by Erin R Flynn
She came over to me with a smirk, moving her hand to my chest and muttering under her breath. I gasped as I felt magic shoot through me and my dick went rock hard.
“Take care of that and replant all these trees. Finish on the stumps so the life can be recycled anew.” Her gaze held warning. “And don’t ever wink at another woman again.”
“I won’t,” I promised, hoping I didn’t mess up and hurt her. I wasn’t very good with women, my experience lacking, and I tended to get nervous around them. I just had to remember I didn’t need to anymore because I had Briony, and I only wanted Briony.
Which was what I told her, and she seemed happier then, back to amused as her spell took over.
Theo shook his head as I got to “work” and they started handling the trees. The trees were completely bare of leaves, so they were putting any branches she couldn’t use into the wood chipper, and she gave that to a few different people and restaurants in town that used them.
She never wasted anything. It always went somewhere, and was never simply tossed. It was impressive if I was honest, and once again, I shook my head at my parents teaching that witches were leeches on the planet. The woman tried her hardest to leave as little a carbon footprint as possible, from her acres of solar panels to composting to everything else I was sure I didn’t know about.
I found out the bigger branches weren’t hers to use this time, as she broke them into chunks with a firewood chopper that she put smaller pieces into. The barrel company used them to cook the barrels and fuse them. It sounded really cool actually, and I made a mental note to look it up on YouTube.
I swore, I learned more in the few months living with Briony than all the years of what my parents taught me.
And she didn’t lie to me.
And she was grateful for what we did, instead of ever tearing us down.
By Christmas, we’d made a good dent in what she needed to get done, and with the magic we helped her gather. She was drying wood and getting orders finished at a good rate.
Hell, I didn’t even mind the spell to go jerk off and reseed for her as the whole time, it felt like she was there with me, her hand touching me instead of just mine, as it was her magic coursing through me.
Sex was still way better, but it really wasn’t a “punishment,” as she kept calling it.
We gave her a few joking presents, but didn’t celebrate otherwise, besides the nice dinner I’d made.
“Is this okay?” she checked with us when we were soaking in her tub later with a bottle of wine.
“Our families tended to spout religion as a justification for the crazy,” Theo answered after several moments. “I hated that. I don’t want to ever get into the commercialism side of the holiday, but maybe next year we can get into some of the pretty. I always liked the lights and trees, so maybe we decorate a live tree and just enjoy the pretty.”
She swallowed her next sip loudly. “Maybe next year.”
Well, hot damn. Her even acknowledging we might be there next year was the best Christmas present ever. It made me think I should tell her how I felt on New Year’s Eve—start the new year right with her.
That sounded perfect.
It was a few days after Christmas, and I was writing a grocery list when there was a loud noise from the front of the house, and the floor seemed to shake under me. I froze, thinking that sounded a lot like—
“What the fuck just blew up outside?” Theo demanded as he came racing into the kitchen. “A landmine?”
“I was thinking that’s what it sounded like,” I admitted, blinking at him. “Where’s Briony? I thought she was with you.”
“No, she said she had to check on something and went to her lair.”
My feet were moving before I even thought about it, too worried to even make a joke that she actually called it her lair, like I normally did. Theo was hot on my heels, and I almost tripped when I heard another explosion.
What the fuck was going on?
“Briony!” I yelled as we got near the door.
She opened it and gave us a sad look. “I knew something was coming, but I’m sorry they’re here. I’m glad I’m paranoid and prepared.”
She didn’t elaborate, turning and letting us inside and over to a crate of supplies we’d brought down days ago.
Except it wasn’t supplies for her. There were tactical vests, a few different assault rifles with magazines loaded, and a bunch of extra bullets.
“Are we being invaded?” Theo asked, giving her a look.
“Yes,” she answered, grabbing a totem and muttering as she absorbed the magic to charge up.
Shit, this was really happening.
I didn’t hesitate, reaching for the gear and checking everything was what it should be after I got on a vest. Theo did the same, and not two minutes later, we were racing after her towards the front of the house.
“Stay close to me and a bit behind,” she told us as she turned off the alarm and flipped the lock. “I’ve activated my shield charm, and it will protect you too. You can shoot out of it, but let me take the lead. Just protect yourselves, I’ve got this.”
“Okay,” I agreed, wanting to ask who and what we were facing, but she was out the door the second we agreed.
And I understood why she didn’t tell us. I would have needed to see it to believe it.
The gate was destroyed again, down in a heap… With our families standing about twenty feet away from it, just past the turnoff to her farm, but still on what was considered county land of the highway.
“Fuck,” Theo whispered, and I could only nod.
But Briony didn’t hesitate, heading right for them.
“You’re paying for that gate. I just had it fixed, assholes,” she called over. “There’s a doorbell for a reason.”
“Yes, so we can fall prey to your spell like others have,” Mr. Black drawled.
“Aww, you guys do learn from your mistakes,” she cooed. “It only took about twenty groups, but it’s so much more fun to have adversaries with brains.”
“Release our sons, demon,” Mrs. Black sneered.
Briony threw back her head and burst out laughing. “Bitch, you’ve got so much darkness in your aura that I would not be throwing around that term for fear of lightning striking you. And your sons are here of their own volition, asking my protection from you.”
“Lies, you warped their minds to run from us,” she argued.
“No, she didn’t,” Theo defended. “We met her after we ran from you. There was a reason we didn’t call after we got out. We want no part of your insanity and lies. So much of what you told us was lies, and it makes me sick to think I even believed parts of it once.”
“That’s her magic muddling your mind,” she swore to him. “Come with us now and all is forgiven. No punishment. We understand she took control of your mind. We’ll cleanse you and move forward like it never happened. You can be free of her and fulfill your calling.”
“Oh, we’re playing the holy water card, huh?” Briony taunted.
She held out her hand, and something came off Mrs. Black’s belt and flew to her hand. I recognized the flask of holy water our families carried.
“Let’s just disprove this lie, shall we?” She opened the bottle and dumped it out on the driveway.
My eyes went wide as it ate through the ground. “What the fuck was in there?”
“Acid they add to the holy water so it burns, to prove their insanity and lies. That’s why they always keep it in metal containers,” Briony explained, tossing the flask over her shoulder. “Any other tricks? I’ve had fun educating your sons of the truth. Well, and more than that.”
“You’ve fucked a whore?” my dad seethed.
“Don’t call her that,” I shot right back, my family flinching, as I’d never ever talked back to them. “You’ve done nothing but lie to us. You’re a fucked up cult and insane serial killers, nothing more. Briony is pure and not a leech or parasite. Fuck, churches around her love her becaus
e she’s so good. All of your teachings were bullshit!”
“I bet that felt good to get off your chest,” she muttered, giving me a wink.
“Yeah, it did.”
“Here’s the part I want them to hear, as they’ll never be able to convince you that you’re insane,” Briony said, and I had a feeling that second part was for us and she was right to remind us of that. “What happens after they go with you? You just leave? So what’s the plan after?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Dad snapped. “Come here now, Levi.” His eyes went wide when I flicked him off, and then filled with rage. “Get your ass over here, boy, and do as you’re told.”
“Fuck and You,” I replied.
“And he’s my boy, not yours,” Briony snapped. “Now answer the fucking question and show your true colors now that they’ve finished their Rumspringa you don’t really give them a choice about. Pull back the fucking curtain and reveal you are the demons!”
The way she said it made me realize she knew more than she’d told us. “What have they done?”
“Let them tell you,” she pushed.
“All they say are lies,” Theo argued. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him flinch. “They’re selling totems on the black market, aren’t they?”
“Yes.” That one word hung in the air, and somehow was a louder bomb to drop than the explosions earlier.
“You fucking hypocrites,” I seethed, completely disgusted. “You rant and rave about all magic being evil when it’s not, and you go and sell it?”
“How do you think we afford what we need?” Dad asked, giving me a look like I was dense.
“Then get fucking jobs like normal people!” I roared. “You’re zealots. You’re fucking crazy ass terrorist zealots. I would rather die standing next to Briony and Theo, knowing I chose the right side, than ever go with you.”
“You really sell totems, Dad?” my older brother asked, his tone not happy. “How do you decide who gets that magic?”
“It’s a con,” Briony told him before my dad could. “They sell them and then trace them, kill the witch, rob her blind, collect the totems and any others, and do it all over again.” She smirked at my parents. “Tell them. For once in your lives, be honest with your children, who are fucking adults. Tell them that you came here to kill me and steal all of this from me. Yes, you are on the side of any god.”
“You got this through evil and—” Mrs. Black tried.
“No, she didn’t, Mom, so enough with the lies,” Theo snapped. “She paid for it. She pays her taxes. She doesn’t lie, cheat, and steal like you do, and I fucking love her, so stop talking about her like that!”
“You do?” Briony asked, glancing at him in shock.
“I do too, though I was planning on telling you on New Year’s Eve,” I added.
“You do?” she repeated, giving me the shocked glance next, like she couldn’t comprehend why someone would love her.
“Yeah, Briony, and I hope you make me your familiar permanently one day. I love you and want a life with you.”
“You disgrace this family!” Dad bellowed. “Asking to be a witch’s slave? You’re not my son.”
I snorted. “Good, so bye-bye. Take your lies and leave, as I’ve been acting as her familiar for the past two months, and it’s not being her slave. Not even close. All she does is give and give. There is nothing evil about making love under the full moon and plants bearing tons of fruit that she donates. When have you donated anything as you judge her?”
“And, um, they’re not leaving here alive,” Briony muttered under her breath. “You knew I couldn’t let Larson go, and we can’t let them just try again later.”
I closed my eyes and let out a shaky breath. “So be it. They did this to themselves.”
“Our siblings?” Theo checked.
“All of them have killed LLL witches; I can see it in their auras. It’s why they can’t come onto my land like you can.”
“There’s not a difference of witches,” my older brother snapped. “BDE and LLL is all lies.”
“It’s not,” I told him, practically begging him to listen to me. “It’s not, Chaz. She hunts BDE witches too. It’s night and day, I swear it. She’s not shed any blood in the months we’ve been here, and we’re always with her. We’ve been in her magic room. There’s no blood, death, or evil. It’s all life and love and light.” I looked to my sister as well. “Mom and Dad have lied to us.”
“Enough of this,” Mr. Black growled, turning towards the SUV by them.
Theo’s older brother, Carter, blocked his path. “Answer what she asked. What would you do after they come with us?”
“They won’t, Carter,” he barked, trying to push aside, but Carter was stronger, shoving back.
“Answer the fucking question. I want to know the answer before you hurt my brother. And don’t give me that ‘boy’ shit again, or I will punch your face in.”
He shoved Carter off of him. “We kill the witch. That doesn’t change. You knew we came here to kill her for what she did.”
“And then what? Steal her totems and sell them?” he pushed.
“Yes, of course,” Mr. Black snapped. “Wake up, boy. How do you think we afford everything we need, everything we give you? We sell the totems for traps. The moment she dies, the spell does, and we take what we can.”
“Nope,” Briony taunted, popping the P loudly. “The spell doesn’t die with me. It will, however, alert several other LLL witches I’m down, and one has access to my security system, so they’ll know who to go after.” She smirked at him. “Tell your son the rest, boy. Don’t lie in front of your elders, and answer him fully.”
“What is she talking about?” Carter demanded. “What else is going on here?”
“Tell us, please?” Theo asked Briony, when his dad wouldn’t answer.
“Larson drew attention to my land and couldn’t get it. It’s now on the map for other developers, isn’t it, Mr. Black? Made any deals with any lately? Say, a fee if you get me out of the way to help make the development possible? Say, a plan to lay it all at Larson’s feet as retribution and finish completely destroying him?”
“How did you—” He snapped his mouth shut so fast I hoped he bit his tongue.
“I have friends,” she answered.
I saw the doubt in my siblings’ eyes, turning and moving closer to Briony but not blocking her view. “I know I have no right to ask this, but I’m begging you to spare my siblings. Give them a chance like you did us, baby. Please? Let them see the truth like we did.”
“They’ve killed LLL witches,” she hissed. “And you want me to just let them walk? Give them a chance to do it again? That blood would be on me then.”
“They were brainwashed,” Theo whispered as he mirrored me on her other side. “Even with what we could block out, some still got through. I was completely sure familiars were slaves. Don’t let them off, but let them have a chance to redeem themselves. Can you tell if they did it alone? Did they hunt one down or follow our parents?”
“That’s doesn’t make it okay,” she snapped.
“We know, but they’re our siblings. Please, please give us a chance to save them,” I begged, leaning my forehead down to her hair. “Be the pure and good woman I know you are, and let us help them.”
I knew it was too much to ask, and could risk what I had with her, but this wasn’t something I could let happen. I had to try.
I really hoped she’d let me try.
10
Briony
“Fuck,” I snarled, scrubbing my hands over my face. “Apparently I went and fell in love with you too. Fine, fine, we can give them a chance, but they also have to pay that debt and cleanse their auras. Fuck, fuck, fuck this is stupid. What if we can’t change their minds and save them? If they kill, that is on me and I will never forgive you both.”
“Chain them in the guesthouse or whatever, just give us a chance,” Theo whispered, kissing my hair. “Thank you.”
�
��Don’t thank me. They’ll probably slit our throats in the middle of the night,” I grumbled.
I wasn’t sure what I was going to say next, because I realized there was an argument going on with Theo’s older brother and his father I’d not paid attention to.
“We’re not hitmen!” Carter shouted. “How can you say we’re on the side of right and doing what’s best for everyone if you’re selling stuff on the black market and making deals with developers to kill people? Are you insane?”
“It’s a means to an end,” Mrs. Black defended.
“So where’s the line? When is it too far and we’re the bad guys?” he seethed. “I knew you guys broke laws, but I thought it was for the right reasons, not to line your pockets! You’re no better than shady military contractors robbing from the people they’re supposed to protect.”
I winced at the punch he took while distracted, Mr. Black apparently not above that even with his own children. He turned to the SUV and came back with an RPG.
“Holy fuck, Dad,” Theo yelled. “Are you nuts?”
“My son is dead. She’s possessed you,” Mr. Black replied. “At least this will put you at peace.”
Carter tried to move in time, but wasn’t going to make it. I had hope for him now at least.
A blur dove for Mr. Black and knocked him to the ground, his screams filling the night before blood sprayed all over and the scary ass weapon fell to the ground.
“Only the parents,” I called over, feeling Theo’s and Levi’s eyes on me. “So, I might not have told you everything about my land.”
“Like the fucking wolf that just attacked my dad?” Theo whispered, then swallowed loudly. “And the others all over?”
“A pack of werewolves lives on several well-hidden acres, and they take care of the natural wolves that have sanctuary here as long as they behave.” I shrugged. “You felt their eyes during the full moon. They tend to come out and enjoy the magic.”
“Jesus, Briony,” Levi muttered. “Anything else?”
“I’m sure lots,” I chuckled darkly. “Do you need to say goodbye, or can we finish this?”