This Curse: (The Grace Allen Series Book 2 ) (16 page)

“Okay, okay.” She stood, “I’m trying to spy on
someone. That’s all!” She knelt down next to the bowl of water. “I just have to
know. To see for myself.”

I sat on the bed and sighed. “Who is so important?” I
asked, ready to just throttle her and be done with it.

“My brother.” Her shoulders slumped, “He’s been
poisoned or something. I don’t know. The things I’ve heard can’t be true.” She
looked up and I sucked in my breath.

I
knew
that look.
That pathetic wounded
soul look!

“Lucian?” I stood. “Lucian is your
brother!”
I
knelt and grabbed her shoulders. I jerked her to face me, feeling stunned.
“Well?”

 She sniffed and nodded her head. “Yes. He is.” Her
green eyes sparkled with tears that broke free and flowed down her pale cheeks.
“I was bitten twenty years ago, Grace. He was always there for me, but I
couldn’t bring him into that. Lucian is a good man, Grace. You can’t believe
what you see.”

I stared at her in utter shock. “Why didn’t you let
him know you were at least alive? He thinks he has no family.”

“I disappeared from his life for a good reason. The
wolves crave power and never knew I had any. I was so young,” She was bawling.
“And now he’s been sucked in anyway. He’s been tainted by the demon and that
horrible woman.” She grabbed my arms. “How can one woman change a man so much?”
She clung to me, desperate for the answer.

“I wish I knew,” then a thought popped into my head
and I smiled. “Wait a minute, maybe I do!” I leveled a look at her that stopped
her wails instantly. “What do you know about possession?” 

“Possession?” she sniffed and wiped her nose with her
sleeve. I smiled and nodded.

“We have a lot to talk about!” I raced from the room,
“Grab those books and follow me.” I yelled as I entered the kitchen. I could
hear books tumble and fall to the floor as Jamie rushed to catch up.

“Lucian kissed me!” I rushed on as she dropped the
books onto the table.

“I
knew
something was wrong the second he did it! He
never
kisses me. But then,
Oh but
then
,”
I slapped the table, “I couldn’t read his mind!” I
shouted.

Jamie stared at me blankly, as if I had suddenly
started speaking Latin. “My brother never kisses you, so that must mean he’s
possessed by a demon? What, he never got up the nerve to do it before? Damn,
what’s wrong with you two?” She frowned.

I glared at her, “
We’re friends.
” I said
dryly. “But, no, that’s not it at all. See, when he kissed me I got a nose full
of smoke and ash. Well, not
actual
smoke and ash, but the smell. Like
the fires of Hell and like I said, I couldn’t hear his mind.” At her
disapproving look, I smiled. “No, I never actually
read
it, but his mind
always gave off a comforting hum. Now, there’s
nothing.”                                                 

“So you’re saying that only a demon would be ballsy
enough to kiss you?” She slumped onto a chair at the table.

“It’s not about the kiss, James, it’s everything
Lucian has done so far. See? You said so yourself that Lydia was working with
Voltaire, but Patrick told me she was working with Lucian. You could smell
Voltaire, but you were always drugged, you never saw the face of the people
torturing you!” I was buzzing with adrenalin, bouncing on the balls of my feet.

“Let me get this straight” she leaned forward.
“You’re saying that
my own
brother
tortured me? Pulled my wolf
out slowly while watching me writhe in agony?
No way
, Grace! No way!
Lucian wouldn’t let that happen!” She folded her arms as new tears flowed, only
to bond with the big wet spot already staining her shirt.

“You’re absolutely right; Lucian wouldn’t do that but
Voltaire
in Lucian’s skin would.” I sat, amazed. Convincing her had
convinced me. God, the violent sex! The crazy, dick head attitude! No wonder
Seth was leery of him. He must have had an idea. He tried to warn me.
Shit,
again with the total stupidity!

“Okay,” she sniffed. Looking completely defeated,
“What can we do?”

I watched her, shocked that I never realized her
relationship to Lucian before. Her skin was pale and her eyes were green, but
her face had the same shape, her hair was the same pretty blonde.

“Lucian
Alexandre,”
I whispered. “
I’m going
to kick Voltaire’s Ass!”

A strange wave of certainty flowed through my body. I
felt so completely sure of myself, so entirely confident.

“I want my brother back, Grace.” Jamie’s voice cut
through my euphoria. “I want my life back. Tell me what to do, I’ll do
anything.”

“We’ll do it together, and we’re doing it now!” I
started pulling a bunch of food out of the fridge. “Let’s feed your tape worm
and then get our Asses to Hell.”

“You look ridiculous!” Jamie let a small snort escape
as she tried not to laugh. Her ability to find humor in horrible situations was
diverting. “No one will
want
to look at you.” She bent over as strong
bout of laughter assaulted her.

I stood in front of the full-length mirror regarding
my reflection with an unrecognizable frown. When we cast the glamour, Jamie had
told me to focus on a picture in my mind and I swear all I could think of was
Yoda from Star Wars.

“This is a disaster!” I garbled passed shriveled
lips. “No one is going to believe this isn’t a total glamour.” I gestured
wildly at my reflection.

“Well, at least you’re not green. If you were green
then I’d agree. Right now, though, you just look like a really ugly old lady.”
She started laughing again. “With bionic hearing.” She flicked one of my huge
ears and then fell onto the bed clutching her sides with laughter. 

I glared at her. “Wonderful,” I muttered turning
around to study my short, paunchy form. My body stood about four feet tall. I
was pale and wrinkled all over like some oversized naked mole rat. I looked at
her laughing reflection through the mirror and frowned. “I’m amazed that you
can find humor in any of this shit. I’m beginning to think that they really did
break you.” I examined my wrinkled head thinking that I was one hideous bald
lady.

Jamie sat up and wiped her eyes. “No, Grace. I just
haven’t felt well in so long. I’m sorry. I’ll try and take this more seriously.
I realize this is your friend and believe me I’m worried about him too.” She
sighed and sat up from the bed. “And Grace, don’t forget, my brother is a big
part of this as well.”

I turned to face her. “Okay. I agree that this is
pretty intense and a few bouts of giggling can’t hurt. I know you care.”

She smiled. “Alright then, after I change, we can
enter as a pair of dark witches. As far as I know, Hell is full of them. And
let me tell you, Voltaire won’t be expecting you to throw away your beauty just
to rescue Seth. He has a pretty screwed up idea of human nature, and clearly no
idea of Madean nature at all.” Jamie hopped off the bed and grabbed her share
of the potion.

I watched her down the thick concoction. She coughed
and sputtered as the vile tasting fluid coated her throat. I grimaced and
smacked my lips; the taste was still stuck in my mouth.

I heard a popping noise and looked up. The change hit
her. “Um?” I goggled as I stared at her, or more accurately,
him
. “You
said witches.” I frowned. “What were you thinking?” 

“What?” she spun around. “I’m a cave dwarf, Grace.
They all have beards you know, even the females.” She smiled showing very small
even teeth.

“Oh,” I frowned, “really?” I shook my knobby head and
stood beside her. “Boy do we make a pair or what?” I smiled, my thin lips
stretching until they disappeared all together.

“So we’re witches and apparently don’t use our powers
for cosmetic reasons,” I jabbed her in her side to prove I could relax as well.

“Nope,” Jamie confirmed. “We're too proud and no self
respecting cave dwarf would shave her beard.” She frowned, “It does itch
somethin’ terrible, though.” She moved her nose up and down and puffed out her
cheeks.

“You know,” I sighed as a thought occurred to me.
“Whenever I find myself gearing up to go save the day, I end up coming home
alone. I feel like my partners are nothing more than fodder. We need to take
precautions, James. I can’t keep rescuing people.” I folded my arms with
difficulty. They were short and sinewy, making movement awkward.

“I have it!” she shouted making me jump. “Wizards!”

“Um, okay?" I quirked an eyebrow at her.

“You know,” she sighed, exasperated. “Like that thing
the wizards use, um, a port key.”

“Oh, man, you are so lucky I read. You can make a
port key?” I was totally intrigued. “That is so cool, I would have never thought
of that.”

“Well, um,
no
.
I
can’t make a port key.
I assumed that with your awesome power, you could wing it and make something
that could send us back in the event of an emergency. Like maybe a bracelet
with a covered stone. We could lift the cover and touch the stone and, zing!
We’re back in your living room pigging out on Kung Pao chicken!”

“Oh.” I frowned. “Yeah, okay. I’m sure I can come up
with something. Hang on.” I sat on my unfamiliar bottom and concentrated hard.
I imagined two gold bangles with hidden stones. The power to transport us home
was imbued with just a thought.

“Oh, my God, you are so freaking awesome!” Jamie
gushed as a beautiful golden bangle appeared on each of our wrists. “These will
really work?” she ran outside. I followed her, getting to the door just as she
reached the middle of my driveway. “Okay, here goes.” she shouted, lifting the
gold shield that covered the stone she touched it gently and then suddenly she
was gone.

“Holy crap!” she laughed from behind me.

“What the hell?” I spun to see her sitting on the
couch behind me. I laughed out loud at the sight, amazed at how literal my
stupid brain could be. There was Jamie, sitting on my couch, surrounded by
several boxes of Chinese takeout.

“Incredible!” she mumbled around a mouthful of Kung
Pao chicken. “I think I love you.” She winked and swallowed the food down.

“Well, at least we know the stones work. Just don’t
let that bracelet out of your sight, James. All we need is for some demon to
lift it from you. The last thing I want is a bunch of Hell beasts gorging
themselves on magical take out in my living room.”

She frowned and looked at her wrist. “I won’t let it
go, I promise.” She squeezed the jewelry tighter around her wrist.

“Okay,” I felt a twinge of unease, but ignored it.
“Are you ready to do this?” I stood and produced a dark, hooded cloak. I
wrapped it around my small form and handed Jamie one of her own.

“As ready as anyone can be, I guess. I have my spells
and our glamour will last until we drink the anti-potion. She held up two tiny
vials.” She frowned at the contents and moved them to a pocket in her clothing.
“They’ll be safe. Let’s just hope Voltaire, or
Lucian
rather, will buy
these stupid disguises.”

“You’re doubting yourself now? Not good, sister. Buck
up and let’s get this show on the road. Now,” I rubbed my tiny hands together,
“How do we get into Hell?” I cocked my head to the side in question.

“Why, we burn of course.” The look on her face sent
chills across my entire body.

“We
burn
?” I didn’t like the sound of that at
all.

***

“I really don’t think this is a good idea. Not out
here.” I looked around the desert frowning at all the dry sage. Acres and acres
of brush just waiting to ignite into a huge inferno. “I kind of like my city
char
free.”

“It’s a controlled burn, Grace. Don’t worry.”

“That’s what they all say.” I kicked a rock and
sighed as a startled horny toad scurried under a nearby patch of sage. “Then
it’s all panic and fire bombers and chaos! No thanks.” I flung my hand out and
produced a small clear dome that completely surrounded us. “This should keep
the flames contained. The dome will remain until all the embers are out.”

“Feel better now?” Jamie shook her head and continued
to draw several intricate symbols onto the ground.

Jamie had informed me that in order to get into Hell
one had to stand in the center of the symbols and chant as the flammable powder
that encircled us was lit. She assured me that the flames wouldn’t hurt as long
as we said the words. We were the living and Hell couldn’t make us suffer until
death. It had no real hold. But if we messed up the words, all bets were off.

“This is scary.
God, Seth you better be okay!”
I muttered.

“He’s going to be okay. He’s had your blood, plus
he’s a hybrid, so he has to be pretty strong.” She put her hand on my arm and
gave me a sweet look. I laughed and tugged on her beard.

“Thanks, James. You’re a real friend.”

“You’re sweet, Grace. Now…
keep that thought
because that opinion is about to get tested.” She tossed a small fireball at
the powder on the ground and we were instantly engulfed in flames.