Wishes on Her Eyes
D.M. Evans
Chapter Four - If Wishes Were Horses
She's my Coney Island Baby
She's my Coney Island Girl
She's a princess in a red dress
She's the moon in the mist to me
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Emily puffed mightily, like an upset horse. She poked at the ice in her glass as she sat in the hotel lounge. She and Alester had spent the morning being questioned overly long by the police about the death of her sister. She realized that they were very likely to think she had done it. "I hate them," she grumbled never thinking that if she and Alester had refrained at least until her sister was buried they wouldn't be in this mess.
"I'm going for a walk," Alester said. "Alone."
Emily watched him scuttle off. She went back to stabbing the ice in her coke. "I will pay him back if it's the last thing I do."
"Him?"
Emily glanced over at the woman who spoke to her. She was about the same age as Emily, probably judging from her blue eyes and blond hair, was either German or Swiss. Her plump body was clothed in a conservative manner that Emily approved of. "Do I know you?"
"Now you do. I'm Heidi. This is my first time in Coney Island. How about you?" Heidi smiled affably.
"Hardly. We've stayed at Brighton Beach for years. It makes a nice break from our place in the city," Emily said haughtily.
"Oh, I've never been to Manhattan. I live upstate in Beacon. That's a lovely dress you have on," Heidi said.
Emily gave her a look that said, 'poor pitiful country rube.' "Thanks."
"Having troubles with men?" Heidi nodded in the direction Alester had gone.
Emily sighed. She needed to talk to someone and sometimes dumping it all on a stranger was easier. She'd never have to see this Heidi again, which was better than having to confess to a friend and having to live with the pitying looks and hushed whispers. "No, not Alester. He's quite.never mind. I mean William Harker," Emily said. "He's this awful man, calls himself Spike. He murdered my sister but he has the police thinking Alester and I were behind it, rather than him and his slut. He needs to be punished."
Heidi wore a sympathetic look. "I agree. What do you think should be done?"
"The law's too good for him. He should contract a painful deadly disease," Emily said with venom.
"Done." Heidi glanced around a frown, pinching up her round face. "Um, who is he again?"
"Why do you care?" Emily asked. "He's not here, if that's what you're looking for. He's probably still asleep. He and that tramp of his stay out all night. I doubt they wake up before five."
"I see. Are they here in this hotel?"
Emily wagged her head, nearly undoing the tight bun she wore her dark hair in. Heidi asked too many questions. She hoped she hadn't just unburdened herself to one of those tiresome women who thought they could be reporters instead of being happy with doing women-things like getting married. "No, my sister put them up in the Oriental Hotel as if they were worth the expense. She rented them a suite."
"I see. It'll all work out," Heidi said.
Emily's face puckered as her usual ill-humor reappeared. "How can it? No matter what happens to him, my sister will still be dead."
"Sounds like you didn't much approve of her and now you're in line for her money," Heidi said unkindly.
Emily just stared, not so much that it was an awful thing to say as it was things she had thought of herself. She didn't miss Ann. She feared that Spike was lying and that he was in Ann's will and that was why Ann had died. She didn't want to lose a dime of family money.
Heidi just smiled and walked off. She called over her shoulder, "It'll get better."
Heidi met with someone outside the door. She smiled at the trim woman. "How'd I do, Anyanka?"
The other vengeance demon shrugged. "Not bad for a first time but you should have had a better idea who your target is."
"William Harker is at the Oriental Hotel," Heidi protested.
Anyanka sighed. "I just wished she asked for something better than a deadly disease. That is so deadly dull."
Both vengeance demons headed for the Oriental hotel. It only took a few moments to get the location of the Harker's suite from the clerk. There was a 'do not disturb' sign on the door when they got there. Once Heidi learned to handle her new powers there would be no need to get close to a victim but in her centuries of training others of her kind, Anyanka found proximity helped fledgling vengeance demons to work their magic.
"It'll be locked. Do I need to see him to make this work?" Heidi fretted.
"No. We didn't even need to come here." Anyanka said. "Feel the life behind that door and afflict it."
Heidi concentrated, her eyes nearly disappearing behind the rolls of fat on her face. "I don't feel anything.there's something there but it's not life."
Anyanka stretched out with her magic. "Vampires."
Heidi slumped against the wall. "What am I supposed to do with that?
"Nothing changes. Fulfill that wish," Anyanka instructed, wondering how this woman had ever been selected for demonhood.
"I can't kill what's already dead."
Anyanka lost her human face for a moment as her temper flared. "Vampires can be hurt. They can die. You just have to use your imagination. There's a poison that makes them sicken and die. It's called Killer of the Dead."
"Killer of the dead." Heidi fiddled with her amulet. "Done."
"Good. Let's find something to do here and come back in a little while and check on how you did. Killer of the Dead takes time to work," Anyanka said.
"I don't like this. I thought it would be easier.that I wouldn't have to know so much," Heidi said with a petulant look on her face.
"Each wish is different. Some are quite exciting," Anyanka replied.
"Cursing other demons.it just seems wrong," Heidi said.
"It is dicey. But as far as I'm concerned vampires are low level demons at best, not of any great concern." Anyanka headed away from the suite with Heidi trailing after her unhappily.
* * *
Spike woke up to Dru's screaming. He clamped a hand over her mouth, scooping her closer with the other arm. "Shhh, baby, what's wrong?" He tried to sound comforting even though he felt oddly hung over and wasted.
Dru twisted her hands in the bedding, her body stiff against him. "Terrible magic. It floods us. It stinks of the grave, our graves. Not the pleasant rose-like scent of the grave. It's putrefaction, dust, horror. Oh, my poor Spike."
Spike felt unaccountably fearful for the first time in a long time. Terror radiated from Dru's blue eyes. He couldn't remember ever seeing her so afraid. "What else are you seeing?"
"That horrible woman." Dru clawed at her eyes until Spike pulled her hands away. "Oh, my Spike, she's killed you.
"I don't understand, Dru." Spike stroked her hair. "How could Emily possibly kill me? She doesn't know what I am. What are the chances she could possibly kill me?"
"It's already done," Dru wailed, capturing his thin face between her cold hands. She fluttered kisses over his face.
"Dru, sweetie, relax. I'm fine," Spike said, even though he didn't really feel fine. The hung over feeling was worsening. Maybe it was nerves thanks to Dru's hysteria. There was no way he was dying. Spike got up and nearly dropped to his knees. That sudden weakness shocked him.
"Spike!" Dru keened, reaching for him.
"I'm okay, pet, never bloody better," he lied. "I just need to wake up."
Spike managed to drag himself into the bathroom, hearing Dru whimpering piteously behind him. How could he possibly be dying? Dru had to have gotten the short end of the psychic stick this time out. He locked the door and splashed water on his face. The room spun and he captured the bowl of the sink before he fell. He eased himself to the floor so not to alert Dru.
He felt awful. He could hear Dru at the bathroom door and he knew she'd break through it momentarily if he didn't do something. But Spike realized her vision was right. He felt like he was dying again; only it was worse this time. Incredible pain begun spreading through him. It had to be a spell but how had it happened? Emily was hopelessly mundane and probably too stupid to learn spell casting.
"Spike?"
"I'll be out in a minute, poodle. Go back to bed," he said, trying not to worry her.
Before Dru could argue, as he knew she would, a knock sounded on the room door. Spike heard a muffled voice.
"Harker, open up. It's Bushnell."
"Spike?" Dru asked.
"Do as he says, Dru. I'll be there in a minute," Spike said but he doubted he could even move much less get up. He didn't like the idea of leaving Dru alone with the Pinkerton but she was a big girl, a predator long before he came along.
Dru opened the door not bothering with the formality of putting a robe on over her ruby silk nightgown. She knew she should but she also knew when a man was interested in a woman. Bushnell was interested in her and distracting him was a good idea. It would make it easier to kill him if she needed to. She hoped it would be necessary.
Bushnell strode in, looking ready to talk business but he hesitated staring at Dru. He watched her move, eyeing her lithe form and the way the bright silk clung to her curves. Dru knew she had his attention but suddenly wondered if Bushnell's attention was something she wanted.
Bushnell cleared his throat, obviously trying to regain his composure. "Where is your husband, Mrs. Harker?"
"Out," Dru said, hoping she could get rid of Bushnell. She didn't believe Spike. He was dying. She knew it.
"That's probably for the best. I have questions for you, Mrs. Harker." Bushnell shut the door behind him.
Dru gave him a curious look. She knew it wasn't proper for him to talk to her in the suite alone but she sat on the couch and looked at him expectantly. She wondered if it was wiser to just eat him now and save herself a lot of aggravation.
"Funny thing, Mrs. Harker, while you were seen with Miss di Gobeo at the bandstand before she returned upstairs for her brooch, I am having trouble finding witnesses who saw you afterwards. Are you sure that you remained behind with your husband? Maybe you went back with Miss di Gobeo." Bushnell's voice went soft and silky as his body relaxed. His dark eyes never left Dru's chest. "Maybe you saw something. Did you see the killer and are afraid to say? I can protect you." He reached for her.
Dru flinched away. "I stayed with my husband."
Bushnell stiffened again, knowing rejection when slapped with it. "Or perhaps you followed Miss di Gobeo and killed her."
"No." Dru stared up at him, getting ready to propel herself back off the couch.
"It's all right. I can protect you." Bushnell stepped closer. "If you're nice to me, if you compensate me for it."
"Go away." Dru knew she was supposed to look frightened, most women would be, but all she felt was angry.
Bushnell grabbed Dru up off the couch, his hand slipping between her legs. "You'll do it and be grateful, you crazy bitch. Or I'll make it seem you did murder Miss di Gobeo."
"You're right." Dru said, her face went demonic. "I killed her."
Bushnell almost got a scream out before Dru buried her fangs in his neck. When he was dead, she dragged him towards the bathroom.
Spike had hauled himself up onto the toilet, hearing the conversation through the door. His Dru needed him. Oh, he knew she could kill this pig easily but she shouldn't have to endure the licentious looks he knew this man had to be giving her. Spike sweated profusely. He had a fever. He was actually hot. It was unique feeling but not something he could enjoy and ponder over. He could feel whatever it was working through him. He couldn't believe it. He was actually dying but that didn't matter. He needed to help Dru.
Spike managed to stagger to the door and opened it. Dru was on the other side lugging Bushnell's body into the bathroom. She flung the corpse into the tub and grabbed Spike. She swept him up and cradled him like a child. Kicking the door closed behind her, she carried him to the bed. Spike felt her tears splashing down like ice on his burning flesh. She laid him on the soft mattress, her hands stroking his honey gold hair.
"It's setting in," Dru said, "The Killer of the Dead."
"How is that possible, Dru? It." Spike faltered, his tongue felt thick and too long for his mouth. "It's poison. How did it get in my system? Emily doesn't.know."
"I don't know, love. The stars are silent. They won't tell me," She moaned. "I don't know the cure. I." Dru's head snapped up, staring past the door into the living room. She pressed her lips to Spike's fevered forehead. "Someone's coming. Shhh."
Spike didn't worry about it. He felt consciousness slipping away. He struggled to keep his grasp on reality. Dru edged toward the door, her body tensed for a fight.
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"Think he's dead yet?" Heidi asked as Anyanka magicked the door open.
"The Killer of the Dead is slow acting. He's probably still alive but suffering which is exactly what your girl asked for." Anyanka swept her blonde hair back as she opened the door and waved Heidi into the suite's living room.
Heidi prowled around it then headed for the bedroom and was yanked inside. Puzzled, Anyanka investigated. Dru slammed the bedroom door shut, her claws still embedded in Heidi's plump neck.
"Naughty, naughty, look what I caught, Spike." Dru tightened her grip with one hand and jerked Heidi's amulet off her neck.
Spike managed to get up on one elbow, peering at the two women, his eyes not quite able to focus. His silence cued in Dru that he wasn't quite connecting it.
"Vengeance demons." She waved the amulet.
Anyanka took a step toward Dru who sank her claws deeper into Heidi's neck. Heidi whimpered.
"I don't have to touch you to hurt you, you know," Anyanka said tiredly. She was gravely disappointed in both herself and Heidi. They shouldn't have been so easily captured. Like most vengeance demons of her ilk, Anyanka didn't like hurting women but she would.
"Why.do.this?" Spike grated out.
"It's what." Heidi broke off choking. She pulled at Dru's fingers. Dru loosened enough to let her talk. "We do. Emily asked for vengeance, to punish you with a painful fatal diseased for killing her sister."
Spike groaned loudly, flopping back on the bed.
"But Spike didn't kill her sister. I was the one who put out the light so she could be born into darkness," Dru said.
Anyanka's feathery brow wrinkled. "You?"
"Yeah, her," Spike said, making an obscene gesture at the demon.
"I don't like this. I didn't like afflicting a fellow demon and now he didn't do it. I don't want to hurt another woman," Heidi babbled, giving the more experienced demon an imploring look.
Anyanka rubbed her face. "Heidi.it doesn't change guilty or not, a wish is a wish."
"Does change," Dru said, her hand convulsing on the amulet. "It changes or this is dust."
Heidi's eyes went wide. She reached for Anyanka.
"Don't look at me," Anyanka snarled. This demon D'Hoffryn had saddled her with to train was a bad choice if she were to be asked. "This is your mess. I'm just here to guide you. I will tell you if she destroys that amulet the spell ends and so does your demonhood. Do what you have to."
"I'll lift the spell. He'll live if you give me back my amulet," Heidi said, still trying to free herself from Dru.
"Do it," Dru said, opening her fingers.
"Done," Heidi said gratefully.
"Spike?" Dru asked.
"I.I'm feeling better," Spike said, running a hand through his blond curls. "Good enough to pull the head off some vengeance blighters."
"Hush Spike," Dru said then handed over the amulet.
"Did I do all right?" Heidi asked, putting on her amulet.
"You could have destroyed both of them with a thought," Anyanka said, disgust dripping from her words. "But your way worked. I suppose."
"Any chance of you two going the hell away?" Spike growled.
Anyanka shrugged. "Come on, Heidi. Let's see if you do any better next time out."
Anyanka opened the front door startling a laden florist who was just about to knock.
"Mrs. Harker?" he asked, dubiously.
"Not me," Anyanka said, pushing past him.
"Me," Dru said brightly and signed for them. The florist escaped quickly.
"For the birth?" Anyanka asked as Heidi sidled past Dru.
Dru nodded happily and shut the door in their faces. "Look at all the lovely flowers! It will be so beautiful. I can't wait. The stars shall sing." Dru bounced on the bed, kissing Spike. "And I have my boy, back. Strong and whole and meaner than ever."
"You know it, pet," Spike said, even though he still felt weak as the spell's effects wore off.
"We have to prepare Ann for tonight."
"It's still daylight, love and we'll have to sneak Bushnell's body out of here. I say we put him in Ann's coffin. They'll find it but by then all three of us will be out of here," Spike said.
Dru snuggled up. "Not before I eat that terrible terrible woman for cursing you."
"You can do to her every vile thing you can think of," Spike promised, shutting his eyes. He'd need to recover his strength for tonight.
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Part Five
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