Chapter 5
Iwonder at what point I should tell her I didn’t disappear.
As the shower starts up, I let out a heavy sigh, then push to my feet.
I gather up my dishes and take them to the sink.
I end up puttering around her small kitchen instead of venturing into the rest of the house.
She looked sick, and I doubt she’ll want to clean up this mess when she’s done avoiding me.
I find containers shoved into a cupboard for the leftover soup. By the time I’ve put it away and wiped down the counters, I’m exhausted. Bouncing between dimensions is tiring at the best of times. Add in a curse and even these simple tasks drag me down.
As I rinse the bowls, a squeal erupts from the bathroom down the hall. At least I’m assuming it’s the bathroom. Maybe I shouldn’t have turned on the hot water. Quickly, I stick everything in the dishwasher, thankful I actually spent time topside. Otherwise, I’d be out of my depth here.
With nothing else to do, I wander through the archway, past a staircase leading to what I assume is a basement, and finally into the living room.
A table is set up in the corner with an obviously fake crystal ball and a set of regular playing cards.
When I get closer, I see a paper propped up with a list of her services.
They’re all ridiculous and not things witches do. At least, I don’t think they do.
It’s then I notice the picture at the top.
A crescent moon with a name—her name. Mari Mystic.
Laughter bubbles up within me, despite the tightness in my muscles.
From the short encounters we’ve had, I’m not surprised by her ridiculous choice of a name.
Her services, though, leave something to be desired.
“Love potions. Banishing weeds and vermin. Time travel. Prevent balding?” I snort, then bite back a groan as pain lances through my temples.
The nap in Hell helped, but it wasn’t enough. Nothing seems to be enough. The closest I’ve been to any semblance of peace was when I was eating. I doubt it had anything to do with Mari’s presence. She was cantankerous at best.
Despite her rejection of my proposition, I still believe she’s the key to overcoming this affliction.
I’m fully convinced I’m cursed at this point.
Providence practically confirmed it. Not that she’s very forthcoming about such things.
Omen’s sister plays her cards extremely close to the chest. It’s annoying how alike she and Omen are.
There’s a tug in my gut, and I brace myself to be whisked away to the next place. When nothing happens, I drop to the couch and lean my head back. My eyes flutter shut, and I fold my hands over my stomach. I’ll only rest until Mari comes out and sends me back to Hell properly.
After the world’s shortest nap, a pillow smacks me in the face and jolts me awake. A string of incoherent curses leaves me as it tumbles off my lap.
“Get up and get out,” she snaps, then stomps from the room.
I push to my feet and follow her down the hallway.
I’m not about to bust into her bedroom, but I don’t want to get attacked again.
I pass several closed doors and fight back curiosity.
If she wasn’t so pissed at me for merely existing, I’d peek inside the rooms. Maybe they’d reveal some of the secrets she’s keeping.
I can’t bring myself to invade her privacy like that, though.
Her door looms ahead, and I stare at the dark wood.
I don’t know whether to knock or wait for her to come out again.
Sighing, I end up rapping my knuckles lightly.
A muttered curse filters through the air, and I fight a grin.
Maybe she is making me feel better. I fix my face as she appears, glaring at me.
“Was I not clear?”
“See you’ve got some of your fire back, Mari.” I smirk, and she rolls her eyes.
“Oh good for you, you’ve discovered my name. Why haven’t you left?”
I lean against the doorframe, and her body sways like she can’t decide to fall into me or run away. The latter would require her to slip out the window, and I doubt she’ll take that option.
“Leaving would require you to actually release me. Get out, leave, or fuck off doesn’t really do anything other than hurt my feelings. Did you give any thought to my proposal while you were showering?”
She narrows her eyes. “Stop it.”
I’m caught in her gaze, realizing her eyes are more grey than blue today. “Stop what?”
“Stop thinking about—never mind. It doesn’t matter. My answer is the same as before. We’re strangers and we’re going to keep it that way. How do I stop you from coming back?”
I shrug, though she doesn’t seem satisfied with that.
If she doesn’t have a summoning circle and she didn’t use an ancient spell, I don’t know why I’m randomly showing up here.
I’ve gone through all the Hellish options.
If it were someone down there, I wouldn’t be popping into Mari’s house over and over.
They’d throw me into a volcano, then drop me into the depths of the ocean.
Or they’d find the most crotchety old witch who would curse me—then again, I’m cursed regardless, so I doubt it would matter.
She huffs and I raise an eyebrow. “Well?”
“Well what? I don’t have answers. I’m a demon, not a god. I don’t have that kind of pull. I could call my sister, but I’m pretty sure she’d either ignore me or make fun of me.” I run a hand through my hair. “Besides, you really don’t want to meet her.”
Mari snorts, glancing away. “Demons don’t have sisters.”
“I mean, not in human ways. Didn’t we establish you know nothing about demons?”
“Fine. Who is she, Death or something?” She smirks, though I don’t know why.
“Death doesn’t have a brother. Or siblings as far as I know. They mostly keep to themselves. Karma, though, she’ll get you every time.”
Confusion colors her eyes, and she opens her mouth, then snaps it shut. “I’m…why am I even talking to you? Just walk out the front door or something.”
I glance over my shoulder. Not that I can see the front door from here. “If I’m bound to you, I won’t be able to. Could try it, though. Can I take some soup with me? Human food hits different.”
Her brows pull low. “Demons are weird. I don’t care if you take the whole damn fridge. Just leave before…just leave.”
I jump back just in time to not get squished by the door. “Yeah, I’ll get right on that.”
As I spin gently, pain stabs into my chest. I double over and stumble into the wall.
Electricity crackles across my skin. Squeezing my eyes shut, I focus on slowing my breathing.
At this point, I doubt I’ll make it to the living room, much less outside.
My stomach rolls, and I groan as shadows swirl around me.
And then it’s over. The pain evaporates along with the shadows.
The nausea subsides and my vision clears.
My magic goes silent as if someone flipped a switch inside me.
No hum. No crackle. No power. Panic swamps me, and I brace my palms on my knees.
In all the centuries I’ve been alive, I’ve never felt this before.
I’ve never even heard of this before. This isn’t a curse or a summoning gone wrong.
I need answers, but I won’t get them from Mari.
As much as I want to pick her brain, she doesn’t want me around.
No amount of charm will change her mind.
“Seriously?” she mutters behind me.
I glance over my shoulder, and the world vanishes.