by Terry Spear
“Are you ready to go? Uncle Stephen ran out to get some groceries, and though he’s the most aggravatingly slow shopper—has to read every label, weigh every option, compare every price—he will probably return in the next couple of hours.”
Hunter pulled his cell phone from his belt. “It’s only eight. Jared will be like a Matusa this time in the morning now that school’s out, and we kept him up half the night.”
“Scared of him?”
He grunted and punched in Jared’s number. While the phone rang, he turned to Alana. “I don’t believe you about the ghosts, by the way.”
She gave him an evil smile. “Yeah, well, my life isn’t going to be an open book to you.”
“Keep that thought, Kubiteron. Before long, you’ll be spilling all your dark secrets to me, begging for me to know them.”
Laughing, she shook her head. “Yeah, right. Do you come by this tough guy act naturally, or do you practice it?”
He grinned back at her.
Jared finally answered the phone and grouched, “Hunter? I told you to call me later. Since when is eight in the morning late?”
“If you think that’s late,” Hunter said, glancing at Alana, “you should have heard the Kubiteron kibitzing with her uncle at five this morning.”
She stalked out of the dining room.
He chuckled. “Ready to find that shop that sold the summoning book?”
“Yeah, in a couple of hours. Call me back.”
“No doing. Alana’s uncle is returning in a couple of hours.”
“What? We have to take her with us? We do these jobs alone, together, I mean. Just the two of us. She’s nothing but trouble.”
“Agreed. And she’s going with us. Now. Meet you at the address the beast gave us in fifteen.” Hunter pocketed his phone, then joined Alana. “Ready to go?”
She was running her hands over the crystal ball, scowling at him. “You know, my talk with my uncle is none of your business.”
“That thing work?”
“What?”
“The crystal ball.”
She laughed again. “It’s a paperweight.”
“Oh. Ready to go?” He didn’t wait for her. Matusa didn’t wait for anything or anyone. Besides, he liked having her chase after him, two steps behind, just the way it should be.
When she didn’t follow him, he glanced back. She was still sitting on the couch playing with the crystal ball, her eyes green daggers as she glared at him.
“What?” he bit out.
Chapter 16
“So, exactly what were your uncle and you arguing about?” Hunter asked, when Alana climbed into his pickup.
As if it was any of his business! As high as the pickup sat, she felt like she was sitting on top of a mountain… a very plush, comfy mountain. “I thought you’d been sleeping.” She slammed the door closed, then took in a deep breath of the smell of—she glanced up at the scented tree hanging from the rearview mirror—pines.
“You and your uncle were slightly vocal.”
“It’s none of your concern.”
Hunter drove around her uncle’s circular drive. “Let’s see. Your uncle said something about you not getting mixed up with a guy like me.”
She folded her arms and glared out the window. “Like that would ever happen.”
“He’s worried you’ll fall into the same trap as your mother?”
“So why did you ask what we fought about if you already knew?”
“Lucky guess.”
“Well, I’m not like my mother.”
Slamming on the brakes, he honked at a driver, and Alana grabbed the dashboard.
“Idiot. Yield signs mean yield!” He turned his glower on Alana. “You and your mother are witches. You both can exorcise ghosts. I’d say you had some things in common.”
“Yeah, well she summoned Dad. I didn’t summon you and—”
“No.” He looked self-satisfied. “I summoned you.”
“The portal did, not you.” She crossed her legs. “So it’s not the same. Plus, I’m half demon.”
“And so am I.”
“So? Doesn’t mean a thing to me.”
Hunter’s lips rose in a smug smile.
“It doesn’t!”
“Yep. I bet you tell that to all the half demons you meet.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re insufferably arrogant?”
“My little sister does all the time. But you know what? She really loves me.” Hunter gave Alana a critical look. “So what does that say about you?”
“There’s no…” Alana turned her attention to the shop numbers and pointed out 101 Grisholm. “There. Haggerty’s Incense Shop.”
Hunter pulled into the parking lot. “Do witches buy special merchandise from magic shops?”
“Get real.” She yanked off her seatbelt.
“I’m being sincere. What do I know? All this is totally new to me.”
Alana studied the bars on the outside of the windows and the way they were painted black. “Looks like a place where vampires might congregate.”
“Don’t tell me vampires are real now.”
“Santa Claus is. I’ll tell you about it sometime. And werewolves? Everything bound in myths and legends has some truth to it.” She unbuckled her seatbelt. “Maybe even dragons.” She gave him a sarcastic look.
“All right but vampires are going too far.”
“Hey, besides the folklore, there are people who have a rare condition called porphyria, which causes extreme sensitivity to light and a disruption in making their own blood cells.”
“And they suck people’s blood? Grow fangs?”
She smiled.
He motioned to the incense store. “So what are these shops for if they don’t sell to witches?”
“People who like incense? How do I know?” She started to climb out of the truck.
Hunter grabbed her wrist. “We wait until Jared gets here.”
“A Matusa demon can’t handle this?” Alana expected macho man’s eyes to flare, but he only smiled at her.
“I’m smarter than you give me credit for. I’d never barge into a situation without knowing the odds.”
“Except when you were willing to help rescue my uncle and his friends.”
“I already knew the odds.” His eyes sparkled like the devil.
“Oh?”
“Yep. We were outnumbered.”
Sounded just like a Matusa. Jared drove up beside them and gave Hunter a perturbed look.
“Showtime. I guess I couldn’t convince you to stay in the truck, could I?” Hunter looked half hopeful.
She climbed out of the vehicle. “Sorry. I’m not a wilting flower type.”
“Didn’t think so.” Hunter joined Jared while his friend punched in stuff on his laptop. “What do you see?”
Jared closed the laptop. “Just the three of us. No other demons nearby.”
“All right, let’s do this.”
Hunter led the way as if he were in charge, which suited her fine since he was supposed to be Mr. Macho. He pushed open the glass door, and bells jingled their arrival.
Inside, bittersweet incense filled the store, and the smell of burning candle wax added to the smoky environment. Shelves rested against three walls filled with dusty books, glass vases, and brass containers covered in verdigris, looking like they could hold the genie of one’s dreams.
Alana halfway expected to see preserved body parts floating in murky jars, or skulls hanging from the ceiling. Instead, a chandelier of lighted candles cast shadows across the dimly lit shop. Except for tons of books, containers, a bunch of incense burners, spicy incense, and moody music piped in overheard, the place looked benign.
“Where’s a clerk?” Alana whispered.
Hunter pointed to a backroom behind a counter, then he walked over to the closest bookshelf. “Look around for the books.”
“Guess they don’t have a card catalogue index,” Jared groused under his breath. He pulled ou
t a copy of a book and crossed the floor to join Hunter.
He quickly examined it and nodded. “Yeah, this is the one.”
“Fascinating, isn’t it?” a woman’s husky voice asked, coming out of the backroom, but though she tried to sound cheerful, her tone was much more sullen, withdrawn. “Sorry, I didn’t greet you earlier. I was pricing merchandise, and sometimes people like to look around without me bothering them. So, did you need any of the items that make the experience more real?”
The woman had Goth written all over her from her black hair coiled on top of her head in a strange spiked fashion, the body piercings, black dress and combat boots, same colored lipstick, eye shadow, and her skin made paler by white foundation.
Hunter turned his back to the clerk and whispered to Alana, “Is she a witch?”
Alana cast him an irritated look. “Goth.”
“Where did you get the book?” Alana asked the woman. “Do you have any others?”
“I have two. They’re pretty expensive so not too many are interested in paying that kind of money. Usually groups buy them and split the cost.” She raked long, black fingernails over the counter. “As for my source, it’s private. If I let you know who sold them to me…” She lifted a shoulder. “I could be out of business.”
Hunter turned to Alana and whispered, “Is she telling the truth?”
“How would I know? I don’t read minds,” Alana said telepathically to Hunter. She turned to the woman. “Tell us who gave you the books.”
For a moment, the woman resisted Alana’s hypnotic command. Then she took a deep breath. “A man came here three weeks ago. Said he had these great demon summoning books and they were all the rage in New York City. Said they were the latest for New Age parties. I pay ten and sell them for a huge markup. He suggested the price, one-fifty. I’ve already sold two, made more money on them than I have in combined sales for a month.”
“Who is he?” Alana asked.
The woman squinted her eyes and stared at the countertop, then shook her head. “He didn’t say his name.”
“What did he look like?”
“Oh, that’s easy. Handsome, charming, the most beautiful silvery blue eyes, and hair my color, only natural, and milky white skin. But he wasn’t dressed in black like I expected. He wore all white, shirt and jeans. Except for his feet. Tan cowboy boots, fancy trim. No cowboy hat though. And charming. Did I mention that? Knew the way to a woman’s heart right off.”
“Is he returning anytime soon?”
She nodded vigorously. “As soon as I sell these books, I’m supposed to call him.”
“We’re buying the books,” Alana said, as Jared set them on the counter. “Call him.”
The woman hesitated.
“Call… him.”
Lifting the phone off the hook, the clerk punched in a number. “This is Rhiannon from Haggerty’s Incense Shop. I’ve sold the last of my summoning books and need some more.”
“You have customers waiting on three more,” Alana told her.
“I have customers waiting on three more.” The woman frowned. “Tomorrow?”
“Today, if possible. The women are just passing through, and I’ll lose the sales.”
Rhiannon repeated Alana’s words verbatim to the man. The clerk smiled. “That would be great. Thanks. See you soon.” She hung up the phone. “He’ll be here within the hour.”
“We’ll be back.” Alana gave her thirty dollars for the books. “This is the amount you asked for.”
“Yes, that was the amount I asked for.” Rhiannon deposited the money in an antiquated cash register.
“When the person arrives with the books, you will thank him and set them underneath your counter. You will give them to no one but one of the three of us.”
“To one of the three of you.”
“Yes. And then you’ll forget who the person was who sells them, his phone number, and everything about the books.”
“Everything,” the woman parroted.
“Have a nice day.” Alana hoped the demon wouldn’t sense what had gone on here and terminate the woman.
“Have a nice day,” the clerk responded.
Jared grabbed up the books and he, Hunter, and Alana walked out of the store while he kept shaking his head. “She’s dangerous.”
“The clerk?” Hunter asked.
Jared glanced at Alana. “No, her. Have you ever seen anyone control minds like she can? It’s scary. No telling what she’d make us do if she got mad enough.”
Hunter laughed. “She wouldn’t dare try, but beyond that, she couldn’t control us. I’m sure it has to do with the clerk’s weak will.” He studied Alana. “You don’t have blood sucking urges, do you? Aversion to sunlight?”
Jared looked from one to the other. “What am I missing?”
“Nothing,” Alana said. “And for your information, Matusa, you might not be as strong as you think when it comes to my will.”
“Try me.”
Jared seemed eager to see what would happen, but Alana wasn’t about to see if her abilities would work right now. Best to try them out when they least expected it.
“We’re really not leaving, are we?” Jared asked, as they headed back to the vehicle. “What if we return later to find he’s left more books off and we’ve missed catching him?”
“You’re going to watch for his signature. Locate where he goes after this. We’ll find his lair and make sure there are no others with him,” Alana said, not waiting for Hunter and Jared to come up with a plan.
“They say sometimes a mating between demons can transfer some of the abilities of the mate to another.” Hunter’s line of reasoning completely threw Alana off.
Jared stared at him as if he didn’t know what Hunter was getting at, either.
Hunter took the books from Jared and stacked them together on the ground. With a flick of his wrist, he set them ablaze. The blue flame grew white as it completely devoured the books.
“Impressive. Why didn’t you use it against Ferengus?” Alana asked.
“I can only use it against inanimate objects.”
“Oh. Great for cookouts,” she said, sarcastically.
“So what did you mean about the mating of demons and sharing of abilities?” Jared asked.
Hunter shifted his gaze from Jared to Alana and gave a wicked smile. “I wondered if witch’s abilities would transfer, too.”
Alana gave her head a shake. “Sometimes abilities are enhanced or transferred between witches and their warlock spouses. Never between a witch and a human though. Who knows about a witch and a demon? But you would have to find one who’s agreeable.”
“I have.” Hunter kicked the pile of smoldering ashes around, stirring them up so that the breeze carried them away.
Jared grunted. “You can’t mean her.”
Hunter's smile broadened, but he didn’t respond.
Jared pulled out his laptop from his Jeep. “Now what? We don’t just sit here out in the opening awaiting his arrival, do we? Wouldn’t we be kind of conspicuous?”
Hunter pointed to a seedy-looking bar next door. Though it was morning, three scarred vehicles were parked in front.
“We’re all underage,” Jared said.
“Alana will take care of it.”
“How many do you think I can handle?”
“At least three,” Jared said, walking toward the bar. “That’s how many nurses you knocked out at the hospital.”
“Yeah, I could sure use some abilities like that. Especially when people wake me up too early in the morning.” Hunter pushed the door open.
Inside, the bar was even darker than the incense shop. All the windows were covered in black boards and a dim light barely illuminated the place. It reeked of beer and body odor.
Six men turned bleary eyes toward the newcomers.
A bearded bartender leaned against the bar and gave them a hard look. “Kiddie Pizza World is three blocks over.”
“Serve us bottled water and
make it quick,” Alana said.
The men at the three tables looked from Alana to the bartender, watching for his response. Their jaws gaped when the man pulled out three waters. “That’ll be twelve dollars.”
Alana turned to Hunter. “I’m all tapped out.”
Jared yanked the money out of his wallet. “Robbery. Whoever heard of paying so much for water?”
Hunter grabbed two of the drinks and carried them to a table on the other side of the room.
“Couldn’t you just—” Jared started to stay.
“Make him give it to us for free? Yes, but I don’t want to do it in front of all the other men,” Alana said to him privately.
They took their seats, then Jared opened up his laptop.
For an hour and a half, they sipped their water and watched the monitor.
“How did you ever design software to pick up our signatures?” Alana asked, totally impressed.
“He’s a genius when it comes to computer stuff.” Admiration was evident in Hunter’s voice.
“I wonder,” she said, giving Hunter a simpering smile, “if Jared’s abilities would transfer to a witch.”
Hunter’s expression was darkly amused.
“There!” Jared pointed at the monitor. “It’s an Elantus. Why would an Elantus be doing this?”
“A Matusa’s got to be behind it.” Hunter stood.
“The demon’s inside the shop.”
“Okay, we wait here until he or she moves.”
“You can’t tell which it is?” Alana couldn’t help sounding disappointed.
“That’s my next job. But I haven’t been able to manage identifying sex yet.” Jared rubbed his chin. “The Elantus is still in the shop. Now it’s leaving.”
“We take my truck, leave your Jeep here. I’ll drive; you give me directions.” Hunter led them outside to his pickup.
“What do I do?” Alana asked, climbing into the truck.
“Look beautiful like Kubiteron females are supposed to and stay out of the way.”
She slugged him in the arm, and Hunter laughed. “That’s the first step.”
Jared slammed his door shut. “First step for what?”
“The selection ritual between demons.”
