Page 1 of The Blood Widow

Chapter

One

My eyes fluttered open when a sweet jingle sounded through my room. That noise tightened my throat as it filled me equally with joy and despair. I licked my lips and glanced at the early morning sun peeking through the purple curtains. Time to get up. A letter magically appeared in the black basket under my bedroom window.

I sighed, sleepily shuffled over to grab the letter, then went to the kitchen to make coffee. My small, colorful apartment put me in a good mood even before I had the liquid gold brewing.In contrast, my furniture was bleak and minimal, but the darkly inspirational quotes lining the walls spoke to my heart.

“Smile as you rid the world of evil.”

“Blood on your hands only means you have better stories to tell.”

They were the perfect motivation to slip into my Blood Widow persona.

Lack of sleep wouldn't stop me from saving someone asking for my aid. Saint Louis had become a supernatural cesspool in the last hundred years.

I smirked down at the light-purple envelope. The fairies loved giving kids colorful paper, so I knew I wouldn't like whatwas written inside. The Blood Widow never got good letters. I killed criminals to keep as many innocent children and women safe as possible. Mainly to atone for my— I shook my head of those thoughts and focused on the letter. My messed-up past could wait for another day.

Blood Widow, I need your help. My daughter and I are in danger. My husband joined the Sinisters gang to make more money without discussing it with me. They plan on taking us from him as a payment to join the gang. I heard them talking about it. I don't know how long we have, but I need your help. Please. If you can't save me, save my daughter. Her name is Billy, and she's only five years old. I'm begging you. I hope the fairies find this in time. If they don't, please do everything you can to save my precious girl.

The rest was her address,phone number, and date, which was yesterday.

I didn't wait. I got dressed. The woman was right. The gang wouldn't wait. The Underground gangs always tricked people like this. Still, all members were sworn to secrecy, so others didn't find out. The woman and her daughter would be taken soon.

My gut tightened. I hoped I still had time. The Sinisters only gave the new member a few days of happiness. The money came in waves, and all their dreams happened just like they had been promised. Then, they took what was most important to theperson. They made sure the gang was their only support and so-called family.

If the father had already been sworn into the gang, there was nothing I could do to save him. They were magically linked to him and would be able to find him no matter where he went.

My killing gear was a slick, skin-tight jumpsuit - black, of course - that deflected blood. Matching black boots would keep me silent and protected. It was a sexy scuba suit that just worked. Knives were strapped everywhere I could manage one… or 20.A red wig completed the look.

There was no time to scout the area. I would just have to be careful. There was a price on my head after all. I needed to ensure this wasn't a trap before I got too far in to escape.

Calling on my pocket portal, I let the zapping energy zip over my skin. The yellow swirling circle materialized in front of my face on the wall. The little shit was a menace. Images of scurrying up walls, climbing chairs, and bouncing on my bed to reach my magical doorway popped into my stressed mind. I groaned. Why couldn’t things ever be easy for me?

The power liked to play games with me and made me work hard for the privilege of being teleported around. I backed up and got a running start to leap up and climb into my magic. In less than a second, my head was in a different location, as if the swirling magic was a blanket I had to cross.

My magic was clever. It always took me to a place where I wouldn't be spotted right away. I landed in closets most of the time. Gravity had my red hair falling around my face. Great, I was on the ceiling. Despite my years of training and stealth, I still dropped like a sack of potatoes as the magic pushed me out. I managed to turn and land in a crouch to keep from making noise, but my heart still thrashed around in my chest. I felt like a cornered mouse.

Damn. Stupid magic.

I scanned my surroundings before I moved a muscle. The closet was messy. Clothes were everywhere in unfolded piles. The hangers were empty and broken.

The mother knew I might be here, but the father and the gang didn't, so I needed to be careful. The gang liked to watch the family closely, telling the new members it was for their safety. How people fell for that, I'd never understand.

I slowly opened the door and peeked out of the closet. The screech was deafening. The room I walked into was empty of life at least.It was more manageable than the closet, but it still had piles of dirty clothes and an unmade bed. I had no room to judge, but the house showed me what I needed to know about the family. Most clean houses were hiding something. The really messy ones were going through a lot. When they found a happy middle, it meant they had a healthy mind.

I used blood magic to sense the number of people in the house. The vibration of my magic was audible, like a rattle that moved through walls and snaked around. The magic touched seven people. Ugh.

They were already here. I could never have it easy. I inwardly groaned and stepped out of the room. My feet were soundless as I moved. Each time the floorboards groaned, I'd move my foot, slowing my trek through the house to the front.

"Wait! What are you doing? Put down my daughter. You're not taking her anywhere," a male shouted.

So much for that.

"You wanted to be one of us. Now, you will be. This is the price," a male said back, then laughed.Pure evil radiated from him as his booming voice echoed off of the walls.

"Daddy!" a young girl screamed. My heart convulsed in my chest at her terrified shrieks more than the sadistic bastard’s laughs.

I pulled out my weapon, ready to help the family. I crept to the front of the house where my magic said the party was. The thrill of the hunt coursed through my veins. I glanced around the corner, and four men were splitting the family apart. Two men had the crying daughter and mother as they reached for their father or husband, and he fought against the other two gang members’ restraining grips.

---