Nightmares (The Coven, Book 1)

by Erica Stevens

  They may not look like her eyes, but they were.

  CHAPTER 11

  Avery flung her sheet aside, set her feet on the floor, and shoved herself out of bed. The sunlight spilling through the windows played across the cream carpet as she walked into her bathroom.

  She emerged twenty minutes later feeling more revitalized from her shower, but what she needed was coffee. Plodding over to her bureau, she wondered if last night had been a dream. She didn’t feel as energized as she recalled being last night.

  When she finished dressing, she walked over to the mirror hanging on her wall to brush her hair. The mirror in her bathroom had broken a few months ago when she dropped it while taking it down to paint the wall behind it. Every morning, when she stared at the bare spot over her bathroom sink while brushing her teeth, she reminded herself to go into town to buy a new mirror, and every day she forgot to do it.

  Now, she could only stand and gawk at the girl before her as she got her first chance to see her reflection. This girl’s eyes were alive and electrifying. Her pale skin possessed a luminescence that made her almost ethereal. Her normally dull black hair shone with new life and had somehow picked up soft blue highlights that glistened in the sunlight. Maybe those blue undertones had always been there but not like this.

  Avery couldn’t comprehend it was really her. Yet when she leaned closer to inspect herself more critically in the mirror, she realized she hadn’t changed that much. She shone more, but her overall appearance remained the same. Those were her round cheeks, and that was her slender nose with the slight ski-slope tilt at the end. She pursed her full lips, then stuck her tongue out to make sure the mirror reflected her actions correctly.

  “Well, damn,” she murmured as she turned from one side to the other to examine her body.

  At five six and a hundred and twenty-five pounds, she was slender and comfortable with herself. She didn’t have the greatest butt or jaw-dropping breasts, but she liked her body and to hell with anyone who didn’t. She was pleased to realize the small changes mostly centered on her eyes, hair, and skin. Feeling more than a little unnerved, she brushed her hair, grabbed an elastic, and pulled her wet hair into a loose ponytail.

  Glancing around her room, she looked to make sure everything was as she remembered it and she wasn’t dreaming or hallucinating all of this. But those were her bookshelves, and when she wandered closer to them, she saw all the titles—mostly fantasy and sci-fi sprinkled with some poetry, Steinbeck, romance, horror, and other classics—were in alphabetical order as she’d left them.

  All the books were in pristine condition even though she’d read many of them more than once. Reading was her passion, and she treated her books with tender care. After graduation, she planned to major in English while at college. She hadn’t decided if she would be a teacher, editor, or maybe a librarian, but she had plenty of time to figure it out.

  All the snow globes she’d collected from her trips with her dad were also on the shelves. When she lifted the Grand Canyon globe, it was solid beneath her fingers and bits of sand instead of snow fell around the glass when she shook it. She examined Niagara Falls and London before feeling confident all of this wasn’t some mirage and she was awake.

  Taking a deep breath, she gathered her composure before leaving her room and descending the stairs. The smell of frying bacon and voices lured her to the kitchen, and she poked her head around the doorway. Her dad and Reid sat at the island while Landon fried bacon and scrambled eggs on the stove.

  Avery fiddled with a strand of hair that had slipped free as she watched them talking and laughing with each other. What if she only imagined the girl in the mirror and was wrong about everything?

  Landon turned and her eyes locked on Avery’s. “Look who finally woke up! How do you feel?” Landon inquired.

  Avery smiled tremulously at her as she entered the kitchen. “Fine.”

  Reid’s eyes sparkled as he smiled at her. Her heart rate accelerated, and she tore her gaze away from his when a blush crept up her neck and into her cheeks.

  “I have to go to the hospital; I promised Tina and Karen I’d meet them there at nine,” she said.

  “I’ll come with you,” Reid offered.

  “You don’t have to do that!” she blurted. “You probably won’t be allowed in the ICU; I don’t know if we’ll be allowed in.”

  “That’s all right; I’ll keep you company if you’re not allowed in.”

  “I guess,” she relented, but she was grateful for the company.

  “I’m going to stay here. I promised your dad I’d help him charge the rest of these crystals.” Landon waved a hand at the crystals scattered across the island and countertop.

  Avery’s eyes widened when she noticed the stones for the first time. Her dad had never shown any interest in crystals before, but judging by the amount scattered across the counter, it was apparent he hadn’t just bought them.

  Avery couldn’t stop the resentment and sense of betrayal swelling inside her when she realized he’d purposely kept a large part of his life from her. It boggled her mind that her dad had kept everything such a secret when he seemed so eager to dive back into his old life. She could have grown up in Newport and had a normal life, but still known about his heritage, and hers.

  “I went into the attic and dug them out this morning,” her dad explained.

  “Oh.” Avery didn’t know how else to respond.

  She felt torn between plunging into this new world and fleeing from it. Her mother, Lila, her dad’s secrets, and the strange reflection staring back at her in the mirror this morning was all too much to handle.

  “We should go,” Reid said as he rose from his stool.

  Avery tore her gaze away from her dad to follow Reid’s graceful movements as he glided toward her. The compassion in his eyes was nearly her undoing. He could never understand the betrayal twisting in her gut, but she didn’t try to jerk away from him when he rested his hand on her elbow. Despite her confusion, his touch comforted her, and she found some of her anxiety easing.

  “Be back by ten thirty,” her dad instructed. “I have to meet with a client at eleven.”

  “We will be,” she promised.

  “I love you, Avery.”

  Hating the nervous look in his eyes, she gave him a tremulous smile. “Love you too, Dad.”

  Reid released her arm as she led the way back through the house. She removed the keys from their peg by the door and strode outside with Reid beside her.

  “So,” Reid said when they settled inside the car, “do you feel any different?”

  Her fingers trembled as Avery clicked on her seat belt. Trying to get her spiral of emotions under control, she gripped the wheel and took a deep breath. “Yes,” she answered.

  “That’s normal, and we all experienced it, so you’re not alone in this.”

  “That’s good to know because I’ve been feeling very alone.”

  When he rested his hand over hers on the wheel, she turned toward him. “I will help you get through this; we all will,” he said.

  He smiled at her, and his fingers caressed hers before he took his hand away. It took Avery a couple of seconds to regain her composure and to get her mind working beyond wanting to lean across the space separating them to kiss him. Gulping, she forced herself to focus on what she’d been doing before he rattled her brain with his sincere words and tender touch.

  “You also look different,” he said.

  Avery’s eyes flicked to him before she shifted the car into gear and pulled out of the driveway. “When I look in the mirror, I can’t believe it’s me.”

  “Why not?”

  Avery shrugged as she drove out of her neighborhood and weaved through the traffic of the busier streets as she headed toward the hospital. “I don’t know. Before, I blended into a crowd and I liked it that way. I’m not so sure I could now.”

  “I don’t think you could have blended in before either. Now you’re drawing on the life all ar
ound you and power radiates from you, but you were always beautiful.”

  Avery started at his words and glanced at him before focusing on the road again. He found her beautiful? She wasn’t above admitting she was pretty, luminous skin and eyes or not, but beautiful? And Reid thought it? Reid, who made her feel all kinds of odd sensations whenever he was around.

  She was afraid her brain might overload and fry out like a robot on systems overload if she had to endure one more shock any time soon.

  Avery pulled into the hospital parking lot and turned off the car. Her hand shook when she pulled the keys from the ignition and shoved them in her pocket. Unable to address what he’d said, she decided to change the subject.

  “I should get inside,” she said.

  They climbed out of the car and fell into step beside each other as they walked toward the formidable hospital building. The sliding doors opened with a whoosh, and the air conditioning cooled the sweat beading on her skin from their short walk.

  Avery led the way to the elevator and up to the third floor where they stepped into the hallway of the ICU. The hall was quiet, but when she poked her head into the waiting room, she spotted Karen and Tina standing by the windows.

  “Hi,” Avery greeted.

  “It’s about time!” Tina snapped as she turned to look at her. “We’ve been…” Tina’s voice trailed off when she spotted Avery, and her eyes widened as they ran over Avery’s face.

  “I’m sorry; I overslept,” Avery apologized.

  “Lila would have been on time for you,” Tina scolded.

  Avery shifted and tried not to hang her head like a chastised child. Tina handled stress by becoming one of the most abrasive people Avery had ever encountered, but she was a loyal friend with a heart of gold. Still, Avery disliked being around her when she was like this.

  Reid stepped forward and rested his hands on Avery’s shoulders. The supportive gesture surprised her, but something about it felt natural. Tina’s gaze traveled to Reid, and her mouth became nearly unhinged when she took him in.

  When Tina turned back to Avery, some of her anger had been replaced with astonishment as she all but gawked at the two of them. Karen shifted as she cast an apologetic smile at Avery.

  Then Tina threw back her shoulders and lifted her chin. “Lila’s parents cleared it so we could go in for a little bit, so let’s go.”

  Without thinking, Avery touched Reid’s hand, and his fingers entwined with hers. She took strength in his presence before releasing him and stepping away. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be,” she said.

  “Take your time,” he said as he wandered over to the windows and removed his phone from his pocket.

  Leaving the waiting room behind, she followed Tina and Karen into the brightly lit, sterile hall where Tina hit a button outside the metal doors of the ICU. A minute later, a nurse arrived and ushered them into the room next to the doors.

  After the harsh fluorescence of the hall, it took Avery’s eyes a few seconds to adjust to the dimness of the room. Lila was lying on the hospital bed with tubes and wires running from her arms to the myriad of machines beside her. Seeing her best friend lying in the middle of all this stuff was like a punch to her gut.

  “Hi,” Lila whispered.

  Tearing her gaze away from all the equipment, Avery was stunned to realize her friend was awake. She hurried forward to stand beside Lila. Careful of the needle embedded in the back of Lila’s hand, Avery clasped it within hers.

  “Hi,” she whispered back.

  Lila’s doe brown eyes scanned Avery’s face before her mouth parted on a breath. A blush crept through Avery’s cheeks as she tried not to squirm under Lila’s scrutiny.

  “How are you feeling?” Avery asked, brushing the chocolate-colored strands of Lila’s hair back from her face in an attempt to divert Lila’s attention.

  Tears filled Lila’s eyes before she blinked them away again. “It’s going to be a rocky road, but I will be fine. The doctors say that once the swelling comes down, I’ll regain feeling in my legs and after physical therapy, I’ll walk again, but…”

  “But?” Tina asked when Lila’s voice trailed off and her eyes focused on the ceiling.

  “But what if I can’t dive again? Or what if it takes me so long to return to what I was that the scholarship offers are rescinded?”

  Avery wiped away the tear that slid down Lila’s cheek. “That’s not going to happen,” Avery assured her. “You’re one of the strongest people I know.”

  “Yes, you are,” Karen said firmly. “You will get through this, and we will be there to help you through it.”

  “Yeah,” Lila muttered and tore her attention away from the ceiling. “So, enough depressing stuff. What have you guys been up to?”

  “Well, Karen and I haven’t been up to much, but Avery brought one helluva hottie with her today.” Judging by her smile, Tina was trying to sound cheerful, but worry made her voice come out strangled.

  “Really?” Lila inquired, and a mischievous smile curved her mouth.

  “He’s a friend,” Avery said to head off any embarrassing questions.

  “Looked like he might want to be more to me,” Karen teased.

  Avery’s heart leapt, and she had to bite her lip to keep from asking, really? But she had no idea what was going on between her and Reid. He might just be a friendly guy who was trying to help her through all of this witch stuff; she didn’t want to get her hopes up for something more.

  “Oh, I must see him!” Lila said and winced when she shifted her arm on the bed. “Bring him in. You guys are a good distraction, but you’re not my type.”

  “Are you sure you’re up to more company?” Avery asked.

  “Definitely,” Lila said, her pale face lit with her dazzling smile.

  Unable to refuse her friend, Avery released Lila’s hand. “I’ll bring him in then.”

  She poked her head out the door to make sure no nurses were around before glancing over at Tina and Karen. “You’ll have to let me back in.”

  “We will,” Karen said.

  Avery slid from the room and hit the button to exit the ICU. She somehow kept her shoulders back and her tears at bay as she left and stepped into the waiting room. Reid stood against the wall with his head turned toward the window overlooking the parking lot.

  For a second, Avery’s step faltered as the sight of him caused her breath to hitch. Something more than his striking good looks drew her to him like a magnet to metal. It made no sense, but she wanted to step into his arms, rest her head on his chest, and shut out all the chaos of these past few days as she hugged him close.

  And somehow, she knew Reid could help her do that. Unfortunately, she couldn’t lose herself in him. No matter how chaotic and uncertain her situation was, Lila’s was worse, and she was waiting for them. Reid’s head turned toward her.

  “Lila would like to meet you,” she told him.

  His lean muscles rippled beneath his blue T-shirt as he stepped toward her. “How is she?”

  Tears stung Avery’s eyes as she swallowed the thick lump in her throat. “She’s all right, but…”

  Unable to continue, she could only stare helplessly at him. Reid closed the distance between them and cupped her cheek tenderly in his palm. What was becoming an increasingly familiar electrical sensation came alive in her as he stroked her face. His eyes teemed with confusion while they ran over her face, but a smile curved his lips.

  “She’ll be okay,” he said.

  It took all her willpower to move away from his touch, and the loss of contact left her feeling oddly bereft. “Come on.”

  CHAPTER 12

  Lila’s eyes tracked Reid’s every move as Avery led him to her bedside. She glanced over at Avery before focusing on him again.

  “Hi,” he greeted. “My name’s Reid.”

  “So, you’re the Reid Avery told us about,” Lila murmured.

  And now Avery’s cheeks were on fire as she blushed and looked anywhere but at Re
id and Lila.

  “Only good things, I hope,” he replied.

  Lila’s laugh warmed Avery’s heart. “Only good,” Lila assured him. “I’m Lila.”

  Avery took her place at Lila’s side and reclaimed her hand, which seemed as delicate as a butterfly’s wings. Avery couldn’t remember a time when Lila wasn’t laughing, playing, or doing something mischievous, but now she looked so frail.

  Lila was her best friend, the one she loved and trusted the most. The one who had stood by her side and shared all her secrets since second grade. Now, Avery had a huge secret she desperately wanted to tell her, but this wasn’t the right time. She wasn’t even sure she was supposed to tell Lila, but she would.

  Lila squeezed Avery’s hand. “Do you remember how we became friends?” she asked.

  “How could I forget? You beat up Guy Chance in second grade because he threw your fruit juice in my hair,” Avery said.

  “And you started to cry.”

  “I was scared,” Avery protested. “I thought you were going to beat me up too!”

  Lila laughed then winced; Avery tensed beside her. “Guy still won’t talk to me,” Lila said with a chuckle. “But it was strawberry juice, and he wasted it.”

  “I thought you did it for me,” Avery said.

  “That’s what I told you to make you feel better, but I was really just pissed about the juice.”

  Avery laughed, but she had to struggle to suppress the tears beginning to clog her eyes and throat. When a hand ran over her hair, Avery looked up at Reid standing beside her. She’d never had a boy try to offer her comfort before, but then she’d never met anyone like Reid. He was so different than the boys she knew; she couldn’t consider him a boy.