by Martha Woods
“What’s funny?” Kristian asked.
“You!” Tessa laughed. “Shaken? How do you think that even approaches how I feel right now?”
“I’m doing the best I can,” Kristian said. “What more can I do?”
“That’s just the problem. I know you think you’re trying to protect me. I just got attacked by a demon. Something I didn’t know really existed a few hours ago. I led you right to my foster parent’s home when freaking witches were hunting you. This is…it’s not what I signed up for. I’m sorry, but I think I should go back to my life as it was.”
Something changed in Kristian’s eyes. “You’ve thought about this? You’re quite sure?”
“I have,” Tessa stood up. “I’m sorry. My life was simple before. It wasn’t perfect, but I was… well it wasn’t like this. It’s all too much.”
“After…whatever is about to happen, once the current threat is over, I won’t stop you if you still want to go. But if you’re willing to walk away from me, and what we could have together, you owe me an explanation.”
“Of what?” Tessa demanded, feeling the fire burning in her eyes.
“The Calder are always after vampires. But you seem to be a priority to them right now. Why is that?”
“Do you think I have any fucking idea? They weren’t behind me before I met you.”
Tessa moved towards the bedroom and Kristian followed her.
“I don’t believe that’s exactly true. Why is it that you live the way you do, Tessa? I understand why you did when you were a teen. There was always the possibility you could have been found by the authorities and returned to your family. Once you turned eighteen that was no longer a consideration.”
“Suddenly you don’t believe me anymore? You’re the one who found me, remember?”
“Of course,” he replied. “But maybe you haven’t been honest with me about all the reasons you live like a nomad,” he said, crossing his arms.
Tessa pretended not to pay attention. She reached into the dresser and pulled out another of his t-shirts and pulled a hairbrush from her purse.
He touched her arm. His grip was gentle, but she felt rooted to the spot. The intensity of his eyes would not allow her to look away from him.
“Have you ever been honest with yourself about what’s been going on in your life?” he asked.
There was a loud knock on the door. It was Veronica.
“Ally’s here,” she said. “You two might want to come upstairs.”
* * *
Tessa was only momentarily relieved to get out of finishing the conversation with Kristian. She knew he was angry, and she was too. I’ve made my decision, she told herself. Despite her sadness there was also a sense of relief. At least he knew she didn’t intend on sticking around. It wouldn’t be fair to let him think that she was going to be anything to him but a pleasant memory.
Provided they survived the next few hours.
When she and Kristian came upstairs to the living room, it was clear to her that the war party had been gathered. The grim faces of the guards and Ally’s presence let her know that the threat was close.
“I will be staying tonight,” Ally said. “Right now, we need to talk strategy.”
* * *
The hours ticked by slowly.
Tessa had to fight the urge to flee every second she stood in the open. Every now and again she pressed her fingernails into her palms, reminding herself this had to be done.
With the house, so still, she imagined she could hear every sound. The quiet ticking of the clock in the dining room, the sound of the ocean outside, her own trembling heart. Too many thoughts crowded her mind. The life she left behind on the road. The disillusionment she saw in Kristian’s eyes when she told him that she wanted to leave. The feelings she had for him were so clear. She only feared that being with him would cost her everything.
Tessa licked her lips. She took a deep breath.
The moment she first heard them, she was very aware of what they were.
The thoughts of vampires were the same as humans. Even the demon, Charley, had much the same rhythm of in her thoughts.
The witches were different. It wasn’t just the rhythm or speed of their thoughts. It was a cacophony of noise. Yet somehow, she was able to follow it.
She took her cell phone out and texted two words: Game on.
Tessa shoved the phone back into her pocket and waited. Somewhere in the house, Kristian’s phone would vibrate in response. She closed her eyes and started to count. In her left hand, she grasped her weapon, a long, curved machete.
Five…four…three…two…
The crash of glass made Tessa jump. She was on her feet and running within seconds. The windows shattered in every direction as she ran. The window at the top of the landing shattered, a figure with pale hair streaming around it appearing.
It was only when she reached the dining room that she turned and looked behind her.
Tessa could see the witches from where she stood. There were three. They hovered, floated in the air. With their black eyes and paper thin skin, she found them indistinguishable from each other. They were all at one beautiful and horrible with their sharp, dark features. She ducked just in time to avoid a flash of fire from one of them. A chair ignited in flame.
Kristian came down the hallway towards her, sword in hand.
“Go!” he yelled.
She ran past him, up to the second floor.
Tessa took a left and dodged into a bedroom. She slammed the door behind her. She heard scraping on the other side of the door, so loud it hurt her ears. Was the witch using her fingernails? The sound was like a bone being drawn against a chalkboard. The rooms on this floor had connecting doors, and she ran through several before finally stumbling through the last one.
Just as she reached it, she heard a blood curdling scream from the floor below.
She was met in the last room by Jared. “One down,” he muttered as he passed her. Tessa looked over her shoulder to see him swinging his own sword at a snarling witch.
When Tessa reached the third floor, she paused. There was an unnerving quiet. She pressed her back against the wall, raising her blade. She could do this, she could do this, the words repeating over and over in her head like a mantra.
And then she heard glass breaking again.
The witch came in through a bedroom window. Tessa kicked the door closed as the thing came at her. There was a sound like wind rushing forward, and then heat. Tessa watched in horror as the door disintegrated into flames. The witch emerged from the fire, black eyes fixed on her prey. Tessa fell to the floor, lifting an arm to protect herself against the flame.
“Incoming!” Ally screamed.
The witch bent close to her, only inches away. Tessa flattened herself against the wall just as Ally’s blade separated the creature’s head from her shoulders. Tessa felt the air of the blade’s movement. A lock of her hair fell to the floor.
“That was close!” Tessa screamed.
“You’re welcome,” Ally spat. “Get your ass up.”
Only one more, Tessa thought.
Veronica and Ryan waited in the attic, along with Charley. She had been freed from the chair and was waiting with her sword like the rest having been convinced that the witches were well and truly trying to kill her via vampires. The four of them were the last holdouts. The rest were all on the lower floors, fighting. The hope was that there were enough vampires to hold the witches off. The numbers were clearly stacked against the witches, but when fireballs were added the numbers got a bit hazy.
“I know you’re supposed to be on our side for the moment, but stay away from me,” Tessa hissed.
“Gladly,” Charley’s eyes narrowed.
Screaming and fighting was still audible from the floors below. Tessa closed her eyes and reached out to hear thoughts.
“How many of the Calder did you see?” Veronica asked.
“Four in all. I think two are dead.”
&n
bsp; “They sent four?” Charley sighed. “Shit.”
“How is Kristian?” Veronica asked breathlessly.
There was a loud knock on the door. A masculine voice called Veronica’s name. She ran to the door, opened it, and launched herself into Morgan’s arms.
Kristian was still nowhere to be found. The sounds of fighting and scraping came from the first floor. Tessa darted forward without thinking. She flew down the stairs, following the cacophony of thoughts.
Kristian was staggering, the witches staying just out of the reach of his blade as they threw balls of fire at him. He was slowing down. The last ball nearly caught him in the leg. Tessa surged into the fray before anyone realized she was there, swinging her machete.
The witch’s head rolled to the floor with a wet thump. The other witch turned to Tessa, hissing from between her sharp teeth. Tessa’s breath caught in her throat. She froze to the spot.
The barely registered the flash of Kristian’s sword arching through the air before the second head met the floor.
As the witch’s body followed suit, Kristian stared at her with wide eyes.
“You saved me,” he whispered.
Tessa didn’t know what to say. It had all been gut instinct driving her. She didn’t know where Kristian was. She didn’t wait for anyone to tell her. She simply had to act. And, for that, she was grateful. Without words, she dropped her machete and flung herself into his arms.
* * *
“It’s a good damn thing our kind heal quickly,” Ally said. “How are you?”
Tessa and Ally stood on the back deck of the house, watching the grim bonfire on the beach below. The remains of the Calders were being piled up along with wood and bits of destroyed furniture. The sun was starting to come up, coloring the horizon in blue and red.
“I’m okay,” Tessa said. She was still shivering, but she told herself it was only because of the sea breeze. She had gone inside and retrieved her pashmina, a bit of comfort. Her fingers tugged at the edges of it.
“Are you going to be sticking around?” Ally asked.
“I don’t know yet,” Tessa lied.
Ally shrugged. “It would be a shame if you didn’t. We could use a gifted witch killer like yourself.”
Ally smirked and winked at her. She freaking winked.
Just that quickly, she was gone. Vampire speed was still something Tessa had not gotten used to. She turned her attention back to the beach. Morgan and Veronica were holding hands. Everyone had made it through the fight alive, if not unharmed. Even Charley was among them. The demon stood apart from the others, unsure of herself. Ally had admitted that she was a problem she had not figured out how to deal with, but it seemed that for the time being the demon was angry enough with the witches to fight on their side. Hopefully, in time she would loosen up and share what she knew on the Calder.
Kristian must have felt Tessa’s gaze on him. He looked up. Their eyes met and locked. Feeling a warmth spread through her, she turned away and went back into the house.
* * *
The first floor sustained the worst of the damage—singed furniture, busted windows, blood splattered on the living room walls. The basement apartment was untouched. No one would have ever guessed at the carnage which took place one floor above by looking around the suite of rooms.
She would miss it. This was the first real home she had lived in since she was a teen. It was the place where she experienced the first real love she had known since long before that.
Love. She bit her lip. She didn’t like to even think that word. It had been something which she had almost given up on completely.
She went in the bathroom. Her hair was a mess. She needed a good, hot bath. But she was so exhausted that it took all her energy just to brush her hair and wipe a cool cloth across her face. All through the fight, she had held herself together despite the fact that she was terrified. She held onto the counter to keep from falling when her knees buckled.
Tessa couldn’t be sure how long she stood there, half bent over the sink, head down, crying.
Until a pair of strong arms slipped around her.
Kristian didn’t say a word. Instead, he pulled her against his chest and held her. He let her cry against his shoulder, leaving a damp spot on his shirt. He held her and rocked her gently. He rained kisses on her face—her forehead, her eyelids, her flushed cheeks—and ran his hands up and down her back, soothing her.
“Tell me you won’t leave,” his whisper begged. “Darling, please.”
Tessa looked into his emerald green eyes and saw a depth of pain that shouldn’t be possible for a man whose heart no longer beat. This beautiful, complicated man was prepared to sacrifice his life to protect her. How could she turn away from the pleading in his eyes? He didn’t wait for her answer. Instead, he kissed her mouth.
He tasted like fire and soot, the ashes of their enemies. His cool lips parted against her own, drawing her tongue against his. He was bitter and sweet, his touch demanding her response. He stepped back from her, looking her in the eye.
“I love you,” he said.
“I love you too,” she said, taking a deep breath. “I won’t go.”
Kristian took her in his arms again, steering her back towards the bedroom. She felt her knees touch the back of the mattress, and then he was on top of her. His hands were everywhere, exploring every part of her that almost left his life. He pulled off her top, discarded her bra. His mouth sought the comfort of her neck and her breasts, where he kissed and sucked her. Tessa sighed, reaching to pull him closer to that sweet spot.
He got off the bed, quickly shedding his clothing. She sat looking up at him, and he smiled, running his cool, smooth hand over her cheek. The flecks of gold in his green eyes shined.
And then he was on her again. This time, she straddled him, bracing herself against his strong shoulders as she rode him. He sat up with her in his arms, one hand against the side of her neck, and bit her.
He had bitten her before. Usually, it was one gentle bite, and then he licked the blood away with his tongue, like drops of ice cream from a cone. This time, he drank from her as though she were the fountain of youth and he were a dying man. For a moment, she felt her head spin, and there was nothing but mindless animal pleasure, his fangs piercing her neck as his manhood moved inside her.
Kristian let go of her neck, licking her wound to heal the place where he penetrated her. He put her back down on the bed and he laid her on her side. She enjoyed every bit of his body, which he gave her again and again…
* * *
When Tessa woke, she was aware of the emptiness of the bed. Smiling, she stretched and got up. The scent of food called to her from the kitchen.
“You didn’t have to cook,” she feigned surprise. “But thank you.”
“You’ve had nothing since yesterday,” Kristian said, pushing a plate towards her. “Eat.”
He’d made her a full breakfast: cheese omelet, toast, and sausage. She took a bite of the meal and groaned. “Damn. That’s good.”
Kristian shrugged. “You need to keep your strength up.”
He took his travel mug from the refrigerator and took a long sip. They took their meal together in companionable silence. When she was done, he looked up at her with a serious expression. “We never finished our talk from before,” he said.
“If you want me to tell you this story,” she said, “you should probably get comfortable. Is it too early for wine?”
“Never,” he said, and grabbed a bottle from the cabinet.
Tessa sat down on the couch with her legs folded beneath her. Kristian sat across from her. As she began to speak, she felt his attention on her, his eyes on hers.
“There’s a lot to my own life I don’t understand. I don’t know why there are so many years of my childhood which I can’t remember. And it’s not like I had the money or the inclination to get therapy to find out. It occurred to me that maybe something traumatic happened before my parents died, but it doesn’t r
eally make sense. I went through a lot of awful things when I lived with the Forresters, and I remember every moment of it. I have read that people react differently to bad things. And that sometimes people who forget large chunks of their memory never remember all of it.
“When I finally got old enough to leave, I was happy. I didn’t need much to live on. And you’re right, I did keep moving because I was a minor and I didn’t want anyone to know. I was a truant, after all. That alone was enough to get my ass busted. I didn’t think the Forresters cared enough to make a big deal about me being gone, but I knew child services would find out at some point, and then the authorities would do whatever they were supposed to when it came to a runaway teen.
“The plan was to get a part-time job that would give me money on paper as soon as I was eighteen and save up for an apartment. A cheap studio would have been fine. And of course, I would continue to tell fortunes. It was a scam, but it was money, and I wasn’t ashamed of it. I figured it was their loss for being stupid enough to fall for the game.”
Tessa paused, trying to gauge his reaction. He nodded to urge her to continue.
“Here’s the thing. I know it’s not exactly normal that I can read minds, but until recently, I never believed in the occult. To me, mind reading was just a fucked-up glitch. Maybe I use some portion of my brain other people don’t. But whatever.
“My eighteenth birthday came and went. I had a waitress job, and I was living in Florida at the time. It was a little backwater town not many people came through, and I found an apartment easily enough. It was small enough that people also knew I told fortunes. At that time I would invite people into my home for the readings as long as they didn’t look questionable. A lot of the people there were older, and I didn’t feel weird about inviting them up. You find the ones who have some pain behind them, a dead spouse, an argument with a child, something, and you reinforce what it is they want to hear. Give them some comfort, and they shell out the cash. I know it sounds horribly callous, but you wanted honesty.”