Bad Melody (Seven Deadly Sins #3)

Chapter Nine: Maps & Mirrors

I looked over the imposing map spread out on our biggest table in the shop. It was pretty impressive – a country map started in the late 1800s to track and document the origins and known whereabouts of various covens. Fresh blue ink overlaid and crisscrossed grayed, dulled lines that may have once been black but had long faded with time. The darker lines were bold and sure, modernizing land details with each stroke over the course of two half centuries when someone first put ink to paper. Roads, rivers, and borders had all changed over time with the number of covens appearing to change with them. Most with a bold red X over them. The biker pointed to the center of the map as he continued his spiel.

"Claudette's coven has stretched out from her original territory," he said, moving his ringed pointer finger out in an arc. The ring he wore was silver with an embossed cross and sword. It was one of four impressive rings he wore on each finger, each the kind that could crack open a man's brow in a fight. "Her coven controls five states, more than any other."

I looked at Dante, "That's a problem, right?"

He nodded once. "Witches are territorial and prone to power struggles. Most covens can operate in a city fairly well, but a whole state is difficult. It requires a tremendous amount of power and fear."

"So the fact that she controls five is not only impressive but hella-scary." I turned back to Murphy and his map, "So how's she managing it? Is she just bumping off any rebellious Samanthas that get all up in her face? " I asked.

He looked at me, his eyes dark and hidden. "If by 'bumping off any rebellious Samanthas' you mean killing those that oppose her, making grotesque examples of the strong who resist and forcing the weaker members to align with her or die, then yes."

Well, that was hellaciously specific.

"And you think she's here to take over Celeste's region," Dante said. It wasn't a question.

Murphy nodded once. "Aye, I know she is. The secret's out. Celeste is gone. That leaves a nice big power vacuum for any of Asher's flunkies to come in and take over. If she can take over mid-Missouri, the whole state will be hers."

"So you're here to stop her?" I asked. Murphy was some kind of witch hunter but I felt there was more to him than that. Dante wasn't exactly giving me any more information but I didn't need any more.

"No. I'm here to end her," he said matter-of-factly.

Right.

Definitely a hunter.

I looked over at Dante and raised my eyebrows in a silent question. A lot of weirdoes had been coming through of late and Dante had told me there'd be more. If Murphy was hunting Claudette why come to us? Was it simply evil witch hunting etiquette or was there more?

Dante looked over the map again and crossed his arms across his chest. "You don't need our help to kill a witch."

Murphy placed both hands on the table and leaned over the map. "No, I don't. "

"Why are you here?"

"Word on the street is you've gone rogue, Dante."

Dante remained silent. Murphy continued, "Everyone knows you're no longer bound – not to Celeste or anyone else. I don't want there to be any confusion. I'm here to kill Claudette. Nothing more," he said.

"If you don't need our help, are you here to ask permission or something?" I asked confused. He was in our territory. Well, by default it was mine since my aunt was hanging around in an impressionist haystack. That made me the reigning witch in charge, or so Dante would have be believe.