by Suzi Davis
I followed Ellen to the front door, my nerves increasing by the second. I knew this couldn’t be good. Two people stood in the entranceway, one I instantly recognized, the other was unfamiliar to me. The Lost Magic prickled all over my skin. I was instantly focused and alert.
“Thank you, Ellen. That will be all,” I dismissed, my eyes never leaving the couple for an instant. I waited until she was out of sight before speaking again. “Hello, Lily. Who’s your friend?”
Lily’s large, brown eyes widened, her full lips parting slightly. I remembered the last time I had seen her, in the chilling depths of the Necromanteion, flickering torchlight throwing shadows across her face as she coldly pronounced my death.
“How do you know my name?” she asked quietly in a soft, full voice.
I had forgotten she wouldn’t remember me.
“Why are you here?” My voice was cold and unfriendly, it echoed around the room though I had barely spoken louder than a whisper.
The man beside her cleared his throat. He was older, in his early to mid-thirties if I had to guess. He had dirty blonde hair and sported a shaggy goatee. His clothes fit loosely on his thin frame and he was dressed as if he were twenty years older. He looked distinctly out of place in my mother’s grand entranceway, standing on the shiny marble beside Lily, the exotic Hawaiian beauty.
“My name is Jeremy,” he began in a surprisingly clear voice. His eyes were sharp, his tones crisp. I immediately found myself reevaluating him. “We’ve traveled a long way to meet you, Grace and please, don’t try to deny that’s who you are. The power is practically radiating from you.”
The crystal in the chandelier overhead trembled as if for effect.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied.
“There are others, Grace, from all over the world. We’re gathering here, in the city. We are drawn to you as the sun’s heat and warmth directs the seedling’s path to the sky. Guide us,” he whispered, his words too intense, his eyes manic.
I flinched at his choice of words. I started to panic.
“You’re wrong.”
“No,” Lily argued, recovering her voice. She spoke softly, her words hushed, almost awed. “You haunt our dreams—all of us. Each day it becomes clearer, each passing moment… The closer we are to you… I think I remember—”
“Stop,” I interrupted. They both froze, barely breathing. “You’ve made a mistake. I’m not the one you’re looking for—I can’t be. Go back to wherever you came from. Tell the others you were wrong.”
Lily’s long, black lashes fluttered rapidly, disbelievingly. Jeremy shook his head.
“No. We need you, you’re the only one who can help us. Please?” he begged, his eyes still wild.
I hesitated. Part of me wanted to help them, wanted to be the person they thought I was. But how could I without Sebastian? How could I go to them when it might mean losing him? Jeremy made me wary, I could sense that he wasn’t quite stable and I knew I shouldn’t send him away. But if I refused to guide them, if I refused to teach them how to use the Lost Magic then they would never learn more than what they stumbled upon on their own. Their magic would be useless, wouldn’t it? The others could only pose a threat if I let them, if I taught them. So perhaps the solution really was to do nothing, to turn them all away and let the magic be forgotten once more.
“I can’t. I’m getting married in three weeks and I… I can’t help you.”
Lily’s face fell, Jeremy’s tightened. His fists clenched, his eyes narrowed, his whole posture changed. Alarm bells went off in my head as I desperately tried to placate him.
“Perhaps after the wedding, things might be different. In a month, I’ll find you—”
“You selfish, spoiled little bitch,” Jeremy spat. “You’re too busy to help us, to fulfill your destiny because you want to play bride first?”
“You seem remarkably well-informed,” I commented, sounding much calmer than I felt. I noticed Lily looked confused. “What do you know about my destiny?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” he sneered. “You’ll live to regret this, Grace. Or perhaps… you won’t.” A smile twisted his lips that was truly terrifying. The Lost Magic tingled under my skin, my whole body buzzing with energy that was begging to be released.
“If you ever threaten her again, I will kill you,” Sebastian announced, suddenly appearing behind me. I jumped at the harsh sound of his voice. “Slowly,” he promised, the cruelty in his eyes flooding them with darkness and obscuring any light. Lily and I gasped almost simultaneously.
Jeremy took a small step back, his eyes locked with Sebastian. Something seemed to pass between them, a silent communication. Jeremy paled and gave a small, curt nod.
“Let’s go,” he instructed Lily.
Lily risked one last, fleeting glance at me before slipping out the door. Jeremy hesitated, his too-bright eyes meeting mine.
“This isn’t over,” he murmured.
“Out!” Sebastian thundered, his voice echoing about the entranceway so loud I wanted to cover my ears. The click of the door closing sounded loud in the silence that followed. I could feel his eyes on me.
“How much did you…” I began to ask.
“That man is dangerous. I want you to stay away from him,” he cut in coldly. His eyes were as hard and unyielding as ice. I bristled at his tone.
“I don’t plan on going anywhere near him. Or her,” I added.
“Good.” He turned and started walking back towards the dining room. I found myself hurrying after him.
“Aren’t you going to ask me who they were?”
He didn’t even turn to answer me.
“No.”
“Sebastian…” I grabbed his hand, forcing him to turn and face me. “How much did you hear?”
“Not much. Your mother asked me to check that you were sending your guests away. As I walked in, I heard that man say, “you’ll live to regret this”. I saw the way he was looking at you… it was difficult to control my temper for a moment. I’m sorry.” The crease between his brows reappeared, a warm shade of blue began to glow within the blackness of his eyes. He sighed. “Were they friends of yours?”
I could tell he didn’t really want to know how I knew them, but he knew I wanted him to ask. I needed to explain, as much as I could, anyway.
“She was an old acquaintance. I’m not sure about the older guy, Jeremy. They needed help but it’s not the kind of help I can give them, at least not now… Or maybe I should have…”
“No,” he answered firmly but softly. “Friends don’t show up on your doorstep demanding help and then threatening you when you say you can’t. They’re trouble, Grace. Please, stay away from them—I mean it. I don’t need to know who they are or what they wanted, but I can tell you that much. Whatever they need they can get it from somewhere else.”
I nodded my silent agreement. Guilt was still gnawing at my stomach.
“Come on, your mother’s waiting,” he reminded me gently. He linked his fingers through mine, leading me down the hall. I knew I was a selfish coward but it was so easy to follow him. He was my future; I had to leave everything else behind me.
It took hours to figure out the seating chart with my mother and she refused to let us leave until it was all completed to her satisfaction. I was certain it was punishment for not having read all of the wedding related emails she sent me. I supposed overlooking the guest list was a pretty big slip-up.
“So what’s this Bridgette like?” Sebastian asked as we drove back home.
“Young,” I answered without thinking. He raised an eyebrow. “She was thirteen when I lived with them,” I explained. “She really was like a little sister, I suppose, trapped within a very similar life: wealthy parents trying to climb the social ladder, high expectations and sheltered lifestyle.”
“Sheltered within a mansion?” A smile pulled at Sebastian’s lips.
“Something like that,” I admitted. “My only communication with her over the years h
as been through largely superficial emails. She tells me about her friends, the parties she goes to, the people she knows, and spends a lot of time complaining about her parents; typical teenaged stuff.”
“Typical mega-rich, high society teenaged stuff,” Sebastian corrected.
“That’s getting old.”
He grinned back at me.
We were at the Jensons’ house now, it was after eleven and all the lights were off, the house encased in the pitch black of an icy, moonless night. We didn’t bother switching on any lights as we were both headed straight upstairs to bed. Sebastian reached to help me out of my thick, winter coat, his fingers brushing against the nape of my neck and sending an electric charge through me. I gasped and he paused. I could sense him so clearly in the darkness, his steady breathing, the smell of his clothes, the warmth that constantly radiated out from him. The night-blindness had made me hyper-aware.
Slowly and purposely, he placed a hand to each side of my face. It was too dark to even see him this close but I could feel his eyes on me and I recognized the burning hunger in them. Something within me responded and I slipped my arms around his waist, pulling myself against him. I suddenly felt too warm, heat erupting all over my body. His warm, gentle exhale tickled against my ear. My hands tightened in response as I pressed myself even closer to him, my heart pounding loud in my ears.
His hands slid down either side of my neck, his fingertips lingering on my collarbone. His fingers spread and he gently slipped my coat from my shoulders. The cool air was a relief but it wasn’t enough, I was burning up from the inside out. I rose on my tiptoes, my lips seeking his. With a quick inhale of his breath, my lips parted and our mouths pressed together.
I closed my eyes though it made no difference, I could see nothing in this darkness. Nothing else seemed to exist. All there was in the world was his body and mine and the overwhelming desire that raged within me.
“Come up to my room,” I whispered though my voice sounded much too loud and breathy. I needed him so badly right then I couldn’t think straight. My heart beat even more quickly.
“Ok.” His agreement caught me by surprise even though it was the answer I had been hoping for. Before I could think it over his lips crushed against mine again and I was burning up with desire, all rational thought and reason chased from my mind.
He carried me upstairs as if I were already his bride. My heart raced. I was almost his wife and right now, almost felt perfectly good enough.
Chapter Eight – Lost
The bed sheets felt cool under my unnaturally hot skin but it was only a moment’s relief as he lay down right alongside me, his body throbbing with heat. I slid my hands beneath his shirt, enjoying every inch of smooth, warm skin as I pulled his shirt up and over his head. Mine quickly followed, tossed aside without thought or embarrassment. I was thrilled by the sensation of his skin against mine. He kissed my neck almost roughly but I still couldn’t get enough. I twisted my fingers tightly into his hair, pulling him even closer. I gasped as I felt his hands on me, so strong and steady, gently massaging, teasing, making me arch my back and writhe in pleasure beneath his touch.
Everything was going too fast but I couldn’t stop. Being with him like this, it was exhilarating and intoxicating… I couldn’t think straight.
His hands slid back up to my face. He kissed me slowly and deeply, leaving me gasping for more. I arched my hips up to meet him as he began unbuttoning my jeans. My whole body burned and trembled in anticipation but for some reason, I started to question what we were about to do. The heat began to cool.
“I’m an idiot,” I mumbled into the darkness.
“No, you’re not,” he whispered. He bent his head and kissed his way down my torso, his lips slowly trailing across my waist, making his way from one hip to the other as he began gently tugging my pants down.
I moaned softly, half in pleasure, half at my own stupid self, as I gently placed my hands over his, stilling his movements.
“We should stop,” I whispered, hating myself for every word I spoke.
“No, we shouldn’t.”
I blinked into the darkness in surprise. He began kissing his way back up my stomach, all the way up to the side of my neck, one hand slowly trailing behind his lips. It was very hard to focus, very hard to think straight, especially when he was the one usually reminding me that we had to slow things down. I wasn’t used to this role.
He began kissing me again, very convincingly.
“Sebastian,” I moaned. His lips broke free from mine and began teasing at the edge of my jaw, his tongue flicking. “Why are you making this so hard?”
He laughed softly against my skin and I shivered.
“Because I don’t want to stop.”
“I don’t either,” I sighed but then I refocused. “But we should. Just three more weeks…”
“Too long,” he murmured. His lips found mine again, silencing me for several more minutes. The passion building between us was so intense, it was starting to scare me. His kisses grew more urgent, my heart beat even faster. His hand slid back down over my waist, gently tugging my jeans even lower on my hips.
“Stop,” I breathed.
“No.” He didn’t even pause.
“Sebastian,” I warned gently, no longer amused by this game. His hands squeezed my hips tightly, almost painfully.
“I want you.” His voice was husky in the darkness, the hunger in it clear. “I need you. You know you want this too.”
“I do, but not now, not tonight. Sebastian, stop.” I pushed his hands off me, my passion shifting from desire to frustration.
“No.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. He shifted from my side to overtop of me so that his whole body was pressing down against mine, pinning me to the bed. He started kissing my neck again as his hand slid down over the curve of my waist but this time I was having none of it.
“I said, stop!”
I shoved him as hard as I could, flipping him not only off me but right off the bed and onto the floor. He hit the ground with a thud. Flicking on my bedside lamp I turned to glare at him, and my breath immediately caught in my throat.
“Damn it, Grace!” he growled, kneeling on the floor beside my bed. He was shirtless, his muscles tight and flexed and perfect in every way. His hair was mussed, his eyes were smoldering, glaring at me with an indescribable heat. And even then, when I was so angry with him, I was also nearly breathless with desire.
Without breaking eye contact, he pushed himself up onto the bed and crawled forward, his movements slow and precise, predatory. His eyes were black coals, burning into mine, reigniting the fire within me. He paused, half-leaning over me and suddenly I desperately wanted him to kiss me again and at the same time, I was terrified he would because I knew that this time, neither of us would be able to stop. He looked so angry and fierce, so passionate and wild. I had never seen this side to him before and it was both incredibly sexy and intimidating. I wasn’t sure what was right or wrong anymore or what I truly needed or wanted, all I knew was one thing.
“I love you,” I whispered, surrendering myself to his will. I could no longer deny him.
He blinked. The fire in his eyes cooled, a deep and gentle blue flooded their black depths. He pulled back. Relief and disappointment mingled together in my stomach.
He swore loudly, turning away from me. He jumped up off the bed and punched one of the thick, canopy posts so hard the whole room seemed to shake. “What’s wrong with me?” he muttered. His hands trembled, the fist he had just driven into the post was already bright red across his knuckles.
“Sebastian, calm down.”
He shook his head and swore again, running his fingers through his messy hair. “You can’t do that to me, Grace.” He turned to me with eyes full of pain that I couldn’t understand. “I almost lost control. I don’t think you understand.”
“No, I do. When I’m with you like that, it’s hard for me to think straight too.”
�
��It wasn’t hard to think straight, that’s just it! I knew exactly what I was doing. You don’t understand, Grace. If you only knew…” his words trailed off and he turned his back, hiding his face from me. I slid to the side of the bed, reaching for his hand.
“Tell me then. I want to understand what’s going on with you,” I implored.
“No,” he whispered without turning back. “I’m sorry, I can’t.” He let my hand drop. “I’m going for a walk.”
“What? Now? It’s nearly midnight.”
He shrugged.
“It’s not like I was going to sleep anyway. The nightmares will have to wait for now.”
He sounded so bitter, so strange.
“Sebastian, I’m really worried about you. Look, we need to talk—both of us. There are things we’ve been keeping from one another and I think it’s past time we both just sat and listened.” The words felt right as I spoke them, I knew it was time. Time to come clean, time for him to remember, time to confide in one another as we should have been doing all along. But he shook his head, he moved towards the door.
“I’m sorry, Gracelynn. I can’t.”
“Sebastian, come back!” I called but it was too late, he’d already gone.
I lay awake for a long time, waiting and listening for the sounds of Sebastian returning home but I never heard them. Eventually, I fell asleep but my dreams offered me no rest. I was worried about Sebastian and terrified of how things felt like they were changing between us. And I couldn’t forget Jeremy either, and his anger when I had turned him away.
I awoke in the morning with a word already on my lips.
“Gracelynn,” I whispered to myself. Gracelynn, Gracelynn, Gracelynn. The room whispered it back to me. The soft, dry voices that spoke in my ear real or imagined, I didn’t know nor did I care. “He called me Gracelynn,” I realized aloud. Sebastian had called me Gracelynn, a name he hadn’t used since before the explosion, before his memories were erased.
What did it mean?
Had he remembered? Had Sebastian recovered some of his memories after all? And if he had remembered, then what was the problem? Was there any way that he could, perhaps, have a natural ability to use the Lost Magic? Had there been something, some sign that perhaps I’d missed? My heart said no, but I wanted to believe so badly, I needed to give myself some hope. I knew I had to talk to him but when I went to his room, he wasn’t there.