by Holly Hood
Tucker’s muffled screams and thrashing grew even louder as Slade accepted the knife. I didn’t know what to do or say to comfort him. I couldn’t even comfort myself. I held my breath watching Slade study the knife in his hand. His head shot back up. He nodded, pleasing Audrey. And as she turned, Slade did something I didn’t expect.
Audrey let out a blood-curdling scream. Slade plunged the knife straight into her back. She fell forward onto her knees, her eyes filled with panic. She turned and looked at Slade, the air escaping her. She tried making sense of what happened.
Slade turned on her.
I jumped to my feet and raced toward him. He grabbed hold of me, pulling me close.
“I couldn’t do it.” He said, letting out a sigh. “I would never do it. I hope you believe me.”
I nodded, pulling away so I could see his face. I grabbed him by the arm turning him away from Audrey’s body on the ground.
“I trust you.” I told him, squeezing him tightly.
Slade produced a small smile indicating his relief.
“I want you to untie Tucker and let him go,” Slade told me.
I hesitated, but got on my feet and made my way over to Tucker. I quickly worked him free from his restraints and pried the tape from his mouth. Tucker jumped to his feet, but he still couldn’t leave. He couldn’t walk through the fire.
“I’m sorry this happened to you,” I told him. “I hope you believe me.”
Tucker refused to look at me. “Kill the fire, so I can go.”
“Tucker, Slade and you have a lot of bad blood, but I promise you, he would have never hurt you.” I pleaded with him to understand. Somehow this anger between the two of them needed to end.
“Kill the fire!” He snapped.
I flinched, closing my eyes and conjured the right spell to end the fiery inferno. Tucker’s ran as soon as the fire died, he was gone, not wanting to understand anything about Slade or I. I didn't think he would ever change no matter what happened to him.
I didn’t know what caused Slade to turn on Audrey. I wasn’t sure if it was Hutch, maybe he convinced Slade to do the right thing. Or maybe Hutch was as powerful as he claimed, and he helped me like he promised.
I didn’t know if I would see him again to be able to ask him myself.
Part of me wanted to believe Slade did the right thing on his own. That I was important enough for him to go against everything he was part of.
I turned around to find Slade lifting Audrey’s lifeless body.
“What are you doing?” I asked, confused.
“I can’t leave her laying here. It won’t take long before the coven knows something’s wrong.” Slade hurried toward the Rv and kicked open the door. He dropped Audrey onto the floor.
I shut the door behind me in a panic. “What do we do?”
Slade rubbed his hands together and placed one on Audrey’s head and the other he clamped around my wrist. I screamed as searing pain tore through my body. It seemed like an eternity before it ended.
I dropped back against the wall. My whole body tingled. “What did you do, Slade?” I asked my voice unsteady.
“I transferred Audrey’s power over to you,” he said standing. “Now let’s get out of here.”
“If we’re lucky and make it out of here, we go on the run.” He squeezed my hand as we headed for the exit of Henry Park.
“What about Karsen and Kidd, and what about my family,” I asked in a panic.
I knew by Slade’s reaction seeing my family wasn’t going to happen after everything that occurred. Tucker now knew what we were which meant the entire town of Cherry soon would too.
And Slade turned on the coven; he killed Audrey, I didn’t know what it meant, but I knew it was bad for him.
Slade tugged me faster toward the gate. “We will find Kidd and Karsen on the way out.”
Slade stopped walking. He took me by the shoulders. “I promise you once things die down you will be able to talk to them.”
He searched my eyes for acceptance. I nodded. I needed to listen to Slade, there wasn’t anything else I could do now. And I trusted him.
As we left Henry Park the dark cloud hanging over all of us grew even darker. I gripped Slade’s hand in terror.
“Don’t panic.” Slade told me.
“Put your hands above your heads and maybe we won’t shoot you,” the officer told us. Slade’s hand went up, followed by mine. This wasn’t anything I experienced before, so I followed along with Slade.
“It’s always better to go along with what they say,” Slade said starting toward them. “Sooner or later they will learn not to trust such powerful people.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What are you going to do?”
Slade smirked. “Who said I was talking about me? You’re the girl with the power of an evil dead witch.”
Dedication
This book is dedicated to all the readers of the Ink series.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, places or things living or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Black Moon
Printing History
2013
All rights reserved © Copyright 2013 by Holly Hood
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form,
Without the prior
Written permission of the author
© konradbak - Fotolia.com (Cover art)
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank all the readers of Ink. The support you guys give is so wonderful. I love hearing from all of you. And I hope you enjoy the new journey that Hope takes.
Sinful Magic BOOK 3
Holly Hood
SimplyHollyHood.com
Chapter 1
“Witches,” Nona said. For the hundredth time since the bars of the jail opened and allowed me to walk free.
“Witches?” Dad asked me.
I climbed into the backseat of Claude’s car.
“Is there anything anyone else wants to say besides that word?” I asked.
Nona buckled her seatbelt. “I don’t understand what they are saying you did,” She said shaking her head, confused about the circumstances.
“I think if my daughter was stabbed last summer I would have known about it.” Dad shook his head.
I rubbed my temples in a slow circle. My head ached beyond words.
Everyone wanted answers. They also wanted the truth. But I knew anything I had to say about witches, they wouldn’t believe.
I stared out the window at all the picketers surrounding the jailhouse. Everyone held signs that showcased their hatred for witches. Cherry was a full on battleground after Audrey tried to kill Tucker.
Once Tucker escaped and told everyone everything went from bad to worse. We couldn’t get away before they cuffed us and threw us in jail on ridiculous charges.
I was thankful Nona was rich. I would have died there.
Claude was the only one being silent as we coasted down the main road back to my house. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know what I would say.
“Do you think it’s a good idea to be taking her back to the beach house?” Claude asked. It was one of the first times I seen him say anything.
Dad sighed. “I think I can handle things. I will not let anyone lay a finger on my daughter.”
“Look what has happened so far, I don’t think you’ll have much of a choice,” Nona tossed in. She pulled down her visor and dropped her head back.
“Mom, this is my daughter. I think I know what’s best for her,” Dad snapped.
I groaned. “You guys, calm down. We haven’t even made it home yet and you’re all freaking out. I’m an adult; I will choose what I want to do.” My fingers grazed my temples again.
But from the looks of my dad and grandmother I knew any choice I wanted to make would be hard.
Nona gave me enough time to collect my belongings before we went to stay at her house, staying a
t Nona’s would not make anyone happy.
I lifted my phone from the counter. “Six missed calls from Karsen.” I sighed stuffing my phone in my pocket and headed into the kitchen.
“Do you have everything?” Dad asked, pushing off of the counter. He finished the last of his liquor and put the glass in the sink.
I raised an eyebrow. “This is my fault.”
Dad was confused.
“Your drinking, you never drink around us. I didn’t mean to stress you out,” I dropped my gaze.
Dad shook his head. “I needed to settle my nerves; it’s a lot to take in. Let’s hope Nona’s lawyers can work miracles.”
I stayed planted to my spot. Dad waited on me to move out the door.
“I don’t know what to do,” I wiped at my eyes. Dad tugged me to his chest before the front door shut.
“Look, kids get mixed up in crazy fads. I think it can all be smoothed over before it sees a courtroom. Nona is respected around here.” Dad kissed the top of my head.
“But, Dad, what if this isn’t a fad?” I couldn’t believe how quick he brushed it all under the rug.
“This is real life, Hope,” Dad said. “Witches don’t exist. Girls don’t fall in love with vampires. Everything is going to be fine.”
I pulled up my sleeve. “Doesn’t this seem strange to you now?” I waved my tattoo at him trying to get him to understand me. The secret was no longer a secret. The entire town accused me of witchcraft. I knew that it wouldn’t go away.
Dad waved a hand. “You said it was just a tattoo. Now grab your things and let’s get out of here.”
I lifted my bag and headed for the door. “I think we should talk about this before we get to Nona’s,” I said following him down the steps.
“Hope, I said lets go. There is nothing to talk about besides the fact you got involved with the wrong guy. A guy with trouble written all over him since the first day you saw him. Now get in the car,” Dad said.
I dropped my bag and climbed in the backseat angry with Dad for blaming everything on Slade. Nona noticed my expression right away.
“Is he always in denial about everything in his life?” I muttered.
“Yes. Denial is the reason why his marriage to your mother lasted for so long,” she said back.
Dad climbed in on his side. “Why does every conversation circle back around to the mother of my kids?”
I rolled my eyes. “Why won’t you listen to me? Let me explain this before it gets more out of control than it already is.”
Nona shook her head; it seemed she agreed with Dad. “We aren’t going to discuss anything. We are going to talk to the lawyers in the morning. Nothing good comes from acknowledging craziness.”
“But what if I can explain,” I cut in. “What if there is a reason?”
“It doesn’t matter. You’re a young girl you have your whole future ahead of you. We are going to do what we need to do to keep it that way,” Nona said.
And that ended the debate. You didn’t argue with Nona.
Chapter 2
I stared at the expensive painting on Nona’s living room wall. I had finished unpacking my things into one of her many guest bedrooms and now wandered around her house trying to keep myself from going mad.
I sat down opening up a magazine. I pretended to read it for a few seconds before I grew antsy all over again and pulled my cell phone from my pocket. I knew I should call Karsen. I didn’t know what I would say about the whole ordeal and trying to explain I knew would be difficult.
Karsen’s panicked voice shot through the phone. “Are you okay?”
I rolled my eyes. What a stupid thing to ask. “I’m at Nona’s, not sitting in a jail cell so I guess alright.” I made sure nobody was in earshot.
“What is happening?” Karsen started. “I’ve been sitting here all day waiting to hear from somebody. Where is Kidd?”
I raised an eyebrow, twirling my hair around my finger. “I thought you would know that. He’s your boyfriend.” I knew they took off. And didn’t know what I could say about that matter.
I also didn’t know what she knew.
“He told me to stay here and wait for him to get ahold of me, but I haven’t heard from anyone. The house is empty and I’m freaking out.” Karsen’s didn’t sound anything like herself.
“You should probably listen to Kidd. Stay there and wait to hear something. I don’t know what is going on right now. And chances of me getting out of Nona’s right now are not going to happen.” I shut the family room door. “They are freaking out over here.”
“Of course they are. They found Audrey’s body in Henry Park, inside of Slade’s RV. How did that happen?” Karsen’s silence filled the space between us.
I took a deep breath. “We didn’t have another choice. She was going to—
“I don’t want to know anymore. Hope, what is happening?” Karsen said.
“A lot is happening. Now is not the time to freak out. I got to go, call me if you hear anything from anyone,” I said ending the call as soon as Nona opened the door.
“Did you get settled in?” She asked taking a seat.
I nodded, tucking my phone back in my pocket for fear someone would take it away from me. I took the seat across from her. I knew I would have to talk sooner or later.
“I need to find Slade,” I started. Nona wasn’t known for having a heart, but I hoped she would give me a chance to figure things out. Without Slade I feared I wouldn’t know what to do about anything happening.
“Slade is in serious trouble. You better hope you don’t see him,” Nona said.
“Nobody gets it,” I said. “Everyone is already assuming the worst about everything. But nobody gets it.”
Nona furrowed her brow. “That little blonde he ran around with is dead. What is there to get. You’re lucky you weren’t killed to.”
I couldn’t believe what she was trying to imply. “You don’t get it. Audrey wanted to kill Tucker.”
Nona shook her head. “Says who?”
“Me. I say. I was there.” I sat forward. “Did anyone think of asking Tucker?”
Nona dismissed this idea. “It’s been said for many years that Henry Park is a dangerous place to be.”
I couldn’t believe it. The accusations repeated like a bad nightmare.
“I remember when Evil Kings of Ink first started playing there. Everyone swore they were up to no good. They all said they practiced black magic and I guess in some ways they were right.” Nona lit one of her cigarettes. “Why would they think they were capable of magic? Is it drugs?”
My eyes grew large. “No, it’s not drugs. I know it seems unbelievable, but Nona if you took some time to understand you wouldn’t be so confused by it.”
The whole town of Cherry hated Henry Park, but the hatred going on outside overshadowed anything I saw on the inside.
“This isn’t why your dad moved out here,” Nona said in return.
I bit my tongue before I said something I regretted.
“Where are you going, sweet pea?” Nona called after me.
“For a walk. I need to clear my mind,” I told her slamming the door.
Chapter 3
I sat on the shores picking up small seashells and tossing them at the waves. I knew we all were in a mess. I knew the coven would be furious once they knew Slade killed Audrey.
I looked over my shoulder, they might have known already for all I knew.
Seagulls squawked above me as someone approached me from behind. I never jumped at every little sound before. But before I knew it I was ready to tear Hutch’s arm off if I needed to.
“Easy!” he said.
I wrenched his arm behind his back. “You don’t sneak up on me!”
I let go, trying to catch my breath.
“What’s got into you?” Hutch asked, rubbing his arm, agitated with my manhandling. He couldn’t make eye contact with me.
“I’m not sure. You scared me,” I dropped down in the sand happy to se
e him, glad he was there to talk to. Somebody that knew what I went through.
“I’ve been walking down the beach everyday hoping I’d see you. Are you okay?” He took the spot next to me.
“How could I be okay?” I didn’t know if I would ever be okay again. “Audrey is dead, Slade is gone and I might be put in jail for god knows what. I’m not doing too well.”
Hutch stared at the water. “Where is Slade, Doll?”
“I have no idea. As soon as we left the car at the police station I never saw him again.”
I thought back on that moment. Slade didn’t utter a word, he stayed stoic as we wound our way through town in the back of the police car. I thought it best to go along with his silence.
“We were going to take off. But that never happened. And now we are in a whole lot of trouble,” I said.
Hutch sighed. “Believe me I’ve seen quite a bit of this around here.”
He meant the church. They were busy collecting the entire town to stand behind them and get rid of witches.
“The only place they don’t set foot is near the beach,” I told him. The mayor set a safety curfew and warned all the residents to stay away from the waters after five.
“They think bad things happen down here after dark,” Hutch smirked. “It’s all rather absurd the level of hatred these people house for those they don’t know or understand.”
“Ever since I moved here this is the way it has been. I hate to say it, but I think after what happened with me everything got worse,” I said.
The thought made me sad. Slade could have lived in Cherry worry free if it weren’t for me and the mess I made coming to town.
“These were all choices he made. Just like the one that ended Audrey. I’m assuming he killed her?”
I eyed Hutch. “If Slade didn’t kill her, she would have killed Tucker. He did the right thing.”