Love Charms (128 page)

“It’s next door. To your right.”

“Am I allowed to use it?”

“Of course.” She walked over to the
dresser and opened one of the drawers. “There are clothes in here and towels in
the bathroom. Any questions or problems, you can call me with the intercom.”
She pointed to a white box mounted on the wall next to the bed. “Just press the
green button to speak.”

“Okay.”

“I think that’s it.” She moved to leave,
but turned back abruptly. “I forgot to leave this.” She walked over and set the
small white box on my nightstand. “Kristoff wanted you to have it.”

I stared at the box, my memory and
imagination providing a grotesque picture of what lay inside. “I bet he did.”

“Kristoff is big on...incentive.” Julia
grimaced as she spoke, a haunted expression in her eyes. “I’ll leave you to get
settled. Buzz me if you need anything.”

She walked out and I was left alone to
wonder what ghosts could haunt a dead woman.

* * *

For a while, I sat on the bed just trying
to absorb what had happened so far. My new home was small and so quiet, the
silence seemed loud. I pulled out the crystal and held it up, watching the
light prism through it. The crystal looked nothing like an amplifier, and I
wondered how Kristoff ever expected me to learn how to use it with such vague
instructions. If meditation was the key to fully exploiting psychic abilities,
I would’ve heard about it by now. I couldn’t think of another psychic I’d met
or read about who used meditation to commune with crystals in order to boost
their powers. I didn’t hold much faith that his methods would work, but, for
Vera’s sake, I would have to try, but not just yet.

I set the crystal on the nightstand, next
to the box holding Vera’s finger, and went through the dresser drawers, curious
as to what my fashion options were. Not much as it turned out.  More T-shirts
in a rainbow of pastel colors and knit drawstring jogging pants. The underwear
consisted of white granny panties and no bras. I would have to talk to Kristoff
about that, I was a large-chested woman. Bras were not optional. I didn’t
particularly care for the panties either. I liked lace and bikini cuts, but I
could live with cotton briefs even if they did rest higher on my waist than my pants.

The bathroom next door was tiny and
utilitarian. A toilet, small sink, and a square shower with a yellowing plastic
curtain were the sum extent of the amenities. A large, once white towel hung on
a hook. I sniffed it, and from the odor of dryer sheets deemed it clean, just
old. Maybe I could convince Kristoff to buy me new towels along with some bras.

I used the facilities and washed my face,
throwing cold water on my cheeks. Looking in the mirror I noticed my face was
drawn, the skin whiter than usual. My eyes seemed bigger too, the pupils large
and dilated. I looked wide-eyed I decided.
Deer-in-headlights-about-to-make-a-zombie wide-eyed. Not exactly a surprise
after the last couple of days.

From the bathroom, I ventured into the
kitchen, pleased to find the refrigerator well-stocked. I made myself a small
salad and a sandwich and wolfed the food down while sitting on one of the bar
stools lined up along the counter.  At least being a prisoner provided lots of
opportunities for stress eating.

I was so busy eating, that the sound of
heavy foot steps behind me caused me to jump and shriek like I was being
murdered. I whirled around to see who had snuck up on me.

A sandy blond man with green eyes and a
square jaw smiled at me. “Hello, Sofia.”

“Hello,” I said covering my mouth with my
hand so I wouldn’t flash half-chewed sandwich at him. I chewed fast and
swallowed faster. “You scared me.” Not to mention he knew my name and I’d never
seen him before.

“Yeah, sorry about that. I was just so
excited you were here.”

I was about to ask him what he meant by
that when Julia’s sharp voice interrupted us, “What is going on in here?”

A look of fear crossed the man’s face,
but when he turned to face Julia, none of it showed. “Nothing, just talking to
Sofia.”

“It is forbidden.” Julia moved to stand
between us.

“She was promised to me,” the man’s voice
was low and angry, his posture stiff.

“Not until Kristoff says so. Go now, and
I won’t report this.” She waved him off.

The man bristled at the command and his
hands balled into fists.

Julia sighed and shook her head. “You
forget your place.”

“Kristoff isn’t here to remind me.” He
took a menacing step forward.

“One more step and you’ll regret
it." Julia waved her hand and a charge hummed through the air.

My eyes widened. Magic. From a zombie.
Interesting.

Uncertainty flickered in the man’s eyes
and he hesitated, finally stumbling back when Julia moved toward him. “I’m
going, I’m going,” he mumbled turning away from us. Feet dragging, he left the
kitchen.

“What was that all about?” I asked.

“It’s not for me to say. You’ll have to
ask Kristoff and he won’t tell you until he wants to," Julia said, her
voice tight. “While you’re here, don’t talk to anyone besides myself or
Kristoff.  I wouldn’t even mention that you’ve seen anyone else. It might not
be good for you.”

“Okay.” I swiveled back to the counter
and picked up what was left of my sandwich, trying to hide the smile on my
face. Was it possible there were others here against their will? People I could
work with to escape or get a message to someone who could help? Why else tell
me to stay away from others if not for fear that we might gang up on Kristoff?

Chapter
Seventeen

The next day passed by in a blur of
sameness. The only way I knew it was a different day was by the change in
T-shirt color. There were no clocks, televisions, or radios and no way to
entertain myself outside of contemplating the crystal he gave me. That and
Vera’s finger, which I pretended didn’t exist. I couldn’t even find junk food
in the kitchen to assuage my anxious boredom with grease and sugar, just
fixings for sandwiches and salads with cereal for breakfast. Blah. Stress
eating became boring.

Aside from the man I met my first night,
I saw no one, not even Julia or Kristoff. If not for the occasional sound of
voices, and footsteps echoing in my room from some unknown location in the
building, I would’ve thought I was alone. I did try to go beyond my room and
the kitchen once, but the warning buzz of my collar forced me to retreat.

So, I spent a lot of time attempting to
commune with the crystal, and I was pretty sure I was doing it wrong. As the
day wore on, I became nervous, and spent more and more time meditating with the
damn thing. I had even slept with it under my pillow, but not once did I find
its ‘vibration’ or feel like I had amplified my own abilities with its use.

When Julia came for me that night
announcing Kristoff wanted to see me and to bring my crystal, I broke into a
cold sweat.

As before, Kristoff sat in the chair
behind his desk. A trim navy suit outlined his narrow frame and contrasted
starkly with a white dress shirt. When I entered, he rested his chin in one
hand and studied me. A black suit coat covered a white dress-shirt with gold
cufflinks. His black hair had been slicked back, emphasizing his lean, stark
face with its prominent cheekbones and dark, bottomless pit eyes. “How are you
doing with the crystal?”

I shrugged. “I don’t think I’m doing it
right.”

His gaze became sharp and his jaw
tightened. “Have you tried?”

I nodded.

“Really tried?”

“Yes. I’ve done my best.” I tried to
sound earnest and sincere, but my voice came out more scared and weak.

His eyes narrowed. “And nothing?”

“Nothing.” I rubbed my damp palms on my
pants wondering if he really would hurt Vera for my failure.

He pushed a button on his desk and said,
“Bring her in.”

A door opened behind me, and I looked
over my shoulder to see two muscular men dressed in black drag Vera into the
room. Her hands were tied behind her back and a blindfold covered her eyes. Her
mouth was set in a grim line of either fear or pain, I couldn’t tell which.

“Oh no,” I whispered, my eyes already
tearing up.

“Yes. I’m afraid so.” Kristoff stood and
directed the men to put Vera in the chair next to me. “You’ll find me to be a
man of my word, Sofia.”

At the mention of my name, Vera
straightened and turned her head toward me. “Sofia? Is that you?”

“I’m so sorry, Vera.” I worried my bottom
lip, and looked at Kristoff, a silent plea in my eyes.

He ignored me. "Unfortunately, Vera,
you won’t find this reunion to be a happy one. Sofia has failed me and you are
to pay the price.”

Vera went still, and I watched with
trepidation as Kristoff pulled a pair of garden shears out of a desk drawer.
The necromancer’s thin lips curved into a wicked smile, he squeezed the handled
causing the blades to slice the air with a metallic swish. Vera and I both
cringed.

“Please, Kristoff. I tried, I really did.
I followed your directions. I don’t know why it didn’t work,” I babbled, my
voice spiraling higher and higher as I spoke.

“Trying is not good enough. The task I
gave you is not hard. A child can do it. You’re holding back.” He walked to
Vera. At his nod, the muscle men untied her hands, and forced them down on the
armrests, securing them in place again. Vera gritted her teeth, but couldn’t
hold back a whimper of apprehension when Kristoff gently ran a finger along the
back of her hand. “This time I think we’ll skip the anesthetic, perhaps your
friend’s pain will help you with future lessons.”

“No,” I said, tears dripping down my
cheeks. “Please, I tried. I really tried. Maybe I can’t do it. I’m just an
antique dealer.”

“Who ran a psychic investigative firm.”

“Yeah, but look at how successful I was
at that. At least three people are dead, most of them my clients. Did it occur
to you maybe I’m not good at this?”

Kristoff paused. “No, not really. Almost
anyone can master a crystal.”

“What if I can’t do it even though I try?
Will you kill her? Take off her hands? Seems like a waste to me.”

“I suppose it doesn’t make sense to chop
off all her fingers,” he said with a nod, moving back behind his desk. “We need
a test of your ability then. To see if you can even handle the power I need
from you to be a necromancer.”

I let out a sigh of relief when he put
down the garden shears, and pressed the intercom button his desk. “Julia, bring
Grace please.”

“Yes, Kristoff,” her voice crackled back
through the speaker.

“I will show you that a child can do
this. Let’s see if you have even that much talent.”

I didn't respond. Aside from my recent
run of bad luck, I had always appreciated being psychic. I earned a living off
my abilities after all. However, now, I prayed as hard as I could that I was a
hack and too weak for Kristoff’s nefarious purposes. Not that I believed he
would let us go, but perhaps he would leave us alone, or at least stop cutting
off Vera’s fingers.

Again a door opened behind me, and I
heard light footsteps on the wood floor. Kristoff smiled. “Ahh, there she is,
my little Gracie.”

“Papa,” said a high voice. A small girl,
her long pigtails swinging, ran into the room.

Papa?
I shuddered at the idea of the necromancer having a
daughter. Kristoff was not a man I would want to claim as father. Call me
judgmental, but I didn’t think zombie raising sociopaths made good parents.

 Kristoff swept the little girl up into
his lap and kissed her on the cheek. “Hello, my dear. How are you?”

“Good, Papa. Carmel and I have been
raising the birds we found.”

“Ah, very good. I’ll have to come down
and see them later. And where is Carmel?”

The little girl looked past me,
searching. Her face was striking, with white alabaster skin framed by glossy
black hair and dark coal eyes. She looked like her father, but I prayed she
wasn’t anything like him.

Grace cocked her head at Kristoff’s
question. “I don’t know. He was with me when I came up the stairs.” She
shrugged and then called out, “Carmel, come.”

Nails scrabbled on the floor, and a small
terrier came running toward its mistress, tail wagging and tongue lolling. A
stench of something rotten rose off its skin and made my throat spasm shut in
disgust. Grace didn’t seem to notice, climbing off her father’s lap to scoop
the dog up for an affectionate hug. Carmel responded by licking her face as he
squirmed with enthusiasm.

“Do you want to come see the birds now
Papa?”

“Not now, my dear. I have business to
take care of first and I could use your help.”

“Oh, I can help?” She asked with
wide-eyed excitement.

“I hoped you could show Sofia how you use
your crystal.”

Grace put a hand to her neck and pulled
out a crystal on a silver chain from underneath her dress. “Okay.” She let
Carmel drop to the floor as she kneeled and stared into the core of her crystal
with alarming intensity for such a young girl. Her eyes glazed, and my skin
prickled as she raised a decent amount of psychic energy.

To me, Kristoff said, “Watch her aura.”

I blinked and blurred my vision until I
could see the field of energy surrounding Grace. Her aura contained the usual
rainbow of colors, but with a disturbing muddy undertone of black. The dirty
aura extended around and in her crystal, pulsing in its center. Grace was not a
normal little girl, something evil had left its mark on her soul. I had a
sinking feeling that, given my present circumstances, someday my aura might bear
the same mark. As I watched, the light in the crystal grew brighter and
brighter, expanding as she merged her aura with its energy.

“Okay, that’s enough, my sweet. Thank
you.”

“Yes, Papa,” Grace said, instantly
breaking the connection.

I opened and closed my eyes until I could
see clearly again and focused on the task at hand. Namely, keeping myself and
Vera alive. “I’ve been doing it wrong.”

I had been waiting to feel something from
the crystal instead of forcing it to respond to my energy. Kristoff was right,
working with crystals was child’s play now that I had seen how to do it
properly. I closed my eyes again and drew energy in close to me, channeling it
into my crystal. It began to vibrate in my hand, and a bell tone rang in my
mind as it absorbed my energy. I opened my eyes and held the crystal up for
Kristoff to see. “I can do it now.”

Kristoff nodded. “Good.” He picked up the
shears again.

I felt the blood drain from my face.
“What are you doing? I did as you asked.” My voice came out in a shrill spiral
of panic.

“Think of it as an incentive to continue
doing so.” Moving fast, he came from behind his desk, grabbed Vera’s hand and
severed her other pinkie with a quick, businesslike snip.

The finger hit the floor with soft, wet
thud a second before Vera began to scream as blood spurted from her hand. I
made to go to her, but one of the musclemen slammed me back into my chair with
a hand to the chest, knocking the air out of my lungs and pinning me down.
Gasping for breath I fought against him, but was no match for his strength.

Kristoff took a handkerchief out of his
suit coat, and, with a sympathetic ‘tsk-tsk’, wrapped Vera’s hand. “I think,
Vera, you should give careful consideration to the friends you choose in the
future. Sofia hasn’t quite come through for you like you had hoped.”

Vera managed a “Fuck you” in between
heaving sobs.

Kristoff backhanded her across the face.
“I would choose my words more carefully if I were you.”

“I did.” Vera spat blood onto the floor.

Her belligerence earned her another
backhand, hard enough that she slumped in the chair with a groan. Kristoff
lifted her head up by the hair and peered into her face. “She’s out. Take her.”

The musclemen dragged her back out the
door. I watched her limp form disappear, silent tears sliding down my cheeks.

Kristoff wiped the shears clean with a
tissue and tucked them away in a desk drawer. “Please don’t make me do that
again. It’s a strain and she only has so many fingers.”

I gaped at him, appalled that he would
insinuate it was my decision what he did with Vera. “Then stop chopping off her
fingers. You said yourself you can use her seer skills. How will you earn her
trust if you keep abusing her? You don’t think she’ll tell you the truth about
the future she sees with this kind of treatment?”

Kristoff laughed, a grating nasal sound.
“You’re really naive. Do you think this is my first time doing this?” When I
didn’t answer he continued, “I know how to handle seers like Vera, even if I
decide to chop off all their fingers.”

“How?” I couldn’t help myself, I wanted
to know.

“Who says seers have to be alive to see
the future?”

“You’d make her a zombie?” My eyes went
wide at the thought.

He nodded. “One that would have no choice
but to serve me.”

“That’s sick,” I said, disgusted.

Kristoff smiled. “You think so now, but
that’s because you don’t understand. Once I’m through with you, it’ll sound
like a great idea.”

I swallowed, dreading the day that should
ever happen.

Kristoff clapped his hands together and a
pleased smirk oozed across his face. “Now that we’ve established you can charge
a crystal, it’s time for your next task.” He pulled a large velvet pouch from
his desk and offered it to me. I took it, surprised at how heavy it was.
“Charge these. Fail me and Vera will lose another finger, maybe two.”

I opened the bag. There were more than a
dozen crystals inside.

“Once you’ve done that we’ll move on to
raising animals.”

I frowned, puzzled. “Raising?”

“Yes, raising them from the dead.”

I glanced at Grace who had been standing
quietly next to her father’s desk all this time. There was a bored expression
on her face, as if her father chopped up people every day. Hell, he probably
did for all I knew. Had I misunderstood what she meant by raising birds? I
looked at Kristoff who must’ve realized my train of thought as he said, “ My
daughter is quite proficient in the death arts.”

The girl smiled at the compliment.
“Someday I’ll bring back a person, just like Papa does. Right now I just play
with the animals.”

“Like Carmel here.” Kristoff bent over and
lifted the small dog away from the small pool of Vera’s blood on the floor.
“This little guy loves blood, doesn’t he Gracie?”