American Bruja: The Los Angeles Cauldron

Chapter 26. Amber McBride

Monday, August 9, 2011, 2:00 a.m., Los Angeles

A humid gust of air sweeps across the hilltop. Mom stops at the summit. As she tries to catch her breath, the wind whips her long hair into a wild mess.

I pause next to Mom as a Great Dane limps past us. A long grey ball sack dangles between his back legs. Tennis ball-sized nuts sway with his movement. As the old dog reaches the boulders encircling the summit, mist rolls over the stones. The fog covers the Great Dane, and he disappears into the haze.

George and Ben walk by us to approach the stone circle, but stop as two German Shepherds materialize and block their passage.

I move to George's left and catch the scent of mingled sweat and prairie grass. He glances at me to flash a half-smile before turning back toward the snarling German Shepherds.

From George's right, Ben steps toward the dogs and opens his arms to show his palms. "Duke, Duchess! It's me, Ben."

The female he called Duchess flattens her ears and bares sharp fangs. But her eyes are soft as she watches what I'm guessing was her human best friend.

Heaviness settles over my heart. The dogs must've been Salvia family pets.

I side-eye George. "Maybe they're trying to warn us."

Suddenly, I'm shoved from behind. Off-balance, I stumble into George. Strong hands grab my shoulders as he pulls me to my feet. We're nose-to-nose and I'm inhaling his exhaling. For a moment, nothing exists except the two of us. He cups my cheeks in his hands. The wind kicks up to whip my hair into his face. My hands shake as I brush the strands from his eyes.

The German Shepherds erupt in barking. George and I turn toward the hilltop to see Mom dart between the stone columns and disappear.

George gives my hand a gentle squeeze. I shake him off, sprint around the German Shepherds, and run after Mom. Misty grey clouds swallow the moon and stars as I pass between the boulders.

As I'm surrounded by fog, rhythmic thumping drowns my shouts for Mom. Every few seconds, a thump shakes the ground and sends tremors through my legs. Sweat drips down my back to soak my t-shirt as I stumble through the musty damp.

Swirling whisps morph into humanoid shapes. Hooded, crooked bodies whirl around me. Most of what they're screeching is gibberish, but I'm able to pick out one word.

Cursed.

A wave of nausea sweeps through my gut. I pull the plastic bag of fennel seeds from a pocket in my shorts. Opening the bag, I empty the contents into my mouth. Dumbass. You should've eaten the seeds when you were outside the portal. Barf floods my throat and I hurl.

Laughter cuts through the fog, and hands dart out to grab my wrists. My heart's pounding as I try to pull away. My muscles strain and I lean backward to throw the attacker off-balance. The laughing gets louder as I'm yanked upright.

Strong arms wrap around my shoulders to pull me against a muscular chest. The savory scent of summer cuts through the heavy, humid air. Someone kisses the top of my head. I lift my chin to find George. My stomach's butterflies. For a second, I forget Mom's missing.

A fist shoots out from the mist to punch George in the shoulder. We turn to find a laughing Ben. He points at George's feet. "Nice shot, Red."

George lowers his head to look at his vomit-covered tennis shoes.

Heat rushes into my cheeks. "I'm so sorry."

Deep brown eyes meet mine and he breaks into a wide smile. "I'm guessing you're vegetarian."