Elanah turned to Nathalie slowly, her hands on the table pressing so hard her knuckles were white. “You unlocked his prison?” she screeched, looking at them with fury. Her hair was suddenly blazing around her, blond snakes twisting around her head. An electrical charge could be felt in the air. All the china shattered, liquid splattering everywhere.
They were all shocked at her reaction. Dean spoke in his famous, horse-calming voice. “He was locked away, but he was almost free anyway. Sadie opened a portal to the demon world and the demons he betrayed grabbed him. They left her a coin, like an IOU or something. They must have been pretty happy to get him back. So don’t worry, he’s gone for good,” he said, trying to reassure her. His “famous” voice was just as ineffective on her as it was on horses.
Elanah swayed on her feet. “He escaped his realm once before. You have no idea what you’ve done…” she said before her voice trailed off and she fainted.
Chapter 6 – Competition
Barrington County, Present Day
Max raced to school. He had so much to tell Ella, he was practically busting. Ella was a strong witch, and while not in Sadie’s class, she was as powerful as normal people can get. His father had given him permission to take Ella to see Elanah so she could assess the level of her mark. Fear made Max’s heart skip a beat when he thought about it. He’d just started his courting of Ella. He loved her. She couldn’t die.
Ella was sitting at a picnic table at the edge of the woods, waiting for him. She had an extra tea with her. When he reached her, she looked at him uncertainly. He knew why. Only Katie had seen them kissing at the wedding, and since she hadn’t told anyone yet, no one knew of their change in status. He could count on Katie not to gossip. If the news wasn’t about her, she generally didn’t care to talk about it. It was one thing he actually liked about Katie.
Had their relationship status changed? They hadn’t discussed it yesterday having only chatted briefly. He was going to make it very clear to Ella that it had. Kissing would become part of their daily routine. Now that he’d kissed her, he didn’t think he’d be able to stop.
Now the question was, would they tell anyone? Dean and Nathalie had kept their relationship from their parents at first and gotten away with much hanky-panky. Mind you, Ella had told him that Dean had had to work that much harder to impress Mr. Parker, who had not been at all pleased at being the last to know which boy was dating his daughter.
He didn’t think Ella would want to keep it a secret. She was too upfront for that.
She stood up when he got to the table. She seemed at a bit of a loss at what to do. Max took the decision from her and hauled her into his arms, kissing her thoroughly in front of the whole school. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
“Get a room,” someone called.
Ella was warm, and her face was flushed. She tasted like toothpaste. Her eyes seemed luminescent in the sun.
“Is that tea for me?”
“No, for your twin brother,” she said sarcastically.
God, he loved his tough Ella.
“I have some serious news,” he told her as they sat. He took his tea in one hand and used his other arm to hold her close.
“Elanah, I know. Dean filled me in. Blah blah, witch from the past, blah blah, pretty, good teeth. Geez, can’t these people stay in their own time?”
“Uh…”
“Now, about us…”
Max laughed. “That topic makes me want to keep kissing you, but I think we’ve done our job providing this morning’s entertainment.”
Ella looked around. Katie Fairchild was glaring at them. Tough luck, bitch, Ella thought triumphantly. She took a gulp of her tea and coughed as it went down the wrong way.
Max whacked her on the back as she sputtered. “I want you to visit Elanah,” he told her seriously. “I want her to look at your forehead and assess your mark. I’m worried. Your magical abilities have grown significantly in the last three years. I think you’re in danger.”
“Okay, sure,” she agreed easily. She was a bit preoccupied because she had a gift for Max. Yesterday, in the rosy afterglow of their first kiss, she’d gone out and bought it for him as a token of her affection, but she could feel Katie’s eyes boring holes into her back. She didn’t want to give it to him with her staring at them. What was that girl’s problem?
The bell rang.
“Great. Time to go in. See you at lunch.” He got up to leave but she grabbed his arm.
“Wait. I have badminton at lunch,” she told him. She’d been forced to join the team by her gym teacher. “You need exercise to keep that slim figure, Ella,” the teacher had suggested slyly. Even Ella wasn’t immune to suggestions about her weight, so she’d agreed to join. Too bad the same teacher had also recruited Katie and her cronies using the same reasoning. Ella sighed. Today was going to be an interesting day. “I have something for you.” She waited until Katie left before taking it out of her pocket and giving it to him. It was a silver ID bracelet engraved with his name, Maximilian Jacob Barrington, and on the back was Love you forever, Ella.
Her inscription had a double meaning to them. “Our favorite book and my sentiments, exactly,” she said, quickly putting it on his wrist. She wasn’t one to fuss.
Max wrapped his arms around her and kissed her softly. “Thank you, Ella. I love it,” he said, touched.
Ella smiled warmly. “You’re welcome.”
“I have a couple of errands to run after school for my mom, but just go to the manor and I’ll meet you there as soon as I can.”
“Okey doke.”
They headed to class.
Ella had gym last period, and she dreaded it.
During lunch, Katie and her group of sycophants had spent their time whacking birdies at Ella instead of focusing on their game. Interestingly, the fact that Ella had been in a different court, playing with her doubles partner, didn’t seem to hamper the band of hellish harpies.
Ella tried to ignore them at first. She wasn’t feeling well. Her bones ached and she felt flushed. Her flaring temper wasn’t helping. At one point her partner, Nikki, lost it.
“Are you stupid?” she screamed at the girls, batting the birdie back so fast it bounced off one of the cronies’ faces, who yelled in surprise. “Play in your own damn court, you idiots.” She glared at them. “If I find one more birdie of yours in my court I am going to beat the shit out of all of you with this tiny little racket. Got it?”
If Ella wasn’t already in love, Nikki would be first in her heart.
The gym teacher, Ms. Ledge, had had enough as well. She moved her round body quickly. “Take a break, girls. We’re here to play badminton. This is not some girlie sleepover where you play stupid games. Get changed and move on. I’ll be writing this up to the principal.”
Katie glared at Ella as she walked by, but Ella was too tried to care.
“You okay, Ella?” Nikki asked, concerned.
“Yeah, I think I’m getting a cold,” she explained. “Let’s just keep playing.”
Last period gym was dodge ball. Because of the shenanigans of the girls earlier in the day, Ella got to referee instead of play.
“Let’s not risk your face with that bunch of botulism experiments out there who have it out for you. Katie’s a smart girl, but her crush on Max is going to make your life rough now that you two are an item,” Ms. Ledge said, handing her a whistle. “Use that responsibly, now. It’s great power.”
Ella had coughed and blushed as she placed the whistle around her neck. “How did you know Max and I were…um…well…a couple now?”
The short woman looked up at Ella, astonished. “It never ceases to amaze me how love makes smart, articulate people as dumb as bricks. What, you don’t think that kiss Max pasted on your mug this morning didn’t get seen by any teachers? They gossip just as much, if not more, than you bunch do,” she snorted.
“Oh.”
“My advice, and I give it to all my hormonal young ad
ults, is keep it cool. Plenty of time for all that touchy stuff when you’re older.”
Ella wanted to die RIGHT NOW.
Despite Ms. Ledge’s deeply uncomfortable talk, gym was fun. Ella blew the whistle on Katie at least ten times. Katie complained to Ms. Ledge, but she didn’t have much sympathy. “Ella’s the ref. Obey.”
Her satisfaction didn’t last.
They cornered her later in the locker room.
Ella had just finished changing when Katie and her goons ringed her. She was tough, but there were five of them. One of them was huge. Ella was sure she descended from Viking stock.
“Back off, Katie,” Ella said threateningly. “I don’t know what your problem is, but if you mess with me, I’m going to teach you a lesson you won’t soon forget.”
Katie had a strange light in her eyes. Ella guessed it was insanity. She looked around. The locker room was deserted and the lights were off. Funny, she hadn’t noticed how dark it was.
Katie pushed Ella against the lockers, forcefully. A banging sound echoed throughout the room. Where was Ms. Ledge?
“I’m sick of you, Ella Croft. I’m sick of the Ella/Max duo. Max is protected territory, my territory. Do you understand?” She punctuated her question with another shove. This time Ella’s head bounced against the metal. Her bones hurt. Didn’t they see she was sick?
The fat Viking slapped her face.
Ella’s temper flared. She could feel something coat her skin. Static electricity? Sweat? She wasn’t sure, but she was going to blast these girls to the freaking moon. No one ever touched her face. No one.
One of the other girls yanked her hair. It was long, to her bum, and plaited into a quick braid for gym.
Her fury mounted, and sizzling could be heard. Only one girl noticed and looked behind her.
Katie was still talking but Ella wasn’t listening.
Except for Katie, she’d known most of these girls her whole life. It certainly hadn’t taken much for them to turn against her.
Looking around, her fear grew. She had no friends here. The locker room was deserted. She was completely alone. No one would help her.
She was kicked in the legs and one girl reached and viciously twisted the skin on her arm.
Katie laughed and Ella lost it. She couldn’t smack all the hands away. She chanted a line and released the power now crackling around her.
Nothing happened.
The force of that chant should have sent them stumbling back, giving her a chance to run. It didn’t blast them away. If anything, they only got shocks.
“Ugh, Ella, you been rubbing yourself on a carpet?” one of them complained as she rubbed her hand.
Katie looked angry, but before she could get her hands on Ella again, Ella reached for the whistle and brought it to her mouth. The piercing sound made all the girls back away then scatter like roaches. Someone would be coming now.
Mrs. Ledge bustled into the locker room. “You okay Ella? You need to be careful with that thing. You could bust your eardrums in a place like this.”
Ella was leaning against the lockers, heart racing. She took off the whistle and handed it back.
Mrs. Ledge shook her head, appraising her shrewdly. “No, keep it. I have lots of them. You watch yourself, Ella. That Fairchild girl is entitled and mean. She doesn’t like to come out last.”
Ella just nodded and left for Barrington Manor.
When she got there shock had set in as adrenaline withdrew. She was shivering and felt very tired. She rang the doorbell and could hear Max’s feet thundering down the stairs and hear his mother yell, “Are you a herd of buffalo? Stop running!”
The door swung open and Ella was pulled inside. The door closed behind her and she was hauled up the stairs to Max’s suite of rooms.
“Hi Mrs. Barrington,” Ella attempted to shout as she was dragged up the stairs. Faint acknowledgement was heard before the door to Max’s room shut behind her. “I was waiting for you. What took you so long?” Max asked, giving her a hug.
“Oh, just getting bullied in the locker room by your crazy study buddy and her band of mental outpatients,” Ella said, putting her schoolbag down in the corner. Max pulled her into his arms again and kissed her. His mouth was warm and Ella flushed hot. Was it fever or Max? Whatever. She loved this new aspect of their relationship. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
Max was tall now, just over six feet. He lifted his head as her words penetrated his lovesick brain. “Did you say you were bullied?” he asked, looking down at her. “God, you’re flushed, and hot. Do you have a fever?”
“I’m fine,” Ella said brusquely, brushing his hands away from her face. “Let’s kiss some more.”
Max frowned. “When did this start? You were fine this morning.”
“It’s nothing, Max,” she said, turning away. “I’m just a bit achy, that’s all.”
“I’m taking you to see Elanah. I’m sure this has something to do with this ‘poison’ they’re all talking about that is infecting Barrington.”
Ella didn’t argue. She’d been feeling a bit tired over the last week, but the wedding had been draining, so she’d chalked it up to being run down from that. But she was feeling really sick now. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to rule out magic and confirm it’s just the flu. It could also be shock, she thought. She’d almost had the shit kicked out of her half an hour ago.
Max put on his jacket and grabbed her pack. “Let’s go.”
Ella sighed. “I don’t think I have the energy to bike.”
“That’s okay, because we’re taking one of the golf carts.”
Ella brightened at that. She loved the golf carts. It had been Luke’s idea to get them now that he and Max were older and wanted to drive instead of riding their bikes everywhere. As long as they were careful on the main roads, the Barringtons were okay with it.
Max had been briefly introduced to Elanah yesterday evening at the hotel when he’d investigated the commotion in the dining room after she’d fainted. Once she’d been revived, he’d introduced himself. Dean had quietly filled him in and they both asked if she would assess Ella. She had agreed, but then John shooed everyone away and insisted Elanah rest and have a quiet evening.
John also asked everyone not to talk about the peculiarities of their guest’s birth century until he had a chance to brief the town council.
They hopped on a golf cart.
“Where are you two going?” Claire asked, stepping out the front door.
“Ella’s sick. I’m taking her to see Elanah.”
Claire frowned. “Well, Elanah’s coming for dinner and then staying for the town council meeting, so bring her back with you. It will save me the trip since I need to keep an eye on dinner.”
“Sure, mom.”
“Luke and Sadie are going to be upset they missed all the excitement,” Ella said smugly.
Max shrugged. “Knowing those two, I think they’re going to be too wrapped up in each other to give a crap about what’s happening here,” he said truthfully. He shot her a glance. “I know I wouldn’t give a crap.”
Ella blushed.
They crossed East Road and took the new road to the hotel, past the Limerick Candy factory where Nathalie and Dean worked. They would be finishing work soon and coming for dinner.
When they got to the hotel they found Elanah outside talking with Tess. Claire had provided her with some contemporary clothes, and dressed like that, he was struck by how alike the two women looked. They both had the same long, golden blond hair that fell down their backs. Tess was much taller. Elanah was rather petite when you removed the long, covering skirt. They were chatting and laughing. Max wondered if Tess knew the truth about Elanah, but he didn’t think so. Only those who were originally involved with the hex, and the danger to the town three years ago, would know. Tess had not been part of that inner circle.
Elanah tugged on Tess’ hair playfully in farewell before she turned around and smiled at the new ar
rivals.
Killer dimple, Ella thought a bit jealously. Elanah was a very beautiful girl.
“Hello, Max,” she said. Tess greeted them then said her goodbyes and headed back into the hotel. Elanah looked at Ella and gasped, but then tried to hide her reaction.
“It’s bad, isn’t it?” Max said desperately, holding Ella to him tightly while she squirmed with embarrassment. She wasn’t used to all this touchy feely stuff yet.
Elanah nodded, looking concerned. “It’s very advanced, I’m afraid. Her mark is dark, while yours, like Tess’, is as pale as a shadow and almost unnoticeable. The good thing is that there is no red bleeding around the edges yet, so death is not imminent.”
Elanah held out her hand and introduced herself to Ella. “You’re Dean’s sister, I understand. Sorry to have to meet you under such terrible circumstances. How are you feeling?”
Ella was awestruck. This was the woman who had compiled the Von Vixen family spell book. Not only that, she’d created some of the most complex spells ever written. She was just as much a legend as Willow Kellar. Just not evil, she corrected. “Like I have a bit of the flu.”
“I’m to take you home with us for dinner,” Max explained. He was relieved that Ella was not in immediate danger, but now he was curious to know how Elanah was going to fix this.
Chapter 7 – The Plan
Barrington County, Present Day
They drove back to the Barrington’s. Dinner would be early to accommodate the council meeting at seven o’clock. The council had moved their regular meetings to one of the hotel’s conference rooms once they’d been built. However, due to the secretive nature of this meeting, it would be held at the Barrington home.
Father MacGunne joined them for supper. Barrington’s priest had turned out to be rather resourceful after being blindsided by Willow Kellar, who had desecrated his church, then invaded it and used it as a headquarters for her and her followers. Due to his valiant efforts, he had been made an honorary member of the council.
Malice: A Barrington County Novel Page 8