Page 22 of Coven of Corpses

“I haven’t seen one of those in…” Her voice faded out and she shook her head. Tears filled her eyes, and she quickly pressed a knuckle beneath each eye.

“Margie? Oh, no.” Demetrius reached across the table to take her hand. “What is it?”

“My grandmother had a bag like that. And she gave one to me as well. I’ll never forget it. It was the day I got married and moved out of my parents’ house.”

“Really?” Cody turned on the seat to be able to look at her more directly. “Did she say what it was for?”

“Protection. Prosperity. All good things.” She smiled as a tear spilled from her eye. “She died a few years after that. I still have the bag. It’s tucked inside my hope chest, along with my wedding dress and photo album.”

“I never knew you were married,” Demetrius said.

“Oh, him.” She waved her hand as if shooing a fly. “Worst decision of my life. He couldn’t pass a bar without trying to find the bottom of at least one bottle. Liked to gamble a lot, too, and wasn’t very good at it. A few years after we got married, he went out for a pack of cigarettes and never came home. The last time I heard from him I received a bunch of legal documents asking for a divorce.” She cocked an eyebrow. “Fastest I’ve ever signed anything in my life.”

“Sounds like a real prince,” Cody said. “Guess your grandmother’s hex bag didn’t protect you from him.”

“Actually, in a way, it did. When we were married, I kept the bag in the drawer of the nightstand on my side of the bed. He would sneeze if he was in the room when I opened that drawer. He said he was allergic to whatever was inside and wanted me to throw it out. I told him to just stay on his side of the bed, and he wouldn’t have a problem.” She laughed quietly. “Gave me quite a few nights off from having to fulfill my wifely duties.”

“Well, that’s good then, I guess?” Demetrius looked at Cody and saw his own embarrassment and anger for Margie reflected in his expression.

“Oh, hell yes it was good. He was a terrible lover. Will was gifted in size, but limited in skill, if you get my drift.”

“Yep, we get it,” Cody said with a slightly pained look. “And we’re drifting on by it.”

“Oh, you boys. After everything we’ve been through together, you can handle a little girl talk from me.”

“You’re absolutely right, Margie,” Demetrius said. “So, was your grandmother… “ He looked around, then lowered his voice and leaned in slightly. “Was she a witch?”

Margie sat back and clasped her hands in front of her. She looked at the box in the middle of the table, then back at Demetrius. “You know, seeing this bag and thinking about her now, I bet she was.”

“Maybe she and my grandmother were in a coven together,” Cody said before picking up his sandwich and taking a big bite.

“Wouldn’t that be a hoot?” Margie chuckled and shook her head. She leaned over to bump Cody’s shoulder, then squeezed his forearm. “I’m sorry if I shared too much. Seeing that brought back a lot of memories. Forgive an old woman for going on.” She slid back out of the seat.

“You’re not old,” Cody said. “You’re a spring chicken.”

“Yeah, yeah. Closer to poultry.” Margie stood with her hands on the table, fingers splayed, looking down into the box. “I’ve noticed some differences in town since…well, since Halloween. That was a terrible time, and I’m glad we’re through it.” She looked between them. “We are through it, right? There aren’t any of them lurking around, are there?”

“None that we know of,” Demetrius said, knowing she meant vampires without saying the word. He took the opportunity to push a forkful of salad into his mouth.

“Good riddance.” She looked into the box again. “I don’t think we’re quite through the worst of things yet, though, boys. Keep your wits about you.”

“Well, shit. I lost my wits a long time ago,” Cody said.

“Oh, you.” Margie smacked him playfully on the shoulder. “Eat your food. And this lunch is on me, since I made myself at home in your booth for so long.”

“You don’t have to do that, Margie,” Demetrius said.

“I want to. Now go on and eat.”

Demetrius watched her return to her spot behind the counter, and then looked over to find Cody staring at him.

“What?” Demetrius said.

“You know what this means, right?” He replaced the cover on the box and returned it to his jacket pocket.

“I’m afraid to guess.”

“It means we’ve got another spooky case to look into.”