Cursed Lines (A Peg Darrow Novel Book 2)

by Camille Douglass

  “Okay, if that’s what you want, but if you change your mind, Pammy will come and get you, no questions asked.”

  “And how will she protect us once she gets us?” Nora snapped.

  “She has in the past, and she will now.” I left my answer deliberately vague, knowing that Pammy wouldn’t want people so close to the vampires to know about the various safe houses and rehabilitation centers across the country. If they called, they’d find out about them once they were safely out of harm’s way. “What did the RV look like?”

  “Shiny.”

  “Like an airstream? Silver?”

  “No I’d never seen one painted all black. It was black and shiny and big.”

  “It had heavy curtains.” Another voice said from behind Nora.

  “And custom black rims.”

  “It’s unusual to have an all black RV?” I asked, completely unfamiliar with the norms of the recreational vehicular world.

  “This one was all black. No details. Normally it has a swoosh or something.” Nora took control of the conversation again.

  “Right. Okay,” black, got it. “I’ll let you guys know when we have news.”

  “Good or bad?”

  “Good or bad.” I agreed.

  18

  When I climbed into the SUV, I melted into the seat, not realizing how emotionally draining the encounter would be with so many troubled witches after a long morning of searching. Deval climbed into the driver’s seat and gave me a concerned look.

  “How are you holding up?”

  “Fine, but I need to take a nap in George.” I shouldn’t have said that.

  “Why is that?”

  “It’s just my safe place,” I said as a half-truth. I didn’t know if it mattered that I got supernaturally charged from the plane despite it not holding untold amounts of riches, but I liked to keep some things close to my chest.

  “I’m glad you find comfort in the space. Goblin children often retreat to theirs for comfort.”

  I looked over from my slumped position giving him the stink eye. “Are you calling me a child?”

  He sighed. “I was not calling you a child. I was telling you a cultural norm of my people, your people, that I thought you might be interested in.”

  I looked out the window. “Sorry, it’s been difficult to speak with you lately.”

  “When has our relationship not been difficult?”

  “Good point. We should probably stop making out against cave walls.”

  He remained silent for a moment. “It’s not a cave.”

  “Deval, it’s a cave. A super fancy, schmancy cave. The fanciest cave I’ve ever seen but still a cave, and that is what you chose to talk about in that sentence?”

  “Well, I’m not going to agree that we shouldn’t make out against walls. It’s something we should both think on when we’re not in the middle of possibly catastrophic events. I’m not avoiding you because I’m uninterested. I’ve avoided you because I want to come at this with a level head and think you should, too. We could ruin our friendship.”

  I snorted. “I think you ruined our friendship when you kissed me last month, and I’m fine with being just friends, Deval, but you need to stop sending mixed signals. I’m not one of many. I’m all or nothing for however long we’re together. So don’t kiss me, ignore me, show up with another woman to an event you know I’m likely to attend, then come at me in a sexual frenzy only to leave me hot and bothered and then avoid me for two days. By the way, I’ve been told what it means, that magical make out session brought on by your own plane.”

  He stared straight ahead not making eye contact. “Yes, it means something, but it is not all binding. It is something we need to discuss, to decide upon because once we realize how good it could be without any thought to the fall backs, we’re stuck because we won’t want to give up on it no matter how bad it gets.”

  “So you think it would be bad?” I questioned him.

  “I just don’t know, Peg.”

  “Fine, we can talk about it after this is all over, Lola is safe, and your mother writes me a huge check.”

  We didn’t speak the rest of the trip because even though I’d never been good at the silent game, lately with him, I had no problems. I wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.

  After being dropped off at home, I called Pammy.

  “Talk to me.”

  “I just got home.”

  “You found something, or you went through your list?”

  “I found something.” I gave her the description of the witches that we’d found and what they’d told us about their missing friend.

  “God damn it, I didn’t realize he’d started a nest. Clever of him to put it in the middle of a trailer park.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Vampires like luxury. They don’t live in squalor. Now they control high-end clubs and drug rings. They used to use Opium Dens to make their money and bring in willing feeders. It’s why they use the poppy as their symbol.”

  “I did know that.”

  “I know you do, I’m just talking out loud because I’m mad. He knows I won’t stand for it, and half of those witches will die from the withdrawal.”

  “You won’t leave them with him?” I asked not really sure how this worked for the willing participants.

  “No, they’re dead with him no matter what. If I take them, they at least have a chance. Plus you remember the lesson.”

  “No signs of weakness to the enemies.”

  “Good girl. I’m going to call out an APB on the RV. We’ll have to get the enthralled when this is all over. Luckily Alice mentioned that she planned on really screwing around with Fane for a bit, so we have at least a few more days.”

  “Good to know,” I murmured.

  “Yes, that does mean once we wrap this bitch up, you may actually have a few days free of jobs, training, and a vampire stalker. For now rest up; I need you at your full power when we find them.”

  “Okay, but what did you mean by an APB? We don’t work with law enforcement.”

  “You’ll find out soon enough, and I’ll be needing a nap as well when it’s all said and done.”

  We hung up, and I went about my routine prior to going to visit George, using the bathroom, finding my thick blanket and alarm clock. I didn’t get cell phone reception on the plane, so I would limit myself to an hour. Enough to charge my batteries to full with hopefully a minimal chance of missing the action. It couldn’t be helped either way. I needed to get my strength and power up, or I’d be useless in a fight.

  Just as I went to open the chest, I heard Pammy’s voice in my head.

  Attention Arizona Witches this is your Sheriff. Do not be alarmed, but we have a state of emergency. Please be on the lookout for a large black metallic RV with heavy curtains and black rims. The witches navigating said vehicle are a danger to our way of life and hold a hostage. Do not approach. Contact me or any other soldier of fortune. Stay Vigilant.

  Pammy’s voice was gone, leaving behind a slight buzzing in my ears for a moment. Did she just mind speak to the entire Arizona population of witches? I called my mother, who confirmed that she had heard the notice all the way down in Tucson. I got her off the phone quickly, not wanting to go into the detail when I needed to take a nap. One thing was for certain, I hoped that Pammy was also getting a nap because if she didn’t, she would be absolutely useless to everyone.

  An hour later, I’d been fully invigorated and was ready to kick some ass. Unfortunately there had been no message to call in the cavalry yet. It struck me that by sending that message to all witches in a certain area, Pammy had also alerted our enemies. They’d already known that we’d been coming for them, now they just knew we were on their tail.

  I couldn’t worry for Lola more than I already did, but I took the time to light a candle, asking the universe to help us find Lola and Yvette before it was too late. Like magic, my phone buzzed. I picked it up.

  “We’ve got ‘em. Think your
friend Bruce would care to join the party?”

  “I think he might be interested.”

  “I’ll text the directions. Head over there but do not approach until we have the entire group together.”

  I hung up and called Bruce, who was still holding down the fort at Lola’s. I heard Steel Magnolias playing in the background and knew he’d done nothing but watch chick flicks since I last saw him. As I suspected, he was ready to rumble, sick of sitting on the sidelines. Normally a shifter wouldn’t interfere in witch business, but Bruce was a close friend and exceptions were made given the right circumstances. The possible draining and murder of a close friend was one of those exceptions. I gave Bruce the instructions to the empty wash they’d been spotted in once again in East Mesa and the instructions not to approach until we were all in place. It was rather handy to have bear shifting semi-immortal on your side.

  I made it to the location in twenty minutes, making sure not to drive by the exact location in my very noticeable Jeep. Parking nearby in an empty warehouse district, I hopped out and jogged the quarter of a mile to where I saw Pammy’s Crown Victoria. She and Dorothy were inside, and a moment later, I heard the rumble of Bruce’s truck.

  Pammy and Dorothy exited her vehicle as Bruce exited his own and joined us. I looked at our rag tag group of badasses but wondered if it’d be enough.

  “Any chance we got some more fortunes coming in for the fight?”

  “You know we’re always spread thin,” she said. “If when we get there it looks like a suicide mission, we will pull back and call for citizen volunteers and for the others to start traveling in.”

  “Good enough for me,” I said ready to end this.

  “Better than good enough for me.” Bruce piped in. “It’s been awhile since I’ve been in a magical brawl. Want me to change?” he asked.

  Pammy shook her head. “This area is pretty deserted, but I really don’t want animal control to be called with a sighting of a bear if we can help it. If things get dire, you’re your own man and can decide what’s best for the situation.” In turn she looked at Dorothy and me. “That goes for you two as well. We stand up for the weak, and that is our job, but if a strategic retreat is necessary once we get in the fray, remember we can’t kill them if we’re dead.”

  “Let’s do this thing.” Dorothy piped in. “I’ve got to make some cupcakes for my son’s class tomorrow.”

  Just like that, the tension that had been building dissipated as Pammy let out a hardy laugh. “I hope you save us all a cupcake.”

  “If you want to join me in frosting three dozen cupcakes, we can certainly come to an arrangement. Otherwise you’re on your own, sister.”

  That only had Pammy laughing harder, and we all let out a chuckle to relieve the building tension, but the time had come. We walked into the wash. They’d hidden the RV behind some overgrown brush and tumbleweeds. It was a miracle that anyone had seen the vehicle at all.

  “Peg, do a subtle feeler.”

  I pushed my magic out much like I’d done at the trailer park earlier in a small amount. There was a lot of magic happening in the trailer, dark inky magic that tried to climb on me, but I gently pushed it back so as to not alert its spell casters. Inside were four magic users. All of them felt off, and they were in the middle of something truly reprehensible.

  “Three, Pammy, and another. They’re draining the fourth.”

  “We can handle three,” Pammy said as she strode forward. She didn’t knock. Her magic tore out of her ripping the door from its hinges. She went in, the rest of us climbing the metal stairs at her heels.

  Three emaciated witches had turned their heads in a lizard-like fashion to stare at us. The effect was creepier because they were all on their hand and knees, circling the young woman I assumed to be Yvette. Her life force hung in the air to be consumed by these monsters.

  “You did not come to my town and think you could get away with this, did you?” Pammy stared them down, hands on hips.

  “Bitch, we get away with it everywhere.” The male closest to us stood.

  “Not this time. Peg, do the reversal.” Pammy boomed into the small space.

  I stepped to the side of Pammy and began my chant.

  “Life does not take life. Life nurtures life. Death does not live on but goes to its place. Death return to life what does not belong to you.”

  The three stood in unison, shocked looks on their faces. Yep, that’s right, cretins we know the counter curse. They aimed their magic, but Dorothy, Bruce, and Pammy were on them, letting me complete my work.

  I repeated the phrase over and over, all the while taking the life force that rested outside of the body and shoving it back into Yvette. After my third recital, the last of the magic returned to its owner. Yvette let out a death rattle, but her lungs started moving again. The three family members let out shrieks that were more animal than human and grated on my ears.

  I looked at the woman who stood furthest behind the prone form on the floor and saw her intention before she even realized it. She gathered her magic to force at the unconscious woman. The old “if we can’t have her no one will.” I ran the two steps and launched myself over Yvette tackling the woman at the legs. She tumbled backward. We hit the floor and her spell went wild, hitting the ceiling in a burst of black sparks. The room went dark.

  The air tasted like death. “What is it with you people and death spells for every gods damn thing? If you’re going to be monsters maybe aim for some subtlety.”

  She laughed into the darkness. “I don’t need subtle. You are nothing more than food to me.” She tried to kick me off, but I crawled up her body like a monkey. I felt her magic gathering again, and I grabbed her head by her hair. She clawed at my hands, but I didn’t give a damn as I slammed her head against the floor.

  Even in the darkness I could see that she was momentarily dazed. Thank you, soldier of fortune boot camp. Witches really never did expect you to go for plain old physical damage when magic was on the table. She shook her head and began to claw again with renewed effort. So I slammed her head against the floor again and again until she lay still. I reached out with my magic. Still alive, but she wouldn’t be moving for a while.

  I turned to my friends. Bruce was in a grappling pose with one of the witches, but he looked to have it under control. Pammy and Dorothy were another story. Even though it was two against one, the male witch was throwing everything he had at them. Black sparks kept erupting in the room. It was difficult to see. The man wasn’t trying to knock anyone out. He was fighting to the death. I looked down at Yvette, still out and in the middle of it.

  I looked around and saw a nook in between two bench seats where a fold-up table could go. It was better than where she lay sprawled in the middle of the RV, so I ran over to her, gripping her under her armpits and dragged her into the space.

  Now that she was relatively out of harm, I turned back to Pammy and Dorothy. Dorothy was on the floor. My heart jumped to my throat. Anger surged forward, bringing with it a shocking amount of power that made my skin vibrate. The witch battling Pammy turned to me, the power too tempting a meal to ignore.

  “She needs to make cupcakes, you asshole!” I screamed as I let go the power that now sizzled at my skin. It burst from me, hitting him straight in the chest and just kept punching as he backed away from the force. Frantically he tried to raise his hands to send some magic my way, but he couldn’t get them up. He let out a strangled scream and crumpled to the floor.

  I wanted to stop then, but it was like all of the anger and helplessness I’d experienced the last few days stopped me from reining myself in. Sweat fell down my forehead at the strain it took to maintain this much power. My teeth clenched as I tried to let go. Hands fell on my shoulders, and I almost directed my power toward whoever held me but then she spoke.

  “Let go, Sug, they’re not worth your power, especially when I’ve got this here knife. A twist in the heart, and he’ll never hurt another person.”

&nb
sp; My magic dropped away instantly as I realized what she was trying to tell me. My anger had taken control. I’d been perilously low on magic. My body shuddered in revulsion at the thought of literally draining myself.

  “There now, this here is a mobile den of evil and their dark magic has permeated every nook and cranny. Under normal circumstances, your body would have shut it down much earlier.”

  I shivered involuntary. “Is Dorothy okay?” I asked through chattering teeth.

  “She fell when avoiding one of those bastards’ curses. Knocked herself out good. I think I’m going to spring for some bakery cupcakes for her.”

  “Yeah.”

  The third and final witch flew past us and into the wall. Bruce was right behind him, looking fiercer than I’d ever seen the generally happy-go-lucky man.

  Pammy held up her hand. “We only need one.” She marched over to the dazed man, pulled out a large hunting knife with a black blade, and before I could do so much as squeak, stabbed the man in the chest, twisted, and then slit his throat. She stepped over his body and moved swiftly to the other man I’d pushed back with my magic and efficiently did the same. “The Arizona sheriff has judged you and found you guilty of our highest sin. May your afterlife be filled with torment.”

  I just stared at Pammy, never having witnessed a judgment before.

  She looked back at me eyes steady. “Normally you say that part before you kill them, but if they’re truly dangerous, feel free to bend the rules.”

  “Sure,” I agreed, only capable of one-syllable answers at the moment.

  “I think our Peggy girl is in a bit of shock.”

  Pammy looked over at Bruce. “Don’t call her Peggy when she’s in no condition to yell at you. Lay her on that bench seat next to the victim. Dorothy on the other. They could do with some healing, but first we need to bind the third witch. I want to question her before I kill her.”

  I wanted to argue that I was fine, but Bruce had already scooped me up in his arms, and I realized then how close I’d been to falling flat on my face. The moment I reclined I knew I couldn’t stand up again of my own will. While I analyzed my own predicament Dorothy was deposited on the opposite bench, facing me.