The Nymph's Curse: The Collection (83 page)

She looked down, but there was nothing to see that indicated the ghostly child held her aside from feeling her touch. “Is he,” Starling motioned toward the man with her chin, “Jasper, or is this some other magical being?”

It’s Jasper, but Edward has taken over his body.

Who’s Edward?

The bad one.

She tried not to lose her patience with the child. It wasn’t Gracie’s fault that she didn’t understand.

“Sweetheart, why would Edward want to take over Jasper?”

I dunno. He always talks about his wife and what a powerful woman she was. I don’t like him. He’s always yelling.

The gravel crunched as Jasper made his way through the cemetery, making a beeline for the nearest street.

“Jasper, stop!” Starling yelled after.

The man kept walking.

“Edward, stop! I can help you if you let me.”

The man turned on his heel. “How do you know my name?”

“Wait for me!” she hollered across the cemetery.

She stepped out of the ghostly girl’s arms. “You stay here. Stay safe, Gracie.”

I’ll miss you, Starling.

The girl’s words pulled at her heart’s strings. “I’ll be back, honey. Don’t worry; we’ll play.”

Gracie didn’t answer, but Starling had to go. “I’ll be back. Really.”

She jogged across the cemetery, careful to step around the rectangular graves.

Jasper stood waiting. “How do you know my name?”

“Is Jasper still in there?” She stared into Jasper’s hazel eyes. Deep in the blue ring at their centers, she saw a flicker of light.

“Is that his name, this man?” He looked down at his body. “Hmm, fitting.”

“Jasper, if you can hear me, I’ve got this. I got your back.”

The man put his hands akimbo. The movement was so unlike Jasper that it caught Starling off guard. “What is that supposed to mean, Jezebel?”

“I’m not a hooker. The name’s Starling.”

“Starling. Like the bird?”

“Yes, like the bird. Now, why did you take over my friend’s body?”

“I do as I please, and I hardly believe that I must answer to you, little bird.”

Anger seeped through her. “In case you’ve been living in that cave for the last 100 years and missed the memo, women aren’t treated like property any more. We have a voice and aren’t afraid to use it. So you can either start being polite, or I personally guarantee that I’ll find a way to get your soul sent straight to hell.”

“Little spitfire I see.” The man laughed. “Well, while I revel in the fact that you feel so free to speak your mind, I see no reason to seek your approval any more than I would seek approval from a mangy dog.”

“You did not just say that …” Starling recoiled, her cheeks burning.

She had been threatened, scolded, told what to do, and put down by spirits before, but she’d never been angrier. If it weren’t Jasper’s almost perfect body that would take the assault, she would pummel the man. Yet the man who stood in front of her was no longer Jasper—at least for now.

The man readjusted the shirt, flattening it over his stomach. “Now if you will excuse me, it’s been almost 100 years since I’ve been able to leave this place, and I’ve things to attend to.”

“What do you possibly have to do after 100 years?”

“I have a being to kill. There’s nothing sweeter than the taste of revenge. Then I will need to die a proper death. This time I’m not going to be stuck in the torments of the spiritual realm. Heaven waits.”

“Let me get this straight. You came back to kill someone and then you
believe
you are going to get into heaven?” Starling scoffed. “I admit it’s been a while since I thumbed through a bible, but I’m pretty sure that killing a human isn’t going to get the Big Guy to open the pearly gates.”

“You know nothing. Murder is only murder if it’s committed against a human. In this instance, it will be like slaughtering a pig. Except this pig’s death shall be nothing less than glorious. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Lord gives me some type of award for such an act of valor.” The man turned away and made his way to the busy Bonaventure Way road.

“You do realize it’s not the 1800s anymore. You won’t be able to find your way around the city.”

“I beg to disagree,” Edward replied, without bothering to look back. “I will find some kind soul willing to help me find my destination.”

“I think you’re vile, and I’m about the kindest soul you are going to find.”

“I find that hard to believe, wench.”

“Well, you are welcome to go.” She gave him a wicked smile. “Just make sure you don’t get hit by a car when you try to cross the highway. I don’t care about you, but I want Jasper back.”

He stopped. Edward turned. “Fine. If you are so adamant about being included, you can act as my servant.”

“Do I need to remind you that I will send you to hell? I’m no one’s servant.”

“Beg pardon,” Edward said with an over-the-top bow. “My lady, thou shalt be treated as the little bird thee are.”

Thank God culture had changed. If men today acted like this overstuffed spirit, she would be in prison for manslaughter.

“Try it again. I want a real apology.”

Edward kneeled down in front of her and took her hand in his. “My lady Starling, forgive my rudeness.” He kissed the back of her hand. Jasper’s warm lips made her heart stutter and she pulled her hand from his fingers.

If Edward was desperate enough for her help to apologize, then he must be hellbent on finding justice, and desperation could drive a person to extremes.

She had only two options: try to use her almost non-existent powers as a medium to control the spirit and get him to leave Jasper’s body, or help the man to get his revenge. Neither would be easy. If she relied on her powers, there was no guarantee that they would work, and if she somehow managed to banish the ghost from Jasper, there was no telling what would happen. She couldn’t imagine a life without Jasper—even if he was a pain in the ass.

The quicker she helped Edward, the quicker he would release his grip on Jasper, and they could get back to work and out of this hellhole.

Starling walked in the direction of the parked taxi. “Tell me about him.”

“First of all, it’s not a
him.
Her name is Bethany Fortenberry.”

“What did she do that made you hold a grudge for this many years?”

“She cursed my family. Her poisonous tongue cost the lives of my wife and child. She must be made to pay for the pain she caused not only me, but my family.”

“There is no bringing back the dead.”

“No, but it will bring me peace. Once I find my justice, I can happily pass to the other side.”

“So you will leave Jasper’s body?”

Edward glanced at her, a look of annoyance on his face. “I may, but you must agree to help me.”

The Goddess Shop’s windows were dark and the
open
light had been turned off for the night, but Starling couldn’t wait. Jasper needed her.

“Where are you taking me?” Edward asked, getting out of the taxi and closing the door.

“You said you needed to kill Bethany. Well, Jamie is the woman to go to. She’ll have everything we need.”

“I have hands and willpower, I need nothing more,” he retorted.

“Yeah, let’s just imagine how
that
would play out. Ding-dong. Who is it? Edward. I’m here to kill you.” Starling snorted. “I bet she’ll let you in, no problem.”

“You think I’m a novice? That I haven’t spent years thinking about how I would go about killing her? You are worse than a mangy dog—at least they have the ability to think ahead.”

Edward reminded her of Jasper chastising her for her failure to plan at the airport. She leaned forward so their noses almost touched and peered into Jasper’s blue-rimmed eyes. Had some of Jasper’s thoughts leaked through to the man’s words? Was he in there somewhere?

“What are you doing?” The spirit stepped back, affronted by her closeness.

“Just looking for something.” She relaxed, satisfied that she had seen nothing more than her own reflection in Edward’s eyes. She would find nothing there—no, she would have to search deeper to find the man she was looking for.

“What is this place?” he asked, his lip pulled up into a sneer as he looked up at the purple awning that blocked the moon from shining on their heads.

“It’s a store.” She knocked on the door. The sound was hollow and empty as it reverberated through the quiet store and back to them.

The window display was backlit, showing an array of antique books and pentagrams, but no other lights were on.

“Is this a shop of witchcraft?” Edward huffed. “Your people allow such devils to roam free and proudly display their paganism?”

“They’re not devils, they’re normal … well normal-ish. And you can thank the freedom of religion provision in the first amendment. Everyone is free to follow their religious preference. No more Salem witch hunts.”

“I’m familiar with the First Amendment, however I never thought it would be taken to such a liberal extent.”

“Isn’t America wonderful?” Starling smiled. “No more corsets, women can vote, and we are allowed to follow our hearts. Freedom at its finest.”

“Quite the feminist.”

“Nope, just a modern American woman.” Starling knocked again.

A stray cat ran across the road, yowling at some unknown assailant while a woman yelled somewhere in the distance.

“Hmm, what a fine place this world has become. For the first time since my demise, I admit that I’m happy to be dead.”

“Well, don’t worry. If I have my way, you’ll be right back in your grave where you belong.”

The door’s blinds moved back and Jamie’s head poked into view. The witch smiled as she recognized Starling. Unclicking the locks, she opened the door. “Starling! So glad to see you. I’m sorry I didn’t know you were comin’ or I woulda fixed some tea.”

A bird screeched from somewhere in the back.

“Thank you for answering the door. I wasn’t sure you lived here.” She made her way into the darkened shop. It had been homey in the daytime, but being here at night, surrounded by the occult made her nervous, like she had entered the most sacred of holy places.

“No problem, I’m glad you came. I’ve got some things I wanted to ask you about your gift. Jasper,” she added with an acknowledging nod.

“Vile witch,” Edward answered, his greeting as dry and flat as the soul.

“What?” Jamie closed the door behind him.

“Don’t mind him. He’s possessed by a ghost named Edward who’s hellbent on finding revenge. Let’s just say we didn’t find what we were looking for at the Bonaventure Cemetery.”

“One seldom does.” Jamie laughed. “If you had told me you were going there, I could have made you a protection spell or taught you a chant to help.” Jamie glanced over at her. “Maybe I could have helped Jasper.”

“Speaking of that … ” Starling pulled the amethyst Jamie had given her from her pocket. “The stone didn’t keep the spirits from talking to me. I think you can have it back.”

The purple crystal looked almost black in the darkness of the room.

“You didn’t become possessed, did you?” Jamie took Starling’s hand in her warm touch. “The stone did just as it was intended.” She curled Starling’s fingers around the crystal and glanced over at Edward who, just like Jasper, kept his back pressed against the door.

“I don’t think it works. Here,” Starling repeated, handing Jamie the stone.

She tried not to notice Jamie’s look of disapproval as she dropped the stone back into its container. “No matter how powerful the stone, it would never help a non-believer.”

“Right now,” Starling whispered, “I’m more worried about saving Jasper. But Edward thinks I’m here to help him find a woman.”

“Understood.” Jamie’s gaze moved to Edward.

“What did you just say?” Edward asked.

“Nothing,” Jamie said in a motherly voice. “She was tellin’ me ’bout you bein’ in some sort of trouble. I’m fixin’ to help.”

“Witch, I find it hard to comprehend that you should be able to help me. I’m a God-fearing Christian man, not some pagan.”

Jamie’s soft smile turned hard. “I help many who believe themselves to be God-fearing Christians. Everyone needs a little assistance from the other side once in a while. First, you tell me what you need, and then I’ll see if I can help you. If not, no harm done, right?”

He gave her a sideways glance. “I’m looking for a woman. You may have heard of her, that is, if she’s still residing in the city. Her name is Bethany Fortenberry.”

Jamie’s eyes widened and her mouth opened, exposing her metal-filled teeth. She turned to Starling. “Lord a’mighty, how did you get yourself into this mess?”

“What can I say? I’m just lucky,” she said, trying to make light of the utter look of horror on the woman’s face. “Do you know where we can find her?”

“Come with me,” Jamie answered, motioning toward the purple curtain covering the door to the back of the shop. “You,” she said to Edward, “stay here. You understand?”

Edward glanced around the shop, but after a moment, he nodded.

Their footsteps echoed on the wood floor as Jamie ushered her to the back and closed the curtain far enough to block them from Edward’s sight.

“Do you know who Bethany Fortenberry is?” Jamie hissed.

“She’s not Mother Teresa, I’m guessing?”

“Ms. Bethany is the Voodoo Queen.”

Starling laughed as she envisioned a woman wearing a scarf wrapped around her head, holding a snake, and chanting in tongues like some character out of a cheap horror movie. “You have got to be kidding. There’s no such thing as voodoo.”

“Voodoo isn’t just for the tourists, Ms. Starling. What Ms. Bethany does is very real and very dangerous. You don’t want to go messin’ with her.”

“Go to hell … ” A shrill voice sounded from the shadows in the corner of the back of the room. “Go to hell,” it repeated.

“Excuse me?” Starling peered into the shadows but saw only darkness.

“Don’t worry about that, Ms. Starling. It’s only my parrot. He thinks he’s funny.”

“You have a parrot who cusses?”

“Unfortunately. That little bugger has been doing that ever since … ” Jamie trailed off. “Never mind about the parrot. He’s nothing but a bother.”