Rage in Pain Roz: The R.I.P. Series Book 2

by Kris Johnston

  It was Parker.

  I knew this to be true because he wasn't completely solid. His form was somewhat transparent, his skin an ashen color. His aqua eyes, which I had always believed to be so handsome, were now black and had tiny blue veins circling them.

  He wore the same suit he had been wearing when I'd last seen him that night in the cafeteria. He had been beautiful that night, even in his evilness. The suit had been tailored to fit his body perfectly and showed off his fine form. Now, however, the fabric hung in shreds around his arms and legs, exposing the same blue veins that shattered and ran across his limbs. I could no longer make out the color of the tattered suit because it was covered in ash and dust, just like the land.

  “Roz,” he said brokenly. “You're here.”

  I took a step back. His voice was the same, but hoarse. He sounded like he hadn't had a sip of water in forever.

  His coal eyes beseeched me as he spoke once more.

  “I never thought I'd see you again,” he said.

  I swallowed and glanced at Tobias, who remained silent and aloof.

  “Well,” I said awkwardly, “I'm here now. What do you want?”

  He looked out to the dead world around us, his eyes filling with unshed tears and grief as they lingered over the vast terrain.

  “You have to warn Jimmy,” he said at long last. “He has to get out of that house. She'll destroy him.”

  My pulse raced at the mention of Jimmy.

  “What are you saying, Parker?” I asked. “Are you talking about your mother?”

  He nodded bitterly.

  “She had me so confused,” he explained, his body becoming more and more transparent as he spoke. “I thought if I was the good son, she would go easy on me. I thought she'd finally love me.”

  As he finished speaking, his form became more solid once again, and I realized he was using some kind of supernatural energy to appear to me.

  “I swear to you Rosalind,” he said, flickering in and out of existence, “I was never going to hurt you.”

  My head tilted of its own accord as I stared at him.

  “You were stealing my soul, Parker. Of course you were trying to hurt me.”

  He shook his head in denial. “It was a spell,” he whispered. “It was going to make you sleep until I could convince the coven that you had been changed to Lillianna.”

  I scoffed. “Sure you were. I was there, remember? I could feel myself leaving my body.”

  He looked at me quizzically. “Are you sure that's what you felt? Or did you actually feel very, very sleepy? Unnaturally sleepy?”

  I narrowed my gaze at him. He had me, there. I couldn't give him an answer because now I was filled with doubts. And I remembered what Jimmy had said weeks ago. He hadn't believed Parker was ever going to hurt me.

  I decided to change the topic.

  “Who is Lillianna?” I demanded.

  “Lillianna Goodwin. She is a Dark witch of the highest power. Her soul lingers here, somewhere.” He scanned the earth around me briefly before allowing his gaze to return to mine. “She was killed centuries ago, burned at the stake for witchcraft. My coven believed that I could return her to life with necromancy. They wanted her to rejoin the land of the living so that, with their combined power, they could gain control of all the Dark covens in America.”

  I was dumbfounded. “Why would they want to control all the covens?” I asked.

  “Power,” he said simply. “The more Dark power they could invoke, the more they would be able to wipe out the Light.”

  “They're trying to destroy witches of the Light?”

  “No,” he said painfully, “Not just witches. Anyone who is connected to the Light. That means you. And Jimmy. Your family. Anyone who has a pure soul.”

  My head swam as I took this news. The Dark of Marion was much more dangerous than I had ever imagined.

  He took a step forward, and I raised a hand to stop him.

  “Please don't come any closer,” I warned. “Just because you're giving me this information doesn't mean I trust you.”

  His black eyes stared at me in defeat, and he nodded.

  “Of course not,” he whispered. “I know it's too late, but I'm so sorry, Rosalind. For everything.”

  I considered his words for a long moment. Yes, it was too late. But at the same time I couldn't help but feel my heart go out to him. He almost looked like a corpse, and the way he kept searching the land around us indicated he was afraid of what was out there.

  I realized I was witnessing something I never thought possible.

  Parker had been broken.

  His image faded again and I thought he might disappear completely this time. Without thinking, I shouted out, “Wait!”

  He flickered back into an almost-solid form.

  “Yes?” He asked, and I grimaced at how gravelly the word sounded in my ears.

  “How did Jimmy end up in your body?” I asked, noting the desperate tone in my voice.

  He sighed. “I was dying after Devon blasted me with her magic. I had been weakened already trying to spell you into sleep and trying to convince the others that I was performing the proper incantation to raise Lillianna.” He lowered his head, contemplating his next words. When he lifted his eyes to mine again, I could see a tiny spark of his true turquoise color in the center of the black.

  It was as if he was returning to his true self for a small second.

  “My spirit hovered there, above my body for just an instant. I looked down at myself, ashamed of what I had become because of my mother. I didn't want my final act of life to be for nothing.” He swallowed and peered off into the distance, then said, “Jimmy was about to step into the white light, which I knew would mean he'd be separated from you forever. I saw you crying, your heart breaking as you watched him leave you. I knew in that final moment what I had to do.”

  Pausing, he searched my face with an intensity that could not be described.

  “I used the necromancy power to send his spirit into my body. I was trying to save him, Roz. For you.”

  ***

  I flew back into the present with a startle and a gasp.

  Searching anxiously around me in disorientation, I saw my workstation, my backyard, the deck chair, and Tobias watching me closely.

  I was back from behind the veil.

  Breathing rapidly, I tried to get my bearings, but all I could think of was the one thing that I had been unprepared for.

  Parker had saved Jimmy. For me.

  Why?

  Tobias approached me slowly, his eyes guarded and glowing in the light.

  “What was that all about?” I demanded. “Why was I supposed to have seen all that?”

  Tobias came closer until he was against my leg, and rubbed his side into me. I felt a soft purr come from his little body.

  I sighed. Leaning down, I stroked his silky fur for a moment.

  “You can't talk to me now, can you?” I asked. “You can only talk to me when we're… what… behind the veil? Or, on a different plane?”

  He gave a quick nod of his head.

  I sighed again.

  “Thank you Tobias,” I said in gratitude as I continued to pet him, “for making sure I didn't get trapped there.”

  He gave me another nod of acknowledgement, flicked his tail, and wandered off.

  I lowered myself back into the deck chair, my body exhaling in relief that I was home. I was shocked that I had projected myself while awake. As far as I could remember, that hadn't happened to me before.

  I took deep breaths to slow my heart rate and after a few minutes, I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out my phone. The text I typed out was short, and I sent it to my select group of supernaturals. Well, supernaturals and Odie.

  Me: Emergency meeting tomorrow. Not coffee shop. New info to give.

  Immediately, three replies chimed.

  Odie: I'm in! Where and when?

  Devon: What info?

  Nicole: The bookstore.
1pm.

  I sent back a reply.

  Me: I can't go to the bookstore. I promised Bonnie.

  Devon: What kind of info do you have Roz?

  Me: Will share tomorrow. Need someplace private.

  Odie: How about Will’s? His parents are out of town all weekend.

  Me: But Will is going to be there. That's not private.

  Odie: WTH? He's my boyfriend. He already knows all about this stuff. He's cool, remember?

  I sighed. Of course Odie would have blabbed about all the magic and craziness to her boyfriend. I couldn't blame her. Sometimes it was necessary to talk to someone who wasn't involved in it all.

  Me: Ok. Will’s house. 1pm. What's the address?

  She sent back his address and the others began to text back, all confirming they'd be there. All of them, except Jimmy.

  Why aren't you answering? I wondered.

  Exiting from the message thread, I tapped on his icon and called his number directly.

  Voicemail.

  I hung up, not leaving a message.

  I looked at the time, realizing the family would be home soon and began to clean up the deck. Once my art supplies had been put away and I was back in the house, I called him again.

  Voicemail. Again. This time I left a message.

  “It's me,” I said anxiously, “Where are you? You have to call me back as soon as you get this, please, Jimmy. I love you.”

  I ended the call and looked around the living room, watching the lights of Bonnie’s hippie van shine through the kitchen window as my family pulled up to the house.

  I looked back down at my phone and tried to ward off the fear that inevitably crept up my spine.

  “Where are you?” I whispered.

  Chapter 34

  ~Jimmy~

  Prudence had struck. Again.

  Things had been going so great for me these past few weeks. Roz and I were together, and even if we had to suffer the attention of Elizabeth Tate during school, my girl handled it with class. She never got angry. She never made a scene. She was understanding beyond words.

  Once in awhile Roz would show up in my bedroom, in the dead of night. I could always tell whenever she'd appear. I'd be sound asleep in my bed and then a soft charge of electricity, almost like static cling, would nudge me awake. And there she would be, standing beside my bed, watching me, her sleepy eyes full of love and something more.

  Desire.

  She desired me, greatly. Just as I desired her.

  But, I wasn't willing to take it too far. Not yet. As far as I was concerned, we had all the time in the world to give in to our physical urges, not to mention she was still only fifteen, at least for a couple more weeks. As much as I loved her, cherished her, wanted her, I didn't want to rush it.

  It was torture. But I knew someday it would be worth it. She was worth it.

  Her body grew into a combination of both lush and lean, hard and soft, as she continued to do her exercise routines with Mitch. She lost whatever baby fat she'd had, and her curves became virtual dynamite. She was oblivious of the affect she had on the male species, but I was alright with that. I noticed a million guys at school always drooling over her, slobbering on themselves like a bunch of preschoolers with a shiny new toy. But she had no idea.

  That was fine with me. Knowing her aptitude to go unnoticed in the past, I believed she'd revert back to the introverted girl she had once been, if she was aware of how the guys at school watched her. I didn't want that for her. She was growing, maturing, and blossoming into an amazing young woman. It was exhilarating to watch her evolve. I didn't want her to go backwards. Only to keep moving forward.

  She had a newfound confidence in herself, and it made her even more beautiful, if that was possible. It seemed like as she neared her sixteenth birthday, she was undergoing a transformation that was more than physical. It was spiritual, soulful. Her heart grew bigger and bigger each day, as well as her inner strength.

  That Friday after school, I had been sitting peacefully in my room, reading Moby Dick and listening to the soft sounds of Buddy Holly from the oldies music channel. I'd had no plans for that evening, as I knew Friday nights belonged to Prudence. She always enjoyed starting off the weekends with a magic session.

  I was thankful that the forgetting spells worked on her, because it meant I could lash out and defend myself when necessary, and she'd have no memory of it. I never counted on the fact that someday she'd notice the holes in her memory, and would do something about it.

  My phone had been sitting on my nightstand when I heard a text come in. I reached out to pick it up and before I knew what was happening, Prudence was there, snatching the phone before I could.

  I looked at her angrily as she tapped the screen, and read the text.

  “Emergency meeting tomorrow. Not coffee shop. New info to give.”

  My blood ran cold as I realized it was a text from either Roz, Nicole, or The Pastels. I'd had the insight not to add their names to my contacts, so only their numbers showed up. I didn't want to take the chance of Prudence having my phone someday and seeing that I was in contact with Roz or anyone from The Light coven. It'd been difficult memorizing all their phone numbers, but now I knew with just a glance who was texting or calling me.

  Prudence looked coldly at me. “Who is this message from?”

  I shrugged, playing dumb. “I don't know. Who does it say it's from?”

  She raised an eyebrow at me. “It doesn’t say who. That’s why I’m asking.”

  “Then there's your answer,” I said and forced my eyes back to the pages of my book, trying to dismiss her so she would leave and I could look at my message. “It’s probably a wrong number.”

  Just then a slew of chimes buzzed, indicating more incoming texts.

  She held my phone before her and read through the messages silently. I wished I knew what they said, but I felt it was best to feign indifference.

  “You will tell me who these messages are from right now, Jimmy,” she said. Her voice was ice.

  I looked her in the eye. “I told you, I don't know.”

  Another chime sounded. “Ah, this is interesting. Someone isn’t allowed to go to the bookstore?” My heart stuttered. I knew that would be Roz. “Ahh, oh my yes,” she began to laugh wickedly, “That silly little bookstore where the Light witches congregate! Oh my word, Jimmy, you have gotten yourself in deep, haven't you?”

  I tried to sound confident as I replied, “I don't know what you're talking about.”

  Staring at me, she passed a hand over the screen of my phone and said a single word: “Reveal.”

  My nerve endings tingled and froze as I realized in an instant what she'd done: A revealing spell, to discover the names belonging to the phone numbers.

  Looking down at the screen, she smirked, then turned it to me so I could see.

  Listed there, one by one, were the names of the ones I'd come to know and love in recent weeks, as well as the name of the one I'd loved forever.

  My blood boiled and I saw red.

  Without thinking, my hand shot out and sent an invisible wave through the air, hitting her square in the chest. She dropped the phone with a cry and crumpled to the floor in a lifeless heap.

  Gasping at what I'd done, I could only stare at her. The woman was evil and deserving of it, but what scared me was how easy it had been to strike her down. I hadn't thought about it, I'd just done it.

  She didn't move. Not an inch.

  Terrified that I'd killed her, I stood from the bed and leaned over her, prodding her shoulder with my finger.

  “Prudence?” I whispered. “Oh my god. Prudence?”

  In a flash of red and black smoke, she flew up into the air above me, catching me off guard.

  “I knew you had the power!” She screamed. Her face was distorted and full of fury as she hovered near the ceiling, her hands stretching out from her sides. “You will be sorry you ever crossed me, James Dean Matheson!”

  I gazed up at her
in horror. Throwing my hand out, I quickly spoke the word that would invoke the forgetting spell.

  “Obliviscor!”

  My pulse of magic moved toward her in a small shimmer of yellow light, but it never touched her. The burst of magic simply fell to the floor in a shower of gold dust before it could reach her.

  She grinned at me. “That’s my spell.” she said. “I’m immune to your power now, son.”

  The last thing I heard was her maniacal laughter as a blast of red fire and smoke came hurtling at me. And then, blessed darkness.

  Chapter 35

  ~Roz~

  I spent the better part of the night agonizing over why Jimmy hadn't answered my text, and then just as I had finished getting ready for bed, my phone buzzed.

  Jimmy: Sorry I missed your call.

  Relief filled my soul as I saw the words on my screen.

  Me: It's ok! I was worried about you.

  Jimmy: No need to worry. All is fine.

  Me: Were you out earlier? Or was Prudence putting you through another one of her sessions?

  He didn't reply right away. It took five minutes for him to answer, and when he did, it was a punch to the gut.

  Jimmy: I was at Elizabeth’s house.

  What?!

  He was where? Surely I read that wrong. But each time I read and reread the text, it always said the same thing. He had gone to Elizabeth’s house. My heart plummeted.

  Me: Why did you go to her house?

  Jimmy: No reason. She asked me to come over, so I did.

  Angry tears filled my eyes. What the actual hell? I stared at his words over and over, and before I knew it, so much time had passed that he'd sent another message.

  Jimmy: K, I'm going to bed now. She wore me out ;) Have a great night.

  I gasped. She wore him out? And since when did he use a wink emoticon? How could he be so nonchalant about this? Didn't he have something more to say? Where was the usual, “I love you earth angel,” he always ended a late night text conversation with? Why was he doing this?