His brow furrowed, and I knew his next question would be in regards to who they were and what they wanted with me. Unease pooled through my stomach. I’d already told him more than I should have.
I took another sip from the vanilla concoction he’d made and enjoyed the calming sensation that rolled over me. It had me relaxed enough to tell Loran more about my story. After all, he was the closest thing to a friend I had in Willow Harbor; he knew exactly how I took my coffee.
“I escaped from the Sisters when I was fifteen. They ran an orphanage I was sent to when I was a baby. I don’t know anything about my parents other than they died when I was a few days old. The orphanage wasn’t your typical type. It was for special children. I was used for my raven’s sight. The Sisters thought it would be more powerful than what it is though. They thought over time I’d be able to do more for them like help them seek out those who were part of the supernatural world and knocking on death’s door,” I said. “You see, they feed off souls and supernaturals souls have more power. They wanted me to search for them so they wouldn’t have to. The others and I could do all the work while they did nothing besides reap the benefits.”
“What were they? Banshees?”
“Isn’t it my turn to ask you something?” I smirked.
“Touche,” he said. “Ask away.”
“How does being a free genie work exactly? I know you use your magic somehow in here. I can tell.”
“Observant of you. Most don’t notice.” He folded his arms over his chest. “The simplest answer is that everyone enters my shop wanting something—whether it be a certain type of tea or coffee, pastry even, and I give it to them. I can feel their desires in them if that makes any sense, and I make it happen without them really having to ask.”
“Can you feel more than their desire for a vanilla cappuccino?”
“My turn to ask,” he insisted. “Are the Sisters banshees?”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “Now answer my last question.”
He smirked. “I can, but I don’t pay much attention to them. Fulfilling their desire for caffeine, or something soothing to calm their nerves, is more satisfying than granting their every wish because sometimes we wish for things we don’t necessarily want. Wishes can be tricky. Remaining simple when it comes to them is always best.”
I understood what he was getting at. Weren’t genies always depicted as being tricksters in books and movies? It wasn’t necessarily their problem the wish someone wanted to be granted desperately could be taken another way. With coffee and teas, I guessed there wasn’t much room for error. The person couldn’t be upset or angry with Loran due to the outcome.
He was smart to use his gift in such a way.
“Why are you so fearful they’ll find you here? Willow Harbor isn’t exactly on any map. The tree controls the gates, and only those destined to be here get through.”
His reminder should have brought me comfort, but all it did was cause the tiny voice in the back of my head to remind me evil had found its way through those same gates on more than one occasion.
The door behind me opened, and a new customer stepped inside. Loran and I were no longer alone, which meant our conversation couldn’t continue.
“I should go,” I said. “Thanks for listening and also for trusting me with your secret.”
“The feeling is mutual.” He winked. “Enjoy the rest of your day.”
I left Urban Grind with mixed emotions powering through me. Yes, Loran had been right about the tree controlling the gates and letting in only those who were destined to be here, but what if the Sisters’ destiny was to have me in their possession again? Or worse, what if my destiny was to die at their hand here?
A shiver slipped through me as both thoughts took root inside me.
Seven
Thane
The aroma of coffee hung in the air as I walked to the willow tree. Some caffeine might do me some good right about now. It always had helped to clear my head. The beer hadn’t done anything for me last night besides weigh me down.
A five dollar bill floated across the grass to where I stood. It hit my boot and stopped. I bent to pick it up and then glanced around, trying to find whoever had dropped it. No one seemed to be chasing after it though. My eyes fell on the doors of Urban Grind across the way. The heavenly scent of coffee stemming from the shop enticed me.
Another gust of wind kicked up, sending the wispy branches of the tree into flight around me. One touched my forearm, and I swore warmth pulsed beneath my skin from contact with it.
Had the money come to me because of the tree? Was this proof there was magic within it?
I smoothed a hand over my face. This place was making me feel as though I’d lost my damn mind.
I pocketed the five dollar bill and started toward the coffee shop. Once I reached the door it swung open before I could step out of the way and slammed into my nose.
“Oh, shit!” a woman shouted. My hand flew to my nose as I stumbled backward in pain. “I’m sorry–”
Her words died in her throat. When I opened my eyes to glance at her I understood why—she was the dark-haired girl I’d been searching for.
“You!” She snapped. Her eyes widened and burned with a fierce sense of hatred as though I was the last person she cared to see this afternoon.
I released my throbbing nose and held my hands up in surrender. Words formed on the tip of my tongue, but I second guessed them suddenly unsure of what to say that might calm her down. She looked pissed. However, there was something in her eyes that made me think yet again she was scared of me.
Why? Why was she so frightened by the sight of me? Had I hurt her in some way? I couldn’t remember but knew it didn’t seem as though I had. I felt like all I’d ever done to her was protect her. From what, I wasn’t sure.
“Why the hell are you here?” She demanded.
I nodded to the shop beside us. “Uh, getting some coffee?”
She rolled her eyes. A loud huff of air pushed its way past her parted lips, and I found myself feeling satisfied at having gotten under her skin. For whatever reason, it was a familiar sensation I enjoyed.
“I don’t mean here at Urban Grind. I mean in my town.” She clarified with more anger than I felt was necessary. “Why are you in Willow Harbor?”
I shrugged. “I have no clue.”
It was an honest answer, but from the look on her face, it wasn’t one she was willing to accept.
“Cut the crap,” she insisted. “I know they sent you.”
I arched a brow. Was this chick insane?
“Who are they, and why would they send me to you?” I asked.
“Don’t play games.” Fury ignited in the depths of her eyes. “You know who I’m talking about same as you know they want you to bring me back so they can use me again.”
“I assure you I have no clue what the hell you’re talking about.”
“Tell them I’m not going back. They can’t have me, understand?” She enunciated each word carefully as she jabbed her index finger into my chest. “I refuse to be under their control ever again.”
“I would if I could, but I’m telling you, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Her beautiful brown eyes skimmed over me. I couldn’t tell if she believed me.
“Wait a minute,” she whispered. Her eyes flared with something I couldn’t quite name. Was it confusion? Relief?
Had I missed something? What was this chick bipolar? That would be my luck. The one person who I felt might be able to help me figure out what the hell was going on was practically nuts.
Awesome.
“Thane?” Her face contorted as she said my name as though it were difficult for her in some way. “How are you here? And why would they send you for me? It’s so...cruel.” Tears pooled in her eyes. They remained locked on me as though she was waiting for me to give her all the answers she craved.
I didn’t because I couldn’t. Not because I didn’t want to.
&nbs
p; “You know me?” I asked even though it was clear she did. Hell, she’d said my name.
Her brows pinched together as a strange scoffing noise gargled up her throat. “Of course I know you.” Something about her features softened. Maybe it was her eyes. Maybe it was the lines between her brows that disappeared. I couldn’t be sure because her next words had the ground beneath my boots spinning. “I expected them to send someone for me once I realized the compass had their symbol etched into the back of it, but I never thought it would be you. I thought you were dead.”
My chest constricted.
“Dead?” I had no clue what she was talking about. Why did she think I was dead? What did she know that I didn’t?
“Yeah. Dead.” Her eyes swelled with unshed tears again.
Whatever had happened to me must have been traumatic.
“I don’t remember much of anything.” I scratched the back of my neck and dropped my eyes to the sidewalk beneath my boots. Maybe it was best I didn’t remember. Especially if I was supposed to be dead.
“I’m not falling for this whole act you’ve got going on,” she snapped. “What are you playing at here? I don’t have time for games. I know they’ll be coming for me soon.”
My teeth ground together. “I’m not playing a game. I honestly don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. I don’t know who they are or why you think I’m here to take you back to them. I don’t know how I got here. Hell, until a few hours ago I didn’t even know where here was.”
She reached into the pocket of her coat and pulled out something. It fit perfectly into the palm of her hand. Light glistened off its shiny surface.
“Yeah? Well, I don’t believe you,” she said. She held out her hand wanting me to take whatever was in it. “Here. Why don’t you use this to go find yourself then? Hopefully, you end up far away from here, Thane Jensen.”
Hurt registered in her voice, but I didn’t understand it. What did she have to be so damn upset about? She thought I was dead, and it was pretty obvious since I was standing right in front of her that I wasn’t. Shouldn’t that make her happy? Happy enough to help me out in remembering things?
I took the object from her hand. She stormed away an instant later. I watched her walk for a moment, my jaw clenching so hard it hurt before I finally dipped my gaze to what she’d given me.
A freaking compass.
“Ha. Very funny,” I called after her. She lifted her hand to give me a one-fingered salute.
I dropped my gaze back to the hunk of metal and glass in my palm. A laugh rumbled deep in my chest, making its way past my lips. A group of teens maneuvered around me on the sidewalk, casting me dirty looks. I held the compass up for them to see.
“She told me to go find myself and then handed me a compass.” I laughed. “The woman has jokes.”
Apparently, they didn’t think it was funny because none of them even chuckled. I gained control over my outlandish laughter and glanced at the compass once more. It was shiny, silver, and kinda warm to the touch. When I moved it from side to side, the needle beneath the glass didn’t seem to move. I flipped it over and spotted the symbol she’d mentioned as belonging to them—whoever they were. It was a black harp. What was so damn spooky about that?
My lips pinched into a frown as I continued to stare at the hunk of metal.
“I wish this thing would be able to help me find myself,” I whispered.
A strong gust of wind blew, sending brittle leaves rustling across the sidewalk at my feet. Dizziness similar to what I’d felt before worked its way through me. I glanced at the compass. Did it have something to do with what I was feeling? It was warm to the touch.
Jesus, this town and its people were corrupting me. I was becoming a paranoid weirdo.
I moved to shove the compass into the front pocket of my jeans but a bright white light stemming from it had me freezing in place. Nearly blinded by the light fear pumped through me.
What the hell was happening?
Images flashed like a movie reel stuck on fast forward through my mind. They came in such rapid succession I barely had a moment between each to catch my breath. My eyes closed in an effort to keep the light from hurting them, and I found it easier to focus on the images ambushing me.
A girl with dark hair and big brown eyes. Lips I’d kissed and tender touches we’d shared. A scary woman seemingly made of black smoke hovering off the ground. A heated argument. The girl not backing down the way she should. Me trying to save her but not being able to. Something purple emanating from her hands. Surprise registering on the freaky woman’s face. Yelling for the girl to run. Her listening. Her leaving me behind. Me finishing the job but not being able to follow after the girl like I wanted. Like I was supposed to.
Now you’ll be able to find her and bring her back to us...
Who had said those words? Two faces as haggard and ugly as the first freaky woman surfaced in my mind before all my memories disappeared. Before I disappeared.
I had been brought here to find her. Hell, I’d been in the freaking compass.
Eight
Lena
I didn’t know where I was going. All I knew was I had to get away from Thane. A painful tightness pinched at the back of my throat. I couldn’t believe he was here.
How was it even possible?
My legs continued moving me forward with an unnatural stiffness. When the salty scent of the ocean permeated the air I knew I’d walked myself to the beach. I kicked my shoes off and continued along the beach until my favorite rock came into view. The desire to sit on it and soak up some sun while sipping the remainder of my coffee pulsed through me. I needed a moment to gather myself, and my rock always seemed like the perfect place for such things.
The rock was warm against the bottoms of my feet. I stood there for a long moment, drawing in its heat. Wind whipped around me, pulling at my clothes and causing the fine hairs framing my face to tickle me. When I finally sat and sipped the remainder of my coffee all I could think about was Thane.
How was he here? How was he alive? He shouldn't be. Not after what happened that day.
And why was he claiming to not remember anything? What was he playing at?
The Thane I’d known would never have volunteered to bring me back to the Sisters. He wouldn’t have pretended to have amnesia about everything that had happened either. Not even as a joke. Too much time had passed for even him to think it would be funny to do so.
Had the Sisters brainwashed him somehow?
It was possible. They did harbor unique abilities. However, it was also possible time had changed him too. Made him forget things. Six years was a long time. It had been long enough for him to change so much physically I’d barely recognized him.
My raven shifted around in the center of my chest. She agreed that time changed people and too much of it had passed for me to be able to trust Thane.
Heat simmered through my veins. Once upon a time Thane and I had meant something to one another. He’d been my best friend. My first boyfriend. My first kiss. My first love.
As I thought about the memories we’d shared—stolen kisses and late-night chats we weren’t supposed to have—tears fell from my eyes because now I could add first heartbreak to the list.
Him being here to take me back to the Sisters broke my heart, but him being alive made me happy. I’d thought he was dead for so long. I’d thought I was the reason for his death for the same amount of time. Where had he been for the last six years? With them? Why hadn’t he tried to reach out to me? Why hadn’t he found me before now on his own accord?
“Lena?”
I shifted to see Thane standing behind me. I hadn’t realized he’d followed me but I should have known that he would. I figured the look on my face when I handed him that stupid compass would have been enough to keep him away. Thane always had been the type to do what he wanted though.
At least there was something about him that hadn’t changed.
“I just want to
talk to you,” he said. The yellow flecks in his brown eyes blazed gold. “That’s all I want to do, okay? Please, just listen to me. Let me explain.”
I wiped my nose with the back of my hand and scoffed at him. “I see you remember my name and then some. So this whole amnesia thing was an act then wasn’t it?”
The lips I remembered kissing so many times before twisted into a smirk that was barely visible behind the fluffiness of his beard. “Hear me out, okay? You told me to go find myself and handed me that compass. Well, I did. The second you handed me the compass things started coming back. Memories. I know it sounds far-fetched but it’s true,” he insisted. His eyes never wavered from mine as he took a step closer. “I didn’t remember anything before that moment. When I held the compass something inside me shifted. I suddenly remembered everything. The Sisters. Us. The last time I saw you.”
I wanted to believe him. Heck, I wanted to reach out to him and bury my face in his chest the way I used to. The desire to be wrapped in his strong arms overwhelmed me, but I remained where I was because my raven insisted. She was the voice of reason at the moment telling me to be cautious of him until he proved there was no need anymore.
“I remember the day we were caught by one of the Sisters. You stood your ground against her but she was strong. There was a struggle between the two of us and her but then you took her down, Lena. You weakened her using something purple that came from your hands. It weakened her enough for me to finish her.”
What was he talking about? I hadn’t weakened her. Was that even possible? I didn’t think the Sisters even had a weakness. And purple something or other coming from my hands? Yeah, right.
“No. It didn’t happen like that.” My voice trembled when I spoke as the memories of that day flashed through my mind. “I tried to stand my ground against her, but she was too strong. She released a scream. I remember it hitting me in the chest full-force. It busted my right eardrum. I still have difficulty hearing out of it. And the last thing I remember is you yelling for me to run. I thought you would run with me, that you’d be right behind me, but you weren’t. I waited for you, but you never came. There wasn’t anything purple. My powers don’t work that way.”
[Willow Harbor 08.0] Raven's Sight Page 5