Gypsey Blood by Lorrie Unites-Struff Page A

of oak stakes, Dragus. Shove this spray-can in your pocket, too. It’s an industrial strength drain cleaner we’ve made into an aerosol. If you get close, go for his eyes.”
    Anna took the bottle of holy water Matt offered. “Contrary to belief, the water will only slow him.” She patted her bag. “But, I have some weapons with me.”
    Matt shed his leather jacket, the gold cross lay midway down his sweater.
    Rita checked her Glock.
    “You know that won’t work, try this baby instead.” Matt handed her a weapon that resembled a wide-barreled revolver. “Handles like a pistol, but it shoots one electrode attached to a lead. Works like a Taser. Once you hit him with the dart, he should lose control of his muscles. It takes a second to recharge, so keep the juice flowing to keep him incapacitated. You only get five pulls on the trigger before it’s out of power.”
    “Very nice. But what happened the first time you and your partner caught up with Lucien. Didn’t you use this?”
    “Yeah, my partner did. He missed.” Matt shot her a sharp look. “Make sure you don’t.”
    “I don’t know, Matt. Maybe you should keep it.”
    “No. Dragus and I will distract him. You’ll have the better opportunity.” Next, Matt handed her a sheathed dagger. She pulled it from the casing and found the weapon made of hard wood. Rita re-sheathed the dagger and strapped the scabbard onto her belt next to her cell phone. She jammed the gun into her waistband at her back. Then she pulled the amulet out in plain sight. It lay like a heavy chunk of ice on top of her sweatshirt.
    Matt chose a weapon that looked like a mini-crossbow, along with a bundle of bolts. He pulled out a machete and tucked the grip under his arm.
    A tugging on Rita’s sweatshirt pulled her close to Anna’s lips, her breath warm on Rita’s ear. “Never forget my deep love for you, Daughter.”
    The wrinkled brow, the tight lines around Anna’s mouth worried Rita. Her mother must feel guilty for dismissing the earlier claims about the crystal’s impotence. “I know, Ma.” Rita pressed a kiss to the back of Anna’s fingers.” It’s okay. Everything will work out. And I love you, too.”
    “It’s getting darker. I think we best hurry,” Anna said.
    Dragus and Matt half carried and helped Anna maneuver her chair across the lumpy earth the long distance to the porch. They lifted the wheelchair up the single step. The men heaved one of the broken double doors to the side. The heavy door screeched over the wood, tilted sideways, then crashed to the porch. A cloud of gritty dirt rose and filled Rita’s nostrils.
    Rita froze at the noise. Then, she unglued her boots from the porch, and flicked on the Maglite. She aimed the beam into the stygian hole before them. The light revealed a foyer as large as her living room. On the left were shelves, some broken, some whole. She moved her beam further down the wall. Two arched doorways swept by in the fringes of her light that led into the darkened side rooms. At the last arch, the back wall held exposed studs, the inner sheeting missing. Another arch appeared on the right and a grand staircase. Dust-webs stretched from corner to corner and hung from the banisters like black moss. On her immediate right, the solid wall held water-stained, curled wallpaper with a faded cabbage rose print. Metal spider arms dangled overhead, proof of a once huge chandelier lighting the grand entrance. Slivers of glass from its shattered cones lay strewn over the floor.
    A bright light joined hers. Matt had crouched, set down his Litebox and blade on the floor to the right of the threshold, and readied his crossbow. Rita stepped in next to Matt.
    Anna guided her chair inside, her flashlight wedged on top of her tote, the glaring beam facing the blackened studs. Dragus set his Litebox on a shelf to the left to help encompass the foyer with the artificial brightness.
    “Grandfather Lucien, we know you are here. Come. Meet your