by Dana Davis
Daisy had removed the back seats to allow space for her estate sale hauls. “So, how’d it go? What’d you buy?” Green eyes focused on her and she sensed something was wrong. “You okay, Bridge?”
Suddenly, Bridgette’s body waved as though Daisy looked at her through heat coming off asphalt on a scorching summer day. Mere seconds later, a faceless man lunged for her.
Chapter 13
Shape-Shifter from Hell
She opened her mouth to cast a trussing spell but he pinned her to the floor, hand over her mouth. She struggled, slapping and kicking at him until his weight dropped onto her, nearly knocking her breathless. She fought, or tried to fight, but her will drained from her like water from a leaky pool at something he uttered. Her heart hammered in her chest as the stranger’s hands roamed over her body, not at all the gentle way Noah touched her. Was the van door still open? Would anyone see? She couldn’t yell for help with his hand over her mouth.
She tried to get a look at his face but he had no features. Her emotions fought between the pleasure and the violation. He whispered in her ear but she couldn’t understand what he said. She thought perhaps he might be speaking in another language, but it wasn’t Gaelic.
With one desperate yank, she shook her head hard enough to get her mouth free. In an instant, she spouted the nettle spell Bridgette had taught her. The air around her pricked at her skin. She imagined being inside a static ball. Her attacker vanished. Had he merely teased her this time? Or was he growing weaker? She could only hope for the latter.
Her wits slowly returned and she sat up to redress herself, only to realize that her clothes hadn’t been removed like she thought. A hand landed on her ankle and she let out a startled yelp before beginning another spell.
“Daisy, stop!” Bridgette’s voice interrupted her, followed by a sound smack on her calf, muffled by her jeans.
“Bridge? Oh god. I’m sorry. I almost—”
“Forget it. What happened?” The tall redhead helped her out of the van. “Did he attack you again?”
“Yes.” Her face heated with anger and frustration and she dabbed at the sweat the spell had caused. “Shit, Bridgette. How am I supposed to fight him when he takes control of me like that? Did anybody see?” Her eyes darted about like a trapped animal before she realized no one was watching.
“You looked like you were napping. You sat up just as I reached the van. You used the nettle spell, didn’t you?”
“Yes.” But it wouldn’t have worked if she hadn’t managed to get his hand off her mouth. Thoughts didn’t perform spells. She studied Bridgette’s concerned face then caught the men sauntering around the building’s entrance. “Did you get your car?”
“Fuck the car. I’m taking you home.”
“No.” Bridgette started to protest but Daisy cut her off. “I won’t let that bastard send me into hiding.” Her voice grew strong despite her shaking hands. “Now get your goddamn car and follow me to the complex.”
A slight smile touched Bridgette’s lips. “They don’t have what I want here.”
“Oh.” Daisy glanced at her watch. Twenty minutes had passed since they’d arrived. “There’s another dealer up the street.” She took in a deep breath, grateful for the cold air and her cousin’s presence.
The woman probably scared the attacker away more than Daisy’s spell. He hadn’t raped her this time. Even so, Daisy still had to fight the urge to panic. Tears threatened to escape but she sucked in another deep breath and pushed them away.
“The car can wait,” Bridgette said. “Let’s go see that condo. Then you can go furniture shopping with me and I’ll take you to lunch. Might do us both good.”
Her cousin was getting protective, much like she’d done on the playground when they were kids. Bridgette could smack the shit out of Daisy, but let someone else come after her and the redhead would pounce on the attacker like a hawk on a snake. A very pissed off hawk. She opened her mouth to say it wasn’t necessary but never got the words out.
Bridgette shoved her into the passenger seat and said firmly, “I’m not letting you alone. Not until we find a way to stop this attacker for good. With that, she shut Daisy’s door and the sliding door then strode around to the driver’s side.
“How’d you get out of there so soon?” Daisy said as she watched three salesmen stare in their direction.
“When he finally admitted they didn’t have the car I wanted, I told him not to bother following me out. And I kept walking.”
“And he gave up? Just like that?”
Bridgette gave her a smirk. “Might’ve had something to do with the affair I plucked from his thoughts. I told him I saw him with his mistress and threatened to call his wife if he hassled me.”
Despite what had just happened with her molester, Daisy threw her head back in laughter. It was good to have Bridgette home.
Several seat adjustments and a few curses later, her cousin put the van into gear and sped out of the parking lot.
“Take it easy,” Daisy said as she jostled in her seat. “You want to get a ticket?”
The redhead smiled but said nothing.
“Never mind.” Witches like Bridgette never got tickets. Between her looks, her telepathic abilities, and her talent for spells, well, she could be very persuasive. What’s wrong with my brain?
“So, where’s this complex?”
“Not far from my house.”
She gave directions, wondering why she’d given Bridgette control of her precious vintage ride. Her cousin nearly took out a young woman who was jaywalking and Daisy held her breath. Bet the woman would rethink that move in the future. Bridgette loved speed. That’s why she liked sporty cars. The van jerked, groaned and grinded in protest to the hard driving.
“You’ll blow my engine, Bridge. Slow down,” Daisy said as they peeled down Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard. When Bridgette seemed not to hear, she added, “You’ll set off the speed cameras. We can’t afford the attention.”
That seemed to get through to her cousin and she slowed. “You’re right. Shit. I want to get this monster, Daisy. Shake him up real good. Maybe dismember him. Starting with his balls.”
Daisy chuckled, despite the disturbing image that flashed through her mind, but it came out as a half-sob. Bridgette’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, Daisy’s only clue that her cousin had heard her. They were silent through several lights.
“Left at the next light,” Daisy said. She grabbed onto the door handle as the van leaned into the turn. They crossed the CAP canal, the Central Arizona Project canal that fed water from the Colorado River into the valley, headed north and cruised past tile-roofed homes, including Daisy’s.
“Left again at the next light. It’s the first entrance on the right.”
“You weren’t shitting me this is close to you. I can see the McDowells almost as well as from your place. Good thing Jay wasn’t hot for you back in college. You’d have him drooling on your doorstep every night.”
“Good thing. Noah’d probably do something stupid if I had a real man after me.”
Bridgette pulled into a guest spot, killed the engine and turned to Daisy. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah.” She snatched her keys back before her cousin could pocket them. “It’s like a dream. I feel it happening at the time, but afterwards, some details are a bit foggy.” Part of her was thankful for that. Another part was terrified he could make her so forgetful.
Bridgette nodded then snapped her head to look out the front window. “Looky who we’ve got here.”
Daisy followed her cousin’s gaze and saw Jay striding across the tiny lawn that was scattered with brittlebush beneath several palo verde trees. As soon as the first warm days arrived, all would bloom with yellow flowers. Unfortunately, the silver-leafed brittlebush had been trimmed into neat balls, making them look anything but native. In fact, they reminded Daisy of a theme park.
Jay wore brown slacks, a tan shirt and a sports jacket that looked like they
belonged on the cover of a men’s fashion magazine. A silver bolo tie added just the right amount of Southwest flavor to his costume. No one wore bolo ties anymore and Daisy chuckled. When he reached the van, he planted a forearm on the hood just outside Bridgette’s window and motioned her to roll down the glass.
“Well, well,” he crooned. “Look what the paranormal cat dragged in.” His dark hair was perfectly combed and moved slightly with the cold breeze. Designer sunglasses sat on top of his head and his tanned face gave Bridgette a confident smirk.
“Hello, Jay. I see your mother’s still picking out your clothes.”
“Ouch.” He held one hand over his chest. “That hurt. Hey, Daisy.”
“Jay. You up for cowboy of the year?” She nodded to his bolo tie.
He glanced down and fingered the tie. “Mom’s idea. Snowbirds seems to love anything western and we sell a lot of condos to them. I think they’re disappointed we don’t still ride around in wagons and have shoot-outs.”
Daisy laughed. “I’m sure they don’t think that.”
He ignored her comment and said, “You two coming inside or not? I’ve got the perfect unit for you, Bridgette. Just your style.”
“You’re mother pick that out too?”
“No, but she told me you were coming.”
Bridgette shot Daisy a look.
“I didn’t say anything.”
Jay said, “Mom’s a psychic, remember?”
“Shit. I’d forgotten.”
He laughed, revealing white teeth nature couldn’t provide, and opened the door. Daisy hid a smile when Bridgette ignored the hand he held out. She had to take long strides to catch up with her cousin as they crossed the small swath of manicured lawn toward the entrance. Once inside the lobby, complete with Southwestern tile designs and clay pots filled with succulent plants, Jay’s mother stepped from the office.
“Daisy. Good to see you again. Bridgette. It’s been too long.”
Fay wore immaculate designer slacks and tailored jacket with a diamond-studded bolo tie, the female version of Jay’s wardrobe. She wore her short hair colored blonde like so many older women trying to cover a head full of gray. Rings with large diamonds and other gemstones encircled several fingers. Even before they embraced, Daisy could smell her perfume. Expensive.
The Abbey family was well off, even more-so than Bridgette and Aunt Maureen, thanks to Fay’s psychic talents and her late husband’s penchant for playing the greyhounds, a popular racing sport in Phoenix. The woman obviously had some work done, skin too firm and lips too plump for someone her age. Especially for someone born and raised in the brutal Arizona sun and dry climate. Arizonans Fay’s age who worked local farms and ranches had skin like some of Daisy’s old leather books. No one here escaped dry skin and Daisy doused herself with moisturizer and sun block each day in hopes of escaping some of the sun’s ravages.
After brief hugs, Fay said, “Jay’ll show you the condo. Come see me when you’re done.”
Jay ushered Daisy and Bridgette down several walkways shaded with palo verde trees and interspersed with multi-armed saguaro and bare ocotillo that looked like giant sticks, until they reached unit 113.
“Private entrances,” Jay said. “Here and from the attached two-car garage.” He opened the front door, let them inside, and the tour began.
Bridgette inspected everything from the slate floors and designer cabinets to the concrete kitchen countertops and stainless steel appliances that were much too industrial for Daisy’s taste. The McDowell Mountains were visible over the patio block wall. Tile rooftops made up her North Scottsdale neighborhood, the colors mimicking the surrounding desert.
“You can plant anything you like as long as it’s indigenous,” Jay said.
After a brief tour of the upstairs, Bridgette stood at the French doors of the master suite that led to a private balcony.
“This is very nice, Bridge,” Daisy said. “You’d be close by. And you’ve got a great view.”
“The units on this side are reserved for paranormals,” Jay told them. “Reduces suspicion from our mortal owners when odd things happen. No sense raising unwanted attention.” A sentiment most paranormals would agree with.
Daisy studied him and said, “Guess it pays to be a paranormal in this neighborhood.”
He laughed. “It pays to be our kind anyplace.” His eyes fell on Bridgette, who still had her gaze out the glass, and he grinned. Daisy had to admit he looked charming. “There’s an adult-only pool and spa a short walk from here.”
Bridgette turned and her eyes lit. “No kids allowed?”
“Not in the adult area. We have a separate pool with adjacent playground for children. And there’s a gym with all the latest equipment. No kids allowed in there either.”
“How much?”
Jay grinned and led them downstairs. Daisy leaned on the kitchen island as he and Bridgette discussed the contract. Her mind drifted back to earlier events and she fought a shudder. She concentrated on the conversation in front of her to keep her mind off those disturbing attacks. As Bridgette questioned Jay about noise and other such concerns, Daisy thought back to her own house purchase.
She and Noah had obtained their home through a friend of her mom’s, who, luckily for them, wanted to sell only to another paranormal. When the woman heard Daisy and Noah were looking for a place, she decided to sell to them and retire to Prescott, like a lot of retired Phoenicians fleeing the desert heat.
Jay’s laughter brought Daisy back to the conversation. Bridgette, looking satisfied with the contract, moved to questions about the current homeowner’s association. Daisy fought a groan. Though mortals outnumbered paranormals in her immediate neighborhood, her HOA board was run solely by paranormals. How they managed to snag all the positions, she didn’t want to guess. They seemed to get a kick out of harassing mortals with asinine rules and regulations violations.
After Bridgette skimmed the association’s Covenants, Conditions & Regulations list, which looked a lot thinner than Daisy’s CC&Rs, the two began to haggle over the price via a piece of paper.
“Do I need a realtor?” Bridgette said after Jay countered with another scribble on the paper. “Or did you forget I’m paying cash,”
Jay sighed. Since he wasn’t a very powerful paranormal, no doubt Bridgette could read some of his thoughts, even a few he didn’t want to share. And cash was cash. He scratched through his last offer, wrote something else, and slid the paper in front of Bridgette again.
The redhead eyed the current offer then Jay. “Deal,” she said.
He smiled. After going over the contract again, Bridgette signed and shook Jay’s hand. She wrote a check for the entire amount and Jay handed over the keys. Bridgette’s father had her mother listed as his sole beneficiary. The man left behind a huge sum when he died, mostly from investments in the multi-million dollar seafood company his family once owned. Bridgette didn’t have to work, wouldn’t have to work the rest of her life, but she chose to sometimes. She could be quite stingy with her inheritance too, haggling over profitable investments.
Like real estate.
Jay inspected the rectangular paper in his hand and eyed Bridgette. “You didn’t forget to transfer your money to this local account, did you? I heard you were living out of state for a while.”
“My checks are good, Jay.” She flipped her loose red hair over one shoulder.
He nodded. “Well then, congratulations.” They shook again and his eyes lingered on her before she pulled her hand back.
“We need to speak to your mom,” Daisy said, knowing Bridgette had no romantic interest in Jay. She had once said he was too shallow, even for her.
Jay’s forehead creased. “Trouble?”
“You could say that.”
“Anything I can do?”
Bridgette said, “Seen any atypical paranormals around here? Any living nearby?”
“Mmm.” Jay scratched at the back of his neck. “Just the usual. Another witch, not ver
y strong. A couple of pixies who do our landscaping.” He held up a hand. “Don’t ask how much we pay them.”
Daisy shook her head. Pixies loved gardening and kept their own properties in pruned order, which explained the round bushes here. But they could care less if the house next door was in shambles with overgrown weeds as tall as a forest, unless someone offered them a good amount of money to clean it up. When they wanted to, they could work miracles with vegetation. And no, pixies weren’t tiny people with wings. They looked like any other humans.
“A few others who’re descendants of paranormals,” Jay said. “But they don’t have much in the way of powers themselves.” He eyed Daisy. “Your cousin’s one of those. What’s her name? Lives down near Cactus Road.”
Daisy nodded. “Zoey.”
Zoey was a fourth cousin, not from the inherent witch line, who’d been living with her aunt and uncle just a few of miles from Daisy, until the couple’s death almost two years ago. Last Daisy heard the girl still lived in the house she’d inherited. What was she, twenty, twenty-one now? Zoey had no powers so she couldn’t have anything to do with the shape-shifter, or skinwalker, or whatever the hell he was. Daisy wrapped arms around her middle to keep herself from shivering at the thought of him.
“You, Daisy and my mom are probably the strongest in all of Scottsdale,” Jay said, bringing her from her thoughts.
Bridgette nodded. “If you see a stranger lurking around or anyone that fits the shape-shifter category, let us know, will you?”
“Shape-shifters, huh?”
“Yeah.” Emerald eyes surveyed Daisy a moment.
Jay paused as if waiting for more information. When Bridgette didn’t accommodate, he said, “For you? Anything.” He smiled, revealing perfectly straight teeth.
“That’s great, Casanova,” Daisy interjected. “Now let’s go see your mother.”
They waited in Fay’s office. Daisy couldn’t seem to sit still so she wandered around, inspecting various pictures on the walls. The Abbeys had traveled to nearly every destination worth seeing on good old planet Earth and displayed some of their more impressive photos. Most who lived in this area had money, and the pictures probably served as inspiration to those who hadn’t bothered to travel. Daisy also suspected they held more than one photo. No doubt Fay had magickal ones secreted behind the ones on display. The woman was a paranormal after all, an inherent witch, who also happened to be a psychic. In fact, she, Daisy and Bridgette shared a common ancestor, way, way back on the family tree.