Cursed by Death Read online

  Cursed By Death

  The Protectors

  Basia Pike

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  About the Author

  Cursed by Death Copyright © 2018 Basia Pike

  All Rights Reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

  This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2018 Basia Pike

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 1717890849

  ISBN-13: 9781717890849

  Created with Vellum

  Acknowledgments

  I want to acknowledge everyone who had a part in the production of this book. I’d like to thank Methyss Digital Artist for the stunning cover design, Ocean’s Edge Editing for editing the book, and all the beta readers who read the book and helped with its production.

  1

  My stomach knotted with worry as the dial tone ended and the answering machine picked up. It was almost five-thirty, and I always called my wife before leaving work. Laughter from Mr. Anders’ retirement party echoed down the hall. I dialed my home number for the second time on the rotary dial. It rang for longer than normal and then the answering machine sounded.

  Maybe she’s in the bath. I shrugged off the doubt. If she had gone into labor, Mrs. Meers, our next-door neighbor, would have called me.

  I stood and headed down the corridor to join my colleagues. I wanted to race back to check on her, but I knew I had to at least show my face for five minutes.

  James noticed me right away. He beckoned me over where he was chatting with Becky, the newest addition to the courthouse staff. She had joined about six months ago. She was the new secretary and James fancied her. Becky didn’t seem to be responding to his advances.

  I had only been working as a law clerk for a year after finishing law school in Minneapolis. It had been difficult to live away from Josephine for so long. We had known each other since we were eleven years old.

  James passed me a beer as I approached and I took it begrudgingly. I didn’t drink, particularly when driving, but if I protested I wouldn’t hear the last of it.

  “You look a bit glum! What’s up?” James asked.

  I took a sip of my beer. “I’ve tried calling Jo twice, but she didn’t pick up.”

  James clapped me on the back. “Don’t worry, it’s probably the weather messing with the lines.” I nodded and tried to stamp down the doubt.

  “Have you heard about the murder last night in Ely?” Becky asked. I shook my head and Becky’s brows knitted together. “How have you not heard about it?”

  I frowned. “What happened?”

  Becky and James exchanged nervous glances. “A couple were found murdered… Their throats torn out.”

  I gulped. That sounds like a vampire. I took a long sip of beer. The news made me more anxious to get back to Jo. Vampires were uncommon here in Minnesota.

  Mr. Anders let out a screech and clutched his hand over his heart. His skin had gone gray.

  Not again!

  “Someone help! He’s having a heart attack!” Mrs. Jackson screeched. With a thud, Mr. Anders fell to the floor, his eyes lolling to the back of his head.

  I pushed my way through the group of people that had gathered around him. I was the only one that knew CPR, so I performed it, while Mrs. Jackson dialed for an ambulance.

  “Sana,” I muttered the healing spell under my breath hoping no one would notice. Mr. Anders’ normal pink color instantly returned to his face. After a moment he sat up, eyes wide. I had saved Mr. Anders from two heart attacks now. Magic could heal certain conditions, particularly if caught quickly enough.

  “I … it’s okay. The pain seems to be gone. Thank you, Elijah.” He stood up, still a little shaky on his feet.

  “The ambulance is on its way,” Becky said.

  He waved his hand. “No need for that. It must have been a false alarm.”

  “You still need to be checked out,” I insisted, glancing over at the clock on the wall. It was five-forty. “I’m sorry, I must be off. I tried ringing Jo earlier and she didn’t pick up. I want to make sure she’s okay.”

  Mr. Anders shook my hand. I headed back into the office to try Jo again. Again there was no answer. Doubt and worry consumed me, particularly after the new of two murders last night which sounded suspiciously like vampires.

  I grabbed my briefcase and headed to my car. I drove out of Ely at high speed, eager to get back to her. I wasn’t sure whether I was seeing things, but as I passed out of Ely I could have sworn I saw a pair of red eyes peering out of the dense forest at me. When I looked again, there was nothing there.

  I shook my head and sped along the highway. Ever since my mother’s death I had been overly sensitive to the presence of vampires, and I was glad that Ely was free of them, for the most part.

  I sighed as I pulled into our drive and saw the house lit up. Jo was standing at the sink in the kitchen in front of the window. She looked up when she heard my car and smiled. For God’s sake woman, pick up the phone in future!

  “Hello, stranger.” She appeared at the door and opened it to greet me. Her hand rested on the bump of her stomach, as she smiled at me. I pulled her into a kiss and placed my hand on her tummy.

  “Hello, both of you. I wish you would answer the phone. I was so worried.” Her eyes widened.

  “When did you call?” she asked.

  “About half an hour ago. Why?”

  She shook her head. “I was preparing dinner. I didn’t hear it ring.”

  “Maybe the weather is interfering with the lines… Perhaps I should take a look.” I shut the door behind me, before shrugging my thick winter coat off placing it on the coat hanger. Followed by my hand-knitted scarf and hat. I glanced in the mirror in our hallway. My dark black hair was a little messy and my brown eyes were watering from the freezing night air.

  I walked into the kitchen and grabbed the phone off the wall. The line was dead. I sighed. It was most likely an animal again. Animals were constantly chewing the lines up.

  “How was work?” she asked, glancing at me.

  I shrugged. “No one is taking work seriously at the moment because it’s almost Christmas.” She was cooking dinner, and I walked towards her. “The phone line is dead, I’ll take a look outside after dinner.” I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her neck. “How was your day?” I asked.

  She turned to face me beaming. “It was good. I finished painting the nursery. Do you want to see it?”

  “Of course.” She gripped m
y hand in hers and led me up the stairs. We had painted the nursery in cream. Once the baby was born we intended to paint either blue or pink prints over it. We had a white cot in one corner and loads of toys already. Jo’s parents had bought so many things in anticipation of their grandchild’s arrival.

  “It’s perfect,” I said.

  She wrapped her arms around my neck. “Not long now.” Jo was due in two weeks’ time, just after Christmas. “Can’t you take the next week off work?” she asked, and I got a sinking feeling in my stomach. She knew how much I hated taking time off work. What if there was a case that needed attention?

  “Jo, I don’t feel I can just take a week off.” Her face dropped. I knew how disappointed she was, but it wasn’t in me to take time off work for no reason. Okay, she was having a baby, but by her due date I would be on leave for Christmas.

  “Let’s enjoy the weekend together,” I said.

  She grabbed an empty paint pot and headed back out onto the landing. “Oh, by the way, Elise has asked us over for dinner and to stay over tomorrow night.”

  I sighed.

  She turned to me her shoulders dropping. “What’s wrong?”

  I shook my head and pulled her close. “Nothing. I was looking forward to some alone time with you.” I planted a kiss on her lips.

  “Let’s have some dinner.”

  As we returned to the kitchen the smell of hot dish filled my nostrils. “You’ve made my favorite?” I asked.

  “Of course.” I wasn’t from Minnesota originally, but I sure as hell loved the food. Hot dish being my favorite. I tucked into the tasty casserole dish with cheese and tater tots as we chatted together between bites.

  I cleaned up the dishes. All my friends thought I was mad doing the dishes and not leaving my wife to do it. But, since I was brought up by strong independent women I had learned to respect them, and help them when needed.

  Jo headed upstairs to bed before me. I grabbed the phone and checked the dial tone again, it was still blank. I grabbed my coat and hat and headed out into the snow-covered garden. The phone line was at the back of the house.

  I trudged through the snow and stopped frozen in my tracks. The line was broken before it reached the house.

  Damn Animals! It had been snowing too heavily to detect any paw prints.

  Something moving to my left caught my eye. What the hell was that? I was sure I saw a flash of red, but once I had glanced over there was nothing. I shook my head and knelt down to make the repair to the line. It would only be temporary, but I used masking tape to hold the two ends of the wire together.

  I was about to head back inside when a familiar but harrowing voice spoke my name, “Elijah…” I froze. I was too scared to turn and have my fears confirmed. I could feel him nearing me.

  He was now close enough for me to hear the sound of his breathing. I turned and took a number of steps back. My father was standing in front of me. His red eyes filled with what looked like guilt. Those eyes were eyes that had haunted my dreams for years. The man I hadn’t seen for over ten years and never wanted to see again stood before me.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” I asked, rage bubbling up inside of me.

  He ran a hand through his long dark hair. “I needed to come and warn you…” He trailed off a conflicted look in his eyes.

  I glared at him. “Warn me of what? Did you cut our phone line?”

  “No, of course not! Elijah, I know you will never forgive me for what I did, but there is a lot you don’t know about your family.”

  Forgive him? There was no chance in hell I would ever forgive him for what he did.

  My mind returned to that fateful day. I remember how beautiful my mother was dressed in a flowing white dress. She had cooked us dinner, but my father had been out late drinking. He returned drunk and in a rage after hearing some men at the bar talking about her in a way he didn’t like.

  She hadn’t even done anything wrong. And, I cowered in the corner as he ripped her throat out. I had felt so powerless. At eleven years old my powers hadn’t developed enough for me to stop him.

  I couldn’t believe he was standing there spewing this bullshit to me. I knew enough about my family. My mother was a caring and loving woman, and my father was an evil murderous bastard.

  “I think you better clear off before I kill you!” My hands balled into fists. The temptation to end the life of the vampire stood in front of me was overwhelming. I held up a hand and chanted, “prohibe.” He was thrown back into the snow and I held him there.

  “Please, Elijah! Your family is in danger.”

  I stared into those evil red eyes. My heart thudding in my ears. “Danger from you I would imagine!” I shouted. The anger now bubbling to the surface making my hands tremble.

  The satisfaction of killing him would be sweet. But, as I stared at the creature that stole my mother’s life I knew that it would make me no better than him.

  “No, not from me. The truth is your mother wasn’t human.” I blinked slowly unable to process exactly what he had said.

  “She was human. You’re a liar!” My entire body trembled, as I kept him held to the floor with my magic.

  “Elijah please listen to what I have to say.” My shoulders stooped, and I glared at him waiting for him to carry on. I kept him pressed into the cold snow. “Your mother was the daughter of a human and a werewolf. She didn’t inherit the werewolf qualities. You also didn’t inherit them.” He averted my gaze.

  “Carry on,” I said.

  “A prophecy has been told that your child will have unique abilities. Not only will your child be a witch, they will have werewolf qualities, and vampire qualities too.”

  I scowled at him. “That’s not possible. I’ve never heard so much rubbish in all my life!” I exclaimed.

  My father’s jaw clenched. “It’s true. Witches, werewolves and vampires in the south are rattled. They believe your child could bring about peace to unite the races which many don’t want. You need to get away from here, quick.” I didn’t believe a word he was saying. It seemed like a desperate ploy to try and wrangle his way back into my life.

  “Give me a reason I shouldn’t kill you right here right now?” I demanded.

  His eyes pooled with tears. “There’s not a day goes by I don’t regret what I did to your mother. I loved–”

  “No, you don’t get to sit there and tell me this shit! You ripped my mother away from me when I was eleven. She loved you and you…” I couldn’t speak past the lump in my throat.

  I turned to leave. I couldn’t stand going over it with him. I knew the longer I stayed in his presence the more I’d want to kill him.

  “Elijah… Please believe me. I don’t want to see you or your family hurt.”

  I didn’t turn back to face him. “I have no reason to trust you. If you never wanted to hurt me then you wouldn’t have murdered my mother in front of my eyes.” The tears streamed down my face unrelentingly, and I headed back to the house.

  2

  It was Sunday morning, and I woke early as the light streamed through the crack in the black curtains. I stretched my arm out to grab my watch on the cluttered bedside table in Elise’s spare room.

  It was ten o’clock already, and we had to be at the coven meeting by eleven. I groaned and rolled over to one side staring at my beautiful wife sleeping peacefully.

  “Stop staring at me,” she said, not opening her eyes

  I chuckled, “Good morning.” I planted a kiss on her cheek and a small smile flitted onto her lips.

  “Morning, what time is it?” she asked, her beautiful emerald green eyes staring up at me.

  “It’s ten o’clock.” I brushed a strand of red hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear.

  “We better get up,” she said.

  I groaned again. “Do we have to.”

  “I don’t think my parents would be happy if I don’t turn up!”

  I laughed. “No, I wouldn’t like to see the look on your d
ad’s face! We wouldn’t hear the last of it.”

  A loud knock sounded on the bedroom door. “Guys, we’ve got an hour until we need to meet the rest of the coven!” Elise shouted.

  “Thanks, Elise,” Jo called out, as I rolled my eyes. Jo punched me playfully in the shoulder.

  “She means well,” she whispered into my ear, before rolling over and getting out of bed. I watched her get changed, as she pushed her waist length red hair through her dress. I couldn’t get over how lucky I was to be with her. Jo was the most beautiful woman I’d ever met.

  The delicious smell of bacon and waffles wafted up the stairs. It was enough to get me up and out of bed. After a quick shower, I got dressed and headed down to the kitchen.

  “Good morning, Elijah,” Elise said.

  “Morning.” Jo was already sitting at the kitchen table tucking into a large plate of waffles. I smiled and took a seat next to her.

  “Do you know what this meeting is all about?” Elise asked, setting down a plate of bacon and waffles in front of me. She stared at Jo, as her parents were the leaders of the coven.

  “No idea,” Jo said in between bites.

  I glanced up at the clock on the wall. It was quarter to eleven! “We had best make a move if we’re not going to late,” I said, shoveling the last pancake in my mouth and washing it down with a glass of orange juice. Elise busied herself getting her handbag and keys and all other sorts of items she carried with her. We got into Elise’s car and headed for the meeting.