by Wendy Wang
“Oh my God,” she whispered. “I am so glad to see you.”
“I'm glad to see you, too. You had us worried there for a little bit.”
“How did you figure it out?”
“Somebody saw you leaving with Melinda and Charlie thought it was weird,” Ben said as he sawed through the ropes holding her hands in place.
“Well Charlie is right.” Once he freed her hands, Jen rubbed her wrists and shrugged her shoulders trying to loosen up the stiffness.
“Damn, these ropes around your ankles are tight.” He ran his hands over the rope binding her feet. The feel of his fingers tickled her skin. “I'm afraid I might end up cutting you.”
“Don't worry. It's okay. I trust you,” she said. Ben met her eyes. He gave her a nod and went back to work sawing the rope. Finally her feet were free and Ben pulled her to her feet as he stood up. She wobbled a little and pressed her hand to her forehead. “Whoa.”
“You okay?” He put his hands on her shoulders to steady her.
“Yeah,” she said. “I don't know what she did to me, but I can't shake this dizziness.”
“Come, let's get you out of here.” Ben took her hand and led her to the back door. When he touched it, the metal doorknob suddenly glowed red, burning his hand. Ben stifled a cry and yanked his hand back. Angry red skin striped his fingers and palm where he'd touched the knob. “Shit. She's booby-trapped the place.”
“What?” Jen said, fighting the panic fluttering in her chest.
“Wait here.” He dropped her hand and grabbed a kitchen towel from the towel bar on the end of the island. He wrapped the towel around his hand and punched through one of the panes of glass. As soon as he did, though, the glass pulled itself back together into a solid pane again. Ben took a step back from the door. “What the hell?”
“She must've put a binding spell on the house,” Jen said.
“That's right. Very good,” Melinda said, walking in through the kitchen doorway. “Hi there,” she said in her perkiest voice. “I was wondering when we would see you again. I need you to do me the teensiest favor. You know that monitoring spell you put on my niece? Well I need you to break it.”
Ben stepped in front of Jen and held up his scorched hand. “Melinda, let's just think this through for a minute. Okay? You're not going to get away with any of this. If you surrender now, I will make sure that the tribunal knows that you gave yourself up without causing any more bloodshed.”
Melinda snickered, directing her question to Jen. “Is he serious?”
“He sounds serious to me,” she said.
“Oh sugar, bless your heart,” Melinda said. “That's not how things work in this house.” In one fell swoop Melinda grabbed an iron frying pan from her stove top and slung it as hard and as fast as she could at Ben's head. His hands began to glow green and he swiped at the pan. It crashed into the floor cracking and breaking the marble tile.
“Now look what you've done,” Melinda growled. She pulled a knife from the block on the counter and threw it at him. Ben grabbed Jen's hand and pulled her as fast as he could into the butler's pantry off the kitchen leading to the formal dining room. He slammed the door behind them and locked it.
“You can't hide from me in this house,” Melinda called after him.
Ben shoved the polished mahogany table against the door and started to pull Jen into the living room.
“Ben wait,” Jen whispered. The world swirled in gray. “I'm not feeling so good.” Ben scooped her up into his arms and Jen rested her head in the crook of his neck, breathing him in. She didn't know how much longer she could stay conscious.
“Ben, she did something to me,” she whispered and slipped into the darkness.
Chapter 20
Jason was the first to show up after Charlie sent a text for help. He rode into Melinda's subdivision with his blue lights flashing on the on the dash of his Dodge Charger. Charlie had parked down the street so as not to be conspicuous. As soon a she saw the lights she got out of her car and waved him down. Jason pulled up behind her and got out of his car.
“What's going on?” he said.
“I need your help. I think Melinda forced Jen into her car. And now she has her in her house. Ben went in about thirty minutes ago but I haven't seen or heard from him since.”
“Maybe he and Melinda are just talking?” Jason said.
“I don't think so.” Charlie pulled her phone from her pocket and showed Jason the text from Ben. “That's why I texted you.”
It simply read: I see Jen in the kitchen. Looks like she's tied to a chair. I'm going in.
“What the fuck?” Jason said.
“I know,” Charlie said.
Jason reached into his car and grabbed his radio off the front seat.
“What are you doing? Charlie asked.
“I'm calling for backup,” Jason said. “Holding somebody hostage just moved this into my territory.”
“Can you wait?” Charlie asked.” There's a spell on that house. I'm afraid that anybody who goes in may not be able to come out unless Melinda allows it.”
Jason frowned and lowered his hand holding the radio. “Charlie, we need a hostage negotiator.”
“It's not gonna work.” Charlie shook her head. “Melinda is not thinking clearly. And quite honestly I don't know what she's capable of. I know she can create a death spell, which makes her dangerous. I don't want you or anybody else to get hurt. You could go in and your guns could be rendered useless.”
“Charlie,” Jason said. “This is really a matter for the Sheriff's Department now. I'm sorry, but I'm going have to override you on this.” He squeezed the talk button on the side of the radio. “Dispatch this is Sheriff Forty. I'm in Sector George. I need back up at a possible hostage situation. Suspect is a thirty-four-year-old female. Go ahead.”
“Forty, I have two cars in the area, go ahead.”
“Dispatch, contact Lieutenant Commander Beck and apprise him of the situation.”
“Copy that Forty.”
Jason let go of the button unclipped the radio to his waistband.
“Do you think she's armed?” Jason asked.
“Only with the spell book,” Charlie said. “I don't know if your guns are going to work in there.”
“What you mean?”
“There is a spell on that house. It's pulsing a dark energy unlike anything I've ever seen. I'm guessing it's some sort of binding spell.”
“What does that mean? Binding spell?” Jason asked.
“It means that she may have put a spell on the house to keep people from either entering the house, leaving the house, or it could be a combination of both. Ultimately, she has the control,” Charlie said.
“Okay, how do we get the control away from her?” Jason asked.
“Evangeline, Lisa and Daphne are on their way. We'll have to break the spell, which I anticipate she's going to fight tooth and nail. I need y'all to run interference.”
“Charlie,” Jason said. “This is really a police matter now.”
“Maybe I shouldn't have called you,” Charlie said, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I didn't realize it was going to get so complicated.”
Jason sighed and shook his head. “My goal is to get Jen out of there safely. I can give you some leeway but not a lot.”
“All right,” Charlie said, her voice emanating deep reluctance. “And we'll protect you and your men as best we can.”
“Great,” Jason said. His lips twisted into a grimace.
“What is it?” Charlie asked.
“I'm just trying to figure out how much shit Beck is gonna give me. He thinks all this is hoodoo.”
Charlie scowled. “Hoodoo is a completely different set of skills.”
“Well I'll be sure to let Beck know that.” Jason rolled his eyes.
“Looks like the cavalry is here.” Charlie pointed to Lisa's white BMW headed toward them. A pair of sheriff's cruisers followed close behind.
“Yes they are,” Jason
said.
Beck's unmarked cruiser parked behind Jason's Dodge Charger and the tall, lanky Lieutenant Commander hopped out.
“What the hell is this all about?” Beck said, taking a look at the two sheriff's cars parked directly in front of the house as cover. “We have a hostage situation? Why don't we have a negotiator out here yet?”
Charlie gave Jason an irritated look. Beck had a big mouth and big opinions to go with it.
“Hello, Lieutenant Beck,” Evangeline said. Beck stopped short and his eyes widened at the sight of Charlie's aunt. He threw a what-the-hell look at Jason and put his hands on his slim hips.
Jason cleared his throat and said, “Charlie, you're with me. “ He gestured for Beck to follow them away from the cars for a little more privacy.
Beck glanced at the two deputies chatting with Evangeline and Daphne. “What the fuck? You have civilians on the scene?”
“Yes, I do. If you give me a minute I can explain,” Jason said.
Beck's mouth twisted into a scowl. “I'm all ears,”
“You know this pendant you were giving me a hard time about?” Jason said, pulling the pendant out of his shirt and showing it to Beck. “
“Yeah, so?” Beck said. “What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?”
“I gave it to him,” Charlie said. “Actually my cousin Jen gave it to him but Jason wears it for protection.”
“I think your vest would be a better way to protect yourself,” Beck scoffed.
“Lieutenant, I know this is going to be hard for you to swallow but there are dark forces in the world,” Charlie said.
“No shit,” Beck said. “I don't know where you're going with this --”
“Is everything all right over here?” Evangeline asked as she walked up and stood next to Charlie.
“No, ma'am it's not,” Beck said. “No offense but I'm not sure what you're doing here.”
“Oh,” Evangeline said. “We've come to break the spell on that house so that you and your men can go in and safely get my niece out.”
Beck furrowed his brow, his eyes flitting between Evangeline's serene expression and Jason's apprehensive face. Beck's voice overflowed with sarcasm as he spoke, “Oh, is that all?”
“Yeah, that's all,” Jason said. “I don't know how else to say this, but there's a witch inside that house and she's gonna use magic against us if we try to go in there before Charlie and her family break the spell on the house.”
“Have you lost your damn mind?” Beck asked.
“No,” Jason said. “Magic is real. Charlie and her family are witches.”
“Yeah? Can you fly on a broom,” Beck said half-teasing.
“I can't,” Charlie said. “But Evangeline's been known to on occasion.”
“Y'all are crazy,” Beck said and pointed at Jason. “And you're the craziest for buying into this shit.”
“Maybe I am, but I've seen what they can do,” Jason said.
Evangeline reached out and gently touched Beck on the top of his arm. “I really appreciate you being here Lieutenant Beck. Your assistance in this matter is vital.”
Beck's face slackened and the lines in his forehead smoothed. “Thank you ma'am,” he said in a dreamy voice. “We're here to serve and protect.”
I know you are Lieutenant,” Evangeline said. “Now if you boys wouldn't mind, we need to get to work.”
“Yes ma'am,” Beck said.
“Once we break the spell we need you to go up to the door and ring the bell,” Evangeline said.
“I rang it earlier,” Charlie said. “That's when I felt the spell really lock into place.”
“We'll do whatever it takes ma'am,” Beck said.
“Thank you,” Evangeline said. “Now why don't you go over and chat with your friends by the sheriff's cars.”
“Yes ma'am,” Beck said.
Charlie waited until Beck was out of hearing range before turning to her aunt. “What did you just do?”
“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” Evangeline said. “I just used a little suggestibility spell, that's all.”
“Have you ever done that to me?” Jason asked.
“No, of course not,” Charlie said. “Not that I haven't about thought about it.”
Jason scowled. “All right. We've got their compliance. “
“Let's form the circle. And go get our girl,” Evangeline said.
Chapter 21
Jen jerked her head up and blinked her eyes, taking in her surroundings. She was sitting on the floor next to a painted gold accent table.
Then she remembered Melinda and Ben. She had passed out. She struggled against the ropes binding her arms to her body but it was more than that. She felt something warm pressing against her back. She tried to turn her head so she could look behind her but found it almost impossible.
“Good,” Ben said. “You're awake. “How are you feeling?”
“Like a freight train ran through my head,” Jen said. “What happened?”
“When you passed out, she was able to trip me. I dropped you I'm afraid and she kicked me in the head before I could react. When I woke up I was bound to you.”
“What are we going to do?” Jen asked.
“I'm not quite sure. There's binding spell on this house.”
“Yeah, I remember that part,” Jen said.
“The one thing we have going for us is that Charlie's outside,” Ben said.
“By herself?”
“Hopefully not,” Ben said. “We agreed on a signal and if she didn't hear from me she was supposed to call for backup.”
Okay,” Jen said. “That's good. That means my family is probably on the way if they're not already here. So we just need to sit tight.”
“Right,” Ben said. “Or --”
“Or?” Jen said.
“Or we can try to get out of here ourselves,” Ben said. “Just in case.”
“How do you propose we do that?”
“Look,” Ben said softly.
“In case you hadn't noticed I can't turn around,” Jen snapped.
“Right, sorry,” Ben said. “Layla keeps peeking in here. I don't think she expected her aunt to take hostages.”
“I don't think anybody expected her to take hostages,” Jen said.
“Well, rejection can sometimes hit people hard,” Ben said.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Jen said.
“Nothing. I mean if you look at what happened to her, she couldn't control her husband anymore and he left her for another woman. Obviously that's pushed her over the edge.”
“Right,” Jen said.
“What did you think I was talking about?”
“I don't know. Nothing.” Jen wiggled against the ropes.
“Okay.” Ben's voice was full of doubt.
Jen sighed. “I just thought --”
“Layla,” Ben said. “I can see you. Please Layla. I know that you think this is not right.”
Jen tried to turn her head but she still couldn't see anything. Since she and Ben were tied back to back he blocked most of her view.
“I shouldn't be talking to you,” Layla whispered harshly. “And if you know what's good for you,” Layla paused to look over her shoulder, “you will just do whatever my aunt wants to do.”
Ben whispered, “I know you're scared of her. I saw it on your face earlier. If you help us get out of here I think I have a solution for you.”
Jen heard the girl move closer. “What kind of solution?”
“I was a lot like you when I was growing up. Rebellious always getting in trouble. And that was compounded by the fact that I could do magic. I ended up getting a warning from the DOL too.”
“You did?” Layla said.
Yep. It turned out the to be the best thing that ever happened to me. The DOL has a program specifically for mentoring young witches. With your situation I can help you get into it.”
“Layla!” Melinda yelled from another room. “Come here.”<
br />
“I -- I have to go,” Layla said. She jumped up and fled the room. Ben let out a deep sigh.
“Dammit,” he said.
“Give her time to think about that,” Jen said. “It's a scary and overwhelming offer for somebody to help you. When you're in a bad situation.”
“Sounds like you have some experience with that,” Ben said.
“Maybe,” Jen said. “Was that story you told her about you true?”
“Every word.” Ben said. “Maybe if we get out of here I'll tell you about it sometime.”
Jens lips curved up. “If we get out of here I think I would very much like to hear that story.”
“Good I'd like to hear your story, too,” Ben said.
The house shook and for a moment Jen thought it might be an earthquake. She had experienced them firsthand when she lived in California but they were only the stuff of legends on the coast of South Carolina. A huge earthquake had hit the city of Charleston over hundred and thirty years ago. Dust from the ceiling rained down on them and a large crack formed over the mantle of the fireplace.
“Ben,” Jen said, trying to keep her voice from sounding hysterical. “What's happening?”
“I don't know,” he said.
The large crystal chandelier shook overhead. “Ben, look up. We have got to move.”
“Shit,” he muttered.
A moment later, Layla dashed in with a knife in her hand. “We don't have much time.” The sound of a little girl screaming and then crying came from above their heads. “My aunt is upstairs with Camille.”