by Dana Davis
Marge’s crutches clicked as she moved toward the kitchen. “Who wants tea?”
“Tea? Really, Mom? Now?”
“Well, we may as well do something while we wait for Scarlet’s little spirit friends.”
Little spirit friends? Bridgette almost laughed out loud. “How about we try a locator spell?”
“You know they don’t work on people.”
“No, really, Mom? Because I totally forgot that.” Bridgette’s anger bubbled to the surface, so she took in a long breath and let it out. Her mother wasn’t the cause of her agitation this time, just a handy target. “Daisy’s wearing her moon pendant. She put it on a stronger chain that would hold the rowan tree talisman I gave her and the protection crystal she got from Mrs. Ferdinand. If I can find her old chain—”
“We might be able to use it to locate her through the pendant. Good idea, baby. You go look for that chain right now.”
Fay stood and motioned Marge back into her seat. “I can make the tea. You sit and rest.”
Bridgette smirked at her mother’s frown. The woman didn’t like being treated like an invalid but she never went against Fay for some reason. Jay gave Bridgette a smirk of his own and followed her down the hallway.
As she reached the doorway to the master bedroom, she heard something. Very muffled. Whining? Her brows climbed as she studied Jay. “Holy shit! Perky!” Daisy would never forgive me if I let anything happen to that mutt of hers. Telepathy didn’t work on animals, so with all that had happened, she’d forgotten about the dog.
She headed back down the hallway, following the sound and calling out to the dog. When she got to the office, scratching and whining met her ears. She turned to Jay again. “The attic.”
He caught her arm when she started for the spiral staircase. “You sure it’s just the dog up there?”
“Yes. I would’ve sensed a person.” Like you sensed those witches? My track record hasn’t exactly been stellar lately, has it? I’ll keep a trussing spell handy just in case.
Jay followed her up the winding staircase and she saw a dim light peering out from beneath the attic door. With a trussing spell on her lips, she opened the door and peered around. A nightlight illuminated the room. No one. The dog pawed her leg and wagged his tail. A muzzle covered his snout.
I know Daisy would never put her precious mutt in one of those. Simon must’ve brought it with him.
Perky jumped into her arms when she leaned down to pick him up. She was beginning to feel sorry for the scruffy guy. This was the second time in so many months that he’d been restrained in the attic. Last time someone had duct-taped him. Bridgette held him while Jay removed the muzzle. The dog’s tail smacked her elbow in frantic waves, and once the muzzle came off, she got several licks to her chin as payment.
“Just what I always wanted. Dog slobber.”
Jay took Perky and got the same treatment to his chin. He didn’t seem bothered by it in the least. Bridgette did a once-over of the small attic library, where Daisy kept her magick stuff and second-hand crap she sold in her on-line auctions. Nothing out of the ordinary. That Bridgette could tell anyway. She checked her cousin’s trunk that held the most precious and dangerous items. Locked. The small table beneath one of the windows held a laptop computer, a folder with Noah’s scribbles on them, and Aunt Penny’s broken vase that Daisy had yet to glue back together. Nearby, sat the three oldest magick books her cousin owned. The language had been dead for so long no one could read them anymore, and Noah was trying to decipher them.
If he ever figures out those symbols, I’ll be one fucking impressed witch. “I don’t think anything’s missing but Daisy would know better than me.” She studied Jay and he grinned. “What? Don’t tell me you want a dog now.”
“I always wanted to have sex in an attic.”
Bridgette raised a brown. “Well it won’t happen in this one. Daisy would kill me.”
He let out a sigh then gave her a hopeful look. “I like elevators and parks too.”
She moved to him and fingered his earlobe. “I’m sure we can take care of at least one of those fantasies. Later.” She flicked her hand toward the door.
Jay whistled an upbeat tune as he took Perky down the winding staircase and Bridgette shook her head. Men. She picked out two of Daisy’s magick books from one of the shelves. If the locator spell didn’t work, they might find something else helpful. Though she didn’t know what else they could do, short of calling the police and telling them about the kidnappings.
And we can’t do that. Too many mortals on the force. Paranormals took extreme care not to get outed, including cleaning up their own messes. Scarlet’s dead friends were their best hope if the locator spell failed.
She flipped off the attic light, shut the door, and made her way down the spiral staircase. Once she reached the family room, Jay was already filling the dog’s water dish. Perky seemed to really like him. And he really seemed to be fond of the dog.
Sap. She hid a smile as she put the books on the dining table, where her mother and Fay were preparing for the spell, and headed for the master bedroom to look for Daisy’s spare chain. The jewelry box sat on the dresser. Scarlet had left the large mirror uncovered and Bridgette was grateful she couldn’t see whatever the hell ghosts might be milling about in there.
She snatched up the jewelry box, causing it to rattle, and carried it to the trunk at the foot of the bed to open it. No less than two dozen empty chains hung on the tiny hooks. All silver, all looking very much alike, and she had no idea which was the one that had held Daisy’s moon pendant.
How many fucking chains do you need, Daisy? We’ll have to do a separate spell for each one. “Well this is fucking fantastic.”
* * * *
Maybe Zoey can help. Why didn’t I think if her before? Zoey Vega’s line that wasn’t related to Daisy went back to ancient Greece and beyond. Daisy made a very sincere wish to get out of this mess, hoping her young cousin was listening or watching or whatever the girl did with that Dream Catcher box of hers. But it’s late and Zoey might be asleep. I don’t even know how that stupid box works. She couldn’t rely on hope alone. She needed to stall. Needed to figure a way out. Now. Damnit, I don’t even have my cell phone. Okay, Daisy, calm down. Don’t lose it. You need to do something before we get on that damn freeway. Stall. I have to stall.
Sirens were well-known for personal cleanliness, and the upcoming gas station and mini-mart gave her an idea. She wriggled and turned to Cleo. “I have to pee.”
“Hold it.”
“No, really. I need to go. Now. Unless this is a very short ride you’re taking me on.” She wiggled and frowned. “I can’t hold it much longer.” Cleo cursed and ordered Simon to pull into the gas station, and Daisy tried very hard not to let her satisfaction show as he parked close to the mini-mart.
Cleo took off her seatbelt. “Kali, you’re with me. Noah, you wait here with Simon and do what he says.” She waited until Simon looked at her. “You know what to do.”
Simon nodded and turned to the necro, whose eyes hadn’t left him. “Kali, you do whatever Cleo tells you. Understand? Whatever she tells you.”
“I understand.” Kali gave him a huge grin, like a lovesick school girl.
Damn you, Simon.
Cleo glanced at Daisy with a smug look then back to Simon. “If we’re not back in ten minutes, you know how to handle Noah.”
She’s just trying to scare me. And, damnit, it’s working. What the hell does she want Simon to do to Noah? She wondered if Simon had a gun in the car. He had no other powers besides that of a siren. Simon had been a pain in the ass but she didn’t think he was a killer. Oh, and you know him so well, do you? Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. But she had to try something.
Cleo pinned Daisy with that dark gaze. “All right, witch. You try anything and I’ll see that Simon takes your man where you’ll never find him.”
Daisy swallowed and nodded. Okay, stay calm. At least she didn’t
say Simon would kill him. She climbed out after Cleo, giving a glance back at Noah as she set foot on the cement. His gaze never left the tall siren. Hang in there, honey. I’ll get you back. Promise. If it’s the last thing I do.
Thankfully, the restrooms were inside the mini-mart, not outside like the old gas stations of Daisy’s youth. More chances for someone to witness us being here.
Unfortunately, at this time of night, the place was almost empty, except for a middle-aged guy behind the counter and a couple of teenaged boys mulling over which oversized sodas to purchase. Daisy faked tripping as she came in the door. Cleo caught her before she fell, but her ruse worked and the boys looked in their direction.
Okay, they saw me. Right? The two couldn’t seem to keep their eyes off Cleo. At least I hope they saw me.
The tall siren kept a vise grip on Daisy’s arm as they rounded the chip aisle and headed down the short hall to the ladies’ room. Kali opened the door for them. Two stalls, empty, but Daisy didn’t care about those. She wanted what hung over the double sinks. A very large, very shiny mirror.
This better work because I don’t have a plan B. She glanced at the mirror as Cleo marched her past it and saw movement behind the glass. A face peeked out at her, a young woman with short hair and beaded headband. Her heart pounded like a jackhammer. Kali leaned on the wall by the door, eyes on Cleo. She didn’t even acknowledge the ghosts.
Maybe she doesn’t see them. Necros don’t always see ghosts in this realm. Whatever the reason, Daisy thanked the universe for that small favor. When the siren glanced back at Kali, Daisy mouthed, “Help me,” to the dead woman in the mirror. The ghost disappeared just as Cleo shoved Daisy into the first stall.
“Hurry up, witch. And don’t try anything.”
Relieved that someone knew her location, even a dead someone, Daisy now focused on the rest of her plan. She took her time placing the paper shield over the toilet and almost squealed when the ghost woman appeared in the stall with her. She was somewhat translucent but Daisy saw her clear enough, not even a blur when she moved.
The ghost smiled and placed a finger over her red lips. She was young, probably in her mid-twenties when she died. Her short hair and blue flapper dress rang true of the 1920s. If she had died in that outfit, she’d been gone almost a hundred years. But ghosts could change their appearances. Daisy had learned that during her time in the afterlife. This one could simply be wearing a costume.
“I don’t hear anything in there,” Cleo said from outside the stall. “If this is some kind of trick, I’ll have Kali make you so scared you pee all over yourself.”
Shit! The ghost gave a calm nod and turned her back, placing one semi-translucent hand on the lock. Daisy eased her jeans down and expelled her bladder, going slowly to give herself time to mumble to the ghost what had happened. When finished, she stood and fastened her jeans. “Please, go and tell Scarlet.”
The ghost glanced back and nodded then disappeared.
Okay, now for the next phase of my oh-so-genius plan. Please let this work. Daisy steadied her nerves and uttered a wind spell, all but the last word, as she flushed. The static around her body began to build with the magick but since she hadn’t completed the spell, yet, the sensation was slight.
She stepped out of the stall, turned, and saw another ghost appear just before the door banged shut. A girl with pink hair, about nineteen in appearance, wearing a black leather mini-skirt and a studded collar. Punk girl! Otherwise known as Lisa. Daisy’s eyes lit. She had met this one during her recent trip to the afterlife. Punk girl Lisa had helped her search for her mother’s lost soul. Thank the universe for gossiping ghosts. Word sure travels fast over there. The ghost must have known about Kali’s necro powers too, because she remained in the stall, hidden from view, as Daisy stepped out to wash and dry her hands.
Afterward, Cleo wrapped fingers around her arm, and without ceremony, escorted her out of the bathroom and down the short hall that led back into the bright lights of the mini-mart. She glanced in the domed mirror that hung on one of the walls. No ghosts inside it.
Scarlet said they needed a large surface. Maybe that mirror’s too small. She did notice that the two teenage boys were gone now and the store was empty, except for the middle-aged guy behind the counter, who stared at the siren. Great. Why can’t there be at least one woman here? Someone immune to Cleo’s beauty.
When they passed the snack shelves, Daisy opened her mouth to utter the final word of the wind spell she’d prepared, but before she could say anything, Punk girl Lisa threw open the front door and began to toss items around the store. The guy behind the counter didn’t wait to see what happened next. Daisy saw him duck down out of sight when sparks rained down as a florescent light exploded.
“I warned you!” Cleo cried as she hauled Daisy toward the front door.
“It’s not me!” That’s when she realized Kali was giving orders to their unseen company. Well, unseen by all except her and Daisy.
Cleo turned on the Asian dancer as fire lit her eyes. “You’re Simon’s!”
The look Kali gave the siren made gooseflesh on Daisy’s arms. Something dark sat behind those eyes now. Death. Kali was using her necromancer abilities. A two liter soda bottle flew across the aisle and smacked Cleo straight in the head, knocking her down. Daisy stood stunned for a moment.
“Um, Daisy?” Kali pointed to the prone siren. She sounded distracted and out of breath.
“What? Oh, right.” Daisy’s heart raced like a greyhound as she wrapped Cleo up in a trussing spell. The chaos settled and the place grew quiet. Daisy gave a smile to punk girl Lisa and mouthed a thank you.
Kali sauntered to the counter like a predator seeking out her prey and leaned over it. “That microburst blew the hell out of your store. Scared the shit out of us.”
The man who’d been hiding, stood, fear still carving his face. “Microburst?”
Did Kali make him afraid? Or was it just all the crap flying around? Either way, Daisy caught onto Kali’s plan and said, “Yeah. Didn’t you see the way that door flew open? And look at our friend. Got hit by debris. She’s out cold.” The stunned man began to survey the damage to his store as Daisy turned to Kali. “We better get her to a hospital.” In reality, Daisy hoped the idiot woman got a concussion and amnesia. Would serve her right.
“Want me to call 911?” the man said, eyes lingering on Cleo’s prone form.
“No thanks. We can get her there faster.”
Between the two of them, they managed to get the unconscious Cleo on her feet. Daisy couldn’t do a levitation spell on top of her trussing, and right now, she’d rather have the siren unable to move or speak. But wait. I was able to truss three people when I shouldn’t have been able to spell more than one. After they dragged the siren and got her outside the door, Daisy took a chance and uttered a levitation spell. Cleo grew lighter, easier to move about, the amount of static an assurance that the trussing spell stayed in place. Holy crap! It worked! I’m holding a trussing and a levitation spell at the same damn time. Thank the universe. I’ll worry about the hows and whys later.
Out of her corner vision, she saw punk girl follow her to Simon’s rental car. Simon started to get out. Could she cast a second trussing without releasing her levitation spell? As she pondered whether she could manage three spells of this magnitude, Simon squeaked and huddled back against the car. He fell through the open door onto the driver’s seat and remained there, knees pulled up, whimpering.
Thanks, Kali. Unfortunately, the woman’s reverse empathic powers had a wider net than Daisy first realized. Noah also looked terrified as he tried to hunker down on the floorboard in the back. Or maybe Kali caught Noah up on purpose, because I don’t have any fear now.
Daisy hated seeing her husband cower that way but decided not to say anything. I guess it’s better to have him scared than do something stupid under Cleo’s thrall. Something he’d no doubt regret later. The siren might be unconscious and trussed but that wouldn’t
sever her connection to Noah. That kind of separation had to come from either the siren or the paranormal victim. Thank the universe Noah has at least one paranormal ancestor. A mere mortal could never break from a siren’s thrall.
Daisy released the levitation spell as she and Kali maneuvered Cleo into the car.
The tall woman fell back toward Kali and the necro groaned with effort. “Shit, Cleo. Time to go on a diet. You way a ton.”
Daisy tried not to laugh. She took some of Cleo’s weight from Kali and the two pushed. “In you go.”
They got her into the backseat but Cleo fell over into Noah. Kali climbed in after the siren and pulled her to a sitting position.
“Boy, that’s a workout.” Or maybe I’m weak from being in the hospital. She fastened the seatbelt and said, “Welcome back, Kali.”
“Thanks.”
She shut the back door then shoved the still quivering Simon over to the passenger side without much effort, since the man was so jumpy, and took the driver’s seat. When she glanced down to lock the doors, she saw a button for the child-safety locks and pressed it. Police sirens wailed from the street.
Damnit! She reached across Simon and fastened his seatbelt. No sense getting pulled over if I can help it. Kali followed her example and strapped Cleo and Noah in as Daisy started the car.
Punk girl Lisa stood in front of the car now, looking exhausted. Must take a lot out of them to move stuff in this realm. Daisy smiled and mouthed her thanks again. The ghost disappeared when she turned on the headlights.
As she drove across the gas station parking lot and headed toward the street as quickly as she dared, two police cars entered, lights flashing but no sirens now. The last thing we need is mortals asking questions. It took all of Daisy’s will not to spin tires to get out of there.
The first police car drove past and pulled up to the mini-mart, but the second one slowed as it got next to Simon’s rental and Daisy’s heart tap danced against her ribs. Damnit.
* * * *
“Damnit!” Bridgette said as she tossed one of the silver chains aside.
