by R. L. Wilson
I open my eyes as he removes his hand from my shoulder. He sits with his legs crossed, resting his chin on his hand. Giving me his undivided attention. “I think Andrea is just doing what she can to make sure you don’t kill yourself in this war.” He clears his throat. “She could also be jealous; you have more magical abilities, and the allegiance of the pack.”
It’s surprising that he thinks she’s trying to help. He was the one who told me to watch out for her.
“Yeah, but the one thing I don’t have is the knowledge to use my magic. That’s what she has. She’s a trained sniper and using her magic is second nature. I have these great magical abilities, but I don’t have a clue about how to use them. What good are they doing me?”
“Since the moon curse no one, especially not the witches, have had an alliance with the pack. You got here two days ago. The pack is already falling at your feet.”
“Yeah, but I wasn’t trying to. I don’t want Andrea’s territory or the pack of wolves. All I want is my mother so I can go home and live happily ever after. Please, no need for a lecture. Hearing about this damn moon curse makes my ears bleed. I don’t give two fucks about the curse.”
He rises to his feet and extends his hand to help me up. He’s such a gentleman. I love the softer side of him.
“Come with me, I have to show you something.” I follow him out the gym doors, hurrying along before the thick door slams shut in my face. He’s so excited to show me something he didn’t hold the door for me. The tale of two heads—sometimes he’s gentle and sometimes not.
I step into the yard of the facility. The gym sits on a hill, peering down on the city. I observe the constant city buzz and the thick smoke that pollutes the air. It’s like a bee hive that never stops moving.
“When you were healing the land, I noticed something. Maybe I was tripping, but I want to at least investigate further.”
What did he see? I hope it’s something I can use. I don’t need any more useless magic. I’ve got enough of that for now.
He pauses and extends his right hand out, closing his eyes. The ultimate victory! I’ve wanted to see Kato’s magic for a while. I have asked several times in the past. It was always a mystery. He’s so private about things.
I view the stream of magic floating from his palms, the magic so thick it’s palpable. I lean away as his magic continues. It’s humid outside and Kato’s magic is scorching. Oh, shit, it’s true. I was right all along! His magic…it’s dark. It resembles shadows of objects, but the fire still burns within.
Why is his magic so dark, but his soul so gentle? When I think of dark magic, I think of the scum of the earth Prentiss and Randy, the rogue souls. What happened to him to make his magic dark? Was this his goal? Does he use it for evil?
“Your magic is so hot and dark.” I scowl at him, expecting him to say his magic is dark, but he isn’t. But he doesn’t.
“I don’t use black magic.”
His is shadow magic; a form of dark magic, but the strongest. He lowers his hand and inhales the polluted air as a faint breeze brushes against my arm. It does nothing for this heat. My shirt is soaked from boob sweat.
“Your magic is not all dark. There is a fire burning within each shadow. I can see it.” He shakes his head no. Did my eyes deceive me?
“There is no fire within my shadows, it’s just dark.” His eyes pop open, and he shoots me a stare. “I’ve walked down many dark paths to get to the point of shadow magic. I don’t use it often, and only when necessary.”
“Oh, like when you took Randy out?”
“Yeah, that was one time.”
He steps forward, inching closer to the edge of the hill. His weight is so perfectly balanced one wrong move will send him tumbling on a downward spiral. Tingles of apprehension raced up my spine.
“You should concentrate and practice. I think you have it too,” he mutters, hanging on to the tip of the hill by a thread. “It could benefit you when it’s time to go to war to save your mom.”
My heart rate increases. “I’d feel much better if you come and stand under this tree with me.”
“Why, you’re scared I’m going to fall?”
“No, just hot.” I walk back toward the large oak tree providing some relief from the bright sun.
I didn’t tell him, but hell yeah, I’m scared he will fall. Then I’d be stuck healing him. And I don’t have any energy for that, I’m too damn hot.
“Are there any other cursed lands around?”
“Healing other lands won’t work out well for you.” He comes closer to me. Just what I wanted. I got his attention.
“Why not?”
“These lands were cursed for good reason.” He brushes the sweat from his brow. “The moon curse was good for someone. Maybe not the werewolves.”
The rustle of leaves grabs my attention. There is no wind, so someone is walking within our vicinity. It better not be Chris ready for more training.
“Did someone say werewolves?” Derrick asks as he scuttles to the oak tree breathing heavily.
He looks like he has been running for his life. His tongue hangs from his mouth while he’s panting, trying to catch his breath.
“I ran as fast as I could,” he whispers. His eyes flutter, his skin pale. It’s likely heat exhaustion. Who can run in this heat?
“What’s wrong?” I rush to his side.
“One of the wolves has located Prentiss.”
Chapter Three
“Let’s go, Kato!”
I roll my pants leg up and prepare to take off. If someone saw Prentiss, I want to get there before he vanishes. The minute Derek said he might have found our target, I got an odd sensation reminding me that Prentiss would never be located this easy. He plays dirty and he won’t give up until his death.
“Hold on, I didn’t say anything about Kato going,” Derek explains.
Is he serious? Whatever beef the two of them have, they need to fry it and eat it. I need help from both of them to find my mother.
Derek comes close to Kato and sniffs his shirt. He frowns and walks around him sniffing. Kato lifts his arms and sniffs his armpits.
“No. I can smell darkness and fresh blood on him. He’s not coming with us,” Derrick growls.
I assume the stringent aroma of Kato’s black magic is overwhelming. But it’s not like he does it all the time, and he won’t use it on Derrick. I throw my hands on my hips. “Guys, we don’t have all day. You know how slick Prentiss is.”
“Need I remind you, Derrick, that when you are a wolf you do some foul shit too.” Kato scowls. His face turns pink, the muscles more defined in his face. His eyes glare daggers at Derrick. My God, he’s sexy when he’s angry.
“I do, but I’ve never practiced black magic.” He raises his eyebrow and scratches his nose.
Can’t these two get along? They’re squaring off sending shots back and forth. Meanwhile, my mother is held captive or worse.
I grab Kato by the arm and pull him out of Derrick’s face. “Let’s go, please.”
“I’ll do this for you, Harmony.” He runs his hand through the patch of hair on the back of his hand. “Kato, stay out of my way,” Derrick warns with a sharp stare.
“Thank you,” I reply.
Clenching his teeth tight, Kato didn’t say a word. I can tell by the creases on his forehead he is furious. The tension between these two is thick. The sooner we find Momma the better. Before they kill each other.
We travel for miles in the sweltering heat only to find an old farmhouse. It appears abandoned, with missing shutters and an unmanicured yard.
“Shit, where did Graham go?”
“Who?” I ask.
“One of the wolves was just standing here watching the house.” He side-eyes Kato.
I can’t believe it, that slimy snake weaseled away again! I lower my head in disbelief as my hands tremble. Will I ever get my mother back? Remembering her soft voice and high-pitched laugh brings a rapid thud to my chest. She didn’t deserve
this. This was my fight. Prentiss brought a gun to a knife fight.
Kato comes over and wraps his arms around me. It’s what I need after another disappointment. I’m strong, but I’m taking a brutal beating. I feel like a wounded bird in need of shelter. Wanting to be free, unable to fly home.
I hear Derrick yell and sharply I turn my attention to him. Kato releases me from his grip.
“So, what happened, Kato?” Derrick questions.
Kato grimaces. “What are you talking about?” His eyes bulge as if he is in shock.
I don’t understand why he’s in shock. He should’ve assumed he would get the blame. Derrick is already suspicious. I’m not sure what happened before, but Kato’s past is definitely darker than I thought.
“You have black magic, right? I better not find out you had something to do with this,” Derrick barks as his nails sharpen into claws.
I walk over into Derrick’s face. “Kato would not have been able to do any black magic without me knowing.”
“Yeah, you’re barking up the wrong tree,” Kato explains. But his body language tells a different story. He stares at the ground and bites his bottom lip.
Maybe he can use black magic without me knowing. I was sticking up for Kato, however, I’m not sure what Kato is capable of. But he cares about me. I think.
Constant bickering between these two is draining. Derrick throws evil energy accusing Kato. And then Kato responds with more destructive energy.
“I have Graham’s scent; let’s go,” Derrick explains.
We race through the woods behind Derrick. The hot grass hits my ankles and the odor of wet hair and tree bark cause me to cough. I move slower than Kato and Derrick—my legs are heavy. I lazily lift my legs, marching instead of running. Derrick is a few hundred feet in front of me, still within view.
Everywhere I turn there are trees and more trees, like they will never end. Why would his pack mate be deep in the woods if he was supposed to be watching the house making sure Prentiss didn’t escape with Momma?
I have to keep up…I could get lost in these woods. Kato slows down a bit.
“Come on, Harmony, keep up.”
“I’m trying. Derrick moves like a roadrunner.”
I push my hair out of my face, noting it’s wet and greasy. I need a shower, but I can’t stop now. I’m so close to finding Momma.
At last, I hear a saxophone or horn playing beautiful Southern music. We have come upon a city. I’m not sure where we are.
At the end of the trail, there’s a building. But Andrea steps into view in front of Derrick. She is saying something to him. She has her hands folded, and her eyebrows flicker. Sure, she isn’t yelling, but whatever she’s saying makes Kato stop in his tracks.
I’m a little anxious. What is she saying? But I can’t walk any faster. I’m exhausted. I swat at a fly buzzing around my face. These are not little house flies. These flies are big as dragonflies.
I make it to where Kato is standing, only two feet from Andrea and Derrick. I’m on alert, suspicious of Andrea’s behavior. She was warm and welcoming; now she is a shell of herself. Something about her I don’t quite understand.
“Have you seen Graham around here?” Derrick pleads.
Kato and I stalk closer to listen in on the conversation. I want to know Graham’s whereabouts more than anybody here.
Three of Andrea’s witches come and stand by her side, as if we’re here for a brawl. They can chill. I’m not here for a fight. I’m family, supposedly, and we are here searching for Momma. If Andrea is Momma’s cousin, why isn’t she looking?
One has on a green dress and a scar beneath her left eye. Looks like she was in a battle recently and got her ass kicked.
“Derrick, you’re far from home. You’re in witch territory.” Andrea glares at Derrick with an unimpressed face.
Derrick holds his hands in the air. “I don’t want any trouble. I’m just here for Graham, and his scent is here.”
“You need to keep your pack on a shorter leash. They could run into trouble.” She glances over at me and then back at Derrick. Her face is expressionless. Her facial muscles didn’t move. Does she get Botox injections?
She snaps her fingers while staring at Derrick. “Go retrieve Graham now, Kesh.”
Scarface in the green dress dashes across the street. Andrea darts her gaze from me to Kato and back to Derrick. “Stop looking for Prentiss. He’s not here, he’s never been here,” Andrea barks.
Kesh comes back with Graham following her. He appears distraught, a frown upon his face, his T-shirt ripped, and his right eye slightly swollen.
“Do yourself a favor, get back to wolf town. The witches run this side. Understood?” She winks at me. The first time I’ve witnessed her face move since we’ve been standing here. It was a sarcastic wink, like I see you. I wink back—I see her too.
We’ve located the missing shifter, but where the hell is Momma?
Chapter Four
She’s working with Prentiss.
Ha, Andrea thinks she’s slick or I’m dumb. I have a bad feeling bubbling in my guts. It’s tugging at the edge of my mind, so I’m listening. I have a feeling, but I can’t prove anything.
We continue trudging through witch territory until we come near the other side of the woods. I’m sure these wolves wouldn’t like anything more than to sink their teeth into Andrea’s big-ass legs. But she’s a force to be reckoned with. Making war with Andrea will devastate the pack for generations.
“Andrea’s working with Prentiss.” Oh, shit, I just blurted it out. No turning back now.
“What? That’s far-fetched,” Kato argues.
“I’m telling you, I sense it.” My scowling at Kato could burn a hole in the side of his head. He shouldn’t question my assessment of Andrea.
I can feel her essence. If only I could read her thoughts. Then I’d be sure she’s working for Prentiss. But now I’m seventy percent sure. Cousin, my ass.
“I wouldn’t put it past her,” Derrick mutters.
“You wouldn’t.” Kato’s nostrils flare. “Just because you don’t like her doesn’t mean she would be so grimy as to work with Prentiss against her own family.”
He’s getting angry again. He and Derrick are like oil and water, they just don’t mix.
“She’s acting strange. I’ve come to the witches’ area before and they’ve never dragged me off and held me captive,” Graham explains as he pulls his T-shirt down, glancing at the large holes. “She knew I was watching Prentiss, and she still had me taken to that empty building.” He’s in obvious pain but trying to hide it. Every time he moves a muscle he grimaces.
Graham said he was okay, but he doesn’t look okay. He has been imprisoned, and I’m sure they weren’t nice to him. Judging by his bruised face, they slapped him a time or two. There’s a dark mystery surrounding this entire town. Like a safe that needs to be open, and I plan on cracking the code.
I pull out the map of New Orleans I had stored in my back pocket and spread it flat on the ground. “Where are the other cursed lands you spoke of, Kato?”
“Why?”
“It’s a question, and I believe it can prove my theory.” I point to a location on the map. “Is it here?”
“Prentiss has no dealings with those lands. You need to leave that alone.” He gives me a sharp glare.
Why is he so defensive? And he wants to question my judgement? Derrick is a pureblood werewolf. He has a proficient nose. And even better instincts. He, at least, listens to what I have to say.
Kato is supposed to be my friend. However, when I have an idea, there’s always pushback. Like he’s working for the enemy, but that’s not the truth.
“You are going down a dark path. The same path I took years ago. I urge you to leave these lands alone,” Kato warns.
My pulse hammers. I’m walking into dark waters, but I can’t stop…it’s calling me. Kato was born here and maybe he knows better than I do. I differ from everyone here. I wasn’t raised here
. I have no ties or connection to this city. But the one thing Kato seems to forget is that my mother is the one who’s missing.
“I understand your mom is missing.” He grabs me by my arm and drags me away from Derrick and Graham. It’s as if Andrea has infected his mind. She must be good at mind control. The witches run behind her like well-trained puppies.
We stand under a tree. I need a little shade. “The history of this town is serious. If you awaken some of these lands you’ll be hunted down like a dog.” His eyes bulge as he shakes his head. “I was young and naïve just like you. Trust me, you don’t want to go down that road.”
My voice cracks. “How bad could it be?”
“Probably death to you and everyone around you,” he says really nonchalantly.
My brain aches with confusion. And by the sizzle in his speech, he’s serious.
Derrick and Graham walk up beside me. Derrick is holding the map in his hand.
“If you heal more of these lands, more people like me will be free from their curses,” Derrick explains.
It’s a double-edged sword. I know what it’s like being attached to a curse and wanting freedom. But what danger will come after me if I heal these lands?
“Each of these lands contains a curse that binds a group of paranormal people,” Derrick says. His eyes glowed a luminous golden color as he spoke about the enslaved paranormals. He’s passionate about freeing everyone.
“You want her to risk her life for people she’s never met?” Kato growls with anger in his eyes. He is only concerned for my well being, but what kind of witch would I be if I didn’t help my kind?
“I’ll guard her with my life.” He tightens his mouth as anger flits across his face. Derrick doesn’t blink. One more insult from Kato and Derrick will explode.
I trust the pack. They will protect me. First, I was flirting with danger. Healing these lands would mean marrying danger.
