Familiar Territory by Sam Cheever

Author:Sam Cheever
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cozy paranormal mystery, paranormal mystery, paranormal witch mystery, cozy paranormal witch mystery, magical cozy mystery
Publisher: Electric Prose Publications
Published: 2017-11-01T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

WE STOOD LOOKING THROUGH the metal spires of the massive gate. The building beyond reminded me of a haunted castle. It wasn’t a house. Even in my cat form, when everything looked bigger, I recognized that it was way too big for that. With its blackened stone exterior and odd, circular portico, the thing looked more like a citadel than a house.

A cold breeze wafted over Posh and me as we sat staring at the foreboding place. The coming storm was heavy in the air, the scent of ozone thickening by the moment. So it was no surprise, a moment later, when lightning speared the night sky above the intimidating structure.

Are those bats flying around up there? I asked Posh. This is like something straight out of a horror film.

It ’pears dis killer like ta put on da show.

I glanced over at the big cat sitting next to me. Posh scanned the area carefully, her enormous form completely still. I understood the seriousness of the task ahead. It would be a miracle if we even survived. Still, there was something that had been bothering me. Something I had to know. So I asked. How come you only have a Cajun accent in cat form? I wouldn’t ask why she was so much...erm...fluffier too. That would just be rude.

She slid a narrowed glance my way. ’Tis da way of things, cher. And just so’s ya know, y’all sound like a bimbo in fur.

Said fur stood straight on end with outrage. I do not! But even as I protested, my mind registered the high-pitched, sexy drawl of my voice. I’d never even noticed it before. In my brain I’d always thought I was me no matter what form I took.

Mm, hm. You sho do. And you dat much nicer as a cat too.

I shook my head, suddenly anxious to change the subject. What is this place, anyway?

This here’s the old, historic Hotel Xavier. It been closed for decades but it was quite da place in its day.

Xavier? I thought of the X cut into Tabitha’s delicate hand and sadness flared through me, pulling the air from my lungs. Of course. She’d been trying to tell me where her killer was.

I gave it another careful look, noting the details in the roofline and the enormous, broken fountain in the bricked, circular drive at the front. If I squinted really hard, I could almost see the grand structure it had once been. Cool.

It were built on a lee line and dere used ta be all manner o’ goin’s on here. Folks reported run-ins with vampire-like creatures, men who transformed into wolves, and more than the usual share of ghostly goings on.

If I’d been human I would have grinned. In my current state the smile came out as a purr. Sounds pretty normal to me.

Me too. But I ain’t a pale, stick-limbed human.

I chuckled.

Come on, cher. We got work ta do. Posh slipped a thick leg between the spires and somehow managed to compress herself enough to slip through.

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