Meadoe Hora - Curse of the Furies

Copyright 2021 Meadoe Hora

All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For more information, address: meadoe@meadoehora.com.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the authors imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

Cover design by: Maria Spada

ISBN: 979-8201302405

www.meadoehora.com

For my mom.

Chapter 1

W hen her economics teacher had suggested the class take part in Take Your Child to Work Day, Erin didnt think this was what her teacher had in mind. Erin wasnt technically Tiss child, but still. Other girls had probably spent the day sipping coffee in an office building, not staking out a drunk criminal on a deserted city street in the middle of the night. But when Erin had suggested it, Tis was so excited. It was too late for Erin to second-guess herself.

Erin sat stiffly on the cement step, hugging her knees and fidgeting with her fingers, wishing she were somewhere else. Despite the cold concrete, sweat trickled between her shoulder blades. Beside her, Aunt Tis leaned against the railing, twirling a section of dark hair in her fingers, green eyes alert, watching. She reminded Erin of a panther looking for its dinner.

A car door slammed up the street, making Erin jump. Two men rolled out, patted each other on the back, and parted ways. One bounded up the steps of an apartment building. The other lumbered toward them, weaving on the sidewalk.

Ready? Tis whispered, eyes shining.

Erin nodded and swallowed hard. She was not ready.

As he passed by, the streetlight threw a cockeyed shadow behind him. The man leered at Tis before moving along without a backward glance. Erin rolled her eyes.

Stay behind me. Watch, Tis whispered, jumping off the step and gliding after him, her coat billowing behind her like black wings, her whip trailing like a tail.

Erins stomach flipped. Afraid she might throw up, she clamped her mouth shut as she slid out, making sure to keep a good distance behind Tis.

Billy Hicks, Tis yelled, her voice sharp.

He stopped and turned around, blinking rapidly, confusion spreading across his broad face. Tis closed the gap between them, her walk confident and fluid. Her chunky boots made no sound on the pavement. The mans gaze raked across her, and he opened his mouth.

With a flick of her arm, Tiss whip shot out with a snap, cutting him off. Erins heart raced. Overhead, the light bulb in the streetlight blazed out, sprinkling glass on the ground and bathing the street in darkness. Erin stopped, frozen. Her breath hitched. Here we go.

What the? Billy Hicks shrank back, the color draining from his face.

Good. He wasnt stupid.

What kind of man hits someone with his car and drives away? Tis growled.

There was no response. Again, the whip snapped overhead, close enough to the mans head to move his hair.

You crazy He stumbled backward.

You dont want to finish that thought. Is that an answer? Tis narrowed the gap between them.

I-I would never, Billy said.

Tis shook her head, tilting it at a sympathetic angle. William, dont lie to me, to yourself. We both know youre walking home from happy hour because your car is in the shop.

I didnt.

William. The man you hit bled on the pavement for an hour before someone called an ambulance. Youre lucky you didnt sever a major artery. Or wed be having a different conversation.

What are you? A cop?

She laughed, deep and throaty. A cop? No. Im not a police officer. Im much worse. You yelled hateful things at this man, hit him with your car, and drove away. You need to atone. Her voice purred, the calm before the storm.

Billy squared his body, balling his hands into fists.

Erin stepped back, body tense.

Who do you think you are?

Billy lunged at Tis, but she stepped out of the way, grabbed his arm, and twisted it behind him, bringing him to his knees. She crouched so she was right behind him, her mouth close to his ear. She cranked his arm. He winced but didnt scream.

Hes out of work now. In the hospital. Dont you want to make it right?

Billy didnt move, just stared at the ground.

Fine, Tis said, opening her palm to reveal a glowing purple ball. As much as Id love to play, my niece is here, and she would disapprove. So well just get right to it. She lifted her hand and blew on the purple orblike she was blowing a kiss. Fog hung in the air and settled like a cloud around his head. Billy hit the ground.

He writhed on the pavement, whimpering and clutching his head. Tis watched him squirm for a few moments before glancing back at Erin with an encouraging smile. Erin gripped the cold metal railing of the fence, frozen but unable to look away. Tis waved her hand, and the purple fog disappeared. The man lay crumpled on the ground, sobbing.

More? Tis asked sweetly.

No. Please. No more. Ill turn myself in, he said.

Tis smiled and leaned in close. Good. If you dont, well have to have another chat. And Ill leave my niece at home to keep things interesting.

I will. I swear.

Dont think you can run. Im incredibly good at finding people, and Im not known for my patience. She turned and left him in the street, clutching his head and whimpering.

Erins legs wobbled, and she felt bile start to rise. Please, no. She didnt want to puke. She watched Aunt Tis walk away, her hair catching the wind like an action hero, beautiful and terrifying. Her aunts seriously expected her to do that? Erin was both in awe and a little freaked out.

Tis grinned and threw her arm around Erins shoulders. Cmon, kiddo. Weve got to get you home. You have a math test tomorrow.

Erins head spun with questions, and she still felt like she might toss up her dinner.

Will he be all right? Erin asked, sweeping her arm in the direction of the crumpled man on the ground.

Tis shot a thumb over her shoulder. Him? Oh, hell be fine.

Erin glanced over again. He didnt look fine. She stared at her feet.

What? Tis said. I barely touched him. You should see the guy he hit with his car. Hes much worse off.

Erin sighed. Can we walk for a bit? Did Tis seriously expect her to go home and do homework after that ? There was no way. She had nervous energy to burn.

Sure. Its a nice night. Your mom and I actually lived down here briefly a long time ago. We rented a house up that way, Tis said, pointing to a row of tall houses stacked close together, with wide porches and intricate stonework. Ill show you.

Erin followed her down the dark street, eager to leave the job behind. To her relief, Tis seemed to have forgotten the man completely.

The cool spring air carried the delicious smell of a pizzeria around the corner. Despite still feeling queasy, Erins stomach growled at the scent. She listened to the soft scrape of her footsteps beside Tiss on the sidewalk, trying to steady herself.

So, that was a job? she asked. Erin knew where she came from, what her aunts were, what her mom wasand by extension, what she was. Of course she did, but knowing they were Furies and seeing them in action were two different things.