Damned and Cursed (Book 2): Witch's Kurse by Glenn Bullion

feeling would ever go away.   He kept it on him at all times.   It was a gift from the witch, Kevin Mishnar.   Two centuries without a second of sleep was behind him.   He wasn't sure how the trinket worked.   He didn't know how Kevin made it, or how he linked it to him.   Jack didn't care.   All he cared about was that it worked.
    The watch's hands always remained at twelve o'clock.   Winding it would start a countdown backward in time, and instantly put Jack to sleep.   Setting it to twelve thirty would let him sleep for half an hour, three o'clock would grant him three hours, all the way to eleven hours fifty nine minutes.   He could use it as often as he wanted, and once, while Tiffany was over a friend's for a weekend, he'd slept for twenty-four hours straight, with only the single break to start the countdown again.   He dreamed, and it was one of the best times of his life.
    Mortals, even supernaturals, took sleep for granted.   It came, whether they wanted it or not.   But not Jack.   He almost felt a tear coming on as he stared at the antique pocket-watch.
    Casting one last look to Erica, he saw his girlfriend's attention was elsewhere.   He leaned toward the smelly woman and opened his mouth to whisper, but thought better of it.   Reversing direction, he gave the note-taking lady next to him a light tap on the shoulder.
    "Hi," he said, keeping his voice low.   "What's your name?"
    She gave him an incredulous, annoyed look.   Trying to ignore him, she looked back to her notes.   It was only when she realized Jack wasn't leaning away did she sigh.
    "Stephanie."
    "Stephanie," he repeated.   "I'll call you Steph.   Listen, would you mind if I fall asleep on your shoulder?"
    Steph's jaw dropped as she whirled toward him.   She said nothing, trying to figure out if Jack was serious.   Her face turned red.   He waited patiently for a response, still rubbing his thumb along his trinket.
    "I'm…married!"
    "And my girlfriend is right over there across the room.   I'm not asking to rip your thong off.   I just need a shoulder.   Yours looks nice and soft, and you smell pretty good, not like Miss Sewage next to me here."
    Steph was quiet as her brow furrowed.   Confusion, anger, curiosity all played across her face.
    "Come on, Steph.   Hook a parent up.   We're supposed to look out for each other."
    A hint of a smile, and she started to speak, when Jack heard Mrs. Galloway say something that caught his attention.
    "This is just a little reminder, but in case you weren't aware, the school's no-hugging policy went into effect this past week."
    Jack frowned as he leaned away from Steph, and she went back to her notes.   He was shocked by the non-reaction in the room.   Mrs. Galloway was ready to move on when Jack threw his hand up.
    "Whoa.   Hold on there.   Did you say no-hugging policy?"
    Mrs. Galloway was surprised at the interruption, and didn't look happy.   She blinked a few times as she searched the group, finally spotting Jack's hand.   It seemed like more of a lecture than a meeting.
    "Uh, yes, Mr. Kursed.   Like I just said, it went into effect this week."
    "And what, pray tell, is a no-hugging policy?"
    "Exactly what it sounds like.   If you were at our other meetings, you would know.   Children are not allowed to hug one another in the building or on the playground during school hours.   It's been causing disruption."
    Jack slipped his pocket-watch into his jeans as he stood up.   He was no longer in the mood to sleep.   For the first time all evening, the entire room was attentive.
    "This has been discussed," Mrs. Galloway said.   "Again, if you would have spared the time to come to our other meetings—"
    "Let me get this straight.   If my daughter…let's say she gets whacked in the face with a dodge-ball at recess.   She's not that graceful.   She's crying, embarrassed.   Another kid comes up and gives her a hug, to make her feel better.   What happens?"
    "If your