by Catie Rhodes
“I’ll get the headdress.” Wade, brandishing his nerd weapon, stepped forward. He gave me a flirty smile. “What happens after that, boss?”
I ignored the smile. “I’ll put it on my head. We’ll band our power together and call the hunt. If I can’t, I’m going to drink what’s in this bottle.” I plucked at the dram on my chest. It was still impossible to move. I’d cross that bridge if and when I came to it.
Tanner leaned forward to stare at the contents of the bottle. He glanced at the horrified faces of my family and friends. He whispered to Brad. They had a short exchange. Horror filled Tanner’s face. He pushed his way to the front.
“No. You can’t do something that could kill you on a maybe.” His words sounded like an order. I prickled.
“If I can’t take over the hunt, we’re going to die.” My words echoed in the darkness. The weight of the lives depending on me pressed hard on my shoulders.
Thunder clapped. I nearly jumped out of my skin. A shadow of cloud had begun creeping toward the bright orb of moon. Thunder boomed again, shaking the night. Excited shouts followed. They were closer than ever. Blood-chilling howls joined the shouts. Those damn red-eared dogs wouldn’t miss one more chance to rip us to shreds. The buzz of motorcycles provided background noise to it all.
Heart thudding hard, I breathed in the chilly, humid night. I felt for the black opal. My fingers found the dram instead. The black opal, and the life I’d had with it, was gone forever.
Fingering the dram, I gave it another pull. This time it did move. My heart skipped. Holy guacamole. I could drink it right now. But I didn’t dare. Without the root of the scar tissue fixed firmly in my mind, I’d die. Resigned, I waited for Oscar and his hell army to reach us. Maybe I’d figure it out in time.
Tanner came to stand next to me. He had both hands wrapped around a long-handled axe.
“I’ll swing for his neck. Probably take several blows. You shake the head out of the headdress and put it on. Then snatch that sword.” His voice trembled, and the smell of his fear hit me.
From the other side of me, Wade said, “Won’t take me that many blows to chop off Oscar’s head. You swing once, hard as you can, Tanner, then I’ll finish it.”
The two men glared at each other like dogs with their hackles raised. They slowly nodded at each other. Right now, they were allies. Maybe tomorrow, enemies to the death. I hoped I didn’t have to see that fight.
Thunder rolled again. The roar of the motorcycles shook the earth. Lightning popped nearby. Someone, probably Hannah, let out a short scream. Tubby laughed. I knew that laugh. He wasn’t amused. He was scared.
I drew inward. Deep in my mind, I found a door with cracked white paint. It rattled, and light streamed from behind it. I drew together my courage and reached for the doorknob. My hand was small and unscarred with smooth, pale skin, a child’s hand. It closed around the doorknob and twisted the cold metal. The door cracked open, and the light burned my eyes.
The shouts of the huntsmen vibrated in my ears. The horses’ hoofbeats hit the earth hard enough for me to feel them through my boots. The hounds’ excited, grunting pants underlay it all. Their odor, the perfume of death, fouled the crisp chill air. The motorcycle tires screeched as they hit the road. They were here.
“It’s time,” I said to no one and everyone.
The horses thundered toward the crossroads, the horsemen on their backs with swords drawn. Motorcycle headlights blazed behind them.
Tanner adjusted his stance to where he looked like a batter winding up for a pitch.
“Which one’s Oscar?” His words came between pants.
“Look for the horns.” My voice trembled.
The door inside my head flew open, and bright magic flooded me. It burned the same way my first few sips of whiskey had. My instinct was to strain against it, but I fought the impulse.
The magic circuited through me, faster and faster. The world lightened. I glanced down at my hands to find them glowing. My heart picked up speed.
The hunt raced toward us, shouting and laughing.
Tanner inched closer, stepping slightly in front of me. I gripped his arm, leaned forward, and planted a kiss on his cheek. He almost smiled and winked at me.
Oscar, the tines of his antler headdress silhouetted against the night sky, raced toward us. Gathering my courage, and my magic, I stepped around Tanner and walked out to meet him.
The palm of one hand heated as a ball of white light formed there. I could throw this at Oscar. Knock him off his horse. Tanner and Wade could chop off his head. I’d grab the headdress and win. Oscar stopped a good distance from us, far enough away no ball of fire could hit him.
“Chickenshit,” I screamed.
The motorcycles’ engines thumped in the night. Their headlights appeared behind Oscar. They shot around him and blasted toward us. Moonlight flickered through the ghostly forms of the dead Six Gun Revolutionaries. King Tolliver rode out front, translucent face set and full of machismo.
The motorcycles formed a straight line in front of us. They shut off their engines but left their headlights burning. King Tolliver dismounted from his iron horse and sauntered toward us. Trench Coat got off the next motorcycle and shrugged into his dark, calf-length coat. He stared at me, hate blazing around his spirit in a dark nimbus.
My mouth went dry. Trench Coat had every reason to hate me. I’d sold his spirit to a sleazy dark being I called Mohawk. Either Trench Coat had escaped Mohawk, or Mohawk was on Oscar’s side. Didn’t matter now. It was what it was.
Seeing my enemies assembled like this showed me how ill-prepared and outnumbered we were. Terror blasted open in my stomach and began its slow spread through the rest of my body. My vision wavered, and I rocked on my feet.
Winning, no matter how much I wanted it, was unlikely. More likely was the concept I’d die a gruesome death.
A chill wind blew through the old crossroads. It pushed the cloud cover off the moon. Its silvery light bathed my skin and whispered against the mantle. Somehow that let me swallow my fear. These assholes might kill me, but I’d eat fried boogers before I let them see my fear.
I pulled myself to my full height, all five-foot-nothing, and stomped toward the intersection of the crossroads. Tanner walked at my side, eyes slitted like a gunslinger’s. Wade took a few steps after us, but I gave him a head shake. It was Tanner who should be at my side.
King walked out to meet us. He hadn’t been a ghost for long and still remembered how to walk like a human. But the raw, red wound across his throat testified to his death.
Trench Coat glided next to King. He’d been a ghost too long to even make his feet touch the ground. I wondered again about Mohawk, if he knew where his slave had gone. Don’t think about that. Not now. I pulled my concentration back into the moment.
Our two groups stopped with a good six feet between us.
“We got a surprise for you,” King Tolliver drawled.
“You won the asshole lottery?” My words came out full of bravado, but I trembled all over.
King’s smile grew. He bent his knees, leaned back, and released a ghostly wail into the night. It took everything I had not to flinch away. Beside me, Tanner’s posture tightened.
Another motorcycle engine screamed in the night. The headlight appeared on the road and zoomed at us. Who’d be coming now?
Then I knew. Corman. He was coming for Wade. To settle their grudge. I’d led Corman right to Wade. Desiree’s prediction about me getting Wade killed was coming true. And my actions had helped it along. Sorrow stung my eyes and throat.
The motorcycle roared up to us and screeched to a stop. Corman pushed down the kickstand, got off his ride, and sauntered toward us.
I turned to look at Wade. Standing where I’d left him, he watched Corman’s approach, face expressionless. The sorrow settled in my chest and swelled. No matter how I felt about Wade’s womanizing, he was still my friend. I couldn’t just stand here and let this happen. Corman Tolliver could g
o pound sand. I channeled my power and let the ball of light I’d intended for Oscar form in my hand again. Corman could just die right now. I should have scrambled his brains the first time he attacked.
I raised the ball of light at Corman. “Ready to die, mini-dick?”
“Not here for you, banana slapper.” Corman rolled his eyes. “I’m here for Traitor Wade. My club is dead because of him. My daddy is dead because of him. The Six Gun Revolutionaries are gone because of him. I want to settle it.”
Rather than answering, I reared back my arm and adjusted my aim at Corman’s head. The ball of energy would fry the doo-doo he called brains and get him out of the way.
“Wait just a minute.” King, baring his cheese-colored horse teeth, motioned into the darkness.
A horse’s hoofbeats clopped toward us. The horse, silhouetted by the ambient moonlight, had more than one rider. Worry sprouted in my gut.
The horse drew closer, and the feeling budded and bloomed in the space of a few seconds. Michael Gage held Dillon against his chest, a lascivious leer stretching his lips. Dillon twisted in his grip, craning to see behind her. What was back there? My answer came soon enough.
Jadine walked behind the horse, hands bound together in front of her. A rope connected her to the horse. She quit walking just in time to avoid bumping into the horse’s rump. My worry grew branches, which wrapped around my heart and squeezed. Where were Zora and Zander?
As if to answer to my question another horse appeared out of the darkness. My mother sat astride it, Zora and Zander gripped against her. As they got closer, I could hear the kids’ terrified wails. My entire body went numb and weightless.
“No.” My mouth formed the word, but no sound came out.
Barbie gave me a knowing smile and a wink. Her nasty words pushed their way into my mind. Remember how I treated you? That was playtime compared to what I’ll do to these little freaks.
I couldn’t breathe. The sight of my loved ones in the hands of two heartless predators chased away all my strength. My knees buckled, and I would have fallen had Tanner not gripped my arm and held me upright. I stared into his wild, jewel eyes. This couldn’t be happening.
Tanner gave me little nod. Get your shit together, that nod said. Then he slipped an arm around my waist. His support gave me the push I needed. I glared at Barbie and Michael.
“Let them go.” My words grated out, scoring my throat.
“Let me settle things with Wade, and they’ll be turned back over to you. I won’t even keep the blind girl for myself.” Corman, not even waiting for my answer, went back to his motorcycle and detached a nerd axe, not unlike Wade’s, from hidden moorings on its frame.
Wade stepped up beside me, dark eyes glittering in Corman’s direction. “I’m ready.”
I longed to tell Wade to take Desiree and leave this place. But Jadine, Dillon, Zora, and Zander, people I loved, were in danger.
Then a new, even more awful thought hit. Even if I let Wade and Corman fight, Barbie and Gage might kill Jadine, Dillon, and the kids just for fun.
A sound like a balloon popping came from the darkness. We all jumped. Waterlogged shoes squished across the pavement. Sol flickered into view. His too-white bald head shone like corpse flesh in the moonlight. Cold, wet fingers closed on my wrist. Chill radiated through my body.
Sol’s voice slithered into my head. I’ll make sure they uphold their end.
I took in Dillon’s wide eyes and trembling lips. I let her kids’ cries wash over me. Stared at Jadine standing helpless behind Michael Gage’s horse. Then I glanced at Wade, a man I’d once loved. My thoughts ran faster and faster circuits. I couldn’t handle this.
Sol’s grip tightened. You must endure all. I approved you to carry the mantle of the Gregorius Witch because you can rise above this and all other challenges.
I glanced at Tanner, desperate for security. Just one glance from him, full of encouragement and warmth, was all I needed. I closed my eyes. Yes, I could endure this. And anything else. Not because Tanner had come, but because he reflected my own strength right back at me. He reminded me how tough I was. How tough I could be.
Finally I gave Corman my nod of acquiescence. Yes, he and Wade could fight to the death. I hoped Wade chopped off his stupid, hateful head.
Corman tightened his grip on his nerd axe and said to Wade, “Let’s see what you got, you fucking traitor.”
Wade, huge hands gripping his axe, moved toward Corman, teeth bared in an awful, violent smile.
“You’ve gained some weight,” Corman told his former best friend. “Sure you’re up for this?”
Wade took long breaths through his nose and didn’t answer.
Tanner pulled me away from the two men. The rest of my friends and family formed a half circle behind Wade. The ghostly motorcycle riders did the same on the other side, behind Corman. Sol went to stand next to the two horses holding my family. He stared up at them, his needle teeth bared. Barbie took one look at him and turned her face away. Even in death, she was a coward. King stepped near the spot where Wade and Corman glared at each other. He raised one translucent hand.
“Go,” rang King’s shout.
Corman reared back and swung at Wade, grunting with the effort it took. The axe whistled through the air. Too slow, Wade jumped out the way, bending his back to keep it from hitting him. My chest twisted with worry that Wade really had fallen out of shape. I gripped Tanner’s hand.
He whispered, “It’s okay. You did the right thing.”
My heart ached again at the one-night stand with Wade. How could I have wanted him over the man standing next to me? Because that man left you. Pushing the thought away, I turned back to the fight.
Before the arc of Corman’s axe stopped, Wade swung. He aimed low, at Corman’s legs. Corman, realizing the arc of the axe too late, didn’t jump back fast enough. He yelped as the axe sliced his thighs, laying the blue jeans open. Blood flooded out of the wound.
Corman slapped his hand over the injury. Some naive part of me prayed this was it, that he’d give up.
But he raised his head to glare at Wade. “That’s the only one you’ll get, you cheap son of a bitch.”
“Shut up and fight, you little pussy,” Wade growled.
Corman let out a yell, raised his axe, and swung it again. This time the blade sang on the air. Wade met it with the handle of his own axe. Metal clanged together. Corman shoved off Wade and swung again with the same result. Wade blocked him, but he stumbled, sides heaving. This was tiring him out. He was out of shape.
“Finish him, Wade,” Hannah screamed.
Wade slumped away from Corman, axe dragging the ground. The smaller man followed. Wade waited until Corman was close and swung his axe up from the ground, shoulder trembling with the effort. It flew upward in the direction of Corman’s face. Eyes wide, Corman tripped over his own feet and fell backward. He’d survived by luck.
Wade lost his grip on the axe. It arced over his head, and he staggered to one side to avoid its sharp blade. He recovered quickly and raced toward where the axe had fallen. Wade grabbed the axe, spun, and rushed at Corman, a warrior’s bellow coming from him. Corman lay on the ground as though in shock.
This was it. Wade would kill Corman. Sol would make Gage and Barbie let Jadine, Dillon, and the kids run away from this. I let go of Tanner and took a step forward to watch the end. That gave me a different view of Corman. He had his hand inside his jacket. What he was about to do hit me like a blast of cold water.
“No,” I screamed, tight bands of fury and fear squeezing my chest. I tried to run toward Wade. Tanner grabbed my arm and swung me away. Time slowed down as I watched what I couldn’t stop.
Corman pulled a semi-automatic pistol from his jacket. The nickel plating glinted in the light from the motorcycle headlights. Wade, still roaring, ran at him. He raised the axe over his head to deliver the killing blow. He either didn’t see the gun or thought he was faster.
“Noooo.” The scream tore at my t
hroat.
Fire flashed from the muzzle of the gun. Wade’s head rocked back, liquid and brain matter exploding to shimmer in the moonlight before it showered the pavement. Time stopped. The axe clanged to the ground. Wade fell to one knee. He stayed that way for what seemed like a long time, eyes blank. Then he collapsed onto his back. He lay staring at the sky.
I jerked away from Tanner, ignoring his shout, and ran to Wade. I fell to my knees and grabbed at his still body.
“It’s my fault. I’m so sorry. Please take it back,” I yowled at the empty sky.
Corman moved in my peripheral vision. I turned my glare on him. He took one look at me, and his mouth fell open, his eyes widening. He dropped the pistol and ran to his motorcycle. Tubby and Hannah raced after him, each with pistols in both hands.
“I will kill you now, you fucking cheater.” Hannah’s voice, guttural with fury, was barely recognizable.
“Go to hell, you used-up bitch,” Corman came right back.
His motorcycle rumbled, and tires squealed. Tubby and Hannah ran after it. Gunshots sounded. The vague thought that someone should kill him now, before he got away, flashed briefly. But then the world narrowed back down. All I saw was my dead friend.
I hunched over Wade stroking the soft bristles of the abbreviated beard he had adopted after he left Gaslight City.
“Please take it back,” I burbled, tears dripping off my jawbone. I chanted the words over and over, lost in guilt and grief. Sobs tore my throat raw. I didn’t care.
“Give me my kids,” Dillon yelled from somewhere far away.
“Untie my wife,” came Brad’s hysterical shout.
Sol’s voice rose, and the earth shook beneath my knees.
“Get the babies in the truck,” Finn yelled.
A door slammed, and an engine revved. Tires squealed on pavement. The truck roared away.
Sol had kept his word. Jadine, Dillon, and the kids were gone. I wept on.
Caws came from nearby, and Orev perched on my shoulder, his talons digging in. Savoring the slight pain, I stared at Wade’s still face. His cheerful rumble played in my memories, as did all the times he helped and protected me. I wept, the pain so big it felt like I was splitting in two, and waited for his spirit and the last interaction I’d have with him.