Wicked Fate (The Wicked Trilogy)

by Tabatha Vargo

  In addition to the rainbows, there are multiple newly sprouted flowers in Adam’s front yard. It’s all so beautiful. I hug him close to me and I make a promise to myself that no matter what, from this moment on, I’ll protect this.

  Chapter 20

  The Purple Flames

  Adam and I are inseparable again and soon it’s spring. The flowers are in full bloom and everything’s so vivid and beautiful. Adam knows everything there is to know about me and he’s still here—that’s a good sign. When I tell him I’m a witch he takes it extremely well. Especially considering it’s not every day someone tells you they’re a witch.

  “I always knew you were a witch,” he jokes, as he tries to put a puzzle together.

  “Yep, that’s me, wart and all,” I stick my tongue out at him.

  “Oh! So, that’s what that is?” he looks up from his puzzle with a sexy grin.

  “You’re impossible,” I say as I pull out another journal.

  “I can assure you I am entirely possible. Want to try me out?”

  I pick up the closest book and throw it at him. He laughs.

  “So you know I have to ask, right?” he smirks.

  “Ask what?”

  “Did you put one of your freaky-weird-girl spells on me?” he lifts his brow.

  He leaves the desk and sits on the floor next to me.

  “No, I didn’t put any spell on you. I don’t even know any spells, except the ones in these journals. I wouldn’t do that, jerk” I jokingly push him away. “Why would you even ask me that?”

  “I don’t know….”

  “Yes you do, tell me.”

  “It’s just sometimes I feel like I’m under some kind of spell. It’s crazy, a few months ago I was just doing me, chillin’ out and being carefree. And then we started hanging out and I’ve changed somehow. I’ve always found you interesting, but now…now when you’re not near me I feel like I can’t breathe. I’ve never been like that with a girl, it kind of freaks me out.”

  All the laughter in his eyes is gone. I reach up to brush a piece of hair out of his eye.

  “I might be a witch, but I’d never do anything to you,” I smile mischievously. “Unless you beg for it.”

  In a flash, I’m on my back, books scattered everywhere, and he’s on top of me.

  “I never beg,” he whispers as he runs his nose up the side of my neck. He starts planting little kisses behind my ear before he captures my earlobe in his teeth. “You want me, I can tell.”

  My breath is coming out in little tiny pants and I feel my body warming to him.

  “Could y’all please not do that in here?” Thaddeus is leaning against the desk covering his eyes with his hand.

  I jerk up and push at Adam’s chest. How could I have forgotten about Thaddeus?

  “What’s wrong?” his green eyes are glazed over and his breathing is altered.

  “We’re not…alone,” my cheeks heat up.

  Shaking his head and sighing he moves away from me, “Great timing, Casper.”

  No more making out in the library.

  And this is how the days that follow go, being with Adam. When we aren’t giving each other googly eyes at school, we’re at the park or the beach. It’s the happiest time of my life. No matter what we do it never gets old or boring. From playing cards, to running around outside with Sire, or just lounging on the porch swing, I cherish every moment we have together.

  Even though we’re completely happy, we both know that the other is hoping and praying that something bad doesn’t happen. I’m always on my guard no matter what we’re doing or where we are. I try hard to cover my guarded self for Adam’s sake, but no matter what I’m always on the lookout for trouble.

  Part of me thinks maybe it really was just a sick joke from the lady named Eris, but the other part of me senses the trouble that’s coming. I just hope that it’s all in my head.

  We double with Bernie and Kale on Friday night and I see my second movie and eat real Mexican food for the first time ever. Adam says I’m a like a child in so many ways—experiencing so many new things. He’s right, I haven’t really been living my life. We make a pact to do something new whenever we get the chance.

  Today’s Saturday, and things couldn’t be more wonderful. I’m lying on the beach and watching as Adam and Sire play with a Frisbee. I run my fingers through the soft grains of sand and enjoy the cool breeze blowing off of the ocean. Far away in the distance, the Charleston pier and the sunset paint a picture of pure perfection.

  I reach up and play with the seashell earrings that Adam had purchased for me earlier at the open-air market in downtown Charleston. I’m the luckiest girl in the world right now. Lost in my euphoria, I don’t realize that Adam’s lying beside me until I feel him softly running his fingers through my hair.

  “I love your hair. I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” he smiles. “Here I am, lying on the beach with my own raven-haired goddess.”

  The soft kiss he plants on my lips is sweet.

  On the way back to my house, we hold hands. I stick my other hand out of the car window letting the wind move it up and down. Bliss.

  “So, I think tonight I’m going to dig through the journals some more. Want to stay and keep me company?” I peek over my sunglasses at him.

  “That depends, are you going to feed me dinner?” he jokes.

  He drives home quickly to take a shower. I take the opportunity to run upstairs and take one myself. I smell like salt water, sand, and sun block.

  Afterwards, I quickly dress in my favorite old, flannel sleep pants and a tank top. I pile my wet hair on top of my head, and skip downstairs. I ransack the kitchen for snacks for the two of us, and then I settle in the library to start reading while I wait on Adam.

  I sit in the middle of the floor on top of the makeshift chair of pillows that I made for my late nights. A few nights I’ve even fallen asleep here.

  “You look so adorable right now,” Adam says from the doorway.

  His black jersey shorts are hanging from his hips and instead of wearing his shirt, it’s slung across his shoulder. I take him in with my eyes, from his smooth, dark chest, down to his low abdominal muscles that form a sexy v-shaped arrow.

  It’s pointing to his happy place…as if I need directions to Wonderland.

  He’s leaning against the door frame with his thick arms crossed over his chest, and he’s watching me with his I-want-you smile on.

  “Like what you see?” he rubs his thumb across his bottom lip.

  I look away quickly and roll my eyes. Damn him and all his sexified glory!

  He walks over and stands over me forcing me to have to look up at him.

  “I was serious by-the-way, I don’t think you’ve ever looked more gorgeous than you do right now. Are those men’s pajama pants you’re wearing?”

  “Okay, ha ha. Go ahead and have your laugh. You’re funny. Yes, these are men’s pants, but I don’t care, they’re comfortable.” I push my chin out in defiance.

  He sits down beside me then lightly touches my cheek.

  “I’m not joking. You never wear your hair up like this. I can see all of your face this way. You’re so beautiful.”

  He gives me a soft kiss then does a little shake.

  “No more kissy-face. I’m going die from hypothermia from all the cold showers I’ve been taking,” he turns away to grab one of the books.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. You’re worth the wait,” his boyish smile melts me.

  No matter how many times he says these things it always feels like the first time. I watch with a smile on my face as he attempts to open one of the journals. There’s no way he’s getting it open, yet every time he comes into the library he tries.

  “Tell me again why I can’t open these books.”

  “Thaddeus says that only I can read them. Sorry,” I shrug.

  I begin to read again.

  “Oh yeah, that’s right! I keep forgetting about the gho
st that lives in your library that I can’t see. That never gets normal, you know?” he chuckles.

  “Yes, I’m well aware of the fact that I’m a strange girl,” I say without looking up from the journal.

  I flip the page and continue to read. I hear him saying something about sixth senses and kicking Bruce Willis’ ass.

  I don’t remember falling asleep, but when I wake up I’m in Adam’s arms as he carries me up the stairs to my bedroom. Sire’s following behind us. I reach up and wrap my arms around his neck resting my head against his shoulder.

  After a day like today, I can hardly keep my eyes open. I hear the door to my bedroom open and then he lays me in my bed. I feel the covers go on top of me before he softly kisses me on the forehead.

  “Goodnight, Mage, I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

  I’m in a sleepy fog and don’t know much at the moment except for the fact that I don’t want Adam to leave. He turns to walk away and I reach out and grab his arm.

  “What’s wrong?” he whispers into the darkness of my room.

  “Please stay with me tonight. I don’t want to be alone.”

  I feel his arm stiffen under my hand and part of me wants to laugh. He’s been nothing but a gentleman since the very beginning and it’s becoming very obvious that being a gentleman is getting harder for him each day that we’re together—no pun intended.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea, babe.”

  “Please, Adam? At least stay with me until I fall back asleep?”

  He sighs then pulls the covers off of me and slips into the bed. I slide over to make more room before turning on my side to face him. He rolls onto his back and I snuggle up to him draping my arm and leg over him.

  “You’ll be the death of me, woman. I’ll stay until you fall asleep, okay?” He tucks his arm under my head.

  “Okay,” I yawn.

  One minute I’m walking hand and hand down the beach with Adam. The next minute I’m holding hands with a lady that looks just like me, except older. I stare at her and she smiles back at me. She lets go of my hand then puts her hand out as if she’s showing me the way, but isn’t coming with me. I trust her; she doesn’t mean me any harm.

  I start to step in the direction she wants me to go. I stop suddenly, face-to-face with the mirror eyed man from my previous dream. His expressionless eyes glare back at me; I can see my fear in them. His long, gray streaked, black hair blows in the wind. I wait for the inevitable and hold my breath as I watch him lift his hand towards me. His gentle smile transforms into a wicked smirk.

  The purple flames fly from his fingertips and head straight for me. I lift my hand and pray my blue fire will be enough to hold his flames back. I gasp with shock when purple flames fly from my fingertips as well. My fire connects with his and holds it back. Both of us try hard to move past each other’s fire, but nothing happens. The blazing ball in the center of our two flames doesn’t budge. I push harder, but I can’t move it in his direction. I can tell by the look on his face he’s trying just as hard as me.

  “Give up! You can’t beat me just let it take you!” he screams over the loud popping and cracking noises of the purple inferno.

  “Never!” I scream as loud as I can.

  “Mage! Stop it, Mage!” I hear Adam screaming at me.

  I wake suddenly. I’m sitting straight up in the bed screaming at the top of my lungs as I shoot purple flames across my bedroom. I drop my hand immediately and watch as the remainder of my flame dissolves.

  No harm has been done to my room, but I’m still in shock. Purple flames? Now what’s happening to me? I turn to face Adam, he’s on the very edge of my full sized bed staring back at me in shock.

  “I’m so sorry, Adam,” I reach out my hand to touch him.

  He jerks back when he sees the small purple fire still burning on the tips of my fingers.

  The flame on my fingertips extinguishes. I cover my face with my hands and start to cry. How am I ever going to have a normal relationship with Adam when I’m constantly putting his life in danger? I feel his arms go around me and squeeze me tight.

  “It’s okay, sweetheart, please don’t cry,” he whispers against my hair.

  “I could’ve killed you!” I sob into my hands.

  “I’m fine, it was just a little scare. Please stop crying, baby.”

  I look up at him and notice the light coming in through my curtains. Adam had spent the night with me. He didn’t leave me, and how do I repay him? By almost zapping him with purple fire, that’s how!

  What’s happening to me? More changes? What does this mean? And who’s the lady in my dream? A sudden realization hits me and I stop everything. My crying ceases immediately. I tense in Adam’s arms and he feels my sudden change.

  “What is it?” he asks.

  These random dreams don’t usually mean much to me. They scare me, but after waking I’ve never really had any peculiar feelings. This time is different. This dream is a warning, now that I look back all my dreams were some kind of warning. I now know what that warning is. It won’t be much longer before the man in my dream comes for me. He’s coming for me and he doesn’t want me to go back with him. He wants me dead.

  Chapter 21

  The Mysterious Mr. Thaddeus

  I don’t dare tell Adam that I think my worst nightmares are about to come true. Something about the whole situation still isn’t right. I don’t think that the people who are coming for me have anything to do with me and Adam being together. I have a feeling it has to do with something completely different, but what could it be?

  After seeing Adam off, I run into the library and call for Thaddeus. He never appears. Instead of wasting time, I go straight into the journals. There are only a few left and I have to finish reading them. I hope that one of the last few journals explains everything.

  I finish reading the last of Aunt Agatha’s journals and move to the next stack. The new stack is all the same brown color and same thickness. I grab the first one and begin to read. By the time I’m halfway through the first journal I’m slowly realizing whose journal I’m reading.

  The owner of these particular journals is the brother of Robert McPherson, who was the first in a long line of family witches. Apparently, he was the younger of the two brothers and was constantly in trouble. Whether it was having an affair with a married woman or cheating in a game of poker, Thaddeus McPherson was always using his magic in ways he wasn’t supposed to.

  I sit in the library almost all day, stopping every now and again for something to drink or eat. I can’t believe the things that I’m reading. This couldn’t be my sweet and loving Thaddeus. He would never do the horrible things that are written in his journals.

  From what I read, Thaddeus was very different from his brother; he was a jokester who only worried about himself. He even used his magic once to almost kill an innocent man because the man refused to hand over his wife. I can’t believe the things I’m reading.

  When I finally finish all the journals for Thaddeus, I’m in complete shock. I put the last book on the shelf, and then sit in the big leather chair behind the desk.

  First of all, Thaddeus obviously is my very distant great uncle. Second of all, my sweet best friend who’s always been there for me wasn’t always a sweet person. He was a horrible kid that played mean tricks on people and found it hilarious. Last, but not least, from what is written in his journals, he killed Robert McPherson! He murdered his own brother! Thaddeus, my Thaddeus…a killer! Every day it’s something new.

  “Please tell me these things aren’t true,” I whisper into the air.

  “I’m afraid so, darlin’,” I hear him respond.

  He isn’t visible.

  “Why?”

  “I was just a kid then. It was all fun and games—until someone got hurt.”

  “Your brother, Robert?”

  “Yes,” I can hear the hurt in his voice.

  “So, it’s true then? You killed him? Why, Thaddeus? How could you do
it?”

  I look up at him as he suddenly appears sitting in one of the chairs in front of the desk.

  “I don’t expect you to understand. When I killed him he wasn’t himself. I knew Robert better than anyone else. The man I killed wasn’t Robert.”

  “Well help me understand, please!” I can feel the tears coming.

  This is Thaddeus, one of the people in my life I trust the most. There has to be some kind of mistake, I can’t believe that he would kill his brother in cold blood. The other things he did growing up, maybe. Even I can see how a young person could take advantage of all the power. There are times when I want to do things I shouldn’t, but I would never, never kill someone I love.

  “We were experimentin’ with our powers. No one knew this of course, it was our secret. We were tryin’ out different spells, it was kind of our past time and it was fun. He knew of all my indiscretions. They were all planned to see if the powers we had would work to fix them. He actually helped me plan them. Sometimes they worked, sometimes they didn’t.”

  “But there’s nothing in his journals about it?” I ask confused.

  “No, there wouldn’t be. You see, he was afraid that Emma, his wife, was readin’ his journals and we didn’t want her to know more than she already did.”

  “So what happened?” I ask.

  I can tell he’s reliving the whole moment in his mind. I can see the hurt in his gray eyes.

  “After playin’ around with small spells and tricks we decided to take our powers to the next level. We were goin’ to attempt to bring someone back from the dead. We had it all figured out, we knew the exact spell that would do the trick.”

  I sit and listen amazed by the information I’m receiving. This is unreal. How’s it possible to bring someone back from the dead? The suspense is killing me as I listen and wait for Thaddeus to tell me more.

  “We were goin’ to test the spell out on an old horse that needed to be put down. We were goin’ to put him down and then use the spell to bring him back.”