Witching Bones Read online

  As I returned to my bedroom to dress, I could hear Kipa in the kitchen. It sounded like he was cleaning, and I smiled softly. He’d get his props for pancakes when he made them correctly and didn’t dirty up every dish in the kitchen. And when he kept the batter in the pan instead of on the counter, he’d get a few more.

  I slipped on a pair of fishnet tights, then chose a black lace dress that fell four inches above my knees in front, and down to my calves in back. It had a sweetheart neckline and lace sleeves, and the overlay of black lace over nude fabric made it look almost see-through. I buckled a purple corset belt around my waist, and then slid my feet into a pair of chunky heeled boots that came up to my knees. They were black leather, with chains on the sides and studs down the front where they laced up. A hidden zipper made them easy to take off and on.

  As I headed toward the kitchen, I peeked in the ferrets’ room. Elise stood up against the cage, staring at me.

  “I’ll be back in a little bit to clean your cages and feed you. I just need to run out and get some food first.”

  She gave me a long look, and then a soft whisper touched my thoughts. Thank you. We’ll be fine until then. I wanted to talk to you about Gordon when you have a moment.

  I nodded. “We’ll talk when I’m cleaning your cage. Is everything all right?”

  I think so, came the soft thought. I’m just a little concerned, but I don’t think he’s sick.

  I shut the door behind me, worried. The ferrets had been with me for over twenty years. I’d found them as spirits up on Mount Rainier, when they were trapped inside a tree stump portal. They were actually spirits of people who had been murdered up on the mountain and then cursed. I had attempted to free them, but in a comedy of errors, had simply transferred their spirits into ferret form. Now they were stuck. But at least they weren’t trapped in the tree trunk anymore, and I could communicate with them while I researched how to break the curse, to free them to go on in their journey.

  As I entered the kitchen, I saw Kipa had made good time on cleaning up. The sink was still full of dishes, and there was still batter trailing down a couple of the cupboards, but the floor was clean.

  He glanced up at me. “I was about to feed Raj.”

  “I’ll do it.” I scooted over to one side and pulled out a dish for Raj. I give him a can of cat food. It was quick, easy, and he liked it. As I spooned the food into the dish, Raj came up behind me, nudging me. I glanced down at him and he gave me a plaintive look. Stroking his head, I realized what was wrong. Kipa had been here for nearly twenty-four hours. Raj and I hadn’t had time to talk. Raj didn’t like speaking in front of other people. In fact, almost no one knew that he could talk besides me. I set the dish down for him, and turned to Kipa.

  “Why don’t we just go out for breakfast? I’ll clean the rest of this up later. I have a busy day scheduled, and need to get moving.” I didn’t want to just send him on his way abruptly, but I wasn’t going to betray Raj’s secret. And Raj was having a rough-enough time adjusting to Kipa’s presence. I suspected that the gargoyle was jealous of all the time I was spending with Kipa.

  Kipa frowned. “Are you sure? I thought we were going to spend the morning together.”

  We hadn’t talked about it, so this was news to me. But I had discovered early on that Kipa assumed that if he liked something, everybody else should as well. And if he had made plans, everybody should be accommodating. It wasn’t rudeness on his part, he was just used to being the leader of the pack, so to speak.

  And he was, in his own world. Ember, a good friend of mine, and I had seen just how well he played with others when he and his cousin Herne had gotten embroiled in an argument that ended up with Ember and me down in a pit, facing a deadly foe. The two men hadn’t even noticed we disappeared. Luckily, girl power had seen us through before they found us.

  “You never mentioned wanting to spend the morning together.” I stared at him. “This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

  He let out an exasperated sigh. “I didn’t know you had anything going on this morning. I just assumed—”

  “You just assumed that I’d be available. Well, today’s my day to read cards down at the Sun & Moon Apothecary, so I don’t have the morning to give you. I have to take care of the ferrets, then head down to the shop to meet Llew.” I bit my lip, trying to decide just how bitchy to get. We’d had a wonderful morning, but I wasn’t about to let Kipa start taking me for granted.

  “What is it? I can tell something’s wrong.” Kipa crossed his arms, leaning one hip against the counter. It didn’t help that he was so damn sexy.

  “Here’s the thing. Obviously, I like you a lot or we wouldn’t be thrashing around in bed so much. And I’d like this—us—to continue. At least until we find out where we’re going. But this relationship won’t work if you keep planning out my days without consulting me. Newsflash: you aren’t the center of my universe. I know it must be hard to hear that, given you’re one of the gods. But I don’t notice Herne doing that with Ember.”

  His eyes narrowed and I had a feeling I’d hit a sore spot. In fact, I knew I had.

  “Comparing me to Herne, are you?”

  “Don’t get your Speedos in a wad. I’m not saying that you need to be like Herne. But it wouldn’t hurt you to be a little more considerate of other people and their feelings, or their time.”

  He looked so hurt that I felt a pang of guilt, but it was for his own good. If I didn’t tell him, somebody else might and they wouldn’t do so out of caring about him.

  “Listen, dude. You’re fantastic, Kipa. And I know you care about people. You wouldn’t be allowed in my house if you didn’t, god or not. But this is just one example of something I’ve noticed during the past few weeks. You assumed that I would have the time because you have the time. You didn’t bother asking me—and that’s the problem. Understand?” I rested my hand on the counter as I continued to stare at him. I wasn’t going to look away, or let him cow me.

  “All right. I’ll try to do better,” he muttered. “I’m sorry. I’m used to being—”

  “In charge. I get it. I truly do. But you’re not my boss, you’re not my owner, and you’re not my parent. You’re my lover. And that gives you certain rights, but running my life and organizing my schedule isn’t one of them.” I searched his face, wondering if he would be able to handle me as I asserted my boundaries. It would be a deal breaker if he couldn’t.

  He paused for a moment before a crooked smile spread across his face. He held out his hands to me. “Okay, I promise. I will pay more attention to the way I act. I like that you’re not afraid of me. I like that you stand up for yourself. It may take me some time to get used to, but I think I’m going to enjoy being with a strong woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to stand up for herself.” He leaned down, pressing his lips against mine. “Don’t worry about breakfast. I’ll grab something on the way back to my apartment. When can I see you again?”

  A wave of relief washed over me. I pulled out my calendar.

  “Why don’t you come over for dinner tomorrow night? I’ve got a lot of errands to do tomorrow, but we can have dinner, and then watch a movie. Or not watch a movie, as the case may be.” I blew him a kiss, winking.

  I knew very well that even if we started watching a movie, we wouldn’t end up finishing it. The flames burned strong between us. Even now, I found it hard to keep my hands to myself. I wanted to run them up and down his chest. I reached up, smoothing his hair back.

  “You are so fucking sexy. If you don’t get out of here, I may throw the day away and drag you back to bed and I really shouldn’t do that.” I caught my breath, shuddering.

  Laughing, Kipa stroked my face and, in a husky voice, said, “I’d better get out of here. Or neither one of us will get anything done.” With another kiss, he grabbed his leather jacket, turned, and headed out the door.

  Chapter Two

  I returned to the kitchen after locking the door behind him. I didn’t
trust my neighbors enough to leave it unlocked. I’d been on a campaign to drum them out of the neighborhood, but they’d been stubborn so far.

  Raj was sitting in the kitchen, staring at the drying batter that had dripped over the edge of the counters.

  “Does Raven like Kipa better than Raj?”

  I groaned. “No. Raven does not like Kipa better than Raj. Raven loves Raj. Raven likes Kipa in an entirely different way than she likes Raj.” I knelt beside the gargoyle, holding him by the sides of the head so that he was staring into my eyes. “No matter what happens, nobody will ever replace Raj. Raj will always be in Raven’s life. Remember, Ulstair and Raven loved each other, but Raven and Raj still had a wonderful relationship.”

  Raj let out a deep sigh. He was about as big as a rottweiler, with a sloped back. He actually walked on his knuckles. His front legs were actually his arms, but they were as thick as his back legs, and even though gargoyles could walk upright, most of them chose to walk like a dog. Raj was also missing his wings, and that affected his gait. A demon had cut them off of him when he was young, and I had won the gargoyle in a poker game, determined to give him a better life. I made sure that he didn’t remember his life before me, wiping away the pain with a spell I had bummed off of a powerful witch.

  “Raj misses Ulstair. Does Raven miss Ulstair?”

  I blinked. I hadn’t expected that particular question. And then it dawned on me. Raj wasn’t just jealous of me spending time with Kipa. He was angry at Kipa, whom he saw as taking Ulstair’s place.

  “Raven misses Ulstair every day. Raven will never forget him. Raven loved Ulstair, but Ulstair is dead now, and even though it’s hard, Raven and Raj have to move on. We don’t want to bind Ulstair’s spirit here, and missing him too much—holding onto the past—can do that. Raven is a bone witch, she knows these things. Do you understand?”

  A light gleamed in Raj’s eyes. He paused, then nodded.

  “Raj thinks he understands. Raj will try to let Ulstair rest. It’s hard for Raj but he will try.” A tear trickled down his cheek.

  I leaned down and kissed the tear away, then stroked his head and rubbed his back the way he liked it.

  “I know it’s hard. Raven knows it’s hard. It’s difficult for Raven, too. Raven and Raj are here for each other, though. And nothing—no one—will ever come between us. Remember that. Raven will always be here for Raj.” I kissed him on the head, and he made the little murphing sound that he did when he was content.

  “Raj eat breakfast now. Raj loves Raven.”

  “And Raven loves Raj.” I patted him on the back as he turned and walked over to his dish and began to eat his breakfast. Then, grabbing a sponge, I made quick work of the remaining mess that Kipa had left in the kitchen. I had forgotten how difficult it was dealing with another person on such an intimate level. Ulstair had died in September, and by November, I had started to get used to being alone again. We hadn’t lived together, so it was easier for me than some people. I wasn’t sure I had liked it, but I was getting used to relying on myself for everything. Now all of a sudden I was having to adapt to compromising with another person again.

  With a sigh, I tossed the sponge in the sink and wiped down the cupboards with a paper towel to dry them. Then I pulled out a carton of yogurt for breakfast and ate it on my way to the ferrets’ room.

  After cleaning out the cages, feeding the ferrets, and changing their water bottles, I let them out to play for twenty minutes or so. Gordon and Templeton raced around the room, playing with their toys and generally causing havoc. Elise squirmed up on my lap, and I set her on the table.

  “So, what’s going on?”

  Elise trembled, then snuggled into my arms as I stroked her soft sable fur. Over the years I had grown extremely fond of the ferrets, although Templeton and Gordon were beginning to forget they had ever been human. I hoped to find a way to break the curse on them before they totally lost themselves in the world of ferret-ness. I wasn’t sure it was possible, but I was giving it my best shot.

  Gordon hardly answers me anymore. At least not like this. He doesn’t remember his life before, I think. And his forgetfulness is progressing quickly. Almost like some sort of dementia. He’s happy enough, but it hurts me to see my brother losing himself. I know how easy it is, and how tempting it is at times to just let go and allow the animal nature take over. Templeton is managing to resist, though he slips more than I do. But Gordon? Gordon has given up, I think.

  I glanced over at the cage. Templeton, who was jet black, was watching Elise and me from one of the perches. He had gotten the zoomies out of him, and now he was listening to our conversation. But Gordon was still dashing around the room, playing with a squeak toy. I set Elise down, and sat on the floor beside Gordon.

  “Gordon? Gordon, can you hear me? I’d like to talk to you.” I scooped him up in my arms, scratching behind his ears. “Gordon, I know you’re in there. I know behind those beautiful ferret eyes of yours, you can still hear me. Please answer.”

  As I gazed into his eyes, I felt a spark rise up. It was almost as though the question hung between us. After a moment, I petted his head again, gazing deep into his eyes. “Gordon? Elise is worried about you. She thinks that you’re losing yourself. Please talk to me.”

  Very slowly, as if from a great distance, a whisper-soft Hello touched my thoughts.

  “Gordon? Was that you?”

  There was another pause as he searched my face, quivering in my arms. And then, again so soft I almost didn’t catch it, a whisper touched my thoughts.

  It’s so hard to keep focused. It’s very difficult, Raven. I don’t know how long I can hold onto myself. I’ve never been the strong one. Elise has always been the strongest. And Templeton is stronger than me. I’m weak.

  “No, Gordon. You’re not weak. You really aren’t. You’re just in a very difficult situation. I’m still working to find a way to free you, so hold onto yourself as long as you can. Talk to Elise, talk to Templeton. Let them remind you of your life before here. Let them help you bring back the memories. Hold on, please. For all of us?”

  He blinked, one long, slow blink of those brilliant eyes, and then let out a little sigh.

  I’ll try. But I don’t know if I can manage. Please don’t be angry if I fail.

  “Of course we won’t be angry. We all care about you. Elise and Templeton love you so much, and I’m so very fond of you. But try as long as you can. I’ll step up my search for a way to break the curse.”

  I want to thank you. Without you we’d be stuck in that tree, lost forever. At least we have a life now, and it’s a good life.

  The whispers were waning, and I could tell he was getting distracted again. I gently set him down on the floor and gave him another stroke down his back. But his eyes caught sight of his toy again, and he was off to play with it once more. Feeling helpless, I stood and returned to the table, where Elise was watching Gordon with sorrowful eyes.

  “I’m doing what I can, Elise. I promise you that. I’m trying. Did you catch what he said?”

  She ducked her head in a nod.

  I heard. I’ll try to keep him connected, I’ll tell him more stories of when we were children. I’ll tell both of them because I think Templeton is getting closer to that stage.

  She paused, then snuggled against me with a sound that almost sounded like a cry.

  If it happens to all of us, it will be okay. But I don’t want to forget. I don’t want to forget who I am.

  Almost in tears, I kissed her forehead. “You hold on, Elise. I’ll try harder.”

  I know you are, Raven. I know you’re trying. Maybe there isn’t a way. Maybe there’s no hope to lift this curse. And if there isn’t, this isn’t a bad life. Will you promise to watch over us as long as we need, if we all forget?

  “I promise you, as long as you are in this form, and as long as you need me, I will be here for you. And I take my oaths with absolute seriousness.” I stood, feeling incredibly sad. I loved the ferrets, b
ut I wanted them to be free, to be on their way to the afterlife that they deserved.

  As I left the room, after shutting them back in their cage, I decided to approach Llew again. I had asked him a couple years ago if he knew of any way to take care of this curse. At the time he hadn’t, but both his experience and his knowledge had grown since then. It was worth a shot.

  I made sure Raj was comfortable with the TV and his cartoons. I used to leave him out in his doghouse when I wasn’t home, but given the state of my feud with the neighbors, I didn’t trust Buck to not try to hurt him. I tossed a couple apples in my bag, made sure I had everything I needed, and locked the door securely behind me.

  As I headed to my car, I glanced across the street. Sure enough, it looked like Buck Smith and his cronies were hosting another meeting of the Human Liberation Army. I recognized several of the cars, and the fact that they had anti-SubCult stickers on their bumpers didn’t help. Although they didn’t use that term for those who weren’t human. Instead, their slogans bandied around terms like coontie—a vulgar term for Crypto women that referred to their genitals, and softrocks—a similar label for Crypto men, as well as other, worse idioms.

  I considered tossing a fireball down one of their gas tanks, but that would only make things worse. And while I knew Herne, who ran the Wild Hunt agency, and he could probably step in for me if need be, I didn’t want to press our friendship.

  With a sigh, I settled for giving Buck and his house the finger as I pulled out the cul-de-sac and headed for downtown Redmond.

  Chapter Three

  I was still hungry. The yogurt had barely touched my appetite, so I stopped in at A Taste of Latte, which was next door to the Sun and Moon Apothecary. Jordan Roberts owned the coffee shop, and he was Llew’s husband. Llew was one of my best friends, and Jordan, who had been rather standoffish before, had quickly become a close friend as well. We had endured a run-in with a creepy-assed doll bent on making Jordan’s life miserable. The freakshow toy had threatened both of their lives until I helped them destroy it. Now we were all copacetic.