Marks was already at the convenience store when we pulled into the parking lot. That meant he’d had time to warn her, to prep and get their stories straight. That made me mad. The whole town was against me, and the worst part was I shouldn’t have been surprised. I was the monster, they carried the torches and pitchforks, and nothing would change that. Human nature being what it was.
At least I had backup this time.
I didn’t wait for Ben and Tony, though. I wanted to break up their little witches’ coven, and I wanted to do it now. While they were still getting out of the car, I stalked to the door of the store. Slammed it open. Sure enough, Marks and Alice were in conference, leaning over the counter by the cash register. They looked at me, shocked, though they should have expected me. Joe, standing behind Alice, quickly ducked for his rifle. I should have kept my distance, but I wasn’t thinking too straight.
I went right toward them, closing the gap in a few long strides, and I must have had murder in my eyes because they both flinched back. That inspired me; let them think I wanted to rip their throats out.
I slammed my hand on the counter, making them jump, at the moment Joe cocked and leveled his rifle, mere inches from my skull. I could smell it, cold and oily.
The bell on the door rang as it opened again. “Kitty!” Ben called, at the same time Tony said, “No, wait.” I imagined Tony held him back from rushing to my rescue. I couldn’t look away. I only had eyes for Alice.
“So,” I said, filled with fake cheerfulness. “Did you really give those crosses to Jake to melt them down, or did you keep them so you could dump them back around my place?”
Bug-eyed and stricken, she stared back at me. Almost, she trembled, and a scent of fear-laden sweat broke out on her skin. She looked like prey. Like a rabbit caught in Wolf’s sight.
What a great feeling. I had the power; I was the badass. If I so much as raised a finger, she’d probably scream.
Then, she knelt. Slowly, she disappeared behind the counter, and when she stood again, she held the bag of crosses I’d given her. They chimed when she set them on the counter.
This was one of those times when I hated being right.
“Goddamn it, Alice. I liked you! Why’d you have to turn out to be such a bitch?”
The overly polite woman, the one who couldn’t be mean to anyone’s face, took command. “You don’t have to be so angry,” she said, with a righteous tilt to her chin.
I wasn’t finished. “If you hate me eno
ugh to kill small animals over it, don’t turn around and pretend to be nice to me. Honestly, I prefer Joe here with his gun pointed at me. At least I know where I stand with him!”
Joe blinked at me over the stock of his rifle, like he was unable to process the rather backhanded compliment.
Marks said, “Joe, why don’t you put that thing away.” Joe obeyed and slowly lowered the weapon.
“I don’t hate you,” Alice said softly. “I just don’t want you to live here.” Her thin-lipped grimace was almost apologetic.
I didn’t even know where to start. Maybe she wanted me to sympathize. Maybe she wanted me to feel sorry for her. Instead, the rage flared even higher. I had to pause a moment, take a breath, and think happy vegetarian thoughts before I growled for real. What had I told Ben about holding it in taking practice? I was getting a lot of practice right now.
Finally, I said, “Guess what? You don’t get to tell me where to live.”
She looked away.
Tony stepped up then, sweeping away the tension with his presence. “You know what you did wrong, don’t you?” He addressed Alice.
“Who are you?” she asked.
“Tony. You know what you did wrong?”
She shook her head, hesitant, still full of that befuddled rabbit look.
“The cross on the doorway,” Tony said, gesturing back to where Alice had hung a cross above the door. “The barrier of crosses. They’re supposed to prevent evil from crossing, yes? Keep evil contained, keep it from intruding.” He waited for her to nod, to acknowledge what he said. “Kitty’s not evil. I’ve only known her half a day and I know that.”
He said “evil” and I almost heard “dangerous.” As in, “She’s not dangerous. She’s harmless.” I had an inexplicable urge to argue, but Tony kept talking.
“She may have danger and darkness in her nature, but so do we all. That isn’t evil. Evil is seeking out the darkness, seeking out the pain of others.”
I glanced back at Ben, to make sure he’d heard. That was what I’d been trying to tell him. He looked at me, gave a tiny smile. Yes, he’d heard.
“Is it true what Sheriff Marks said, that our spell caused what’s been happening to the cattle?”