Burning

by Carrillo, K. D.

  "Sit," Grey ordered, gesturing to the couch.

  Anita sat on Dean's lap. When he had everyone’s attention, he continued.

  "When we picked up Nik in Vegas, he attracted a small crowd. One man in the crowd seemed to be paying more attention that the others. He also remained longer than everyone else. We took precautions and hurried all of you out of Vegas after the wedding. We thought we lost our tail when we left Nevada until you showed me this picture. This was the man from the crowd."

  Finn pulled me closer to his side, sheltering and protecting me from unseen threats. "Do you think it is a coincidence that Chloë and I are supposed to be in his afternoon bio class?"

  "If he has Nik, he might have been looking for you. Did either of you sign up for biology?" Grey asked, looking at Finn and me.

  I looked at Finn, and he shook his head. "I didn't sign up for it. Anita and I were set to take geology together. I thought it was your science credit," I said to Finn.

  Cooper walked back in the room in time to overhear the end of our discussion. "I think someone added the class at the last minute because you would either go to the class or at the very least show up to drop the class. No matter what, you had to meet with the professor at least once. This has to mean they have Nik."

  Anita sat up straighter. Tension rolled off of her in waves. I probably would have felt the same way if I hadn’t been so exhausted. "What did my father say?"

  The air started to crackle, and tiny, gold sparks flashed until they coalesced, revealing Carlos, who was now standing in the center of the living room.

  Cooper gestured toward Carlos. "Ask him yourself."

  Carlos bowed theatrically. "Guess who is the newest Spanish professor at Central Washington University?"

  Anita ran over and hugged her dad. "I'm guessing, since you are here, the answer is obvious."

  Carlos's gaze focused in on Finn and me. "You were right, Grey. They don't look well. The ceremony must be completed right away." He turned to speak to Bridgett, something the rest of us hadn't done since Vegas. "You must carry out the ritual tonight."

  Bridgett shook her head vigorously. "No. I won't be a part of this. If you want me to break the bond, I'll do that, but I won't tie them together."

  "If you are holding on to the belief you and I will be together someday, let it go. I'd rather die partially bonded to Chloë than ever be with you," Finn spit out.

  Bridgett gasped. "You'd do that? You would die for her?"

  "Yes." He looked at me with love and sadness in his eyes. "But I would not condemn her to die for loving me. I couldn't live with that."

  "Well, I can't live without you. We will have to find someone else."

  Finn stood up and reached out his hand. "C’mon. I'm ready to go to sleep. Let's go to our room." He glanced at Bridgett when he said it, and we slowly made our way upstairs.

  We fell onto his bed. I don't know why we always ended up in his room. Mine was equally as nice, though a little on the girly side. Finn seemed to have an alpha reaction to having me in "his bed."

  I grabbed his phone off his nightstand and handed it to him. "Call your parents. One of them can do the ritual."

  He selected his father's number, and it went straight to voicemail. His mother's did the same thing.

  Anita burst in the room nearly as soon as he ended the call. "We can't get ahold of your parents. My father tried a few other elves he knows, and everyone's phones goes straight to voicemail. Bridgett chose that as the perfect time to tell us that the annual elfin gathering is under way and all elves except for the two of you are in the elfin realm."

  Aside from the afterlife, nearly all sentient creatures existed in the world. We referred to the differences as normal and supernatural, but the truth was that there was only one world. Humans didn't have knowledge of the entire thing, and it was their ignorance alone that divided our parallel existences.

  There were spaces in the world where time and space existed in a fluid and malleable form. One of these spaces was controlled by the elves. It was like the inside of a bubble, still a part of the world around it but disconnected at the same time. The only magic that could access this fold in space belonged to elves.

  "I can't be away from Chloë long enough to go in and contact my parents. I think it is safe to assume that Bridgett won't be of any help to us either. Did she at least say when they would return?"

  "Not at first, but then my fangs slid out. Dean and Grey rushed to hold me back, but Grey told her he would let me go if she didn't answer the question. They will be gone for another week. I don't like this at all."

  "I don't either," Carlos stated from the doorway. "Sorry to intrude, but I saw my daughter blur toward this direction. That is definitely going to take some getting used to. Anyway, I don't want the two of you to spend a moment apart longer than to relieve bodily functions. I promise we will figure this out."

  Alone again, I turned in Finn's arms to face him. I stroked his cheek and ran my fingers through his hair. "We will figure this out. We didn't go through last year only to lose each other like this. I know you're worried about me, but I'm strong. I can survive your freaky love magic."

  He cocked his eyebrow at me. His blue eyes glowed dimly. "Freaky love magic? Come closer and I'll show you some freaky love magic."

  I squealed when he started tickling me. Not exactly the moves I’d thought he was going to unleash, but his playfulness lightened my mood.

  Dean

  "I want you to understand something," I said, addressing Bridgett as soon as Anita left the room. "I held Anita back, not because I care if any harm comes to you, but because I didn't want her to live with the guilt of killing you. But remember this: if any harm comes to Finn and Chloë because you refused to help, you won't have to worry about Anita. I will rip your throat out myself."

  Grey had an iron grip on my shoulder and pulled me back. "Control your beast, Dean."

  I glanced at the hall mirror and realized that my eyes had become rounder and distinctly feline. I nodded and stalked out of the room.

  Anita came back down the stairs after a few minutes. I was pacing back and forth. I felt caged, trapped, and ready to attack.

  "Let's take a walk outside," I said when I sensed her behind me. My tension eased when we reached the trees at the edge of the property. "I hate not being able to do anything. I feel like I'm watching my best friend die and there isn't a thing I can do to stop it."

  Anita leaned into my back, offering me comfort. "I feel the same way. I'm really scared. Chloë looks horrible. She's lost weight, and she really couldn't afford to in the first place. Her complexion looks sallow, and she's tired all the time. I'm afraid they don't have a week to wait for someone to return from their gathering."

  I turned around and wrapped my arms around her. I couldn't help Finn or Chloë, but I could soothe Anita.

  "You are amazing. We are all lucky to have you. I don't know what I did to deserve someone as perfect as you are," Anita praised.

  "I'm far from perfect. True, I don't have a traumatic past. My parents are wonderful people, and I've always felt loved, but I do have a temper. I doubt if you had known me in high school you would have thought I was perfect."

  Anita gave me a skeptical look. I continued to explain. "When I became a teenager, my parents had a difficult time controlling me. I hated being different than the other kids at school. I wanted to have sleepovers and play sports like the other guys my age, but I was never allowed. My strength and speed would have been too noticeable during competitions. I used to transform sometimes in my sleep, so obviously I couldn't have anyone over.

  "The feeling of alienation built in me until I lashed out at people I envied. I only hung out with the party crowd. The kids had good grades and stayed out of trouble played sports. I pounded on the quarterback, the captains of the soccer, baseball, and basketball teams, which left me few options other than the stoners. I didn't do drugs, but I drank and smoked plenty."

  I stroked her hair
and trusted that she wouldn't judge the rest I had to say. "Obviously I didn't sleep around. Not because of my morals, but because I didn't want to end up stuck with some chick who looked better while I was drunk. I did make out with a lot of girls. I took it as far as I could without risking bonding with any of them.

  "Cooper was the one to help me find control. Actually, he hunted me down one day and beat my ass. I deserved it. Believe me. Plus, it established his dominance. I try not to let my animal side control me, but there are elements that are part of my personality. I learned control and focus from Cooper." I smiled at the memory.

  "This thing with Finn and Chloë... I feel out of control. I feel enraged for the first time in about two years. I threatened to kill Bridgett a few minutes ago, and I meant it. Grey had to hold me back. I haven't been held back since Cooper beat it out of me."

  I risked looking at Anita to see if I had lost her respect. I had not expected her to be smiling at me the way she was.

  "You aren't perfect."

  "Why does it sound like a compliment?" I was very confused.

  "Because I feel more normal. I love you so much, but it's exhausting trying to keep up with the model of perfect behavior. I let my temper out to play way too often, and now I know I can control it. I love you more for being imperfect than I loved you when I thought you were perfect."

  I tapped the end of her nose. "You are an extremely confusing woman, but I wouldn't change a thing about you. Not even your temper."

  "I want to go back to what you said about the other women. When did you decide you wanted to wait until marriage?"

  I shifted my weight from foot to foot scratched the back of my head. "About five minutes after I met you."

  "What?" she nearly shrieked. "Were you just trying to torture me?"

  I fought back a laugh, but it wasn't actually funny. I’d sensed her defensiveness from the beginning. I’d known there were wounds buried inside her, and I’d wanted to be the one to comfort her. "I didn't know what you had been through, but I could see that you were guarding yourself. After I talked to you, I wanted to talk to you more. Believe me, you successfully seduced me over and over again. If I hadn't felt that earning your trust was crucial, I would have given in immediately. I've never wanted anyone the way I wanted you. The way I still want you."

  I stared into her eyes so I could be sure she heard every word I was about to say. "When we first started seeing each other, I knew you could give yourself to me without feeling it. After I knew you loved me, I still believed you would hold yourself back. I needed you to take that step, to give me your heart completely and trust me with your future. I knew, once you had, that you were mine. I didn't want only your body, so I forced us both to wait until I had all of you."

  She pursed her lips and her eyes narrowed. I braced myself for the impact of her wrath, but instead, she smiled. "For a nice boy, you're pretty calculating. I'm impressed. I guess I should have known you were a bit naughty after our make-out session in the library."

  I playfully tugged on her hair. "I was playing for keeps. Now that we've established I'm not the goody-goody you all seem to believe I am, I have a question for you. How do you feel about sex outside?"

  Her eyes started to glow, a sure sign that she was interested in my suggestion. "I really, really like your bad boy side."

  I grabbed her hands and started walking backwards into the trees. "Follow me deeper into the woods and I will show you more of it."

  Chapter Nine

  Now You See Me

  Grey

  Carlos came by my place the next day before he taught his first class. I knew he wanted to talk without the rest of the coven. Even Cooper was too young and inexperienced to reveal too much to.

  "How did you manage to become the new Spanish professor after the quarter had already begun?" I asked Carlos.

  "It is more of a professorial exchange. The regular Spanish professor was given an all-expenses-paid plus salary position at a private European university for this academic year," he answered conspiratorially.

  "He's teaching the Aware at the Council's university," I said, stating the obvious.

  It was brilliant, really. We needed to place a Watcher on the staff to investigate Dr. Tuttle. Cooper was too young to teach. I couldn't exactly teach classes during the day. I don't think students would respond well to their teacher developing a mysterious burn and bleeding out of every visible orifice. We still couldn't reach Hans and Eliana, Finn's parents, due to the elf gathering. Carlos was the obvious choice.

  "A member of the Aware with enhanced computer skills accessed the school’s server and changed Finn and Chloë's schedules. They now have Spanish I with me instead of biology. We have to use all of our resources on this, Grey, because until we can find someone to perform the bonding ceremony, I don't think they are going to be too much help. I'm looking at ways to fix it quickly," Carlos explained.

  "Without them, this coven is vulnerable,” he continued, “and Marguerite is too stubborn to allow another coven to assist them. She feels the Du Lac position is weak after her daughter's betrayal and her brother's scheming for control. Now that Nik has disappeared, her brother is more vocal about resuming supernatural control over the entire world."

  He exhaled forcefully. "This is a political nightmare. As much as I disagree with Marguerite's parenting decisions, I can see her overall agenda. If Gustavo were to gain control over the Council, not only would our existence be exposed to humans, but also everyone in the Du Lac camp would be persecuted. That includes every current member of the Council, the Watchers, and all of our children."

  He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I believe exposure to humans would result in a global war. Humans now possess technology they didn't have during the Inquisition, and look how much damage they did without it. Not only would we have to fight humans, but also every supernatural race would turn against each other."

  I slumped down in my chair. "This is worse than I thought. Doesn't it feel like it's always coming at us from all sides? When do you think this will be over?" Suddenly, I felt each of my one thousand and some odd years. Until recently, I hadn't had anyone besides myself to worry about. Now, I had Anita, who was like a little sister. Dean, Cooper, and even Finn were becoming good friends. Chloë would always be special to me in an indefinable way. And Leah was fast becoming an important part of not just my life, but of me. Worrying about other people was tiring.

  "I think we have a few battles before we can ride off into the sunset," Carlos predicted.

  I hung my head. "I was afraid you were going to say something like that."

  "I'm sorry, Grey. I shouldn't have dropped all of this on you during the daytime. You need rest. This situation is wearing on all of us. Another teenager was murdered in Nevada in a small town near the Idaho border. They weren't even a member of the aware, only a practicing Wiccan."

  "The hysteria is spreading. It's the return of the witch hunts," I stated disappointedly.

  Society was supposed to be advanced now. It was supposed to be past the time when paranoia reigned and logic was discarded.

  "We need to stop the Auto-da-fé before we have another Salem situation," Carlos agreed. "I called Finn and told him about the schedule change. If I can't locate any elves that can help with the ritual by the end of the day, I am going to call Eli Soaring Eagle for advice. The man is older than, well, everything. He must have some idea," he said. Then he grabbed his messenger bag and teleported to the university.

  I fell into a fitful sleep. My adrenaline was pumping, but I couldn't see an immediate threat. My body refused to agree and remained ready to fight. A few hours later, just as the sun was setting, I was awoken by a loud banging on my door.

  I opened the front door and was slightly nauseated by the thin line of crimson on the horizon, but I wasn't given much time to adjust. Cooper stood on the porch, bent over, with his hands resting on his thighs. He was frantic and out of breath.

  "Grab weapons. We have an emergency
."

  Anita

  I ran to the Student Union to meet with Dean and hopefully Chloë too. If anyone saw me, I would have some serious damage control to do, because I was running so fast that I was barely even a blur. "Please be there, please, please," I chanted in my head. I made it to the building in about a second, but even that amount of time felt too long.

  Dean sat at our usual table. I could tell by his posture that he was on alert, and he was staring at his phone. I walked over to him and dropped Chloë's bag on the table. A grave look passed over his face.

  "Finn isn't answering his phone or responding to any texts," he said with a clenched jaw.

  I nodded to the bag. "I was supposed to meet Chloë and Finn by the language and lit building to find out how Spanish went with my dad. She wasn't there. I picked up her scent and followed it towards the science building. I found her bag lying in the grass like it was dropped suddenly. Stuff was spilling out of it, and it has a rip in the strap like someone tried to pull it off of her."

  "Was Finn's bag anywhere near by?" Dean asked.

  I shook my head. If someone had grabbed Chloë and not Finn, they might as well kill them because they will die if they are apart for too long. As much as I hated to hope that they were both missing, I would rather that whoever had taken her had taken them both. There was no way Chloë would have left her bag and failed to meet up with me.

  "We need to get back to the house. Before we panic, let's make sure one of them didn't get sick and rush home. Chloë has been fainting lately," Dean theorized.

  I had started to gather the things still spilling out of Chloë's bag just before an obnoxious voice stopped me.

  "Hey, Dean," Cynthia purred.

  I swear that girl was clueless. Dean was no more interested in her than he was in a potted plant, and he showed it too. Yet she continued to flirt shamelessly. We both ignored her and continued gathering our things.