The Smokiest Grave (The Unnatural Series Book 1) Read online

  Her mom cut her off with a shriek, “Oh my Goddess, shut up, shut up. I do not need to hear my daughter talk about sex,” she sighed. “Just call me tomorrow,” her voice was gentle and loving.

  “I will, but it’ll be with my emergency work phone, okay?” Cat gave a little sigh of her own. Her mom agreed, and they both shared a good night with one another.

  Her face was sympathetic when she handed the phone back to Rebecca. She had probably wasted all her minutes.

  Great, I saved enough money to get her a phone for her birthday and I use all it up. “Sorry.”

  “No worries girl, now go in there and get some. Hopefully, he’s big,” she said as she thrust her hips forward, laughing.

  Cat laughed as she closed the door. You’d think it was her room a man was in. Cat knew she had weird friends, but the little she did have, she loved. She reached for the locks, clicking them into place which made her feel safe.

  As she walked back to the love seat, a displeased moan escaped Cat’s mouth. If she hadn’t thought Hendrick would leave in the middle of the night because he couldn’t sleep on such a small couch, she’d be in her room drifting off to sleep.

  This better be worth it, Goddess.

  Eight

  Skrrreeek, Skrrreeek. Cat awoke to ugly scratching noises. The high-pitched noise reminded her of nails on a chalkboard. She covered her ears and pulled her knees into her chest.

  “Stop!”

  As if listening to her, the screech stopped. Cat sat in the darkness of her living room with the bitter taste of blood in her mouth and a vein throbbing in her throat. What the hell is going on? The steady frantic beat of her heart drummed in her ears as loud as the screech.

  Her eyes dashed around the room. All her pictures and quotes didn’t make her feel the warm, happy feeling they usually did. So, she reached for Xena, but the blasted cat wasn’t at her side. “Xena?” Her voice echoed in the distance. A cold chill went through her soul when she couldn't find her Xena.

  Instead of the usual, safe feeling she got when she was home, a nasty itch told her that the house wasn’t safe. And the way the shadows crept closer to her didn’t help. If she kept this up, she’d go insane.

  She folded her arms across her chest and squeezed them tight. She laid back down, but as soon as her head hit the pillow the shadows zoomed in close, hovering.

  No! Cat sat up fast enough to make her dizzy.

  And the headache drifted to her arms like gold chunks going through her veins, pushing on her skin and her insides. She rubbed at her arms, I don’t like this.

  With clenched teeth, she stood up. Maybe a walk around outside will clear my mind. The chilly air might do her some good.

  Skrrreeek, Cat fell to the floor holding her ears again. Thankfully, the noise only lasted a few seconds. I don’t know if a walk is going to fix the kind of crazy I’m experiencing, but it’s worth a try.

  She stormed to the door, flinging it open with only a few tugs. The moment her hand let go of the door knob the oxygen was gone, and she couldn’t breathe. It was like her body had forgotten how to inhale and exhale.

  She ran out the door. Instead of the apartment’s white hallway walls, small rocks dug into her feet. She was outside in the middle of the road. What the heck just happened? If this was one of her enemies luring her into a trap, she was going to spend an extra twenty minutes beating their skulls.

  The outside stung her eyes. It was not the dark coldness she was expecting. Cat looked around causing her mouth to drop open. There was a strange tint to everything.

  Everywhere she looked it was as if someone had put a tan filter over her eyes. Cat tried rubbing her eyes.

  She turned to her neighbors, remembering how beautiful her garden was the last time she saw it. The colorful gardens were no longer that gorgeous pink and red she loved, and everything was an ugly, light tan. She rubbed her eyes frantically, desperate for things to be normal again.

  When she took her hands from her eyes this time, all the neighbors stood in the street. “Hey, do you know what’s going on?” A guy in a button up suit stood in front of her holding a bag in his hand.

  Cat didn’t get a chance to answer; angry shouts erupted all at once, from everyone. They all wanted to know the same thing. Tension rose until the air was thick and tasted musty.

  She was about to run back to her apartment to get Hendrick when something changed in the air. The wind made her mouth dry, like she had sand in the walls of her mouth. She pushed her tongue against them.

  Her eyes searched for answers. She could feel the anger and fear on her skin. The intense feeling stung and prickled her skin at the same time. Cat could feel that something big was coming. She could sense the evil. She didn’t know what it was. All she knew was if she didn't do something to stop the buildup, people were going to start attacking each other.

  Cat groaned, trying to shout louder than the noise, "Please everyone, let’s all calm down, I'm an investigator. Let the CIU handle this. Will everyone go back to their homes? This will be taken care of," Cat felt awkward, but she lifted her chest in confidence. She put her hands up in front of her, hopefully, to say calm down.

  With a sharp snap, the screeching stopped.

  They all turned to the houses on either side of the street as a unit. Their robotic twitches freaked Cat out. Her feet absently stepped away from the group. She could feel her hands shake as another wave of adrenaline poured through her veins. When they all stopped, and in slow motion turned around, she almost took off running.

  "What's wrong?" Cat squared her shoulders standing up straighter. The way everybody’s eyes were on her like she was dinner made it hard to think.

  "Where do I live?" a few people yelled. Some of them added a lot more curse words, but the question was, all the same, no one knew where they lived.

  How is that possible? Their plain tan expressions got aggressive. And their aggressiveness was directed at each other.

  “This is all your fault! You did something to me,” a woman from down the street yelled at another woman who looked identical to her. She lifted her foot and slammed her small foot in the other woman’s gut.

  “I don’t even know you, whore!” The other woman held her stomach and fell to the floor. Cat looked at the encounter like they were aliens wiggling their tentacles at each other. They are sisters for crying out loud, how do they not know each other?

  Similar beatings were happening all around until both women and men were shouting. Okay Cat, stop being stupid and standing around. You should do something. A voice deep inside shook her awake and she moved.

  She walked to the person closest to her and said, "You don't know where you live?" Cat knew that was a stupid question, but she didn’t know what else to say. The woman was looking out over the sea of people like Cat was. Thankfully, she wasn’t one of the aggressive ones.

  Cat didn't recognize her at first, but then her face registered in Cat’s mind. Holy son of a Bastard, it was her neighbor Della. The rich dark chocolate skin and curly locks were gone. In their place was a light tan skin and straight tan hair that made her look sickly.

  She looked like everyone else. Literally. Cat’s wide, pained eyes slowly looked around, absorbing the realization that everyone had the same dark tan bottoms and light tan shirt. Cat could feel herself start to hyperventilate. A tsunami of adrenaline crashed into Cat making her anxious.

  She barely registered Della shaking her head no. Della grabbed her throat, indicating she could not speak. That’s enough, I need help. She turned around with every intention of going back to her house and pulling Hendrick’s lazy butt out of bed.

  The problem was, Cat had forgotten where her home was exactly. Dammit, me too? So much for thinking Unnaturals were immune to this craziness.

  Cat was hot and sweaty. Grabbing at her clothes, straightening her I love sleep pajama top to make sure everything was in place. So, her clothes hadn’t changed like everyone else’s yet, good.

  Cat looked arou
nd and ruffed her forehead. How long was I talking to myself? The sun was lower in the sky now. She licked her lips turning to the crowd, when the noise stopped. And that eerie cold quietness prickled at her skin again.

  All the bugged-out eyes were directed at her, looking her up and down. In the corner of her vision, she watched Della stepping closer to her. But, her body language was different. A lot more aggressive; with her long, plump arms tight at her side, her fist curled into balls, and her shoulders raised high. Cat could see her shoulder muscles pulse, "Why don’t you look like everyone else?" Della yelled as her eyes turned dark.

  Della had been the first person to show her kindness when she moved in the neighborhood. Cat didn’t want to hurt her. So, she broke free, as gently as she could when Della’s tight grip squeezed her wrist. Della was a lot stronger than Cat thought she could get and she wasn’t letting go.

  Crack, something in her arm snapped. “OW!” Cat pushed Della away gripping her arm. I think she broke my arm! She looked around for help but saw only hate in the sea of tan, blank eyes. In unison, all their faces narrowed, and their pupils dilated to the max.

  There were way too many for her to fight off. If they all had the same strength as Della, she was in trouble. “Everyone, let’s work together and figure this out,” Cat was slowly backing away from the crowd advancing on her. As if she was a mouse in a snake pit.

  She tried to reason with them, but their faces contorted into something not entirely human. The skin over their faces stretched tight and ripped. Their dislocated jaws snapped open and closed.

  There was nothing human left about them. Within seconds, they transformed into something she has never seen before. Her heart threatened to burst from her chest.

  She groped for her sidearm, tensing when her fingers touch smooth cloth. She rolled her eyes at her stupidity. Of course, she was not armed this time. She ran out of the house in her pajamas.

  Skrrreeek the noise sounded once again making everyone cringe and hold their ears. The pain didn’t last long though.

  What it did do was push the mass of people over the edge. “Oh, hell no,” Cat bent her knees steadying herself as bodies launched themselves at her. Frantic and rushed movement surrounded her scratching and biting at her flesh.

  “Aaah!” Cat was on the ground before she could strike back. Her arms were flaying about trying to keep the tons of pawing hands off her.

  Dull square teeth bit into her cheek and pulled a chunk of her muscle away. She could hear the muscles rip off as if they were paper. That was the only one she registered. The rest was nothing but a burning agony like lava splashing on her. She knew if she didn’t do something right now, they’d kill her.

  Cat tapped into her powers, letting the electricity of her gift spike through her. Not caring if all the Naturals in the world knew what she was. She was not going to lay here and get eaten.

  Her battle cry was piercing as she punched and kicked anything moving. "Volant," she yelled with all her might. In one quick, throw of her arm, she flung them off her until she could stand up.

  Smoke from her mouth poured on to the ground hovering around her feet. The sly cloud intertwined with her feet to make her powers grow.

  They kept coming, kept chomping. She didn’t want to kill them, but if she didn’t, they would kill her. She used one final whopper of a push spell to make them all get off her.

  To Hades with this. I’m not dying here.

  Her hand got warm and burst into flames. She only hesitated for a split second, when she saw them pause to look at her hand with fascination. Before they could attack, a massive whirling hole opened creating a rainbow of blues to dance around everyone. Cat wasn’t sure if the portal stopped the chompers or if they were mesmerized by its swirling sensual heat, like a moth to light.

  Running away sounded like a great idea. She tried, but her body froze in place. It would not move.

  Stupid body. She struggled until the ground shook under her. The sound of thunder, loud thunder, rippled the ground. She bent her knees, ready for more attacks. But it didn’t happen. Instead, everyone, including her, got sucked in.

  The jelly walls of the portal spit her out on a pile of wet leaves. When her mind slowed to a normal speed, Cat looked around, she was no longer on the street. A tan forest with long trees and fog gently ravishing the ground was in front of her. I’m never going to like tan again.

  Above the trees a wall of clouds was shielding the ground dwellers from a blazing storm on the other side. The lighting flashing and thunder roaring pushed against the clouds trying to bring their hell to the other side. I need to get out of here.

  Cat took two hesitant, slow steps, making sure none of the chompers woke up out of their trance from the portal. She jerked slightly when one next to her groaned. Please don’t look at me. I am a tree, you will not bite me. Cat thoughts turned into a song she repeated over and over.

  In the distance, through the woods, a small sparkle of turquoise shined brightly, like a beacon. Everything inside her said to run to the color. The fact that turquoise was her favorite color didn’t matter. She wanted to get the hell out of this nightmare.

  Her eyes darted left and right. There was a slight clearing ahead. If she could quietly sneak past the chompers all around her, she could run to the color.

  Only a few steps away from being in the woods.

  Cat hoped her body could handle the run, she was afraid to look down. She was pretty sure the image would hurt her eyes.

  Faster than Cat had ever run, she pushed off the land making her bare feet move as quickly as the ground would let her. She wasn’t expecting the dirt to fight back. Her feet sunk into the mud like quicksand. Cat’s pace slowed.

  She passed four chompers before they noticed her movements. Their mouths clicked and twitched as if they weren’t sure they wanted to chase after her. Cat hoped they decided to go on break. After what seemed like forever, she finally cleared the sticky mud. She let out a loud, frustrated groan as she pushed her already weak muscles from exhaustion to move forward.

  Click, click.

  The teeth that snapped behind her made her franticness increase. Cat knew if they caught her this time, she wouldn't have the strength to fight them off. The thought gave her the will to move faster. Despite her legs screaming at her to stop.

  Oh no! The chompers were too close for comfort. She could smell their ragged breath and hear their teeth chattering. Flying arms and legs tried to cling to her.

  She was tired, and the light was still far away. She could hear a little voice in her head to stop fighting. If she stopped now, it would be a quick death.

  “Here Kitty, Kitty,” a deep beautiful voice purred in her ears. She snapped her head to the left, following the voice.

  “Hendrick!” Cat pushed herself to move faster, a few more steps. Hendrick’s glorious face smiled at her, waving her to him. He is my beacon?

  Hendrick stood there in a bright turquoise shirt that shined with mystical energy. She yelled for him over and over, yet he never took a step toward her. All he did was open his arms to her.

  Dammit to hell Hendrick. Help a girl out here.

  Despite her efforts, sharp claws dug into her shoulders, as a chomper jumped on her back and knocked her forward. “Aaahh!”

  This is where her fighting skills paid off. She grabbed a chunk of the chompers hair and threw the body over her shoulders like a big bag of dog food.

  The only problem was, gravity was working against her. She hated that what is in motion stays in motion. So, Cat went down with the chomper. Being a talented little minx, she already expected to tumble forward. She used the chompers momentum to roll herself forward until her feet hit the ground and she was up and running again.

  “Hell, yeah,” Cat punched the air as she took the last step into Hendrick’s arms.

  She had never wanted to be in someone’s arms as much as she did his. As expected from his glowing body, he was in possession of a jumper amulet. Once their bodie
s made contact, an invisible force slurped their bodies away as if they were noodles.

  Nine

  In one quick swirl, Hendrick was gone. Cat’s disheveled form stood alone in the animate darkness. “Hello,” Cat cringed at her voice echoing. “Ooo, ouch,” the adrenaline that was keeping her moving and the pain away, slowly seeped out.

  Gggrrrrrr.

  A low menacing growl had Cat swinging to the right. All she saw was pitch black. No shadows, no movement, just never-ending darkness. Did I die and not realize it? That’s something I’d remember, right?

  Another hit of adrenaline quenching her need like a junky with a needle. She sighed in relief. Fighting whatever growled sounded better than standing here in pain.

  Without warning, the Goddess’s shining aura stepped out of the darkness. There was no hesitation or second-guessing, she ran to her, gripping her soft silk flesh that reminded her of five-star motel sheets.

  She felt terrible. The blood running down her chewed body was soaking into her. In Cat’s grip, a loud gut-wrenching crack came from the Goddess, so she loosened her grip. The sound hurt Cat’s ears, like two serrated knives clashing together.

  Did I just break a bone?

  A sympathetic pain spiked in Cat’s back for the Goddess, “I'm sorry, did I hurt you?” she let go of her warm and secure body out of respect. Cat was sure the Goddess could heal herself, and it would take a lot more to hurt her than that, but how rude would continuously breaking her bones be because she didn’t want to let go of her.

  Her white gown, mystically floating at her ankles, was splattered crimson. “I’m well,” her glorious voice sounded like a song to Cat and gave her the reassurance she needed.

  Cat wiped her nose, too ashamed to admit she was crying, “Where are we? No, scratch that. What in Hades did I just go through?” she smiled hysterically, “If that was a harrowing vision, I’m going to be mad. You need to just start telling me things.”

  She straightened her shoulders, she was nowhere near plucky, but she did feel better. The Goddess caressed her face, wincing at the bite marks, “That, my dear, was the future. As I said before, nothing is set in stone, and unfortunately, things have altered. This future you witnessed is the result of an extraordinarily powerful curse amplified by Dragonvire blood.”