Stir Until Petrified

by Theda Vallee

  Nonna hadn’t given us much detail about what had happened to her while she was in a coma. Her lips would tighten into a thin line, and her eyes would cloud over for just a moment whenever it was brought up. That was enough to tell me it hadn't been good.

  No one blamed me for what happened, but I felt the weight of it every day. How was I supposed to do this job while holding on to what I believed was right and wrong? I’d been right about the teacher, and saved her from a horrible fate, but that didn’t make up for being wrong about the Father. I twirled the pen above the forms, unable to bring myself to write anything.

  “Do you want to try again tomorrow?” Luc asked gently.

  My smile as I shoved the paperwork towards him was my only answer. I stared at my hands laying on the table as he shuffled the papers away. It was strange looking at my perfectly smooth fingers and my arms that no longer held scars from baking. When Charna had given me the succubus’ kiss of fire it had killed me. Death triggered the phoenix blood coursing through my veins to start the renewal cycle. I’d shed my old skin. I’d burst into flames just like the bird of legend. The song of the phoenix carried my body through to rebirth. Every part of me felt pristine. My skin was perfect. My fillings from the dentist were gone, perfect teeth remaining in their place. Even the stretch marks from carrying Carina were gone. I was still mourning that loss. They’d been a permanent reminder etched into my skin, never letting me doubt that she existed somewhere in this world.

  Luc’s phone buzzed on the table. He looked down at it with a grimace. “I need to take this.”

  My eyes followed him as he strode to the far corner of the garden to take his call. I couldn't help but ogle his ass as he went. Regardless of what I felt for him, I’d probably never get tired of staring at his butt.

  “I saw you watching dat ass,” Nerina said, squeezing in next to Brady.

  “I think this bench has a weight limit. There’s six other chairs out here. Why do you have to cram yourself onto this one?” I said, trying to scoot over to give myself breathing room. “For the record, I can stare at men’s asses all I want.”

  I felt myself blushing despite my bravado. I wasn’t the kind of girl who openly stared at men’s behinds. At least I wasn’t that kind of girl a few weeks ago. My life had changed into something I no longer recognized. It was full of people, friends even. I’d never had a circle of friends before. I had a new job and money in the bank. With all the new things that were good, I also had to live with the weight of this new world. People wanted me dead. The Benandanti were just waiting for the moment I slipped up. The Osservatori would put me down in a heartbeat if I didn’t keep my magic under control. There was also a mystery that niggled at me night and day. There was something bigger happening beyond all this. Something that was somehow tied to me. I had no clues, or any idea of where to look for clues. I just had to wait to see what might come for me next.

  “No one’s judging you. I stare too. How could you not? What was the big surprise he gave you last night? He said it was personal and you’d share if you wanted to. Please tell me it has to do with a church and wedding bells. If it does, please understand I am your wedding planner, end of subject.” Brady said leaning into me.

  “Marriage? He’s not even my boyfriend. What would make you think he proposed?” I said, horrified at the thought.

  “Well, that clears that up, still just friends with benefits. What was it then? Come on spill the beans brat. Inquiring minds need to know.” Brady demanded.

  “It’s nothing to get yourself all worked up about. He hired two full-time investigators to help me search for Carina. They’re retired from the Osservatori and were the top in their field when they worked there. He said they’ll be paid until they find her.” My voice faltered with the threat of tears as I finished the sentence.

  We’d taken a walk on the beach last night, trying to escape the chaos that’d been swirling around us since everything ended. There’d been a never-ending stream of people that needed our time to wrap up the loose ends of the case. While we stood watching the waves, he’d handed me a file that had been started by the investigators. It contained everything they knew so far, which wasn’t much. It was a small sliver of hope though, and that would have to be enough for right now.

  Brady stood up, grabbing me from the bench, pulling me into a tight hug. “We’ll find her. When the time comes, I’ll be there. I’ll help you hunt that bastard to the ends of the earth if that’s what we need to do. You’re my girl. I’ll hold his ass while you kick the crap out of him. Then I’ll tell the police that’s how we found him. I am not playing.”

  Tears threatened to spill out, but instead I laughed. The picture Brady painted was too funny to let the sadness overtake me. “Thank you. I'd be honored to have you hold him down while I beat the shit out of him.”

  I hugged him again, holding onto the solidness of his body. The image of him laying crumpled on the ground would haunt me for a very long time. The fae had shared a library of medicine with the Osservatori, but they’d kept a few tricks up their sleeve. Brady had broken both his arms, his legs, and his neck when the succubus had tossed him. He should have been laying in a bed somewhere with months of recovery ahead of him. Yet here he was, perfectly put back together.

  “This calls for more wine. Do we have more wine?” he asked.

  “Of course we have more wine. It’s in the pantry off the kitchen.” Nerina said, rolling her eyes at his stupid question.

  “I’m going to grab a few more bottles.” He smiled, before running off to flirt with Nonna. It had become his favorite pastime. Nonna pretended to hate it, but she never put up with anything she didn’t want to do.

  I flopped back down onto the bench with my sister. We both sat staring at the flowers swaying in the breeze, content to have this moment to breath.

  “Are you going to tell that poor man you love him?” Nerina asked, nudging me with her arm.

  “No, because I don’t. I barely like him most days. I married the first guy I slept with. Looking back, I don’t think I ever really loved Red. I loved the idea of him. I thought no one would ever want me for so many reasons. I convinced myself he was the one. Luc’s great in bed, and for now that’s all I want,” I said. No matter how lost I was about every other aspect of my life, I knew this with certainty. I was not going to fall in love until I knew it was really love.

  “Would you be pissed if I went on a date with Leander?” Nerina asked shyly.

  “Why would I be pissed? He seems like an amazing guy. We owe him for protecting Nonna anyway. I’m willing to let you pay that price.”

  “I’m not going because we owe him! I’m going out with him because I’ve never banged a shifter before. God! Get it right.” She laughed.

  “If you guys get married and have babies, you’ll have so many great names to choose from. Mufasa, Simba, or Nala if it’s a girl,” I said, fighting myself to keep from laughing.

  “How long is it going to take before the Lion King jokes get old?” She crossed her arms in mock anger.

  “Probably never.” I laughed.

  “I hate you so much,” she said, pulling my hair.

  I lightly smacked the side of her head, laughing as she pinched my arm in revenge. I smiled, leaning into her, both of us sighing. She’d walked through hell with me the last few weeks. She was having nightmares almost nightly. Witnessing a demon mass murder was not something you walked away from unscathed.

  Nonna called from the kitchen window. “Get in here to help. What are you two doing playing in the garden while I slave away?”

  “Does she have a radar that beeps every time we’re trying to relax for a minute? Let’s go help her before we lose our spaghetti dinner privileges.”

  “Let me grab Luc. I’ll be right in.”

  I waited on the bench for Luc to finish his call. He finally strode over, frustration pouring from him.

  “Everything OK?”

  “We’re getting a new agent assigned to us
since Leontyne is leading her own team.” He shrugged as if he didn’t care.

  “You don’t seem thrilled about it.”

  “He’s a prick, but we’ll figure it out. We have a few weeks before he comes on board.”

  “You want to come in and eat some pasta with me?” I asked, grabbing his hand.

  Luc narrowed his eyes. Nonna had chased him out of the house twice this week already. “What’s the catch?”

  “No catch. Nonna begrudgingly accepts you had a small part to play in saving her life, so she decided the least she could do was give you some pasta. I can’t promise she’ll be nice to you, but you can eat with us,” I said.

  “Alright, but if she hits, spits, or curses at me, I’m out of here.” He grinned.

  “That’s up to you, but I’d put up with all that and more to be able to eat this meal,” I said, sauntering back towards the house.

  We piled into the kitchen as Nonna was placing steaming bowls of pasta onto the counter. She’d spent hours making the dough, carefully crafting the pasta for our meal. The meatballs and pork chops were piled high on a separate plate. Each meatball was hand-rolled, fried, and bathed in a simmering sauce all day.

  “It’s about time you showed up. Mr. DeFiero, please take those bowls to the table,” Nonna commanded, watching him to ensure he jumped at her words. It was going to be a long night for Luc.

  “Alba, please think again. It’s not fair you do not let me bring my friend.” Aunt Sophia stood at the counter, wringing her hands as she spoke.

  “What’s going on, Aunt Sophia?” I asked, leaning over to give her a peck on the cheek.

  “I want Albert Savini to come at dinner. She says no.” Aunt Sophia glared at Nonna.

  “Because he will find out you’re pazzo, and then I will never marry you off again.” Nonna waved her wooden spoon as she spoke.

  “Zia, the man already knows she’s insane, but he keeps showing up anyway. I think he’s one of those guys that likes crazy chicks,” Gia said.

  “Fine! He comes next Sunday. If he runs away after, don’t come crying to me.” Nonna shook her head.

  We carried the remaining bowls to the dining table. Leontyne stood in the dining room, adjusting the silverware on the table while lecturing Brady on proper table settings. “The forks always go on the left. We’re not savages,” Leontyne said, rearranging the silverware behind Brady.

  “This isn’t the Ritz either. I don’t think anyone here cares where the fork is,” Brady said, stretching his wings behind him.

  “Put those away at the dinner table.” Luc tapped on Brady’s giant wings.

  With a huff, Brady folded his wings against his back, flopping into the chair next to Aunt Sophia. “At least I get to sit by you. You’re just a cupcake wrapped in a peach.”

  Aunt Sophia giggled at Brady’s exaggerated compliment, batting her eyes at him. Hopefully she didn’t decide later tonight that he was given her the malocchio.

  Nonna entered the room and sat at the head of the table. We all quickly followed, finding a place around the table. Vee stood at the end of the table looking confused. She didn’t have much experience with family dinners.

  “We are starting our meal, please have a seat.” Nonna nodded at the empty chairs.

  Vee sat next to me, smiling broadly. I needed to get to know her better. There was a sadness to her that I hadn’t noticed when we first met. A good friend would find out what that was.

  “Take hands,” Nonna said. Everyone quickly obeyed, grabbing the hand of the person next to them. “Even though most of you are godless heathens, we will still say the Lord's prayer. Bow your heads.”

  Like children we obeyed without question, even the godless heathens.

  “Benedici, Signore please bless us and this bounty we are about to receive. Help my granddaughter and her friends to not make any more stupid choices. They’ve made many over the last few weeks. Please keep them safe. They need you to watch over them. May your generosity light the way. Per Cristo nostro Signore, Amen. Buona fortuna, salud.”

  “Amen. Salud,” the table answered in unison, raising our glasses.

  Lifting a forkful of pasta dripping with sauce into my mouth, I let the flavors sit on my tongue. This was heaven. All the worries that had been swirling around my head melted away with each bite of food I shoveled in. Everything was different, but nothing had changed. We were going to be OK. I just needed to make sure there was enough wine and pasta to get us through it.

  The End

  Acknowledgements

  So many people helped me bring this book baby into the world that I might be able to write another novel just on that alone! If I missed you it doesn’t mean I love you any less, it just means my brain was too addled at this point to have my shit together.

  Esteban. I never would have made it to the publish finish line with you. I can’t tell you enough how much your unquestioning support means to me. You’re also my editor, idea sounding board, and chest to cry on when I think I’m too tired to keep going. I love you stupid.

  Guiseppe and Tree. All I can say is how did I get so lucky? Thank you for everything you sacrificed to let me work on my dreams. Thank you for all the work you’ve done to help me get here. I’m so proud of you and freaking love you guys, hair and all.

  Lorrie and Joe DeNiro, thank you for giving me wings and encouraging me to dream bigger darling. Thank you for painting my world with sunshine when I needed it most, and for being the kind of people I aspire to. You’re pretty much the best damn parents a girl could have.

  Barbara Meyers, my first editor way back in beta hell and most favorite mother in law. Thank you for believing in me from the beginning and giving me, you brain and time. We’re finally here!!!

  Mr. Michael Ginetti. How many vacations did you live through where I babbled about this book endlessly? You’re my ride or die always. Thank you for teaching me about your witchey ways so I could write about it with some damn respect. We’re that much closer to our sheep farm in Ireland.

  Rebecca Munoz Uptergrove how are you so freaking amazing!!! Thank you for all your support, your feedback, and cheering me on every step of the way. Somedays you’re the only person who kept me writing.

  Special thanks to my editor Tiffany Shand. I handed her a nightmare and she polished it and made it pretty. Thank you for your patience and teaching me so much about how to actually turn a manuscript over to someone lol.

  A special shout out to all my beta and ARC readers. Without you I’d have nothing fit to give the world!

  Last but not least, thank you cancer. Thank you for coming along and trying to kick my ass. You lit a fire that nothing will ever be able to extinguish now. I won. Fuck you. Hope you like my book though.