Love Nip

by Mary Whitten

  I looked at his motionless chest. A single tear tumbled down over my nose and into the dirt. Once I could finally move I placed my hand on his chest. Closing my eyes, I thought as hard as I could for him to live. It was worth a try, there was no telling how many of the witches were now dead and I knew my attempt was over. I didn’t know what I was doing, thankfully I was too scared and hopeful not to be embarrassed over my actions. I thought about his blood rushing through his veins and into his heart. I could almost hear his heart beating. I imagined air rushing into his lungs and separating into his blood stream. A few minutes must have passed, I heard silence and I wasn’t sure if my hearing had gone or if I was alone. I opened my eyes, and stared directly into Ezra’s crystal blues.

  “Are you really alive?” I asked in disbelief.

  He responded with a smile. I was thankful my body started working at that moment, because I threw my body on top of his. The tears poured from my eyes onto his chest. I placed my ear over his heart and just listened as I cried.

  “I thought I had lost you forever,” I said between tears.

  He chuckled low and throaty. “I’m not that easy to get rid of.”

  I laughed. “Please don’t ever do that to me again.”

  “I’ll try not to.”

  I picked up my head and looked around, remembering that we were not alone. A few of the coven members were on the ground, bleeding but not dead. Dee-Dee stood beside Axle, staring in astonishment. Axle’s eyes were wet, he seemed happy and sad at the same time. I helped Ezra to his feet and held onto his arm. Axle walked up and hugged him tightly.

  “Dude, I’ve never been so happy to see you,” Axle said as a lone tear fell.

  “Thanks, man,” Ezra replied.

  Dee-Dee walked over and placed a hand on my arm. “You totally are a witch.”

  I chuckled, even though I wasn’t sure how it happened or if I really had anything to do with it.

  I heard someone clear their throat. I looked over at Hessley, knowing what was coming before he spoke.

  “This is all touching, but I really would like to get home before sunrise. I like to feed before bed,” he stated as he walked over. He grabbed my arm, pulling me away from Ezra.

  “Okay, can I at least say goodbye?” I asked as I snatched my arm back.

  He walked away and stood by his men. I slowly turned back to Ezra, Axle, and Dee-Dee. I grabbed Dee-Dee and pulled her in for a hug.

  “You don’t have to do this, there is still time to fight,” she stated into my hair.

  “He held his side of the deal so far, I can’t go back on my word,” I explained.

  “Well, at least try to call me or something,” she begged.

  “You know I will.”

  “I’m going to miss you,” she said as she started to cry.

  I smiled and turned to Ezra.

  “Em, what’s going on?” he asked.

  I sighed. He wouldn’t like this. “I made a deal with the devil in order to keep you all safe and to bring you back. I have to go and I don’t know for how long. Please don’t try anything. I would rather keep you safe than have you risk your life. You have a second … well, third chance at life now, please don’t waste it. Go back to Riley and be with her.”

  He pulled me into a hug. “I guess there is no talking you out of this?”

  I laughed quietly. “Just take care of Axle and Kimmy for me.”

  Finally I turned to Axle. The tears began to fall as our eyes met. He pulled me close.

  “You know this is not over, right?” he said into the top of my head. “I won’t give up trying to find you.”

  I smiled. The warmness from his body radiated through me. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”

  He lifted my face to his until we were inches away. “I love you, Emily.” He placed his lips on my own and kissed with passion I had never before felt. I ran my hands through his hair and pulled him in so tight, holding on with everything I had. When our lips parted I couldn’t let go.

  “I don’t want to leave you, but I want you to be safe. Please take care of Dee-Dee and Kimmy,” I cried out. I didn’t know how to respond to his confession but now wasn’t the time to think too much on it. I cared deeply for Axle, that was the truth, but did I love him? I wasn’t sure if I even knew what love was. I finally loosened my grip on Axle and turned to face Hessley.

  I walked over until his hand found my own. Hessley snapped his fingers, and his men started to walk along side of us through the forest. Once I could no longer feel Axle’s pain the sobs began. I knew it was annoying Hessley, but I didn’t care nor could I stop it. I followed them into a white car that was parked on the street. Hessley sat in the back next to me. I laid my face on the window; the coolness from the glass felt good against my skin.

  A deep, dark depression loomed over me. What I would have given to have just a few more minutes with Axle. I regretted not telling him how I felt. I was so confused, I wasn’t even sure if we were dating. Surely someone can’t love another person this quickly. The more I thought it over, the more I wanted to love Axle. He was my everything and losing him made me realize that I had deep feelings for him. If that was love or lust I wasn’t sure, but I did know that I wanted to be with him forever.

  I must have fallen asleep thinking it over, because I awoke to Hessley carrying me inside a large house. It was too dark to see exactly where we were or what the house looked like. I pushed against his chest and fell to the ground.

  “Fine, you want to be difficult suit yourself. You may as well give into this, you are mine now,” Hessley fussed, stepping over my body.

  I stood, dusted myself off, and followed them into the house. Rocko and Buster went separate ways, leaving Hessley and me alone. There was a lone couch in the middle of the room. Hessley plopped down on the couch, and a cloud of dust flew into the air. Hessley began to cough as he flapped his arms about, attempting to dispense the dust.

  “Sorry, we don’t get home much,” he apologized.

  “Whatever, can you just show me where I can sleep. I’m tired.” I wasn’t in the mood for chitchat with the vampire.

  He scoffed. After a moment of quiet he finally stood, brushing the dust from his pants. I followed him down a nearby hallway. He opened the first door we came to and moved aside so I could enter. I gave a heavy sigh and walked in, not knowing what to expect. I was surprised to see that I would have a roommate. A girl was asleep on the queen-sized bed. The room was dark, but I could make out her red curly hair that seemed as if it hadn’t been brushed in a while. Hessley flipped on the lights and I suddenly recognized the red head.

  “Maggie,” I breathed. I ran over to check on her. She didn’t seem hurt, but there were bite marks in her neck and up her arms.

  “You bastard, you’ve been feeding on her.” I glared at Hessley.

  He shrugged. “Better get used to it, sweetheart. You’re going to be dinner tomorrow.”

  Chills traveled down the length of my body. If he really thought he was going to drink my blood he had another thing coming. I would die before I let his nasty lips touch my skin. Hessley shut the door, leaving Maggie and me alone. I swept the tangled curls from her face.

  “It’s going to be okay, Maggie. I’ll get us out of here, I promise.” I didn’t feel very confident in my promise but I had to say it.

  “Who are you?” she croaked.

  “My name is Emily. I work for a special agency that protects supernatural people. I was working with your coven to find you. My guys will be working nonstop until they find us.”

  She laid her head back down and rolled, facing her back to me. “Just like you found me?”

  She had a point. It would be nearly impossible for Axle to find me. I unlaced my shoes and slid them off. They hit the floor and bounced under the bed. I lay with my back to Maggie. I had to hang on to every ounce of hope I had. If I gave up I wouldn’t survive long. I wanted nothing more than to be in my own bed in my own apartment. The tears crept out a
nd slid down my face one after the other. I fell asleep just before morning.

  A knock at the door woke me up. I stood up, feeling disorientated. I rubbed my eyes as I crossed the room to the door. Maggie was gone. I opened the door to find Rocko and Buster standing in the hallway. One carried a tray of food while the other carried a black backpack.

  “We got a few things from your place to make your stay more enjoyable.” Rocko smiled crookedly.

  I grabbed the backpack and threw it over my shoulder. After I took the tray from Buster I slammed the door in their face. I sat on the bed and devoured the food. It wasn’t the best tasting meal I had ever had, but I was so hungry cardboard would have tasted delicious to me. Once I finished I took the tray with me into the hallway. I decided to look around the house. It was a small farmhouse surrounded by land. There was a gravel road leading up to the house. I couldn’t see any civilization nearby. Once I realized I was in the middle of nowhere, my hope disappeared.

  “Did you sleep well?” Hessley asked.

  I turned to face him. “Where is Maggie?”

  He walked over to a small bar in the corner of the room. “I believe she is out with my men.” He poured three types of liquids into a silver mixer. After adding some ice he placed the lid back on the container and shook. He then took out two martini glasses and placed them on the counter.

  “Would you care for a drink?” he asked, filling his glass with the concoction.

  I shook my head; I had to stay clear-headed at all times if there was any chance of getting away. Axle would kill me if he busted in to save me and I was drunk. “What do you plan to do with me?” I feared his answer, but I had to know.

  He took a long sip of his drink and walked over to the couch, sitting down more gracefully than he had the night before. “I’m not exactly sure yet,” he answered and took another sip of his drink.

  “Then why even keep me here?” I asked. As long as he answered my questions, I would keep asking them.

  “Because, not only are you fun to look at, one day I will have a use for you,” he answered and finished his drink. He walked back over to the bar and poured the rest of the alcohol into his glass.

  “So let me go home and call me when you need me.” It sounded like I was kidding, but I was completely seriously.

  The face he gave me was the same one a mom gives to a small child that makes a cheesy joke. “It doesn’t work that way, Emily. You can’t be trusted, plus we made a deal and I held up my end of the bargain,” he said, reminding me of my friends I had left behind.

  “So what now, I just sit around all day waiting for you to come up with some spell you need?” I asked. I was done arguing for the moment. There was no way I would ever just give up completely, I would fight until my death to get back home.

  “One day you will be allowed to walk the grounds, but for now, there are other activities you can partake in,” he answered as he strolled closer to where I stood.

  “Such as?”

  He was but a foot away. I could smell the liquor on his breath as he spoke, “We have cable.” His eyebrows went up as he silently waited for me to argue.

  I walked over and plopped down on the sofa. The old, scratchy fabric irritated my skin. Once Hessley decided that the fight was over he disappeared. I looked around the small room where I would be spending most of my time while I stayed here. The walls were covered in wood panels all the way to the light tan archaic carpet. The longstanding curtains had seen more than I could possibly imagine. The TV was a box, weighing at least a hundred pounds. I laid my head back and sighed. I missed my cell phone, and my apartment, and … my boyfriend.

  It must have been sometime in the afternoon when Maggie strolled into the house. I say must have been because I was unable to find a single clock in the entire house. Maggie held multiple tan bags in her arms as she burst through the door.

  She gave me a questionable look. “You mind giving me a hand with these?”

  I realized I was still just sitting on the couch, watching her struggle. I stood quickly and took a few of the bags from her arms. After I followed her into the kitchen, I set the bags on the counter and we unloaded them together in silence. I didn’t know what to say. I felt depressed and dirty. When I had made the deal with the devil, I didn’t realize at the time what I was getting myself into. Even though the situation was dreadful, I didn’t regret my decision. Ezra was alive and that was enough payment for a lifetime in that house.

  “Do you want some lunch?” Maggie asked as she placed some canned vegetables in the cabinet.

  “Sure.”

  I helped her sort through the remaining groceries and put them away. She then took out some bread, jelly, and peanut butter. Taking out two plates, she placed two slices of bread on each. I watched as she carefully prepared the PB&J. I felt sad as I thought about the fact that watching her was the most exciting thing I had done all day.

  “So they let you come and go as you please?” I asked as she smothered peanut butter across the bread.

  “Yep,” she answered then looked up at me. “It wasn’t always like this though. At first it was sad and boring, but at least I had Charlotte.”

  Her comment confused me. “Charlotte? I thought you two hated each other?”

  She smiled. “We used to, but I guess being here brought us together. We became good friends.”

  “So why don’t you go home?” I asked curiously as I sat down across from her.

  “Like you, I made a deal with Hessley. If I don’t honor it then …” she trailed off with a sad look in her eyes, “… well, you know.”

  I nodded. I did know, all too well.

  “Have you had to do any spells for him?” I asked.

  She slid a plate across the counter. “Before Charlotte left, we tried doing a few spells. But nothing since then.”

  I dropped my sandwich back on my plate. She didn’t know that Charlotte was dead. A sick feeling rose within me. I was about to have to tell this girl that her friend was dead.

  “Maggie,” I stopped and thought carefully how to explain, “what was the deal you made with Hessley?”

  She took a bite of her sandwich and chewed slowly as she thought back. I could tell we shared the same feelings about striking a deal. “For starters, he had to free the coven. My friends and family would be safe, and Charlotte of course.”

  My heart raced; I knew what was coming, but I had to know. “What about Charlotte?”

  Maggie swallowed down her sandwich and smiled. “Her freedom from here.”

  I felt faint. It was as if a cold breeze passed over my body. I didn’t know if I was strong enough to tell this girl that the deal she made was broken. Tears filled my eyes as I said the awful words over and over in my head.

  “Emily, are you okay? What’s wrong?” she asked as she crossed over and stood next to me.

  Tears rolled down my face as I told her the grave news. “Maggie, my deal with Hessley was to leave the coven alone forever.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  I shook my head, unable to tell her there was more. “He never gave them their freedom.”

  She thought for a second. “That lying son of a—”

  “There’s more,” I interrupted.

  “Okay,” she said as she sat down next to me.

  “Charlotte is dead,” I explained.

  Her soul was crushed. The perky girl went from happy to hopeless within seconds. Her eyes stayed dry as she thought it over in her head. “How?”

  “When we found her, she was dead. She had a vampire bite mark on her neck.”

  Maggie clenched the table until it snapped under her hand. She stood and began to walk out.

  “Maggie, I’m so sorry,” I called out to her as she left.

  ****

  I decided to give Maggie the rest of the afternoon in peace. After hearing the traumatic news she locked herself away in our room. I sat in the living room, watching sitcoms until nightfall. After turning the TV off, I walked ov
er to the door and listened. I didn’t hear any sounds so I knocked on the door. I heard her scramble around in the room and then it sounded as if a piece of furniture was knocked over.

  “Maggie?” I called out. “Are you okay?”

  The door suddenly swung open and there stood Maggie, cheerful as ever. The sight of the happy girl caught me by surprise.

  “What’s going on, are you okay?” I asked.

  She looked around in the hallway before pulling me into the room. I thought that maybe she had cracked. There were candles lit all around the room. On the other side of the bed was a large, white circle with a giant book placed directly in the center.

  “Maggie?” I felt confused. I expected her to be crying her eyes out, not reading on the floor with dim lighting.

  “My momma didn’t raise me to get mad,” she started with an evil gleam in her eye, “she taught me to get even.”

  I laughed a slightly confused and worried chuckle. Had she gone mad? “And how exactly do you expect to get even with a vampire?”

  She took my hand and led me into her circle. After being seated, she patted the floor next to her. I sat down next to her and waited. I hoped whatever she had planned wouldn’t take long, the hardwood floor felt uncomfortable beneath my butt.

  “The last time Hessley needed a spell he made the mistake of leaving this spell book behind.” She smiled, flipping through the pages of the book.

  “What spell are you thinking about doing?” I asked, intrigued.

  “I’m not sure yet. The problem is that most spells work only on the living. Since Hessley and his men are dead, it’s going to be more complicated.” She silently read a spell on the paper with careful thought.

  A brilliant thought crossed my mind and it was difficult to contain my excitement. “I have an idea.”

  Chapter Ten

  After finalizing our plan, we slept horribly. We whispered all night with nerves on full throttle. The more we went over our strategy the more we felt confident that it would work. It had to work. I fell asleep at about three in the morning, and woke a few short hours later. Surprisingly enough, I felt full of energy and ready to face the day. After taking a quick shower, I searched for Maggie. I found her in the kitchen making breakfast.