Damned and Cursed (Book 9): Witch Trial Page 23

  "Stop!" A hand pushed her shoulder. "It's me!"

  Martha took a deep breath, allowing herself to relax.

  "Caroline."

  Caroline peered out the tiny window in the door. Seeing no one was chasing, she turned her attention to Martha.

  She was angry.

  "You were supposed to leave," she said. "You were supposed to take the kid and run. I stopped by to warn you. It wasn't an invitation to fight."

  "I thought I could talk to her. To Aggie. I thought she would listen."

  "Her mind was made up twenty years ago. She's not going to it change now."

  "And the coven agrees? You're the only one who doesn't?" The look of doubt on Caroline's face gave Martha pause. "Caroline?"

  "I don't know how I feel about the kid," she admitted. "But Aggie said if you weren't with us, you were against us, and everything that we believe in. And that—" She took her hand. "I just don't agree with. You were never against us."

  Martha squeezed her shoulder.

  "Thank you."

  "You have to get out of here. Don't even bother with your car. Your stone. Is it connected with his?"

  "No."

  "What? Why not?"

  "Mine is still linked to the coven. Aggie could use it to track him. I couldn't allow that."

  "Okay, okay." Caroline paced a moment. "I can give you a few minutes, but you have to go. And you have to run. Okay?"

  Martha hesitated. She'd had enough of running and hiding. But she knew there weren't better options. Not against the entire coven.

  She nodded.

  Caroline raised her bracelet to her lips.

  "Ladies," she said. "I saw her leaving the hotel. Through the doors near the kitchen."

  A moment of silence, then Aggie's voice came back.

  "Thank you. Everyone head that way."

  Caroline gestured to the stairs.

  "Go."

  Martha wouldn't go without a goodbye. She hugged Caroline tight, realizing there was a good chance they'd never see each other again. Caroline sniffled, trying to hold back tears. Martha ran down the stairs, before her own emotions overwhelmed her.

  The kitchen was on the other side of the hotel. She had a clear path to the exit doors near the workout center. As she pushed the doors open, she retrieved her phone once again. There were many trinkets a witch could use to block a signal, all with varying degrees. All she had to do was cross the street, blend in with the humans nearby. Then she could call Kevin, tell him to prepare to leave.

  She stared at her phone. No signal yet. The sidewalk was just ahead.

  Finally, one bar appeared, almost like magic. She scrolled through her list of recent calls, looking for her own home number. She prayed he was there.

  She never saw the car coming.

  The world spun around her. Her head smacked something hard. There was the sound of brakes squealing. Her ribs were on fire.

  From what sounded like miles away, two car doors opened and closed. She recognized a voice. Aggie. Or maybe it was Elizabeth. She couldn't tell.

  Slowly, the darkness folded in around her. Her senses shut down as she fell unconscious. Or perhaps she was dying. She wasn't certain of that, either.

  CHAPTER 19

  Leese relaxed on her brother's couch, her bare feet dangling over the arm. She mindlessly twirled her toes while listening to music on her phone. The smell of pizza in the oven filled the house, and if Alex and Cindy weren't home soon, she was going to help herself to dinner.

  Motion to her right caught her eye. She turned her head to see Cindy opening the door, sodas and chips in hand.

  She didn't look happy.

  "Hey," Leese greeted. "Everything okay?"

  Cindy let out a sigh as she set everything on the floor.

  "I forgot onion dip. So, I had to go back for that."

  Leese laughed as she stretched her arms over her head.

  "You didn't have to. We got plenty to eat."

  "You know Alex loves his onion dip."

  "He'll live. Screw him."

  "Actually, last night, we—"

  "Cindy," she warned, holding up a finger. "I told you. Don't make me get up off this couch."

  "Yeah, wouldn't dream of making you move." The two laughed before Cindy pulled her blouse away from her stomach. "And then there's this. Some asshole spilled a drink all over me at the gas station."

  Leese frowned at the wet blotch. "Real nice."

  "I know. Is the pizza done?"

  "Almost. Go change your shirt. I'll cut it up."

  "We have to wait for Alex."

  "He'll be late. Let's start without him."

  "He won't be late."

  "He will. He loves work more than you. You're old and used up."

  "I'm twenty-six."

  "Yeah. Old and used up."

  "You're hilarious."

  "I know."

  Cindy was only halfway to the bedroom when Alex arrived. He nearly tripped over the bags near the door.

  "See?" Cindy called. "I told you."

  Alex looked at his sister in confusion.

  "Told you what?"

  Leese finally swung her legs over and sat up on the couch.

  "I said you're always late."

  "That's not true."

  Cindy shouted from the bedroom.

  "She also said you love work more than me!"

  "Well, that's true," Alex joked.

  "I heard that!"

  He handed Leese a soda and joined her on the couch. Closing his eyes, he leaned back into the cushions, trying to disappear from the world, if only for a short time. Leese regarded her brother. She was proud of him, although she always chose her moments carefully when she told him. He was working harder than he ever had before. Money was coming in, and he was also helping others.

  "How did it go?" she asked, referring to his latest case.

  He took a long drink.

  "All done. The family was right. The house was haunted."

  "By the grandparents?"

  "No," Alex said, sadness in his voice. "By the previous owners. I just talked with them, as politely as I could. Told them the house wasn't theirs anymore."

  Leese shook her head. She'd interviewed the Mason family. They were one of the rare families who were hoping for a haunted house.

  "They really thought it was their grandparents."

  Alex leaned forward.

  "I know. I had to sit there and explain that not everyone that dies hangs around. It was weird. When I clear a house, usually it's a happy ending. They were really disappointed."

  He glanced around the living room, realizing Cindy hadn't yet joined them. He peered over the back of the couch.

  "What are you doing in there?"

  "Getting dressed," she called back.

  His eyes lit up.

  "That means she's naked."

  Alex jumped to his feet, ready for an eyeful of his wife. Leese smirked at his gleeful enthusiasm, then stretched out on the couch once again. He nearly passed by when she remembered. She reached out to grab his hand.

  "Hey," she said. "Did you stop by Victoria's place? Did you see Zoey?"

  His expression didn't give her hope.

  "Yeah, I did."

  "Well?" she said impatiently. "And? Did you get her stone?"

  "She lost it."

  Leese couldn't believe her ears. She stared at her brother, her face blank. Three passes of that simple remark went through her mind before she could speak.

  "She lost it," Leese repeated. "Zoey lost her magical stone, that lets her talk to the witch that created it."

  "That's what she said. She thinks it's in the house somewhere."

  "A magical artifact. She lost it like it was a set of keys. And Victoria's out of town."

  "I've got another idea."

  "Oh, really? What?"

  "I don't want to say yet, in case it doesn't work out."

  Leese held in a groan. It was still so difficult to believe she couldn't get
in touch with Kevin. Between magic and technology, there should have been a way. But it was like he'd vanished into thin air.

  She went to speak, to pry Alex for clues, but his attention was elsewhere. He peered into the bedroom, and Leese rolled her eyes. There was no use talking to him when the thought of Cindy shedding clothes clouded his mind.

  "Go," she said, waving him away. "Spy on your wife."

  Alex didn't argue.

  The Teague family laughed and half-watched the movie they'd rented while eating food and throwing popcorn at one another. They hadn't spent as much time together as they used to, and Leese made sure to enjoy the moment. She watched her brother and sister-in-law, smiled as Cindy offered Alex a drink of soda, only to pull it away. Alex then used his powers to vanish from sight. Before either Cindy or Leese knew what was happening, he was behind the couch, dumping popcorn on them.

  The fun times went by quickly. It was ten minutes until midnight when Alex stood and went to retrieve his jacket. He had another home to visit. The latest client, a family of three, claimed their haunting only happened during the late night. Demons LLC didn't have standard office hours. Alex worked whenever he had to.

  "Okay, guys," Alex announced. "I have to go to work."

  Leese and Cindy tidied up the coffee table before walking Alex to the door. Cindy gave him a kiss.

  "Call me before you come home," she said.

  "I will." He smacked his sister's shoulder. "Are you staying over?"

  "Yes," Cindy said, wrapping an arm around Leese's shoulder. "Girls' night."

  "Ah, I can't. Tracy is at a party, and I told her I'd feed her cat, which I forgot to do."

  "You're no fun."

  The Teagues went their separate ways. Alex gave a final wave as he climbed into his truck. Leese left in the opposite direction, toward her apartment. The streets were empty, giving her a smooth ride home. She parked in her normal spot in the complex and left the engine running. The heat from the car was relaxing. She wasn't in a hurry for the cold walk.

  She spent several minutes browsing her phone, answering text messages. There was still an old exchange between Kevin and herself that she'd never deleted. It wasn't her intention to go down memory lane, but she couldn't help herself. She laughed at his enthusiasm when she asked if she could come over and play.

  She added a simple message to their conversation.

  I miss you.

  There was no point in hitting send. Kevin had gotten rid of his phone.

  She tucked her phone away and gathered her purse. Before leaving the car, she studied every shadow, every corner around her. She was healing. No longer did the thought of witch-hunters pouncing from the darkness consume her.

  But still, she kept a hand on the pepper-spray. There was nothing wrong with being prepared.

  She opened the front door, still shivering from the outside. A familiar silhouette sat near the TV. An arch of the back and flip of the tail.

  "Hey, Clover." Tracy's cat let out a mew. Leese set her purse on the table next to the door. "I'm sorry I'm late."

  Another mew, and Leese froze.

  Something was wrong.

  The thoughts all came in a bunch. Clover always greeted her by jumping on the back of the couch, which ran adjacent to the door. She never mewed twice. Instead of greeting Leese, Clover refused to move.

  Leese saw the cat's head turn, staring at something in the opposite corner across from the kitchen.

  She reached for the light switch, but her hand never made it.

  The shadow closed the fifteen feet fast. It slammed into Leese, forcing the air from her lungs, and shoved her against the door. She reached out and felt a face. Cheeks and a nose. Flesh and blood. Her attacker threw her to the floor and pressed a knee into her back. She thought her ribs would snap at any moment. Her left wrist was forced behind her, and she felt thin plastic slip over her fingers. An open zip-tie.

  She managed to spin onto her back as he struggled with her free hand. Her left arm was pinned beneath her as he straddled her, but she flailed with her right. She pushed, tore at his shirt, clawed with her fingers. One of her wild swings caught his neck and he cried out. He struck out with a closed fist, catching Leese on her cheek. Her head bounced off the floor, and the darkened living room seem to spin a moment. He spun her over to her stomach again, but Leese pulled herself forward a few inches, enough to pull her right leg out from under him. She kicked backward with all her strength. There was a grunt and a rush of air, and her attacker's grip weakened.

  Her purse was right where she left it, on the corner table. The living room was still draped in silhouette. The only light came from the moon outside the patio door. It caught the clasp on her purse, like a beacon. Leese reached out.

  A hand gripped her ankle and dragged her back. Finally, the man spoke. A simple growl, laced with frustration and anger.

  "Fucking bitch."

  Her shirt bunched up to her bra, leaving a carpet burn along her navel. More pain to go with her ribs and back.

  Leese felt the strap of her purse in her palm. Her finger barely hooked it before he'd pulled her away.

  He grabbed her leg, then the waistband of her jeans. He was working his way along her body in another attempt to bind her hands.

  Leese unzipped her purse and felt for her pepper-spray. Aiming over her shoulder, she unleashed the stream. The can had been a constant companion for months. Always at her side, merely a touch away. Its cold surface was reassuring as she navigated her new world without Kevin. However, she'd never used it.

  The man's grip on Leese let up instantly as he cried out. Then came the sniffling and coughing. She pulled herself to one knee, then her own symptoms started. Just being nearby affected her. Her eyes leaked like someone turned on a faucet.

  Wiping her face, she reached for the light. Finally, she got a look at the man who'd broken into her apartment. He looked like a street punk yanked from a dark alley. Ripped jeans, heavy boots, track marks along his arms. He was the furthest thing from a witch-hunter she'd ever seen.

  Thoughts almost formed, but not completely. Vague ideas floated of fleeing from the apartment, calling the police, knocking on a neighbor's door, something smart and logical. But emotion kept the thoughts from springing to life. Adrenaline coursed through her, and she only felt things. Fear. Terror.

  Then the man peered up at her from his knees.

  He still struggled to breathe, couldn't stop coughing. But the look he gave her told Leese he wasn't done. There was still fight left. He reached for a knife strapped to his leg.

  Leese's fear turned to anger. That anger turned to rage. No. She wasn't going to run, wasn't going to flee.

  She jumped over the couch and headed for the entertainment center. Behind the TV, right where it had been since her kidnapping, was the aluminum baseball bat that belonged to Tracy. She gripped it and turned to face her attacker. He was on his feet, but hunched over the back of the couch. He held the knife in his hand, still giving Leese that angry glare.

  Leese matched his glare with her own, and charged forward.

  His expression changed when he saw her eyes. His features turned paler than they already were. She shouted as she rounded the couch, like a crazed maniac. He dropped the knife and turned to run. His reaction may have saved his life, as Leese swung with all her might, and barely missed. She caught a piece of his shirt, and the miss tossed her off-balance enough to fall against the wall. He made it to the door, but she recovered quickly. He took one step off the landing onto the stairs when she caught up and swung again.

  This time, she didn't miss.

  The aluminum bat found its mark on the meaty part of his right shoulder. He clutched his arm and tumbled down the short flight of stairs to the next landing. He looked up at her, fear in his eyes. His expression terrified Leese. It also excited her.

  He half stumbled, half ran to the next set of stairs. Leese caught up again and swung her weapon, this time at his knee. The sound of metal against fles
h and bone was sickening. He let out a pathetic cry and tumbled down another set of stairs.

  Leese was going to hit him again. Probably, another time as well. She wasn't sure how many times she was going to strike. She needed to teach him. She needed to teach all of them. She didn't have demonic powers, or witchcraft. But no one was going to shove her in a trunk ever again. Not without her taking a big piece of them first.

  He backed away from her, pushing himself along with his good leg. Leese reared back and swung down, aiming for his other leg. He pulled it away just in time. The bat vibrated as it struck the floor, sending a pain through her palms. She winced for a moment as she readjusted her grip.

  The distraction allowed the man to pull himself to his feet. He made it to the first floor and limped his way to the door. Leese pursued. She didn't taunt him, didn't say a word. That was energy better spent on beating him.

  The cold air was a bother only several minutes ago, but now it was refreshing. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she was aware that she was in the open. She was outside, away from her apartment, chasing a man with a bat, for all the world to see. That didn't stop her. It was late. There was no one outside, anyway.

  The man picked up speed as he hit the sidewalk. He ran toward a limousine parked in front of the complex. Leese frowned in confusion as she noticed the vehicle. Was it always parked there? Did it just pull up?

  He was going to get away.

  She ran forward, cocking the bat back. Even if she couldn't hit him one last time, she'd at least shatter a window. The passenger's door opened, and he threw himself inside.

  Leese thought the limo would speed away, but the back door opened instead. She froze in place when the first thing she saw was a gun, pointed at her.

  She recognized the man she'd met at Starbuck's. Michael Tavers.

  "What the hell—?"

  "Get inside," he said tersely.

  His eyes darted behind her. Suddenly, he was nervous. Leese knew what was happening. The apartment building was coming to life. People were opening their doors, calling the police.

  "No," Leese said, her voice shaking. "Just go away, before the police get here."

  "Get in," he said again, more forcefully. "And drop the bat."

  He reached next to him when she didn't move. She thought perhaps he was retrieving another gun, which made no sense to her. Instead, her mouth fell open when he held Cindy, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. Her eyes were shut. Her head bobbed around as he maneuvered her.