Damned and Cursed (Book 2): Witch's Kurse

by Bullion, Glenn

  His features fell. "He didn't tell you, did he?"

  "Who?"

  "Jack. The dick. He always does this to me. He instructed me to come pick you up."

  She looked down at her baggy tee shirt and sweatpants, not exactly dressed for any kind of event.

  "Could you give me five minutes? And tell me where we're going?"

  "Certainly, take your time. I'll be outside. But the destination…he told me not to say."

  Laughing, she gently closed the door and went to the bedroom to change. Her eyes fell on her Wonder Woman underwear, and she smiled at the thought of Jack. The idea of a romantic morning seemed something he was incapable of, so she had to wonder what he was up to. If she were pressed to be honest, she had to admit she was glad he was still in town.

  She was tempted to dress up, but knew Jack didn't stare at her because of her clothes. Leaving the apartment in jeans and a sweater, a strange thought hit her as she caught sight of the limousine waiting for her. In her eighty years, she'd never ridden in a limousine before.

  The ride was much too short. She enjoyed Sandy Cliffs from a rare view. They seemed to take a brief tour of town, until they turned down a familiar street.

  Her bar was directly ahead. Her pulse quickened. She'd been in a good mood the past few days. She was happy to be alive, with no hunters tracking her, but the last thing she wanted to see was her dead dream.

  What she saw as the limousine slowed to a halt stunned her.

  The bar was drowning in activity. Several trucks were parked in front, with men moving in and out. The scent of fresh, cut wood filled her nose. Workers carried in chairs, tables, a new bar top. She smelled felt and chalk. New pool tables were nearby. Another unmarked moving truck pulled up, the driver laughing and talking about a football game with his passenger.

  Jack stood with his back to her, facing the building. He held a tablet in one hand and signed a form with the other, handing it over to a delivery man. Marie could see him engaged in a video conversation, and she eavesdropped as she approached. It was a young girl she had to assume was his daughter.

  "-coming home, Dad?"

  "Tonight, sweetie. I'm actually leaving in a short while. I'll be home before we eat dinner."

  "Will you cook dinner? Kevin cooks okay, but not as good as you."

  "You're damn straight, he doesn't. Did you tell him that? Make sure you tell him."

  "I will."

  He looked over his shoulder to see Marie.

  "I have to go now, Tiff. I'll see you soon. Tell Glinda to start packing his shit."

  "Okay. Can he come over even when you come back?"

  "What? Why?"

  "I like him."

  "We'll talk about that later. You be good, and I'll see you later today."

  Jack ended the call and almost smiled as Marie drew closer. She couldn't close her mouth as she watched the work being done on the bar.

  "You're…fixing my bar?"

  "Very close. I'm fixing my bar."

  Her smile faded. "What?"

  "I bought it. It's mine now. Dirt cheap, too."

  "What are you talking about? I put it on the market, but there haven't been any offers. I haven't signed anything."

  "You'd have an argument if I did my business legally."

  She took a step closer, and could feel the eyes of some of the workers watching her.

  "Well, you did destroy it in the first place. I'd be very grateful if you did the right thing and gave it back to me. You'd have a very appreciative werewolf."

  He laughed. "Grateful and appreciative doesn't put money in my pocket."

  She smiled mischievously and took his hand. To her surprise, he didn't yank it away.

  "What are you up to, Jack?"

  He opened his mouth to speak, but was distracted when he looked over her shoulder. He smiled, and she turned to follow his eyes. A pair of men carefully lowered a beautiful jukebox out of a moving truck.

  "Is that a Wurlitzer 1015?" Marie asked.

  "It is. From my personal collection."

  She watched as they carried it inside.

  "You have no idea how jealous I am right now."

  "You should be. If anything happens to that, I'll put on a silver glove and slap you across the face."

  "And why is that, considering it's not my bar?"

  "Well, it's sixty-six percent yours."

  "What?"

  He frowned as he looked around him. "I don't like getting my hands too dirty with the businesses I own. But I know a good thing when I see one, and this place will let Tiffany have a nice little allowance. But I need someone to handle everything. That would be you."

  "Everything. Wow, what a word. So, I would do everything, while you sit on the east coast and watch TV, and you would take a third?"

  "Yeah. But I wouldn't watch TV. My thing is my vegetable garden."

  "A garden? You?"

  "I love my garden."

  "You're just full of surprises. Twenty percent."

  "I'm renovating the place, replacing everything. You'll never have to worry about me interfering. You'll never have to cut corners, such as not having a jukebox. And you want to knock me down to twenty percent?"

  "You got it."

  "Deal."

  She smiled and let go of his hand. The men continued to watch the pair as they worked.

  "I'd ask you to dinner to sign everything," she said. "But I heard you're leaving."

  "Yeah. I've been away from Tiffany too long. I need to get home. That witch probably has cauldrons all over my house. And who knows where the cat's been shitting."

  "The next time you're in town, then."

  Jack nodded, and went to walk past her to the limousine. She grabbed his arm and leaned her nose into his neck, not caring who was watching. She wanted to get one last sniff of his intoxicating scent.

  "Thank you. For this," she said, gesturing to the bar. "For saving my life. For everything."

  He took her hand, which she imagined was a big step for him.

  "You're a beautiful, intriguing, fun woman, and I enjoyed killing mortals with you. I hope we can do it another time. I look forward to meeting again. But next time, keep squirrel off the menu."

  She giggled and held up a hand. "I promise. And the bar will be great. Don't worry."

  "I'm not. I trust you."

  Jack headed to the limousine, turning back once to look at Marie. She waved and even blew a playful kiss. He never took his eyes off her as the limousine drove away.

  She turned to the bar. So much work lay ahead of her. Calling her old employees, hiring new ones, advertising, getting the bar completely ready to go.

  Jack entered her thoughts. She could only imagine what was waiting for her, getting into business with him, having him in her life.

  She had the feeling she didn't have her last adventure with Jack Kursed.

  *****

  Jack wasn't surprised to see Tiffany sitting on the front steps of their home, but it warmed his heart just the same. As the limousine slowed down, she perked up. She stood up and ran down the sidewalk when the limousine came to a stop. He waited patiently, and doubt crept across her face as Jack watched her through the tinted window. He lowered the window only a few inches, just enough to reveal his eyes.

  "Hello there," he said. "I think I might have the wrong address."

  "Daddy!"

  She tackled him as soon as he opened the door, not even letting him climb out. He laughed and held her close. Emotions blew through him he didn't expect, and he found it difficult to let go. He was in luck, as Tiffany also didn't release her death grip. His daughter was crying, tears of joy, and that triggered Jack's own waterworks. His crying was followed by a poke of anger at the thought of crying. He was an emotional puzzle.

  A conversation on a tablet, as much as he loved technology, didn't compare to holding his daughter.

  "I missed you," Tiffany said. "Don't go away again."

  "I won't. I'm not doing any business for a
long time."

  "Did you get your business done?"

  Her stressing of the word surprised him, and he wondered what else had happened while he was gone.

  "Yeah. Everything's all good."

  She released her hold and backed up. Jack finally climbed out of the car and knelt in front of her.

  "It was crazy while you were gone," she said. "I didn't like Kevin at first, but now he's my best friend. And I had a sleepover. And then Kevin and Leese fought, but now they kiss all the time. It's gross. And then those people took me from school, but Kevin came and got me. I saw Aunt Victoria! She says hello. And then—"

  "Whoa! Breathe, Tiff."

  Tiffany did so, pausing to catch her breath. She smiled, a beautiful, pure smile. Not saying anything else, she simply reached out for another hug, which Jack happily obliged. The driver had the trunk to the limousine open, setting luggage on the ground.

  "Oh!" Tiffany shouted. "I'll help!"

  She grabbed the handle and rolled the bag to the house. Jack tipped his driver and sent him on his way. He stayed on the sidewalk, taking in his home, appreciating his life, when the front door opened as Tiffany neared.

  Kevin held the door open for her, and then walked down the sidewalk. Jack nodded in greeting as the witch approached.

  "Glinda."

  "Jack."

  The two stood side by side, watching the house. Kevin shoved his hands in his pockets and stared at the ground.

  "Thanks for the job," he said.

  "Thank you for saving my daughter's life. I'll never be able to repay you, but I'll try."

  "We're even. You saved Leese's life not too long ago, and even Cindy's."

  "Yeah, but that's not really even. Tiffany's life is worth more than both of theirs combined."

  Kevin said nothing. He simply shook his head.

  Jack watched his daughter through the living room windows. She ran back and forth, excited, from the front door to the living room, peeking and waving. He forced a smile, but an overwhelming sadness gripped him.

  "Erica was right," Jack said. "Tiffany's not safe with me."

  "What? Who's Erica?"

  "My ex-girlfriend. We split up because she found out what I was. She told me Tiffany would be a target. I didn't listen. And my daughter was nearly taken from me."

  "Whoa, now," Kevin said. "I think you're being crazy. How often do people come after you?"

  He glared at the witch. "It only takes one time, Glinda."

  "Well, that's why I made her this."

  He reached into his pocket. Jack smirked when he pulled out a wristband. In the center was a piece of shale.

  "Wow. A rock she can wear on her wrist. You shouldn't have."

  "Yeah, just like that pocket-watch on your dresser only tells time. Look, I get it. You want her to be safe. But if we all thought like that, then I'd have to break up with Leese, never talk to my sister, and live in a box somewhere. Alex would have to divorce Cindy. You, Victoria, all of us, would have to hide away from everyone."

  "I can't protect her all the time."

  "So, that's why you have friends—" He stretched the word. "Like me."

  "We're not friends."

  "Yes, we are."

  "No. I refuse."

  "Whatever. I work in this town now, Jack. I'm going to stop over for dinner, hang out with Tiffany, bring Leese over—"

  "Did you pack your shit? It's time for you to leave."

  Kevin smiled, undeterred. "The truth is Tiffany needs you, and you need her. She knows things about us, and you'll have to deal with that. You'll have to talk with her, take care of her, keep doing the shit you've been doing. Dropping her off with some human family, if that's what you're thinking, that won't work."

  "I hate mortals."

  "See? There you go. Problem solved."

  Jack didn't smile. Kevin put a hand on his shoulder. It took another glare to get the witch to remove it.

  "I'm supposed to be the worrier," Kevin said. "And I'm not worried. Hell, Tiffany wasn't even worried. The kid's stronger than you think."

  "Believe me, I know."

  "The bracelet is just a start. I've got a few other things I'm working on. Just trust me."

  He laughed shortly. "Trust you," he said, nearly spitting the words.

  His phone vibrated in his pocket, a strange sensation. He didn't get many messages. Pulling it out, he smiled when he saw it was a picture message.

  "Now that's what I'm talking about."

  Marie was sitting on the bar, taking a self portrait using the mirror behind the alcohol. She was completely naked with the exception of her Wonder Woman underwear. Her feet rested on a barstool, showing off her legs. Her arm was strategically placed to cover her breasts as she gave a flirty smile.

  "Who is it?"

  He turned the phone so he could see.

  "Ah, the werewolf. Is she your new girlfriend?"

  "No, just a business partner. And a poke-partner."

  "Poke-partner. Nice. You know, I'm not sure if ladies like it when you share pictures—"

  "She looks great, doesn't she? One day, after Leese shakes out of her training bra—"

  "Leese doesn't wear a training bra."

  Jack ignored him. "Maybe she'll be lucky enough to look half as good as Marie."

  "Leese looks fine the way she is."

  "You just keep telling yourself that, if it helps. Does she send you naked shots?"

  "She's walking down the sidewalk right now, Jack. She can hear you."

  He looked up to see the blonde approaching. She smiled before leaning into Kevin and kissing him on the lips. Jack wondered if she did it just to irritate him.

  "Hey, Jack," she said. "Nice to see you again."

  "Do you send the witch naked pictures?"

  "All the time."

  Kevin's face turned red as Leese laughed. The front door opened, and Tiffany sprinted down the sidewalk to once again tackle Jack around the waist.

  "Dad, can Leese and Kevin stay and eat dinner with us?"

  "Whoa, I'm not sure if—"

  "That's a great idea," Leese said, smiling devilishly.

  "I'll cook," Kevin added.

  "No," Jack said. "You've damaged my kitchen enough. I'll cook."

  The four headed toward the house, but Jack grabbed Kevin's shoulder to keep him behind. Tiffany and Leese continued on, playfully debating on what to have for dinner. The choices ranged from pizza to chicken to ice cream.

  "I don't want anyone else seeing this," Jack said. "And you'd better appreciate this moment."

  "What are you talking about?"

  Jack extended his hand. Kevin hesitated at first, but then reached out and shook it.

  "Keep the girls entertained while I cook dinner. And don't tell anyone we just did that."

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  I live in Maryland with my wonderful wife and four cats. I love gaming, computer technology, movies, and of course, reading and writing. I love science fiction and especially horror. Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, zombies, anything supernatural, all beautiful subjects.

  I've been writing since I was twelve years old. There's just something about creating a story that I like. It's always fun to try to come up with something that hasn't been done, or is unique in some way. It's fun to build a character, give him a personality and background.

  Visit my website at http://www.glennbullion.com

  Total works by Glenn Bullion:

  Demonspawn

  Dead Living

  Mind Slide

  A Witch to Live

  Jack Kursed

  Soul Insurance

  Demon's Doorway

  Witch's Kurse

 

 

 
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