Damned and Cursed (Book 2): Witch's Kurse (46 page)

"Move the couch!
 
Before the monsters get in!"

Kevin did as he was ordered.
 
The fabric on the couch was very real to the touch.
 
He was surprised when the couch actually moved.
 
He shoved the couch across the floor.
 
Tiffany stepped aside enough for it to fit behind the door, then ran to his side to help push.

He could hear noises on the other side.
 
Very familiar.

"We have to hurry," Tiffany said.
 
"They're gonna break in and kill us."

"Tiffany, what's going on—?"

"My mom died.
 
My dad…he left me.
 
I'm all alone."

The door shook once again, and a panel finally broke.
 
Kevin's jaw dropped as a dark, clawed hand reached through, frantically searching for anything it could grab.
 
The snarling and roaring registered in Kevin's mind.

Demons.

"They're coming," Tiffany said.
 
"Oh my God oh my God."

She grabbed Kevin's hand and pulled him to the hallway.
 
He took another fleeting glance at the kitchen, at the mess Tiffany had made.
 
Was everything they were experiencing completely a dream, or were there memories mixed in?

"So much for just being an observer," Kevin muttered.
 
He'd have to remember to update his spell-book.
 
"Tiffany, I have no idea of what you've gone through.
 
But you do have a dad—"

The door burst open.
 
Dream or not, Kevin's heart fluttered when he saw four demons work their way inside, shoving the couch aside.

Tiffany tugged on his hand.
 
"Come on!"

They went into her bedroom, which was an odd side.
 
Her own bed, complete with Spongebob Squarepants sheets, was against the wall.
 
There was more junk and candy wrappers on the floor.
 
That was it.
 
No dresser, no TV, not even a closet or windows.

She slammed the door shut.

"The bed!
 
Help me move it!"

Kevin almost refused, until the door started to shake.
 
Tiffany helped him with the bed, shoving the bottom end against the door.
 
He tried to think of what was happening.
 
Bad old memories, mixed with bad new ones.

The demon attack in an office building outside BWI airport.
 
Kevin, Victoria, Alex, and Jack had dealt with it.
 
But the memories made him shake from time to time, and he was a witch.
 
He was actually experiencing what it could do to a young girl.

"Tiffany, it's me, Kevin.
 
Do you remember me?"

"Kevin," she said, looking at the floor.
 
"No."

"Listen to me.
 
You do have a dad, and he loves you very much."

Tears streamed down her face.
 
"No.
 
He left me after Mom died.
 
I remember…eating garbage.
 
And foster homes.
 
And the monsters—"

He dropped to his knees and grabbed her shoulders.

"All that's in the past."
 
The door shook behind them, and Kevin couldn't help but be afraid.
 
"You have a family, and they'll protect you against anything.
 
Do you remember Aunt Victoria?
 
You've got me now, too.
 
I'm like your older brother."

"I don't have a brother or aunt."

"You do now.
 
Man, dreams suck."
 
The door continued to shake, the wood splintering.
 
"You have a father now that loves you very much.
 
Jack.
 
You remember Jack, right?"

"Jack…" she said, her gaze darting back and forth.
 
"Daddy!"

"Yes, Daddy.
 
He definitely wouldn't let these stupid demons do anything to you."

Suddenly, Jack was there.
 
He shoved the couch aside and threw open the bedroom door.
 
Demons scattered in all directions as he grabbed the first one he saw and punched it in the nose.
 
It let out a comical shriek, probably something Tiffany had seen on TV.

"Dad!" Tiffany shouted.

The dream representation of Jack paused long enough to give his daughter a wink.
 
Then he was off and running down the halls, chasing demons.
 
Kevin smiled at the halo floating above Jack's head.
 
Tiffany's subconscious had a strange way of seeing things.

"Whenever you have a bad dream," Kevin said.
 
"You think of Jack, or even me.
 
We'll take care of things, okay?"

She nodded, and reached out to hug him.
 
Suddenly the bedroom faded away, Tiffany along with it.

Someone was shaking his shoulder, and he blinked.
 
Leese was on one knee next to him, a look of concern on her face.

"Kevin.
 
Tiff," she said.
 
She reached out and touched both their hands.
 
"Are you guys okay?"

He turned his attention to Tiffany as he set the pocket-watch on the floor.
 
She was awake now, sitting up in bed.
 
Real tears ran down her face, and he felt terrible for making her go through her nightmare.

But then Tiffany smiled.
 
She pushed herself out of bed and forced a hug on Kevin.
 
The breath rushed out of him as Leese put a hand on her back.

"I had a bad dream," Tiffany said.
 
"But then Jack and you were there, helping me.
 
Taking care of me.
 
You said you were my brother."

Leese looked like she was about to cry herself.
 
She reached out and squeezed Kevin's shoulder.
 
He tried to release Tiffany, but she wasn't willing to give up her death hug just yet.
 
She was not the same girl from when Kevin first stepped through the portal into Jack's home.

"You got it," he said.
 
"You've got a lot of people now, Tiff."

"And me, too," Leese said.

Tiffany let go and turned to hug Leese, giving him a break.
 
He smiled as he watched the pair.

Leese was no longer angry with him, and neither was Tiffany.
 
Hopefully the intensity of her nightmares would lessen somewhat.
 
He also had a job.

Things were finally moving in the right direction.

Jack waited impatiently as he knocked on the door for a second time.
 
He tried to turn the knob, but it was locked.
 
Gritting his teeth, he paced back and forth on the landing.
 
He carried a brown bag in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.
 
His patience was at its limit when he knocked for a third time.

"Hold on!" Marie called.
 
"I'm coming."

The apartment door next to Marie's opened.
 
An older woman poked her head out, wearing a robe with curlers in her hair.

"Do you mind keeping it down out here?
 
Some people are trying to sleep."

He took a sip of coffee and examined the cup.

"Have you ever had hot coffee thrown in your face before?"

He took a menacing step forward, rearing the cup back.
 
The woman's eyes grew wide as she slammed the door shut.
 
Jack heard her fall in her apartment.
 
He smiled to himself as he relaxed and took another sip.

Marie finally answered the door.
 
Her hair was a mess, her eyes half open.
 
She wore sweatpants and a baggie shirt, looking very different from the beautiful creature he saw not long ago.
 
It was amazing how ugly a few hours sleep could make a person.

Jack thrust out both hands.

"Coffee.
 
Donuts.
 
Get dressed.
 
Let's go."

"It's six in the morning."

"Yes.
 
Morning.
 
That's when we agreed I'd come back."

"I got two hours of sleep."

"That's not my problem.
 
I'd figured you'd be doing cartwheels for fifty grand."

"Is it okay if I take a shower first?
 
Is that in the contract?"

Jack's jaw tightened, and a slow smile spread across Marie's face.
 
She was toying with him, and he was falling for it.

"Yes, please take a shower.
 
You stink."

She walked away from the door, allowing him to enter.
 
He followed her and closed the door behind him before setting everything on the table.
 
He watched her figure bounce as she walked down the hall.
 
Sloppy appearance or not, her shape still stood out.
 
He was curious as to her senses.
 
All werewolves had keen senses, but some chose to embrace them more than others.
 
Was she aware that he was watching her?

"So, you don't sleep," she said, disappearing into the bedroom.
 
"What did you do after you left here?"

"Watched a movie at the hotel.
 
And I called my daughter, got her out of bed.
 
I'll pay for that one later, I'm sure."

"You have a daughter?"
 
She reemerged wearing only a robe, pausing long enough at the bathroom door to hold his gaze.
 
"You mean a woman actually let you have sex with her?"

Jack said nothing, only letting out a half smile.
 
She was fishing for information that she didn't need to know.

"I'll be out in a few minutes," she said.

She closed the door behind her.
 
He toured the apartment once again, to kill time.
 
His travels brought him to her bedroom.
 
He looked through her closet, admired her clothes, opened the dresser drawers.

"I can hear you out there," she called.

He scooped what had to be his favorite pair of underwear in one finger and opened the bathroom door.
 
Steam greeted him.
 
Her lovely silhouette moved exotically behind the cheap shower curtain.

"Do you honestly wear these panties?" he asked, holding up the Wonder Woman underwear.

Marie opened the curtain just enough to stick her head out.
 
Her expression said it all.
 
Horror, irritation, anger, but with a hint of amusement.

"Did you honestly just walk in on me while I'm in the shower?
 
And you're looking through my things…again?"

"Looks that way."

"Put them back.
 
And do I wear them?
 
You'll never know."

Jack left, not bothering to close the door.
 
He put the underwear away.
 
As he looked through her bras he found a picture tucked away.
 
It was the same couple from the photo on the dining room table, only this time they held a baby in their arms.

"Marie," he said.
 
"This picture in your bra drawer.
 
They're your parents.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong."

Her voice was less kind than before.
 
"Jack, please stop going through my stuff!"

"You look a lot like your mother.
 
Very beautiful."

"Put that damn picture back!"

"Relax.
 
I'm just trying to get to know you a little better.
 
You should be honored.
 
Normally I don't give a shit."

"Wasn't it you that said it wasn't a part of the deal?"

"What kind of name is Marie Johnson, anyway?
 
Who handled your identity change?"

The shower stopped.
 
From the angle he had in the bedroom, he could see her shadow, drying and wrapping a towel around herself.
 
Marie stepped into the hallway, her face flush.
 
Her hair was still wet; she dripped water to the carpet.
 
Jack still held the family picture.
 
She stared at his hand, and he finally got the message, putting the picture away.

"What kind of name is Jack Kursed?" she countered.

"A bad-ass one."

"You just do whatever you want, don't you?"

"Pretty much."

"You know, just spending an hour with you, I'm trying to figure out if the money is worth it."

"Well, we could call the whole thing off."
 
He looked at the drab walls.
 
"And you could have an exciting time in this amazing place."

"Just shut up.
 
Could I have my bedroom back, please?
 
So I can get dressed."

They circled each other.
 
Marie refused to turn her back on him, an action he admired.
 
She was a young werewolf, but she was smart.
 
Her lip twitched as she tried not to smile, her hand gripping the towel to hide her body.
 
The towel stopped mid-thigh, and he took advantage of the view.

"Just take your time," she teased.

"I am.
 
I actually left a recommendation for panties on the top.
 
And for a bra—"

"Get out."

She slammed the door in his face.

Jack's patience was tested once again as he waited.
 
He could hear Marie dressing in her bedroom.
 
Fifteen minutes passed.
 
Fifteen minutes to put on clothes.
 
Even with two centuries of age, he would never understand women.