Paranormal Magic (Shades of Prey Book 1)

by Margo Bond Collins

  Chapter 12

  Grandmother

  Quickly redirecting her thoughts, Lainey contented herself with the knowledge of a job well done. Kalliope was out of his head and although she knew the witch would be back, he would now be able to get a couple of hours of much needed rest—she hoped. Feeling an intense resentment towards Kalliope, Lainey tried to keep her state of mind positive but it was harder than expected. Mercer was her vampire and she was becoming decidedly territorial. Oh God, here I go again. She berated herself wondering why her thoughts kept entering such dangerous territory.

  Looking at her long slim fingers, she wondered how they performed acts of healing with such ease but failed miserably at everything else. She couldn’t even perform a simple find what is lost spell with any degree of success. Desperately wanting to be able to help Mercer, she was worried that her skills were so limited she’d be more of a hindrance than anything else.

  “He’s gorgeous, isn’t he? I told you he would be.”

  Her Grandmother’s words behind her made her jump, and it gave her yet another reason to be cross at her appalling talents. A relatively easy awareness spell would alert her to anyone’s nearby presence. Could she master one? Oh no. Lainey frowned. Why was she such a terrible excuse for a witch?

  Turning around and smiling fondly at her Grandma, she said, “Yes, you told me he would be. He’s a little too gorgeous, if I’m truly honest. Why do the fates have to put such temptation in my path?”

  Her grandmother snorted. “I think he suffers as much as you do, my dear. He’s not immune to your charms either.” Wrapping her wrinkled arms around Lainey, she pressed her nose to her cheek and caressed the soft blonde waves for which she’d always expressed such fondness. The woman smelled of apples—and caramel. Her gran was always baking and suddenly, Lainey’s stomach rumbled. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten. “Did you do what I told you to do?”

  Her grandmother gave her a quick peck on the cheek and pulled away, searching Lainey’s eyes.

  “When have I not done exactly as you have instructed? I might not have been the best student, but it certainly wasn’t through a lack of obedience.” Lainey gave her a quiet smile.

  “This is true.” Her grandmother pinched her cheek and gave her an affectionate look. “So you made him think you detested him and couldn’t wait to escape his disgustingly horrible body?”

  Lainey gave her a hard look. “I think we’ve been through this.”

  “I’m just checking.” She cackled then with a twinkle in her aging eyes, added, “I must say, you’re a better actress than I gave you credit for. I’m not sure I’d have been able to pull that off.” Her grandmother burst into fits of laughter.

  “Believe it or not, it wasn’t actually that hard. He’s a domineering son-of-a—“

  “Now, now, you know I’ll have none of that under my roof.” Her grandmother shook her head disapprovingly.

  Lainey’s mouth opened wide in protest. “So it’s fine that we talk about sex, but when it comes to…”

  “Obey your elders, Lainey. They always know best.” Her grandmother’s sharp tone brooked no argument, but she softened her hash words with a wink.

  “You know everything. It’s quite annoying on occasion.” Lainey’s bitter reply came under her breath.

  “I told you he’d rescue you, I told you he’d be the best lay you ever had, and I also told you that you’d need to save him. The first two have come to pass exactly as I forecast but you’ve got a lot of work ahead of you, if you’re to achieve the last.” Her grandmother did not allow those words to sink in before, with a tug on her arm, she led Lainey away from her bedroom and marched her swiftly into the lounge.

  When the door opened, her grandmother gently pushed her inside and gave her a little pat on the back. The familiar smell of the elderly woman’s home made Lainey sigh and she cast her eyes about the room taking a moment to reconnect with her surroundings. There was a roaring log fire in the grate, the radio was spitting out grainy classical music, and a large multi-coloured patchwork quilt resided with the corner turned down on an old brown 1970s style sofa that had become threadbare in several places. A large slice of upside-down apple cake was waiting for her on the wooden coffee table in the middle of the room and there was a steaming-hot mug of tea to complete her idea of heaven.

  “Oh, Gran, I adore you.” Giving her a quick tight hug first, Lainey ran over to the table and picked up the plate holding the slice of cake. Forking it quickly into her mouth, she practically fell onto the sofa as the trials of her day began to catch up with her. She hadn’t realised how exhausted she was until now.

  “Slow down or you’ll make yourself sick,” said her grandmother, clucking her tongue as she took her own seat by the fire.

  “Easy for you to say, I’ve barely eaten a thing all day,” answered Lainey, moaning as strands of caramel combined with soft sweet sponge cake, and juicy cinnamon apple pieces melted on her tongue.

  “I’ve got supper in the oven. I promise you won’t starve, and you can have another slice of cake if you need it, child. Now slow down.”

  Reluctantly, Lainey did as her grandmother told her, but her stomach protested the mistreatment vehemently with a loud rumble.

  Pushing a stray strand of grey hair back from her forehead and tucking it behind her ear, her grandmother cleared her throat before speaking again. “She’ll bite him as soon as she thinks the coast is clear, and there’s little we can do about it. It could be anywhere, at any time but the call of her blood will drive him crazy.”

  Lainey grimaced and looked away, not knowing what to say to that. It took two more mouthfuls of cake before she summoned up a reply. “There’s only so much we can do, Gran. We can hardly keep him chained to the bed, much as I’d like to.”

  Her grandma nearly spat her tea out at that comment, and then she gave Lainey a sly look. “If I were twenty, well no, perhaps thirty years younger, I’d keep him chained to the bed too.” She nodded sagely.

  “Grandma!” Lainey covered her ears while nearly choking on her cake but unfortunately, she’d heard the words and there was no un-hearing them. Taking a strangled breath, she put the delicate floral plate back down on the table and stretched out her fingertips, taking a few moments to consider what she would say next but her grandmother beat her to it.

  “You know what you need to do. One more bite is all it would take. He just needs to lose his head with you, just once, and then the balance of power will shift. True, Kalliope will still be a formidable enemy, but nowhere near the same kind of adversary if she manages to bind the vampire to her.”

  Her grandmother still had the most amazing eyes, beautifully clear sea-green gems, and they shone with passion. Lainey knew they were about to argue about Mercer, and she hated arguing with her family but there was no way to avoid it. “He won’t talk about his brother. We both know what Kalliope is capable of and if he’s somehow witnessed her mistreatment of him, Mercer’s dislike of witches will run deep. I’m lucky I’m not already dead.”

  “You can’t afford to show mercy, granddaughter. Kalliope now has at least two vampires to answer to her beck, and call, although one is very weak—the brother, I’m guessing. You need Mercer. Without him, you are nothing. Don’t underestimate her ambition, Lainey. She wants to rule, she always has. You have to do this for your kin. You have no choice.”

  “There is always a choice. I refuse to bind an unwilling mate to my side. If he were human then perhaps, I might consider it knowing that his pain would eventually end but for Mercer it would mean having to endure being tied to one of the beings that tortured his brother to the point of death—for an eternity. He would have to serve, and he’d have no choice in that matter. It would be an abominable thing to do to anyone, but especially cruel to a vampire. He would never forgive me.”

  “Would you rather see him, and the earth, under the control of Kalliope?” Her grandmother’s gaze caught hers directly and the severity of it made Lai
ney flinch. “That’s the other option, dearest. Seeing all your loved ones dead and murdered, while you watch as the world crumbles around you. We are sacrificing one person’s happiness for the good of all.”

  “No. I would be sacrificing one person’s happiness, and then I’d be the one who has to live with the consequences.” There was a hitch in Lainey’s voice as the old argument resurfaced. “There has to be another way.”

  The desperation with which she uttered the comment seemed to worsen each time she said it. Time was running out and there was no other solution in sight. In just two days’ time, she’d be facing the might of Kalliope, and Lainey would need help. Lots of help. Her chances of success were slim at best but having Mercer on her side would give them a considerable advantage, considering she had barely performed a drop of true magic, bar healing, in her life. Sure, if she concentrated really hard things that she wanted seemed to happen, but it was a hit and miss thing. She desperately needed to be able to perform spells.

  “He’ll forgive you.” The words were supposed to be soothing and comforting, uttered in a kind and gentle murmur, but they did not have the desired effect.

  “Have you seen that in your visions? I cannot see Mercer forgiving me for binding him to a witch. Ever! I can see him loathing me, hating me, despising me and spending the rest of his days working on how best to get rid of me.”

  Her grandmother’s lips tightened. “Then you’ll need to find a way to reach him. Make him understand that you have no choice. He’s reasonably intelligent. He’ll see sense eventually.”

  “Eventually could be a very long time for a vampire. I’ll be bound to a monster. I’ll suffer as he suffers if this doesn’t work.” Lainey’s teeth snapped together and the cake remained completely forgotten on the table as her hunger waned.

  “You are the only one who can do this, Lainey. You need to stop worrying about everyone else and think of the greater good. You’ll always have your family behind you.” The words were firm and unyielding, and although she knew there was love behind them, it didn’t make her imposed sentence any easier. “Have you read the latest spell book I gave you?” The change in subject was purposeful. Her grandmother had closed the door on their topic of conversation. There was no point in trying to pursue it either for the woman could be a stubborn old mule when it suited her, although Lainey loved her to distraction.

  “Yes. I’ve read and re-read everything you’ve ever given me, over, and over again. I know I’ll only get one chance at this, and I’m not particularly fond of the thought of dying at only twenty-six years of age. I just hope I can put it into practise when the time comes. Right now, it seems like everything I try is a mess. What if you’ve been mistaken all these years? What then?” There was a little bit of hysteria creeping into her voice. She’d tried her best to not to think about the impending meeting between herself and Kalliope even though she’d been aware of it for a long time, but the day was nearly upon them and fear was beginning to set in.

  Grabbing her mug of tea, she took a long sip of the warming brew and welcomed the heat seeping into her hands from the cup as it helped ease her trembling fingers.

  “When are we visiting your stone circle?” Blowing the steam away from the surface of her cup, she took another sip and looked morosely at the fireplace as she awaited the answer. The crackling wood and the bright orange flames did little to cheer her up, but at least they gave her something to focus on.

  Her grandmother’s rocking chair creaked slowly back and forth. “Tomorrow will be soon enough. Whatever the vampire sees, Kalliope sees. Remember that. At first, you won’t have to worry. You’ll be out of practise and it will be messy but if you start getting the hang of things, you’ll need to stop. She needs to believe you’re a novice.”

  “Technically, I am a novice and don’t you mean if I manage to get the hang of things?” whispered Lainey, gulping down the hot tea uncaring that it burned a fiery path along her throat. There was not just one coven of witches relying on her ability to perform miracles, but hundreds of covens located all over the world. It was an incredible burden to bear, and it now rested heavily upon her shoulders.

  “You’ll manage. We’re all behind you. Mercer will help, you’ll see. Contrary to what you believe, the vampire is already half in love with you and he’ll fall the rest of the way. Hard. You mark my words. This I have seen.”

  Lainey shook her head. “Don’t think you can make me feel better with placations, Gran. Your visions can’t tell you that. You can’t see love. I remember these things. He hates me. He abhors all witches, and quite rightly so. If I take this on, there will be consequences and if I survive, I’ll be the one who has to deal with them somehow.” Picking up the abandoned apple cake, she began forking it inside her with her former enthusiasm. Speed comfort eating had its merits. She’d be on a sugar-high in a matter of seconds.

  Coming to stand in front of her, her grandmother placed a hand on each of her shoulders. The hands were warm and they imparted healing energy. Lainey could feel it begin to seep inside her skin, her whole body tingling as her grandmother’s fingers went to work. “There are other things that I can see, Lainey Hargreaves. Trust me. This will all work out.”

  Groaning and relaxing into the chair, Lainey mumbled, “I hope so. I can’t see it, but I hope so.”

  Too Late

  Although her grandmother’s hands could have taken her to dreamland quite easily, Lainey excused herself after a few minutes.

  “I need to watch him,” she said by way of explanation.

  Her grandmother waggled her finger. “There’s no point, child. It won’t change things for she holds far more power than both you and I, put together. If she wants him to feed, he’ll feed. By placing yourself in the room, you simply put yourself in danger and we’re in a precarious enough position as it is.” A hand gently smoothed her blonde waves down along her back, but Lainey was not comforted.

  “I can’t leave him to face her on his own. You should have seen his face when she had him in her grip…he looked awful. He was in pain, even in his dreams. Imagine what she’ll do to him when he’s awake!”

  “There’s only one way to keep her from appearing, Lainey, and you know exactly what it is. You’re going to be forced into doing it soon enough, so it would be kinder to put him out of his misery now.”

  Lainey stood up so quickly she almost knocked her grandmother over in the process. “You know I can’t do that,” she said through gritted teeth. “Let’s not discuss this again.”

  Holding her hands up in truce, her grandmother sighed. “Fine…have it your way. Go keep an eye on him. It will make no difference though. Things will come to pass as I have seen, and there is nothing you can do about it, bar the binding. I know you can’t see it, but it will be a kindness in the end. A lifetime of servitude to Kalliope is a hell that no man or beast should have to endure.”

  Lainey stormed out of the room now feeling even more pressure heaped upon her, and her bones began to vibrate with anger. She hated feeling so helpless. For a witch who had always promised to do no harm, it seemed that every way she turned seemed to present her with problems that would require her do exactly that. Cause harm. Hurt. Destroy. Her life was becoming intolerable.

  Heading straight for the kitchen, she marched to the fridge and slammed her fist helplessly into it. It didn’t make her feel any better, but it did manage to get rid of some pent up aggression. Grabbing a glass of water, she drank the contents in a single go. Everything was going wrong. Smashing the button down on the old CD player that had resided between the toaster and breadbin for the better part of ten years, she took a seat on a tall metal kitchen stool and laid her head against the breakfast bar. It was cool against her cheek and as the calming sounds of Barcarolle by Jacques Offenbach reached her, she almost had her moment of craziness under control. Almost. She didn’t move from her position for the entire duration of the song but then she heard her grandmother’s footsteps, and she knew that she had to straigh
ten herself out. Pulling her fingers through her hair, she gave a short sniff, wiped her eyes, and straightened her back. She was a big girl, so she might as well act like one.

  Her grandmother bustled around the kitchen for a few minutes, and then brought her a hearty serving of cottage pie on a tray complete with a glass of red wine. Giving her a soft pat on the back, she didn’t stay probably guessing Lainey wanted to be alone for a little while. She was good like that, even without magic. The woman had an unerring sixth sense where people were concerned and her advice certainly was well respected in these parts.

  Tucking into her supper, Lainey ate with gusto and didn’t stop until the edges of her plate appeared licked clean. It had been a while since she’d had a full stomach and she couldn’t deny that it felt good. When she’d washed up and returned everything to its rightful place, the house was quiet and the lights were dim. Her grandmother had obviously decided to retire for the night, and as tomorrow looked like it was going to be a long day that was probably a good thing. Tiptoeing back to her room, Lainey headed straight for the bathroom and got herself ready for bed. She wondered whether to sleep on the chair or in the bed but considering they’d already slept together, she didn’t see much point in suffering for no reason.

  Settling herself on the edge of her double bed, she lay facing Mercer her hands caressing the soft white stripes of her duvet. He looked odd in sleep. There was no need for him to draw breath, except when he was trying to pass for a human, so in repose his body was completely still. It was slightly unnerving at first, but she soon got used to it. He looked just as beautiful in sleep as he did outside of it, and she had to curb the urge to kiss him. For someone who’d had virtually no libido for the past few years, now it was surging to life with considerable enthusiasm. Pushing those thoughts firmly aside, she concentrated on her latest spell recitals and it wasn’t long before the rigours of the day had her snoring softly beside him.