Just Couldn't Help Myself

We were just finishing our sandwiches when Stella showed up. She was tall, for a woman, and willowy in a blue and gold wrap dress. Her skin was the color of alabaster, huge black sunglasses perched on her long, narrow nose, her hair in waist length dreads down her back like ropes of snow. She came in with a large black umbrella folded under one arm and a wicker bag full of vegetables under the other.

“Nanette, the next time you leave-” she stopped at the sight of Deacon and I, then removed her sunglasses, revealing her jewel pink eyes. “Deacon.” she said softly, smiling. “I was wondering when you’d show up again.”

“Hey, Stella.” he said, getting up and greeting her with a long, slow, kiss. I looked away, a little uncomfortable. “This is Johnny.” he said when they were done.

Her reddish eyes took me in for a moment, and she smiled. “Oh, he’s adorable.” she said with a little laugh. “Where’d you find him? Is he for playing with?”

“No.” Deacon said firmly, and I gaped at both of them. “He’s found himself in an interesting predicament that I think you can help him with. Have a seat.”

Stella handed Nanette her umbrella and the bag, and then took a seat at the kitchen table. “So, Johnny.” she beamed at me, showing off teeth that looked wrong… it took me a moment to realize her top four teeth had been filed to points. My stomach heaved a little at the thought of scraping your own teeth down to points. “What can I do for you?”

“I have a cat.” I said.

“That’s what pounds are for.”

I shook my head. “He wasn’t always a cat.”

“Intriguing.” she leaned forward. “Tell me.”

I explained to her what Lonnie told me. Halfway through she started looking uncomfortable, then worried, then scared. She stood up and began pacing once I was finished.

“Lawrence?” she asked. “You’re sure?”

“Lawrence Worthington.” I said, nodding.

“Oh, the saints save us all.” she whispered, and pressed her hand against her forehead. “You found him?”

“I… what?” I frowned. “He found me, really. I don’t understand.”

She sat down. “Oh, this is wonderful, terrible news.” she said, and took both my hands in hers. “I must see him, immediately.” she smiled brightly, but her eyes were still scared. “I can’t promise that I can help him, but I will try.” she turned and looked at Nanette. “Nan, this is it. It’s him.”

Nanette’s face twisted. “You said he was dead.”

“I thought he was.” Stella stood up. “I’ll need supplies.” she said. “And a gift. Something…” she sighed and looked at me critically. “How is he? Mentally?”

“Irritated.” I said, because that’s the first word that came to mind. “Ornery. Bitter.”

Deacon laughed. “You really think it’s him, Stella?”

“Yes. I know the story. How could I forget?”

“What the hell is going on?” I asked, annoyed at all of this confusing talk. “What are you so excited about?”

Stella looked at me. “There’s a story, passed down by my family, about an ancestor of mine. A powerful witch, one of the greatest of her time. But she was consumed with petty negative emotions; jealousy, greed, lust. She fell in love with a plantation owner’s son, but he never loved her back. When she found he was unfaithful, she cursed him.”

I shook my head. “You think Lonnie is this plantation owner’s son?”

“Of course. I remember the name.”

“Well, I mean, the time era matches up, he said he was turned into a cat right before the civil war ended, but-”

“We must go see him immediately.” she said. “Give me a moment, I have to prepare.” she turned and fled the room, and Nanette followed. I turned and glared at Deacon.

“Did you know?” I asked.

He shrugged. “I might’ve.” he said. “Does it matter?”

“If it’s not him-”

“I think it is.” Deacon sighed and came over to stand way too close to me. “Why are you so worried?”

“Oh, I don’t know. This parade of freaky people in and out of my apartment is not going to go over well with-”

“Murphy?”

“My neighbors.” I said, scowling.

“He’s a neighbor.” Deacon pointed out.

“Leave him out of this.” I sighed. “This is ridiculous. I should be looking for-”

“Listen.” Deacon said, putting his hand on my shoulder. “You need to be a little more worried about fixing what is rather than concerned about what hasn’t happened yet. You’ve got plenty of time to look for this devil of yours. Relax a little.”

“What am I supposed to do with him if she fixes him?” I asked.

“Make him get a job?” Deacon offered, and I snorted laughter. “Seriously, Johnny, you worry too much. You’re going to flip out one of these days.”

“Well, I certainly deserve some freak out time.”

“True.” Deacon said. “You’re taking all of this very well.”

I felt sleepy and a lot calmer than I had a moment ago. Then I realized Deacon’s fingers were running gently up and down the back of my neck, and I cringed away. He dropped his hand and said, “Trust Stella. She’s good at what she does.”

“Can she fix me while she’s at it?”

“I see nothing wrong with you.” he said, and I glared at him. “What? You’re obviously good at dealing with stressful situations, you’re a fast learned, you’re smart, you’re hot, you’re willing to accept-”

“What the hell did you say?”

He looked surprised. “What?” he smiled. “You’re hot? You are.”

I looked away, flushing a little. “Thanks, I guess.”

“Hey, I’m not hitting on you, I just-”

“Are you sure?” I asked, and stood up to face him. My height made him have to tilt his head back to meet my eyes. “You’re really touchy feely, you strip down in my kitchen at the drop of a hat, you sneak into my house in the middle of the night, you make me breakfast, you-”

“Hey.” he pointed at me. “If I wanted to sleep with you, you’d know it, trust me.”

“So you don’t?”

“I didn’t say I didn’t.” he said, then turned and left the kitchen, laughing. I scowled after him.

Deacon took me back to my apartment, and Nanette drove Stella, following behind us. I took them upstairs and let them into my apartment. Deacon flopped down on the couch, and Nanette took the recliner. Stella stood by the door, her black and purple velvet purse clutched to her chest.

“Where is he?” she asked.

“Hang on.” I went in the bedroom, and sure enough Lonnie was curled up on my pillow, sound asleep. I knelt on the bed and scratched behind his ears. “Rise and shine, kitty cat.” I said, and he cracked open one eye to glare at me. “I’ve got a surprise for you.” I picked him up and carried him out of the bedroom.

“I don’t like surprises, Johnny.” Lonnie said, reaching up to swat my chin with his paw, claws retracted. “Whatever it is, I don’t want it.”

“Yes you do.” I told him, and went into the living room. Stella’s breath caught in her throat, and Lonnie turned his head to look at her. He meowed, and I rolled my eyes. “They all know you talk.”

“How is that?” he asked, and Nanette made a sound that reminded me of a squeaky toy, while Stella put her hand to her heart and looked faint. “Did you tell them?”

“Stella thinks she can help you.”

Lonnie snorted. “I highly fucking doubt it.” he said as I set him down on the table. “What, I’m on display now?”

“Lawrence.” Stella whispered softly, and Lonnie turned to stare at her. “Oh, I found you.”

“Lady, I’ve never seen you before in my life.” Lonnie snapped at her.

She smiled, nodding, and brushed her hand down the front of her skirt. “I know.” she kneeled down in front of the table so she was face to face with the cat. “But I know you.” she reached out with shaking white fingers and touched his fur. “You’re beautiful.”

“I’m a fucking cat.” he told her flatly. “Who are you?”

“Stella.” she said, and smiled. “Stella Desmarais.”

Lonnie hissed, his back arching, and my knee jerk reaction was to pick him up. He went nuts, claws flying, and caught me just below my right eye. I dropped him, swearing, and he took off to run, but Deacon moved faster than him somehow, catching him by the tail and then grabbing him by the back of the neck. He yowled, twisting to get away.

“You bastard!” he screamed at me. “How dare you bring her here!”

“I want to help!” Stella shouted, teary eyed.

“You’re the offspring of that vile, cold hearted cunt that did this to me!” Lonnie shrieked, still twisting in Deacon’s grasp. “Put me down! I’ll fucking claw her eyes out!”

“Lonnie, stop it!” I snapped. “She wants to help!”

“I’d rather die than let her touch me!”

Stella jumped to her feet, looking furious. “Fine!” she shouted, and I wondered if my neighbors would call the cops. “Stay like that! I’m the last of my name, did you know that? If I don’t break the spell, no one will.”

Lonnie went still. “What?” he hissed.

She brushed her dreads back from her shoulders. “I have her book.” she said, as though that meant something. Apparently, it did, because Lonnie was suddenly listening very intently. “It says that only her blood can break the spell.” she sighed. “I’m the last of my family, Lawrence. I can’t have children. Do you know what that means?” When Lonnie said nothing, she went on, “that means I’m your last chance.”

“Put me down.” Lonnie told Deacon, and when the man refused, he hissed. “I’ll behave, put me down now.” Deacon shot me a look, and I nodded, gesturing. Deacon very carefully set Lonnie down on the table. The cat shot him a ‘I’ll-get-you-later’ look before turning to Stella. “You’re serious.”

“I am.” she kneeled down again. “I’ve looked for you my entire life, Lawrence.”

“Why?” he asked.

“My mother told me about you. It’s a bedtime story in my family, what she did to you.”

He snorted and rolled his eyes. “Fucked up little family you’ve got.”

“It broke my heart, Lawrence.” she touched him again. “I promised I’d fix it, put it right. It was wrong, what she did.”

“No shit.”

She smiled. “Let me try. Please. The reversal is in the book. I don’t know if it’ll work, but I need to try. For both of us.”

Lonnie studied her for a while, then finally nodded. “If you think there’s a chance.” he said. “But I don’t trust you. One move I don’t like, and I’ll chew through your throat before you can scream.”

She wasn’t even phased by the threat. She kissed him between the eyes and stood up, smiling. “Johnny-”

“Yea.” I said, nodding. “You can do your crazy magic crap in my house. Should we leave?”

“No.” she shook her head. “But you need to understand the way magic works.” she sighed and picked up her bag. “the energy has to come from somewhere. If you stay, part of it will come from you. Do you understand?”

I nodded, pretty sure I got what she was saying. “Will it make it easier if I stay?”

“On them, yes.” she said, gesturing at Deacon and Nanette. “You have to be willing to do as I say, when I say it, no matter what.”

“I don’t have to chant or dance or anything, do I?” I asked, and she laughed.

“No, of course not.” she walked over and held out her hand, palm up. There was a dark purple tattoo on her palm; a circle inside of a triangle. “Will you help?” she asked.

I nodded, and took her hand. There was a faint, stinging pain against my palm, and when I pulled back and looked, that symbol was pressed into my palm, like a welt. “What the hell?”

She walked to Deacon, who took her hand without hesitation. “It’s a seal.” she said. “It will link your energies together, so we’re not draining everyone in the building. Once it’s there, it will not go away until the spell is complete.” she touched Nanette as well, then turned and looked at me, her eyes narrowed. “Now take off your clothes.” she said.