Every Witch Way But Dead Page 23

  He smirked. “You do remember.”

  “Where is she?” I begged while searching for any other vehicles that might enter the lot. He walked to the hatch and opened the glass. There, lying in the back, was my beautiful daughter, tied and gagged with duct tape. Tears streaked her face. I immediately reached for her, but he grabbed me and pulled me back. Electricity sparked. I grew dizzy and held onto the back hatch. I saw him grab his temple and massage his forehead.

  “I know the past we shared, you don’t have to use your magick to get me to remember,” he muttered.

  “I’m not. I just want my daughter.”

  Some power was at work. As he leaned against the truck, his body stiffened.

  “Why are you doing this, witch?” He put his hand to my neck, but it wasn’t a threatening gesture.

  I stood silently, thinking about what he said. He was almost pleading with me then, what was it that told me? “That was you that day at the shop, when the preacher was there. I followed you.”

  “Yes, it was me, and many other times. I saw you with the detective having lunch. Your husband is right not to like him around you. The karma runs deep.”

  I looked away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I scry, too, you know, not just your friend has the talent. Only I use a mirror. There was always jealousy between your husband and the cop, even back in Egypt.”

  I kept my eyes on Amber. “You know about then?”

  “I know a lot more than that,” he said, shutting the back of the hatch.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Tourmaline is a powerful, fast-acting crystal. It helps you to release pains caused by events long past. Tourmaline's energies can be directed at specific areas and it is also one of the best all-around healing and cleansing stones. This stone diffuses and dissipates negative energies, leaving you calm and clear-headed. Tourmaline can aid you to gain a more balanced understanding of the meaning of life. This information, though sometimes painful, can be important to your spiritual growth. ~ From Angelica Kane’s Book of Shadows.

  “We’re going to your friend Veronica Arthur’s house and you’re going to get me in, or else you’re both history. Now hurry and get inside. Leave your truck here,” he commanded. I tried to think of something to stall him, but anything would be obvious.

  Unexpectedly, my cell phone rang. He glowered at me. I glanced to see the number it displayed.

  “If I don’t answer, my husband will get suspicious.” I answered him defiantly, raising my head and squaring my shoulders, though internally I was scared to death.

  “You better be careful. Make it quick!” He shoved me forward toward the passenger side of the Blazer.

  “Hello.” It was Marisa on the other end. “Hi, Jon, sorry I’m running late, I’ve got to stop at Ronnie’s for a little while.”

  Cliff glared at me, mouthing, “Get off!”

  “Okay, babe, I’ll be home soon,” I said, my voice cracking with fear. I hung up.

  Marisa didn’t get a chance to say a word.

  He pushed me into the front seat and tied my hands together with a plastic zip tie. It dug in painfully, cutting my skin.

  His jaw worked incessantly, clenching and working the taut muscles in his agitated face. A lone vein streaked across his creased forehead. “Stop it! Whatever you’re doing, stop it!”

  I tried to stall anyway I could. “I’m not doing anything. What’re you talking about?”

  “You know exactly what I mean. The past, our history. That was long ago. You betrayed me. This is payback.”

  “Payback for what? Are we talking about the same lifetime? You brought me out to die in the desert.”

  “That’s not important now, just stop trying to send me your twisted visions,” he sneered, slowly pulling out of the parking lot.

  “I’m not, Cliff.” In an instant his hand raised to strike me, but for some reason he stopped in mid-air.

  “You wanted to escape from your father’s control back then and you used me. You set me up. You wanted to be with my brother all along.”

  He was back in Egypt. “I didn’t, we were set up. You and I, by—”

  “Don’t say another word or next time I won’t exercise such self-control.”

  “Can I ask you one thing?” I knew I was pushing it, but something told me to ask.

  “What?”

  “Why Ronnie?”

  “She betrayed me,” he growled.

  “You do know that she was your brother then, one of the guards.”

  His silence stretched over miles. I thought perhaps he hadn’t heard me. I was terrified to repeat myself.

  Finally he answered. “Yes, but I didn’t know exactly why until recently.” He spoke in strained tones, his voice low and seductive. He gave slight chuckle, “A bit of irony at work here. I realize now that I was searching for the wrong woman. I thought I loved her and for a time I was in love with her. That was—until I saw you.”

  My heart thudded then I could have sworn it stopped.

  He continued. “All this time I thought I was looking for a replacement for her, but it was you all along. Sally and Veronica. Both women look like you. Only I was too blinded by my rage to see it.”

  “I-I don’t understand.”

  His features softened. “Veronica and I met before she and Marc hooked up. In fact, if it weren’t for me, they probably wouldn’t be together at all. She showed all the signs of being interested in me. I was so attracted to her…” He was lost in the past. “One night I made the mistake of telling Marc I was going out to a pub and if he wasn’t doing anything, to come on over. He did, and the two of them hooked up. She dumped me soon after.”

  “Didn’t Marc know you two were dating?” I asked, keeping him talking, just like Vinny suggested.

  “Semantics. I said dating, she said we were just friends.” He leered.

  “But what do I have to do with Ronnie?”

  “Haven’t you heard me? I’m disappointed. You see, I was attracted to both women because they were imitations of you. My soul knew who you were in this life and that’s why I was led to Veronica and Sally. I dreamt of you long before I met them—or you.”

  “But why the others? Why Diane and Becky?”

  His tone changed brusquely, “Diane was a terrible mistake. If Veronica had been killed that night, none of what followed would’ve happened. Then, perhaps, I wouldn’t have met you, and so I’d like to believe that everything is transpiring as it should. Becky, when she was a blonde, resembled you as well. It’s only recently that she darkened her hair. Still, she had her part in all this and she was a pawn, used to hurt Ronnie.”

  “But if you’ve gone back, if you’ve regressed yourself, you know I didn’t betray you. Your brother in that life was supposed to tell you to bring me to a family member’s home. I was dying in the desert; someone found me and took me away.”

  “That’s not how I saw it.” He looked in my direction and the most sinister smile played upon his lips.

  Once again, he was silent.

  * * *

  As we got closer to the Arthurs’, I knew I had to do or say something. I chose to stroke his ego. “Cliff, you’re a powerful witch, why don’t we settle this and share the past memory together. We seem to have different ideas as to what happened.”

  “No! Do you think I’m stupid? You’ll use your power to alter the outcome. My family was killed because of you. My brother escaped.” His rage resurfaced. He reached out and grabbed a handful of my hair, pulling me toward him. “And I was born to the same bitter woman, only this time she lived long enough to make me into the dysfunctional man you see now.”

  “Of course your brother escaped, he set us up. I was never involved with him in that life.”

  “You’re lying.”

  I whimpered as he strained to pull me closer. “You can change, Cliff, you have choices.”

  He laughed in a most maleficent pitch. “Don’t try and play me. I am doomed. I am dest
ined to die in the same manner now as I did then. Only I won’t go alone.” He let go and pushed me back in my seat.

  Silence filled the air once more. I dared not press him, not now. His face glistened with perspiration and I was afraid that instead of keeping him talking, I was just infuriating him more. At least he was keeping within the speed limit as we turned onto Route 26. That would give Vinny more time.

  He mused aloud, “It was strange how you invaded my thoughts, especially during my rituals. No one has ever penetrated my sacred space, but you’re not just anyone.”

  My blood ran cold.

  Cliff drove on, getting closer to the Arthurs’. I could do nothing but pray to the Goddess that Vinny had enough time to do whatever he needed to.

  I cursed myself for not joining Kara’s self-defense classes. You could be sure Amber and I would be attending from now on. I felt so helpless. A thousand thoughts raced through my mind, but I found no answers, only more questions.

  Cliff made his way swiftly through the traffic and pulled up to the gate that was supposed to protect the community of Harbor View. Buzzing it, he told the security guard he was a landscaper there to price out a job. He got out of his truck and gave the guard his ex-employer’s card and the gate opened. So much for security.

  He drove onto the block where Heena and Veronica lived, pulled over to where he’d be hidden by the arborvitaes and parked. There was no police car in front of the Arthurs’ home.

  Amber tried to sit up in the back and was three-quarters there. Luckily, Cliff didn’t seem to notice. Her tears had dried and I saw a severe look of determination on her somber face. He pulled me out of the Blazer and I felt the sharp point of a knife dig into my side as he slammed the door shut.

  Amber sat upright and glared at Cliff and the knife. I tried to avert my gaze so he wouldn’t notice that she looked out at us. I detected a fierce look in her eyes, a look I’d never seen before. It was as if she were someone else. She seemed to be giving me a glance that said, “Don’t worry, Mom”. Funny, she was trying to comfort me.

  I wondered where the officer assigned to watch the Arthurs’ home was as we slowly made our way over to their gate. Cliff stood a hair’s breadth away from me, jabbing the knife every few seconds as if I needed reminding that he held the sharp dagger. As he rang the buzzer, he suddenly dropped the knife. “Fuck! That’s hot!” He grimaced. “You better not pull any of your glamours on me.” He twisted my arm tighter as he pushed me forward.

  * * *

  Back at my house, Ouida, Ivy, Marisa, Kara and Lily created a sacred circle with white candles surrounding them. In it, Ouida begged the spirit Ezili to watch over us and keep us safe. She promised a sacrifice on her part if the spirit granted her wish. They placed two bottles of rum and sweet rolls as some of the gifts for the spirits. Her makeshift altar included plants from the deck, crystals and incense that were scattered throughout the house.

  Marisa rummaged through the cabinets looking for more cakes, candy and cookies to add to their offering plate. Over a simmering cauldron with herbs of sage, rosemary, sandalwood, dragon’s blood and salt, Ouida took her boline and slightly cut her hand. She let the blood drip into the bowl.

  Finally she spoke. “I offer my life’s blood, spirit, please take this gift and keep my sister, Angelica, and her daughter, Amber, safe.”

  Marisa reached for the knife, held it over the flame of the white candle and followed suit, putting a small cut in her hand. “This is my life’s blood, Ezili, please accept this as a token and keep Angelica and Amber safe.”

  Lily, then Kara followed, as did Ivy. The room filled with spirits and from what they told me later, the energy was positively dynamic.

  * * *

  The housekeeper answered the buzz. “I have to see Ronnie. It’s Angelica. Angelica Kane,” I said, trying not to sound too panicky.

  “One moment.”

  Cliff grabbed his head and his eyes were tearing. “What’s going on—it feels like someone’s stuck a poker in my eyes!” He rubbed them, sticking the knife farther into my back. I turned when he wasn’t looking and saw Amber concentrating her stare at Cliff, piercing him with her infuriated gaze. I couldn’t imagine what she was doing. She’d never expressed any interest in magick or even attended any circles. I tried to take that opportunity to run, but he grabbed my arm, jerking me toward him. As he did that, he jabbed the knife into my side. He pierced my flesh.

  “They’re getting ready to go out for dinner, can she meet you out front?”

  Cliff gave his head a violent shake. “Tell her it has to do with her mother’s messages.”

  She buzzed us in.

  “Nicely done.” Cliff commented, pushing forward, hiding behind me, ducking down as we made our way to the front door.

  “You’re hurting me!” I yelled, hoping they would hear me.

  I was panicking now. I tried to think of some clever move to get him off me and warn Ronnie. I certainly didn’t want him to get his hands on her. I sensed the ire building inside him as we approached the front door. It felt like years of frustration and torment were getting ready to unleash themselves. My mind rushed in agonizing pain, trying to think of something. I was blank, petrified with fear.

  The knife had stuck me a few times now and I was bleeding, getting light headed. I could feel the spirits around, trying to get through to me. The familiar thud blossomed in the back of my skull, the prelude to a vision. I could only hope Ronnie got the hidden message. Her mom had always warned her of danger.

  * * *

  “I see her going onto their property,” Heena reported to Jon, who had finally gotten home to find the calamity in his kitchen, candles all over and my coven sisters chanting. Marisa castigated him for not answering his cell phone. He was beside himself, pacing back and forth. The only thing that kept him somewhat sane was the knowledge that Heena had called the police, Detective Sean Bennette, specifically. After handing Ivy the phone, Jon hugged the kids and warned Daniel to stay put. Steven was on his way to the Arthurs’. He’d arrived home before his father and took off immediately after coercing Kara into giving him directions. Jon soon followed with Rich. Marisa sensed something wasn’t right with Jon and she silently worried he might do something foolish.

  * * *

  Only five feet from the door, my head filled with the sound of a dozen turbine jets and all were ready for take-off. I became detached, as if someone switched a channel and now we all moved in slow motion. The blood dripped little by little down my side and I began to get cold. I tried to slow my breathing and keep my cool for as long as possible. That, or until I passed out from blood loss, whichever came first.

  I thought about so many things in what appeared to be a short span of time—my kids, mostly; family and what a wonderfully lucky woman I was. These thoughts gave me strength.

  Each movement took more time than the last. Amidst the raucous symphony in my cluttered, frazzled mind, I heard the softest whisper. I wasn’t sure where it was coming from. Was it spirit? There was also an echo. Listen, they were trying to tell me.

  Then I heard it. It was ever so slight, but branches crackling far off in a dense wooded area echoed.

  Cliff heard it as well.

  We both turned and looked in the direction of the snapping twigs.

  He grabbed me closer as the black muzzle of the gun peered through golden leaves. I was in the direct line of fire.

  He dropped the knife and grabbed my chin in his hand, turning me toward him. The hard lines that ran around his eyes softened. Our energies mingled. He pulled me to him and time seemed to slow.

  Abruptly, all the hostility between us evaporated in the heat of our embrace. In a bizarre way, if I died at this moment, it would have seemed natural, to die in a loved one’s arms—and we surely would both be killed if a bullet hit. I sensed he felt it, too, as he wrestled with his emotions. A calm expression washed over his face as he gently kissed my lips.

  “I could let you die right now,” he whispe
red, then threw me down to my knees and out of harm’s way.

  In an instant there was a pop and he spun around. The bullet slammed into his abdomen and I watched as Cliff’s muscular frame fell backward.

  Blood surged out of the wound, staining his immaculate shirt as he lay staring at the sky.

  I kneeled next to him. From somewhere far away, I heard screaming. My body began to shake. I pressed down on the spot where the blood oozed out.

  “I couldn’t be the cause of your death—not again—not in this lifetime,” he groaned as his eyes stared at mine. Taking my hands in his, he stopped me from preventing the blood loss.

  “You weren’t then, either. They set us up. The other guards and your brother. They killed your family, not my father.”

  “You don’t understand. I’m just as guilty, whether you survived in the desert or not. I know now…I should’ve waited to see if my brother came to get you, but I didn’t. I made the mistake of trusting him—then the merchant found you. You know he’s still your protector, only now he’s a cop.” He was struggling for breath. “That was your good fortune, but it doesn’t make me innocent. I should never have believed my brother in that life. He said he would take you to a safe place. I learned too late it was a lie. That’s why Ronnie was a target.”

  “Ssh, don’t talk, Cliff.”

  “She’s prettier this time around.” He tried to smile, but his face was pale.

  “Your brother was supposed to tell you to bring me to my mother’s sister. Instead, he lied and said he would do it. He never did,” I said, my teeth chattering from shock.

  He took in a deep, guttural breath. His chest rattled. As he exhaled, he whispered, “Isis didn’t totally harden my heart. Perhaps she’ll soften it more someday. I did come back for you—forgive me.” Then he was gone.

  Sobs wracked my body as I called out for my daughter. My side ached with a hot searing pain that radiated from my lower back to my right side. The white shirt I wore was soaked red with both Cliff’s and my blood.