This Curse - By Alisha Basso Page 0,45

as if help was hiding somewhere in the tumbleweeds.

I yawned dramatically. “Stating the obvious will not help you, Coop. Strike one.”

“No, no! That’s not all. Um, he’s being held in the Underground.”

That one was new to me. I looked at Jamie. “Underground?”

She had gone baby powder white and a fine sheen of perspiration broke out over her skin. “Oh, God Grace!” she whispered, her voice shaking. She took several steps backward, shaking her head frantically her voice came out in a gasp, “He’s in…” she swallowed. “He’s in… Hell!”

“HE’S WHERE?” I screamed. Turning on Cooper, I tried several times to speak only to manage a pitiful stutter. Then my mind filled with the madness of anger and adrenaline. “How did he get there?” I screeched wildly.

Cooper looked ready to bolt. “He tried to recover your blood. He smells like it you know, your blood.” He took a step backward. “Such an ally he could have been. Angers them to know that he’s yours now, no longer pitching for our team.” Another step. “I was told to get you to come.” Cooper was several feet away from me now, but my mind was a tumbling mess of panicked thoughts.

“He doesn’t have a lot of time.” Cooper threw the tarp down, “The blonde man is cruel. He likes pain.” And with that vague statement, Cooper was running like the devil was on his heels. I watched him go, fear blanketing me, wrapping me in a paralyzing cocoon.

Seth was in Hell? I started to hiccup. My breath came in and out in quick gasps as I absorbed this new information. I reached out blindly and braced myself on the pile of wood.

“You can’t go, Grace. You’ll never make it out again.” Her voice shook and then, looking at me, her shoulders lost some of their tension. She let out a loud sigh and came to me. Her face still showed fear, but she was nice enough to brush that aside and wrap me in a comforting hug.

I pulled her closer and sighed. It had been so long since I had a female for a friend, I had forgotten how reassuring it was. Getting a hug from someone that wasn’t trying to seduce me for power was an amazing comfort.

“Thanks, James,” I smiled, stepping out of her embrace. “But, I have to go. It’s my fault he’s there. Well, at least in part it is.”

She studied me for a moment. “You are sure?” She watched my face. I looked her dead in the eyes and she straightened her shoulders, “Then, I can’t let you do it alone. You took me in, no questions asked.” She frowned. “Well, not a lot of questions asked. I can’t turn my back on you now. Besides, I guess some of it is my fault as well. You were rescuing me along with your blood.” She smiled at me and it was genuine.

I studied her and frowned. “You’re really in?”

“Yeah,” she nudged me, “I guess I am. Besides, you may be a Madea, but you are about as far from a demon as you can get. You’re going to need my help.” She smiled and hooked her arm in mine. “How are you at stirring spells?” she asked as she led me inside the house.

***

The kitchen table was covered with Chinese takeout boxes and every book that Jamie could think of on magic.

Nature and earth are the only forces pure enough to combat the evils of that place. They are the only form that can go in undetected, Grace. Jamie’s voice was a constant echo in my head. Ever since I argued that as a Madea, I pretty much had all the power we would need. She had scoffed, telling me that Voltaire would be expecting me to run in, guns blazing. Her plan was to sneak in completely hidden behind a pair of simple glamour’s that Voltaire would never stoop to detect.

“See?” she explained, excitedly. “I’m sure he thinks he’s the most powerful player in the game, aside from you of course.” She rolled her eyes. “Though he’d never admit that. He’ll be expecting some huge show of magical force. Well, while he’s sitting around, waiting for war, we’ll just mosey in and sneak Seth right out from under their noses.” She smiled and shoveled more beef and broccoli into her mouth.

I sat back, too nervous to eat and just watched her wolf down the food. We had been at this for a few hours and Jamie had