Dark Lakes, Volume One: An Uncanny Kingdom Urban Fantasy (A Dark Lakes Collection Book 1) by Matthew Stott & David Bussell

Author:Matthew Stott & David Bussell [Stott, Matthew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Genre Reader
Published: 2017-11-09T00:00:00+00:00

Maya dropped me off home and I retrieved the now cold pizzas from the Uncanny Wagon.

‘I was starting to worry about you,’ said Annie, as I entered with a cheery hello.

‘I come bearing very cold gifts.’

We sat on the couch, eating delicious cold pizza, drinking beer, and letting some bad sci-fi movie burble along in the background as we talked.

‘Anything happen while I was gone?’ I asked.

‘Nope,’ replied Annie, muffled, around a mouthful of pizza. ‘You said this place had protection on it. What d’you mean by that?’

‘Magic. It has magic stuff on it, to keep me safe from… things.’

‘I’m sorry, what? Are you saying you’re a magician?’

‘No, of course not.’

‘Oh.’

‘I’m a witch.’

‘Oh again.’

‘Though I tend to prefer the term warlock. Is that sexist of me? It feels sexist.’

‘A little bit.’

‘Little bit?’

Annie shrugged. ‘Though warlock does sound more bad-arse. I’d probably try and use that too.’

She smiled and I found myself laughing and relaxing. It might have been the first time I’d felt in any way comfortable since Chloe died. It felt.. a bit weird.

A bit wrong.

‘So, you believe me, then?’ I asked. ‘You just take my word for it that I’m a warlock?’

‘Joe, I’ve been climbing into a well to talk to creatures from Hell since I was seven years old. I think I can cope with the idea that warlocks exist.’

Well yes, that made sense.

‘I’m going to be honest here, it wasn’t until about a week ago that I even knew warlocks existed. My past is a bit, well, completely empty. But now there’s magic, and monsters, and talking, axe-wielding foxes, and now, demons. It’s been quite the few days, let me tell you.’

‘Axe-wielding foxes?’

‘Oh yes.’

Annie smiled. ‘That sounds sort of cute. And awesome.’

I went over to the fridge and grabbed a fresh couple of bottles. ‘Another beer?’

Annie nodded and made grabby hands.

‘You know, I actually feel relaxed,’ she said. ‘I’ve been walking around like I have a target on my back for weeks, because, well, I do. It’s so good to finally have someone on my side, someone helping me.’

Ah. Yes. I had yet to actually go into the details of my conversation with Eva. About how, apparently, Annie was pretty much screwed in the bottom.

‘It’s not just me I’m scared about,’ said Annie.

‘What is it?’

‘I mean, if it was just me, I’d be scared, of course. Terrified. But...I’m a mum.’

Ah. And oh. And shit.

‘A little girl. She’s three.’

I thought back to the insight I’d had into the mother’s fierce, all consuming love for her child back at the earlier crime scene. It was the most powerful love I’d ever felt. Maybe the sort of love I’d never be able to experience myself.

‘What’s her name?’

‘Millie. She’s great. Well, I would say that, but it’s also true. The best thing that’s ever happened to me. The only good thing I ever got out of her dad before he decided to leave. And now…’ her voice faltered, a catch in the throat.

‘Where is she?’

‘She’s staying with my best friend. I had to make up some bullshit for why.

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