Joyce & Jim Lavene - Taxi for the Dead 02 - Dead Girl Blues

by Joyce Lavene

  “Yeah.” I waited until a fast-moving cement truck passed us on the road. “Me too.”

  “Why are we taking Lucas’s word for this?” Gerald whispered. “How does he know?”

  “He studies supernatural things.” It seemed the best way to interpret it without sounding completely insane.

  “Okay.” He shrugged. “I’ll be here.”

  We made sure Gerald left the woods before us. I figured I’d probably need his help to pull this off. We both needed to think about it, maybe look things up.

  “So how do you kill a werewolf?” I asked Lucas as we left the wooded area.

  “You should think about hunting the werewolf first. And that you should do when it is in its human form. Much easier to kill. Your plan to meet Gerald here after the creature would have changed is folly.”

  “Folly, huh?”

  He nodded. “Stupid. Ridiculous. You have to discover who the wolf is.”

  “And how would we do that? I don’t think we can knock on doors in the area and ask.”

  “No. The creature would be very secretive. Only members of their pack would know their human names. The beast is vulnerable, especially in its human form. You might have to track the beast after it has hunted and fed to learn its human identity.”

  “I can’t let someone else die so we can figure it out.” I told him my possible theory about Abe knowing that the werewolf was out here. “But if I tell him, he’ll know I was going against his orders not to look for Jacob’s killer.”

  “Abe’s opinion of you may not matter any longer, Skye. His magic may not be sustaining your life. You may not be tied to him.”

  “But you don’t know that for sure, right?” I glanced at him. “And I can’t ask him without giving the whole thing away. If I’m still tied to him and if he doesn’t like your mark on my foot, that could be it for me. He probably doesn’t want me to threaten his werewolf either.”

  Lucas didn’t respond. I knew it was because his magic was still uncertain. I had no doubt that he would free me from Abe if he could. And maybe that was exactly what he’d done. But I had no way to verify it. I was still stuck with Abe even though the tattoo on my foot had an L on it now.

  We’d reached Apple Betty’s Inn when I got a text from Abe. There was another report of a zombie turning into a ghost.

  “I have to go. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  Lucas got out of the van. “I think I’ll trim the trees along the path in the woods today. That will make it easier for you to walk when you are worried.”

  I watched him go into the inn. He always seemed to know exactly where I was and what I was doing—and that was before he’d put his mark on me. I wondered if it worked the same for Abe.

  Debbie wasn’t in any condition to go with me. I didn’t tell Abe she wouldn’t be there until I got to the house in Nashville where the call had come from. I was surprised to see that Abe was there with Morris and another bodyguard. Brandon was there too.

  Abe rarely went into the field himself to see what was going on. The personal attack on him, the effects of his magic being drained—those were good reasons to stretch his legs. Maybe he was checking up on his new sorcerer.

  I got out of the van and walked over to Abe’s shiny Lincoln. Morris hadn’t turned off the engine while they waited. Was he worried about making a quick getaway?

  “Where is your partner?” Abe asked. “Where is Debbie?”

  “At home, resting up after her husband shapeshifted into something that almost killed her and her kids last night. I helped her tie him up and lock him in the basement, but you can imagine that it was a difficult night for them. She needed the day off.”

  “And you made this decision for her?”

  “Yes. I’m sure you would’ve made the same decision for her benefit if you’d known.” I smiled, reminding him that he had to keep his eyes on the prize if he really wanted to be with Debbie.

  I didn’t think it was going to happen, but as long as he did, he’d probably be generous.

  “How long has he been changing?”

  “Since last year when Debbie became my partner. She told you once. She’s afraid to tell you again.”

  “Ridiculous. I doubt I could help, but she shouldn’t fear me.”

  I pushed the limit further. “Why can’t you help? He’s your creation. Your zombie.”

  Brandon smirked but covered it quickly.

  Abe ignored him. “Please, Skye. You know I hate that term. Terry and Debbie are part of my family—just as you are. Sometimes things happen. Difficulties occur. Nothing is ever without its problems.”

  “So sometimes you give someone an extra twenty years, and they turn into some kind of creature. Is that what you’re saying?”

  “It happens.” Brandon leaned his head around Abe’s so I could see him. “Some of them have to be put down.”

  “Does this ever include werewolves, by any chance?” My heart was racing, but I couldn’t stop myself from asking.

  Abe removed his sunglasses and stared at me with his dead, white eyes. “I have never seen a werewolf, have you, Skye?”

  “There was that one pick up—”

  “I know you said you thought he’d changed. But when I saw him at the mortuary, he was a man.”

  “Oh, come on, Abe. You know what I mean.”

  He replaced his sunglasses and nodded toward the house behind me. “You and Artemis should go in now. Already I feel my magic waning. My family is in jeopardy.”

  “Shall we?” Artemis was abruptly standing close to me. I jumped, angry because he saw it.

  As we walked toward the house, he told me that he’d found an early warning system that would allow him to know when one of Abe’s people was about to become a ghost. “This will enable us to reach the person before the loss.”

  I saw his smug expression and decided that I wasn’t going to tell him how Lucas had managed to save me from being a ghost. He was so smart—let him figure it out.

  Artemis stood back while I knocked at the front door. There was no response from within. Recalling how I was unable to speak, I took out my Beretta and shot the lock off the door.

  “After you, sorcerer.”

  He went in slowly, his head swiveling from side to side as he searched for the LEP who lived here. I kept my eyes on the ceiling since that was where Mr. Benton and I had both drifted.

  We found her in the kitchen, still wearing a pink fluffy robe and curlers in her dark brown hair.

  “Help me,” Her voice was barely audible. “Please. What’s wrong with me?”

  “Calm down, ma’am.” I tried to assuage her fear even though I knew what she was going through was terrifying.

  “Can you help me? I don’t know how much longer I can hang on this way.”

  Artemis watched her clinging to a small chandelier over the kitchen table that still held the remains of her breakfast. He didn’t say anything—just observed her like she was a fly caught in a spider web.

  “Can you do something or not?” I hoped that would nudge him into action.

  “Of course.” He blinked as though he’d been far away in his thoughts and it had surprised him to have me speak to him. “Excuse me. It takes time to get the proper magic together.”

  By this time, the woman was barely visible. She couldn’t hang on to the ceiling fixture any longer and was against the white tiles. Her voice was gone, but I could still see her wide, frightened eyes. I was sorry I hadn’t told him about needing a ghost to be inside of her so he could save her. The words almost sprang from my lips as I watched her suffer.

  Then Artemis set up a red hazy perimeter around her, the way Lucas had set the green one around me. The woman slowly came back down to the tile floor. He approached her, putting his hand on her head and closing his eyes. She was enveloped in the heavy red mist until he stepped back from her and the mist evaporated.

  “Oh my lord!” the woman exclaimed in a normal voice. “You saved me. I don’t know how you did it
, but you made me whole again.”

  She dropped to the floor at his feet, thanking him and crying. I couldn’t tell what she was saying since she was sobbing so hard. But I noticed that the mark on her foot—the A in a circle—had turned red instead of blue. It had changed slightly too. The circle wasn’t complete as it had been. Space under the A was left open.

  The same thing had basically happened to me when Lucas changed my tattoo green. The tattoos had changed color and form. A thought flitted through my mind that the woman now belonged to Artemis. But I had no proof of that. I didn’t even know if the change in my tattoo meant anything.

  Artemis took a deep breath and smiled. “You may summon Abe and tell him that my plan to save his people has triumphed.”

  I was happy to do it. For some reason, he hadn’t needed a ghost inside a ghost to work his magic. Maybe it was because Lucas either wasn’t at full power or had forgotten how to do the spell without that extra step.

  Abe came into the house, looking larger than life as always. His black silk suit was perfect as was the white scarf he wore around his neck. The woman ran to embrace him and sobbed against him for a few minutes.

  “Check her tattoo,” Abe instructed Brandon in a soft voice.

  Brandon got on the floor and lifted the woman’s foot. “Looks fine. The magic is still intact.”

  Abe grinned at Artemis. “Pay him, Morris. Good work, sorcerer. I know my people are safe now.”

  As the rejoicing continued and Morris gave Artemis a velvet bag that sounded as though it contained gold coins, I pulled Brandon to the side of the room.

  “What does it mean that the tattoo has turned red?” I asked him.

  His clear blue eyes looked worried. “What? I didn’t see that. Did it change?”

  He got back on the floor and checked the woman’s heel again.

  “It’s not red,” he told me. “It’s what I like to call ‘Abe’ blue.”

  I took another look too. The tattoo was still bright red.

  “I don’t know what’s going on,” I whispered to him. “But it looks red to me. It turned red after he did his magic. His magic color seems to be red—like Abe’s is blue—and Lucas’s is green. It’s red, Brandon. And it’s not quite the same mark. Why can’t you see it?”

  He dropped to the floor again, but this time the excitement was nearly over and Abe had noticed him looking at the woman’s foot again.

  “Is something wrong?” Abe’s deep voice filled the small room.

  Brandon glanced at me. “No. Just looking at it again. Nothing’s wrong.”

  Artemis looked up, too, but didn’t say anything. He was busy playing with his ring and counting his money.

  Brandon came back and stood beside me. “You’re tripping, Skye. The tattoo is as blue as my eyes. You’ve been through a lot, sweetie. Maybe Debbie isn’t the only one who needs a day off.”

  I didn’t understand why we both saw different things. Would my new tattoo look blue to Brandon as well? Was it him? Or was it me? Maybe this was one of those things Lucas had warned would be different about me.

  I realized that I wouldn’t gain anything by questioning Artemis’s magic. If I was right and he was somehow cheating Abe of his power, I had to find a way to expose him before everyone who was part of Abe’s family became Artemis’s property.

  My job was done. I told everyone I was leaving and headed out to the van. Maybe Lucas would have some idea about how to stop Artemis, if it came down to it.

  Artemis followed me—again. “Leaving so soon, Skye? I’m sure there will be a celebration following this. You’ll want to take part.”

  “I don’t think so. I’m glad you were able to solve the problem. Now I’m going home. Abe has my number if he needs me.”

  He came up close and laid a hand on either side of my face. “You are such a lovely young woman. I’m so sorry this has happened to you.”

  “You mean this as in being here scraping zombie ghosts off the ceiling?” My heart was pounding furiously. I was afraid he’d give away the fact that I had used Lucas’s magic. I figured if Lucas could smell Artemis’s magic on me, Artemis could probably smell Lucas’s too.

  “That is precisely what I mean.” He glanced at the house. “He had no right to do this to you.”

  “Abe? I made the choice. My daughter is worth it.”

  “There was never a choice you needed to make. Abe is holding this over you, but you are not one of his people. I assure you of that.”

  I had no idea what he was talking about. Maybe it was a thing with sorcerers. One of the first words that Lucas had spoken was about freeing me from Abe’s evil influence. It was probably a territorial thing, the same reason they had to challenge each other as soon as they met.

  I stepped back from him, and he dropped his hands from my face.

  “I don’t see anything right now, except that what you did worked for that woman. I’m sure Abe is extremely grateful. I gotta go.”

  There was genuine anguish on his face. “I wish we could get to know one another better. There are things you should know.”

  “I’m sure we will until this ghost curse is over.” I laughed as I walked around to the other side of the van. “See you later, Artemis. Don’t spend all that in one place.”

  The engine started quickly, and I was gone. My hands were trembling. It wasn’t bad enough that I was Abe’s zombie. Now I was afraid he’d find out I wasn’t his zombie anymore.

  Life was so much less complicated when I was alive.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  I wanted to stop at Debbie’s house on the way home, but I really didn’t want to see the mess their lives had become. It was awful of me not to support my partner. I just couldn’t handle one more thing.

  Instead, I went home and grabbed a scythe out of the garden shed. I could hear Lucas working on the path behind the property. For once, doing something outside sounded good. It was hours before Kate would be home from school. Cutting down small trees and pulling up vines seemed like perfect therapy.

  Lucas was surprised to see me—and I was surprised to see Addie on the path.

  “I didn’t know you could leave the house.”

  “I can do what I want.” She was defensive with me right away. “Lucas taught me how to go other places. It wasn’t hard.”

  “That’s amazing. You’ll be driving again in no time.”

  She tossed her head. “What about you? Since when do you work outside, or inside, for that matter? I thought yard work wasn’t your thing?”

  “It’s not. I really wanted to talk to Lucas about some stuff, and he was out here.”

  “That’s what I thought.” Addie vanished.

  “I guess she went inside.” I shook my head. “She and I won’t ever get along. I don’t know what it is.”

  Lucas had been snipping vines that were hanging in the path. “It could be that the two of you are very different people who happened to have loved the same man.”

  I listlessly moved the scythe from side to side across some weeds. “I suppose that’s it.”

  “What did you want to speak about?”

  I told him what had happened with Abe’s new ghost and the sorcerer. “He took care of the problem really easy. I was surprised. But I think there might be something wrong. I think he changed the mark on the zombie. The tattoo turned bright red. The initial was close to being the same but not quite. And it was red instead of blue. Like you did with mine.”

  “Basically it was the same process. Why were you so surprised?”

  “Because I was the only one who could see the mark was red.”

  He stopped cutting vines. “You could see Artemis’s magic?”

  “I guess so. I didn’t say anything. I just wanted to get out of there before somebody guessed that you’d changed me.”

  “That’s interesting.” He took the scythe from me and handed me the snippers he’d been using. “It’s not surprising that the new sorcerer’s magic would change Abe’s mark, but
it should have been visible to everyone. They surely agreed on what was acceptable in the transference.”

  “Artemis talked to me again privately. He was all about saving me from Abe and how I didn’t deserve to be a zombie. I’ll have to figure out a way to keep my distance from him. I have a feeling he wants something from me.”

  “Yes?” He used broad swipes of the blade to hack down tall grass growing in the path. “What do you think he wants?”

  “I don’t know.” I sat on one of the benches. My need to garden was over. “But he should’ve been able to tell your magic was on me, right? If that was the case, why didn’t he say something or tell Abe?”

  “I agree that something else is going on with Artemis Elkheart. I’m not a seer, so I can’t tell you what it is. But be wary of him, Skye. Whatever game he is playing with Abe could be disastrous if you are caught in the middle.”

  I watched him work for a few minutes. It was hot and humid again with thick clouds holding water bringing out mosquitos that buzzed by my head. Not a single mosquito ventured near Lucas. He didn’t swat or try to evade. They just ignored him. Maybe it was a side benefit to having magic. If so, I wouldn’t have minded having some of that too. If Lucas was right and I had some magic, it wasn’t anything useful.

  “What about the werewolf?” I asked him after a while. “Can it be stopped with magic? Can you do that magic?”

  “I’m not sure. It would have its risks. I might be able to stop him, or I could make him stronger so that no human being could kill him.”

  “That doesn’t sound like an option. You have to use a wood stake to the heart, right?”

  “That is folklore for a vampire.” He looked up and smiled at me. “You really are an innocent, aren’t you? Folklore for a werewolf is silver. But that doesn’t really work either.”

  “What about bullets or a grenade? If I blow it up, will the pieces come back together again?”

  “That’s doubtful, but you would have to get close enough to blow it up. A werewolf moves faster than the human eye can observe. If you are close enough to shoot it, you’re already dead.”

  We talked about all things werewolf, including tracking one. I took in the information like the proverbial sponge. I wanted to know everything about my enemy. When Gerald and I fought it, I wanted to win. When I felt like I’d exhausted the subject with him, I asked about sorcerers—especially Artemis.