Beast of Eden by Elise Sax

Author:Elise Sax [sax, elise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Elise Sax
Published: 2020-07-19T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

“Those that can heal can harm; Those that can cure can kill.”

–Celia Rees

Witch Child

I closed the soup shop early, not so much because I had to get home to slay a vampire, but because with attack cats and an abusive waiter, diners had fled the shop and never came back.

The storm had ended just as suddenly as it had begun, but it still caused havoc with the flushable wipes problem. There were now small hills of soggy, compacted flushable wipes dotting the sidewalks and streets all along Sea Breeze Avenue.

As I locked up the shop, Vern walked past. This time he was carrying a large snow shovel over his shoulder.

He tipped his hat to me. “Had to get a bigger shovel,” he explained as he passed by.

I walked up Sea Breeze Avenue and turned left onto our private, cobblestone road toward the house and lighthouse.

Vlad was standing on the corner, a foot away from where the cobblestones began. I guessed he hadn’t exaggerated about not being able to access the house. He couldn’t even step on the property.

“Warn them not to make me angry,” he told me. “You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.”

“I think you’re blowing this way out of proportion. They just want to save John. They’re very nice women.”

“If they wanted to save John, they shouldn’t have put him in Remington’s body.” He paused a moment and arched an eyebrow. “Or was that you who did that?”

I didn’t think I did. I might have wanted to do it, but I didn’t think I had.

“It was an accident,” I said, finally. “We’ll fix it if you just give us time.”

“I’m not the one holding the stopwatch. The bosses back east are not very patient.”

I gnawed on the inside of my cheek. The bell was tolling for us, and I feared for John. And for me.

“Well, it’s been nice chatting with you, but I need to get home,” I said.

Halfway up the road, Vlad called after me: “The charms won’t keep me out for long, Agatha. Warn your aunts.”

Black candles bordered the steps up to the front porch. They would be lit later, I was sure, as an extra-strong banishment and protection charm.

The front door opened, and Auntie Tilly pulled me inside.

“Did he see you?” she asked as she locked and barred the door.

“He saw me and spoke to me. He sends a warning to you not to do this. What are we doing?”

Auntie Ida came down the stairs with her arms around a dozen brooms.

“Did you tell her about her naked dance?” she asked Auntie Tilly.

“I thought you should do that.”

I took my sandals off. “You know that I’m not a good dancer. I’m going to eat something,” I announced and padded to the kitchen.

Six pots were boiling on the stove, and the kitchen table was covered in assorted herbs and weeds.

“You’ve been busy,” I noted and started to slice bread for cinnamon toast.

“There’s corned beef hash on the counter,” Auntie Ida told me.

“Be careful, though. The

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