Somewhere in the distance I thought Bob was calling me, but I didn’t want to break the kiss, I didn’t want to come back down to earth from the bliss I was feeling.
It was Fletch who stopped first. His lips still against mine, he murmured into my mouth, “Emily? I think you should open your eyes.”
I smiled. I didn’t want to open my eyes, I wanted to dream a little dream with him forever. I was so tired and suddenly so comfortable, just being there in his arms.
He peppered my face with small kisses. “Darling witch, don’t freak out, but you need to look down.”
That didn’t sound right. Look down? I frowned, still feeling too languid to open my eyes.
Then I became aware of Bob, I could sense his feelings, why was he horrified?
I tightened my grip even more on Fletch. I wasn’t giving him up, no matter what Bob thought about my kissing him. Instead I cuddled closer. He had called me “darling”; I liked it.
“Emily!” Fletch’s voice was a little spooked now. “Open your eyes.”
“What? What do I have to do now?” I was suddenly overwhelmed with tiredness. I just felt too sleepy, my eyelids too heavy. All I wanted was to be left alone, as long as alone meant being with Fletch. I supposed this was an after-effect of the magic I had done. It had all caught up with me.
Then Iris’ voice reached me. “Emily Rand! Get down here this instant! What on earth do you think you’re doing?”
My eyes snapped open.
Fletch and I were floating.
Not just above the ground floating, but about ten feet up!
“Arrgghh!” I screamed for the second time, once again trying to pull away. And once again he held on to me.
“Easy, darling, take a deep breath. Don’t let go or I’ll most definitely fall. I don’t know how you’re doing this, but you’ve got to get us down gently!” Fletch looked directly into my eyes, forcing me to concentrate on him.
“I’m doing this?” I tried not to let fear take over. “How did it happen?”
He grinned at me. “I’d say that it was a side effect of kissing me. Instead of creating sparks, you made us fly. I’m guessing you’re happy instead of angry this time?” He gave me that cheeky flirty look.
I relaxed and laughed, just so darn pleased to see that look on his human face, and we began to drift downwards.
About three feet above the ground I made eye contact with Iris. She looked ready to explode, and my euphoria vanished. Apparently so did the magic of our kiss. We dropped like stones, and I landed with a yelp as my sore ankle made contact with the ground.
I wasn’t the only one to collapse. Fletch too seemed to have trouble standing, and crumpled onto the grass.
“Fletch!” I struggled to hold him and we both landed in a sprawling heap. “Are you okay?” I grabbed at his hand, not wanting to lose the intimacy of touch.
“Yeah, sorry, Em, I’m feeling kind of weak. I think it must be all the time my body has spent not moving in the hospital…” He seemed embarrassed by his inability to stand.
“Oh my stars! I’m so sorry. Of course you’re weak, and what was I thinking? We must get you straight back to the hospital.” I felt dreadful for forgetting what was important and having instead just focussed on kissing him.
He stroked my face, “Don’t you dare be sorry. I’ve wanted to do that every second since we met.”
“I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but stop it right now.” Iris was marching over to us, and looked pointedly at our entwined fingers.
I reluctantly pulled my hand out of Fletch’s and then instantly missed the heat of his touch. I felt far too normal and human when we weren’t touching. He made me feel lit up by all the electricity we created. I sighed, and he smiled smugly. He knew exactly how I felt about him now.
Had he actually heard me say that I needed him? I really hoped not. I wasn’t sure now if it had been the anguish of the moment or if I was maybe in love. I needed time to figure that out.
And then it hit me. Fletch and I had to stay away from each other regardless of how we felt. In fact, we had to stay away from each other because of how we felt! The very fact that I had feelings for him, and clearly he did for me too, meant that it was way too risky for us to be doing something like kissing.
“Emily, don’t,” he said quietly, obviously aware of my thought train. “We’ll figure something out.”
How had he known what I was thinking? Were we bonding? I tried to get a read on him in the same way I did with Bob. No, nothing. Just my own regular intuition, nothing witchy. I knew I should be grateful for that. We must not bond, but I pouted to myself that I should have to be sensible about it, when a huge part of me clearly didn’t care. All I wanted was for Bob and Iris to go away, and for Fletch to kiss me again, and to keep kissing me until we reached the stars.
Yup, he was dangerous, just not in the way he had been!
“I’m really sorry I was so long, Emily.” Iris knelt beside me and put her hand over my ankle. A little heat came off it and seemed to heal the pain a tiny bit; I realised she was using some of her fire magic to help it.
“It will feel better by tomorrow,” she told me. “And you are Fletch I assume?” She gave him a cold look, and I remembered that she had only met him as a wolf before.
“Yes, it’s me.” Fletch looked at her miserably. “Will he be alright?”
That’s when I remembered the wizard. How could I have forgotten that too? I could only blame the fact that doing magic had mentally drained me, and on top of that I’d had no sleep all night and it had been a very emotionally exhausting last few hours.
She nodded. “I hope so. He’s lucky, I suppose, that you didn’t actually bite him, but his scratches are pretty deep, he’s lost a lot of blood and he needs medical attention. However, I’m fairly sure I can provide some natural medication that will do the job, but we shall have to be quick; he keeps passing out, and if he doesn’t come round next time then I shall have to take him to the hospital despite his wishes to the contrary.” She pursed her lips disapprovingly.
“But Iris,” I interrupted, “we have to go to the hospital anyway. We’ve got to get Fletch back there before his family notice he’s gone.”
Iris shook her head. “I’m sorry, Emily, but Brian’s needs come before those of Fletch; after all, it’s clear to see that he’s just fine. I have to get straight back to my place and collect some herbs for a healing poultice. I suggest you both come with me; my car isn’t far from here. I’ll drive home and then directly back to Brian’s camper. Emily, you can wait at mine and get some sleep, and Fletcher, perhaps you’d like to return with me and see Brian?”
Fletch and I looked at each other, hating the idea of being separated so soon, but I could see he really wanted to check on Brian and so I just nodded.
“Good. You both look done in. Fletch, I’m sorry, I know it isn’t really your fault and that you should be in hospital, but that will have to wait. And Emily, you probably shouldn’t walk any further on that ankle. I’ll get my car and drive it over the grass to you, shall I?”
“Thank you, Iris,” I said, heartily glad I wouldn’t have to walk back across the Common.
As soon as we were in the car, I checked the time on her dashboard.
“Oh no! It’s gone eight, your parents are bound to be awake and going crazy,” I said to Fletch.
He just shrugged. “Nothing much we can do about it. After all the months of hell I’ve already put them through, I don’t suppose another couple of hours can do much harm.”
I nodded and sneakily slipped my hand back into his, where it burned pleasantly.
“At least you don’t have to face them until you’re ready now,” I said.
How wrong I was.
Chapter Twenty-three
I was dozing across the back seat of the car with my ankle raised, as we pulled up outside the shop. I was jerked awake by Fletch and Iris both swearing in unison from the front seats. They were both looking
at the shop in horror.
We had a welcoming committee. Except that it didn’t look very welcoming. Fletch’s dad was banging on the shop door, and behind him was not just Fletch’s mum and sister, but also my dad and Clare too, not to mention two police officers.
“Uh-oh,” I said, as they all swung round, hearing the car arrive.
Fletch’s parents began to storm over angrily, but their reaction when they spotted Fletch would have been comical, if we hadn’t been in such deep trouble.
His father mouthed like a guppy in disbelief, while his mother sank to her knees as if the angel Gabriel had just appeared.
Iris spoke urgently to us. “You must both protect the secret! You can tell your families everything later, but say nothing about magic or werewolves in front of the police, do you hear me?”
Fletch nodded grimly, and I mumbled my agreement too.
David Fletcher reached the car before we could move and wrenched the passenger side door open. Practically dragging Fletch out, he enveloped him in a bear hug.
“You’re okay, you’re really okay?” I heard him say.
To me it was obvious that Fletch was struggling just to stand upright. He patted his father on the back, but his knees were buckling.
I wrestled with my seat belt, then found I couldn’t get the seat forward to get out. When I’d managed that, I fell straight out the door onto my face, because I’d forgotten about my ankle and it didn’t work in the slightest.
My dad moved to catch me but Fletch got there first, wrapping his arm around me and trying to help me to my feet, despite his own obvious weakness.
His mother then actually tried to pull him off me, and my dad rushed in, scooping me up in his arms protectively.
I resisted the urge to cling to Fletch, but instead just watched as his mother sobbed all over him.
Iris hurried around the car, and began to unlock the shop door.
“Excuse me,” she shouted over the babble of tears and questions that seemed to be coming at us from all directions.
“I’m sorry, but I need to get some things and go back out – but you are all welcome to sort things out inside.”
A police officer stepped forward and frowned at Fletch’s dad. “I assume this is the missing boy? I thought you said he was in a coma, and that his body had been stolen for some pagan ritual?”
David Fletcher coughed awkwardly. “Uh, he was in a coma. We didn’t really know why he was taken, it was just a, um, silly idea we had.” He shot me an apologetic look.
Marion Fletcher was still looking a little wild-eyed, and didn’t seem nearly so ready to forgive me. “She’s a witch!” She pointed at me, and I gasped and swayed, feeling like I was going to pass out.
“Now look here!” My own dad stepped in, clearly ready to defend me. But I could see from the look of fear on his face that he was well aware that the story might very well include witchcraft.
The police officer put his hand on Fletch’s arm. “Are you alright, son? Has anything untoward happened to you?”
Fletch looked over the man’s shoulder at me, his face impressively impassive. “I’m really sorry to have concerned everyone, but no, nothing untoward has happened. I’m afraid I was a bit confused when I woke up, and I didn’t think. I just wanted to see Emily, so I, uh, left the hospital to find her.”
The police officer nodded, “I see. So there was no foul play involved?” He obviously wanted to be done with the whole situation and the awkward family reunion.
Fletcher’s mum narrowed her eyes, but his father coughed a bit and said, “Clearly not, Officer, I’m so sorry to have wasted your time.”
The policeman shut his notebook. “Right, no harm done then. Next time, please try to ascertain if there actually is a kidnapping before calling us, hmm?”
Mercifully they left at that point.
Iris made to herd everyone inside to go up to her apartment over the shop.
Marion Fletcher refused to let go of her son, though he looked ready to drop, and his dad took his other arm and helped him up the stairs.
I too felt utterly exhausted. I’d had almost no sleep and the whole night had been emotionally taxing in the extreme, one way or another.
My dad held me back outside for a moment.
“Emily, sweetheart,” he said in a low voice, “are you in trouble of any kind?”
I wasn’t sure exactly what he was asking. I cast a speaking look towards Clare and said, “No, I think it’s all sorted now, but it’s a long story.”
He nodded thoughtfully. He turned to Clare. “You should go home, love. Let Duncan know everything is okay. Emily and I will be along shortly.”
Clare pursed her lips. “Well, really Jim. I think that Emily owes us all an explanation, and I for one…”
He cut her off. “Please, Clare, I will deal with it. This is a family matter.”
Clare pulled her shoulders back and gave both Iris and me a scathing look. “And what am I?” she demanded. Then she stormed off towards her car, parked down the road.
My dad sighed and passed his hand across his eyes.
“They turned up at our door at half past six this morning,” he said, almost as an apology for her anger. “They were raving about cults and saying you had stolen their son’s body. I knew it was ridiculous of course, but you weren’t answering your phone.”
I hung my weary head. “I’m sorry, I’ve lost it.”
He hugged me closer but continued in an assertive voice, “Clare’s right, you do owe me a proper explanation. I assume that all this is something to do with our conversation the other day?”
I knew he was referring to me asking about my mother being a witch, and I nodded.
His shoulders sagged. “I rather thought it might be.” He gave Iris an annoyed look, but she just shrugged and started up the stairs.
I dragged myself up behind her, desperately wishing I could just go to bed.
Iris fussed round for a bit, finding seats for everyone. Fletch was soon sitting on the sofa with his parents squashed either side of him and his sister, Penny, on a beanbag near his feet.
Dad and I had to make do with the hard chairs at the table.
Iris didn’t sit down. She boiled the kettle, doled out camomile tea and then slipped away before anyone realised she wasn’t just in the bathroom.
While this was going on, Marion Fletcher vented.
“I want to know what the hell is going on and I don’t want to be fobbed off. Aaron has been missing for weeks, while we’ve imagined that goodness knows what has happened to him! Then this young lady phones up and says he’s in hospital in a coma, and pretends they have only just met, when clearly you both know each other extremely well. I don’t like being lied to and I don’t like not understanding what’s going on. We thought Aaron was, to all intents and purposes, dead! And there’s no way he could have just walked out of the hospital without anyone noticing. And now you both waltz up here, from who knows where, acting as if he merely went for a stroll and…”
“For God’s sake, Mum,” Penny broke in, “will you please calm down? This isn’t helping.”
We all shot Penny grateful looks, as Marion ran out of steam and stopped. But then she started crying again.
Fletch squirmed. “Mum, I’m really sorry, but I’m afraid it’s very complicated.”
“It’s not that complicated!” Penny said, blowing on her tea, “You’re a werewolf, Emily is obviously a witch, and you went to her to get help. Am I right?”
We all goggled at her. Then Fletch smiled. “Well, in a nutshell, yes.”
David Fletcher frowned, “Oh, come on now! That’s a bit far-fetched. I realise there is something very strange going on, but a werewolf?”
“I’m afraid so; sorry, Dad.”
David looked at my dad. “You seem very calm about all this nonsense…”
My dad sighed again; he looked like he really didn’t want to be having this conversation. “I don’t know what’s been going on, but yes, Emi
ly is a witch, all the women in her family are. But I hadn’t realised until today that she could do any magic.” He put his hand over mine. “Is he really a werewolf? Did you do some kind of spell to help him out of his coma?”
I swallowed; it was definitely time for the whole truth. “Um, actually, I’m the one who put him in the coma in the first place.”
“What?” Marion exploded.
“Don’t blame Emily, mum.” Fletch interrupted her before she could get going again. “It was my idea, I made her do it, and it wasn’t her fault it went a bit wrong. We were trying to banish the wolf from inside me.”
“And did it work?” his dad asked, suddenly seeming to accept the strange truth.
“Oh, for goodness’ sake!” his mum howled. “Don’t tell me you believe all this garbage?”
“Well, you’re the one who was swearing she was a witch, so why can’t he be a werewolf?” her husband pointed out reasonably.
“Oh, well, that, yes.” Marion deflated again, clearly seeing the logic of his argument.
Fletch tried again, though the fatigue was begin to take its toll on him. “If we could all just accept it’s the truth, then all this could be sorted out a lot quicker.” His eyes closed for a few seconds, and we all looked panicked, wondering if he was slipping out of consciousness again.
“Hospital. We have to get Aaron back to hospital,” David Fletcher said, putting his arm around his son.
“No, I’m alright.” Fletch opened his eyes. “I’m not going anywhere until you promise not to blame Emily, and not to tell anyone about her powers.”
“Son, this is no time to be heroic. You need medical attention.” David tried to help Fletch up but he refused to budge.
“I mean it, Dad. If you don’t promise, then I’ll just disappear again.” Fletch was cold and calm.
His mother began crying again. “She’s put a spell on you to make you act this way! Can’t you see she’s evil? We have to get you away from her.”
“I’m not evil!” I shouted, starting to feel hysterical myself. “I just wanted to help.”
Werewolf Magic & Mayhem (Book Two, Magic & Mayhem Series) Page 13