by Jaid Black
--Adder's Mouth, when spread on the offender’s doorway, can be used to quiet a gossip.
--Anise is said to increase psychic abilities when taken as a tea.
Janna flipped through the pages impatiently. Then she paused and reread a passage.
To make your man more passionate in bed, write his name on a red phallus-shaped candle.
Candle…Janna looked up and stared at the red candle that still sat on the kitchen counter.
No. Ted hadn’t. He couldn’t have meant that. Then she thought back.
“Cinnamon is an aphrodisiac. Did you know that?”
Red candles for passion. Cinnamon as an aphrodisiac. Janna swallowed hard. Ted had planned a seduction out? A seduction for her? Things were looking that way. After all, she didn’t believe in all this, but Ted obviously did.
But that made no sense. He hadn’t been waiting for her. Janna was lucky that whoever it was he had expected when he gave her that first amazing hello hadn’t shown up in the middle of their evening. Ted had meant all this for that woman. He didn’t even know what she looked like before she’d arrived.
“I know everything about you, sweetheart.”
Oh God. That made no sense, either. Had she gotten involved with some kind of Wiccan stalker? Maybe they needed female sacrifices. Janna smothered a nervous giggle. If they needed virgin female sacrifices then Ted had obviously messed up.
Another thought hit her. When did they have a rainstorm in late October or early November? Snow, yes. But rain? It was cold out there. Janna ran to the window and looked out again just to be sure. No trace of rain, ice, or snow.
Oh no. And those weird thoughts she'd been getting—no, please let them be from jetlag or overwork. Ted couldn't do that to her, could he?
"I don't like this," Janna whispered to herself.
She turned and began to look for her clothing. The bra was draped over the couch. Her dress was in a tiny ball on the floor. One shoe was near the door and Hecate was curled up near the other. Some shredded black pantyhose lay nearby.
Janna couldn’t find her panties. As she struggled into her dress, she decided she didn’t need them. Let Ted keep them for a memento. God knows what he’d do with them. Weirdo.
She glanced his way. All right. He was a well-hung, well-built weirdo. But she didn’t need to get anymore involved than she already was. Halloween was over. She’d had her trick and treat.
Now what she needed to do was get out. Janna eyed her shoes thoughtfully. It was cold and those heels weren’t made for walking. She shoved them on her feet.
How would she get home? Her friends wouldn’t be around. Erica didn’t even live nearby. Anyhow, Nancy and Erica were probably out with their normal new guys having a normal morning-after experience. Fine. She wouldn’t call them. There had to be a diner or coffee shop somewhere nearby. Her purse was tipped over behind the kitchen counter. Janna grabbed it. She could call a cab from the next pay phone she saw.
She hoped Ted didn’t have a modern security system with alarms that would go off when she opened the door. Because she planned to open that door right now—
No sound. No alarm. Janna breathed out and began to ease down the stairs. She was halfway down when she heard a sleepy, “Janna?”
She began to take the steps two at a time.
“Janna!” His voice was definitely no longer sleepy.
The door was deadbolt locked but the key hung on a hook next to the door. After all, Ted was a tidy kind of guy. Janna pushed the key in, turned it and heard loud noises upstairs.
“Where the hell are you, Janna?”
She pulled the door open and ran out into the early November morning.
* * * * *
Where the hell was a place to get in from the cold and make a phone call when you needed one? Janna cursed the small purse that had made her decide not to take her cell phone with her. She cursed the high-heeled shoes she had decided made her look sexy. She cursed the cold climate of Salem. She was going to get around to cursing witches who seduced her as soon as she had the energy to think up something really nasty.
When she finally saw the tiny all-night diner she could have cried with relief. She'd get a cab and she'd get home. Janna thought of her tiny little apartment. She hadn't been home in weeks. Right now she craved being there. She’d get to take a hot bath and root around for some comfortable pajamas. Too bad it was too early to call for a pizza. She could eat a whole pizza deluxe special herself right now. Since there was practically no food in her place she'd knew she’d have to make do with some dry Fruit Loops cereal instead. She thought about cursing that later, too.
As she put her hand on the door to the restaurant, another hand covered hers. She stared at the large, strong fingers and didn't even have to look up to know who was there.
“What happened, Janna? Why did you run away?”
He sounded angry. Angry and worried. But mostly angry.
“I’m going inside, I’m calling a taxi, and if you try to stop me I’m going to scream until someone calls the police.” Janna made her voice sound firm.
“I wouldn’t dream of stopping you.” Ted opened the door with a flourish.
Janna stepped inside. Oh, yes. The diner was warm and she could smell coffee. That was as close to heaven as she needed this morning.
There was also a payphone by the entrance. She could call that taxi. Ted’s hand on the small of her back steered her into a back booth instead. Janna thought about telling him no and then sniffed the coffee aroma again. She could stay for a cup of coffee.
The waitress who came to their booth looked tired.
“What’s your pleasure?” she asked.
“Coffee. Black.” Janna said.
“Do you have any herbal teas?” Ted asked.
The waitress looked confused. “Decaf?”
“Close enough. And get the lady and myself some scrambled eggs with toast.” Ted relaxed back into the booth, his eyes still on Janna.
“Why do you assume I’ll eat scrambled eggs and toast?” Janna loved scrambled eggs and toast and was starving, but that wasn’t the point.
“We depleted a lot of energy last night. I’m sure you’re hungry.” Ted tapped his finger on the table. “And I certainly don’t want you to get sick.”
“Listen, Treadwell.” Janna tried to sound as snide as she could. She knew she could usually do a fine job without trying. “I don’t know what sort of mind game you’re playing here, but I’m opting out.”
“You can’t, Janna. You’re too perfect.”
She loved how his blue eyes glinted when he smiled. God, he was an attractive man.
No. No, she wasn’t going to let her mind wander again. The last time she did that, they’d ended up hot and sweaty and all over each other. She had to remember that was a bad thing.
“Perfect for what?” She had to remember he was also doing something strange, something she couldn’t quite figure out yet.
“Well, for me.” He didn’t even look sheepish when he said that.
Janna just stared at him. Ted took both her hands. “Sweetheart, I’ve been looking for you for years. Ever since I realized my family history.”
“Why?” Janna wasn’t even sure she wanted to know. “And—and you didn’t expect me to be there last night when you pounced on me.”
“I lied about that. Well, sort of.” He spoke faster when he saw her reaction to his words. “I did expect Janis-Janna O’Neill. I knew you had lived in Salem forever, you were going to make a sales pitch to me, and a million and one other things. But I’d never met you. When you showed up, I just gave in to an impulse that got a little out of hand. But you were so responsive. So perfect.”
“I was sex-starved, you mean?”
“No! I mean, I knew I’d been right. You were the one I needed.”
“For what, damn it?”
“To make amends.”
Janna wondered if anyone would be upset if she dumped some coffee in the lap of the exasperating c
reature in front of her. Once she explained, surely people would sympathize with her.
“For what?” Janna kept her voice down, but just barely. She saw the waitress glance her way.
“I told you last night.”
"Oh, remind me." Janna managed the words through her gritted teeth. She wanted to scream but reminded herself he might have explained something in his own convoluted Wiccan fashion. He probably even thought she understood. She’d wait to scream until after he explained. "Perhaps it slipped my mind."
“My ancestors hung one of yours, knowing full well that she wasn’t a witch and he was.” Ted looked at her as if what he said should make complete sense.
“My last name is O’Neill. My great-great grandparents came over from the Old Country long after the witch trials.” Janna resisted patting Ted on the shoulder.
“That was only one branch of your family, sweetheart. Tell the truth. Haven’t you felt…uneasy, sometimes? I can tell things about people, you know. Not always clearly, but I know you’ve been troubled by something that took place in the past.” Ted looked up as the waitress came over with their food. He smiled at her as he thanked her and she beamed.
The man was a charmer, no doubt about it. Out of his mind, but a charmer.
“No. I haven’t. The past has never troubled me much. I live in the present.” Janna forked a mouthful of scrambled eggs.
“You haven’t had anything bother you? Dreams perhaps?”
Janna paused in chewing. She forced herself to swallow the eggs rather than choke. The old woman. The voices in her dreams. How did he know? Oh Lord, he didn’t really know everything about her, did he?
“Dreams can bother me sometimes. They can bother anyone.” Janna tried to make it casual.
“But—“
“Listen, you set me up. From the time you talked to my agency to when you first kissed me like you were going to ravish me—“
“I did ravish you, Janna.”
“—to setting up those damned superstitious candles and cinnamon buns. And all to atone for something your ancestors did? That’s weird!” Janna pushed her plate away. “I’m calling a cab.”
“I’ll take you home, Janna. Soon. Let me finish. It’s not just to atone. Or, rather, it’s not just because I feel guilty. My family has had problems ever since my ancestor the judge helped condemn yours to death.” Ted pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers. “Sort of—well, a curse.”
Janna dropped her head in her hands and moaned. She did not need this. First Paul the loser and now Ted the lunatic. Was there something wrong with her? How did she attract these guys?
“What kind of curse?” Janna said, bracing herself. “You die at age thirty. You howl at the moon at midnight. You all grow up to be raving insane sex maniacs?”
“Shhhh.” Ted replied. The other diners had looked up again. “Nothing like that. We…we just have a hard time falling in love.”
“Huh?”
“Your ancestor, Dorcas, told the judge that since he had no pity, his family would find no love. She wasn’t a witch, but she had right on her side. What she said came true for my family.”
“I don’t remember that in any of the Salem records,” Janna objected.
“So you remember what you read of the trial transcripts!” Ted had an annoying grin on his face. “You must have had some interest in the trials.”
“It’s drilled into you in school,” Janna scoffed.
She shut her eyes. She did remember the words, or some of them. She ought to be able to remember. She’d finally made the connection, although it had taken her long enough. Those words had been echoing in her dreams for weeks. Innocent. I am innocent.
“She didn’t say it where others could record the words. Janna, I know how this sounds to you. I feel stupid enough telling you and I’m more used to all this than you. But try to understand. All our lives my family has been…cold. Unable to connect to people. You wouldn’t believe the number of unhappy marriages and divorces we’ve had over the generations. I decided to study why and I told myself I was never going to try to get close to anyone if I couldn’t change things.” Ted put his hand on her knee.
Janna glared, but that hand felt sort of nice there. Fine. She was weak. She let the hand stay.
“I studied the family history. I began to look up your ancestor’s family tree. I know your cousins, your sisters, your brother.”
“Several of my cousins are single. Why not try charming them?”
“I wanted you. Something about…well, when I saw your name I just knew you were the right one. At least I hoped so.” Why did he have to look so sincere? “Something about just your name appealed to me.”
“Janis?”
“Yeah. Janis. Janna is fine, too. But I met you on paper as Janis Katherine Dorcas O’Neill.”
Janna tried not to squirm. “You really do know everything about me. Even the Dorcas.”
“I know a lot. I’d love to know more.”
“Ted, you don’t really. You used me. You set me up and used me to get rid of some imaginary family curse of yours.” Janna tried not to let the idea depress her as much as it seemed to be doing. “Let’s finish all this. I don’t have a lot of cash with me. We can stop at an ATM on the way to my house and I’ll pay you my share of breakfast. Then we can just say good-bye.”
Ted didn’t say anything, though he didn’t look happy. They both stood up and, while Ted paid the bill at the counter, Janna contemplated how stupid she’d been last night.
She had to get in touch with Nancy or Erica. They’d help sort out all the messy emotions she was feeling. Everything hurt. Janna gritted her teeth. She just needed to endure a few more minutes with Ted and then she would never have to endure him again.
Damn it, that idea hurt too.
Ted didn’t stop at an ATM on the way back. Janna was suddenly feeling too depressed to even try to fight about why he didn’t. She stared out the window, looking at the bleak grayness of the morning. It was going to be one of those dark, chilling days. Perfect. That was just the way she felt.
When they got to her place, Ted parked the car. Janna let out a sigh.
“Well, thanks,” she managed.
Ted opened the door for her and said, “I’m seeing you to the door, like it or not.”
Janna didn’t look at him as they went past the lobby. Still, it seemed to take forever before she got to her door. Janna put her key in, opened the door, flicked on the hall light and then turned to him.
“Well, good-bye then.”
“I don’t think so.”
Ted didn’t sound charming at all. Janna wondered how many other people had seen the real Ted, the intense, almost spooky one. That side of Ted was hidden under the charm and the good looks but just as much a part of him.
“Listen, you need to understand that this is my place, Mr. Grimes…“ Janna began.
He walked into her place behind her and then shut the door with a push of his shoulder. “No. You need to understand something, Ms. O’Neill. Several somethings.”
“What?”
“First, those spells and charms were because I was scared, not because I wanted to trick you. I already knew you were important to me and I didn’t want you to leave before we’d had the chance to really talk.”
“You think we talked last night?” Janna tried to laugh scornfully.
“No. But I’d like to now.”
Janna glanced down at Ted’s pants and suddenly the confused hurt rolled away. “You need to explain how much you’d like to talk to your cock down there. I don’t think he’s listening.”
Ted’s smile was blinding again.
“Well, I wouldn’t mind talking and fucking, Janna. They are two of my favorite things to do…especially with you.” Then, suddenly, he was holding her again. His hungry mouth moved softly, persuasively, against her lips until she let him inside.
He was persuasive, but definitely not soft. His tongue glided against hers. His hands held her arms a
s he moved against her, showing just how hard he was.
It was just like the first time. And, once again, this was a bad idea. Probably. On the other hand, that tongue was still very persuasive. Janna knew she shouldn’t, but she felt herself relaxing into that body and mouth.
“No charms, no tricks this time, Janna. It’s just me, wanting you desperately,” Ted’s voice rasped in her ear. “Your choice, sweetheart.”
Choice? She had no choice. Janna’s head swam as she moved her mouth to let her tongue explore his chin and jaw. He had a morning stubble. That should annoy her but didn’t. Ted made it exciting to be scratched by his whiskers.
Love is yours. Just look for the truth inside.
For a second she remembered that crazy witch-woman. She wasn’t sure love was hers, but she was willing to finally look at the truth—her truth—inside. Was love was hers? She hoped love could be hers. Lord, she hoped so.
“I want you too. No. More than that. You’re becoming important to me, Ted,” Janna admitted. “This is nuts and we’re probably going to kill each other before the week is out, though. You and I are so different.”
“I like where we’re different.” Ted’s hand explored some of the difference under her dress. “And if we kill each other before the week is over, it’ll be from too much sex. I’ve always thought that was a great way to go. Especially with someone you’re starting to love. I don’t really know how love works, Janna, but I have a feeling I may find out with you. Why else did something tell me you were the person I needed to search for?”
He was always going to think in ways that defied logic. Janna already knew that. But how could she argue when they were both coming to the same conclusion? Besides, she really did want to stop talking and make use of that cock. Immediately.
“All right then,” Janna said, thickly, unsnapping his jeans. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
At that, without warning, the lights went out.
Ted laughed and ripped her dress off. Janna didn’t know which action to be more stunned by. At least things weren’t as dark as last night. She could see Ted in the murky morning light, his mouth now fastened on one of her nipples.