Page 43 of Hex You

Khenti grinned. “She is a fierce huntress.” Then he ran his hand wearily across his face again. “And I tried to sleep, but my mind was filled with questions left from our research. When I realized I wasn’t going to be able to rest I got up and returned to theinternet.” He spoke the word reverently. “It is a marvel.”

Mercy grinned over her shoulder. “Yeah, you’ve reminded me how awesome it is. Hard to believe that only, like, twenty years ago we didn’t have it. Talk about the Dark Ages.” She finished filling the coffee maker, grabbed a carton of eggs, and went to peer at the computer as she rested her hands on Khenti’s shoulders. “So, did you figure out which demon is our baddie?” But as Mercy’s gaze went to the computer screen she saw that instead of information on Japanese water demons or mosquito-like Hindu monsters, the page was about ancient Egypt.

Khenti put his hands over hers and gave her an apologetic look. “I—um—just wanted to see what it said about my home.”

She sat next to him at the little breakfast table. “Hey, that’s totally understandable. What’d you find?”

His full lips twitched up at the corners. “Much misinformation.”

“Yeah, well, that’s probably the biggest problem with the internet.”

“It did make me miss my mother even more than I already do,” he said softly, his gaze returning to the screen. “Did you know that there is an actual reference to her in your world?”

“What?! No! That’s majorly cool!”

Khenti nodded and pointed to the screen. “They have the facts wrong, but that is not surprising. The explorers were trying to piece together information found from thousands of years ago. They say she was the wife of Pharaoh’s favorite architect. Actually, she was the daughter of an architect so highly favored by Pharaoh that even the gods took notice—which is how my father met my mother.” Khenti touched the screen gently.

“You’ll get back to her,” said Mercy.

Khenti straightened. “Yes. Yes, I absolutely will—as soon as I aid you and Hunter in the defeat of the monster that is loosed on your village. And I believe I have discovered what that monster could be.”

“Oh, yea! Which one?”

Khenti clicked on a page he’d minimized. “This demon seems to be what we’re looking for.”

Quickly, Mercy read the information. “Hmm, a Nure-Onna. So, a water demon that’s really a woman who takes the form of a serpent.”

“Yes,” Khenti continued. “The information I found says that she lures victims close to her through the cries of a ghostly child she carries—and her preferred victims are women. Her bite is poisonous—it paralyzes the Nure-Onna’s prey so that she can easily drink the blood of her victim. It always strikes around or in water and it often sheds its skin, so we need to look for a huge snake’s skin, or at least scales. If we find either we can be sure it’s a Nure-Onna.”

“That’s great work, Khenti! Did you find anything about it having the ability to manipulate people’s emotions?” Mercy said.

“Not directly, though from the information I read we might infer she can. It states clearly that she draws victims to her by making them believe they hear the cries of an infant.”

Mercy nodded slowly. “That seems reasonable. I can’t wait to tell Hunter and Xena. Right after school we can go on a snakeskin hunt—which is disgusting, but if that’s what we have to do to—”

“Good morning, kittens!” Xena burst into the kitchen nook through the back door—completely naked with glistening scarlet blood spatter on her chin. She hurried to Mercy to hug her, but Mercy backed quickly out of her reach.

“Oh, no no no. You have blood on your face! And you’re naked!”

Xena stopped and touched her face until she found the blood, then she began licking her fingers and cleaning herself. Between licks she spoke. “I am not surprised at the blood. My breakfast sparrow was quite feisty this morning. Ridiculous little creatures, but so, so tasty. And of course I am naked. I am always naked when I change into my human skin. Abigail’s bathrobe is…” She gestured vaguely behind her at the living room. “You don’t mind that I am naked, do you, Khenti kitten?”

Khenti grinned up at the cat person. “I am comfortable with your form with or without clothes.” He lowered his voice conspiratorially. “We are much lesscoveredin my world than yours.”

“I’m getting the bathrobe!” Mercy called as she sprinted into the living room to find her mother’s soft old bathrobe had been discarded across the couch. She had just grabbed it when Hunter padded down the stairs.

“Xena’s naked again?” she asked her twin.

Mercy rolled her eyes. “Come see.”

“Well, it definitely won’t be the first time.” Hunter laughed.

“She’s also bloody. Be careful.” Mercy followed her sister back to the kitchen.

“Mercy Anne Goode.” Xena fisted her hands on her ample hips.“I am no longer bloody. As always, I am perfectly groomed. Good morning, Hunter.”

“’Morning, Xena—’morning, Khenti.” Khenti nodded a friendly greeting while Hunter neatly sidestepped Xena’s attempt to lick her cheek. “Xena, you have sparrow breath.”

Xena beamed a satisfied smile. “Of course I do!”