Free Lucky's Charm by Kassanna Page B

held the wood to the flames. Fire quickly caught the dry kindling. She held her arm up. The improvised torch glowing over her campsite cast a faint light.
    The elderly guy scurried back.
    “I can toss you this limb,” Landis called out. “It should keep you warm. I’m sure once my friend gets back, he’ll be happy to help you.”
    “I’m hungry, too. Can you spare a fellow traveler a few meager scraps?” A slim hand, palm open, appeared within the circle of light. The skin was so translucent a network of tiny blue veins could be seen just beneath the surface. Dirt-rimmed nails were bitten down almost to the quick.
    Landis moved closer to the wall. “I’ll throw you a sack of grain. You should continue to move on. I have nothing else to offer you.” She swallowed and lowered her arm as the flames licked up the wood.
    “It’s not wise to travel alone.” The elderly guy’s voice grew stronger. “I can accompany you to your destination if you’ll share your camp.”
    “No.” Landis tossed the wood into the fire and watched as embers drifted up into the air, blazing into nothingness.
    “Come, child. I have much to share if you allow me to come closer.” The words were just above a whisper.
    Goose bumps rose up along Landis’ arms. Lucky had told her to watch out for women. He never said a damn thing about men. She skimmed her fingers along the mace’s cold, steel spikes on her hip then tugged the weapon loose from its holster.
    “I’m in danger, young one. Give me shelter, please.” The last word was spoken with a lisp.
    Pebbles flew at her, falling just short of hitting her. She gripped the mace tighter. The weighted sphere was a comfortable extension of her arm. It dangled, tapping against the stone behind her.
    “At least come closer. I need your help, little girl.”
    The hold on her temper snapped. “What the fuck do I look like? Go to hell!”
    “I know evil intimately. I’ll be happy to share all my knowledge.” The weathered old man stepped into the light. His clothes were ragged, with holes worn through the elbows and knees. Around his wiry waist, his pants were cinched with rope tied in a tight knot. Thread hung from the hem of his shirt. Sallow skin sagged beneath his chin and along his jawline. Large bags under his eyes pulled the lids from the sockets, exposing the tissue. His face looked like it was melting off his skull. Small patches of white hair floated in the light breeze.
    Landis raised the mace. One good strike and she might be able to knock the frail fellow down if not out. His thin lips lifted at the corners to expose black, rotting teeth.
    “You have got to be fucking kidding me,” Landis muttered. Anger simmering in her since her arrival bubbled to the surface. Life wasn’t fair, but damn if she wasn’t tired of getting kicked when she was down.
    His jaws widened unnaturally. An eerie howling started.
    She twirled the sphere on its chain. To hell with this. She ran at the being and swung. She’d been lucky once and hoped with all her heart the streak would hold. The solid metal orb embedded in the banshee’s neck. “Shut the hell up. I need to think!”
    Eyes wide, the old guy slowly morphed into a crone then dissipated into a stream of smoke. It spiraled upward and the mace dropped, catching her off guard and wrenching her arm downward. Her grip weakened, and she jumped in place.
    “O-Ouch, motherfucker!” Landis poured all her uncertainty and disbelief into the words as she dropped the weapon and shook out her arm. After a moment, she glanced at the mace, crouched, and snatched it up. She rose to spin in a circle. The chain cut through the air as she moved and the sphere slammed into her thigh when she stopped.
    “Dammit.” She weaved on her feet and rubbed her leg. Limping, Landis made her way back to the flat stone and dropped heavily on it. The banshee had disappeared, but she was ready for it now. Portraying itself as a man to get close to her had caught her