Page 66 of Hexes and Exes

“Who dares disrupt my sleep,” a disembodied voice says. It’s much higher than I expected. The skeleton’s mouth moves but the sound doesn’t appear to really be coming from anywhere specific. Not surprisingly, because this thing has no vocal cords or even a throat. It looks like a cartoon, and I can’t help but giggle. Ambrose shares a look with Stellan, and they both snort and chuckle.

Sleep? More like who’s dragged him from hell, because we all know this man isn’t having a peaceful afterlife. Not if there is any fairness in the universe.

The skeleton turns its attention to me, its head snapping around with a crack of bone. Fuck, that’s creepy. I shrink away from the thing.

“David Ashenvale, we have questions for you.” Roman takes control. Thank the Maiden one of us has a small fraction of sense.

“Impure witches.” The bag of bones hisses in his high voice and lurches for me. Bram’s shadows snap out and slam the skeleton against the wall of the mausoleum, holding him there like a cheap decoration. The bones clatter and jangle before he finally gives up and stays still.

My heart is in my throat, but I feign nonchalance. He might sound like a chipmunk, but reanimated bones are scary as hell. “Sure, whatever. What do you know about the Briar Witch’s curse,” I huff out.

It was already clear to me that David wasn’t some upstanding, progressive witch. He was a piece of shit that killed a man so his son could marry someone with power.

“Bitch.”

“Skank, cunt, whore, fatass, idiot. I’ve heard them all. Let’s just get on with it. I’m with Bram, this place is starting to stink.”I glare at the skeleton. He doesn’t have eyes, so can he even see me?

The shadows tighten, and there’s a creak of bones. David yowls and shouts. Apparently, even dead beings can feel pain. “Fine. Fine. Ask your foolish questions.”

Even without eyes, the skeleton’s sockets are menacing. He’s giving us a dirty look, as improbable as that is.

“Tell us about the Briar Witch’s curse.” I repeat my question from earlier.

“She was impudent, and far too independent. She was meant to marry my son. Their line would have been strong.”

“So you murdered her fated bond.” Josephine sneers. We all saw what happened to the Briar Witch when Ambrose’s illusion magic brought her grimoires to life.

“Power is more important than fate.”

“Right, how did that work out for you?” Stellan says. Odie signs something and my brother nods, but I don’t want to take my eyes off David.

“And now you’re all broken, weak imitations of a witch.” David cackles, the sound vibrating his bones. I’m impressed by how quickly I hate this thing.

“What is the ritual?” Bram asks, ignoring David’s taunt.

“What ritual?”

How I’m able to discern that this bastard is lying even when he doesn’t have any facial expressions is a mystery, but I hear the lie. David doesn’t have an aura, so I can’t read him that way either, but I know he’s full of shit.

Piper steps forward. Her jaw is clenched, and she is angrier than I’ve ever seen her.

“Lies.” She lifts her hand and closes her fingers one by one. “I raised you and I can keep your soul here indefinitely. I’ll trap you back in your tomb with only the bugs and worms to keep you company. I’ll make sure they make a nice home in all yoursockets. Then on Halloween every year I’ll bring out your bones and dress you up like a fool and parade you around town while we mock your name.”

“Well, shit. Anyone else getting hard?” Ambrose whistles, and then grunts when Odie slaps his shoulder. Piper falters for a moment, then her chin goes up.

“Right now, the Ashenvale name isn’t even a memory in this town. I will ensure your name is on everyone’s lips as the weakest, most pathetic witch who ever stepped foot in Mystic Hollows.”

“Harlot,” the bones hiss.

“Speak the truth, and I vow to never say your name again. We’ll put your bones back as we found them and let you sink back into your sleep of oblivion.”

The tomb is silent, with the only sound Piper’s heavy breathing.

“Fine. Ask your damn questions.”

For one moment, I stare at the skeleton and marvel at the fact that this is my life. How fucking weird.

Bram’s still holding David’s bones with his shadows. He steps forward, repeating his question. “What is the ritual? And what does it have to do with the curses on this town’s people?”

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