by S Cinders
"Nothing," I denied quickly and then internally cursed myself, knowing that I just sealed my fate. They were both well trained and could sniff the truth out of a lie at 100 yards.
"She must be something else," he muttered before laying back and covering his face again. "But it's too damn hot for me to worry about that now."
Thankful for the unexpected reprieve, I turned to go to the jeep. I'd left my cell there and needed to call into headquarters to start the paperwork.
"So, is she?" Patrick asked. I'd almost forgotten him up there on that rock.
"Is she what?" I replied tersely, it really was hotter than hell.
Patrick rolled his eyes, "Something else."
I thought about her fine delicate features, her long blond hair and her sexy toned body. But mostly I thought of the heat in her eyes when she looked at me. There was no doubt about it. She was as hot for me as I was for her.
I really should have just thrown her over my shoulder and taken her with me. "Beyond description," I muttered in response to Patrick. "It was completely beyond description."
Before the guys could catch a glimpse of my southern soldier trying to rise to attention, I turned my back to them and dialed in, this wasn't going to be easy.
The phone rang twice before the harsh voice of the SOW, our Senior Oppositional Warlock blasted through. "Officer Ruttledge what is your report?"
I blew out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "I found her dad."
"Affirmative, how soon can you bring her in?"
"No dad, you don't understand. I found HER, the one from the prophecy, Apple. She's the Rouge's granddaughter. They were living as normals, so the Rouge wasn't able to register with the magical community."
"Son, you had better start from the beginning."
CHAPTER 8 - Ryan
There is something that you need to understand about warlocks. They are not the warm and fuzzy type. Parents are often harsh with their punishments and quick to anger. My parent was no exception.
I never knew my mother. She died having my younger sister Emily, who coincidently had no magic whatsoever when she was born. I don't think anything could have made my father hate her more.
He blamed Emily for her mother's death. He constantly told her that she was a disappointment. The worst of all, telling her she should have died instead of our mother.
Our father beat us with his belt. I have permanent scars on my back for trivial misdeeds, like dropping my cup of milk, or forgetting to put a toy away.
As we grew older I learned better ways to protect my sister. Hiding her and taking both punishments. I know my father thinks my love for my sister is my greatest weakness. He does not tolerate weakness.
We were not educated in the public-school system, we didn't play or even converse with other children in the neighborhood. Making matters worse, my father is a powerful warlock. Many from the magical community fear him.
Ruthless, cunning and steel-hatred ran through his veins and were present in his every word and deed. I knew that I had to be careful in how I worded my report to him. I couldn't let him find any flaw with my plan.
"The girl named Apple is living with the Applebottom witches here in the Grand Canyon. She is the granddaughter of the rouge Gladys Applebottom. But there was a mistake with administration. She did send her registration paperwork in. I don't know why they didn't process it. I am resubmitting it now.” I lied to my father feeling no guilt.
"Did you take the girl, this Apple?" His menacing voice not at all focused on the rouge. I felt a wave of relief come over me.
"Negative." I waited for him to blow his top.
"GO BACK AND TAKE HER! If you can't do it I will fly out from Chicago and do it for you. A union must be made. It doesn't say that the Ruttledge warlock has to be you."
"I am taking her tonight sir. You will have an affirmative report in the morning."
"See that you do." The line went dead indicating that he had hung up.
Just the thought of my father even being near Apple made me want to vomit, something so good needed protection from something so bad, I needed to form a union with her today, now if possible. I know that my father only wants her to control her.
The prophecy states that the child of this union will rule them all. The magical world is always in some form of turmoil. My father cannot get control of everything. I just wish that I knew what to do. The weight of the world is on my shoulders; sadly, it's a familiar feeling.
Dialing Emily I fill her in on the day’s events.
"Ry," her sweet voice laced with concern, “You cannot let him get to Apple. He's a monster, he will destroy her."
"I know that Emily," I try not to be short with her although I know the frustration is laced through my words.
"I'm sorry Ry," she whispers and I feel the helplessness she is feeling.
"I will figure something out, I always do." I tried to sound positive, but even to myself the words fell flat of the mark.
"Ry," She asks hesitantly.
"Yeah," I replied.
"Can I come and talk to her? Maybe if she realized just what was riding on this she would accept it easier."
I thought about her offer and said, "I don't see how it could hurt. But are you sure you want to come? And can you get here on your own?"
Despite being born not displaying signs of magical ability, Emily learned to cultivate fire. Her gift was small, but she still stopped aging at 25. She has been hidden from my father for more than a hundred years.
According to my father she is rouge number one, and is to be brought in dead or alive. He has no idea I am in contact with her and he never will.
Not even my own team knows who she is. I have cloaked her with the strongest spells I know. I even chose to spill my own blood to protect her with black magic. I will fight to the death to protect her. I will never allow him to hurt her again, I will kill him first.
"Ry, I will be fine. You have seen to that. I think he could walk right in front of me and not recognize who I am. I hate that you sold part of your soul to protect me, but I am eternally grateful."
I brush off her gratitude feeling uncomfortable with the praise. When you use black magic, you must seal the spell with your blood, and in exchange for the magic, lose a piece of your soul.
I don't think my father has any soul left.
"Just call me when you get here, and please be careful. Love you Em." I waited for her to respond.
"Love you back Ry, calling the airport now, see you soon."
The line went dead and I stared at the phone for a moment. Had I made a mistake letting Emily come? How would I explain her to Patrick and James? Would I be able to get Apple to trust me? Could I protect her and her family from my father?
"You alright, Mate?" Patrick was looking down at me. "You've been staring at nothing for almost five minutes. Did you get the report in?"
Thankful that I was far enough away not to be overheard on my phone calls, I plastered a fake smile on my face.
"Everything is fine, they are sending out another colleague. A woman, perhaps she will be better able to reason with the Applebottoms."
Patrick looked at me for a moment before replying, "Is she hot?"
"Don't talk about her like that she's my..." I cut myself off before saying sister.
"She's your what?" He asked with a look of confusion on his face. "Dude, if you are into her, just let me know."
"It's not like that," I frowned. "She's my friend, that's all."
"So, fair game?"
This was going to be the death of me.
CHAPTER 9 - Apple
The three of them were silent, looking at me with guilt and some of the saddest puppy dog eyes I had ever seen. It wasn’t working.
I knew that my Aunt Jess would spill it if I stared her down long enough. With my hands on my hips I keep my gaze on her until she finally cracked.
“Ok, I know that we should have mentioned this sooner.” She began.
“What? That I have been engaged since infancy? I can’t imagine when you would have had the time to tell me. I mean certainly not the last 18 years of my life, I was much too busy… knowing nothing! And in the last several weeks living here in the cabin, someone could have said something!”
“Now dear,” Nana fussed, “don’t be getting yourself too worked up, everything is going to be fine.”
“Everything's not fine Nana!” I wailed. “I am the worst witch ever. I can’t even perform a simple levitation spell. I just met a stranger that told me I was to be his wife and I’ve never even had a boyfriend.”
“I’ll put on some tea,” Aunt Jess said escaping my full-on tantrum.
“I’m sure that you need some help with that. We won’t be a moment.” Aunt Sally squeaked and followed her.
“Nana, I’m tired of all this. Sometimes I just want to move back to the city and pretend that none of this ever happened.” I slumped down in the sofa taking my head in my hands.
“Apple, I know that this has been incredibly hard on you.” Nana soothed as she took my head into her lap and ran her fingers through my hair like she did when I was upset as a child.
We sat there for a few moments in silence as I regained my composure.
“Apple darling, there is so much for you to know and do in this life. I know that this seems hard, but you are an amazing young woman. I really could care less if you were the worst witch that had ever been if you were the best Apple that you could be. But I know that you have a special gift, your magic will come, give it time. You are trying to make up for years of education in just a few weeks.”
“What if I can’t do it?” I whispered, my true fears coming out. “What if I never catch on and we end up losing this place all because of me?”
“Won’t happen,” she stated firmly.
“But how do you know?” I insisted.
“Apple,” she began, “Every witch has different gifts, for some it is to see what may be, for others it could to bewitch and conceal. There are literally hundreds of gifts, but the one that will interest you most right now is my own. I have the gift of knowing what the future holds. I see glimpses of it all the time. I know that you have asked me in the past if I was dazing off, and I guess in a sense I have been. I have seen you in action and you are incredible. I don’t know what it will take for you to become what it is you are meant to, that is not my gift, but I know you will change the world.”
Aunt Jess came over with a steaming cup of chamomile tea, “Here you are dearest. Let’s see what we can do to answer some of these questions that you have.”
Sitting there with my aunts and Nana made me feel safe and considering their faces I knew that they would always have my back.
“Who was that man, and why does he think I am going to marry him?” I asked.
“Honestly, that was the first time I have ever met someone from the Ruttledge line.” Nana answered. “But to answer I think we have to backtrack just a bit.”
“You know how we have COW’s and SOW’s?” Aunt Jess asked.
I nodded.
“They are a branch of the Ruling Magical Department. It is an organization that manages all magical beings. As you know we have our own police-like task force in the COW’s, but what you don’t know is that there are many, many different departments of magic. One of those branches is headed up by the Oracle. This is a position, not a person so whoever holds this mantle at the time receives prophesies concerning our people.
Prophesies are rare, some have held this office and not received one. What was so unusual about the prophesy concerning you Apple was that number one, no one knew of your existence and number two it was a prophecy linking magical houses and speaking on an heir. That is unheard of, so you can see why we would want to keep you and your location undisclosed.”
Nana continued, “I had promised my son Richard that I would raise you without magic, and I vowed to keep that promise. Even after that prophesy was released by the Oracle. We are the only family with the word ‘apple’ in our name, Applebottom. So, our family was contacted as well as the Ruttledge family.”
“We hadn’t a clue what it meant and none of us went by the name of Apple so we chose to not contact the Ruttledge’s until we had more information.” Aunt Sally interjected.
“Do you remember how that boy decided to call you Apple and the name stuck?” Nana gently asked me.
I thought for a moment, “Shawn Brown started calling me Apple, in the fourth grade.”
Nana nodded, “That’s when I knew for sure that it was about you. But how could I tell you when I’d promised to keep everything magical out of your life? How could I look into that sweet face and tell you that the crush you had on this boy or that boy was fruitless? I wanted you to have the most normal life that you could, I still do.”
I thought about what Nana was trying to tell me. How would have I reacted back then? I could see her point.
“But why not tell me when I first got here?” I asked.
Aunt Jess sighed, “Apple there is so much for you to learn about our world. And do you think that you would have believed us? Besides we didn’t even know the Ruttledge family very well, from what I hear the SOW is horrible. We just didn’t have enough information to lay it on you and besides I’m not sure you would have believed us anyway if we had told you.”
The truth is that she was probably right. I don’t think that I would have believed them. Everyday something else completely new and crazy was popping into my life.
“Will he take me away from you all?” I whispered to them.
“Never,” Nana stated firmly. “We have incredible sources of magic here in our lands. If he wants to fulfill that prophesy, he can do it on our terms and with your permission. Prophecy or not, you are always given a choice Apple. What you do with your life is completely up to you and we will support you no matter what you choose.”
CHAPTER 10 - Apple
I wanted some time to think about everything that had happened today. I needed some time to myself. So, I grabbed a canteen and my hiking boots and started off along a mountain trail. Walking along the red dirt paths helps ground me, I found this early on after moving in with my Aunts. Four women in a home, no matter how spacious, can be a bit overwhelming.
The sun was hot overhead and I was glad that I had remembered my Red’s cap to protect my face from burning. As a rule, I tan well. But I do tend to burn my nose easily and there is nothing worse than a peeling face. The red dirt under my boots puffed out in little clouds with each step that I had taken. It was dry this year they said, I hadn’t been here long enough to know the difference between a wet and dry year.
I could feel the magic around me. For me walking out in the canyons was one of the few times I felt confident that I was meant to be a witch. I could almost see silvery strands of gossamer connecting things together, glittering in the sunlight.
After about an hour I came to a spot near a small river, finding a flat rock to sit on I removed my boots and stuck my feet into cool them. The water was deliciously cool against my heated flesh. I had come to some conclusions during my hike out here. I would be open to what my family and this Ryan had to say. But I refused to just follow along blindly, if it came down to it I would not marry against my will, Prophecy be damned.
I had just started humming absently to myself when I heard a scuffle of rocks from behind me. Turning quickly, I saw a girl a few years older than me walking directly my way. She was far enough away that I could put my boots back on. I had hoped that once she saw me she would take another path, no such luck.
“Hello,” she said hesitantly when getting within speaking distance.
“Hello,” I replied, “I hope you have a nice hike.”
I turned to move past her and she placed a hand on my arm. It felt fire hot, and yet it didn’t burn me, it was more of a tickling sensation. My eyes darted directly to her face.
“I’m sorry!” She exclaimed quickly removing her hand, “I didn’t
mean to hurt you.”
I looked down at my arm. There was not a mark where she had touched me.
“No harm done.” I said slowly still watching her closely.
“My name is Emily, as you can see I am a fire witch. I didn’t mean to startle you. I usually have a bit more control of my powers. I guess I am just nervous.”
I smiled at her, “I have no control of my powers so please do not let that bother you. Are you here on vacation?”
It was not unusual for me to come across people with magic. Nana said that they are naturally drawn to the land because of the deep sources it holds.
“No,” She said shyly, “I am actually here to talk to you Apple.”
“Oh, my moon goddess, if you have another prophesy for me you are going to have to get in line.” I said only half joking, feeling my defenses begin to rise.
“No, not another one,” she smiled, “it’s actually pretty rare to even have one.”
“That’s what my grandmother told me, but I am beginning to be wary of such things. What can I do for you?” I asked.
“Is there somewhere we can go and talk?” she asked hesitantly.
I looked around at the wide-open expanses around us and raised a questioning eyebrow. There wasn’t anyone around us for miles, how much more privacy did she need?
She looked down a little embarrassed, “I am uncomfortable out in the open. I will explain to you more why once we are safe.”
“Safe?” I asked.
“At least safe for me,” she clarified. So, I shrugged my shoulders and motioned for her to follow me.
We didn’t talk much on the return trip to the cabin. But one thing I learned about Emily is that she is not an outdoor person at all. She was constantly looking over her shoulder at sounds real or imagined. She also was in a pair of sandals. Her feet had to be covered in blisters by now. I tried to walk slowly to help ease her time, but she insisted that we keep a good pace and never once complained. I respected her much more just spending that time with her returning to the cabin. Anyone that could keep up with a seasoned hiker in sandals was a pretty tough person.