Page 42 of Touch of Evil

“You don’t want to know,” Merche says over Farrah’s, “We never wanted to hurt you.”

I lose what remains of my patience and freeze in place. “I want to know, and regardless of what you say, you very much hurt me.”

“Una told me to follow you,” Merche says, quickly, her nose twitching. “She found you tonight at the wolf’s house.”

“First date,” I interrupt. I hold up my hand. “Very much not my boyfriend.”

“Oh, we know,” Merche says.

I don’t question how they know, but it still strikes me as strange.

Merche blows out a breath. “Just so you’re aware, Una ripped him to pieces.”

“I know,” I say. “We found the body. But why?”

An odd look overtakes Merche’s vermin appearance. “Una can be very beautiful when she wants to be. She enjoys sex. We all do.” She clears her throat. “Your lover seemed to as well.”

“She lured him to the beach to have sex with him and then kill him?” I ask.

They both nod as if it’s the most normal thing in the world. “It’s how we feed Una and make our money. We bring lovers back here with the promise of sex for a price.”

“Do you keep those promises?” Gerald asks, a little too enthusiastically.

“Yes,” Merche says. She shrugs. “It’s the only way we’re allowed to get close to anyone and the only way Una receives satisfaction and nourishment.”

“And men willingly come here?” I ask. “With you?” I grimace. “Um. Sorry, I didn’t mean for it to come out like that.”

“Yes, you did,” Gerald says.

Yes, I did.

Merche smiles sadly. “We know what we look like, and we know what we’ve become. The men came with us before the results of Mirror fully kicked in,” she replies. “Now that we look the way we look, there’s no men and no more money.”

“And no food,” Farrah adds. “We haven’t eaten real food in a long time. Except maybe worms and scraps. They aren’t as bad as you might think.”

“Mm,” I say. “Una eats her lovers?” Again, more nods. “Is she a praying mantis of sorts?”

“Oh,” Farrah says. “That is one of the Mirror creatures she initially used.” She pokes Merche. “That explains a lot.”

It occurs to me then why these witches never developed their skills. Both are very naive and don’t strike me as overtly intelligent.

“Tell me more about Ted and Una,” I say.

“Who?” Farrah asks.

“Emme’s boyfriend,” Gerald offers.

“The wolf I went out with tonight,” I clarify.

“Oh, him,” Farrah says. She kneels at the edge of the pool and dunks her head into the water. Bubbles form along the surface. After several long and disturbing seconds, she lifts her head and splashes more water along her scales.

“Better?” Merche asks.

“Ya,” Farrah says. She rises slowly. “In another few days, I don’t think I’ll be able to leave the water.”

“Can we get back to Ted?” I interrupt.

Farrah glances at me, her body appearing more apologetic than her fish face. “Una didn’t want anyone around who might protect you. She wants you dead. Needs you dead, actually.”

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