No Crone Unturned

by Amanda M. Lee

“That is not what I said at all.” She made a face. “You’re both giving individuals who guard your hearts. You fell for one another despite the fact that you always try to protect yourselves. Your hormones were stronger than your brains, which is always something I approve of.”

  She laughed, delighted, as I rolled my eyes. “You two are strong together, and you’re good for each other. You’ll have growing pains because you both need to learn about putting someone else first. It’s okay. Couples fight. This isn’t the end of the world.”

  “But ... he’s lying about Rain.”

  “I don’t think he’s lying the way you seem to think he’s lying. You need to give him a chance to explain.”

  “But ... he won’t talk about it. He’s crabby and shuts down.”

  “I’m betting you do the same when questioned about things.”

  “Not really.”

  Her lips quirked with amusement. “Talk to him about Rain. I guarantee you’ll feel better once you do. I also guarantee it’s not as bad as whatever you’re making out in your head.”

  “I guess.”

  “That’s not the only reason you’re here.” Mama Moon was the sage sort and her eyes twinkled as my forehead wrinkled. “You’re also frustrated with the barrier. I know because I’ve heard reports that you were there this morning testing it.”

  “You have people following me?” Anger bubbled up. “Why?”

  “I don’t have people following you. I have people watching the house.”

  “Oh.” Well, crap. That made sense. “What did they say?”

  “They said you kept testing the barrier and it was obvious you were agitated with what you found.”

  “Any magic used against it is tossed back at the person trying to cross the barrier. I can’t think of a way to move past it.”

  “Can’t you?”

  “No.”

  “If the barrier absorbs the power and shoots it back, then perhaps you should aim the magic at someplace other than the barrier.”

  I frowned, confused. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Think about it.”

  “But ... .”

  “Think about it,” she pressed. “The answer is right in front of you.”

  I hated it when she said things like that.

  Twenty

  Mama Moon wasn’t in a giving mood when it came to information, so I had no choice but to leave at a certain point. She was much more interested in Barney — and I honestly couldn’t blame her because he was magnificent — and she barely looked up when I left.

  Telling me to think about the magic I was using was infuriating. I momentarily considered turning around and shaking her until she told me what to do. Instead, I pointed myself in the direction of the bluff house. It probably wasn’t the smartest move, but I was quickly becoming obsessed.

  I parked in my normal spot and planted myself on the ground near the barrier, my eyes focused on the house. I was missing something ... but what?”

  “Twice in one day?” The morose member of Melody’s unholy trio appeared from beneath a weeping willow. I hadn’t seen her, but she didn’t frighten me so I wasn’t exactly worried about her presence.

  “I’m nothing if not diligent,” I agreed, igniting my fingers and trailing them along the barrier. The magic sparked and burned, but there were no signs of weakness. “Where’s your boss?”

  The woman tilted her head, considering. “I don’t have a boss. I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

  “I’m talking about Melody.” I lifted my eyes and studied her blank features. “I expected her to be out and about taunting me again. I’m kind of in a bad mood, so a verbal sparring match with her might be just what the doctor ordered.”

  “She’s not here.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Where is she?”

  She held out her hands palms out. “I don’t know. She doesn’t often inform me of her plans.”

  The woman seemed surprisingly open to conversation. She wasn’t the bitter sort and didn’t immediately attack. She was a ... curiosity. That was the best way I could think to describe her. “And what’s your name?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “It does to me.” I opted for honesty. “You’re different from the others. You’re ... less aggressive. It makes me think you don’t want to be here.”

  A ghost of a smile flitted across her face. “Oh, who wouldn’t want to be here? I mean ... it’s the middle of nowhere. There’s not a cinema or mall in sight. This is ... breathtaking and beautiful.” Sarcasm practically dripped from her tongue, which I found intriguing.

  “A city girl, huh? I get it. I used to be that way. Maybe I still am. I wasn’t exactly keen when I got transferred up here. I do like the beauty of the landscape, but there are things I miss about the city.”

  “Oh?” The woman planted herself on the remains of a tree that had fallen years ago and placed her hands in her lap. She sat straight, her shoulders squared, and flashed a smile that didn’t make it all the way to her eyes. “What do you miss?”

  “Well, I miss a good movie theater ... and the shopping here is indeed dreadful.” I returned her smile. “I miss good Middle Eastern food. Oh, and Greek food. Man, I miss this little place that was close to my apartment that had the best soup.”

  “Is there anything you miss that doesn’t revolve around food?”

  “I miss Belle Isle. I used to go there sometimes in the summer. It had this ... vibe. I don’t know how to describe it. There was magic there.”

  “I liked Belle Isle, too.” Her eyes drifted to the east as she stared at ... well, nothing as far as I could tell. “I lived in Royal Oak, so it wasn’t that far a drive. I absolutely loved the conservatory. Those flowers ... and the scent ... and I know what you mean about it feeling magical. I always thought that too. The aquarium especially.”

  Well, that was something. She’d let slip that she lived in Royal Oak. That wasn’t all that far from where I used to live. Of course, this woman and I weren’t likely to have run in the same circles. “I miss the lake in the summer, although they have nice lakes here.”

  “Is there anything you like about this area?”

  I nodded without hesitation. “Absolutely. I love the quiet. I love that gunshots in the night don’t wake me.”

  “You must’ve lived in a rough area. That wasn’t the norm in Royal Oak.”

  “Probably not,” I agreed. “I didn’t think I minded the noise when I lived there. Now I really appreciate the silence ... except for one thing.”

  “What’s the one thing?”

  “You don’t realize it when you’re living there, but there’s a lot of ambient noise,” I explained. “The cars blocks away hum along and you absorb the sound. The streetlights actually generate a buzz that you don’t notice until it’s gone. The first few nights I was here I didn’t know if I would ever be able to sleep without the ambient noise.”

  “What did you do?”

  “I bought a fan. The white noise knocks me right out.”

  “Good idea.” She plucked at her jeans. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it here.”

  Unlike Melody, who seemed to relish her position in the vampire world, this woman looked distinctly uncomfortable. Honestly, I felt sorry for her. That didn’t mean I trusted her. Sympathy was an emotion with many layers.

  “You still haven’t told me your name,” I prodded.

  “Why does it matter?”

  “Because you’re the only one up here I don’t want to kill, and when the battle comes I would like to be able to yell out your name so you can protect yourself.” That was a lie — mostly. If she died in the battle I would suck it up, and it was doubtful I would go out of my way to warn her. Still, information was power. I wanted to know her name so I could run a background check.

  “You may call me Cherise.”

  I waited for her to say more. When she didn’t, I figured I had enough to do at least a cursory search. Cherise from Royal Oak should
n’t be that hard to track. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “I don’t know that I can say the same about you.”

  “Give it time. I’ll grow on you.”

  The joke was enough to elicit a wan smile. “If you say so. I ... .” She trailed off at the sound of footsteps.

  I followed her gaze to the front of the house, frowning when I saw nothing. Then, within seconds, Bixby emerged from behind the bushes. He was so short that given my position on the ground I simply couldn’t see him.

  “You really should trim those bushes back,” I called out. Here was a target for my mixed emotions. I didn’t feel sorry for him in the least and had no problem verbally lambasting him. “Either that or you should put lifts in your shoes. That might help with the Little Man Syndrome.”

  He narrowed his eyes as he halted in front me. “I see you’re back. Was your previous visit not fruitless enough for you?”

  Honestly, he made me laugh. He was annoying to the point of making me fantasize about popping his head like a zit, but he was funny, too. Of course, he wasn’t purposely funny. It was all accidental.

  “I love doing fruitless things,” I drawled.

  “That must explain your choice in men.”

  My smile slipped. “Why are you out here? Are you afraid she’s going to let something slip? If so, you have nothing to worry about. All we’ve talked about is how cool the city is.”

  “Yes, well ... .” Doubt was reflected in Bixby’s eyes as he studied Cherise’s profile. She was obviously uncomfortable under the scrutiny, but she said nothing. “You’re needed in the house. We’re cleaning the parlor today.”

  “Okay.” Cherise didn’t offer up a single word of complaint as she got to her feet and started in that direction. She didn’t look over her shoulder to meet my gaze. She didn’t apologize to Bixby for talking to the enemy. Instead, she merely hopped to her feet and trudged toward the house. I thought about calling out to her, but that would paint a more prominent target on her back. She was the only one I was likely to be able to communicate with. I needed to give it time before addressing her again.

  That didn’t mean I couldn’t mess with the little minion.

  “So, how are things?” I leaned back on my elbows and regarded him. He showed no signs of fleeing. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. How many women have you enticed to half-lives since then?”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He imperiously brushed at invisible flecks on his jacket arm. “You have me mistaken with someone else.”

  “Yeah, you can spout that nonsense all you want, but I know better. I remember you.”

  He cocked his head to the side, considering. “Well, in that case, perhaps you’re not as important as you think, because I certainly don’t remember you.”

  I didn’t believe that for a second. “Yes, you do. I could tell something sparked the moment I reminded you of our previous meeting. There was recognition there. You’re good at shuttering your emotions, but you couldn’t hide that.”

  “I think you see what you want to see, child of the stars.”

  The name grated. “And what do you know about the children of the stars?”

  “I know a great deal. I think the question is: What do you know about the children of the stars? Not much, I think.”

  He wasn’t wrong, which only made me want to shake him until the knowledge fell out of his head like a piñata. “I know enough to make me wonder about things. That doesn’t really matter today. I’m here about you.”

  “Me?” His eyebrows hopped. “How ... flattering.”

  “Don’t get too excited. I was talking about the general you, not you you.”

  “Was that sentence supposed to make sense?”

  He was good at the agitation game, I had to give him that. I was better. “Is he in there?” I inclined my head toward the house. “The guy you were with that night. Is he the master vampire? I have to admit to being curious. I was new to the game back then and had no idea who I was dealing with at the time.”

  “You were a child.”

  It was the first time he’d openly acknowledged that we’d met before and I wanted to crow. “I don’t know about that,” I hedged. “I stopped being a child when I was abandoned in front of a fire station with no memory of the previous years. I had to grow up fast in the system.”

  “It must be difficult for you.” He folded his arms across his chest. “You’re powerful, something you recognize, and yet you don’t know how to deal with it. You’re emotionally stunted because of what happened to you, which means personal growth is out the window. You’re a witch in a world full of shifters. This area is crawling with them. I can smell them at every turn.” He wrinkled his nose to show his disdain. “You are one of those who don’t fit anywhere.”

  Even though I knew he was trying to get under my skin, the statement hit true and hard ... and it hurt. “I guess that’s fair.” I kept my expression even, difficult as it was. “I think we probably have that in common. I remember what happened to you that night, the appearance of your friend. I remember how he yelled at you, made you seem small. Perhaps you don’t fit anywhere either.”

  “I think you only wish that were true,” he countered. “I found my place in this world long ago. I fit just fine.”

  “As a minion?”

  His frown was pronounced. “I don’t like that word.”

  “I don’t like the word moist. It gives me the heebie-jeebies. It’s still a word. You’re a minion. That’s what you are. You have to suck it up.”

  “I’m not a minion.”

  The way he screeched it told me I’d officially gotten under his skin. That’s what I was trying to do, of course, so I was happy. “If the minion hat fits ... .”

  “Oh, shut up.” Bixby’s expression turned dark. “You’re trying to irritate me. You think that will give you an edge in what’s to come. Well, I’m here to tell you something, girlie. You’ve already lost. You just don’t realize it.”

  “I’m not afraid of you.” My voice was soft. “I’ve taken out vampire nests before.”

  “Maybe, but the others in your group haven’t. They’re novices. You very well may be the last one standing by the time we’re done. You won’t be able to hold us off forever. Once all your friends have been turned ... .” He left the sentence hanging.

  “They might not be familiar with vampires, but that doesn’t mean they’re weak,” I argued. “They’ll stand with me. Together, we’ll take you down because that’s what we do.”

  “If that’s what you need to tell yourself.” He cast a backward glance over his shoulder at the house. “I should probably be going. You’re welcome to sit out here and stare at the house as long as you like. You’ll never get through the barrier. Better witches have tried.”

  The comment chafed, as he knew it would. Despite internal promises to the contrary, he was getting to me ... and I hated it.

  “Have a nice day,” he called out, dissolving into grating giggles. He was clearly enjoying himself.

  I reacted before I realized what I was doing. I couldn’t throw magic at the barrier without it firing back. That didn’t mean I couldn’t use my magic to force Bixby to leave the safety of the magical enclosure.

  “Desisto,” I called out in Latin, ordering him to stop.

  He ceased moving, though I detected a faint twitch in his fingers.

  “Come this way,” I sang out softly, making sure my voice didn’t carry. “I think you and I should have a talk.”

  He fought the magic, as I knew he would. I wove a bit of karma into the spell because of it, smiling as his lips twisted into a grotesque amalgamation of a grimace and grin. “What are you doing?” He was breathless.

  “You need to come with me.” I doubled my magic. The way he managed to fight the influence I was projecting was fairly impressive. Of course, that could’ve had something to do with the barrier. At least that’s what I told myself. “We have some things to discuss.”
/>
  “I’m not going anywhere with you,” he gritted out, opening his mouth in a wide “O.” I had no doubt he would try to scream for help. I couldn’t allow that.

  “No, no, no.” I added another spell, this one forcing him to clamp his lips shut. “You’re coming with me no matter what you want. The more you fight, the itchier you’ll get ... and in your private parts, because I’m mean like that.”

  His eyes widened, but he didn’t say anything. Of course, he couldn’t.

  “Now, come on.” I forced more magic into him.

  This time he took a lurching step in my direction. He looked panicked at the prospect, which only served to thrill me.

  “Come on, you little ferret.” I shoved again. He took two large steps, although he was fighting the process and almost looked as if he would topple over. “I’m taking you whether you like it or not.”

  The terror in his eyes should’ve given me pause, but I was over it. I wasn’t particularly looking forward to torturing him — well, not entirely — but I would get information out of him one way or another.

  “Stop fighting me!” The final burst of magic I let loose was enough to cause him to freeze, which wasn’t my intention. He went ramrod straight, his eyes frozen in a silent plea, and then he slowly toppled forward. By the time he landed, only his head and shoulders were clear of the barrier. That was still plenty of minion for me to work with.

  “I don’t know why you had to make this so difficult,” I grumbled, grabbing him around the shoulders and tugging until he was completely on the other side of the magical wall. “I figured you guys were immune to the barrier so you could run your errands. The spell wasn’t directed at you, so you were free and clear. I wasn’t firing physical magic at the barrier, so my mind magic was clear to work despite the boundary. Really, it was an ingenious little plan.”

  I was mostly talking to myself. He couldn’t respond and I had no intention of loosening his lips until I’d removed him from the premises.

  “You’re heavier than you look,” I complained, grunting as I shifted to throw him over my shoulder. I was strong, but he was dead weight ... and my back was going to punish me for what I was about to do. “Okay, we’re out of here. Unfortunately, I only have my bike. That means I’ll have to tie you over the back rack. It won’t be comfortable, but if things go as planned you’ll survive the trip.”