Leeches? I gave a start. “Leeches!” I pushed myself up and spun around, my legs hanging down from the counter, as I positioned strategically, in case I needed to run. The pain was forgotten at the idea of slimy, disgusting leeches coming anywhere near me.
Oh. Hell. No.
Grinning, my grandfather held up the glass jar for me to see. Packed on the bottom were a colony of black, slimy, flat-looking worms. Leeches.
My grilled cheese erased from my mind, I nearly threw up right there and then, the moving leeches sending another wave of nausea coursing through me. I’d seen my share of disgusting, slippery, demon guts and entrails, but this? This was another level of disgusting, hitting my repulsive meter to the very top.
I gripped the sides of the island counter. “You cannot be serious,” I said, hating how scared and weak my voice was. I was a dark witch. And yes, I had a problem with creepy tiny leeches. So, sue me.
“How do you suppose we remove the poison?” asked my grandfather, his free hand on his hip. “By asking it nicely? Don’t be stupid, Sam. Leeches have been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. Even human doctors have used them.” He moved forward—
I raised my hand. “You’re not coming near me with those things,” I said firmly. “No way.”
“Sam.” The wrinkles on my grandfather’s face deepened. “If you don’t let the leeches do their job, you will die. I don’t think you understand how serious this is.”
“I do.”
“Apparently not. The poison in your wound will spread if we don’t take it out now.” He hesitated. “If I don’t take it out now, it will be too late.”
He looked every bit the mad scientist. The crazy white hair flowed just past his ears, the thick white eyebrows, the manic gleam in his eyes, and let’s not forget, the witch was wearing just a bathrobe.
“There must be another way,” I said, trying to keep the panic from my voice but failing miserably.
“There isn’t.” My grandfather’s expression turned into a scowl. “Now, be a good witch and take your medicine.” He stepped forward.
“You come near me with that jar,” I warned, “and I won’t be responsible for what I’m about to do to you.”
My grandfather let out an exasperated breath. “By the cauldron, I swear. You are a Beaumont witch, Samantha. We do not run away scared of a few leeches. Now, just suck it up and let me do my work.”
“Easy for you to say.” My eyes went to the glass jar. It wasn’t enough that I’d nearly been killed and then imprisoned all in one night. Now he wanted to mess around with leeches? “I’ll take the sleeping spell now.”
“Can’t,” said the crazy old witch holding the jar of leeches. “You need to be awake for this.”
I frowned. “But, you just said—”
“I lied. Get over it.” He twisted the lid and tossed it on the counter. Do they look bigger?
“Just do it, Sam,” encouraged Poe. “What’s the big deal? They’re just leeches.”
“Exactly.”
“They’re excellent with a bit of salt,” informed the bird. “And sautéed in garlic. Can’t forget the garlic.”
The ground wavered. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
“You’re already sick, Samantha,” noted my grandfather. “You’ll die if you don’t let the leeches do their job.” Seeing the panic on my face, he added with a softer voice. “They are tiny miracle workers. I promise it’ll be quick.”
I knew he was lying. But what choice did I have? And yet, I knew he was telling the truth about the death blade’s poison. If I didn’t get it out of me, the poison would eventually kill me.
“If I do this,” I said, pointing my finger first at my grandfather and then to Poe, “we’ll never, ever, speak of it again. Got it?” I can’t believe I’m actually thinking of going through with this. I must be mad.
Poe lifted his right wing. “On my honor as a demon.”
I pursed my lips. “Demons don’t believe in honor.”
The raven shrugged. “I know.”
I flicked my gaze to my grandfather, raised my brows, and waited.
“Oh, for cauldron’s sake,” began my grandfather, but then with one look at me, he added, “fine. I will never mention you and leeches in the same sentence. Now shut up and turn back around.”
I swallowed back the bile and did as I was told. I barely felt the cold counter as I lay down, bracing myself at the thought of tiny suction-cup-like mouths on my skin.
Did you ever jump into a lake and come out full of leeches? Me neither. So when I felt a cold, wiggling creature plop against the skin on my lower back for the first time, I flinched, my legs kicking out behind me.
I’m going to pass out. I’m going to pass out. Please, let me pass out!
Plop. Plop. Plop. Three more leeches wiggled their way around my wound until their tiny mouths fastened onto my flesh, sucking out the poison like miniature vacuum cleaners. I gagged. It was the most disgusting sensation I’d ever felt.
Oh, God, I’m going to barf.
“Breathe, Sam,” came my grandfather’s voice behind me. “It’ll be all over soon.”
I clenched my jaw until it hurt, not trusting my voice, especially all the foul things I wanted to call my grandfather.
I’m going to throw up. Then, I’m going to punch my grandfather in the face.
“I’ve gotta see this,” said Poe as he leaped in the air, his wings fluttering, and landed on the kitchen island somewhere behind me.
I scowled. “Glad you’re enjoying the freakshow, Poe.”
“That’s disgusting,” said the raven, after a moment’s hesitation.
“Poe. I’m going to make a stew out of you,” I threatened through gritted teeth.
The bird was quiet after that.
I swallowed hard, flinching at the rhythmic suctions. The little bastards were drawing in my blood in harmony, like vampire worms. With my hands fisted, my breathing slowed and steadied as I fought to bring the terror under control.
“So, Logan bailed you out of jail, eh?” said my gramps. I knew he was only trying to distract me so I wouldn’t jump off the counter, screaming like a banshee.
“More like busted me out,” I answered, my voice tight with tension, sounding shaky. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and it felt like every inch of my skin was covered in goose bumps.
“Why were you there in the first place?” inquired my grandfather, his voice tinged with worry.
I took a breath and recounted the events leading up to my arrest, including what happened with the dark witch court.
“Well, you’re not going to like what I have to say,” declared my grandfather, his tone grim, like he was about to give me bad news.
My breath hissed out. “I’ll probably like it more than the leeches.”
“There’s been another death,” he said. “Another witch died this evening while you were... indisposed. And from what you’ve just told me, it appears to be from the same vampire. Vera’s description was quite vivid, to say the least. The body was... well... dried up, if you will.”