Constant Cravings

by Tracey H. Kitts

  “It might be. Barghests are big, ugly creatures, and the last time you saw one it ate your friend. There’s no telling how you might react. I’d spare you the shock if I could, but I need you there to give a positive ID on this thing.” I took a bigger sip this time. “I understand. I want to come. I want answers and Cernunnos said to question the barghests.”

  I put the drink on the bedside table and slid out of bed. “I can handle it,” I said, sounding more confident than I felt. “Besides, I’ve got you with me.” Liam smiled and rose from the bed. “Thanks for the confidence.”

  “Hey, anyone who can electrocute werewolves with his fingertips makes me feel safe.”

  He laughed. “Here are your clothes. I took them out of the closet.”

  “I forgot I left them there,” I said, pulling on my jeans. “Honestly, I slept so hard I forgot where I was.”

  The lantern was still glowing on the table near the bookshelf. It looked brighter now than it had before. As if he read my thoughts, Liam said, “It’s because the lighting has changed. It’s dark outside, only a few minutes past dusk.”

  “Perfect barghest hunting weather, eh?”

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  We turned to find Nym propped against the doorway.

  Liam rubbed his palms together excitedly. “Since we’re all awake and dressed, let’s get started.”

  A few minutes later we were standing outside his house. Liam was in front, carrying the lantern. Nym and I were holding onto each other, partly because of the cold but mostly because we were afraid. We didn’t really need Nym to do anything, but he was kind enough to come along for my sake. Besides, it never hurt to have another pair of eyes when it came to something like this.

  “Are you sure we don’t need to carry a weapon?” I asked for the third time.

  “It’s all right, sweetheart,” Liam said softly. “I’m the weapon, remember?” He rounded the corner of the building with Nym and me right on his heels. “If these barghests are in fact hunting me, then they’re probably close by now. Goodness knows they’ve had enough time. However, they most likely can’t get through my spells to see that this is my house.”

  “Most likely?”

  He carried on as if Nym hadn’t asked a question.

  “They’ve probably been circling the place.”

  “Great,” I said.

  “This lantern will illuminate their footprints, so right now all we need to focus on is finding—ah-ha!”

  “You found something?” Nym said.

  “A footprint.” Liam gave us what I’m sure was meant to be a comforting smile. “I told you this wouldn’t be too difficult.” He crouched down and examined the track.

  As the lantern’s light moved over it the print it began to glow and shimmer.

  “That’s the largest animal track I’ve ever seen,” I commented. My voice was surprisingly steady. “Are you sure it belongs to a barghest?”

  “Yes. I’ve seen their tracks before. This one is fresh too.”

  “Now what?” Nym asked.

  “Now we use this,” Liam said. He pulled a large dagger from inside his coat and put the lantern down so that he could hold the dagger in both hands. He spoke a few magic words over the blade. “If the one who made this track is a barghest, he won’t be able to move until I release this dagger.”

  Then he raised the dagger high and stabbed it into the track. A blood-chilling howl echoed through the air and Nym and I grabbed each other.

  “What the fuck was that? A barghest?” Nym said.

  Liam raised the lantern again and the glow cast strange shadows over his features.

  “What do you think? We’re not exactly hunting fairy godmothers.”

  “Those are real?” I asked this at the same time Nym said, “Oh I wish.” 139

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  Liam laughed softly. “Relax. It can’t move, not with that dagger in its footprint.” He pointed the lantern around the corner. “I think the sound came from across the street.”

  “You call that a sound?” Nym scoffed. “That was a fucking howl and it sounded angry.”

  “It sounded as if my spell worked,” Liam drawled.

  We followed Liam across the street to an empty lot. The moon was bright, but I still couldn’t see the creature until we almost ran into it. The drawing I’d seen in Liam’s bestiary was pretty accurate. Still, it didn’t prepare me. The monster turned its head toward me and I fell back onto the ground, screaming.

  “Motherfucker,” the creature growled. Its voice was deep and rough, as if someone had made him gargle with rocks. “Someone give this bitch a tranquilizer.” Even though I was still shaking from the sight of him, the monster’s words pissed me off enough to get me on my feet again.

  “Well, fuck you too,” I spat. “The last time I saw something like you, it ate my friend. I think I’m entitled to a good scream.” Then I realized I was actually talking to it!

  “You can speak?” When Cernunnos said to ask the barghest, his words truly hadn’t sunk in.

  His laughter was as terrifying as his glowing red eyes. “You don’t catch on fast, do you?” He looked at Liam, who was standing the closest, and growled. “A fucking magic lantern. Who even knows how to make those anymore?” Liam wagged the lantern in front of the creature’s face. “I do.” Despite the fact that he was taunting the barghest, I noticed he stayed well out of reach. “What’s your name?”

  The creature, whose body for the most part resembled a wolfman, was kneeling. I noticed one foot appeared truly rooted to the ground. I guessed that was the foot that made the track Liam stabbed.

  His long, greenish ears twitched. “Moonrunner.” Liam smiled. “Well, Moonrunner, we are going to have a conversation.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about,” the creature said. “I was sent to find you and now I have.” He glanced down at his foot. “Apparently, not fast enough though.”

  “Were you one of the barghests promised to Cernunnos for the Hunt?” The monster looked stunned. “I was.”

  “What happened?” Liam asked.

  “On our way to meet Cernunnos we were approached by a stranger.” Honestly, I was shocked to learn they weren’t shipped in crates.

  “Could you be more specific?” Liam pushed.

  Moonrunner shook his head. “I can’t. I never saw a face. The one who stopped us was wearing a cloak with the hood pulled up. Plus they had a mask with something in it to disguise their voice.”

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  “Great,” I said.

  As if to tease me he said, “You speak?”

  “Fuck you.” I said the insult as forcefully as possible and took a step forward. “One of you monsters ate my friend!”

  He raised his claws in an open-palm gesture. “Let’s hold off on who gets fucked until we settle on the details. I didn’t eat anyone.”

  “Do you know the name Rachel Carpenter?” I asked.

  “Never heard of her.”

  “Let’s get back to the stranger you were talking about,” Liam said. “What did they look like? What kind of mask? Were they tall?”

  “The cloak was black, the mask was silver, and yes they were tall.”

  “Anyone can wear heels under a cloak like that,” Nym cut in.

  Moonrunner shrugged. “The elf is right. I really can’t tell you anything.”

  “What did the stranger want?” Liam asked.

  “Our assistance.”

  “Whose assistance?”

  “Devil-fang and I. The stranger asked for our help.” He looked to me as he said,

  “And this person did say they needed someone to ‘eat a woman’. I don’t know if that means literally, or if someone was getting their freak on.”

  “Eww.”

  He licked his lips suggestively. “Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it.”

  “Get to the point,” Liam said.

  “The point is, that task was given to Devi
l-fang, and I haven’t seen him since. I was asked to find you.”

  The shaman moved closer. “For what purpose?”

  “To deliver a message.”

  “A message? You mean you weren’t sent to kill me?”

  “Do you want the message or not?”

  “Let’s have it.”

  “You’ll find what you’re looking for at The Block. Go there when the moon is full. I hope you know what that means, because I sure as shit don’t.” Liam appeared very somber as he heard the message. “I know what it means,” he said softly. “You’re not very old, are you?”

  “I’m twenty-four,” Moonrunner answered.

  “That explains it. The significance of that message is a little before your time. Was that your only task, to give me the message?”

  “Yes.”

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  “Then you’ll be released as soon as I get back to the footprint across the road.”

  “Wait a minute,” I said, getting as close as I dared. “You said that this stranger wanted a woman to be eaten. Did they say why?”

  He shook his big, shaggy head. “Not to me. For what it’s worth, I turned down that job.”

  “Go to Cernunnos,” Liam said. “Tell him you’re sorry for the delay and forget all this.”

  “You’re going to just let him go?” Nym asked, sounding incredulous. “He knows what happened to Rachel!”

  “Not really,” I said. “He only knows what was supposed to happen to her. You weren’t actually there, were you?”

  “No, I wasn’t.”

  I shrugged. “I don’t think we can learn anything else from him. I still have no fucking idea what this has to do with my friend or why she was killed.”

  “Maybe she pissed off whoever was under that cloak,” Moonrunner suggested.

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  Chapter Twenty

  Liam sent Nym and me back into the house while he went to remove the dagger from Moonrunner’s footprint. Nym paced the floor while I sat on the bed.

  “This is some crazy shit,” he said for the fifth time.

  “Do you know where he was talking about?” I asked.

  “You mean The Block? Sure. That’s where the ones Oberon sentenced to death used to be executed.”

  “Holy shit.” That was the place of power Cernunnos had mentioned.

  “Why is it called The Block?”

  Nym looked as if he might be sick. “Because they were beheaded. You know, at a chopping block.”

  “We’re almost certainly dealing with a witch,” Liam said.

  The instant he walked back into the room I ran to him. I hugged him tightly and he patted my back.

  “Were you afraid Moonrunner would eat me once I released him?”

  “The thought had occurred to me.”

  “He still can’t see past the spell on this place. He had no idea where I was.”

  “Oh.”

  He hugged me tighter and gave me a quick kiss. “I have something to tell you, but I don’t want you to get your hopes up.”

  My heart fluttered. I really couldn’t take any more excitement. My nerves had reached their limit, or so I thought.

  “What is it?”

  “I know you looked at the picture, but did you read about the barghest?”

  “Sure. What are you getting at?”

  He slipped out of his coat and tossed it onto the bed. “Do you remember what the book said about a barghest being able to swallow someone whole and then throw them back up later?”

  I nodded.

  “There is a possibility that Rachel is still alive.” I gasped and Liam held up a hand to stop me from saying anything.

  “Please don’t get your hopes up, because I’m not sure. This is only a theory. When you were in The Courtyard with him, Cernunnos detected that a witch and a barghest had been there recently. I think the witch is the one in charge, the one who was under 143

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  the cloak. I also think she needed a sacrifice. Obviously, whoever was under the cloak means to steal my magic. For a ritual like that, a sacrifice is required.”

  “And you believe Rachel is this sacrifice? What makes you think she hasn’t been killed already?”

  Liam shook his head. “I don’t know that she hasn’t. But if you recall, there was no blood at the scene of the attack. Still, it’s only a theory.”

  “His theories are usually right,” Nym said. “This just keeps getting worse.” Liam sighed heavily. “Let Nym take you home. Get some rest if you can. I’ll send a sleeping potion if you like. The moon will be full tomorrow night. Before I meet anyone anywhere, I’ve got to do some more research.”

  “On what?” Nym asked.

  “Protection spells for one. I need to know how to defend myself against someone trying to steal my soul. In case you didn’t know, that’s what stealing my magic entails.

  My magical essence goes along with my soul.”

  His tone was harsh and he looked regretful.

  “I’m sorry,” Liam said. “It’s just that I’m tired and for the first time in a while, unsure of exactly how to proceed. Please, Luna, let Nym take you home. At least I’ll know you’re safe there.” He looked sad as he added, “I’m not sure how safe it is for you to be with me right now. Sure, the barghest couldn’t find me, but for all I know he went to tell the witch my general location. She might be able to see through the spell.”

  “I understand,” I said softly. “Let me know as soon as you decide what to do.” He hugged me tightly again. “I promise.”

  Nym and I hardly spoke on the drive home. We were both worried and unsure of what to do about it. We were almost at my apartment when he said, “It’s not like Liam to snap at me.”

  I looked toward him and he waved off my concern.

  “I’m not upset, I’m worried. I’ve never seen him snap at anyone besides his aunt.

  They argue like siblings. I’ve never seen him lose his cool, it’s unnerving.”

  “It’s not as if he jumped down your throat or anything,” I said softly. “His tone was just a little harsh.”

  “Yeah, but you don’t understand. Liam is always…steady. That’s the best way I can think to describe him. It takes a lot to ruffle his feathers.” Come to think of it, he even seemed cool when he electrocuted the werewolf who grabbed me at club Red.

  “Everything will be all right,” Nym said. He took a deep breath and reached over to pat my leg.

  “Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”

  “Both.”

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  Once we were back at my place, Nym checked the house to be sure no one was there. He also checked to be sure I still had Liam’s basket sitting by the door.

  “Remember, as long as this is here, no one that means you harm can enter. If you find some creepy-ass bitch lingering out here, call Liam.” It felt good to laugh. “I’ll be fine. He sent a sleeping potion, remember? I plan on catching up on my rest, just in case. You never know what might happen tomorrow and I can’t take sitting up worrying.”

  Nym hesitated by the door before turning back to me. “Can I stay?” His question caught me by surprise, but the look in his eyes told me he didn’t want sex.

  “I’m scared,” he admitted. “I don’t know what’s going to happen and the most competent shaman I know doesn’t either. That’s upsetting to say the least.” Nym moved closer and put his hand on my shoulder. “I love him. Not like you do, but I love him just the same. I don’t know what would happen if I didn’t have him in my life.”

  “You and me both.” I hugged him close. “You know you’re welcome to stay, Nym.”

  “Will you share that potion?”

  The sleeping potion had a stronger effect on Nym than me. I left him in the bed the next morning while I went to make coffee. He’d slept with me at my request because I needed to be close to someone. A week ago, I certainly wouldn
’t have seen myself snuggled up to a sexy elf, both of us wearing nothing but underwear. I was grateful for the friendship Nym had so readily offered and for a boyfriend who would understand why he was in my bed.

  The coffee was almost ready when I heard a bump at the door. It wasn’t exactly a knock, but sounded more as if someone had tapped the door by accident. I looked through the peephole, no one was there.

  I was still in my underwear, but since the hallway was empty I opened the door.

  There sat a basket of cookies, neatly arranged and wrapped in decorative plastic. I picked them up and put them on the counter before someone saw me half naked. My first thought was that Aurora probably dropped them off on her way to work. I figured she was running late and didn’t have time for a chat.

  They were the prettiest, most inviting batch of cookies I’d ever seen. I reached for the bow to untie the plastic and found a small card.

  “After all this stress, you deserve something sweet.” The note was typed, not handwritten. It was also not signed. Looking back, it was stupid of me to eat one, but I assumed they were from Liam. I was wrong.

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  Chapter Twenty-One

  I had almost finished the cookie when I hit the floor. The pain in my stomach was unbearable. It sliced right through my waist to my back. Nausea washed over me. I pressed my face to the kitchen tile for relief from the sudden fever coursing through my veins. I meant to call for help, but all I could manage was a pitiful little moan.

  I lay there whimpering for what felt like forever before Nym came rushing in.

  “Luna, what happened?”

  He knelt beside me and took me in his arms. What was left of the cookie fell from my hand.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he said. “I’ll call Liam right now.” He laid me on the bed. I could hear him talking frantically, but my mind couldn’t focus on anything but the pain. It felt as if someone was twisting my insides.

  “Please help,” I kept saying. “Please help.”

  Nym held me close and through my haze of misery I realized he was crying. “Liam said he was already on his way. He could feel it when something happened to you.