The Babet & Prosper Collection II: Beware the Bogeyman, Celt Secrets, The Trouble With Voodoo, and A Friend in Need (The Babet & Prosper Collections Book 2)

by Judith Post

  Lillith and her girls returned to join the witches.

  Mandubrath cursed, and power swelled in a circle around him and Colleen. "Then she dies, and you can do nothing to stop me."

  The coven raised their arms, and sparks fell from the sky. Colleen leapt back into the coffin, bumping the lid shut.

  A roar came from the circle. Mandubrath's magic flattened and blasted toward them. The succubi and vampires darted out of its way. Heat blistered Babet's upheld palms. The other witches' words mingled with hers. Mandubrath's magic exploded skyward.

  A cyclone of energy lifted the coven and tossed them aside. Babet's head hit a branch. Blood trickled into her eye. Hennie raised a hand to counter the spell's speed so that instead of slamming against a tree, she hugged it to her. Her mother spat out angry words and flattened a maple. Babet looked quickly around for the other witches. Some groaned as they pushed themselves off the ground, but they'd all survived.

  Mandubrath ran toward Hatchet, his knife glinting, but a huge, dark body knocked him out of the way. Prosper, in his bear form, turned to face Mandubrath.

  The evil Druid grinned. "A shifter—I've never tasted your blood magic before."

  Other shifters bound to defend Prosper.

  "No more!" Hatchet's voice stopped them all. "My enemy's mine." Shattering Mandubrath's magic strands into shards, Hatchet watched them fall to the ground where they wriggled and died. He started toward his fellow Druid.

  Prosper retreated with his pack. A panther, black as midnight with paws the size of golf carts, bared its teeth at Mandubrath—obviously the Alpha. The Weres moved closer to see better, but respected Hatchet's wishes.

  Lillith sprang to Colleen's coffin, tossed its lid aside, and ripped her chains apart. If Babet had any doubts as to how strong the succubus was, she lost them. Colleen stood beside Hatchet before Babet saw her move.

  "No." Hatchet motioned her away. "This is between Mandubrath and me."

  Colleen pinched her lips together to keep from arguing. In an instant, she was back beside Lillith.

  Hatchet snarled. "You went to a lot of work to find me. Here I am. We end this."

  Magic clashed between them. The energy was so bright, Babet had to shield her eyes. Winds blew. Trees creaked, and lightning forked. The earth rolled, but the two men still faced each other.

  The river water began to bubble, and dead fish floated to the surface. Sweat glistened on Hatchet's skin, coating his face and chest. His tattoos stretched and snapped at the inks undulating from Mandubrath's body. Finally, they drew so close that their tattoos intertwined to battle each other. Black mouths gaped and snapped. Mandubrath's dragon tattoo belched fire. Hatchet's black hound ripped and tore.

  Babet put a hand to her heart. She'd never seen anything like this. She swallowed hard. It was intense and savage.

  Hatchet's energy poured off him in relentless endurance. Mandubrath's wobbled. The evil Druid backed toward the river, looking for an escape, but he had nowhere to go. Finally, he called, "Enough! I surrender."

  Hatchet didn't lower his arms. "I can't let you leave with your full power. You know that."

  A smile quirked Mandubrath's lips. Before Babet could shout a warning, his hand closed on a knife in the back waistband of his jeans. "Not if I see you dead." His arm shot up, ready to throw, when his eyes went wide and he jerked with pain. "What…?" He glanced at the ground.

  Morgana's fangs left deep holes where she'd bitten him. He threw the knife at her, but Babet blasted it away. The snake slithered into the water, and the knife sank below its surface.

  Mandubrath stared at the bite marks.

  Babet smiled. "You've heard of seven-step, death snakes? The small vipers? Morgana's poison works faster than that."

  Mandubrath laughed. "She's a boa. They have no poison."

  "She's my familiar, a witch's snake. And she does."

  He opened his mouth to argue, but had no time. Black blisters burst from his flesh and oozed pus. His tattoos withered and paled until they completely disappeared. His veins turned dark purple. Finally, his mouth foamed, and his knees gave. He was dead before his body hit the dirt.

  Morgana raised her head and bobbed it anxiously at Hatchet.

  "She's worried that you're mad at her," Babet explained.

  "Mad? She saved my life. I want to make her my own."

  The boa slid past Hatchet to coil beside Babet. Babet bent to stroke her head and tickle her neck.

  In a flash, Colleen was beside Hatchet. She crushed him close and captured his lips in a fierce kiss. When she released him, she glared. "I'm a new vampire, recently changed. I thought I got lucky right away, found an immortal to spend the rest of my life with. Don't you ever scare me like that again."

  He was about to answer her when he looked at Prosper. The brown bear shook his head. Let it be. Hatchet got the message. He forced a smile and stepped closer to her. Colleen sighed.

  The giant panther narrowed its eyes and stared at Babet. She could feel it watching her and raised her chin to return the look. Its gaze went from her to Prosper and back again. Finally, satisfied, it turned to stalk away. The rest of the Weres followed it.

  Smart, Babet realized. Everyone here had seen the Were pack, but no one would be able to identify them. They all stayed in their animal forms.

  Prosper hesitated. His clothes lay, shredded, somewhere in the trees.

  Babet's mother shook twigs out of her hair and laughed at him. "For Hecate's sake, shift. We've seen you naked before. You want to hug her."

  Prosper shifted and pulled Babet close. He dabbed at the gash on her forehead. He turned her palms so that he could see them. "Are you all right?"

  Was he kidding? Being held by a naked Prosper could heal almost any girl, and she was a witch. She healed faster than most. She leaned her head against his shoulder. Ahhh, the spoils of battle.

  Hennie laughed. "She looks fine to me. Let's go home."

  Lillith and her girls came to join them. Mi looked Prosper up and down. "I'm becoming fonder and fonder of law enforcement. Come visit me sometime, and I'll show you my appreciation."

  Prosper grinned. "Sorry, I'm taken. I'm off the market."

  Lillith kicked at Mandubrath's body. "Who's going to clean up this mess? The dark Druid cost me a lot of money. I had to close my brothel for the night."

  Hatchet raised a blond eyebrow. "No business as usual? What are you going to do with yourself?"

  Lillith looked at her girls. "I believe we'll have a night on the town and see what happens."

  "No draining, no…." Prosper stopped and shrugged. "Just sips."

  Lillith laughed at him. "That leaves plenty of room to enjoy ourselves. A sip here, a drink there…."

  He waved her away. "Stay safe."

  They all parted to walk to their cars. Prosper reached for his cell phone and sighed. "I left it in the car with my spare clothes. Can you call for scene of crime? Someone has to cart Mandubrath away."

  "Do you have to stay to file a report?" Babet hadn't thought of that.

  But Hatchet answered. Sitting on top of the coffin with Colleen, he said, "We'll stay. We need to talk. It might be time to take a next step."

  Colleen grinned. "My customers will have to find someone else. They'll gripe at first, but I've heard that Mi and Maria's clients never leave disappointed."

  "Which one do you think Lillith will choose?" Babet asked.

  Hatchet slid an arm around Colleen. "It will take both of them to replace my girl."

  Babet smiled and snuggled closer to Prosper's side. Morgana slithered behind them as they walked back to the car. On the drive home, Babet hummed to herself. She'd never realized all the different magics that made River City their home, but instead of that thought bothering her, it filled her pride. Together, their differences made them strong. Weres, Druids, vampires, and succubi combined with witches and voodoo priestesses….

  She frowned, remembering her visit with Nadine. Something was wrong in the settlement by
the river. Later, after everything settled a little, she was going to return there, and she was going to find out what.

  The Trouble With Voodoo

  The Seventh Babet & Prosper Novella

  A Lunch Hour Read

  by

  Judith Post

  Special thanks to my John,

  Who believes I'm the best writer,

  The best wife,

  And the best everything.

  He's wrong, but I love him for it.

  When Prosper stopped at a red light, Babet leaned forward and craned her neck to glance at the night sky. A January full moon—a perfect, bone-white circle—tugged at her. She could feel its energy. She wanted to dance in its rays and soak up its essence. Prosper's fingers tightened on the steering wheel. Her Were was feeling the moon's intoxicating effects too.

  The holidays were behind them. Fewer tourists walked the streets. January was River City's coldest month of the year. The highs only climbed to the low sixties and nights hovered around forty degrees—but no witch could resist a full moon. It summoned all twelve of Mom's followers to the coven.

  Normally, despite low temperatures, Babet would walk the eight blocks to Mom and Hennie's shop on Magic Street, letting moonbeams caress her on the way, but Morgana wanted to accompany her this time, and a huge, poisonous boa slithering down the sidewalk tended to attract attention—even this late at night. Babet meant to drive, but Prosper insisted on taking her. Usually, she'd argue with him, but when his Were rose this close to the surface, she sometimes gave in gracefully.

  Prosper tilted the rearview mirror to see Morgana, coiled on the back seat of the car. "Hate to say it, Babs, but your snake's a mess."

  No one called her Babs. That had to be his Were talking.

  She nodded, letting it slide. "Something's bothering her, but I can't figure it out. She's been going from room to room for days, from window to window. When I look outside, nothing's there. Maybe Mom or Hennie will be able to help her."

  The light turned green, and Prosper pressed on the gas pedal. Muscles bulged under his gray, running pants—easy to strip out of to hunt and howl. A naked Prosper, before his shift, was a sight to behold. An image of him, rolling in bed while moonlight flooded over them distracted Babet, but she pushed the thought aside. His pack met at full moons, too. Shifters kept a safe distance from Bay City, not because they couldn't control themselves, but because a huge, brown bear—like he was—meeting with a giant panther, and who knows what else, would cause quite a stir.

  Prosper slowed for a party of people who jostled out of a restaurant, none of them steady on their feet. Soon the restaurants and boutiques would give way to Magic Street with its shops, advertising Tarot readings, voodoo supplies, and herbs and potions. Babet was feeling a bit giddy, looking forward to seeing her fellow witches. Other than her mom and Hennie, she didn't see most of them except at the monthly gatherings. Evangeline hadn't been at the last one, and Babet was eager to catch up with their newest member.

  Prosper pulled in front of Hennie's shop and the adjoining school for young witches where her mother taught. Cars already lined the curb. Babet looked for Evangeline's, but didn't see it.

  Prosper studied her frown. "She's not here again?"

  "No." She tried to keep the disappointment out of her voice. "I hope she's not blowing off her witchcraft studies to concentrate on voodoo. She has Emile's blood in her veins." Evangeline's father had been the most powerful warlock in River City until Evangeline and her mother killed him—a death he richly deserved.

  "You're worried about her."

  Morgana wriggled on the back seat, anxious to join the other witches. Babet nodded in her direction. "I think Morgana is, too."

  "Then let's hope you hear something that makes you feel better." He leaned across the seat to give her a quick kiss. Even a peck on the cheek was memorable from him. She thought of throwing her arms around his neck and jamming her tongue down his throat, but pushed that thought away, too. Hemlock and hormones! Full moons made her horny. He quirked an eyebrow at her and shook his head. "Save that thought for later. If something comes up, and Hennie can't give you a ride home, give me a call. I'll be here."

  Babet smiled. He read her so well, but he knew someone would give her a lift. Why the offer to come for her? Something had been bothering him lately, too, and she couldn't put a finger on it. "No worries. Enjoy your run with the pack. I'll see you in the morning."

  Everyone he worked with knew he was a Were. No one expected him to come to work in the morning. She might not be able to have him tonight, but tomorrow, they could spend the entire day in bed. Maybe that would cheer him up. Then a horrid thought struck her. He'd been so restless lately. Was he getting bored, living together? Was he gathering courage for the talk? The break-up? Did he want to get it over with while he was still high on moon energy?

  Hennie peeked her head out of the shop and motioned for Babet to join her. Babet hustled from the car, away from her confusing thoughts, and held the door for Morgana. With a quick wave to Prosper, she disappeared inside and followed Hennie past shelves lined with herbs and potions, then out the back door to the store's parking lot. A tall, privacy fence circled it, the gate shut and locked. Each of the other shops on the street was one-story, so the coven could practice outdoors without the bother of an audience.

  The other witches nodded greetings as Babet took her place among them. Once she stood as one link in their circle of magic, her nerves calmed, her head cleared.

  "No Evangeline?" The coven was complete. Evangeline was simply training with them, but Babet wondered at her absence.

  Perdita shook her head. The older witch had volunteered to give Evangeline private lessons to teach her the basics of white magic. "She called weeks ago to say she might not make it."

  "Again?" Evangeline knew how far behind she was as a witch, how much work she had to do to catch up. Babet had to give her credit, though. The girl was embracing her witch powers with a lot more fervor than Babet was showing for her own father's gift—succubus energy. A tiny voice of conscience berated her. Chicken, it said. Babet sighed. The voice was right. Succubus powers frightened her. How could she fault Evangeline when she was running from the powers her father's bloodline gave her?

  Still, something felt off. "She wasn't here last time," Babet said, worrying out loud. "Is everything all right?"

  Frowning, Hennie tucked a strand of snow-white hair back into her bun. "Now that you mention it, I haven't seen one person from the settlement for a while."

  "Don't they visit your shop for supplies?"

  Hennie nodded. "Usually once a week."

  Morgana slid through their circle and hurried to Babet's mother, who stood in its center. The snake stretched as high as she could to catch the witch's attention. Her thin tongue flicked in and out, as though she were trying to speak.

  "What's wrong with your snake?" her mother asked.

  "Something's making her jittery. She acts like she hears voices Prosper and I can't."

  "Voices?" Hennie held up her hand to ask for silence. Each witch stopped talking as Hennie cocked her head to the side and strained to listen. "Morgana's right. There are whispers on the wind. Do any of you hear them?"

  Perdita frowned, concentrating, then gave a slow nod. "Trouble. Warnings. Pleas for help."

  Babet could hear them, too. Why hadn't she noticed them before? But they'd be lost in the bustle of the district where she lived.

  Hennie turned to Babet's mother. "Something's brewing, Rowan. Morgana lived in the voodoo community before she chose to be Babet's familiar. She's sensitive to the priestesses there."

  Rowan gave a curt nod. "We'll perform our usual rituals, then we'll decide how to deal with this."

  They drew their circle, as always, and gave thanks to the goddess. After they finished their ceremonies, Babet exhaled a happy sigh. She felt renewed.

  Babet's mother motioned for the others to follow her. "Let's go inside. We'll sit around the table an
d talk."

  They headed into the school for witches. Chairs were arranged around a hexagram, painted on the worn, pine floor, and Rowan took her usual place in the center.

  Perdita leaned forward. "Every time I call Evangeline, no one picks up. I thought I might have offended her in some way. We used to meet once a week to practice spells and chants, but if she's in danger, and I didn't know…." The older witch clenched and unclenched her hands. "I never considered that she might need my help. I mean, her mother's the head priestess of the voodoo settlement."

  Babet crossed her arms. "If they need help, why wouldn't they just ask? We've worked together before. I suppose I could drive there to talk to Nadine."

  Hennie shook her head. "You drove there to ask her about Druid magic, remember? She didn't join our battle. I wonder if she had a problem then."

  "Nadine did act odd." Evangeline's mother was always mysterious, never easy to understand, but not one woman from the settlement had come outside to stand on her front porch, as they usually did, when Babet visited. Doors were shut tight. It had bothered her at the time, but Nadine's explanation had seemed reasonable enough. How could voodoo help against a Druid priest?

  Hennie patted Morgana's head, trying to reassure the snake. "I'll get my Tarot."

  They all crowded around a small, wooden table that Perdita carried inside the hexagram. Hennie brought the velvet pouch that held her cards, and the room went silent. She looked to Babet and said, "Ask your question."

  "Is Evangeline all right?"

  Hennie dealt the Celtic cross. When the reversed Heirophant was placed in the position for present concerns, mists rose above it and a spirit's face took shape. Babet grimaced. Why did it have to be that spirit—Manette? Manette's lips turned down more than usual as she stared at them. Not one of Babet's favorite "people"…and that was using the term freely.

  Manette turned to glare at Morgana. "Stupid snake! We've called to you over and over again. Have you lost all of your talents?"