Page 138 of Kick the Candle (Knight Games 2)
"Call me when you're ready to look at apartments." He hung up on me without saying goodbye.
Okay, I probably deserved that. After all, Dad didn't understand that he might have signed my death certificate. He was just doing his job.
I needed a plan. Every cell in my body pinged against my skin in warning. My heart raced. My palms broke out in a cold sweat. Coping skills first, plan second. I took a deep breath in and let it out slowly to the count of three. And again, slow breath. I wiped my mind of every thought and simply listened to my breath. Once I was in control, I focused on the task at hand.
Priority one, determine if the protective enchantment around the house was still in place. I tapped my Book of Light app and searched for a spell to detect enchantments. Thankfully, the magic was there; Michelle and I had made it past "E".
With one last deep breath to steel my nerves, I stripped out of my pajamas, fetched Nightshade from the corner, and strapped her to my back. Then I dressed like a ninja, black stretchy pants, military boots, long sleeved black shirt with a large neck to give me access to my blade.
I rushed from the room, stopping in the attic for some things from my chest. Salt, silver bowl, a sprig of St. John's Wort. Down to the kitchen. One part salt, one part lemon juice, a drop of my blood, a cracked egg with the yolk broken by my blade. I placed the bowl next to the front door. When nothing happened, I opened the door and placed it on the threshold. The yolk of the egg swam a little in the concoction, reaching for my drop of blood. It didn't mix with the spot of red, but surrounded it. I checked my app, then gawked at the bowl like a pregnancy test with an unwanted result. The enchantment was fading. Fully in place, the yolk would not be able to touch my blood. I'd know when it fell completely because the yellow would blend with the red. Already the yolk pressed against the outside of the bubble of blood.
"It's only a matter of time," a deep voice said, snapping my head up from the threshold. Mr. Nekomata stood at the base of my porch stairs, and what do you know, Seraphina smirked at his side. "Give yourself over to us and we will let you live. We only come for what is rightfully ours. Invite us in, give us the book, and we will consider you a friend of our clan."
I stood up and faced him from inside my doorway. Salt and pepper hair, distinctively Japanese features, exceptional height. His camel hair coat caught a spray of powder from the snow and flapped in the breeze that chilled me to the bone.
"I've recently learned Seraphina is your niece," I said, lowering my chin and narrowing my eyes.
His thin lips pulled back. "Yes. I believe you've already met."
Seraphina wiggled her leather-gloved fingers, her fitted wool coat undulating against her legs in the winter chill. "Nice to see you again, Grateful, especially considering I don't have to eat your cooking."
I squared my shoulders and drew Nightshade from her sheath. The blade glowed blue although I could barely tell in the daylight. "Then, may I presume you are uncle Kai?" I was pleased with myself for remembering what Seraphina had said about her family.
Mr. Nekomata nodded. "I am Kai."
"Good. I always like to know someone's name before I kill them. Any next of kin I should notify after I slay both of you?"
He cracked his neck, then turned his chin slowly toward the woods across the street from the house. Monstrous creatures stepped out from between the trees. Even from a distance I could make out sharp teeth and claws on hairy cat-shaped bodies the size of saber-toothed tigers, all with forked tails-the nekomata in their shifted forms. Kai had brought an army. "These are my kin."
I muttered a curse my brain tossed out for me like a life vest. Kai bent slightly at the waist, as if a minor discomfort had washed through him. Any sign of distress was gone in an instant. He loosed a patronizing laugh. Why couldn't the solstice happen at midnight? I was my weakest during daylight hours.
"Looks like there will be a meal today after all," Seraphina said. "And you're the main course."
The nekomata closed in. I could see them clearly now: long tawny fur, black stripes, and spots over their flank, and a long, cougar-style snout that would undoubtedly lock on to you and never let go.
"Join us, Witch, or die," Seraphina demanded.
"You say 'die' like it's a big deal or something. I've died lots of times, bitch, and you're not worthy of a repeat." With a sneer, I kicked the silver bowl inside and slammed the door, locking it behind me. I looked down at the contents of the bowl. Orange. The yolk had permeated my blood; the expiration date on my enchantment had officially come to pass.
Solstice
Nightshade in hand, I bolted up the stairs. My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Chloe, would have been very disappointed as the razor sharp length of bone in my hand was much worse than running with scissors. Behind me, the nekomata pounded on the door, hurrying my feet. I ducked into my room sending out mental vibes with everything I had, calling Rick and Poe to me for help.
The raven flew full speed toward the glass and I popped open the window just in time to let the streak of feathers inside.
"They've surrounded the house!" Poe squawked.
"No shit. Where's Rick? Did you see him coming?"
Poe shook his head. "He wasn't anywhere. Maybe inside the house?"
"You tried the door?"
"Briefly. I knocked. He didn't answer."
"Crap. I knew he was angry, but I didn't think he'd completely give up on me."
"What's he angry about?"
