Hell Bent

by Blaire Valentine

  Eileen nodded without letting the smile away from her face. She invited us to sit down in her parlor, which was decorated ceiling to floor with a floral pattern almost identical to the suit that she was wearing. The room smelled like expensive perfume and polish.

  I watched in awe as she rang a bell and two maids came rushing to wait on her. One of the maids gave a little curtsey the moment she saw Connor and the other, younger maid quickly followed.

  "Welcome back Mr. Flynn," said the first maid.

  Eileen was still looking at me when she spoke to the servants.

  She ordered some tea and cake for the three of us and then dismissed them. They were no use to her anymore. I didn't know anyone with servants like that. Occasionally I came across some bougie person who maybe had a housekeeper visit once or twice a week, but that was that. These were real pinafore wearing maids. It was like everything in this house was a relic from the past. Judging by some of the antique looking vases in the corners of the room, some of it was.

  "You look good Connor. Have you been going to the gym?" Eileen leaned forward and looked at me, "He used to be such a gangly boy. So tall and skinny and graceless. Everyone said he was an ugly duckling but look how he turned out. Physically."

  Connor rolled his eyes.

  "Mother."

  "I wish you wouldn't roll your eyes like that. It's so rude," she said. Her smile was still huge. I wasn't sure if she was joking or not. I gave a little giggle and it became clear that she was not joking at all.

  "Right. Sorry," said Connor, even though he wasn't. I could kind of understand now why he didn't like being around her. There was something so unnerving about her whole demeanor. Even the house, as beautiful as it was, gave off a creepy vibe. You couldn't have paid me to spend one night there.

  "It's certainly a surprise to see you. Both of you. I thought you were busy at the comic book shop, Connor? Tabby doesn't look like your usual customer," she said.

  I wasn't sure if that was a compliment or an insult. I already had my guard up so I took it as the latter. Could you blame me? The woman looked at me like a snake did before pouncing on its prey.

  "It's a quiet time right now," said Connor, "Plus we...I wanted to see you."

  "Will you be home for Christmas this year or something? Because we already have it all planned and I won't have anything for you to eat unless I kick one of the cousins out. Which might just be OK. Cousin Lana's become insufferable lately. You know she's pregnant with twins, right? I sent her a perfectly lovely set of china ducks as a present and she never even sent me a card. I can't abide that kind of rudeness. So did you want to come? Because I'd like an excuse to boot her," she said.

  "Probably not," he said quickly. I couldn't fathom not wanting to spend the holiday season with my mother. God knew I would do absolutely anything to get that woman back. She loved me so much and even though I didn't remember much about her I remembered that she was special. I was sure that in the two years she had me she had hugged me more than Eileen had hugged Connor in his whole life.

  "What about you Tabby? Do you spend Christmas with your family? Or do you do it alone like my Connor? Don't tell me you like those weird role-playing games he likes. Do you spend it alone?" she asked. The eye contact she gave was uncomfortable. She seemed to take a horribly long time to blink. Her eyes just didn't get dry like a pair of eyes should.

  "Yeah, mostly. My Dad lives overseas and my Mom passed away when I was young," I said. At that moment the maids appeared with a tray full of beautiful looking cakes.

  When they left Eileen lent forward.

  "You're a Monroe, aren't you?" she said. The look she gave me made my blood run cold. She knew who I was all right. She knew this whole time.

  All I could do was nod.

  "I can see it in your bone structure."

  "Mother please, she's a good person," said Connor but he gave me a doubtful look, "She has good intentions. Most of the time."

  "I can't believe you would disgrace me by laying with a Monroe. Next thing you'll be telling me you like men. Or dogs," she rubbed her temples as if she had a headache fast approaching. I couldn't help but giggle a little bit. She wasn't right about the dogs but Connor sure had sucked off Death with great enthusiasm. The image hadn't left my mind since I'd seen it. It was one of the hottest things I'd ever seen with my own two eyes.

  "Why does it matter?" I asked, "I haven't done anything to you. I'm sorry if my ancestors were jerks to your ancestors but I think the score is even now. The curse killed three women in my family. It might kill me soon if we don't find some way to lift it."

  Eileen folded her arms and looked down her nose at me. It was like a was a bug she wanted to crush underneath her red bottom heels. I had never had someone look at me with so much disdain. She made me feel like a monster.

  "It won't be lifted. You certainly won't figure out how. You're a witch but not a real one. I can tell. No coven. No mentor. Nothing. Who was your father? A mortal pig farmer?" she probed. I couldn't let her intimidate me.

  "He's an electrician. He has his own company now," I spat back. I wasn't my Dad's biggest fan but I hated the way she spoke about him.

  "But a mortal," she said.

  "Yes. And yes I don't have a coven, but I don't want one. I don't need a group of other witches telling me what to do," I said. Eileen laughed at that, but it was tinged with bitterness.

  "Honey, that is exactly what you need. You're pathetic. The worst coven in the city wouldn't welcome you if you had two days to live," she said, "I can't wait to tell my coven about this. They'll get such a laugh."

  "Your coven?" I asked, "Which one is that?"

  It looked like that question offended her more than our entire previous conversation.

  "Mother is kind of a big deal," said Connor. He was staring at his shoes as if a little imp was about to jump out of them and run around the room.

  "Kind of a big deal?" she scoffed, "I'm the head of the coven of the White Lily. Not that you will have heard of us Tabby. I know you're a witch by blood only. You're the noun and not the verb. You know nothing about magic," she said.

  "That's not fair I..."

  "-Don't argue. I can see right through you. You probably couldn't even brew up a measly little healing potion, could you?"

  I hated to admit it, but the bitch was right. I was pretty much useless at all forms of magic apart from the select few I'd learned as a kid. I was a witch. There was no denying that. I just was not a very good one.

  "This was a bad idea," Connor got to his feet, "We should go."

  "Yes, you should. Go make the most of whatever time the little tart has left. I can't believe you, Connor. You could have any which you want and you go for this one. I'm so disappointed in you. I think I'd rather see Cousin Lana and her ugly little twins for Christmas," she said. I stayed sitting.

  "You're good at magic then?" I said. Eileen raised one eyebrow.

  "Good at magic? I am fantastic at magic. I have more magic in the tip of my baby finger that you could ever hope to have in your dumpy little body."

  "Were you born like that? Or did you work at it?" I asked. Eileen seemed taken aback. She wasn't used to being talked to like this.

  "I...I suppose I was born with a certain predisposition. But I worked hard to hone my craft," she said, "Don't even think about it. You don't have what it takes and if you did I wouldn't help you."

  "I don't want your help," I said, which was only kind of a lie, "Do you do every kind of magic?"

  Eileen narrowed her eyes.

  "What's your angle, little girl?"

  "Do you?"

  "Yes. All kinds. Divination, conjuration, transfiguration. Everything. I've mastered it all," she said, then added, "The only reason I haven't killed you right here and now is because I know you don't have long left anyway. Don't test me. I'm being merciful here."

  "Mother!" snapped Connor. He looked at me, "Don't worry Tabby, she's always threatening to kill people. She barely ever does it
. She's good at spells but she's got mad arthritis in her hands."

  Eileen's gaze locked on Connor.

  "If I had known what a disappointment you would turn out to be I never would have had you," she hissed, "Galavanting around in that pathetic comic book store when you could be working towards something great. You're so smart but so foolish. Your grandmother would be ashamed of you. I know I am."

  I perked up.

  "What about his Great Grandmother? Moira? Would she be ashamed of him too?" I asked with interest. Eileen's expression softened. I was bamboozling her now. Hey if it worked it worked.

  "Yes, she would be ashamed too," she said, "How did you know about her? Connor hardly told you."

  "He told me a little bit. He told me that she's the one who cursed my family. Is that true?" I asked.

  Eileen took her time answering. She cut up a slice of cake into tiny little cubes and then licked the icing off of one of them. She was trying to annoy me, but it wouldn't work. I wasn't going to rise to her bait. If she wanted to take her time then I would let her take her sweet ass time.

  As long as I got the answers I needed.

  "Yes," she said eventually, "My grandmother did curse your family."

  "We tried to talk to her through an Ouija board," said Connor. Eileen looked surprised.

  "Talk to her? Why would you want to do that?"

  "We wanted to ask her to lift Tabby's curse. It didn't work. She kept asking to be released and when we agreed to it she released a demon instead," said Connor. He sat back down on the arm of the sofa.

  Eileen nodded.

  "Well, she would do that. That sounds like her all right. It was a stupid idea to contact her that way," she said, "If you wanted to really talk to her you should have tried to channel her spirit. I mean, she could very well have killed you but I'm sure she would answer any of your questions first."

  "What if we struck some kind of deal with her?" I asked, "What if we gave her something she wanted so she would lift the curse."

  "I can't think of much that she would want more than to see your family suffer," said Eileen, "But I have to admit, I'm intrigued by the idea. It would be an interesting experiment and I have no attachment to you whatsoever, so if you were killed during it wouldn't matter."

  "Does that mean you'll tell me how to channel her?" I said hopefully.

  Eileen smirked. I hoped she wouldn't say no.

  "You want to channel Grandma," she sat back on the couch and lit a cigarette. Her eyes sparkled with malice. Maybe this was an opportunity to get me, "Grandma Moira was a difficult lady. I respect her power but I never enjoyed her company. I was glad to see the old bat in her coffin. "

  "I guessed that. She kind of set a demon on us," I said. Eileen threw her head back and laughed loudly.

  Then she got serious.

  "Do you have a notebook? I'll tell you what you need to know," she said, "Just promise me that if it all goes wrong, you'll let me know so I have something to smile about."

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Taby

  I hoped that Death might appear to us and tell us that it was a stupid idea. That we were idiots for even considering it and of course he would have to take us all now.

  Then we'd fuck one last time and he'd bring us to the underworld or the afterlife or whatever the hell there was. He had always been so cagey about the details no matter how much I badgered him. I guessed he had signed some kind of otherworldly NDA because his lips were sealed. Most of the time. I would have given anything to feel that mouth on me or to hear him whisper my name with that deep, sensual voice. I would have given anything just to see him. Just to have him hold me and kiss me.

  He didn't appear. There was nothing stopping us from going ahead with our crazy plan, even the nervous ping in the pit of my stomach. Messing with spirits hadn't gone well for me last time. Sure Eileen had made it a little bit clearer for me now, but I still was a complete novice at this. Spirits could sense that and that was how they fucked with you.

  Most newbies didn't invite spirits to take over their bodies, but that was my only hope. Moira wouldn't be reasoned with otherwise. Eileen explained to me how Moira had instantly hated being dead and had been complaining about it ever since the day she kicked the bucket. She wanted her body back. Not the body she had when she was on the verge of Death. She didn't want to be a wrinkled old crone with aching joints and missing teeth. She wanted to be a beautiful, healthy young girl again. Even if it wasn't her own body that she was using. She would give anything or do anything for that opportunity.

  Eileen was at least eighty percent certain which I felt was good. I'd let Moira have a little spin in my nice young body and then snap, the curse would be lifted and I could live a normal life getting gang banged by Death, a witch hunter, and a warlock.

  This time Ezra and I visited Connor's game store. Joel was staying with his grandmother once again. Ezra thanked me again for saving Joel and even gave me a little kiss on the cheek. To my surprise, I felt myself blushing.

  Connor closed the store early and led us upstairs, past his apartment and into his attic. The attic was sparse apart from a huge table in the center and a large window.

  "It's the biggest table I have. The legs will hold up," he said. I frowned at him as I climbed on.

  "Hey, I'm not that fat! All right so maybe I ate like two loaves of bread yesterday. But it all goes to my boobs," I said which was almost true.

  "You know that's not what I meant," he said, but he was smiling. I was starting to like Connor. His glasses, his messy hair, the dimple in one cheek. The banging body. If we hadn't met under such weird circumstances the guy could have ended up being my boyfriend and a decent one at that.

  Ezra could have been a friend with benefits. Or maybe just an acquaintance with benefits. He was a good fuck and not a totally terrible guy. He was looking at me weirdly now. He had been ever since we saved Joel. Like he was seeing me differently.

  "Well," I said, "Let's get this over with."

  "Yeah," said Ezra, "Let's get the stuff ready."

  It was weird just laying there and watching the boys light candle after candle. My whole body had to be outlined with candles. It was definitely a fire hazard but Eileen didn't seem like the kind of woman to give much thought to the health and safety of her enemies. Or her friends. Or anyone else for that matter.

  Connor stood over me at the top of the table and began to mutter under his breath.

  "You look fucking crazy when you do that buddy," said Ezra. Connor and I both shushed him.

  Then Connor spoke aloud.

  "Moira Flynn, I am inviting you to take over this woman's body for no more than ten human minutes," he said.

  There was nothing. Then he said it again and there was nothing again. Then I saw Ezra open his mouth to say I told you so.

  "Stop it," I sat up, "Connor, you're not doing it right."

  Then it happened. She appeared in front of me.

  She was a thin, only slightly wrinkled woman with gray hair decorated with flowers. She would have been pretty if it weren't for her eyes. Those eyes were filled with venom and hatred. It was all for me.

  "You stupid bitch," she hissed and lunged at me. I screamed and I could hear the boys freaking out, but they couldn't do anything as she invaded my body. Then I was laughing and laughing and it was my voice, but it wasn't me controlling it. It was Moira. She was laughing now.

  Then I got up and I was still laughing.

  "What are you doing?" Ezra asked, "Wait, what are you doing Tabby?"

  I got up, knocking over some of the candles. I wanted to scream but I couldn't. Before I knew it I was bolting towards the window. We were so far off the ground that one thing became abundantly clear to me.

  This bitch was trying to fucking murder me. She was going to do it too if the guys didn't step in on time. I was running so fast. Rushing faster than I knew my body was capable of moving.

  They didn't get to me on time. I smashed through the window an
d at that very moment, I felt her leaving my body. Her cackle would be the last thing I ever heard.

  Then I fell. I fell and fell.

  Yet, I survived.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Tabby

  I didn't know what to feel after my near death experience. I should have been happy. That crazy bitch could have killed me. She maybe could have taken over my body for good. What would happen then? Would I just cease to exist? Or would I continue to live in a dark corner of my own body, trapped and screaming for release while Moira used my stolen body for whatever dark deeds she had planned? It was frightening to think about. It chilled me to the core.

  Instead, I got off scot-free. I fell two stories to the ground and stood up without a scratch on me and without a spirit inside me. Moira had perhaps left my body just before it hit the ground.

  I wasn't happy. Not one bit. Ezra and Connor actually seemed to be worried about me but I shook it off. Connor insisted on wrapping me in blankets and making me some sort of disgusting green potion to help with the shock. Ezra wanted to call the doctor but I shot that down quickly.

  "Hey," I said, "I think I'm just going to go home now if that's cool with you."

  Ezra nodded slowly, even though he looked reluctant. They both did but I couldn't blame them. It wasn't often that you saw a girl survive a fall like that.

  "Call us if you need anything Tabby," he said. Connor agreed.

  "Yeah. We can work on removing the curse without Moira when you're feeling better," he said. I could tell that neither of them wanted to let me go but I needed to be alone. I needed to process all of this.

  I got home and was ready to throw on my flannel pajamas and bust open a tub of double chocolate ice cream and a bottle of Mexican beer, but I didn't get the chance.

  He was waiting for me when I got there.

  Death.

  There he was sitting on my couch, dressed in black jeans and a black henley shirt. His hair was just messy enough to look sexy. He had stubble now and it only added to his charm. He stood up when he saw me.