Chapter 207

Chapter 207
Mattie
I tried to focus once again on the budget sheet but the box haunted my thoughts. Every time I thought I’d successfully put it out of my mind, my eyes wandered to the box displayed in the middle of the table. The temptation to understand exactly what this rare ingredient was overwhelmed me. 

Fuck it. The evil and miseries were already released into the world, I couldn’t do more damage at this point, right?

I pulled the box to sit on the table before me. I took a deep breath and opened it. My fingers traced over the velvety fabric that held the ingredient in place. I pulled the small bottle out of the box and unscrewed the lid. A foul, pungent scent wafted out. The wet soil mixed with something old and decayed. The odor invaded my nostrils, hit the back of my throat and sent a wave of nausea into my stomach. 

The scent was…. familiar, in the worst kind of way and caused my instincts to scream; run. I immediately screwed the lid back on and hid it behind the books on the top shelf. No one would look for it up there. I slipped the notebook into my bag. I would look over the book fully later. There were pages of recipes for various remedies for a long list of people. Each titled by their names so it would take time to review all of them. I locked the door with a trembling hand. That feeling like something wasn’t right sunk into my stomach like a stone in water. I send up a silent prayer to Hecate to protect me against the evils that box seemed to carry. Then I tuned to walk out. I didn't even stop to tell Rita I was leaving. 

I finally pause when I’m behind the steering wheel of my cousin’s car, staring at the building where I’ve worked at for a short while. I pulled my hair back, intending to braid it out of my face but the faded coloring caused me to sigh. It was time to change it. I started the car and headed to the nearest beauty supply shop. My fire-inspired coloring needed to be something different. Maybe purple or just straight red? As I walked through the aisle of hair dyes my eyes landed on exactly what I wanted. After purchasing the supplies I needed, I headed straight home. 

As I spent the next three hours changing the fire-inspired coloring to something completely different my thoughts were all over the place. Dozens of unanswered texts from various members of my coven was a constant buzz on my phone. The full moon was coming up again in two weeks which meant they had come up with new spells or rituals to attempt to break the curse. I sighed as the last of the excess coloring rinsed out. With each pass of the blow dryer the new hue made my thoughts settle a bit. I knew why I picked the color, but I would never admit to it. No one would ever know where I drew this inspiration from because I didn’t plan on seeing the Muse ever again. 

Dinner would be too much of a hassle so I ordered a supreme pizza and plopped it onto the coffee table in the living room. Not even bothering with plates, I pulled slice after slice straight from the cardboard delivery box. My phone buzzed some more, so I opened a few of the messages. I was correct in my assumptions after a few pictures of spells popped up. I read through most of them but knew deep down that they wouldn't work. I wasn't an expert but even I knew that most of these were grasping at straws. The only way to break a blood curse would be to fulfill the conditions of the curse. Something that pesky moon goddess failed to really give details for. 

Once full, I spent a few hours curled up on the orange couch looking through the book the Great Luna had sent me. It was an in-depth guide to the bat-throne plant. Every page fascinated me. It was unlike any plant I’d ever encountered. It was exhilarating to learn all of the different ins and outs of the unknown plant. It was complex, magical and incredibly unpredictable but my focus just wasn’t there like I needed it to be. I reread a paragraph multiple times yet didn’t comprehend anything. I slowly closed the book and checked the nearest clock. It wasn’t even 11pm yet. I should try to sleep but the static energy Wolfie circulated throughout my body wouldn’t let me. He was still pacing around in my subconscious like I was in grave danger. 

Letting out a frustrated growl, I pulled out my phone and opened the fun in dysfunctional group chat; 

Me- you guys up for some food after closing?

Luxie- Sorry. Dealing with a flooding issue wont be back home for hours.

Cas- some meathead tried to pull the toilet from the floor and now the whole place is under an inch of water. Where do you find a plumber at this time of night??!?!

Me- do you need help cleaning up?

Cas- what part of banned from the club do you not understand. Get some sleep. You have work in the morning!

I smiled and barely resisted the urge to text something snarky back. My fingers hovered over the phone as the temptation still buzzed around in my mind, but I stopped myself. I was grateful to have someone to look out for me and they didn't deserve my attitude. I found out from one of the other staff that people had been asking about me. Not just members of my coven but others too. My cousins were running interference for days. They were covering for me like I was some kind of fragile secret that needed guarding. It made me feel like a child but I understood that whoever was sniffing around wasn’t just curious. They were a threat. I didn't want to put myself in danger but at the same time something was pulling me toward the club. It didn’t take much internal dialogue to convince myself to change clothes, and set a plan. The next thing I knew I was in the driveway. I sat in the driver seat of my cousin’s Corvette, the leather seats sticking to my overalls, the smell of engine oil and cologne lingering in the interior air. I sat there for ten full minutes, staring out the windshield like it might give me an answer. Or at least give me the question that would solve all my life's problems. My pulse was drumming at my temples, my jaw clenched so tight it ached. Then, without warning, I slammed my hands against the steering wheel. 

“Fuck it.” I whispered to no one. Getting back out of this car and walking back into my cousin’s home would only make the anxiety worse. It would feel like I was letting my fear win and I wasn’t a coward. No way would I hide away in my house like I’d done something wrong. Not tonight. I needed noise. conversation, people, music! For fucks sake I needed to feel like more than a burden to the world. I was going to the club—and nothing, absolutely nothing, was going to stop me. It was final.