La Roe's Curse

Dedication,  

I would like to dedicate this book to a few very special people. First, to our Father in Heaven, without God nothing is possible, but with Him you can go as far as your imagination will take you. Secondly, to my dad who has always supported me even when I got on his nerves. To my mom who continues to amaze me by how much she believes in me. To my kids for putting up with the crazy hours writing this. My friend Donna, without her I would still be researching.

A special thank you to Personalized Marketing Inc’s manager, Cindy, a longtime friend who has seen me through some amazing highs and extreme lows. Without her, the company would not be headed in the direction it is and my creative writing would not have come back to life.

I would also like to say a special thank you to each and every one of you.  Without you writing would not be the same. 

God Bless,

Dee Carver

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

La Roe’s  

By  

Dee Carver

Electronic Publication by Personalized Marketing Inc

Copyright © Dee Carol 2008

Cover Art, Editor: Cindy Wieczorek

https://PersonalizedMarketing.info

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Original Publication Date 2005

Electronic Release Date: April 2008

Re-Release Date: June 2019

Print Date: March 2021

Chapter 1

MY NAME IS EMERALD La Roe. However, there is only one person who knows this, Katherine Park, or as everyone calls her Katie, my assistant and best friend. She has been with me since she was 19 years old, and I found her lying in a pool of her own blood. It has been six years since that night but it still makes’ me want to punish the jerk. He was a bully and pimp and had gotten mad because Katie’s trick had turned on her beating her up before taking her money. 

The pimp had not been mad about her getting beat up, just losing his money. By the time I had arrived Katie was unconscious and near death. Looking at her torn clothes I had known immediately, she was a prostitute and probably had no one to help her. Taking her back to my place, I healed her with magic. No, I am not a sorceress or any supernatural being, but I am immortal or so it seems; particularly since I have been around for 300 years. During this time, I have gained powers and abilities, I was not born with. The only downside to my gift is the fact that every year on my birthday, I lose control and become as weak as a newborn babe. Did I forget to mention my physical strength and ability to heal quickly can only be described as inhuman?

Over the years, I have tried to use my gifts to help people with their problems. Even now, I own an agency, which specializes in the paranormal. It is also the reason why I am sitting behind my desk well after closing time to deal with the last client on my schedule. However, I sincerely doubted I could do much for them and that I would have to send them elsewhere.

In the six years since starting my business, I have passed on clients to different investigators. One in particular owns a company that competes with mine, Maxwell Investigations. Maxwell Howard has been in this line of work for ten years now and wants to join my company with his. There is one problem though; Max would demand to know why, I take off during the busiest, October. He would not just accept that I do not like working on my birthday.

However, my personal life is just that, personal and no one else’s business. I know what would happen if it were to become common knowledge of who I am exactly. Experience has taught me in the past there is always someone who would try to kill me just to see if they can. 

Most importantly, my husband’s family would try to destroy me, since it was, he who cursed me. On nights like this though, I sometimes wish I would just accept Max’s offer and pair up. I just cannot make myself give in though, so here I am waiting for Mr. Phillips to arrive. One of these days, I will learn not to try to help everyone who comes to me. 

Rose there is a Mr. MacGregor here to see you. Katie said from the doorway. 

Katie knows the real me, she knows who and what I am or as much as I do anyways. Using one of the many names I have had throughout my lifetime, told me two things. First, the man was standing nearby and second, she does not trust him at all, or at least I don’t think she does. 

Show him in, I have a few minutes until Mr. Phillips arrives, let me know as soon as he shows up. Thank you, Katie. I knew she could tell exactly by the negative energy I was letting off, that when Mr. Phillips did show up, he would be shown the door. Did I forget to mention Katie is not exactly ordinary herself.

You would think in all the years I have been alive; I would have learned patience, but the opposite is true, I actually lost whatever I had to start out with. The gentleman in question walked in, he was certainly handsome enough, with his charcoal gray suit and pale green shirt bringing out the dark green of his eyes.

When he spoke, his voice reminded me of someone I had known, but was so long ago I could not place it. I am sorry for just showing up at such a horrible hour, but I am afraid I have to return home in the morning. My name is Alex MacGregor and I have a very delicate family problem and I believe you just might be able to help me with it.

Mr. MacGregor I am taking a holiday in a matter of days, I am sorry, but I don’t have time for any new clients. I had started to explain... 

Please Ms. Jade, call me Alex, and might I call you Rose? I wish us to be as close as possible in our business venture. 

The smile on his face was almost friendly, that is until you really looked at it, then you can see how it resembled the one a cat gets just before they eat the poor little bird. The way he was checking me out just gave me the creeps; his eyes were so intense it was as though he was trying to see what my desk hid from view.

Well as I was going to say before, I am afraid we will not be taking any new clients currently. At the very least, not for another month. I informed him, purposely leaving off the permission to use my first name. Some people may fall for his good looks and gentle persuasion, but I have been around long enough to know a snake in the grass when I see one.  Now if you will excuse me, I have another client due at any moment and would like to go over his file again. If you could show yourself out. Not waiting for his response, I got up to open the door, as Katie came in to announce our late client had finally arrived. 

Thank you, Katie, show him in. Mr. MacGregor was just leaving. He gave me a blank look before storming out of the office. 

Are you okay? You look a little shook up. She asked from the doorway.

I’m fine. He just irritated me is all. Go ahead and send Mr. Phillips in, I think I know exactly what I am going to do with his case. Without bothering to look up, I knew she was doing just as I had asked her to. Katie might be curious, but she would wait until we were alone.

Katie was definitely gifted and just lacked the proper training. Maybe one day when she was finally ready to accept her gifts and if there was enough time, she would allow me to guide her. Some people are taught how to do magic and some people like Katie, are just naturally talented who only needed a guide. When my own powers had appeared, I had to have someone guide me. A deep-seated sigh escaping, I would have even offered for Katie to see her, but she has been gone for a long time. Why do people die leaving me behind to face the loneliness and pain on my own?

Looking up, I saw a new gentleman standing in my office. Please Mr. Phillips, come in, and sit down. I was just going over your file and I am afraid I will not be able to help you. However, I do know someone who might. 

His face dropped and he began to beg, Oh please you have to help me. No one else will believe me but I swear to you I am telling you the truth. My best friend’s family is cursed and only a powerful witch can help them. He paused as though to be reliving something horrible but continued before I could ask him why he thought I was a witch. 

"It all started about six months ago. I had gone to Gerald’s house to speak with him about our plans for the weekend. When I got there though, the police were everywhere. One of Gerald’s cousins, Josh had been out riding when the horse threw him for no reason.

"At first, everyone thought it was just a horrible accident, but Elizabeth, his aunt, had told everyone he was an excellent horseman and been riding alone since he was six years old. In fact, it was Josh who trained all the new colts including the horse he had been riding on. The police still ruled it as an accident though.

Then about a month later, Elizabeth died in a car crash. The accident shouldn’t have killed her. Her car just ran off into a field, but Elizabeth died anyway. The following month her husband died flying a plane. There have been six deaths total in six months, and all ruled as accidents. Mr. Phillips inhaled sharply before continuing in his hurried pace.

"The only ones left are Gerald and his twin sister, Gwen. I know it sounds like bad luck, but I swear to you these people were some of the luckiest ones I’ve ever known. I hired a private investigator. He believes Gerald and Gwen are responsible. I promise to you; I have known both of them for most of their lives and neither of them would hurt anybody. 

It’s not about money either. Gerald made his own fortune. Gwen and I are going to be married soon and I have enough money for both of us. I give you my word, I have tried everything else, but I am afraid nothing has worked. I’m worried that Gwen and Gerald are next, and if something is not done soon, they both might die." He finally finished breathlessly.

I am sorry for both you and your friend’s loss, but I am not sure how I can possibly help you. Contrary to what you might have heard I am not now, nor have I ever been a witch. However, I do believe you and know a couple of people who might be able to help you. I agree something must be done as soon as possible. These friends of mine have resources I cannot compete with. Pausing I got out the cards I needed from my desk before handing them to him, "Go to these people they will be able to help you. When you see them, tell them I sent you. The woman is a psychic. Do not call her a witch. Madame Teresa will say she is blessed or gifted but definitely not a witch at which point she will probably through you out.  

"The other person I want you to see is a Maxwell Howard, he has been known to take specialty cases like yours. He will probably make you tell your story again to him. Make sure you tell him I suggested he put bodyguards on your friends at least until this is over. 

Both will want half of their fee up front or the very least a substantial amount for compensation. I advise you to go with at least a few thousand dollars. I give free consultations, so you don’t owe me anything. I finished quietly, hoping he had understood. I didn’t think he had though, he held the same look on his face that most people get when they’re hopeless. I walked around the desk and helped him to stand.

Guiding him down the long hallway to the elevators, I softly whispered near his ear. Don’t worry too much, I’ll call both of them tonight and let them know to expect you first thing after the bank opens. I am sorry I couldn’t be of more help to you. Now if you will excuse me, I need to call them before it gets too late. Good-bye Mr. Phillips, I wish you all the best of luck. I left him there at the elevator doors staring after me.

Katie can you get me, Teresa and Max’s numbers please. After I call them, we can go home. I went to my office closing the door without another glance. 

She followed me into the room moments later. Here you go, but I do have something I want to say to you first. She began but I held my hand up when Teresa answered the phone, I didn’t really need their numbers, but I had hoped my saying so out loud would have given Phillips some form of comfort...

Hi Teresa, it’s Rose, listen a guy by the name of Phillips is going to drop by in the morning. I think he is going to need a protection spell for him and two of his friends.

Are ya sure he’s fur real? She asked. I sighed a moment as her southern drawl dripped even through the phone line feeling as though molasses was being dripped on my shoulders.

Yeah, I’m sure, and I don’t know how long he is going to need them. Just trust me and listen to his story. You’ll believe him too.

Do ya want me to give ya a call after he leaves? 

Yeah I would appreciate it, but you’ll have to call me at home I won’t be here in the morning.

All-right, but ya owe me for this one. I’ll call in the morning, bye.

I turned toward Katie then, she looked as though she was about to bust with whatever she had to say. Let me call Max and then we can talk, okay? At her curt nod, I dialed Max’s number. Hello is Mr. Howard there? ... Would you let him know its Ms. Jade? ... Yes, I will hold. It only took a minute for him to get on the phone, but I was still ready to hang up and go home by then. 

Hello Rose, is that you? He asked politely, but I knew his too perfect a secretary hadn’t misunderstood. 

Yes Max, the reason I am calling is out of courtesy. I’m sending this guy over to see you in the morning He really needs your help. I also sent him to Teresa too.

How do you know I even have the time to help him? With you going on vacation, I am already getting backed up. I don’t have the manpower to pull off anything big right now. He was definitely not happy about this. His voice was full of contempt, which was the normal for this time of the year.

Normally when Max complained, it was just a way for him to remind me, that my taking off was purely unprofessional on my part. He was right, it never fails that someone always wants a little magical help on Halloween.

Come on Max you know I’m not a psychic, and I can’t bring people back from the dead either and I really don’t do ghosts of any kind. You know as well as I do, what I do is more a of a mystery to me, than anything else. Besides when you hear this guy, you’ll know he needs more than I could ever provide, even on a good day. He needs bodyguards and a real detective and, no matter what anyone else thinks or says, you are the best man for the job. I tried giving a little nibble of what was going on.

All right I will talk to him, but I am going to charge him the full rate, before I even speak to him. Before you start griping at me, I want you to know, I have had to hire some extra people around here, and if you’re right I am going to need even more. I meant it when I said I was backed up. He sounded furious. I could almost see his handsome face flushed with anger.

I had known he was going to be upset about a late client, but he seemed angrier than normal. Trying to calm him down, I tried a more soothing tone, you know that same one a mother gets when her child is upset. Look Max you have every right to be upset. How about when I get back, we discuss some kind of agreement to where we both get what we want. However, before you get too excited, I am not saying partners, but maybe Katie and I can work as freelance for you. I finished carefully, trying to put a hint of promise in my voice.

All right but know this is the last time I take on one of your late clients. From now on you offer them to someone else or take care of it yourself. He finished roughly, and then hung up the phone on me.

Well shit, I did not even get to tell him Phillips’ name. I grumbled, now getting angry myself. I called his office back and left the name with his secretary.

After I got off the phone again, I looked up to see Katie glaring at my face. 

Are you going to tell me why you let that poor man leave without even trying to help him? Don’t dare say you can’t because of your birthday coming up. You could have at least given him a spell or something. 

There was more confusion and anger on her face and in her voice than had been there in a long time. 

Even her body language showed signs of her disapproval, with her hands planted firmly on her hips. You didn’t even give him a chance; you’re just being a selfish bitch as usual!

Oh Katie, don’t you understand. He needs more than what I can give him, and you know my powers are never reliable this time of the year. I just couldn’t be sure a spell would hold, until we got back. I don’t have the manpower to watch out for him and his friends both. Someone is magically killing his friends and I can’t protect them and find out who at the same time, not in three days. This can’t wait until I get back to full strength either. I had tried to explain with more compassion in my voice, than I actually felt.

She became furious then, her arms waving all around and the energy she was putting off hot enough to burn. I was not talking about Mr. Phillips. I was talking about Mr. MacGregor. You were right, there was nothing we could do for Phillips’ friends, and I believe he knows who exactly is trying to kill them. The way she choked out friends made me wonder if she had swallowed something nasty. Then I wondered if she was referring to him or me.

I was talking about the trouble MacGregor is in. He is the one who really needs your help! If you had just shaken his hand, the way I did, you would have felt the pain he was in. Don’t say there isn’t anything you could have done about it either. A simple spell to find out what or who is out there feeding off him would have helped. I could see and feel her anger rising by the second; the room began to feel stifling with it.

All right, I didn’t shake his hand, but there was no way I was touching someone who had been lying to me since he walked in my door. In addition, there is no way I am going to put us in danger for someone else. Now if you don’t mind, I am going home and getting some rest for tomorrow. 

I grabbed my coat from her and walked out. I was getting so tired of people pushing my buttons today. I didn’t even bother looking back, to see if she was coming or not.

Wait Em, I’m sorry. It’s just. I was picking up his desperation when he left. She said running up behind me. 

It’s all right, all I want to do is go home and forget about today. Which came out meaner than I had really wanted too, but I was still upset about the fight. I was beginning to think that maybe it was time for me to move on. 

Look I am sorry okay. 

At my nod, she climbed in the car with me.

I know we have a lot to do tomorrow, but I was supposed to meet Janie tonight for drinks. You know, to celebrate her getting married and all. Katie explained. 

Janie is Katie’s older sister; I helped to track her down when Katie got off the streets. I knew Janie didn’t like Katie working for me, but I also knew Janie was grateful for me getting Katie off the streets. Therefore, we had a deal of sorts, Janie would not complain about Katie working for me and I would try not interrupting their personal time together.

So where am I dropping you off, her place or some club? 

Well Janie said she would wait for me at her house till nine, but I don’t think we are going to make it in time. Why don’t you just drop me off at the diner on 61st and I can catch a ride with Bonnie. Katie answered sounding more like herself again, her voice once softer and more innocent.  I knew Bonnie was one of Janie’s friends, though I thought Katie and Bonnie didn’t like each other. I even told her so. 

I know what you’re thinking, we decided since we’re going to be in the wedding together, we’re going to try to get along, at least for Janie’s sake. Don’t worry about waiting up for me. I don’t know for sure when I’m going to get home. She turned then to look out her window.

Since she obviously didn’t want to talk anymore, so I didn’t try. Even though Katie made enough working for me that she could pay for her own place, she had told me once she felt safer at mine. Which was fine with me, since I felt less lonely with her around. My house was big enough that three separate families could live in it at the same time and never meet each other. I even remodeled the house; Katie thought it was unnecessary though. She doesn’t know I am leaving the house to her and wanted to be sure she could rent it out, if she needed the money.

When we got to the diner, Katie bounded out of the car like a teenager. She turned back only long enough to tell me bye, before shutting the door and going inside. Watching her walk up to the doors I noticed a couple of guys checking her out and wondered if she would ever feel confident enough to date anyone.

I knew it wasn’t the fact she was not a virgin. People just don’t worry about it the way they used too. I was quite sure she just didn’t trust a man enough, not to hurt her again. It was one other thing Janie and I had agreed on, maybe we should persuade Katie to see a shrink. Watching her walk by the men and not even notice them, made me wonder if guys were even on her radar anymore. 

I knew she was not interested in women; I had asked her about it, but men didn’t exist for her either. I knew that she was traumatized by what had happened to her, but it was beginning to get serious. Janie and I were going to have to confront her and soon.   

After taking a quick shower, I put on my favorite pair of pajamas. They have little Teddy Bears with wings on them. When I am feeling particularly down like tonight, I just want to crawl into bed and hold something close. It was my only true weakness, to give into stuffed things to cuddle up to at night.

Normally, before I go to sleep, I have my own form of an herbal bath. I use it to wash all the leftover magic from the day. Tonight, though a shower was all I could bring myself up too. I knew better with my birthday so close, but I just didn’t care.             

Chapter 2

WHEN I FINALLY FELL asleep, I dreamed I was back home, running through the house with something chasing me from behind. I ran out to my mother's rose garden. There is a path in the garden leading to our family crypt. My mother had decided when I was a child, there should be roses leading to those who had