“I’m coming, Hazel, don’t give up on me, baby.”
I hoped somehow, wherever she was, that she could hear me. I called AJ to let him know what I found, and he dispatched someone to head over and snuff out the suspect. Probably for the best that someone else found the goon because I’d probably kill him on sight from the blinding rage burning inside me. I needed info first, then blood.
“I’m coming, Hazel. Keep fighting.”
Chapter Thirty- Six
Hazel
The sight of Jarrod shoving a knife into himself plagued my dreams. I barely slept, and when I finally stayed awake, my body refused to move. My everything was tired, and I wanted to lay in bed all day. The maid eventually came to bring me down for breakfast but I refused, claiming ill. I thought I managed to escape whatever plans the Collector had for me, until she burst into my room an hour later.
“Hazel, what’s bothering you? I brought everything I could think of.” She waltzed over to the bed, then lightly sat down. Her eyes scanned me for sickness, and I rolled my eyes. One man walked into the room with bags in his hands and set them near the bed.
“I’m having a bad period day.” I could have told her I had the flu, but she could force the truth out of me, so why lie? Her eyes lit up, and she nodded solemnly.
“I have a bag for that.” She bent down and grabbed said bag, pulling out various items. A new heating pad, candy, meds to help with pain, and various snacks. She quickly ordered her man to make us a pot of tea and she set up everything for me. The actions were kind in nature, but after knowing what she could do, I eyed her every movement suspiciously.
“Perfect.” She spoke to herself after plugging in the heating pad for me and grabbed the remote to the large, flat screen.
“Thanks, uh, what are you doing?” I hoped she didn’t think she would be staying in here with me. She looked at me with a big smile.
“I’m spending the day with you. Us girls gotta stick together in times of need like this.” She pressed the buttons and scrolled through the list of movies she’d bought on demand. I opened my mouth to tell her off, but she beat me to it.
“You will let me stay, not give me attitude about anything, and let me cuddle you.” She reached down to squeeze my hand as she spoke, and I wanted to hurl.
“It’s going to be a good girls’ day. Don’t worry Hazel, Nurse Imani is here.” Instead of the seductress version I’d mostly seen, this version acted like a teenager who might try to start a pillow fight or paint my nails. The identity seemed so at odds from the killer of last night.
A romantic comedy I’d seen a few times popped up on the screen and the Collector snuggled against me. I had no choice but to let it happen, and the whole time I felt dirty. She took away my consent, which earned her a kick in the teeth one day. No one should have to accept touching from another human without their consent. My body, my choice. I couldn’t even fight her off, she’d only take more of my free will away.
I ate the candy and let the heat soak into my aching back as we watched the movie. Once it ended, she ordered us pizza and continued to lay against me, her hand rubbing circles on my lower stomach where my shirt had risen up an inch. I cringed. She had Jarrod kill himself for touching me, and now she forced her touch on me. I mentally shut down the fear she’d take things further, and I’d be voiceless. I pretended to sleep and she stayed by my side, eating and enjoying her forced time with me.
“I miss having friends like this.”
My eyes opened to find her staring at me. “I bet you have lots of friends.”
Her hand moved up my arm then back down, like she couldn’t stop herself from touching me. “I don’t have time for a lot of friends. I always like quality over quantity, anyway.”
I cleared my throat and responded accordingly. My words made her smile, and her head leaned in. I wanted to fight her movement but she had given me orders not to. Her lips pressed against mine and stayed there for three seconds before she pulled back and rested her head against my breasts. Tears leaked onto my cheeks as she focused on the new movie she’d chosen. She was either completely unaware as to how uncomfortable and violated I felt right now or she simply didn’t care. She stayed in my room for another three hours before excusing herself, claiming to have business to attend to.
I let the sob I’d held in escape, and I cried deep into my pillow. I wanted to rip my skin from my body and cleanse her touch from every molecule of my being. I needed to get out of here. I’d rather end my life than live this way forever. She controlled my every move, restricting the free spirit and voice inside me. I’d slowly turn into a shell of the Hazel I’d become—strong, bold, and using my voice to stand up for my beliefs. The Collector had already taken these from me.
“I need you, Maddox,” I whispered into the empty room. I desperately wanted my words to somehow reach him. I needed his strength to lift me up because right now I didn’t know how to. When I finally managed to calm my emotions, I showered, doing my best to clean Nurse Imani’s scent off me.
“Tomorrow will be better.” I tried to encourage myself as the day turned to night, but the next day wasn’t better, nor the one after that.
The Collector used her powers on me almost nonstop. She made me dance and sing at every meal, then cuddle with her at night. She didn’t sleep in my bed, claiming to give me privacy but I knew it was only a matter of time. She kissed me two more times, and I’d fought the urge to bite her lips off. Last night, she made me sit in on an orgy, orchestrated by multiple people to entice me to join. I sat in the corner of the room, resisting the urge to vomit. My only solace was the people involved genuinely wanted to be there and needed no help from Imani, the Psycho Collector to play a part. She’d forced me to touch bulging abs and make out with a model. I think she wanted me to enjoy pleasure like she did, only we had different taste in what we considered pleasure.
She sucked men off while her eyes stayed intensely on mine and moaned in my ear as another pleasured her. I wasn’t into any of it and despite her horrifying attempts, I remained unaffected and she eventually collapsed into a mass of sated bodies while I quietly waited for the moment I’d be released from the room.
Chapter Thirty- Seven
Hazel
“Oh darling, I have enjoyed spending time with you.” The Collector dug her polished toes into the sand of her very own little beach nestled on her compound. The water of the bay dipped below comfortable temperatures, so we stayed on our relaxing chairs.
I stayed silent, my little version of rebellion, pretty much the only one I could get away with. In the past few days, the Collector has used her powers on me almost non-stop.
Pity and rage constantly consumed me. The woman had issues and needed constant attention. She was lonely, deep down in her blackened heart. She’d never known love while growing up and once her powers arrived, all she had to do was utter her wishes and they’d be done.
She didn’t have a Maddox growing up . . . someone who loved her and cared for her. Even after he left me, I knew what we had was real. Seeing her desperation for love but unwillingness to let true love in broke the last of my walls against Maddox. I forgave him for leaving. I forgave him for staying away. I had love, and I wasn’t going to let my own fears stop me from embracing it. She said she killed him, but my heart continued to beat. If he had died, I would have known. I had his heart, and he had mine. If one was gone, the other would feel the sense of loss. My heart, my love, pumped strongly within my chest.
So I played her games. I let her think I was learning to be complacent in her company. Truthfully, I was plotting. I’d seen most of the compound, and how many guards she had stationed around. Some I would assume had powers but mostly, they were tattoo-covered assholes with stares that lingered a little too much for my liking.
“I was thinking, since you’ve been such a good girl and all, maybe you can play in my garden today.” I glanced at her face and saw an honest smile. She wanted me happy and thought she could bribe me with
gifts. I never cared for gifts. However, while I was feeling like crud from my period, she understood my pain. Instead of making me sing and dance, I was forced to watch Pretty Little Liars with her for hours. Nothing against the show, but it wasn’t my type. In the end, I chose sleep, and she let me.
“I’d like that.” I gave her a nod, and she beamed. I wanted to get in the garden because I could go mindless there, but I wanted my powers back. She may let me use them, but I’d have to be careful.
“Growing up poor, I always dreamed of a home like this, situated on the water with a killer view.”
She talked a lot about her youthful dreams. It’s interesting how we had grown up in similar situations but we were complete opposites. I never wanted a big mansion or lots of money. I wanted Maddox to be mine forever, and I wanted happiness. I loved being Hazel Kennedy and the impact I’d made, but I could still sing even without the fame.
I admired the view of the mountain on the other side of the bay. We were on the opposite side of the city of Seahill but still on the island. Somewhere. I don’t know how I’d do it, but I needed to get a sign out to my friends about my location.
“I think we are done here. I’d like a cold drink and then you can play in the garden while I get my massage on the balcony.” She patted my knee and rose to her feet. Her servants came out from wherever they were hidden and cleaned up the chairs, nearly dumping me on my ass in the process.
“I want to get my hands dirty,” I muttered the truth, and the Collector held out her hand for me to take, like we were best friends in high school. I’m surprised she didn’t want to go to the bathroom together.
“This life hasn’t been too bad, has it?” she asked, and for once her mask of confidence had slipped. No matter how much money or power she gained, she was still just a lost girl looking for acceptance. Well . . . a lost girl who had no problem murdering or hurting people if she deemed it worth her time.
“No, it hasn’t.” I wasn’t a fool to understand my time here could be much worse. She could have me kill people, fuck others, and ruin me inside and out. Fear told me she still could do all those things, hence the going along with her wishes for now.
“I think, with time, we could be real friends, and then we can add to our group. I have my eye on a few more heroes, like that Lilith. She is a wild creature and very beautiful.”
I tripped up the steps that led over the dune to her gardens. She had her eyes set on Lilith. A woman who’d been caged once and would never be again. Fear struck me again with thoughts of this woman controlling Lilith. I had to do something and quick. I had to protect anyone else from become a hostage or being killed, especially my friends who deserved freedom and joy after everything they’d been through.
“You OK?” She helped me up and I nodded.
“Yeah, just felt a little lightheaded. I’m very eager to get back in the garden, too. It’s been so long. I feel that edginess inside me. Maybe it’s making me feel off, too.” I hoped she understood where I was going with this.
“Oh, you know I hadn’t thought of that. When we repress our powers, it makes us crazy.”
The light bulb went off in her head and I hoped she’d give me my powers back.
“I’m not sure, though . . .” She eyed me suspiciously.
“You can tell me to only use them in the garden and not escape.” I knew I wouldn’t be going anywhere. Even if I did escape, she’d corner me somewhere and drag me back with tighter reins. We walked toward her mansion and then stopped by the gardens. They didn’t need much tending to, but I’d take what I could get.
“True, I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you from keeping them inside.” She chewed over her thoughts, and I repressed a smile from forming on my face.
“Fine, Hazel. You may use your powers in the garden, but you will not try to leave nor harm me or my guards.” She leaned in close, letting the power of her words have a stronger effect on my will.
I’d learned she had to really mean what she said for her power to work. She couldn’t just randomly say for me to do something, and I wouldn’t have a choice. She had to purposefully use her gift when speaking.
My fingers tingled and the blossoming inside me felt like home. I crouched down to the ground and touched the dirt. “Oh, I’ve missed you.” I spoke to my powers as a little flower broke free and blossomed before our eyes. I loved creating life and beauty. Two more buds popped up, and I smiled gently at their blue-and-purple coloring.
“Very well, I’ll see you at dinner. Don’t do anything stupid, Hazel.” Her words were a true warning despite the smile on her face. I nodded and continued to release bits of my power into the grass. It felt so good to take a little of the growing pressure off myself.
Once Imani was gone, I looked around for inspiration on how to get the word of my location out. I walked to each rose bush, and red blossoms grew in my wake. There were some tall trees a few meters away from the house. Maybe, I could make some sort of sign at the top for AJ and his satellites.
It may be a dumb idea, but it was the only one I could work with and not arouse suspicion.
Chapter Thirty- Eight
Maddox
“Tell me where she is, or we’re going to turn you into the little spineless jellyfish you are.” I glanced at Asher, the warlock who loved this kind of fun.
“Maybe I’ll just let my woman eat you.” He grinned and nodded toward the black-and-white wolf snarling in the room. It was a tough pill to swallow seeing the beautiful woman Echo turn into an animal, but all our gifts were unique and served a purpose. Hers was scaring the shit out of Roy the tattoo artist, who had a secret to spill. Hero Society members Asher and Echo had shown up and figured out who knew something in the joint, then held him until I arrived. I blew the doors right off with heavy winds and everybody scrammed.
We’d been talking to Roy for ten minutes, and he had yet to give us any insight other than if he blabbed, he’d die.
“I’m telling you, I can’t say it. She told me not to, and I can’t, man!” Roy shook with real tears rolling over his tattooed ones.
I slowly took away his breath, and he gasped for air. My phone started ringing, and I instantly gave him back his air to answer the phone.
“Tell me.”
“I’ve found her. Such a smart and sexy woman that Hazel!” AJ hollered, and my phone vibrated with a notification. I peered at the screen to see what he sent me, and my heart raced rapidly.
On the tops of two trees near a large house were the letters AJ spelled out in purple flowers. Only Hazel could do that.
“I’m sending you the coordinates now. I’ve been searching the property for a signal I can tap into but haven’t gotten it yet. Soon though, then I can get an eye in there.” I could hear AJ’s fingers tapping away on his keyboard.
“They found her,” I told the other two and saw Roy instinctually relax.
“Great, let’s go.” Asher’s determined smile gave me a sense of camaraderie, like my old team. I never thought it would happen, but Hazel dragged me into her Hero Society family, and it felt like home, too.
“We’re heading there,” I said to AJ, and he told me he’d keep me updated with new info as we drove.
“You still confessed to hurting people. The police are on their way.” I smirked at Roy before leaving the room with him tied up in his tattoo chair with Asher and Echo following behind me.
“She’s in a compound on the north side of Seahill. Echo, can you fly ahead and scope out the place while AJ searches for their camera feed?” I looked to the wolf and she nodded her head. In a flash, she changed into a peregrine falcon. She knew we lacked time, so she became the fastest bird in the sky. She screeched once, then took off.
“Go, baby, go.” Asher watched her fly, then gestured toward a 1969 red Camaro.
“We’ll take my car. It’s faster.”
Indeed it was. Asher peeled out of the parking lot, following my directions toward my woman.
“We’ll get her.�
� Asher aimed for comfort, but I found I didn’t need it. I knew she was OK. I sensed it in my heart. We’d find her and release whatever hold the Collector had on her.
One mile from the compound, Asher slowly took his foot off the gas when a naked woman standing in the road came into view.
“Is that . . .?” I squinted at the woman, then recognized the black hair and Native American tanned skin of Echo. When she transformed into an animal, she lost her clothes unlike people in the movies who magically appeared with what they had on before. Asher pulled the car to the side of the road, and she walked over not self-conscious about being in her birthday suit. As if by magic, a dress and leather jacket appeared over her bare skin. I glanced at Asher, and he shrugged. I got it. My woman was comfortable being naked, but I’d still prefer to be the only one to see her like that if given the choice.
“So she’s got about twenty guards stationed around the place. Four servants inside, and Hazel is in the dining hall with a redheaded woman. I saw cameras, and the place is locked down pretty tight.” Echo leaned down to Asher’s open window and gave us the scoop.
“You saw Hazel?” I wanted the confirmation, and she nodded.
“Great. Now all we need is a plan. How about you sneak in, Kitten, and eat the Collector?” Asher teased, and Echo’s normally passive expression grew into a smirk.
“I don’t think that’ll work. Remember, she can speak, and you have to listen,” I reminded them.
“Got anything to protect us again her voice?” I asked since Asher’s power was different than ours. While we got our powers from the ancient Greek gods and goddesses, he got his from the Earth . . . wild magic from every living thing on the planet. His coven liked to keep to themselves, but Asher was always the rebel. He also happened to be the most powerful man of his kind, so I grasped onto hope he had some way of helping the situation.
“I could spell a protection charm, but I’m not sure it would hold against your kind.” He ran through the possibilities in his head, then Echo spoke before he could say another word.
Spring Page 14