I closed the cash register as the ladies knitting club arrived for an evening class. Molly ran these twice a week. Usually, I tried to duck out before they arrived.
“There she is!” Mrs. Davereau hustled through the door with her oversized knitting bag. The rest of the knitting brigade filed in behind her. “I hear you have a new special someone.” Mrs. Davereau gripped my hand across the counter.
“Yes, I do.” If she pinched my cheek I was bolting.
“And what’s his name?” She wasn’t leaving until she got the details.
“William. He’s…” I couldn’t think of a word to describe William. “Nice.”
He was nice. Ordinary almost. And considering my usual bad-boy fixation, that seemed like a step toward maturity. Thinking about William’s touch fuddled my brain with waves of happiness.
“I’m sure he is, dear.” Mrs. Davereau patted my hand. “And this must be him now.”
The door chimed. I looked up and froze.
“No. Definitely not my boyfriend.”
Quinn stood in the doorway. He looked gaunt, as if he’d missed a few nights’ sleep. Fatigue etched the lines of his face into something raw and imposing. His hair was longer and curled helter-skelter across his brow. Blue-black eyes challenged me. I pulled away from Mrs. Davereau’s grasp. My legs jellied. This was silly. Quinn and I were long gone. I’d moved on. Just because the sight of him triggered some vestigial desire that didn’t mean I had any real feelings for him.
“You bellowed?” He held up his phone.
“Uh, yeah. You have some explaining to do.” And he could have done it by phone. He must have already been in town to have shown up so quickly. “But not here,” I said through gritted teeth. The knitting bees had settled into the lounge area of the store, but they were noticeably quiet. All ears perked our way.
Molly greeted Quinn with a smile.
“It’s good to see you, Quinn. Some of us have missed you around here.” She looked pointedly at me and I rolled my eyes. During our brief relationship, Molly had fussed over Quinn like a mother hen. It turned out Jane had also been a friend of my mother’s in high school. Some falling out between Molly and Jane had caused a decades-long rift, but Molly didn’t hold the grudge against Quinn. She thought he was delightful and took pains to mention it to me often. And at the most awkward moments.
“Isn’t he the handsome one, Bobbi?” I turned away, pretending to sort receipts I had already sorted. “Look at those shoulders.” Molly wasn’t letting go any time soon. “I bet you still throw a mean baseball. I remember you had quite an arm as a boy.”
“Mrs. McFadden.” Quinn’s smile was genuine as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. “I don’t have much time for baseball these days. You’re looking lovely as ever.”
“Flatterer.” Molly fluffed her hair. Today, she wore it loose with bright feathers woven among the grey curls.
I shoved my papers into a drawer and faced Quinn, glad to have the solid barrier of the counter between us.
Quinn quirked an eyebrow. “Care for a walk?”
“Fine.”
I needed to leave the prying eyes of Ashlet’s gossipmongers behind.
Half a dozen cheery voices called out in goodbye as we left. I heard a few titters and could imagine the old ladies nudging each other and whispering about the young couple out for a romantic walk.
Let them think what they wanted. This encounter was all business. My heart battered my chest in response to the coming confrontation, not because Quinn affected me in any way.
I turned my thoughts to William and his sweet smile. My heart rate slowed and I took a deep breath.
A gust of warm wind blew leaves up the sidewalk as we left the store. I shrugged my sweater tightly around my shoulders but I didn’t really need it. The night was unseasonably warm.
We headed across the bridge. The roar of the Anneke River flowing over the dam made conversation impossible.
Now that I’d trussed up my nerves, anger returned. Sweet righteous anger. And I had every reason to be enraged. Quinn had his chance. Things didn’t work out. That didn’t mean he could sabotage the first good relationship I’d ever had. I glanced sideways. He watched me.
On the other side of the bridge we turned into the park. We were alone. The kids’ playground lay in shadow, wind rocking the empty swings.
I stopped and turned on him.
“You had no right to interfere.” I was so angry, I could barely form words.
“I had every right.”
“Why? Because we dated a couple of times? Because we kissed? All of a sudden you’re my keeper? You punched my boyfriend in the face! Who does that? I really want to know. Tell me, by what right do you decide who I go out with?”
He studied me with no anger in his expression. He looked sad.
“Fain is Koro’s agent.”
“Still no reason…what?” I wasn’t prepared for that. “Don’t be ridiculous. William is just William.”
“It’s true. He’s soothing you. I saw it. Last night at your place. He had some kind of talisman.”
“You spied on me? Oh, this is great.” I turned away. My stomach churned with emotions I couldn’t identify.
“Listen to me, Bobbi. I felt his magic. He’s controlling you.” He grabbed my arm. I yanked it away and picked one emotion out of the seething mass in my gut. Anger, my old friend. I wrapped it around me like a security blanket. How had I ever thought this man was attractive? I saw him now for what he was. An arrogant manipulator. My way or the highway kind of guy.
“You’re pathetic.” I put all of my loathing into those words.
“I can prove it,” he said quietly. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and unfolded it carefully. “Abilene tested his blood and found Koro’s aether in it.”
Dark stains spotted the cloth. William’s blood. I closed my eyes. He’d hurt William to get his blood.
“You are unbelievable.” I opened my eyes and pinned him with my glare. “Here’s what’s going to happen. You are going to leave me alone. You, your sister, your mother, your whole bloody coven. Leave. Me. Alone.”
I turned and ran back over the bridge. The rushing of the river didn’t quite mask the sound of Quinn calling my name.
6
Intoxication
DRACULA STALKED THE SLEEPING WOMAN.
I sipped my wine, watching the melodrama on TV with faint interest. William always chose the best vintages and I could put up with his classic movie fetish.
“You wouldn’t believe how arrogant he was!” I said for the third time. Bela Lugosi’s mesmerizing eyes filled the screen.
“I can believe the arrogance. But I don’t like the idea of you and him alone.” William leaned back on the couch.
“Jealous?” I wrapped my arms around his neck. The cut on his lip had scabbed over. I wanted to kiss it.
William frowned and untangled himself.
“He’s dangerous, Bobbi. Promise me you won’t see him again.” The TV defined his face with flickering shadows. He held me at arm’s length. I hated it when he did that. I wanted to be close, to feel his aether around me like a shield. It was a visceral feeling. A need.
“I promise.”
He smiled and I tucked my feet under me, scooting closer to the warmth of his body. My head lay on his shoulder.
“Look at this part.” William gestured at the TV, bouncing my head from its perch. “Look at the dramatic use of lighting on Dracula’s face. It was revolutionary!”
He was so excited. His aether circled me, a safe haven of energy and love. Lugosi snuck up on his next sleeping victim. She looked so peaceful, as if the vampire bite was a happy dream.
“What else did he have to say?” William’s tone was calm, but I felt the edgy undercurrent. I shouldn’t have brought up my encounter with Quinn. It would ruin a perfectly good Friday evening. I wanted to forget about Quinn and relax in the glow of warmth around us, but the words erupted from my lips.
“He said y
ou were working with Koro.”
“Who’s that?” His thumb stroked the underside of my palm. Up and down, in a mesmerizing junction of senses.
“Some guy. I don’t know. They don’t like him much.” Shadows of memories lurked behind those words, but they weren’t important. What did I really know about Koro? He was Jane’s enemy. But Jane was a hard woman. She probably had dozens of enemies. The connection fuddled in my brain.
“He’s got something against the coven, I guess.” On the screen Van Helsing confronted Dracula with a mirror and the monster cringed.
“He also said you were using magic on me. Soother magic.”
The thumb stopped its caress. William pushed me off his lap. The room felt ten degrees colder.
“That’s ridiculous.”
His words fell like icy rain.
I blinked and my eyes cleared.
“Who are you?” I stared at the stranger on my couch. “What are you doing here?”
“Don’t be silly…” The round face morphed into a grin, badly lit in the dark room. I knew that face, and yet…it was completely strange too. I pushed away, my hands sinking into the couch. He grabbed me.
“Bobbi stop!”
No! I had to get away. This was wrong. All wrong. It should be Quinn beside me not this round-faced man I didn’t even know! I tried to stand but my limbs were heavy. Panic constricted my chest.
I shoved. A hand dug into my shoulders. Hard fingers wrapped my chin, forced my eyes upward.
“Bobbi, look at me. Do you know who I am?”
My eyes betrayed me. They looked at the face, that hated face. Pale blue eyes bore into mine.
William.
“Yes.”
He held my eyes with his deep, sincere gaze.
“I would never do anything to hurt you. Trust me.”
I breathed a sigh and felt everything loosen. Quinn and his maniacal accusations faded to a dim memory.
I cupped William’s face with my hand. Such a sweet face, ruddy and bright-eyed. His lips were always a bit puckered, inviting a kiss. He made me feel full. Overflowing. Never in my life had I felt so connected to another human being.
“I trust you.”
He smiled and the world came into focus again. Everything would be all right.
“Did you practice the prosperity spell again?” he asked.
“I tried, but I couldn’t get it right. I guess I’m tired.”
He pulled me onto his lap. His arms wrapped around me, his aether bundling us in protective energy.
“You should rest,” he said. “You’ve been working so hard. And all this confrontation must be exhausting.”
It was exhausting. It felt good to have someone understand me so completely. I laid my head against his chest. Fingers ran through my hair. So good. He tipped my chin up and his lips covered mine. I leaned in to him, needing to feel closer, to press every bit of my body against his. I pushed his hands down my shoulder, hinting they were free to explore further. But he held himself in check.
Again.
“We could take this into the bedroom.” I wanted him so badly, I thought my wellspring would burst from need.
“Soon.” His eyes darkened with intensity. “When I make love to you, it will change the world.”
I lay back and closed my eyes. His aether wrapped me in calming vibes. I could wait. What girl didn’t love to be pampered and cherished?
“I brought you something,” he said. I opened my eyes. A small statue sat in the palm of his hand. Red, with black grotesque features, like a squatting gargoyle. I instantly wanted it.
“So cute!” My hand tingled when I held it.
“It’s a protection talisman. It’ll keep you safe when I’m not around. And I want you to promise me something.”
I didn’t answer. The talisman spread warmth up my arm and into my chest. He nudged me.
“Hmm?”
“Promise me that if Quinn comes around again, you stop him. Do whatever it takes to make him go away. Same goes for anyone else who tries to fill your head with nonsense.”
“You take such good care of me.” My words slurred from wine or sleepiness. I clutched the statue to my chest and leaned on him.
On the TV the mad Renfield cried, “Master! Master! I am here!”
7
Prediction
THE WIND WAS TOO WARM.
Gavin couldn’t help feeling that the odd weather was an ill-omen as he sat on the curb outside The Woolery, waiting for Bobbi. Inside, Molly escorted two young women through the selection of wool roving. He’d listened long enough to become numbed by the array of colors and textures. When Molly started on the differences in felting needles, Gavin had decided to wait outside.
Ten minutes later, Bobbi appeared, balancing coffee and two takeout bags. Gavin stretched, rose and took the coffee.
“Is this a late lunch or an early dinner?” he asked.
Bobbi ignored the question. “Are you here to try and convince me that my boyfriend is evil too?”
“Such ego. Not everything is about you.”
Inside, Bobbi dumped the bags on the counter. Gavin sipped her coffee and made a face.
“Have some coffee with your sugar,” he said.
“I like it sweet.” She grabbed the cup. “So what do you want.”
Bobbi leaned on the counter and ate a fry from the bag. She offered him one and he shook his head.
He didn’t know her well. The first time they’d met, he’d been angry because Siranda, the coven seer, was upset by the stranger in their midst. Gavin’s job was tough enough. He didn’t need newbie witches making things worse. He might have expressed this opinion. Loudly. And within Bobbi’s hearing.
The next time they’d met, she berated him in front of his vestals for letting a witch die while on duty at the core.
She had balls, he had to give her that. He could see why Quinn was raging around like a constipated bull. Quinn liked to take things slow. He had that whole suave and debonair thing going on, or so he thought. Gavin knew better. Quinn took forever to get it on with a woman because relationships scared him.
“I came to take you up on your offer.” Bobbi stared at him blankly. “To visit my mother,” he prompted.
“Oh, right. You’re going today?”
“Yeah, it’s my sister’s birthday.”
“Nice. Will she be joining us?”
Gavin let silence drop like a curtain between them. He never liked this part.
“She’s dead.”
Bobbi looked up with the silent “Oh!” on her lips that inevitably appeared when people faced the social awkwardness of death.
“This day is always hard on Mom, if she remembers. I could use some back up.”
“Of course, I’ll let Molly know and we can go.”
*
Riverview Psychiatric Hospital was a large manor house, once owned by the founding family of Ashlet. Since the thirties, it had gone through many incarnations, from boarding house to squatters’ den. Twenty years ago, the state bought the land and turned the house into a hospital.
To Gavin, it felt more like a retirement facility. The patients were all elderly. Even those who weren’t seniors grew old quickly in a place like this. The industrial grey walls turned every complexion to ash. The stillness inside was oppressive, as if the inhabitants waited for someone who would never come. Nothing ever changed in Riverview. No one left, except on a stretcher with a sheet over their face. Even the few outbursts of patients only ruffled feathers before the birds settled down to wait some more.
Gavin hated it.
Asking Bobbi to join him wasn’t just for Quinn’s benefit. Yes, he’d agreed to spy on her, but he genuinely welcomed the company.
They signed in at the front desk. The receptionist barely looked up from her magazine. Gavin was a regular visitor. They passed several residents in the front sitting room. Two people played cards before a muted TV. Bobbi’s eyes were wide as she took in the dark interior and the bat
h-robed patients.
A man stood in the corner with his forehead pressed against the wall.
“Hey, Joel.” Gavin waved. The wall-gazer didn’t answer and they went upstairs.
His mother’s nurse, Tanya, met them on the landing. She carried a bundle of dirty sheets.
“She had a quiet morning,” the nurse said. “I was about to bring her tea. Want some?”
“Thanks. This is my friend Bobbi,” Gavin said.
“We’ve met.” Tanya smiled. Bobbi’s eyes squinted at her cheery face. She was short with broad shoulders and thick curly hair. She had an air of strength about her, both physical and emotional. “You don’t remember me.”
“At the library,” Bobbi said.
Tanya nodded and turned to Gavin. “Bobbi came to a few of our coven meetings. I haven’t seen you around in a while. Did you decide that witchcraft is not for you?”
“I’ve been busy,” Bobbi said.
Tanya shrugged. “It happens. We aren’t all in tune with the Mother.”
Gavin stifled a snort. Tanya pinched her lips.
“Gavin doesn’t believe in witchcraft,” she said.
Bobbi smiled faintly. “I guess it’s a hard thing for most people to believe.” She shot Gavin a dark look.
“Don’t worry, Gavin. It doesn’t matter if you believe. The Great Mother believes in you,” Tanya said.
Gavin was glad her arms were full of dirty sheets. She had a hugging look in her eye.
“Well, we still meet every second Tuesday at the library, if you’re interested,” she said. Bobbi made a noncommittal noise. Tanya descended the stairs, tossing back a smile and a “Blessed be.”
Bobbi waited until they were alone and whispered, “I looked them up last year, hoping they could help me master magic. They had bake sales and sit-ins. Not a real witch among them.”
Gavin grinned. “I guess our coven was a bit of a shock after that.”
“I’d given up trying to find others to help me.” Bobbi frowned.
“You could come visit, you know. I think Quinn is over all that blindfolding, cloak and dagger stuff.”
Inborn Magic: Hidden Coven Series, Book 1 Page 3