And I was sick of it. I wanted normalcy back. It sounded crazy—even to me—but more than anything, I wanted to be back in school, buried under a mountain of homework. I wanted my old crush on Steven back.
I just wished everything would stop.
When it was time to meet David, I had to sneak to the edge of town. Search parties were everywhere, praying loudly and screaming Andrea’s name. It’s like a horror movie, I realized as I ran through the shrubs and ducked behind gazebos to sneak past.
David’s car waited at the edge of town. I slipped into the passenger seat and breathed a sigh of relief as David drove past the sign: “Jaffrey. A good town to live in!”
“I’m sorry,” I said softly. “I just… I can’t handle being alone right now.”
David’s mouth was set in a thin line. He reached for a packet of cigarettes and lit one, puffing and exhaling noisily out the window. Normally, cigarette smoke bothered me. But right now, it just made me feel relaxed and calm. After a second, I took a cigarette from the pack and lit it, coughing as I inhaled for the first time.
David snickered. “First time?”
For some stupid reason, I blushed. “Maybe.”
“So, yeah, Monica’s gone again, huh?”
“Yeah.” I took another puff, being careful not to hold the smoke in. “She’s… going through a lot.”
David raked a hand through his long, dark hair. A musky smell wafted towards me and I blushed again when I realized it was his personal scent.
“She doesn’t really bother telling me much of anything now,” David said. He slowed the car and turned off to the side, towards the lake where we’d walked together when Monica had first gone missing.
“She’s going through a lot,” I repeated. “I know it sounds trite… but there’s some big stuff going on.”
“Like witches?”
David’s blasé tone surprised me.
“Yeah,” I said softly. “Like witches.”
David slowed the car and turned it off, leaving the windows down. “You wanna walk around?”
My legs still ached from the early morning search party.
I shook my head. “No,” I said. “Can we just stay here? If that’s okay?”
David lit another cigarette and puffed in silence. “I don’t really know what’s going on,” he said. “I don’t even think I should care, really. I mean, I’m going to college in the fall.”
“Don’t be angry with her,” I said softly. “She isn’t doing this to hurt you.”
“Come on,” David said. For the first time, there was emotion in his voice. “We both know you feel the same way, Elizabeth.”
The way he said my name sent a shiver down my spine… and it wasn’t entirely pleasant, either. My belly ached with arousal and I bit my lip, putting my knees to my chest and wrapping my arms around them.
“I know,” I said quietly. “I just don’t know what to do about it.”
“Monica’s an intense kid,” David said. “She’s brilliant. That’s why I talked to her, you know. It was like right from the get-go, she had to know everything.”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“I just want shit to go back to normal,” David said. He sighed. “My town chilled out. At least, for the most part. Things are still weird… but goddamn,” he said, laughing mirthlessly. “This is a nightmare.”
“I wish I could leave.”
“You got family anywhere?”
“No. At least, none that I know,” I said quietly. Tears came to my eyes and I tried to blink them away, but my emotions were too strong. The cigarette had made my heart beat faster and soon I was sobbing, burying my face in my hands and crying hysterically.
“Hey, come here,” David said. He pulled me into his arms. At first, I resisted. Then he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled my face into his neck. His musky smell was part natural, part leather and it washed over me like a fragrant ambrosia. Soon, I clung to him, soaking his thin black t-shirt with my tears. David didn’t speak. He stroked my hair and squeezed me against him, mumbling soothing words under his breath.
It felt like an eternity before my tears slowed. Now that my emotions had flooded over me, I felt strangely numb.
“I should be embarrassed,” I said quietly into David’s neck.
He laughed dryly and his dark stubble scraped against my face. Oddly, it felt comforting and soothing.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“You’re welcome.”
I froze. David hadn’t stopped holding me, and I hadn’t stopped clinging to him in a strange kind of desperation. David swallowed—his whole chest moved. I started to move away but David held me there and after a second of resisting, I collapsed against him.
“Don’t go right now,” David said quietly. I shifted my head onto his shoulder and looked up at him. David turned in his seat and brushed my hair out of my eyes. An electrical charge seemed to pass between our bodies as his dark eyes locked with mine.
“What?” I asked softly.
David leaned in close and kissed me deeply. I kissed him back, pressing my still-wet lips against his and wrapping my arms around his neck. He pulled me onto his lap and I straddled him. As we kissed, David slipped his hands under my hoodie and pulled it over my head. He gently pushed me to the side and climbed into the backseat, not letting go of my hands.
We locked eyes. I didn’t break the gaze as I reached up and fumbled with the buttons on my shirt.
“Is this okay?” David whispered.
For a second, I stopped. But the look in his eyes was too much for me. Ripping my shirt off, I climbed into the backseat.
When it was over, we lay tangled and panting. Our bodies were soaked with sweat and the car was filled with a dense, loamy aroma that I’d never smelled before. David brushed the damp hair away from my forehead and sat up, reaching into the console for his cigarettes. Without asking, he lit one for me and passed it over.
“I shouldn’t have done that,” I said softly, sitting up and pulling my underwear back up. The buttons on my shirt were torn so I stuffed it in my purse and pulled my hoodie over my naked chest. Scrambling into the passenger seat, I took a hurried drag of my cigarette and threw it out the window.
“Can you take me back?” I couldn’t look at David. I dipped my head and knotted my hair into a messy bun.
“Elizabeth, are you okay?” David’s voice was tinged with concern. “What’s wrong?”
I sniffled, wiping my nose on my sleeve. “Just take me home, okay? Please,” I begged. “Just take me back.”
We didn’t speak as David’s car rolled through the dark New Hampshire roads. Inside, I was wracked with guilt. My chest ached and I felt like curling into a ball and crying for the rest of my life. I couldn’t believe I’d slept with my best friend’s boyfriend. What kind of horrible person was I?
When David’s car slowed, I pushed open the door and tumbled outside before he’d even stopped. Then I took off, running as fast as I could, my purse slamming into my thigh with each pace. David called after me a few times, but then I saw his headlights turn around and I heard the car recede into blackness. Part of me was upset—I’d almost wanted him to chase me.
The other part was satisfied. I deserve this, I thought as I ran through the streets. I deserve this, and every single bad thing that’s ever happened to me.
My house was dark and silent when I got home. The windows were open, and occasionally, I could hear someone shouting Andrea’s name. I didn’t turn on the lights as I crept up the stairs and into my bathroom. I kept the lights off there, too. Instead, I turned on the shower as hot as it would go and shed my clothes before slipping under the torrent of scorching water.
Tilting my head up to face the spray, I tasted sweat and tears dried on my face as the water rinsed me clean. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Monica. Monica grinning and laughing, Monica with Henrik and Ligeia. Monica stabbing Andrea with her athame.
It no longer mattered what Monica had d
one.
In my eyes, I was worse.
Chapter Seven
Monica
“Well done, child,” Ligeia said after we’d successfully sent Elizabeth back to Jaffrey. “You’ve succeeded my wildest expectations.”
I licked my lips and stared at Andrea. Her frame sagged against the leather cords that bound her to the tree and blood still dripped from her chest.
It was a horrifying sight.
“What are you going to do with her now?” I walked closer. “She’s… she’s barely alive,” I added softly. “Should we just kill her and be done with it?”
Ligeia didn’t reply. “Henrik!” she called, her voice radiating with joy. “Tonight, we shall feast. Bring the others,” she added. “We’ll celebrate.”
Henrik laughed and nodded.
I blinked. It felt very odd to be standing there, celebrating as Andrea bled out. When Henrik saw me, he frowned.
“Child, you’re upset,” he said. “Tell me—what’s bothering you?”
I bit my lip. “What are you going to do with Andrea?”
Henrik laughed. “Child, don’t worry yourself with such matters. Come, Ligeia has spoken and we all must sup. There will be mead, perhaps even some venison if we’re lucky.” He rubbed his stomach. “I must speak to the pledges about keeping the larder stocked,” he added. “We don’t even have adequate provisions for such a celebration.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What are we celebrating, exactly?” I asked softly, crossing the clearing at Henrik’s side. He walked faster than usual, and I found myself trotting to keep up.
Henrik didn’t reply. We reached the larder and I stood at the door, anxiously grabbing handfuls of my shirt and tugging at the material.
“Tell me,” I said, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. “Come on, Henrik. Don’t do this.”
“Child, hush,” Henrik said. “You’ll learn the truth, and soon.”
I frowned. Soon, the other witches in the coven danced and sang, chanting as they moved around the clearing. Ligeia passed a tumbler of mead around, handing it to me and congratulating me once again.
“I still don’t understand,” I said. “I thought you wanted to imprison her soul, not kill her. How are we going to do that? And wouldn’t we have to do it before she dies?”
Ligeia sighed. She rubbed her hand across her brow.
“Yes, child,” she said. “You’re correct.”
“But she’s dying, now,” I said. My heart thudded in alarm. When I’d stabbed her, I’d only meant it as a means to subdue her. I hadn’t worried that she would actually die. But Elizabeth’s histrionics were finally getting to me and I wondered if perhaps my best friend hadn’t been right.
“Yes.” Ligeia and Henrik exchanged a glance. “She is. She is losing power, rapidly. Right now, she is as weak as a newborn kitten.”
“So, do something about it,” I said quickly. “We can save her. Ligeia, I know you’re a gifted healer. Come on!”
Ligeia stared coldly. “No, child. We won’t rescue her.”
“What?” My jaw dropped. “If we were just going to kill her all along, why did you make me do this? Why not someone else?”
Ligeia and Henrik glanced at each other again.
“Dismiss,” Henrik called to the rest of the coven. “Ligeia and I must speak with the child. Alone,” he added firmly when no one moved. “I’ll call you all back as soon as we’re done.”
My stomach twisted. The mead had given me acrid heartburn and I swallowed, wincing as the pain flamed up and down my throat.
“Come, child,” Ligeia said. She caught me staring at Andrea’s body. “Come with me, by the hearth.”
I followed Ligeia into her hut and sat on a large, flat rock as she gathered herbs and set them to the side. She moved unusually fast—I wondered if she was nervous. Or Prudence’s dying spirit is giving her energy, I realized. What have I done?
"Forgive me, but I haven’t been entirely truthful with you,” Ligeia said softly. “Henrik, come!”
Henrik entered the hut, his body blocking the open door.
“Tis true, child,” Henrik said. “We’ve deceived you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What? Why?” My palms began to sweat and I wiped them on my jeans. “Tell me,” I added, glaring at Ligeia.
Henrik chuckled. “I have to say, child, I’m rather surprised. You’ve always struck me as quite intelligent.”
“Don’t toy with me,” I snapped. “What’s going on? Why are you letting Andrea die?”
Henrik raised an eyebrow.
The realization hit me like a cold punch to the gut.
“You don’t want to subdue her at all,” I said slowly. “You wanted me to bring her to you because you want her power for yourselves!”
Henrik smiled slightly. He nodded. “Yes,” he said. “That is, at least, partially true.”
“You’re… you’re a monster,” I said, backing away. My back hit the wall of the hut and I shrieked in surprise, jumping into the air.
“I am not,” Henrik said. “Please, you must understand it from my point of view.”
“You had to watch her die in the coven,” I said hotly. “You knew! You knew we would fail when we tried to kill her! You knew it would happen!”
“Aye,” Henrik said. He nodded. “Of that, I’m not proud,” he said. He shook his head and a twinkle came back to his eye. “But ‘tis over, now. And some of that power will be yours, too.”
“I don’t want it!” I yelled. “You’re not being rational! You killed an innocent girl, just for the power of her soul!”
Henrik shook his head. “Nay, child,” he said. “You killed her. You’re the one who stabbed her, did you not?”
My heart sank and I fell to my knees, knowing that Henrik was absolutely right.
“Please,” I whimpered. “Please, you have to understand that what you’re doing is wrong! Please, please don’t let her die!”
Henrik shook his head. “No,” he said. There was a sudden, new edge of anger in his voice. “Tell me, this, child—I’ve spent my whole life in hiding, because of what I am. And with this new power, we no longer have to hide.”
I shuddered at the implication of his words. “You… you wanted things to break into chaos,” I whispered. “You wanted it to happen because you’re going to be doing the same thing!”
“You spend your whole life in hiding, in the woods, eating berries, and tell me you wouldn’t wish for change!” Henrik thundered. “It’s natural!”
Tears streamed down my face as I turned to Ligeia. To my shock, she nodded in agreement.
“Aye,” she said softly. “Henrik is correct. The coven—our coven, child!—can return to a life of normalcy. We may live among whomever we choose! We’ll no longer have to hide, just to survive!”
I stared at her. “I can’t believe you,” I whispered. “I thought you were good! I thought you cared about the earth and the people!”
Ligeia smiled slightly. “I do,” she said. “But that becomes very hard upon realizing the earth no longer cares for me.”
I closed my eyes, feeling utterly defeated.
“Child, in time, you’ll come to see that this decision was for the good of the coven,” Ligeia said gently. “You, too, will benefit from the power of Prudence Arrowsmith, and you’ll be pleased that you were instrumental in her demise.”
“No,” I said. I shook my head. “You can tell yourself that, but I know I won’t ever feel that way.”
“In time, I believe you will,” Ligeia said. “But I know you’re upset right now.”
“No.” I shook my head. “That’s it, I’m leaving.”
“Child, stay and feast with us,” Henrik said. “You deserve it. You’ve truly pleased us, and you deserve a celebration.”
“No.” My mind spun as I walked to the door. For a moment, I didn’t think Henrik would let me pass. But he did, and I walked out into the clearing.
“Come back to us when you’re feeling better,�
�� Henrik said, a touch of mockery in his voice. “I understand—you likely need to rest.”
I shook my head. “That’s not it,” I said. “I’m not coming back.”
“Child, of course you are. You’re a sworn member of the coven.”
“Fuck that,” I said. I shook my head and glared at Henrik. “I’m never coming back, no matter what happens. You get that?”
“Child, I must ask you to reconsider.”
“Tough shit. I can’t believe you,” I said. “I trusted you! And you lied to me!”
“I had to,” Henrik said. “Don’t you understand? This is for the best, child.”
“Nothing about this is for the best,” I said bitterly. “I killed a girl who used to be my friend! I stabbed her, Henrik!”
“So you did, all for our benefit,” Henrik said. “I’m proud of you, child.”
“Fuck you,” I snarled. “I’m never coming back.”
Turning on my heel, I ran into the woods and away from the hateful coven.
It took me longer than usual to find my way out of the enchanted woods. By the time I got back to Jaffrey, it was dark… but not quiet. The streets were filled with people screaming for Andrea. A lump of sadness and guilt formed in my throat and I shivered.
I didn’t know where to go. I didn’t feel like facing Jamie and Brian. I knew Elizabeth was angry with me… and it was likely that she’d be angrier still when I told her the truth. But I also knew that I couldn’t lie to her. She’d participated in this, just like me, and she deserved to know the truth.
Elizabeth’s house was dark. She can’t possibly be out looking for Andrea, I thought as I knocked on the door. After only a few seconds, I heard someone thumping down the stairs. When Elizabeth opened the door, her face was swollen and puffy. She wore pajama pants and a hoodie, with her hair in a mess of brown tangles hanging around her shoulders.
“Can I come in?”
Elizabeth didn’t look at me as she stepped aside.
“What’s wrong?”
Elizabeth shrugged. She led me into the kitchen and flopped down at the table.
“What happened to Andrea?” Elizabeth asked tonelessly. “Everyone is still looking for her,” she added quietly. “So, I guess she’s still alive, right? Because she’s still controlling everyone in Jaffrey?”
The Uprising (Moonlight Wolves Book 3) Page 46