Sassy Ever After: Sassy Ink 3: The Hunter's Curse (Kindle Worlds Novella)

by Christina Benjamin

After the old woman vanished into thin air, Grey grabbed Etti and sprinted from the cemetery. Neither of them spoke until they were a good distance away. Grey wasn’t superstitious, but he swore he could still feel the whispered breaths of ghosts at his back.

  He glanced at Etti. She looked pale and didn’t respond to his question. Grey pulled her aside, forcing her to sit on a vacant bench in the French Quarter. It was early still, but tourists were already indulging in all New Orleans had to offer, sporting colorful beads and plastic souvenir cups as they passed by unaware of the dangers nearby.

  “Babe, are you okay?” Grey asked.

  “She spoke to me,” Etti whispered, still not looking like herself.

  “I know. I heard the old woman too.”

  “No,” Etti murmured. “Not the guide.”

  “Who?” Grey prodded.

  “I think it was Marie Laveau. She told me to ask my question.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “When I placed the X on her tomb, I heard her voice in my head telling me to ask my question.”

  “And did you?”

  Etti nodded slowly. “I asked her if there was a way to save everyone we love from the hunt.”

  Grey’s heart was slamming against his chest, not sure he wanted to ask this next question, but unable to stop himself. “And did she give you an answer?”

  Again, Etti nodded. “Yes, but you’re not gonna like it.”

  Chapter 16

  Wes

  Wes was having entirely too much fun playing house with Cali and Izzi. He loved watching Cali with a baby in her arms. She was all light and smiles and it made his heart feel too big for his chest. Wes pulled Cali gently into his lap on the plush sofa in their suite. “I want a few of these,” he whispered into Cali’s ear, gazing down at the sleeping baby in her arms. “But with your eyes.”

  “And your hair,” Cali added.

  Wes nuzzled her neck, breathing her in. “God, I can’t wait to get you barefoot and pregnant.”

  Cali giggled. “Me neither.” She snuggled in closer to Wes. “But I suppose we should take care of a few things first,” she said wiggling her sparkly ring finger at him. “Any dates in mind?”

  “Today? Tomorrow? The sooner the better. I can’t wait to start my life with you.” Wes pressed a kiss to Cali’s head. He could practically feel the euphoria flowing through her at the thought of a life full of love and children with him. It made him want to get started that instant.

  Wes looked down at Izzi, dozing in Cali’s arms. “You know, you’re a tiny little cock-block, kiddo.”

  “Wes!” Cali hissed. “You can’t say that to her.”

  “I’m her uncle. Who better to teach her how things are?” he teased. “But for real, we’re gonna have to get a live-in nanny so all these little cubs we’re planning on having don’t get in the way of my plans for you.”

  “Which are?” Cali asked.

  “Let’s just say I want to see how many different ways I can make you scream my name?”

  Cali blushed, but Wes scented her excitement. “Fine,” she said. “As long as this nanny isn’t sexy.”

  Wes pulled Cali’s mouth to his and kissed her. “There’s no one on this planet that I find sexier than you, Cali Sinclair.”

  A knock at the door made them both tense. Cali wordlessly stood up and locked herself in the bathroom with the baby. Wes didn’t open the door until he was sure they were safe.

  Relief flooded him when he saw Etti and Grey through the peephole. “It’s safe, Cali,” he called opening the door for his friends.

  Wes immediately knew something was wrong when he saw Etti’s face. “What happened?”

  Etti didn’t reply. Instead she went straight to Cali and took Izzi into her arms, clutching the baby as silent tears streamed down her face.

  Etti

  Etti filled her friends in on what happened at the cemetery over room service. Grey insisted she eat something, but Etti was too queasy to keep much down.

  “Maybe you’re overreacting,” Wes offered.

  “How?” Etti asked, her voice tight. “A voodoo queen spoke to me from a grave saying she would grant my wish but there would be a price and I wouldn’t like it.”

  “Yeah, but she didn’t say what the price is,” Wes argued.

  “Whatever it is, we’ll pay it,” Grey said. “The most important thing is that we protect Izzi from the hunt.”

  Izzi started fussing. Etti hadn’t set her down since she returned from the cemetery and she knew her daughter could sense her distress. Her fussing grew into a wail and Grey finally coaxed Izzi from Etti’s arms to try and settle her.

  In her father’s strong arms, Izzi fell silent, making Etti feel even worse for upsetting her child with her fears.

  “Etti,” Cali said, taking her hand. “I know this is easier said than done, but Wes is right. Worrying about the unknown won’t solve anything. Let’s save our worry for when we know what we’re dealing with.”

  “So did this old witchy voice give you any indication of when you’d know more?” Wes asked.

  Etti shook her head.

  Wes frowned. “So we’re just supposed to sit around here all day?”

  Before Etti could answer, the phone in her room rang. Grey answered it. She heard the conversation on the other end, but let Grey repeat it just to be sure she wasn’t wrong.

  “Someone left us a note in the lobby requesting our presence at Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo.”

  “Any chance that’s a weird coincidence?” Wes joked, trying to lighten the mood.

  Grey shook his head. “And they said to bring Izzi.”

  “Do you think anyone else knows we’re here?” Cali asked.

  Grey shook his head. “My family told us they’d call if anyone was on to us.”

  “Well, you’re not really gonna bring Izzi to some voodoo shop, are you?” Wes argued.

  Etti finally spoke. “I don’t think we have much choice.”

  Chapter 17

  Etti

  Etti felt it again as soon as she stepped through the narrow doorway into the voodoo shop. The strange foreboding pull tugged at her veins as she moved through the cluttered store. The space was small and littered with accouterments of the occult. Trinkets crowded every surface—even the ceiling. Wes had to duck to avoid hitting the low hanging baubles. With the five of them in the shop there wasn’t much room to move around.

  “Are you sure this is the right place?” Wes asked.

  “Indeed, mon cheri. We’ve been waiting for you.”

  Etti spun to see a fit woman with skin the color of coffee behind a counter ablaze with candles. She wore her hair in a tight head wrap of jade and gold. It made the gold flecks in her honey-brown eyes sparkle as she smiled at Etti. She wore the garish garb of a voodoo priestess and radiated the power to use it.

  The woman soundlessly stepped around the counter, her skirts whispering behind her. Etti reflexively angled her body so Izzi was hidden from the woman’s smoldering gaze, but it was no use. Etti felt the tug in her veins again and knew instantly that this woman could turn her into a puppet if she desired.

  Instead she only smiled. “S'il vous plait, I mean you no harm.”

  Etti faced the woman, squaring her shoulders as Grey and Wes flanked her.

  “What do you want from us?” Etti growled.

  “Only to verify what the elders have told us to be true,” the woman said.

  “And what’s that?” Etti asked trying to keep her voice steady.

  “That the rumors are true. The child to unite the wolves and witches has arrived.” The priestess came closer, her eyes locked on Izzi. “The child is called Fin-Malédi. Do you know what this means?”

  “Curse breaker,” Etti whispered.

  The woman smiled and gave a subtle nod. “Indeed.” She bowed to Izzi and returned to her spot behind the counter.

  Etti glanced to her friends in confusion. She had expected more from this meeting and wasn’t sure w
hat to do next. But before she could say anything, the priestess dismissed them with a flick of her wrists. “You may go.”

  “But what about Esme?” Etti asked. “We need to meet with her to find protection for my child.”

  A cunning smile curved across the priestess’s face. “You’ll find you already have all you need.” Then she extended her arm and the door to the voodoo shop blew open on an imperceptible breeze, making it quite clear it was time to leave.

  “It’s okay, baby girl,” Etti murmured as she tried to soothe Izzi.

  Her daughter hadn’t stopped crying since they left the voodoo shop on Bourbon Street. Etti couldn’t blame her. She couldn’t seem to put enough distance between herself and the shop to shake the dread creeping up her spine.

  “I don’t get it,” Wes said. “I thought we were supposed to be getting a location for your crazy aunt Esme or whoever she is?”

  “Apparently we already have it,” Etti muttered as she stopped to change Izzi on a park bench.

  “Any idea what that means?” Grey asked, handing Etti the diaper bag.

  Etti shook her head as she pulled out a diaper. She was starting to think maybe this trip to New Orleans was another wild goose chase when a tiny paper fluttered out from inside the new diaper she’d just pulled from her bag.

  Cali saw it happen and stooped to pick it up. Her eyes widened as she examined the ancient looking paper before handing it to Etti.

  Ice crept into Etti’s veins as she read the four lines scrawled onto the old parchment in a deep crimson hue.

  Keeper’s Cottage - Barataria Preserve

  Come now

  Bring the child and your mate.

  No one else.

  Chapter 18

  Greyson

  Etti was shaking so hard Grey had to carry Izzi as they hiked through the stifling bayou. They’d tried to convince Cali and Wes to stay at the hotel, but Wes wasn’t having it. He’d insisted on driving them to the Barataria Preserve so he could be close if anything went wrong with their meeting with Esme. But as Grey and Etti weaved further into the swamp on the creaking labyrinth of boardwalks, he doubted having an army close by would help in a place like this. No one would ever find them out here. No wonder Esme chose it as a place to hide from the hunt.

  It bothered Grey immensely to have so little control. He had no idea where this Keeper’s Cottage was, but Etti said she’d been feeling pulled toward things all day, and he trusted his mate to find the cottage.

  As they slipped through the eerie silence of the bayou, Grey glanced down at his daughter. Izzi was nestled in her sling on his chest, gazing around at the lush green surroundings. She blinked her grey eyes curiously and Grey bent to kiss the top of her head, praying for the strength to protect the two women who owned his heart.

  The boardwalk split ahead. Etti stopped, seeming to listen to something Grey couldn’t hear. The only sounds he discerned were the low whispers coming from the dry moss that hung from every tree. Each time a breeze kicked up, the sound made him shiver and clutch Izzi tighter.

  “This way,” Etti said veering onto an even narrower boardwalk.

  “Are you sure?” Grey asked, hating the way the boards groaned under his weight. They were only a few feet above the swamp and he had no desire to join the creatures hidden in the black waters below.

  Etti turned back to look at him. “Yes. We’re close. I can feel it.”

  Etti

  Etti wished she wasn’t right about their course, but she knew they were almost at the Keeper’s Cottage. Her entire body was being called deeper into the bayou—as if her bones were hewn from the very place itself. They rounded another bend and suddenly a lone shack came into view.

  There was no doubt that the dilapidated shanty was the Keeper’s Cottage. It was the only building they’d seen for miles and it was the perfect place to hide from the hunt. No one would come to such a forsaken place. And if they did, something told Etti they never returned. The bayou seemed to wait with a silent hunger for any mistake she might make.

  Etti reached back to take Grey’s hand. They didn’t speak. They didn’t have to. They both knew what was riding on this meeting—their lives and more importantly, their daughter’s. Etti only prayed she was strong enough to pay whatever price Esme Laveau would charge for her protection.

  On queue, a voice spoke it Etti’s mind. “Come in, child.”

  It was the same voice from the cemetery and her body reacted with fear as goose bumps raced up her arms.

  “Everything okay?” Grey asked, sensing her fear.

  Etti nodded. “She invited us in.”

  Etti didn’t know what she’d been expecting of Esme Laveau, but the unassuming elderly creole woman was not it. She had dark, wrinkled skin that sagged beneath her blue floral dress. She smiled up at Etti from under a homemade straw hat, her teeth yellow and gummy.

  “Welcome, my child,” she said with a voice much more powerful than seemed possible. Her milky eyes skimmed over Grey and landed hungrily on Izzi, making Etti’s heart hammer nervously in her chest.

  Etti stepped between her daughter and the old woman’s stare “Are you Esme Laveau?”

  The woman gave a rasping laugh that filled the tiny cottage with the prickling energy of her power. “You know I am.”

  Etti swallowed. “Then you know why I’m here.”

  Esme nodded. “I heard your plea, child. But as I said, there is a price.” Again the old woman’s eyes landed on Izzi.

  “Tell me,” Etti demanded, wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible.

  Esme rose to her feet from the spindly chair she’d been sitting it. She stood surprisingly tall as she held out her hand motioning for Izzi. Grey didn’t move and Esme grinned. “I only ask out of courtesy, boy. But make no mistake that I get what I desire.”

  With a flick of Esme’s wrist, Grey slid across the floor like he was on tracks, stopping inches from the old crone. She raised a hand to touch Izzi with a sneer.

  “Wait!” Etti snapped.

  Esme paused her hand and met Etti’s gaze.

  Desperation filled Etti’s voice. “My mother said you wouldn’t hurt my daughter.”

  “You should listen to your mother, Etu. Ama is a wise woman,” Esme crooned. “I will not hurt your daughter. She is my own flesh and blood, you see. And I’ve been waiting a very long time to meet her.”

  “So you’ll help us?” Grey asked.

  Esme slowly shook her head. “It is your daughter who will help us all.”

  Etti started. “But you said—”

  “I said I would protect your family,” Esme interrupted with anger. “And I will, but the price is that you may never go home.”

  “What?” Grey asked, looking between Etti and Esme. “We have to live here? With you?” Terror filled his eyes.

  But Esme only laughed, a horrible rasping sound. “Not in the Keeper’s Cottage, boy, but in New Orleans. The French Quarter to be exact.”

  “Why?” Etti asked.

  “Because I want to protect my investment.”

  “My daughter?” Etti asked.

  Esme nodded. “Like you, I am trapped by the hunt. And I need your daughter to break the curse the hunt has placed on me. I can practice magic, but not inside the French Quarter. The hunt has banished all Laveau witches from our ancestral home. That is why I reside here, where my magic is strongest. In exchange for my protection, you must stay where I can watch your daughter grow. I will require you to return here with each full moon so I may weave my cloak over you three. Then you will reside in the Quarter, where my coven will watch over you and feed the cloaking spell with their own powers, while teaching your daughter how to harness her own.”

  “Her own?” Grey asked.

  “You must know that she is more than a shifter. She has been prophesized by the witches too. Our ancestors have passed their magic to her. And that is how she will break the curse and unite our species.”

  Etti’s heart was pounding. She kn
ew it. She’d always felt a strong pulsing power in her daughter. Her pregnancy had filled Etti with an overwhelming sensation she hadn’t been able to describe. But hearing it put to words, she realized that she’d always known what it was. It resided in her own veins as well. It was how she heard Esme’s voice and found the Keeper’s Cottage. Blood calls to blood—just like her mother said.

  Etti glanced at her mate as he struggled to accept that magic ran in his child’s blood. But she didn’t want to give Esme a chance to change her mind about helping them. She needed to keep the negotiations moving.

  “So, that’s it?” Etti asked, unable to believe the cost for Esme’s protection was so minimal. So what if she couldn’t go back to Blue Creek? That didn’t matter to Etti. She’d never really loved it there. If anything it was full of bad memories. There had to be some other catch—something she was missing. This was too simple. “So, you’ll just protect us and all we have to do is live in the French Quarter?” Etti asked.

  Esme nodded.

  “What’s the catch?” Grey asked, his voice wary.

  The smile that spread across Esme’s mouth sent chills to Etti’s very core. “The spell is simple. You require that I protect three lives that you love from the hunt. If you agree to the terms of the bargain, three lives will be protected. If you break the bargain, for any reason, three lives you love will be owed, and I will chose the three to take.

  “Take?” Grey repeatd.

  “Magic requires balance, boy,” Esme purred. “Can you live with these terms?”

  Etti swallowed, prepared to agree, but Grey pulled her aside whispering rapidly in her ear. “Etti, this means we can’t step a toe out of the Quarter . . . ever. Not to help our family or friends if the hunt tries to hurt them to get to us, not to go to funerals, or weddings, or births, not even to escape if this town is destroyed. We can never leave. Our daughter will grow up living a sheltered life, just like you did.”