vision, his leaving to find me, and the attack.
“How many did you kill?” David looked from me to Ethan.
“Uh…” I began; I didn’t exactly keep count, so I had to think about it. “Four, between the two of us. I think.”
Isaac choked on his whiskey. “And there’s not a scratch on you,” he muttered to himself. I felt self-conscious. “How did you do it?”
“Stabbed and shot them,” I said casually. I guess this life was starting to become mine after all.
“And you think you’re nothing special.” He chuckled and took another drink. Ethan’s arm tightened around me. A teapot whistled from in the kitchen, and Julia went in to tend to it.
“And how many more were out there?” David asked, his eyebrows pushed together in concern.
“Oh, gosh, I have no idea.” I looked at Ethan. “A lot.”
He shook his head. “A dozen maybe? We couldn’t really tell.”
David walked over to the window. Was he expecting to see something? I hoped the protective wards on the house would work on the Pricolici. But on the other hand, attacking a house full of hunters might work in our favor. Julia came back into the living room carrying a tray full of mugs.
“Chamomile tea?” she asked.
I took a cup and said, “Thanks.”
“All right.” David sat down in a chair opposite the couch. “Isaac, tell us what you know.”
“I first came across Pricolici when I was a boy.” He screwed the lid back on the flask and stuck it in his vest pocket. He leaned forward and sighed, preparing for a trip down bad memory lane. “I lived on a farm with my parents and three sisters. We were hard working and poor folk, and our cattle were the only thing we had that brought in money. So when the first cow got attacked—by wolves, we thought, of course—Pa got us a couple of ol’ wolfhounds.”
A faint smile settled on his wrinkled face. “Nice hounds they were. They followed me around everywhere. We thought the wolves gave up and moved on to another farm, but we were wrong.” His voice became even gruffer. “A week and a half later, my lil’est sister found the hounds ‘round the shed. She came running and crying saying that someone murdered those dogs. Course we didn’t believe her, but you should have seen the bodies. The heads had been torn off, the stomachs ripped open. They had been tortured and killed for no reason. Looking back now, I should have known. Animals don’t kill for sport. They would have eaten some part of them, but they were mocking us…
“Then everything got worse. Me and Pa took turns watching the herd. The girls stopped playing outside. Another house a few miles down the road lost three cows in one night. And then another farm a few miles past that. The whole town was in a panic. They called a meeting and all the men decided to raid the woods and find what they had decided had to be a bear. I remember begging to go and Pa telling me no and to stay home and guard the family. Ten men, armed with rifles, shot guns, knives, bows and arrows went into the woods that night…and never came back.”
He looked away. The memory, no matter how long ago it took place, was still painful. He took out his flask and drained it. “Two weeks later, lil’ Gracie Anne went skipping by the barn to pick some wildflowers to cheer up our mama. I was watching her. I remember it as clear as day: the sun was shining; the breeze blew through the tall grass, and then she was gone. She screamed and sent me running to her. The biggest, ugliest dog was standing over her mutilated body. I swear the thing laughed before it picked her up and ran off. I went after it, but it was fast. I went running back into town, but nobody believed me.
“I spent the next five years obsessing and searching for the creature that took my sister. I knew it killed those cows, and I knew it killed my father. I swore I wouldn’t stop until the creature was dead.” He nodded towards David. “That’s when I met Ethan and the Order.”
I looked at Ethan, confused. “I’m named after my grandfather,” he whispered.
“Oh.” I nodded in understanding.
Isaac set the empty flask down on the coffee table. “He taught me everything he knew about demons. Through him, I met others in the Order. Finally I met someone who knew what the monsters were. So we started hunting. We tracked, studied, and killed for the next ten years.”
David stood again, striding over to look out the window. “Ethan, you need to stay with Anora until this is taken care of.”
“Not a problem.” Ethan squeezed my thigh. “How do we track them?” he asked Isaac.
“Wound it and wait.” The old man closed his eyes again. “That’s what we always did. It either goes back to its master, or the master comes to it. But don’t do that until you are prepared for the fight of your life.”
The Pricolici were terrifying enough. The thought of their master made my heart race.
I didn’t want to meet ever him.
“So,” Isaac leaned towards me. “Do you think these things want to kill you or catch you?”
“Probably kill.”
“Huh.” He scratched his head. “I would guess the latter.” My face might have twitched in doubt because he then said, “David told me about the attack of your friend and how they sniffed her then stopped the attack.” He looked at me and I nodded. “That means they were sent to find you and bring you back to someone—or something.”
“Oh,” was all I managed to say. I took a sip of the tea. It was too hot and burned my tongue. I shifted on the couch. “So what do we do?”
“For now, we will keep you safe. I’ll have Ethan and David track one of those sons of bitches.” He looked behind me at Ethan. “Tomorrow night, so your lover boy can get some rest.” Again, I moved my head up and down. “The last time you killed one, it backed off for a while, right?” Isaac questioned.
“Yeah, this is the first time I’ve dealt with them since around Halloween,” I recalled.
“Huh. That’s their way, usually. Once a plan fails, they regroup for a good while until their master comes up with a new plan. Maybe we won’t be tracking them for a while.” Isaac’s joints cracked as he slowly pushed himself off the couch. “What do you have to eat in this place? I’m starving.”
Julie, David, and Isaac moved into the kitchen. Sam didn’t budge and stared intently into the crackling fire. I leaned against Ethan and listened to his heartbeat. My eyes were heavy. I was so incredibly tired.
“Do you want to stay here or go back to your house?” Ethan asked. “Either way, I’m staying with you.”
“We can stay. I bewitched my parents, so it doesn’t matter what I do,” I said, not wanting to go back out into the chilling wind and rain.
“Go upstairs and lay down,” he said. “I’m gonna talk to Isaac and get some more info. I’ll be up in a bit.”
I took in a deep breath and nodded before I pushed myself off the couch and went up the stairs and in to the bathroom to try to towel dry my hair. Sleeping on wet hair has always annoyed me for some reason. Julia quietly ascended the stairs.
“Hey, Anora,” she said as she walked behind me into the bathroom. “Do you need anything?”
“A toothbrush would be great, if you have an extra,” I said with a smile.
“Yeah, there should be one,” she rummaged through the linen closet. “Ah, right here.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem.” She smiled and turned to go. “Hey,” she said suddenly, and turned back around. “Ethan was really worried when I told him you went off after the Pricolici.”
“Oh,” I said, feeling immediate guilt for making him upset.
“I didn’t mean to make you feel bad,” she said quickly, “I meant it in a he-really-cares-about-you way. I’ve never seen him like that. It was cute, I guess you could say, since now you’re here and safe and all.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“I don’t think I can ever think of a time when I could say I’ve seen Ethan look scared, but he was so worried something bad was going to happen to you. But between you and me,” she lowered her voice, “I think he likes that you are brave enough to do something like that.” She smiled again.
“I didn’t feel very brave once I got out there,” I confessed, remembering how I wanted to desperately go home as soon as I stepped foot outside the car.
“Bravery isn’t about being fearless; it’s about doing what is necessary despite how frightened you are. Don’t doubt yourself,” she said seriously and walked out of the bathroom. “You’ll need clothes for tomorrow, too. Come into my room when you’re done, and I’ll find something for you.”
“Thanks,” I said and turned to the sink to brush my teeth.
Julia’s room was neat and tidy and was the only room in the house that was decorated. Sheer white curtains hung on the window, the light purple bedspread had matching pillows and coordinated with her light purple arm chair, and a picture of a sunset over the ocean hung over her bed.
“My mom painted it,” she said softly when she saw me looking at it.
“It’s beautiful,” I admired.
“Thanks.” She handed me a folded pair of jeans and a light pink t-shirt. “I think Sam is more your size, but I don’t feel like dealing with her brattiness.” She smiled.
A Ziploc bag full of white powder on her nightstand caught my attention. Julia was either a huge coke addict or—
“What is that?” I asked, pointing to the bag.
“Vesta Powder.”
“What does it do?” I carefully picked up the bag.
“Clears the air of negative energy and dispels evil spirits.”
“I think I have some.” I thought of the velvet bag I had hidden in my closet months ago. “I never knew what it was.” I put the bag back down.
She walked over next to me and picked the bag up. “Watch, it’s awesome.” I followed her to the bathroom. She put a small handful of the Vesta Powder in the sink, lit a match, and threw it in. There was a loud bang, and the powder erupted in smoke.
“That is cool,” I said, fanning smoke out of my face.
“As the smoke dispels, so does the negativity,” Julia explained.
“Would it work against the Pricolici?”
“No.” Julia shook her head. “It might stun them for a few seconds at best. This is really for spirits or other non-corporeal beings.”
“Interesting,” I said, an idea already forming in my head. “Hey, thanks again for everything, Julia. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem,” she said with a smile. We went back into her room; I grabbed the clothes, quickly got ready for bed, and was back under the covers in a matter of minutes.
I was still awake when Ethan came back into the room. He silently stripped down to his boxers and climbed under the covers next to me. I snuggled into his arms and closed my eyes. Things epically sucked right now, but with Ethan, I knew it would be okay.
It had to be.
31
“Spill,” Laney instructed as soon as we sat down in photography class that next morning. She knew something big had happened right away when I showed up late for school wearing someone else’s shoes and clothes. We put several photos in front of us to make it look like we were working on something.
“I decided to go after the Pricolici on my own,” I confessed. “Then Ethan found me, and we killed four.” It was a simple summary, but it worked.
“You are crazy, Annie. I don’t even like to be home alone at night. I could never do that.”
“It probably wasn’t the smartest, but whatever. We made it out alive. Freezing cold and covered in demon blood, but alive.”
I looked up and saw Brent Miller staring at us with his mouth hanging open. “And that is the plot for the movie I’m making,” I said, trying to conceal what we were really discussing.
Laney was confused for a second until she got the hint. “Oh, yeah, that will make a really cool movie, which is all fake, of course,” she said a little too loudly.
Brent shook his head and went back to his own photo project. Much quieter, I told Laney about Isaac and how he wants to track the Pricolici as soon as possible.
“So what do you do until then?” she asked.
“I don’t really know. Ethan’s going to stay with me as much as possible in case they decide to attack again. I want this over with, but…” I looked at Laney. “I’m scared.”
Laney reached over and patted my hand. “I am too, and I’m not even their target.”
There were only a few minutes left, so we packed up our stuff and waited by the door. Jewelry class went by slowly. I was feeling the effects of my not very restful night’s sleep again. Thank goodness tomorrow was Friday. I have to go to bed early tonight. Econ was even worse, and I kept nodding off while taking notes.
I really didn’t want to sit by Marie or Jill at lunch today. In fact, I started to dread lunch so m
uch that the last ten minutes of econ went by faster than expected. My luck—or magic—struck again, and two empty seats were available at Harrison’s table. He said he wanted to talk to me anyway and didn’t mind if Laney and I joined him, at least for today.
“Sneak out last night?” he asked as I sat down across from him. Luke smiled brightly at me, and I weakly returned the smile.
“No, Mom and Dad knew where I was going. I cast a spell on them to make them agree to let me go.”
“And you say I’m the evil twin.”
“You are the evil twin. I had to lie, anyway. It’s not like I can tell Mom and Dad the truth about demons.”
“Keep your voice down!” Harrison glanced around; he didn’t want his buddies to hear his weird sister talking about—God forbid—demons.
“Whatever.” I rolled my eyes.
“So?”
“So what?”
“So what happened last night? With the…you know.”
“Pricolici,” I said, my voice at a normal volume. Harrison shushed me again.
“Oh, like they know what I’m talking about.” I shook my head and sighed.
“You okay?” he asked, blue eyes darkening with concern.
“I’m really tired.”
“I wasn’t gonna say it, but you look like it,” Harrison told me. “You look sick, actually.”
“I do?” I asked, probably sounding a little too happy about that fact.
“Yeah.” Harrison nodded.
Maybe enough to go home sick. It was worth a shot.
Like Harrison said, I looked sick. So sick that I didn’t have to ham it up much for the nurse. After only fifteen minutes, she called my dad to come get me. Only my dad was in the middle of teaching a class. Reluctantly, the nurse agreed to let me drive myself home.
I called Ethan and told him that I wanted to go home, shower, and get dressed in my own clothes. And maybe nap if I had the chance. He said he’d meet me at my house in an hour. Thinking he’d probably get there sooner and arrive while I was in the shower, I left the garage door unlocked for him. I was almost done rinsing the conditioner out of my hair when I heard Hunter barking.
