The Mark (Interracial Paranormal Romance) (Toil and Trouble) (10 page)

There were stacks of books piled on every surface, only a slender lane cleared through each room to maneuver back and forth. Clothing was strewn and draped all over with no rhyme or reason. Her cat, Midnight, sat perched on top of a leaning tower of notepads. Cans of chicken noodle soup were scattered throughout, telling the story of Campbell’s evolution.

I glanced over at Mom, almost in awe of how out of place she looked amid the mess. She was statuesque, her frame thin and lean. She had a dancer's body but preferred to spend her time in doors with the company of books. Her swanlike neck led up to a beautiful face, complete with petite and gentle features. But it was her eyes that drew you in-big, almond like opals that bore into the soul.

While she was beautiful, and one of the most powerful spellcasters I knew, tidying the house was not her forte. My mother operated on another plane of existence, where a Hoarders-like home was instead an organized mess.

My first summer with her in Greene county, I'd tried to straighten up a bit. Big mistake. When she saw that I’d rearranged her things she said a few choice words in Latin and slept outside in a tent for a week. I'd learned to just stock up on antibacterial and allergy medicine.

"Biscuit?" I said, holding out my bribe. I hadn't called her in two weeks and showed up at the spur of the moment. The Kenny thing was really bugging me and I hoped she could shine some light on what was going on.

She eyed the aluminum wrapping of the cheese biscuit I offered, and shook her head so hard the windows rattled. "You know I don't eat that stuff."

I took a hefty bite of the cheese biscuit in my hand. "Cheese biscuits from Fast Break." I moaned with pleasure as a string of hoop cheese touched my tongue. "The only good thing about this town if you ask me." I cleared my throat, giving her a toothy grin. "Other than you, of course."

"Smart ass," she said with a cheshire grin. "You got that from my side. Your daddy was about as excitable as a lawn gnome."

"Hey!" I said defensively. "Dad is...exciting."

She raised an eyebrow. "Did he start putting ketchup on his fries? Watching a tv show that wasn't on the family channel or some religious zealot preaching the end of days?"

"Mom-"

"Or maybe he waits one month instead of 3.5 weeks for a new hair cut? Hums to songs on the radio? Hell, says more than two words at the dinner table?"

"You finished?" I said with an edge, dabbing the corners of my mouth.

"Sorry," she said peevishly, pushing back from the table as the microwave dinged. "Your father is a good man. Predictable as the moon, but a good man."

I snorted, balling up my trash. "Don't be silly, Mom. There are soothsayers, witch doctors, and plenty of remedies for the voices. You just have to leave the house."

"Why do I have to leave?" she said stubbornly. "I have a tv, books, food, and a daughter who occasionally returns my calls and even comes to visit when bad things happen."

Busted. "I just came to see how you were doing, Ma."

"Child please," she said with an eye-roll. "I may not be a fancy schmancy necromancer but I'm not a recreational Wiccan either."

"I-I’m not coming for a supernatural reason," I reiterated. "I'm just checking on you. And getting my cheese biscuit fix."

She made a face. "The biscuits aren't that good. And sooner or later all that Chinese and junk food's gonna catch up with you."

I yawned. "May the object seen become un-"

"Hush!" She scolded, her eyes going round. "You think it won't work just because you say it in English?"

"That's exactly what I think," I said with a wink. I unscrewed the cap on my soda and took a long gulp. "What good is magic if you can't scratch your own back?"

"Gods keep you!" she hissed. "If the wrong people hear you say that..." Her voice trailed off as she shuddered for effect.

I reached over and squeezed her hand. "You worry too much."

"Pishaw," she said, slurping a spoonful of soup. "So you gonna tell me what your problem is before Hades punches my number?"

"I don't have a problem," I said unconvincingly.

"Uh huh." Mom pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders, staring off into space. She gave a small nod then turned her gaze back on me. "Some lawyer was killed...hexed you think. You saw some sort of symbol..." She grabbed a harlequin and scribbled an image on the inside flap. "You saw it on a lesbian's chest too." She stopped, looking at me peculiarly. "I know you dabbled around in high school, but I thought you were with that vampire? Jacques? Does he know you're looking at women's chests?"

"Mom!" I exclaimed, my cheeks burning hot. "I wasn't looking at anyone's chest!" I cleared my throat. "And just for the record, most mothers would frown on their daughters dating someone that eats people."

"But he sounds so nice over the phone," she cooed. "You guys had a fight, huh?"

"Jesus, Mom!" I said, bristling with embarrassment.

"What?" she said innocently. "You've found a nice boy that you don't have to lie to. What more could a girl want?"

"How about someone who doesn't need to drink blood to survive? That I can grow old with? Maybe someday, in the distant future, procreate with?"

"You're too young to worry about such things," she chided. She took one look at my face and held up her hands, a metaphorical white flag. "Alright, alright, I'll stay out of it."

She pushed back from the table and walked around the room absentmindedly before stopping at a stack of books in the foyer. "Grab me a bit of water."

I walked to the cupboard and swatted through the cobwebs for a glass cup. I filled it with water and maneuvered around her things to where she stood, eyeing a plant that I was pretty sure was half past dead.

"That plant needs a last will and testament more than water," I said, passing her the cup.

She gave me a small smile as she slowly poured the water into the thirsty soil. "When are you gonna learn that things aren't always what they seem?" She closed her eyes, her hand just above the wilting leaves. "Resarcio quod redintegro quod reverto...ut vestri decor."

Instantly, the plant stretched its limbs and mended itself, now healthy, bright and vibrant.

"Not bad for an old witch, huh?" She winked, grabbing a dusty black book from the top of the pile. She flipped through the pages, stopping about half way through. She blew the surface and a cloud of dust swirled around her head.

"The Mark of the Cursed is a brand left by a witch when she places a hex on a mortal," I read aloud. "A witch? But why would a witch wanna hurt Kenny? Maybe a scorned lover?"

I glanced over at my mother who was staring off into space again.

"Mom? Hello?" I said snapping my fingers.

She snapped back to attention, her face filled with worry. "I don't have a good feeling about this. Maybe you should come home until things settle down."

She let out a loud, dramatic sigh. "Stubborn. THAT you got from your father." She closed the book and turned to me, cradling my chin. "You'll be careful?"

Chapter Twelve

Making up is Hard to do

It was 10 pm--and Jack was standing at my front door. My heart, and other vital parts of me, longed to leap in his arms and have wild monkey sex in the hall. My brain, which was still tired from the drive from Greene County, researching the symbol all day, and kinda peeved that he fell off the face of the earth, wanted to put something sharp and pointy in his chest.

"You left me several messages telling me not to bring my sorry undead ass to your apartment ever again," he said in a low voice.

I cleared my throat, my cheeks burning hot. "Yeah maybe, but I also called back and said 'just kidding!"

With a chuckle, he pulled out his cell and held it up for me to see.

"I don't ever want to see you again," I read aloud. "Don't come to my apartment, Don't come to NACA," I coughed, avoiding his gaze. Having moments of longing and anger recounted through technology was no fun.

We stood there, staring at each other, waiting for the next move. I looked at his chiseled jaw, set in the stubborn way that drove me so crazy.

"And it was like you didn't even get how big a deal it was for me to even go there. To be that person for you, knowing that I was essentially signing someone's death warrant."

"And then I go see Mom, which is a big ass cry for help and a huge thing for me… and you STILL ignored me and made me look like a fool."

He wheeled me to face him. "Just let me-"

"Babies!" I interrupted. "And growing old and what if I want to get married?" I took a breath, my chest heaving up and down.

He cracked a grin, tucking a dark coil behind my ear. "Well, we can practice the baby thing at least."

I pulled my face away, my eyes flashing. "This isn't a joke, Jack. I needed you."

His face went serious as he drew me back to him, his eyes searching mine. "I wasn't ready for how I felt that night." He lost his fingers in my hair then nuzzled me. "I've seen and done horrible things. I am a monster, Jade." He pulled back, his face inches from mine. "But when we were together, I felt more-"