No Crone Unturned

by Amanda M. Lee

  “Hey.” Gunner’s voice was gentle as he nudged my arm. “It’s okay. I was just teasing. I won’t say anything to upset Raisin. I’m not an idiot. I know how this is done.”

  I mustered a smile. “Yeah, well ... you’re better at it than I give you credit for.”

  He slid his arm over my shoulders and tugged me to his side, pressing a kiss to my temple. When we swiveled to face the sound of pounding feet — I had no doubt it was Raisin coming to claim her accolades — I found Marissa watching us with annoyed eyes.

  “What?” Gunner asked when he realized we were being observed. “Do I have something on my face?”

  Marissa replied after a beat, shaking her head. She didn’t look angry as much as resigned. “Don’t worry about it.”

  Raisin picked that moment to burst into the gymnasium. She was back in her street clothes, her eyes lit with excitement. “What did you think?”

  “You stole the show,” Rooster automatically answered.

  “You were a total star,” Bonnie enthused.

  “I didn’t get the part about her being a prostitute,” Doc fretted.

  “You were magnificent,” Whistler volunteered. “I think that’s the best play I ever saw.”

  “You didn’t suck even a little,” Marissa offered.

  Raisin’s expectant eyes landed on Gunner and me. “Well?”

  Gunner offered up a wide grin. “You were mesmerizing. I couldn’t look away from you. I can’t believe how powerful your performance was.”

  Raisin preened under the compliment and wiggled her hips. “Thank you.” When she turned to me, I was ready.

  “I think you had a hand in writing some of that dialogue,” I supplied. “I heard traces of you in there, and it was brilliant. You’re an excellent writer as well as an actress. It’s amazing how you can do so many things.”

  “You really heard me in the script?” She looked delighted. “I ... wow! I wasn’t sure anyone would pick up on that.”

  “It was absolutely wonderful.”

  “Oh, thank you.” She impulsively threw her arms around my neck, causing me to stagger back. I wasn’t expecting the embrace, so I stood there like a moron for a full two seconds before returning the hug.

  Gunner’s expression reflected amusement over Raisin’s shoulder. He was clearly enjoying himself.

  Rooster cleared his throat to interrupt the moment, for which I was profoundly thankful. “How about we get some celebratory ice cream and then I’ll take you home? I already cleared it with your grandmother. I invited her, but she was so overwhelmed by your performance she wanted to absorb it for a bit before discussing it with you.”

  I’d seen Raisin’s grandmother afterward and overwhelmed was the right word. That woman looked positively shocked. I had no doubt there would be a discussion of sorts when Raisin returned home.

  “Oh, yay!” Raisin clapped her hands. “I’m getting a hot fudge sundae.”

  We walked to the parking lot as a group. Rooster and Gunner both drove trucks, but everyone else was on bikes. The lot was almost deserted as we started to cut across the pavement, the night silent.

  Then the hair on the back of my neck stood on end.

  “Everybody stop!” I ordered, raising my hands and igniting my fingertips. Something very bad was about to happen. I could feel it.

  “What’s wrong?” Gunner was instantly alert, taking up a pugilistic stance. He was ready for a fight.

  Rooster, Whistler, and Bonnie followed suit, while Doc and Marissa remained rooted to their spots, clearly confused.

  “Hello, witch,” a voice called from the trees. “How are you this fine, moonlit evening?”

  I recognized the voice right away. Melody.

  “You really shouldn’t have come here,” I called out, my temper getting the best of me when I saw the frightened look on Raisin’s face as she cowered between Rooster and Whistler. This was her big night and it was being ruined by vampires. “Now I’m pissed off.”

  “Oh, well, that’s terrifying,” Melody mocked from somewhere beyond the tree line. I was positive she was slightly to my left. The problem was, I could feel someone — multiple someones, actually — moving in the shadows to my right ... and behind me ... and even on top of the school. I felt as if we were surrounded.

  “We should go in and get her,” Marissa suggested. “She’s alone. It won’t take much to handle her.”

  I jerked out a glowing hand to stop her before she could take off. “She’s very far from alone,” I countered.

  Gunner slid his eyes to me. “What do you mean?”

  “She means that I have an army at my disposal,” Melody called out, laughing delightedly. “She means that she’s just realized her fatal mistake.”

  “Fatal?” Raisin’s voice was shaky. “W–what’s going to happen?”

  “It’s going to be fine,” I promised her. “You have nothing to worry about.”

  “Yes, it’s going to be fine,” Melody mimicked. “Just as soon as we rip your arms from your body and drink until you’re dry.”

  “Rooster?” Raisin looked to him for comfort at the same moment I stepped forward and unleashed my magic.

  “Deflagro,” I hissed as I clapped my hands together, my hair blowing back as a wave of magic so powerful it heated the air we breathed moved out in a circle.

  I heard voices crying out in surprise. It was already too late for some of them. I watched as at least six spots in the woods sparked, flames flaring up before dying. Then things fell silent.

  “What was that?” Gunner asked.

  “Death,” I replied, focusing on the spot I believed Melody was hiding. It hadn’t sprouted flames, which meant she was most likely alive. “Do you want another round?” I called out.

  I heard murmuring again, this time from a greater distance. The vampires were retreating. “You don’t want to mess with me,” I warned. “Bixby told you it was a mistake last night. You should’ve listened.”

  Melody found her voice. “You’ll want to stay away from us. A line has been drawn. You stay on your side of it and we’ll stay on our side.”

  That wasn’t going to happen. For tonight, though, I would take it. “Don’t come back here,” I called out. “I’ll do worse next time.”

  “Don’t come back to the house,” she shot back. “I’ll burn your world to the ground.”

  She talked big, but I knew better. There was something else behind her words: fear.

  Life was about to get very interesting.

  Fourteen

  “We have a problem.”

  I waited until I was certain the vampires had gone to speak.

  “Oh, really?” Marissa said, her tone withering. “What was your first clue?”

  I refused to be baited into a fight, especially when I was certain that at least a few sets of eyes had remained behind to watch us interact from a distance.

  “It’s a nest,” I said, my gaze on Rooster. “You know what that means?”

  He hesitated as he ran his hand over Raisin’s back in a soothing motion. “I’m not sure.”

  “I thought it was one master, one minion, and three half-vampires. I thought the half-vampires were protecting the master during the day. That’s not what’s going on.”

  “Would you like to expound for the class?” Gunner queried.

  “I’m not sure how many we’re dealing with, but it has to be at least twenty.”

  “And you think they’re all living in one rundown house together?” Rooster asked. “How does that work?”

  “I don’t know if they’re all living in that house. I don’t know if there’s one born vampire leading them or five. I just ... don’t know. We’re definitely dealing with a bigger problem than I thought.”

  “Well ... then we’ll figure it out.” Rooster was resolute. “I’m sure the problem isn’t so big that we can’t solve it together. That was a nice bit of magic you threw in their direction. You killed some of them, right?”

  I nodded. “At l
east five or six. That was the fire you saw. I can’t just toss out that spell willy-nilly, though. If an innocent gets in the way, he or she could go up in flames, too.”

  “Still, it’s good to have in our arsenal.” He flashed a smile for Raisin’s benefit. “You’re okay, kid. You don’t have to worry about anything. The vampires aren’t interested in you.”

  Raisin didn’t look convinced. “If they’re after all of you, then they’re after me, too.”

  Gunner chuckled. “Loyal to the end, huh? That’s just what I like in a woman.” He slung an arm over her shoulders in a friendly manner and met my gaze. He didn’t say anything, but I knew what he was thinking. We were in trouble, and it was going to take all of us working together to get out of it.

  “You know what I think?” Raisin said after a moment’s contemplation.

  “What?” Gunner asked kindly.

  “I think it will be easier to talk strategy over ice cream.”

  Everyone laughed, the pall that had been hanging over us at least temporarily forgotten. I had to admire her rebound rate. She was one of those kids who refused to let the world break her spirit. She was the reason we did what we did, why we fought the evil.

  “Great idea.” I grinned at her. “I’m definitely in the mood for hot fudge.”

  “Who isn’t?” Rooster winked at Raisin, but I could see the worry lurking in the depths of his eyes. We’d been caught unaware tonight. We couldn’t let it happen again.

  “YOU DIDN’T SAY MUCH AT THE ICE CREAM shop,” Gunner noted as he navigated the winding road that led to the cabin. “Everyone else was throwing out ideas about killing vampires, but you were quiet.”

  “I know how to kill vampires.”

  “Yeah, but ... it’s obvious you’re upset.”

  Upset didn’t seem to be the right word. “I’m ... just thinking.”

  “I like a smart woman, but it would be helpful if you told me what you were thinking about.”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Or you could keep it to yourself and wedge a wall between us.”

  I slid my eyes to him, frowning, and made a face when I realized he was smirking. “You’re kind of a pain sometimes,” I noted.

  “Yes, well, that’s how my father raised me.” He reached over and snagged my hand, causing my heart to stutter when he pulled the palm to his lips and pressed a kiss there. “I’m serious. You’re obviously struggling with what happened tonight. I didn’t see anything. I sensed danger, but only after you’d already picked up on it. I need to know what’s going on.”

  “That’s just it. I don’t know what’s going on.” And, truthfully, that’s what bothered me most. “I should’ve realized it was a nest.”

  “I don’t understand. What’s the big deal about it being a nest?”

  “Nests are dangerous.”

  “I figured that out from the way you reacted. You think there were twenty vampires in the trees gearing up to attack. That part I understand. The thing is, you scared them all off with one little burst of magic.”

  He tried so hard, but he didn’t always grasp the severity of complex paranormal issues. His experience was limited. “That’s not what happened. I used a spell that I shouldn’t have access to. I knew when I was using it that it could’ve gone wrong. I mean ... we were in a high school parking lot, for crying out loud. What if some of the kids were hiding in the trees smoking pot or something? Do you realize that I could’ve taken out any number of innocents with what I did?”

  It was obvious that he didn’t grasp that. “I ... .”

  “I don’t think I did. In fact, I’m positive I didn’t.” And that was the only reason I wasn’t freaking out. “There were six ignition points. Those were the vampires I fried. It wasn’t kids.”

  “Then why are you so upset? You can’t always control what could be. It’s important to focus on what is.”

  “And thank you so much for that, oh wise one,” I muttered.

  “Hey.” He squeezed my hand until I looked at him. “I’m trying to understand. I get that you think I’m somehow ... lacking ... when it comes to this stuff. I’m doing my best.”

  And that made me realize I was being an ass. “I’m sorry.” Briefly, I pressed my eyes shut and forced myself to get it together. “This is not your fault. It’s mine. I just ... I don’t like vampires.”

  He pulled into my driveway and immediately killed the lights, keeping the engine running before unfastening his seatbelt and turning to face me. “Something happened,” he surmised. “You’ve fought vampires before.”

  I nodded. “Oh, so many times.”

  “Yeah, but something bad happened.”

  That was an understatement. “I don’t really want to talk about it.”

  “Try. We both agreed that we weren’t the best at communicating but it was necessary for this to work. I still want this to work.”

  He was backing me into a corner. “And you don’t think I do.”

  “I think you are haunted by something and what happened tonight is bringing it back,” he clarified. “I want to help. I ... care about you a great deal, but you need to meet me halfway. That’s the only way this will work.”

  In my head, I knew he was speaking the truth. My heart wanted me to be a coward, though. I hated opening old wounds. “I don’t know where to begin.”

  “How about you just nutshell it for me? You’re clearly not ready to get into the nitty-gritty. Just give me the basics and we’ll cover the rest after a good night’s sleep.”

  He said it in such a reasonable tone that I figured I had no choice but to acquiesce. “I wasn’t always a loner in Detroit. Eventually I worked mostly on my own. I would occasionally partner with people for big jobs, but for the little jobs I insisted on being alone. That was one of the reasons Rooster wasn’t sure I would be a good fit here. All the people in your group work together.”

  “Our group,” he corrected. “It’s not just my group. It’s our group.”

  His reaction was enough to make me smile. “Our group.”

  “I take it you had a partner before you went all solo cowboy.”

  “Pretty much. Evan. He was the closest thing I had to a friend.”

  Gunner looked pained at the admission. “I know you had friends. I’ve seen you and Mike. You guys clearly hung out.”

  “Yeah, but it was in a lazy way. Evan and I were partnered up after I finished training. I did my best not to like him from the start because I didn’t want to get attached — that was always the rule in foster care because you never knew how long you would be staying in one place — but he was impossible to shut out.”

  Gunner stiffened slightly next me. “You were involved.”

  I shook my head. “Not like you’re insinuating. He was gay, which I think is how we managed to bond the way we did. I don’t mean that in a discriminatory way,” I added hurriedly. “It’s just ... I was always leery of people wanting to take advantage of me sexually. That’s one of the things they beat into your head when dealing with state counselors.”

  Gunner’s fingers were gentle as they brushed my hair from my face. “I’m not going to lie. All this talk about your time in foster care — even though it doesn’t sound terrible — hurts my stomach. Like ... big time. I wish I could go back and make it better for you.”

  “Then I wouldn’t be who I am, and I happen to like this me.”

  He smiled. “I like this you, too. It’s still difficult to hear.”

  “From your point of view, I can see that. For me ... I try not to think about Evan.”

  “You obviously lost him,” Gunner noted. “How did it happen?”

  “Part of me wants to say it was my fault, but that’s not really true.” I shifted my eyes to the window. “I just didn’t know.”

  “Of course it’s not your fault.”

  I fought a small smile ... and lost. “How do you know it’s not my fault? I haven’t even told you the story.”

  “Because I know you.” He k
ept hold of my hand. “You don’t have to tell me if you’re not ready.”

  “It’s not that. It’s just ... I don’t like thinking about it. Basically we were sent out to this neighborhood in Detroit. Prostitutes were going missing. The cops apparently didn’t care. That’s what they told us, but I have no idea if it’s true. We were assigned to figure out if what was happening was paranormal.

  “At that time, we’d been on a few jobs together and we’d started hanging out and having drinks on weekends,” I continued, losing myself in the story. “We were feeling cocky because we took out a trio of sirens who were dropping bodies in the Detroit River a few days earlier. We didn’t know it was vampires we were after ... and we were out later than we should’ve been.”

  I swallowed hard before finishing up. “We were caught unaware. There were ten of them. We were outnumbered and I didn’t know that nifty little trick I showed off tonight. They took him ... and drained him right in front of me. They were going to do the same thing to me, but I managed to draw some elemental fire, enough to burn the two holding me, and I jumped out a window to escape.

  “I dislocated my shoulder and broke two fingers. And I left Evan’s body behind because it was the only way for me to escape.”

  “Oh, geez.” Gunner pulled me to him for a hug. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It wasn’t really my fault.”

  “No, it wasn’t.”

  “But if I hadn’t been so cocky it wouldn’t have happened.”

  “Baby, everyone makes mistakes like that.”

  “Yeah, but this mistake cost Evan his life. After regrouping, we went back to the area with a huge group and annihilated them all. I used my new magic trick, something I picked up from this dark witch we were holding, and burned them where they stood.”

  “Did you get to bury Evan?”