by Amy Boyles
“They’re the only terms I’m giving you.” His gaze pierced me. His silvery eyes held a note of mischief I hadn’t seen in Thorne before. I kinda liked it.
He leaned over. “I can promise you that you will like the information you receive. But you have to trust me.”
I pulled away. “I don’t trust vampires.”
“Maybe you should start.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t.”
He nodded and sat back, his face unreadable. What was this? Him playing some sort of pity card that I couldn’t decipher? I did not pity vamps.
“How’s your hand?”
“Better.”
Ugh. Was he going to guilt me into playing? Just figured. I sighed and, against my better judgment, relented.
“Okay, I’ll play.”
“Why do you hate vampires?”
“Because when I was a child I was attacked by one. Now. What’ve you got to tell me?”
He shot me a dark look. “That’s barely scratching the surface. Tell me more.”
My gaze darted from him to the fire and to my hand, which didn’t throb nearly as much now that the cold was biting into my flesh.
The only real people I had to talk to were my mom and aunt. What could it hurt to have someone else to tell a story to?
I rubbed my eyes with the opposite hand and sighed. “When I was young, I was at home, sleeping. My father was the only other person in the house. It was late; I was in bed. A vampire snuck into my room and attacked me.
“The creature’s bite woke me up. I screamed. To this day I still can’t believe I woke up.”
“You never should have,” he murmured. “Vampires are creatures of stealth.”
“I know.” I sneaked a glance at him, but Thorne’s face was unreadable. “But I did. My father rushed into the room and fought the vampire, killing it, but not before the bloodsucker got in a few blows of his own.”
My voice caught. I hadn’t thought about the details of this story in a long, long time. I exhaled and finished. “My father died from the wounds. He was so tired, and he should’ve helped himself. He could’ve healed his flesh and lived, but he couldn’t save both of us.”
“And you were hurt badly.” Thorne stared into the fire as he spoke. “Too badly to survive otherwise.”
I nodded. “My father gave his life for mine.” I pulled my shirt collar down to reveal two small puncture wounds. The skin was puckered now, healed, but the scars would always remain.
“They still itch at times—like when I’m angry or afraid.”
He nodded in understanding. “It’s an after effect of our venom. As long as you’re alive it will probably always itch.” He paused and stared at the fire. “Your mother doesn’t seem to hate my kind like you.”
I smirked. “She’s better at understanding that it was only one vampire that killed my father and not every vampire.” My gaze leveled on him. “I, on the other hand, have issues.”
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I don’t blame you for hating my kind.”
“Thank you,” I said.
He looked up, surprised by my words. For the first time since I’d met Thorne, I smiled at him. His lips slowly curved upward, and our smiles lingered, melting some of the icy barrier built up around us.
“Now you,” I said.
“You’re eyes are very violet.”
I rolled them. “That better not be what you were going to tell me.”
He shook his head. “It isn’t. You may not realize this, but Witch's Forge has a history of Bigfoot sightings.”
“I’ve heard a bit about that.”
“I was aware of this and wanted to keep the knowledge of what Langdon and Jimmy had become silent.”
“I thought you didn’t know,” I argued.
“I had my suspicions, but there were no eyewitnesses.”
“Until me and my family.” I realized what he was alluding to. “And I told the mayor, who in turn told everyone.” I cringed. “I’m sorry.”
“This could create hysteria. Plus, the witch involved knows we are aware of what he or she did.”
“So I just made your job harder.”
“I’m afraid so.”
“How can I make it up to you?” I squeaked. But even before the words were out of my mouth, I knew what Thorne would say.
“Stay out of it. For your own safety.”
“You’d be better served if I helped you.”
Thorne chuckled. That ticked me off. Sure, I wasn’t the most powerful witch. I didn’t even really care about magic. I had my calculations and that was enough for me, but for Thorne to flat-out laugh in my face was frustrating.
I bristled. My voice became steely cold as I glared at him. “You don’t have to make fun of me.”
“I’m not.” He pressed a hand to his breast as if to prove how earnest he could be. “I wasn’t laughing because you suggested you help. I was laughing because I can’t see your aunt and pig tracking down a killer.”
I folded my arms. “You never know what those two might track down.”
He turned back to the fire as if to shut down the entire conversation. “How’s your hand?”
Okay, I guess he was actually shutting down the conversation. “It’s good. Better. Thank you.”
“I’m not a healer, but I know that a little cold will help those knuckles.”
I dared to shoot the vampire a smile even though I was afraid the simple gesture would make me lose my soul to him or something. His gaze flickered over me, and I felt myself drawn to him as if Thorne Blackstock was a magnet and I was…well, the other half of a magnet.
“You know you could use me. Maybe Jimmy is still inside there somewhere—still in the creature he’s become. He might just need a little talking to, something that will help snap him out of whatever spell he’s under. What do you say?”
Thorne scowled. “You’re missing a very important point. He attacked you. I’m afraid you’re not the first person he’s attacked. There is something good that’s come from all the posters being put up about him—people will be aware of his presence. Hopefully that will stop another attack.”
“Another attack?”
He nodded, his gaze leveled on me. My stomach quivered. My pulse quickened, and I realized what Thorne was saying.
“You think he killed Langdon.”
“I think it’s a possibility. Now that we have a verified sighting of the creature, my men and I will go out and hunt him tonight.”
I grimaced. “You won’t kill him, will you?”
“Charming”—my name on his lips sent a cold shiver racing straight to my heart—“we will do whatever we have to in order to bring Jimmy in. If it means killing him, then that’s what we’ll do. I don’t want that, but he’s dangerous.”
I couldn’t argue with Thorne. He was right. Jimmy could be a killer. But in my heart I felt that he wasn’t. Sure, he’d run toward my family, but no one had been hurt. No one had been killed.
But send a mess of bloodsuckers after Jimmy and I doubted he’d make it out alive.
If I wanted to save my friend, there was only one choice—I had to find Jimmy first, before Thorne.
I plastered on a wide smile. “Good luck. I hope you find him.”
TWENTY-ONE
After I left Thorne’s manor home, I headed over to the mayor’s office to see if she was in. It was getting late, so chances were that she’d gone home, but I needed more details about her meeting with Jimmy that never happened.
I found the mayor at her desk. Emily was bustling around, busy on the phone fielding calls about the Bigfoot.
“Yes, we’ve had one confirmed sighting. No, there’s no reason to think the creature will attack you in your house.” Poor girl sounded exasperated.
Mayor Dixon thumbed toward Emily. “She’s the best person to deal with the public about the creature. Comes from a family of Bigfoot hunters.”
I angled my jaw up at that comment. “Bigfoot hunters?”
&nbs
p; “Yes,” Emily answered after hanging up the phone. “My family were some of the first settlers here and they hunted them down. Caused some problems with a few of the natives. Supposedly they put a curse on my family.” She laughed nervously. “The type that means we won’t thrive, but here I am. Safe and sound.”
“Interesting. Mayor, I believe Jimmy was supposed to meet with you the morning he disappeared.”
She pulled her compact from her purse, flipped it open and applied a coat of powder to her nose. “He was supposed to and didn’t, you have it right.”
“Did he call? Say anything was amiss?”
The mayor blotted her lips on a tissue and smiled into the mirror. She rubbed away a line of red staining her teeth. “No, I don’t believe so. I had spoken to him before and he said he was checking into the matches, that something wasn’t right, but that was all. Then he didn’t show up. I only got worried later in the day when Emily tried calling him and he never answered.”
I tapped a finger against my file folder and rose from my chair. “Thank y’all for your time. I appreciate it.”
Before I exited the office, Mayor Dixon called me back. “Charming?”
“Yes?”
“Be sure to lock your door tonight. You never know what that Bigfoot might be capable of.”
I nodded my thanks and left. When I reached the house, I found my aunt in the parlor surrounded by a dozen potted plants.
“What’s all this?”
“Charming, you’re just in time. Your mother is having me grow herbs for her magic.” She handed me a watering jug. “Would you be a dear and fetch more water?”
“Sure.”
Pig snorted happily as I passed her. “Hello, Pig.” The little potbellied roly-poly of an animal brushed up against Broom, who seemed content rubbing its bristles over Pig’s back.
“Looks like y’all two are getting along,” I murmured.
I found Mama in the kitchen, pouring over her book of magic. “Oh, you’re home,” she said flatly.
“Good to see you, too,” I muttered. I flipped on the faucet and filled the jug. “We have a problem.”
“Worse than a Bigfoot in a town like Witch’s Forge?” she said over her shoulder. “My power hasn’t started to dwindle, but there’s no telling if whatever cursed this place will start to affect me.”
I turned off the faucet and settled the jug on the counter. “The whole town knows about Bigfoot.”
“Yes, thank you for keeping it a secret, Charming.”
“I didn’t realize it was.”
Her eyes narrowed. “How could it not be? Telling people—even witches—that there’s a mythological creature on the loose is like lighting a stick of dynamite and throwing it in a pond.”
“What? It’ll explode?” I said.
“Yes,” she said sharply, “and kill off half the fish.”
Her logic confused me. “Are you saying I’m killing fish? Or that the town is exploding?”
“I’m saying you’re causing a problem,” Mama snapped.
“I was only trying to help.” I raised my hand to stop any more arguments. “Look, the vampire police are searching for Jimmy tonight. If they find him, there’s a good chance that they’ll take him in dead rather than alive.”
She sucked air. “Did Thorne tell you that?”
“He did.”
Mama arched a perfectly plucked brow. “My, my. You two are getting cozy.”
I kept my tone curt to shut down any further discussion of the topic. “We’re not getting anything, but he did tell me about the hunt.” I glanced at my watch. “They must be leaving soon.”
“They must.”
She didn’t make a move to leave. “We have to find Jimmy,” I pleaded. “Before they do.”
“And do what? How will we stop him? I don’t have a spell that will do anything.”
I stared at her in disbelief. “But you’re the great Glinda Calhoun. You created a wall of water, surely you can figure out something that will help Jimmy. Mama,” I said slowly, “they think he killed Langdon.”
“Impossible. That man doesn’t have a mean bone in his body.”
“Who doesn’t?” Rose’s head popped in the doorway. “Sorry to butt in, but Charming was taking an awful long time with the water.”
“Jimmy doesn’t,” I explained. “He’s a gentle person, but now the vampire police are hunting him tonight and we need to help. The vamps might hurt, even kill, him if they think he’s a threat.”
Mama threw her hands in the air. “I don’t know how to catch a Bigfoot.”
“I do,” Rose said quietly.
I exchanged a curious look with my mother before directing to Rose, “You do?”
“Well of course, silly. Everyone knows if you want to attract a Bigfoot, all you have to do is hang your panties out in the forest.”
I rubbed my lips together, trying to form a coherent thought in my head. Shockingly, nothing came to me.
“You do?” I said.
She nodded. “Of course. All Bigfoots are pulled by their primal urges. They want to procreate same as any man. So, hanging panties will do the trick every time.”
I shrugged my shoulders. Mama grabbed her purse. “Well, what are we waiting for? Grab your panties, Charming.”
“Me?” How horrifying. “You want me use my panties?”
She gave me an icy look. “Who else’s?”
“Yours.”
“I have an older body. We need someone young, like you.”
Ugh. This was getting more hideous as we talked about it. “All I have are clean panties.”
Rose clapped her hands. “What did you think? We’d hang dirty underwear? Absolutely not. Only the clean ones will do.”
I grumbled as I marched up the stairs to empty a few panties from my drawer. I grabbed three and was about to head back down when Rose shouted up, “Get all you can. We need them!”
I mumbled something inappropriate about family and swiped every last clean undie from the drawer. I was about to go outside when Jimmy's calendar fell to my feet. Apparently the house thought I needed to give it another gander.
I glared up at the ceiling. “Not you, too,” I said to the house.
The house did not reply.
I picked it up and tucked it under my arm. The five of us—me, Rose, Mama, Pig and Broom—loaded up into my car.
“Why’d you bring Pig and Broom?” I asked Rose.
“Because they get along well.”
“I’ll drive,” Mama said. “I may not know everything about this town, but I know how to get to the boonies.”
“Fine by me.”
As Mama drove, I opened the calendar, trying to retrace Jimmy's steps. Who could he have met that turned him this way?
I found the entry where he’d written LH and BF. I stared at the words until it hit me.
“Oh my gosh! I’ve been so stupid.”
“Why’s that?” Mama said.
I shook my head, cursing under my breath. “Jimmy wrote LH and BF. When I first saw this, I thought Jimmy had gotten Belinda’s second initial wrong. Her last name is Ogle and I didn’t understand about the F. But now I get it.”
“Get what?” Rose said.
I turned around where I could see her. “The BF isn’t Belinda’s incorrect initials. It stands for Bigfoot. Jimmy knew Langdon was a Bigfoot. He knew and he also must’ve known who had turned Langdon; that’s why Jimmy is in this mess. That’s why he was turned into one of the creatures.”
“Yes, but who did it?” Mama said.
I considered the question. “That’s what I don’t know. All I know for sure is that Jimmy was supposed to show up to the mayor’s office one morning, but then he vanished. There are no witnesses. Mama, that’s why we have to catch him and turn him back into a human.”
“I’ve told you I can’t do that without knowing who the witch was who turned him in the first place.”
“We know the witch who turned Jimmy still keeps in contact wit
h him. We saw her at the fire springs.”
“Sounds to me like if you want to know something, you should be asking the mayor’s office,” Rose said. “They seem to know just about everything that’s going on in this town.”
I snorted. “That’s the truth. Emily, the mayor’s assistant, comes from a long line of Bigfoot hunters. Maybe we should swing by her house and see if she’ll help us.”
“Why don’t we just get some of her panties,” Rose offered. “That way we’ll have plenty to lure the Bigfoot away from the vampires.”
“Did this Emily say she was going to hunt for the Bigfoot?” Mama said.
I shook my head. “No. In fact, she was coughing up a storm the other day, almost as if she was about to hack up half a lung.”
The cabin grew silent. I dragged my gaze from the road to my mother. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“That Pig is hungry?” Rose said.
I shook my head. “Oh my gosh. It’s so obvious. The coughing! Mama, you said coughing was a symptom of the spell. Emily! She’s the one that turned Jimmy into a Bigfoot!”
“And she changes herself,” Mama said.
“She was there the night Langdon was murdered.” Energy coursed through me. Why hadn’t I put this together before? “Emily had access to Langdon. By why did she turn him into a Bigfoot?”
“Perhaps she wants to save the town on her own,” Mama suggested.
“And Jimmy was a monkey wrench in that plan.” My voice filled with wonder. “And somehow Jimmy figured out that Langdon had been a Bigfoot but was now back to being human. Langdon didn’t seem very smart. Heck, he might’ve let it slip when Jimmy was trying to match him up with Belinda. Langdon probably told him about Emily, and then Jimmy confronted her.”
My mother’s gaze met mine. “So she changed him.” A smile curled on her face. “Isn’t it fun working together?”
It was hard not to admit it. “Yes. So Emily’s the murderer, and if she’s a Bigfoot too, she might be hard to stop.”
“I don’t think you’re realizing the worst part,” Rose said. “What if she wants to mate with Jimmy and create a whole bunch of little Bigfoots?”
“Ew. Mama, you’d better haul some butt. We’ve got a mating ritual to stop.”
Mama ground down on the accelerator, and I was thrown back into my seat. Pig squealed and Broom rustled against Pig’s face. Pig snapped at Broom, grabbing it by the bristles.