“Wow,” Kace uttered in a breathy tone. A grin spread on his face. “Did you guys feel that?”
“That was incredible,” Adam muttered under his breath.
“Amazing.” Callie grinned. Her eyes had grown wide, losing their drunken glaze, and now shimmered with liveliness.
I nodded in agreement with them, but didn’t speak. What I felt had been stronger than what I felt when Kace touched me, but not as strong as when Theo and I had kissed. I wondered if I would ever feel the same sensation as then. Why did everything always seem so dull in comparison?
“Now we let the incense and the candle burn out on their own,” Adam said. He propped his elbows up against the podium and continued to gaze at the page in the book. “We should feel something again once they both burn out that will let us know the spell is complete.”
“What will the spell actually do?” I asked.
Now that I knew it had worked, I wanted to be on the lookout for anything it might send my way in the form of money.
Kace leaned over the book a little more closely. “I’d say probably the same thing as with the Hoodoo spells from Twila. Some opportunity will find each of us that will increase our financial situations.”
Sounded good to me. All I had to do was wait. I could do that.
My bare feet padded down the cold hardwood stairs as I quietly made my way to the first floor. I needed to find Theo. I couldn’t just sit here and wait for him to come to me, because he more than likely never would. The need for some concrete knowledge of the tether being broken was essential at this point. At least for me.
Opening the front door as quietly as I could, I slipped out of the house, praying my absence would go unnoticed until I returned. Everyone had been sleeping soundly inside when I slipped out the door, their alcohol-induced comas from last night still in full effect. For whatever reason, mine wasn’t. I’d never been one who could sleep well while under the influence of alcohol. In fact, when I’d had more to drink than I should, I usually tossed and turned horribly through the night.
This morning I’d never been happier to have that issue, because 7:40 in the morning seemed as good a time as any to search for Theo at the only place I knew to look for him—Fisherman’s Brew.
Opening the driver’s side door to my Jeep, I turned the wheel, angling the Jeep just right, and popped it in neutral. Gripping the frame of the vehicle with both hands, I began pushing. It barely budged on the first try. After a few more rocking gestures and hard pushes, the Jeep began coasting out of the driveway at a slow speed backward. Once I got it to the road, I cranked the engine and headed in the direction of where I prayed Theo would be this morning.
It was no surprise Fisherman’s Brew was closed when I pulled into the parking lot. I’d forgotten I hadn’t seen any breakfast dishes on their menu the one and only time I’d ever eaten there. I cut the engine on my Jeep and leaned back in the seat, crossing my arms over my chest. I’d wait for Theo to arrive, and then I’d know if the tether was broken or not based off whether I felt the telltale warming sensation I always seemed to feel in his presence.
After twenty minutes of waiting, I began to feel like a stalker.
My eyes closed for a brief moment, at least that’s what I thought, but popped open when the crunching of gravel from a vehicle entering the parking lot met my ears. A tan minivan pulled in, and I noticed Stina, Theo’s mother, and Twila step out. For whatever reason, the sight of them having such a normal-looking vehicle surprised me. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected them to drive, but a minivan was surely not it. My throat suddenly grew dry at the sight of them. I crouched down in my seat, hoping they wouldn’t notice me.
A stupid wish. Mine was the only vehicle in the parking lot of their restaurant. Of course they would notice me.
My eyes remained level with the window of my door, allowing me to see Twila as she stepped out the passenger side of the van. She began walking without even an inkling of me being here. After three steps, she paused and spun to face me directly. I held my breath and closed my eyes, as though doing so would help hide me any better.
A light tapping on my window made my eyes snap open. Twila was standing at the door, glaring at me with a disapproving look. Her dark eyes bored into me, causing my insides to quiver from their intensity. I sat up and rolled the window down all the way.
“What on Earth are you doin’ here?” she asked, the glare receding from her dark eyes to be replaced by a thick amusement. “Let me guess, you waitin’ on that grandson a mine. Am I right?”
I swallowed hard. Why was she practically laughing at me? Shouldn’t she hate me? Shouldn’t she be tossing all kinds of powders and bones at me in the form of a hex as I tried to leave the parking lot as fast as I could before one stuck?
“Yes,” I answered. My voice was so small and shaky I sounded like a mouse. I sat up a little more.
“Well, he ain’t here,” she said, placing one dark hand on her hip. “That boy has been beside himself lately because a you.”
Dropping my eyes to the bracelets I wore, I began to fiddle with them, scared to ask her why, but also scared to ask what I needed to know. “Where is he, then? Could I have directions to his house?”
What I needed to know won out against my fear. The old woman huffed at my request, and it took everything in me not to start my Jeep and hightail it out of there.
“I ain’t gonna interfere,” Twila said. Her head lifted to face the sky, as though she were talking to someone up there instead of me. “I know you got some plan. Just know that it’s takin’ all I am to not deny this lil’ girl what she’s askin’.”
She reached into the pocket of the apron she wore and pulled out a ticket book and pen. I listened to her mutter something I couldn’t make out under her breath while she wrote, what I presumed to be, directions to Theo's. My heart kicked up a notch as I waited for her to place the paper in my hand.
“Here, follow these and it’ll take ya right to him,” she said with a sigh.
I took the paper from her wrinkled fingers just as she tipped her head back up to continue the conversation she was having with the sky.
“There, I done my part…and I pray that’s all I gotta do.” Twila walked away then, and I let out the breath I’d been holding, thankful the moment was over and it hadn’t ended nearly as badly as I’d thought it would.
I glanced at the blue and white ticket she’d handed me. Her handwriting was the most beautiful cursive I’d ever seen, but the directions to Theo seemed like they would take forever. There was no way I would go unmissed for much longer at my place. Kace was bound to wake up before I got back for sure.
I told myself that was something I’d have to deal with later, that finding Theo was more important right now, and started my Jeep.
After shifting into drive, I pulled out of my parking space and took one more glance at the first turn written in Twila’s script, making sure that I got it right. My gaze dropped over the length of the turns again, and my stomach twisted as I thought of how lost I could potentially get while trying to find Theo’s place.
At least I’d brought my cell with me just in case.
The drive to Theo’s house was longer than I’d imagined it would be, but Twila had given me amazingly accurate directions that were surprisingly easy to follow. Even for me.
As I drove along, the houses grew larger, and I noticed they were all the same historical Southern theme—large white columns held up the porches, shutters trimmed the windows, and every home was plantation-looking. It was then that I realized Soul Harbor had a historical district, which dated back far more than the house I’d inherited. These homes looked as though they should still have cotton fields growing in their front yards.
Once I neared the middle of the directions, the houses grew smaller, and I’d wound my way back to the water. The view of the numerous docks and boats caught my eye as I continued toward Theo’s place. Soul Harbor was beautiful. I couldn’t believe I’d been here for nearly a
month and a half now and had yet to explore much of the town.
In that moment, I was glad Twila had given me the directions today, not just because of my raw need to see Theo and find out about the tether firsthand, but also because I had been missing the beauty of Soul Harbor by staying on my side of town.
The final turn brought me to a long stretch of gravel road. Tall trees stood along both sides, creating a tunnel of green in various shades. Near the first corner of the road, the trees cleared out a bit, giving way to a marshy area that looked nothing like the one Kace had taken me to near the bookstore. This one was dark and murky with twigs and brownish grass jutting out here and there. Sporadic rocks broke up the area, as did a few patches of bright green grass growing along the edges the farther along the road I went. Tall trees leaned into the water, twisting and bending at odd angles to get closer.
It was a beautiful sight just as much as it was a creepy one.
Rounding another corner, I got my first glimpse of what had to be Theo’s family house. Twisting trees dripping with Spanish moss framed my view of the house. It looked like a forgotten mansion, tucked back into the thick weeping willows and moss-covered trees. The house was a dingy white with shutters painted the same blue as the McNeelys new front door—Haint Blue. Tall gray columns held up the nearly dilapidated front porch, and a set of crumpled-by-weather-and-age stairs met me when I slowed to a stop in front.
My eyes scanned the front of the house, searching for any lights on, but found nothing. It looked abandoned ages ago and overtaken by Mother Nature. I was amazed someone—let alone a few someones—lived here. Beads of sweat dotted my upper lip and along my forehead, either from the chill of the morning turning into the expected afternoon heat or flat-out nerves. Both were plausible.
I cut the engine and swept my hand across my forehead, wiping away the sweat, while readying myself to find Theo and learn if everything I’d gone through last night had been worth it. Opening my driver’s side door slowly, I climbed out on weak legs and started toward the crumbling stairs leading up to the peeling front door. My sandals crunched in the loose gravel, and then slapped loudly across the concrete steps.
“Here goes nothing,” I whispered as I readied myself to knock on the door.
It pulled open before I was able to knock, revealing a tall, dark-skinned girl with amazingly bright caramel-colored eyes and ruby red lips. She appeared to be no older than I was. I jerked back from the door and covered my heart with my hand, catching the breath that had been startled out of me by her sudden presence.
“Didn’t mean to scare ya,” she claimed, but the malevolent smile stretched on her face led me to believe something else entirely. “You’re the girl looking for Theo.”
It wasn’t a question, but more of a statement with a heavy dose of judgment all wrapped together in a pretty little bow.
“Yeah, I am,” I said, going for nonchalant and failing miserably.
The girl was intimidating to say the least.
“He’s in the carriage house out back,” she said, the devilish gleam still sparkling in her eyes. It was almost as if I intrigued her. “That’s where he lives.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Do I just go around this way?” I pointed to the side of the house, unsure.
“No, you can cut through the house,” she said, stepping aside. “Come on in.”
My stomach knotted as I crossed the threshold. I didn’t like the vibes this house gave off. Or maybe it was just this girl.
Sweat beaded across my brow again as I took notice of the temperature in the house—it was the same as outside. Obviously, it had no AC. I enjoyed heat just as much as the next Fire Elemental, but sometimes it was too much—even for me.
“I’m Kyra, by the way.” She introduced herself in a Southern tone.
Kyra, I knew that name from somewhere, but couldn’t figure out where. After a few more steps across the tiled entrance, which led past a grand staircase, I finally remembered where I knew the name from.
“You’re Theo’s cousin, aren’t you?” I asked, my eyes zeroing in on her.
Her red lips formed into another smile, and she shifted her intensely beautiful eyes to meet my stare. “I see Theo has talked with you about me. That’s interesting.”
“Not much, he just mentioned you once,” I said, backtracking.
She opened a door made of tiny square windows, which led out to the backyard. “I’m sure he had a reason…question is, what was that reason? What did he mention me in reference to?” she asked as we stepped through the door.
I swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. Then I remembered what Theo had said about her, how her parents practically pimped her out for her mixed-breed magick. How she’d been trapped under their thumb.
“He said my situation reminded him of you.” I went for honesty. Maybe it wasn’t the best thing to do, but what else should I have said in the moment?
Her eyes skimmed over me, the devilish glare leaving them. The smirk that had been twisted in place on her lips since first seeing me dissipated. She stared down at her empty hands, glancing over her red fingernails. “Yeah, well, let’s hope that if that’s the case you do everything you can to get yourself out of it.”
She looked so sad. I didn’t know what to say. Had she found a way to get out from under her parents' thumbs? Or was she only here for a visit of some sort? It wasn’t my place to ask, even though I wanted to.
“Theo’s house is through those trees,” she said. “I know all about the tether; Theo filled me in. I also know about your other situation. Listen to Theo when he tells you to be careful with the others. As he said, betrayal can hide in the eyes of those we trust most. I should know.” She turned around, leaving me standing alone in the shaded backyard.
She disappeared through the glass door before I had a chance to respond.
Remaining where I stood for a moment, I took in all that Kyra had said. Why did everyone keep warning me about the others? What was I not seeing and which team was deceiving me—the Elementals or the Conjurers?
Glancing in the direction Kyra had pointed, I noticed a footpath barely wider than three feet etched into the ground and decided to take it. Tall trees with twisted branches lined both sides, same as they had the driveway. I let out a slow breath and started forward, worried Kyra might be staring at me through the windows and not wanting to waste much more time. Everyone at my house was probably already awake and would soon start to wonder where I was. After pulling my cell from my back pocket to check the time, I realized with a falling heart I didn’t have any cell service.
Awesome. I’d just snuck out of my house to go visit the Conjurers’ house, which was in the middle of nowhere, without cell service. Smart move, Addison.
The walk from the main house to the carriage house wasn’t a long one, but it still gave me plenty of time to doubt my being here. If the tether was broken like it should be, I was certain I was the last person Theo ever wanted to see again. Yet, here I was, about to show up at his doorstep. Unannounced.
A small two-story house came into view. It was the same dingy shade of white as the main house and had the same Haint Blue-painted shutters. There was a small carport carved out of the left side, and awe swept through me as I realized it was meant for an actual carriage to be parked underneath. Rock walls no higher than my hip lined the front of the house and spread off to the sides, leading to nowhere. They were covered with some sort of vine-like plants. I made my legs move toward the narrow stoop of a front porch, and that was when I felt it…the intense heat that only Theo could bring from beneath my skin.
Apparently becoming initiated hadn’t worked, and the tether was still in place.
A tingling centered itself in my chest, and I had to force myself to take in small breaths of air. My hands came up to run through my hair, just as the chipped and mangled-looking front door opened to reveal a confused Theo. He was dressed in a solid gray pair of workout shorts and nothing else. The sight of him, on top of all our raw
emotions, was enough to make me lightheaded.
My mind shifted from question to question rapidly. Why didn’t it work like it should have? How was I able to feel my magick this strongly? How was it possible to look so good first thing in the morning? Had I eaten anything before I came?
“What are you doing here?” Theo’s voice boomed through my head. It sounded distorted and too far away. I couldn’t be sure if he’d said the words aloud or in my mind. “How did you even find my house?” he grumbled.
My vision blurred for a split second, and then everything went black as a sensation of falling barreled through me. My mind was still, as though all thoughts had frozen, as I was sucked into the blackness that took my vision. I felt myself hit something hard, and then heat from Theo’s hands scorched my sides. Blackness overtook my mind, and everything faded into nothingness.
My eyes fluttered open, and I realized with a start that I had no idea where I was. Sitting up against my elbows, I noticed I had been lying on a plush white couch, and a fan had been directed toward me. The room was small. The walls were painted a neutral shade of beige, and the floor was a knotted dark wood. Virtually nothing hung on the walls besides a simple mirror, and a wind chime or two hung directly from the ceiling at an entrance to a hallway. A shelf, crammed with little glass vials and plastic bags of roots, stood directly in front of me.
Everything came crashing back to me then, and I remembered whose house this was—Theo’s.
A loud noise came from upstairs somewhere, followed by a “Damn it” in Theo’s velvety voice.
A few seconds later, I could hear him making his way down the winding stairs in the corner. He stopped at the bottom step, another small stand-up fan held in his arms.
Confined (A Tethered Novel, Book 3) Page 9