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

watching a date movie with Erica, or shopping for clothes with Tiffany.   But even those challenges were met and defeated.
    He could handle what was behind the double doors.   He'd gone close to two centuries without sleep, and he'd survived that.   There was nothing he couldn't handle.
    "Piece of cake," he said, and pushed open the doors.
    A woman looked up at him from behind a podium at the front of the room.
    "Ah, Mr.—"   She adjusted her glasses to see him better.   "Kursed?   I heard you might show up tonight.   Have a seat anywhere.   We just started the PTA meeting."
    Jack sighed, and his shoulders slouched.   He could feel his resolve starting to wane.
    Mrs. Galloway, the school principal, stood behind the podium.   Jack didn't like her, and not just because she was mortal.   It didn't take someone with his power of perception to see she didn't like children in the least.   Jack disliked them as well, but he didn't seek out a job where he'd be surrounded by them.
    He tried to hide his amusement as he took in the other parents around him.   They didn't want to be there, either.   He didn't blame them.   The only reason he was present was the lovely teacher sitting with her colleagues off to the side.   Erica gave him a short wave as she smiled at him.
    Some parents played with their cell phones, clearly disinterested in Mrs. Galloway's words.   Others fidgeted in their seats, checking the time and looking about aimlessly.   A man and woman sat near the back, whispering to each other.   Jack's talent for reading lips gave him a hint at their conversation, and the many perverted things they were going to do to each other.   He wondered if either of their spouses, who weren't present, would have something to say about their plans.
    The only available seat was in the middle of the gathered parents, which annoyed him.   Jack liked to be on the outside looking in, not in the center.   He squeezed in between a woman who needed a bath and a mother who was on the other end of the parent spectrum.   She hung on Mrs. Galloway's every word, nodding in agreement, and even taking notes.   He tried not to laugh.
    Jack liked to believe he wasn't like mortals, but found himself just as bored as the rest of them.   He only half listened to Mrs. Galloway's droning, some of the words slipping through.   She spoke of a different lunch menu, the upcoming Halloween assembly, some changes in the bus schedule.   She told a joke of some kind, drawing a few laughs.   The parents not paying attention laughed along out of politeness.   Jack did no such thing.
    He decided to at least pass the time indulging his eyes, and gazed at Erica.   It was after school hours, so she wore a pair of jeans with a white blouse.   Her legs were crossed, her foot tapping the air restlessly.   She'd finally changed her hair, wearing it back behind her ears, no longer caring about the large scar on her cheek.   She was whispering something to the teacher next to her, but Jack couldn't see her lips clearly to eavesdrop.   It didn't help that staring at her lips tended to distract, and his eyes traveled over the rest of her body.   He admired her bright smile, fine curves, the way the legs of her jeans pulled up slightly, giving him a peek at the flesh he was hoping to experience later.
    She caught him.
    Erica flashed him a mock angry glare.   Jack simply shrugged, and went back to ignoring the school principal.
    He wasn't sure how much time had passed.   Maybe a half hour or so.   The woman next to him was still vehemently taking notes.   A quiet snore caught his attention, and he looked down the aisle to see a man resting his head on his wife's shoulder, drooling on her shirt.
    Jack admired the scene, and couldn't think of a better way to pass the time.
    He pulled the pocket-watch from his jeans.
    A wave of emotion, joy mixed with relief, washed over him as he ran a finger along the magical trinket.   He wasn't sure if that