Belladonna's Curse

by E. M. Whittaker

  That was no guarantee either. They hunted each other down a month ago.

  His phone vibrated. Another message from Celene. If he told her Aquarius visited him, she’d lash out at him.

  The two women never got along.

  They stayed cordial for his sake, then argued in the shadows. However, when they teamed up, they got shit done. Like this report. Aquarius couldn’t pull this off alone. Neither could Celene. They’d get a third of it done by themselves. Together, they managed an incredible feat.

  One day, he’d make them get along.

  He’d have to stop the vampire and werewolf feud first, though.

  “I don’t know about him.” He texted Maurice while he spoke. “He’s on a vengeance kick from what Sis said. Besides, he’s infected by that demon. He’s become a wild card. He might end up possessed like all the other specimens of the magical parasites like the Society wrote about in their records.”

  “Should we call our trump cards on him?”

  “No.” He finished his text and pressed the send button. “If we do, we might blow Sis’s secret. About the magical parasite, I mean.”

  “You should tell her.” Aquarius inched closer to him. “You’re dying for her secret about this magical parasitic being inside of her body. The least you could do is warn her. She should know that much. Her medicine won’t hide her secret forever, y’know.”

  No. It wouldn’t.

  He had to prepare two people for this explosive secret. Well, a handful of people, if he were honest with himself. But he could only handle training two people about Sis - herself and Maurice. That was where he’d make a direct impact. He’d soften the blow for them by sharing his experiences. He’d warn them about the Society and about its devious members. About how they thought Sis was their path toward Armageddon.

  Seriously? They were whacked.

  Except for a few contacts.

  Those two—Kelvin and Soulstealer—they were certifiable nutjobs with a brilliant intellect. Too bad they served the wrong side. If they defended Sis, he’d place them as her bodyguards. Not Travis the Walking Half-Demon.

  Beggars couldn’t be choosers, though.

  So, he’d have to train his family.

  Fast.

  “Yeah.” Lim shoved the phone into his pocket. “I know. I would, but she’s—”

  “Look, I don’t like Aviere.” Aquarius crossed her arms. “You know I’m the first person to wish ill-will on that girl. But in this case, you’re acting like your mother. Coddling her won’t do Maurice or her any favors. They’ll fail without your help.”

  “What if the Society visits them first?”

  “What if they do?”

  “They… Well, they’ll think I’ve betrayed them.”

  “Sweetie, they already think that.” She cupped his face with both hands. “They’re on the ‘you’re back on drugs’ bandwagon like everyone else. What’s this gonna do? Leave another black mark with them, that’s what.”

  Her voice grew faster, but his determination soured. She was right. They would jump on the drug bandwagon.

  He hid behind those lies for years.

  “Look, see if you can figure out the formula to this new drug Donahue’s pushing.” He backed away. “I gotta get back home. Maurice texted me and wants an update.”

  She smiled. “Tell Reese I said hi.”

  Lim kissed her cold cheek. “I will. Thanks, Summer.”

  “Stop with—”

  “Thanks.” He patted her hand. “For working with Cel, I mean. It means a lot to me.”

  “I know.” She scooted closer until she almost snuggled against him. “I do try, you know. Sometimes, jealousy overtakes me. I could be a better girlfriend than her.”

  “No, you couldn’t. You didn’t get me off drugs.”

  Her expression soured. “Way to rub salt in the wound.”

  “I’ll see you later. Give me a call if anything turns up.”

  “Sure thing. Later.”

  She took a left and went down a dark alleyway.

  Dammit. Aquarius would attract attention if she turned into a bat again.

  He couldn’t stop her, though. She was more powerful than him thanks to her vampiric blood. However, it calmed her sanity sometimes and she attacked humans once in a while. The whole bloodlust mentality made her nuts whenever she didn’t feed for days.

  At least she bounced back whenever he snapped at her. Her unrequited love—no matter how stalkerish it became—always reminded her of her loyalty.

  He couldn’t say the same for Travis.

  Lim headed down the street. What would happen to Sis’s partner? He didn’t seem to have the gumption to fight off demons like he did. However, he surprised him by holding light inside his aura. If he could hold onto that, then—

  Without warning, a man with white hair and dark skin stepped into his way.

  No. Impossible. His brother-in-law was missing, right?

  Well, no. If he were missing, he’d have a silver aura—the one which represented shifters, not this red, silver, and black mess infecting his body.

  This kind of aura meant someone manipulated his body with black magic.

  Lim shuddered. Either someone cooked up a fancy illusion spell—and somehow hijacked into one of his worst fears—or that really was Gunther standing there in broad daylight with a grim expression on his face. Either way, the man stood there and expected him to greet him. But why show himself now? Did he still have a mind of his own or did someone put him there as a trap?

  Furthermore, did Sis know he—what was he, anyway? Dead? Alive? Halfway dead with one foot in the grave or in need of a savior to put him out of his misery?

  Probably not. Gunther always acted first and thought about the consequences later.

  Why meet with him of all people?

  Lim pulled out his beloved silver box. Screw caution. He needed this. Anyone with a right mind would need something to deal with this reality check. Joe would use beer. Jem would make a dozen horrendous burritos and eat them in one shot. Sis would either strangle him or become the world’s clingiest wife.

  Whatever. The real Gunther would chastise him, take them, and throw them into the gutter. Or crush them.

  Whichever came to mind.

  “I know what this looks like.” The tall Jamaican plucked the silver box out of his hand. “And you don’t need those. You want to land back in jail?”

  “I’m sorry.” Lim took his box back. “I just wanted to see if you were real or not. Not everyone comes back after a long hiatus and just greets people like they never disappeared.”

  “I have my reasons.”

  “No reason you have—”

  “Sanderson.” Gunther bared his teeth. “He’s got something planned for Aviere, but I can’t figure it out. Every time I get a chance to sneak away, she’s got one of her two moronic assholes with her. I just... It’s bad enough what he’s done to me. I know you see something with those weird eyes of yours even when you’re stoned.”

  How dare him. To act as if he never disappeared discredited his heartache. Aviere’s. Maurice’s. Even their friends’. It was as if he never cared about their feelings.

  The mage sighed. He couldn’t lose his temper on him.

  Oh, yeah. He’d need a whole blunt for this conversation because the truth bombs he was about to drop would hurt. It didn’t matter, though.

  Gunther would never come home again.

  “You’re up shit’s creek without a paddle, Gun.” Lim lit up the joint and took a long puff. “You’ve got a lot to answer for and Sis probably won’t listen to you. She’ll withdraw because you walked away.”

  “If you saw what she became—”

  “I have.” The drug started to calm his nerves. “Oh, believe me. I have. I’ve seen what you’ve both become. She’s almost the homicidal bitch on steroids in touch with her shifter side while you’re…well… not the right person to support her anymore. Quite frankly, I think she’s better off without you eve
n if she disagrees with me or gets pissed about it. I’d rather have Dick Tracey with her at this point ‘cause he understands her.”

  Gunther growled. “Take that back.”

  “No.” Lim puffed out his chest and prayed Gunther wouldn’t punch him in the face. “I don’t get a choice at whether I can trade her in for a new sister. She’s the only one I have. And last I checked, marriage vows include something about loving them for better or worse. So, yeah. If I have to choose between you two, I’m gonna look out for her first.”

  Gunther shuddered. “Her real form is scary as fuck.”

  “Don’t change the subject.”

  “I mean, I had considered—”

  “Yeah, I get it.” Lim flicked the ashes onto the ground and ushered them into another alleyway. “Honest. But that’s not how you disappeared, and you know it. So, how about telling me the truth?”

  “Because I wanted to talk to her.”

  For a big dude who scared people, Gunther turned into a softie around his sister. Even the way he sounded lowered by a few octaves. Some of his pent-up stress faded away at the mere mention of his sibling. It always did.

  Then he mentioned her blood and her transformed state, and his stress returned.

  Sis’s condition always affected him.

  “Look, it’s real simple.” The drug relaxed his nerves long enough to calm down the tense man. “You still love Sis, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “So, why hide from the goon squad?”

  “Because they’ve got fancier collars with listening devices.”

  “Don’t you have one, too?”

  “No.” Gunther brushed off his dark blue cotton t-shirt. “We don’t. But I don’t care for those guys, either. Especially Travis. He’s a loose cannon. But she’s stuck with the blasted Bringer of Death, so I gotta make sure she stays alive.”

  “Yeah, well—”

  “I overheard.” Gunther’s tone darkened. “It’s the only reason I’m letting you smoke right now. What kind of bonehead—”

  “If you listened, then you’d know Angel’s trap was meant for me, numbskull. Not him.”

  God, Gunther didn’t develop any smarts while he went on his ten-year disappearance. He should have developed patience by now. But no. He just shot in the dark like always.

  Lim knew he’d regret this, but he couldn’t let Gunther shoot himself in the foot again, either.

  He’d have to solve his problem.

  Again.

  “Listen.” Lim waved him closer. “In all seriousness, I should let Sis scream at you until she’s blue in the face. Hell, if you’re here, that means Jem’s involved with this stunt. I should tell Reese, Sis, and Joe about it. But I won’t. I’ll help you because I understand your intentions. So, listen before I change my mind.”

  The gruff man grabbed Lim’s shirt. “Quit patronizing me.”

  “I’m the first of many people who’ll judge your stupid ass.” He pushed Gunther’s hand away. “But if you don’t want my help, then whatever. I’ll just call Sis and let her argue with you.”

  Because Gunther deserved it.

  Stupid fuck.

  “Humph.” He grunted, then backed off. However, his dark eyes narrowed. “What’s your plan?”

  “Simple. Don’t get caught.”

  “Don’t be a smartass.”

  “Then listen.” This time, Lim jerked on his shirt. “Help the mage. The pencil-pusher who irritates her can jump off a short pier. We’ll deal with him later whenever he’s on the field.”

  “How?”

  “However you need.” Jesus, he needed crayons to draw out a diagram for this fool. “Magic enhancements, information, files … anything you can think of short of Sis throwing a conniption fit whenever she sees you.”

  “Magic enhancements.” Gunther mulled over the sentence. “Magic isn’t my expertise, though.”

  “Goddammit, Quentin.” He resisted the urge to kick his less than astute brother and grabbed his phone. “What’s your number?”

  “It never changed.”

  He stopped. “Sis could’ve called you?”

  Gunther nodded.

  “I mean—”

  “I ported the number out before I went missing because I thought about a trial separation after her transformation.” Shame crossed his face. “I mean, it wasn’t right—she can’t help it—but she fucked me up. I was in the hospital for two weeks. And our marriage got rocky anyway after Quinn disappeared. So, yeah. I should’ve stayed a bit longer. That’s on me.”

  Yeah. He shouldn’t help him.

  He should let him rot.

  “Well, look. I’ll help you on one condition.” He took another long puff of his sweet salvation. “You tell Aviere the truth.”

  “I planned on it.”

  “The whole truth.” Lim shoved a finger in his face. “Not your fucked-up version of it.”

  “Settle your differences with her, then.”

  “I wish I could.” He dropped the joint and crushed it with his worn tennis shoe. “She won’t listen to me. I want to share things with her that, well, she needs to know. But I’m not sure if she’s ready.”

  “Let me share a secret with you.” Gunther rubbed his shoulder. “No one’s ever ready for bad or catastrophic news. You just gotta give it, then pray they’re mature enough to process it.”

  Well, damn. He talked big, but never took his own advice.

  “We’re in the same boat.”

  Lim shook his head.

  “Yeah. We are.”

  “You know, we have a new place.” Lim thumbed behind him. “You could always try coming home with me and see how far you get. It’d solve some of your problems. You don’t have to stay long, you know. Just stay long enough to let Sis and Reese know you’re alive and all.”

  “I wish I could.” The bigger man hugged himself. “But you of all people—”

  “I mean, I understand some of why you left. Sanderson’s a dangerous dude. But you could’ve left a note, voicemail, letter, something. You killed her self-esteem for a while. Hell, her entire personality tanked. Now, she’s become unbearable with a large chip on her shoulder. It’s like you just left. It’s horrible. Please don’t put me—no, us—through this again.”

  Doubt settled on Gunther’s face. “That’s impossible.”

  “A lot has happened in ten years.”

  “Then maybe she’s ready.” Gunther’s doubtful expression turned thoughtful. “Perhaps I’ll settle this myself. Thanks, Lim.”

  Before Lim offered any more advice, Gunther headed down the street and waved while he walked off.

  Goddammit. He didn’t want to hide anymore secrets from Maurice or Sis.

  Lim headed down the opposite direction, ignoring the demoness’s laughter as it echoed inside his head. This bad day turned into a nightmare.

  He couldn’t lie to Sis.

  Not again.

  In order to process the news, she’d need a distraction and some support. Maybe he’d tell Maurice, too. The man deserved to know what happened to his older brother.

  His bony fingers flew over the touchscreen keypad. Meet me at Falling Branch in two hours. Got some information to share with you two about Sis’s case. Don’t be late.

  There. That should do it.

  Lim headed back to his car.

  He’d make things right between them.

  9

  Mye growled at another failed test inside her makeshift laboratory. Da’s evidence was a tough nut to crack.

  It wasn’t the evidence itself that bothered her this time. She could decipher the compounds of the homemade drug easily enough once she eliminated her unique bloodborne condition and added a few variables.

  In fact, if she could have saved her Mac from the explosion, she’d have cracked this mystery in less than three hours. However, Sanderson’s computers weren’t equipped for her high caliber work. It rejected the variables she put into the program Azazel used.

  Also, he restrict
ed her access to the mainframe.

  The bastard hid something.

  She couldn’t put her finger on it, but she’d never trusted Azazel since he worked with her mother. He smiled too much and made cryptic remarks about Mye when she was younger. Also, the way he hung around her mother reminded her of a stalker. Even Da didn’t like this creep.

  He had the right idea. Travis’s depiction of the mad scientist’s lab was spot-on.

  The place resembled a mortuary.

  Mye rolled her chair back, then stretched her cramped arms. The last few hours with Azazel Mordechai tried her patience and she needed a distraction to make him leave his morbid sanctuary. Even if she got five minutes alone, it meant she could check her phone.

  She’d never check it around this jerk.

  “Hey.” Mye twirled a strand of hair. “Quick question for you.”

  He rolled his chair closer to her. “I shouldn’t give you the time of day, bitch. But what?”

  “When was the last time Sanderson updated this software? Or his computers?”

  “Beats me. Why?”

  “Because I don’t think I can install the software I owned to test this blood sample on these antiquated computers.” She held her chin while she talked. “If I’m going to have my own lab, I’ll need particular software. Otherwise, I’ll be useless to him.”

  “You already are.” His animosity carried throughout the room. “He has another purpose for you. So, enjoy your freedom while you can. It won’t last long.”

  Mye folded her arms across her chest. “Excuse me?”

  “I’ve already said too much.” The scientist’s voice deepened. “Perhaps I should let you figure out the truth for yourself. After all, you were always slow on the uptake. Maybe you could’ve saved Myra if you understood—”

  “Fuck you.” She stood and grabbed her purse. “Forget I asked you anything.”

  “That would be appreciated.”

  Screw this. She’d ask for another Mac and set up shop somewhere else. No one antagonized her about her mother. Furthermore, to insinuate she was better off dead didn’t help matters. Hell, she’d work at Peters’s office at this rate.