Alix (The Coven's Grove Chronicles #1)

by Virginia Hunter

  “She’s close,” Miranda whispered. Her heart continued to race, and hope surged. The summoning spell! It worked!

  The young, purple haired woman went silent, and peered around. “Hello?” she asked with a frown.

  Miranda held her breath. Did she just hear me?

  “That was weird,” the young woman said with a shiver. “I must be more tired than I thought. I need some caffeine in a bad way.”

  Miranda gazed in disbelief. She really had no idea what was possible within a vision. But before she could experiment further, the purple haired girl exited off of 35 onto 19th street, and the vision abruptly stopped.

  Miranda scrambled to her feet, as her sight returned, and then rushed to the front door. She knew where the girl was, roughly anyway, and that she had to reach her. It must be the spell, she thought while stepping out into the cold. It’s driving me toward her. She quickly stripped out of her clothes, and tied them together with her belt.

  All witches had an innate power. Something only they could do that was above and beyond the incantations that any witch could perform. There was one exception to this rule however: the matriarch of a coven could possess more than just a single, inborn power. She could inherit the abilities of all the witches in her coven while retaining her own.

  Miranda used one of those inherited abilities now as she shapeshifted into a golden-headed eagle. She hopped onto the pile of folded clothing. Her clawed feet clamped around the belt, as she flapped her wings, and took off into the night sky.

  The city lights spread out below. Highway 35 was easy enough to find, as it glowed brightly, snaking its way north and south. Although 19th street was harder to find, once she saw the twinkling lights of the movie theatre, Miranda knew where to go.

  The purple-haired girl had exited 35 going east on 19th, away from the theatre. There was only one gas station in that direction close to the highway. That’s where Miranda would start looking.

  The highway stretched on, as twilight approached. They had been on the road all day, stopping to trade cars in Knoxville, Tennessee before noon. The salesman had been a real dick. He’d picked up on Alix’s urgency to be gone, and ended up tacking on an extra five hundred bucks for the “rush.” Alix had been tempted to tat a case of the crabs on the dude’s crotch, but decided against it. Other than getting the new wheels, the pair stopped only when they needed gas, switching drivers as they did. Troy had slept for the better part of the day, and currently snored lightly in the passenger seat.

  Alix tightened her grip on the steering wheel, as she pondered the loss of her friends in New York, Sam’s tragic demise, and her budding relationship with Troy. So much had happened within the span of a couple of days, and Alix was having trouble believing it was even real.

  Tears welled, blurring Alix’s vision. She sobbed quietly, as she wiped her eyes with the back of her coat sleeve. Dammit Sam, she thought in frustration. It should have been me. She felt as if her soul was being torn to pieces. Everything was gone. All of the friendships she had built, even the stupid car, had been destroyed. Her situation always seemed to come out with the same results: alone and homeless. She had the sinking feeling that people like her didn’t get homes or family. Stop it. She clenched her teeth in anger. She knew it was pointless to beat herself up about what had happened, but knowing didn’t make it any easier, or help her feel any better. Her friends were dead, and there was nothing she could do about it.

  Alix glanced at the passenger seat. A trickle of hope seeped through the gloom, and she smiled despite her tears. At least part of her recurring hopeless scenario had proven false. She wasn’t alone. Seeing Troy there, in that moment, made Alix realize that he could be the man she’d been hoping for all her life. He was caring, attractive, and strong. Maybe not such a great judge of character, hanging out with her an’ all, but his other traits more than made up for that. She couldn’t believe he was still here, helping her—No, more than just helping. He was saving her.

  She focused on the road again. The sun had dropped below the horizon, painting the sky with layers of golden-orange, magenta, and deep blue. The headlights stood out against the growing darkness, leading the way to a new home, or so Alix hoped. Maybe Mexico, she thought. That clear, blue water is callin’ my name. She had been wanting to travel south for the past few months now. Though “want” wasn’t really the right word. It was more like a yearning to be elsewhere, as if she were missing out on something. She just hadn’t found the time or money to make the trip. She had plenty of time now, and the money would workout somehow. Unfortunately, Troy’s relatives were in Oklahoma, so Cancun would have to wait a little longer.

  Another full day of driving had brought them well past the Oklahoma state line. They were currently driving through the middle of a suburb of Oklahoma City called. Moore. Alix had been talking to herself for the better part of an hour, when a tingling sensation set the hairs on the back of her neck on end. She couldn’t say what brought on the feeling, but it sure didn’t seem right.

  The hint of an indecipherable whisper echoed throughout the car.

  Alix clamped her mouth shut and glanced in the backseat. “Hello?”

  Nothing.

  What the hell? She shook her head. “I must be more tired than I thought. I need some caffeine in a bad way.” She looked down at the gas gauge, and it was looking pretty low. A gas station sign glowed yellow and red up above the street lights, providing the last excuse Alix needed to get off the highway.

  Troy jolted awake when the car came to a stop by the fuel pump. He rubbed his eyes groggily. “Where are we?”

  “Oklahoma,” Alix answered. “Also known as ‘the middle of nowhere’.”

  “Hey!” A chuckle bubbled out of Troy, as he stretched. “I use to live here remember?”

  “My sympathies go out to ya.”

  Troy yawed. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, just tired. You?”

  “Right as rain,” he answered. “Sleep does wonders.”

  “Good.” Alix nodded. “You hungry?”

  “You bet.” Troy gestured to the station/restaurant, as he handed her a couple of twenties. “Why don’t you pay for the gas, and get us a seat. I’ll take care of the pump.”

  Alix didn’t need to be told twice. She hopped out of the car, and headed for the double-glass doors. A gust of cold wind reddened her cheeks, urging her to quicken her pace. She hurried through the doors, and up to the counter. As she paid for the gas her eye caught a steaming pot of coffee brewing in the back. “I need two cups of coffee too.”

  Once she had the drinks, got some food, and found a booth, Alix wrapped her hands around the warm cup to let the heat soak into her chilled skin. The weather wasn’t as cold being this far south, but there was enough wind to cut through her clothing to make it seem far colder. She shivered, and took a sip while scanning the store.

  Overall, the place was pretty typical of a roadside quick-stop. Junk food and drinks on one side, ugly industrial seating on the other. Not many people were on the restaurant side, but a few lingered in the snack aisles.

  The doors opened with a gust of cold air, and a woman walked in that made Alix choke on her coffee. She was tall, and her long, auburn hair framed features so smooth and ethereal, that they didn’t seem real. Perhaps one of those sculptures from the history books she’d seen in Hank’s office had escaped, and decided to make a pit-stop in Moore, Oklahoma—The woman was that kind of beautiful. Her fiery brown eyes locked with Alix’s for a brief moment.

  Alix gulped. The woman seemed familiar, in what way she couldn’t say. But, there was something comforting about the way those brown eyes took her in, like a mother finally laying eyes on a child that had been lost.

  Troy came in the other door and slid into the bench-seat across from Alix, blocking her view of the beautiful woman. “We’re all filled up and ready to go.” He rubbed his hands together, and eyed the steaming cup of coffee, pretzel, and hot dog. “You really do care about me, don’t you?
”

  “I suppose,” Alix replied, snapping out of the weird woman crush she was experiencing. She smiled at Troy. “I owe you my life, twice over. The least I can do is get ya a hot cup of joe.”

  “Any time.” He took the cup in his hands, and took a few sips, “Much appreciated.”

  His words brought more warmth to her than a hundred mugs of coffee ever could. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you’re here,” she blurted. “Facing this thing alone... I don’t think I could do it.”

  Troy set his mug down, and placed a hand over hers. His touch tingled with that familiar warmth, despite having braved the harsh wind outside. “I get that. I know what being and feeling alone is like,”—he gripped her hand firmly—“I’m here for the long haul, don’t worry about that part. Just keep yourself alive, okay?”

  Alix nodded, and wiped the sudden moisture from her eyes. Yep, he’s the one, she thought with no more doubts. Troy was the one Alix had been waiting for. The guy she had been hoping for. No more broken boyfriends. Troy was fully functional, and with the added benefits from her power, he was pretty much invincible.

  She chuckled.

  “Well, I’m glad you’re taking life so seriously.” Troy gave her a wry grin.

  “It’s not that. I just...trust you, and I don’t even really know anything about you.”

  He leaned back with his cup, still grinning. “What would you like to know?”

  Alix looked down at her hands. “Everything,” she said softly. “But for now, I’ll settle for how many girlfriends you’ve had.”

  Troy almost spit coffee all over himself, and her. He coughed a few times before answering, “That’s fair, I suppose.” He wiped his ginger beard with a napkin. “I’d say twenty or so.”

  Alix gaped at him. “Oh my god. You’re such a whore.” It’s not that she was mad or anything, his answer just screamed “douchebag.” Twenty women was no small feat, and kind of made her feel a little inadequate, having only had a handful of boyfriends by comparison.

  Troy blinked, his eyes bloodshot from the coughing. Then he laughed, deep, and loud. He drew looks from the attendants, and a few of the customers. Alix couldn’t see if the mysterious beauty was watching, but could only assume that she was. He spread his hands out on the table, and continued to wheeze.

  Alix snorted in spite of herself, and started giggling as well. “What I meant to say was,” she managed. “Wow, you really get around.”

  Troy laughed even harder. Eventually he held up three fingers, as he tried to say something, but couldn’t through the laughter. “Three,” he finally gasped. “I’ve only had three.”

  “You jerk!” she swatted his hand. “I totally thought you were a manwhore.”

  “The look on your face...”

  “Shut up.” She grinned. He’d totally gotten her. Lesson learned, she would have to be smarter about how she got answers from him—And she would get answers. His trickery lightened the mood. A surge of hope lifted her spirits, strengthening her resolve that they would make it out of this mess.

  They finished off their dinner, and then Troy said, “We should get going.”

  “Yeah, but I gotta go to the ladies’ room first,” Alix replied.

  “You also need to reapply your tattoos,” Troy whispered. “Make ’em stronger if you can.”

  She nodded. “And yours too.”

  “Yep, but wait till we’re in the car for mine.” He glanced around. “Too many eyes.” Troy finished his coffee and got up. He paused, looking down at Alix when she didn’t follow.

  Alix was looking for the masterpiece of sculpted woman that had come in just before Troy, but didn’t see her anywhere. She could have sworn that the woman hadn’t left. I must be losing my freakin’ mind.

  “Hey,” Troy’s voice cut through her baffled thoughts. “What’s up?”

  Alix glanced up at him.

  His eyes scanned the room warily, while his powerful body tensed, ready to burst into action.

  “Nothing,” she said. “Just thought I saw something.”

  “What did you see?” he asked, continuing to look around the room.

  “The woman that came in before you,”—she pointed at the door—“She just vanished. I know I didn’t see her leave.”

  Troy’s gaze followed her pointing finger. “Babe. There wasn’t a woman at the door.”

  A chill went down Alix’s spine. “What do you mean?”

  “There was no one there when I came in,” Troy answered. “You sure you’re okay?”

  Alix got up. “Let me do my thing, and then let’s get the hell out of here.”

  Troy gave her a concerned look. “Okay,” he said slowly. “I’ll start the car.”

  She rushed to the bathroom, and assumed the hover position. After washing her hands, Alix imprinted herself again, picturing the thickest walls, the strongest steel, and the tallest mountains she could imagine. The petals of her purple flowered tat were broader than usual, with vines that sported thorns, similar to what Sam’s had been before she... Alix closed her eyes. “Keep it together, girl,” she said to herself, fighting back the tears that suddenly blurred her vision. She took a calming breath, checked herself in the mirror, and stepped out of the restroom.

  Alix quickly noticed that the service attendants were no longer chatting among themselves, and that the deep-fryer had ceased to boil in the kitchen. In fact, everything had gone eerily quiet. She peeked out of the little hallway where the bathrooms were stowed.

  The place looked as it had when she left, only minus all the people. All save for one. The woman who personified one of Michelangelo’s greatest creations leaned against the counter, staring at Alix with a small smile. “Hello,” she said. Her voice was deep, and as smooth as her skin.

  Alix’s nerves eased at the sound. “Hi,” she replied, waving stupidly. Jesus, have I always been this dumb? Alix jerked her hand down, and narrowed her eyes. “Do I know you?”

  “No, but I know a little bit about you,” the woman said. “My name is Miranda.” She stepped away from the counter, but didn’t come toward Alix.

  “What do you think you know about me?” Alix readied herself for trouble. Images of fire and lightning flashed in her mind. Where the hell is Troy?

  “I know that you have power beyond anything a normal person could hope to possess. I know what you are, even if you don’t.”

  Thoughts of Troy fled, as Alix looked at the woman in shock. “How?”

  Miranda took a few steps closer. “Because I’m like you. I have power, just as you do.”

  “Like me?”

  “Not the same, but alike,” Miranda said. “I seemed familiar to you, when you first walked in. And even now?”

  Alix couldn’t deny that the woman put her at ease. As if she were a long-lost friend or relative. “Yes, you do.”

  “That is my power. I can alter memory,” Miranda continued. “I placed a subtle imprint of myself in your mind, in hopes that you wouldn’t bolt when we spoke.”

  Alix’s stomach dropped. “Seriously”—anger crept into her voice—“You messed with my mind?!”

  Miranda held up her hands in surrender. “Not to harm. Just so we could talk.”

  “Well start talkin’ or get the hell out of my way.” Alix was getting tired of all the surprises, and she was pretty sure this chick was a wackjob.

  “There are more of us,” Miranda said quickly. “I have a sanctuary for those who are special like you and I. I’m here to offer you an invitation, to join my coven.”

  Coven? Alix thought perplexed. “That’s a vampire thing, isn’t it?”

  Miranda shook her head. “Witches.”

  At this point Alix was more than positive the train had left the cuckoo station. Granted, Alix’s gift/power was something she couldn’t fully wrap her head around. But, some hot broad at a filling station, spouting stuff about witches was too much for her to handle at the moment. “Look, I’m sure you’re nice and all, but I’m gonna have t
o pass on the whole witch-club-for-disturbed-women thing. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to be going...”

  The throbbing headache that had chased Alix across a multitude of states returned with the force of a sledgehammer. She winched, and put her hands to her temples. “Shit!” She went down to one knee, holding her skull together. The pain had never been so intense, and threatened to push her past the point of consciousness. Then the surge of pain vanished, as suddenly as it had appeared. Leaving Alix breathless, and on her knees.

  Miranda had stumbled back to the counter holding a hand to her temple as well. Her eyes were wide with surprise, as she looked at Alix. “Is something chasing the two of you?”

  Before Alix could answer, the front windows shattered from a thunderous explosion outside. Shards of glass pelted the two of them like hail from an ice storm. Bright light filled the room. A huge funnel of flame from the fuel pumps jetted up into the night sky. Miranda, and everything else in the convenience store, lit up with an orange glow.

  Alix scrambled to her feet, fear pulsing through her veins. “Troy!” She ran to the shattered doors.

  “Wait!” Miranda yelled, her auburn hair disheveled from the explosion.

  Alix ignored her, as she continued to run outside.

  Flames engulfed the parking lot, radiating skin-drying heat that could be felt from the doorway. Their car was a twisted hunk of burning metal. It sat some twenty yards from the fiery jets that were once fuel pumps. Three men stood between Alix, and the melting car. The shapes of long-barreled guns protruded from the outlines of their silhouettes. Circling the burning car was the scaly gorilla-beast, roaring in triumph.

  Alix clenched her teeth in rage. Enough of this shit. She had lost so much to these bastards, and now, possibly even Troy. Images of death and fire entered her mind. She tore her shirt open, and touched the exposed skin on her belly to imprint the thoughts of carnage. Black lines depicting heinous images of tortured souls traced along her body. If her pursuers were looking to cause pain and death, then that’s exactly what she would bring them.