The Scarlet Dagger

by J. E. Cluney

  “Yeah, figured she shouldn’t walk alone,” I stated with a shrug. Not that I was going to tell her why.

  “Well, it’s suuuper hot out. I’ll give you a lift back to yours,” she offered, and I narrowed my eyes.

  “I’m good. I’m happy to walk,” I stated.

  “C’mon, I don’t bite,” she said with a smirk and rolled her eyes as her friends giggled.

  I withheld my scoff at that remark. Maybe not with her teeth, but she was nasty in her own way.

  “Jesus, Ollie. For old time’s sake, let me give you a lift home,” she said and sighed in exasperation.

  I didn’t trust her in the slightest, and I considered shifting to an eagle or something to avoid this situation, but I didn’t want to leave my bag and clothes behind.

  Besides, I had all my true shifter abilities back. What could she do to me? I could defend myself, and if she got snippy or horrid, I could easily get out.

  Why was I even considering the idea? Probably because I knew she wouldn’t let up. She had always been horrendously stubborn and did anything to get her own way.

  “Fine,” I grumbled.

  “Great! Maggie, do you mind jumping in the back?” she said to her passenger, who shrugged carelessly and climbed out of the car.

  I sighed, wishing I could just avoid this, but I knew she’d probably hound me all the way home.

  It was only a few minutes’ drive anyway.

  What could go wrong?

  9

  I awoke as I heard Trish’s voice in the kitchen, and I cracked a smile as I listened to Hayley telling her off.

  From the sounds of it, she’d caught up with Brad again this afternoon.

  “Hayley, I’m old enough to make my own decisions,” Trish said on a sigh as she continued chopping something up.

  I sat up, shooting Marcus a look as he sat watching Skip play the PlayStation.

  ‘Hayley thinks he’s too young for her and probably just wants her money. He came by to pick her up earlier today. He was actually quite nice. Bought her flowers and apparently took her out to a high tea somewhere,’ Marcus informed me as he stroked my cheek.

  Wow. My grandmother was getting a good date there. Brad sounded polite at least.

  ‘Hey, with a dick like that and his decent looks, if he’s with her, it’s by choice. And it’s not like Trish is loaded or anything. She’s not dumb enough to get scammed like that anyway,’ Skip chimed in.

  “I just… It’s weird. He’s so young,” Hayley said, then blew a raspberry in frustration.

  “He’s got good stamina. He can keep up with me at his age. You know men’s libido and stamina die down with age, ours only gets higher,” Trish said matter-of-factly, and Skip snorted.

  I smirked as Marcus shook his head.

  “Eww. Fine, whatever, just make sure you don’t get attached. You have to go home in week,” Hayley reminded her.

  “I know. It’ll be sad, won’t it.” Trish’s chopping paused, and she actually sounded rather forlorn. “But all good things must come to an end I guess.”

  “It’s like a tragic love story,” I said with a snicker as I rose and stretched.

  Trish was a bag of fun, but this Brad thing sure was interesting.

  I headed into the kitchen to offer some assistance, but Trish refused.

  “Hayley helped me already. All that’s left is the veggies, and I’ve got them,” she stated as she continued chopping.

  “So how was the date with Brad?” I asked, and Hayley groaned as she turned and walked out of the room while Trish chuckled.

  “It was quite lovely actually. I think he’s smitten with me. Probably because I found his special ‘P’ spot right up,” Trish said with a chuckle as she focused on her chopping.

  “His ‘P’ spot?” I frowned. Was that code for something?

  “Oh, you’re so innocent.” Trish gave me a tender smile as Skip laughed in my mind.

  Lucas slipped in, and I could feel his amusement.

  ‘His prostate, Cupcake. She played with his butt and made him orgasm that way,’ Lucas informed me.

  Oh. Well…

  I knew about the prostate, I’d just never heard it called that.

  And imagining my grandmother doing that… Nope, no, not happening.

  I shook my head as my boys laughed in my mind.

  “Should’ve seen it. The way he squirmed and the sounds he was making… That boy loved it. I barely needed to play with it before he was exploding all over the place,” Trish said, giving me a wicked grin as I gaped at her.

  “Jesus, really? I don’t need to know that,” I said.

  “Well, our date today was lovely. The high tea was perfect, with jam and cream scones and little biscuits and cupcakes. I quite enjoyed myself, and we didn’t even get up to anything dirty. He just wanted to spend the time with me. He wanted me to go to dinner with him tonight too, but I said I was cooking dinner for my granddaughter and her mates. That started an interesting conversation,” she said with a chuckle. “Don’t worry, I didn’t mention names or what you all were, so don’t stress.”

  “Well, he sounds like he likes you,” I murmured, feeling a pang of guilt for the pair.

  If she was going home in just over a week, this wouldn’t last. I felt bad for Brad, especially if he was seriously falling for my grandmother, which I was still wrapping my head around.

  Then again, I had four mates. That was pretty out there for most too. So who was I to think it was weird?

  I frowned as I reached out with my bond, finding Ollie wasn’t in the house. Surely he would’ve gotten home by now.

  ‘Yeah, it’s weird,’ Lucas agreed. Why they hadn’t thought much of it sooner was beyond me.

  ‘You weren’t asleep that long, maybe an hour. He texted while you were sleeping that she got home safe. I figured he might have hung around and chatted with her,’ Lucas murmured.

  He was probably right, but after his blackout, I wasn’t taking any chances.

  I reached out further with our bond, seeking him out in my mind.

  I frowned as I felt his presence, but it was masked somewhat.

  That couldn’t be right. I couldn’t seem to reach him.

  My chest tightened with concern.

  ‘His protective magic hasn’t been triggered, but I can use it to locate him,’ Lucas said quickly as he walked into the kitchen.

  “We’re just getting Ollie,” I informed Trish, who was watching us curiously.

  Lucas opened up a portal, and we stepped through.

  I pursed my lips as we appeared at the food kiosks at the University.

  “Why would he be here?” I asked softly as I reached out again. Why was he masked from me? This wasn’t right.

  ‘Let me help,’ Lucas offered, and I felt his electrical tingle of magic mingle with our bond.

  ‘Help, guys. Please.’ Ollie’s dismayed voice broke through, and I gasped as his distress hit me hard.

  Lucas whipped around, and I heard female laughter from farther up the campus.

  We took off, my heart pounding as I stayed linked with Ollie, trying to figure out what was going on.

  The sight that greeted us as we rounded a corner had me seeing red.

  The pink pig was squealing as he ran around, dodging the women who were taunting him and throwing food scraps at him.

  “Freak!” one of them shouted at him, starting a chorus of horrid laughter.

  “Enough!” Lucas boomed, his voice echoing around the area as the four women spun around in shock.

  Ollie spotted us, sprinting our way.

  I got down to my knees, choking as he ran right into my arms.

  ‘Freak’ was painted on his side in red paint, and food remnants were splattered all over his body.

  Lucas’ hands lit up, and he scowled at the women as a portal opened up beside him.

  I flinched as Mr Brady stepped through, taking in everything that was going on around him before he focused on Ollie.

  “Wel
l, looks like we’ve got a situation here. What happened?” Mr Brady demanded as the four women shot desperate looks at one another.

  I glared daggers as I recognized the one in full pink.

  Fucking Glenda.

  I wanted to lash out at her, to set my pixie magic on her or shift and attack her, but I knew it would only make things worse.

  Besides, Lucas had clearly summoned his father here to punish them.

  No magic was to be used on campus, and from what I was gathering from Ollie’s mind, they’d tricked him into drinking a potion, forcing this shift on him.

  “They gave him a potion outside the University grounds and brought him here to taunt and belittle him,” Lucas spat out, his hands fisting with rage.

  “Using a transformation potion on others is not something to be done lightly. Especially not for some sick joke,” Mr Brady said harshly as he flicked his gaze around the four women. “You will be reprimanded harshly. You could have caused him serious harm.”

  “We were just mucking around. He’s fine, it’s just paint,” Glenda said as she stormed forward, her face twisted in rage. She’d clearly not thought she’d be caught out.

  “Bullying will not be tolerated. Forcing a shift on another student like this, it’s a heinous act. You’ll all be dealt with first thing in the morning, and I’d be surprised if you didn’t lose your places here at the University. We will not stand for this kind of behavior,” Mr Brady said firmly.

  Glenda’s friends were silent as they stared hard at the ground. It was clear they’d just been following their ringleader.

  “What?! You’d kick me out?!” Glenda gaped, those blue eyes wide with disbelief.

  I wouldn’t pretend like seeing her look of horror and injustice didn’t make me joyous.

  “Go home. All four of you. I will be contacting your parents tonight and speaking with the staff here,” Mr Brady barked.

  The four women exchanged glances, and Glenda’s three friends scurried off like fearful mice, leaving a fuming Glenda behind.

  “He deserved it,” she spat.

  “Why?!” Lucas shot back. “Because he was cursed over something you did?!”

  Glenda’s mouth opened and closed like a fish at this, and Mr Brady didn’t say a word as he turned and knelt down by Ollie, waving a glowing hand over him.

  Glenda huffed, unable to come up with a response as she turned away and stormed off.

  “Seems it’s a short acting potion at least. Should wear off in a few hours. I’d rather not tamper with it as I don’t know who created it. Although they’ll be getting reprimanded for selling such a potion to mere students,” Mr Brady said with a sigh as he magicked the paint and food pieces off Ollie.

  Ollie was quiet as he stared at the ground, and I wanted to wrap my arms around him and promise him everything was okay, to fix this and make his feelings of worthlessness go away.

  He was my mate, and he meant the world to me.

  Glenda would pay for this, one way or another.

  Ollie snuffled, his hazel eyes extremely human-like in this form as he looked up at me.

  ‘I smell… something,’ he murmured as he turned his head away.

  ‘Like what?’ Lucas asked.

  ‘Death…’ was Ollie’s hesitant reply.

  My banshee churned inside me, and my chest tightened as Lucas shot me a look.

  “Dad, don’t leave just yet,” Lucas said as Ollie trotted off, snuffling the ground and following a scent.

  “Why?” Mr Brady asked, but he followed after us as we kept in step with Ollie.

  “Crap,” Lucas sighed as we rounded the edge of a building.

  I covered my mouth as my banshee rippled inside me, and I had to pull my gaze away from the teen sitting against the wall.

  His face was drawn tight over his skull, giving him a ghastly hollow look, like he’d had all the life sucked out of him. His skin was greying, and his eyes were glazed over as his mouth sat open. He had a look of terror frozen on his face, and I shuddered, unable to wipe the sight from my mind.

  “Dammit,” Mr Brady cursed as he turned the corner and saw the scene.

  Ollie leaned against my leg, his only way of comforting me as Lucas stepped in front of me to block the view.

  “I’ll call this in. You three head home now,” Mr Brady instructed.

  “Should Allison…” Lucas started, but I shook my head. I doubted my banshee side could reveal anything. She’d been of no use with the others either.

  “If she senses anything,” Mr Brady sighed out.

  I shook my head, hating how I had started trembling.

  It wasn’t the sight of him that had started it though. It was this deep sense of foreboding that had settled over me, swimming deep inside me and making my chest tighten.

  “We’ll go home. Keep us updated, please,” Lucas murmured as he took my hand.

  The portal appeared, and I forced myself not to glance back as the three of us stepped through.

  We appeared in the living room once more, and Ollie snorted as Skip stood in the doorway, frowning at us.

  “So, you’re stuck like that huh? Fucking Glenda,” he spat out as he eyed Ollie sadly.

  “What’s going on?” Trish asked as she appeared behind him, frowning at Ollie before flicking her gaze between Lucas and I with concern.

  “Another body turned up when we went to rescue Ollie. His ex used a potion on him to turn him into a pig,” Lucas growled out.

  “Jesus,” Trish gasped as Hayley joined us.

  “What a cruel bitch,” Hayley said as she folded her arms, giving Ollie a distressed look. “How long will it last?”

  “Only a few hours hopefully,” I answered as Lucas sat down on the lounge and clasped his hands together.

  “She must be a wretched girl. If I got my hands on her…” Trish shook her head as she clicked her tongue in annoyance.

  “Another body though. That’s three now,” Skip said softly as his blue eyes caught mine.

  “Damn,” Trish murmured, and we all fell into an uneasy silence.

  My men were just as worried as me, because it was abundantly clear Joseph was still around, and Mr Brady hadn’t found him.

  Would he come for us? How was Ollie involved?

  I rubbed my arms at the worry that engulfed me.

  How were we meant to figure all this out?

  Lucas’ phone sounded off, making me jump as Trish turned and returned to the kitchen in silence with Hayley.

  Marcus was upstairs, trying to focus on his game work, but he was dwelling on everything too.

  Lucas headed to the library to take the call, but he left his mind open so we could all listen in.

  I sat down on the lounge as Ollie plopped down in front of me and sighed in frustration.

  “Don’t worry. You’ll be yourself in no time,” I murmured as I reached down and stroked his ears.

  He relaxed at my touch, but I could feel his anger and hatred towards Glenda.

  How had she even given the potion to him?

  ‘She offered me a lift and wouldn’t take no for an answer. I figured for a three-minute drive, I’d be safe. She was acting oddly nice and sincere too, so I gave her the benefit of the doubt. They all had cans of soft drinks, and her friend offered me one. It was hot, so I took it. Dumbass move there,’ he said, seething with rage.

  “I’m sorry. She’s an awful bitch, but she’ll get what’s coming to her,” I said firmly. Mr Brady would see to that.

  ‘I hope she does get kicked out,’ Ollie spat.

  I smirked, understanding his rage. That wretched little pink powderpuff had put him through enough. Time for her to get some much-needed karma.

  I focused on Lucas and discovered it was his father calling. He was calling an emergency town meeting and wanted Lucas there.

  “What’s a town meeting mean?” I asked Skip as he joined me on the lounge.

  “They’ll get all the main families of the town together, those who take part in all
community events. Think of it like a community committee or council. Many families have joined and help do things to keep the town thriving, like hosting the majority of the events, planning all sorts of things to improve the town, owning the business buildings, etc,” Skip explained.

  That was good then. Perhaps they could figure out how to find and deal with Joseph.

  Could they handle him though?

  I felt crappy for the three dead and their families. It was evident it was Joseph’s work. He’d been known to drain supes of their magic.

  How hard could it really be to find one man though? The town wasn’t that big.

  “I imagine this meeting will result in a full manhunt, not just with magic. Three dead is too many, and they’ll treat it like a serial killer now. He’ll probably get shifters to patrol and scour the town,” Skip mused.

  About time. Why hadn’t he done it in the first place?

  “To prevent a town wide panic, but that boat’s sailed. He’s used witches and magic to try to find him and ward the town more, but obviously Joseph is stronger than they thought and can mask himself from their tracking magic. Hopefully, this is the right step,” Skip said, then sighed.

  Marcus joined us, having found it too difficult to concentrate on his game design, and he plopped down on the opposite lounge.

  ‘Dad needs me at the town meeting. If you guys need me, let me know,’ Lucas informed us all mentally.

  I knew he’d created the portal, and I felt his presence drift away as he stepped through it.

  “I hope they catch the bastard and deal with him. If the Council gets involved, they’ll probably put him down,” Marcus added.

  Good. One less thing to worry about.

  “Hey, Trish wanted me to let you guys know the roast pork is ready,” Hayley said softly as she stepped into the doorway.

  “Thanks,” I said as I rose. I wasn’t even hungry, not after everything, but I knew I needed to eat.

  I’d probably call it an early night afterwards.

  We all crowded into the kitchen and dining area, and Trish served us up the delicious smelling roast with steamed veggies and honey coated carrots.

  ‘Just letting you guys know my father is getting the Council involved too. He spoke to them after the first death, but with this latest one, they’ve taken more notice. They’ll be sending someone out to assist,’ Lucas said, slipping into our minds.