Six Times a Charm

by Deanna Chase

  “Do you know when she’s coming back?” I asked.

  Lailah shook her head. “No. In fact I haven’t heard from her at all, which is really weird.”

  Pyper stepped up next to me and put her hand on Lailah’s arm. “Please try?” A small twinge of desperation seeped from Pyper.

  Then something odd happened. Lailah seemed to absorb it, change it somehow, and sent it back as a stream of calmness. She’d physically changed Pyper’s distinct energy. I could siphon energy, or send my own as a sort of suggestion, but I couldn’t change it.

  “How did you do that?” I asked.

  “You felt that, huh? Just one of my gifts. I’ll show you sometime. Right now I need to prepare for getting rid of this jackass tormenting Pyper here.”

  “Yes!” Pyper pumped her fist in the air.

  “Don’t get too excited. It won’t be pleasant. So be prepared.” Lailah turned to me. “I’ll perform the ritual, but we’ll need a fourth person. A female. Females have more power with this kind of thing. Do you have someone you trust?”

  “Sure.” I knew Kat would come if I asked. “But she doesn’t have any powers.”

  “If she’s female, it’s enough.” Lailah grabbed a note pad and started scribbling. “We need to do this as close to midnight as possible, and outside. Do you have a place we can meet for this?”

  “Yes,” Pyper said. “We have a courtyard between Wicked and The Grind. You know where they are, right?”

  Lailah nodded, still writing.

  I handed her my cell phone number. “Give us a call when you’re out front, and one of us will come get you. Do we need to do anything special to prepare?”

  “Nope. I’ll take care of everything.”

  When we got back to our building, Pyper headed to her apartment and I went to mine. I called Kat and invited her to a girl’s night in, leaving out the part about needing her for a ritual. Okay, so I felt a little guilty, but I wanted to feel her emotions while I told her about it in person. If she had any hesitations, I’d have an easier time navigating how to convince her.

  My heart sank. Talk about being a hypocrite.

  Chapter 17

  Kat showed up right before nine. “Where’s Pyper?”

  “Working down in the club. She’ll be here before eleven.” I poured two glasses of wine. “Did you eat?”

  “Yes, but snacks are expected on girlfriend night.” She took a glass. “So chop up the cheese and whip out the olives or whatever it is you have stashed aside.”

  Laughing, I pulled out a cheese plate from the fridge. “I’m way ahead of you.”

  “Gouda!” She put a piece in her mouth, closed her eyes and groaned in ecstasy. “Man, this is good.”

  “Glad you like it. And here’s dessert.” I set another tray next to it.

  “Oh my God! I want girlfriend night at least once a week. Dark chocolate, strawberries, and what are these?” She held up a small round chocolate ball.

  “Chocolate-covered blueberries.”

  “Damn, Jade. You’ll never get rid of me now.” Kat filled a plate and sat back.

  “Good, cause I have an ulterior motive for bringing you here.”

  The cheery contentment surrounding her faded to suspicion. “What? What are you gonna make me do?”

  “Not me. Lailah.” I grabbed my wine glass and told her about the day I’d met Lailah, my confession to Pyper and the upcoming exorcism.

  After I finished my speech, Kat cast a sideways glance as she popped a few chocolate covered blueberries in her mouth. “Now that Pyper knows you’re an empath, did you tell Kane?”

  After everything I’d just told her, that’s what she focused on? “No.”

  Kat washed down her chocolate with a gulp of wine. “You better do it soon before someone else does.”

  “What? Are you going to tell him?”

  “No. But word spreads. You know that.”

  I frowned, knowing she was right. “Fine, I’ll tell him. Happy?”

  “Yes. Now, what exactly have you signed me up for? An exorcism?” Her expression told me she thought I’d lost my mind.

  “Lailah said she might be able to get rid of the ghost. She needs three other women to help with the ritual.” Feeling her questions rise, I raised my hand in a stop motion. “I don’t know what or how. She did say it wouldn’t be pleasant, so if you don’t want to do it, I need you to tell me.”

  Her suspicion faded to weariness. “Is she a witch?”

  “I really don’t know. What I do know is Pyper is willing to try just about anything to be free. Kat, it’s horrible. I can feel her pain when she gets attacked.” I shuddered and whispered, “It’s awful.”

  Kat sighed, still filled with weariness, but she said, “All right. If it helps Pyper, I’ll do it.

  I grabbed her and gave her a hug. “Thank you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you on the phone.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” She refilled her wine glass. “Let’s get down to the really important stuff. Like where exactly is tall, dark and yummy this evening?”

  I smiled. “He’s working at the club. We can go down there if you want.”

  “Uh, yeah! Let’s go.”

  We ran into Charlie at the bottom of the stairs. When I told her we were headed into Wicked, she shuffled us through the employee entrance and led us through the crowd. Once we reached the bar she waved a couple of dancers off the bar stools, making room for us.

  “You didn’t have to get up,” I said to the tall, gorgeous, barely covered blonde in front of me.

  She winked, smiling. “When the boss says move, you move. Enjoy yourself.” She turned and sat in the lap of a man sitting at a nearby table.

  “You got promoted!” I stood on the bottom rung of the stool, leaned over the bar and wrapped my arms around Charlie.

  “Yep, and a nice raise, too.” Charlie hugged me back, holding on a little longer than really necessary. Her eyes sparkled as she released me, and I laughed.

  Kat reached over and gave Charlie a quick hug. “Congrats!”

  Watching them, I jumped off the stool, lost my balance and stumbled backwards, crashing into someone. Mortified, I turned to apologize and stopped midsentence. Hate crept up my spine, shattering my defenses. I took a step back.

  “Dan,” I said.

  Kat whirled in surprise. “Hey! I thought it was poker night.” She put her arm around Dan’s waist and kissed his cheek.

  His eyes went wide with shock and then he scowled. “What the hell are you doing here? I told you I didn’t want you hanging out with that freak.”

  “Dan.” Kat warned and backed away. “Don’t talk about Jade that way.”

  Ignoring her, Dan glared at me. “Why did you have to bring her to this slut palace? Again.”

  “She wanted to come,” I said.

  “Like hell. You talked her into it, you cheap bitch.”

  Kat leaned in, poking Dan in the chest with her finger. “Do not call her that. And don’t you dare tell me who I can and can’t hang out with, Dan Pearson.” She took a few steps forward, forcing him back. Her anger, mixed with confusion, took over, pushing all of Dan’s hatred right out of my awareness. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  Dan grabbed her wrists and yanked her aside. As he moved toward me, Kat regained her footing and jumped between us, stopping him.

  “I’m warning you, Kat, get out of my way,” he said.

  “Or what?”

  “Or you’ll get what’s coming to you.” He grabbed her shoulder, trying to yank her sideways, but Kat swung her forearm up and knocked his arm away. Before he could say another word, she reached up and slapped him. Hard.

  “Don’t ever touch me like that again,” she seethed.

  “Excuse me. Is there a problem here?” Kane suddenly appeared next to me.

  “It looks like Kat has it under control,” I said.

  Kane glanced at Kat, and then focused on Dan. “That may be true, but I recall banning this individual from the pr
emises.” He stepped around Kat and dodged the swing Dan threw his way. “You’ll want to calm down now.”

  “Fuck you. I won’t stand for a pimp telling me what to do,” Dan yelled and lunged forward.

  Kane sidestepped him and kicked. He caught Dan in the rear, sending him sprawling into a couple of stools. Dan crashed to the ground and groaned as he rolled to his side.

  Kane signaled to one of the bouncers. When his backup appeared and hauled Dan to his feet, Kane leaned in and said, “I thought we had this conversation before, but let me inform you one more time. Stay away from these premises. Stay away from Jade, or I’ll find a way to have you arrested.”

  “I never touched you. Good luck making that stick.” Dan winced when the bouncer yanked his arms back.

  Kane shrugged. “True, but I have a bar full of witnesses who’ll say you attacked one of my girls. Now move.”

  Kat turned to me, holding her wrist. Her face was etched in disbelief. “What just happened here? Who was that?”

  My anger at Dan turned to sympathy for her. It was the first time she’d seen that side of him. Worse, it wasn’t just that she’d found out her boyfriend had turned into a first-class asshole, but he was also one of her closest friends. I knew exactly how she felt.

  “I don’t know,” I said sadly. “But he behaved in much the same way the last time he showed up here. I tried to tell you.”

  She furrowed her brow. “Damn, Jade. I’m so sorry. I was pretty drunk that night. I didn’t remember a lot of what happened, just that you and Dan were arguing and then he told me…well, it doesn’t matter what he said. He obviously lied about it.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said. But thank you, Jesus! She’d finally seen Dan at his worst.

  “You have no reason to be sorry. This is Dan’s problem. And now mine, obviously.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  She blinked back tears. “Tell him to move out, I guess.”

  “I’m sorry. I know it’s hard.” I took her hand. “And I’m sorry we let him come between us.”

  Kat pulled me into a hug. “I know, honey. So am I. Don’t worry. You won’t have to deal with him anymore.” She dabbed at her wet eyes and forced a smile. “What’s a girl got to do to get a drink around here?”

  I smiled, gave her another hug and turned to Charlie. “This girl needs a drink. But better make it a diet Coke, minus the rum.” I flashed Kat an apologetic smile. “We can’t be drunk when Lailah shows up.”

  “Anything for that bad-ass girl. I wouldn’t want to be on the other end of that stabbing finger and lecture.” Charlie winked at Kat and filled two glasses with ice.

  Just as I pulled out a ten to leave on the bar, Kane appeared beside me. “You know,” he said in a husky voice, “there are perks to being the owner’s girlfriend.”

  “Like what?” I held the bill out for Charlie to take it.

  She glanced at Kane, hesitating.

  “Like, free drinks.” He lowered my arm.

  Leaning toward him, I lowered my voice. “I wasn’t aware I was your girlfriend.”

  “You are if you want to be.” He watched me, maintaining a casual appearance. No one would have guessed the nervous hopefulness churning beneath his cool exterior.

  I wanted more than anything to say yes. “Can we talk about it later? Tonight.” I’d told Kat I would tell him, and I meant it. I needed to have it all out on the table before we moved any further in this relationship.

  He searched my eyes and smiled at whatever he saw there. “Sure. Come find me when you’re ready.”

  I slipped the bill I still held into the tip jar. “Thanks for taking care of Dan. Again.”

  He winked and took off into the crowd.

  “Whoa. Is it suddenly hot in here or what?” Kat said, fanning herself.

  “Shut up.” I laughed as we made our way to an empty table, drinks in hand.

  Kat sat and took a sip of her drink. “Damn, this would be much better with a heavy dose of Bacardi.”

  “Sorry. We already had a glass of wine. Drinking and messing with spells is a really bad idea.” I slide my chair next to her and held my glass up. “A toast to ridding Pyper of her black shadow, and to me finally coming clean with Kane.”

  “Amen to that.” We clinked our glasses together. “I don’t know if there’s any hope for the ghost stuff, but judging by the sparks between you and that man, I’d say you don’t have much to worry about.”

  I prayed she was right.

  Kat turned her eyes to the stage. “Can you believe how in shape these girls are? Look at her climb that pole using just her hands.”

  I watched along with her, until Kat plunked her drink down and started inspecting her wrists.

  “You should keep icing them. It really helps,” I said.

  “A margarita or two would numb the pain faster.” She smirked.

  “Lush.” I chuckled and gazed around the room, searching for Kane. Instead, I found the creepy angry guy, still sitting alone in his corner with that unlit cigarette in his fingers. Deep satisfaction and anticipation reached me as my eyes locked on his. A shiver ran through my body, causing my hands to start shaking.

  “Kat, I think we should go get Pyper now.”

  “Already?” She tried to read her watch in the semi-dark room.

  “Yes, now.” I stood up, leaving the unfinished diet coke behind and took off to find Pyper, pulling Kat behind me.

  “Pyper?” I called, while walking into the office.

  “She went upstairs to change.” Kane’s voice made me jump.

  “Damn it, Kane. Don’t startle me like that.”

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to.” He stepped out from behind the open door. “I was putting some files away.”

  I half-turned to face him.

  “What’s wrong? Your face is pale. Did something happen?” He started for the door.

  “No, nothing. I just…one of the guys out there gave me the creeps.”

  “Is that all?” Kane shrugged. “That’s what we get in the strip club business, a bunch of creeps. Like that ex of yours.”

  “Right. Well, I better go get Pyper. Lailah will be here soon.”

  “Okay, sure.” Kane searched my face. “Be careful. I’ll see you later.” He pulled me closer and whispered, “I’ve become rather fond of you.”

  I took a breath and cleared my throat. “I will.”

  His lips came down and brushed mine lightly before he let go.

  I stumbled out of the office and stopped in front of Kat, who was patiently leaning against the wall.

  “Holy shit, that man is hot. You better lay claim to him before someone else does.” She craned her neck, trying to catch a glimpse of him in the office.

  “Stop it. Let’s go.” Together we made our way up to Pyper’s apartment.

  ***

  At eleven thirty, Pyper strolled through my apartment door.

  “Where is she?” I asked, looking behind her for Lailah. Pyper had left minutes earlier to let her in the building.

  “Downstairs talking with Kane.”

  “Kane? Do they know each other?”

  Pyper avoided my glance and stared out the window. “Yeah. I should have made the connection before. Kane dated a girl named Lailah for a while, but I never met her.” She shrugged. “He said she had special talents, but you know I always assumed he meant in the bedroom.”

  Kat let out a loud giggle, but stifled it when she caught the look I gave her.

  “Great.” I sat heavily on the edge of my bed.

  Kat got up from my desk and sat down next to me. “What’s up?”

  “Just tired.”

  She put her arm around my shoulders, giving me a small squeeze. Just then Kane and Lailah walked in. Their mutual affection reached me, stabbing me in the heart. She gazed up at him, smiling, while Kane chuckled at something she’d said. He sobered as his eyes found me, his face and emotions unreadable. How did he do that? I’d always been able to read his emotions be
fore.

  Standing up, I walked over to Lailah. “It’s pretty close to midnight. Don’t we need to get started?”

  “Oh! Yes. Sorry. I got distracted.” She smiled at Kane. “We need to get to the courtyard. Kane, you stay here. We’ll be back.” She gestured to us and headed back through the door.

  The three of us filed out after her with Pyper in the lead. When we reached the courtyard Pyper asked, “Why does Kane have to stay back?”

  “The goddess will only speak to her daughters,” Lailah replied.

  “We’re calling a goddess?” I asked.

  Lailah ignored my question. Trepidation settled over me as I wondered what the hell we were getting ourselves into. I hoped she was speaking in symbolic terms. Literally calling a higher being meant opening pathways. And when that happened, you never knew what was coming.

  “Over here, girls. We have a lot to do, so please do as I say,” Lailah said.

  We nodded in unison.

  Lailah’s easy smile was replaced by a fierce concentration. “Pyper, take all of the candles out of my bag and light each one. Jade, I need you to draw a pentagram with the chalk. You know how to do that?”

  “Sure. How big?”

  “Pretty big.” She walked in a large circle to show me. She stepped off to the side, and I went to work on the border, using the dim candlelight Pyper was busy creating.

  “What can I do?” Kat asked.

  “Help Jade. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just a five-point pentagram enclosed in a large circle.”

  I hurried my motions as Kat knelt on the courtyard bricks opposite me, filling in the lines of the pentagram.

  “So, Lailah, are you like a witch or something?” Kat asked.

  “Or something,” Lailah said.

  Both Kat and I looked up, staring at her. Oddly enough, Pyper kept her head down lighting candles.

  “Pyper, after they’re done with the pentagram, put the white candles on the outer circle, then put the blue candles on the points where the pentagram intersects.” Lailah pulled various herbs from her bag.