by Holly Hood
I squeezed him tightly; he wrapped his arms around me. “Be very careful, Doll. Promise me that?”
“I promise,” I agreed.
He produced another scrap of paper. “My number, I know Karsen stole your phone last night so the old-fashioned way will just have to work.”
I smiled, tucking the paper in my pocket. “I’ll guard it with my life. See you later, Hutch.”
He smirked, lingering for a couple more seconds. “Fight the good fight, rah rah rah and all that good stuff right?”
I laughed, heading back to my house alone.
A little part of me was sad that it had to end, that I couldn’t have spent more time with him before I went back to my miserable life. And all the people that were going to let me have it when I showed myself, but suddenly I didn’t care, none of that mattered because I had one goal in mind. And that was crafting my special abilities, so I could defend myself and whatever it was I wanted from Audrey and the coven.
TIME FOR CHANGES
I turned the knob slowly, trying hard to keep my noise to a minimum as I snuck into my own house. Dad’s van was parked outside which meant he was probably home.
But all that was for nothing when I saw Nona hovering over the stove stirring a pot of chili, her worry lines—or anger was very prominent.
“Hey, Hope,” she said, using my given name that was always a bad sign.
“Hi Nona.” I dropped my gaze to the door already feeling like a criminal for showing up after such a wild night.
Nona ground pepper over the pot of chili and returned the pepper to the counter. The pungent smells of fresh herbs and spicy meats made my mouth water.
“How’s work going?” She eyed me suspiciously as I tried to get to my bedroom.
“Good, things are decent." I smiled quickly before she dissected my strange behavior. “Look, Nona. I am sorry. Is Dad upset with me?” I looked into the living room for signs of him, but he wasn’t there.
Nona stirred the chili and let out a long sigh. “Why would he be upset with you, sweet pea? You’re not the evil bitch running around on him.”
My heart sank. This had nothing to do with me; Nona was in our house making food for Dad because of a breakup.
“When did this happen?” I pulled up a chair, covering my neck with my hair so Nona didn’t go on a rant about letting boy’s mouths do such horrid things.
“Well at one of the school committee meetings it was the big scandal circling around. You would think she knew better than to run around Cherry. Everything gets back to me.” Nona pulled up a seat and pulled out a pack of her skinny cigarettes. She lit one with a match, shaking the flame out. I hated when she smoked in our house.
“Did you punch her?” I smirked.
Nona shook her head, shooting a look at the hallway before she answered me. “No, I have more class then that. But I did tell her to think twice if she ever thought about coming around my son again.”
I frowned. Nona waved a hand in the air. “We are not going to let this get us down. I am making your dad his favorite food. And we are going to keep him in good spirits.”
“He said Lynette was the only good thing in his life,” I told her, and if she was gone then I knew what was going to happen next. I could tell by the look in Nona’s eyes that she felt the same way.
“The boys are still young. They need a good parent in their lives. Lord knows your mother doesn’t care.” Nona rolled her eyes, snuffing out her cigarette and going back to the chili. “And your dad is full of shit. He has three very good things in his life, you, Elliot and Easton.”
I got up, lingering in the doorway, wanting to ask Nona what I could do to help keep Dad away from Jack Daniels. But I wasn’t sure she would give me a straight answer. She didn’t like to discuss Dad’s crutch with anyone. She liked to ignore it.
“Nona, what makes one person care so much and others care so little?”
Nona whirled around, her eyebrows high on her head. “I am not quite sure what you mean. However, I think whoever gave you that love bite cared enough in that moment.”
I pulled my hair over my neck my cheeks on fire. She leaned against the counter crossing her expensive red heels. “I think everyone cares, to some extent. Some people are just better at showing it.”
I nodded. It made sense.
“Is this about Slade and the blonde?” She asked.
My jaw fell open. How had she figured that out? Was he running all over the town with Audrey?
“Like I told you, I know everything that goes on in Cherry. And if I was you, I would keep away from that girl. She looks like a bowl full of trouble.” Nona nodded her head.
***
I plopped down on my bed after a long shower, glad to be home. I was tired, but now was the perfect time to do the spell that Hutch told me about. I pulled the rope from the drawer and sat down on the bed.
I unfolded the paper.
Cast the circle in your normal manner.
Kneel at your altar, and bless all Items.
Write the person’s name on a scrap of paper unless you have a photograph, and hold it at eye level.
Envision a big black X over their name.
Now pick up the rope, and begin wrapping the paper while saying:
''I bind you (persons name) from doing harm, harm against other people, and harm against yourself.''
Repeat until you have wrapped the entire ribbon around the picture. Drip some of the black candle wax over the ribbon's ends, draw an equal armed cross over the whole thing and say:
''it is done''
I laid the paper on the bed and quickly tore a piece of paper from my journal. I wrote the name Audrey on it, hoping the magic worked without a last name. But it was magic, and I trusted whatever the higher being was it knew who the spell was intended for.
I dropped to my knees pulling out the wooden hope chest Nona had given me years ago. It would have to do as an altar.
I made sure the door was locked before I started. I kneeled as the directions stated.
“A blessing,” I asked out loud. I thought back to the many witch movies and televisions shows I watched and settled on touching each item as I thought positive thoughts.
I raised the scrap of paper and did like it said imagining the blackest X over Audrey’s name and smug face.
“I bind you Audrey from doing harm, h against other people, and harm against yourself.” I said low, over and over again until it was robotic and natural coming from my lips.
I worked the rope around the paper until it was no longer visible and perfectly bound. I gave it a few seconds and finally stood.
“It is done,” I said out loud, stashing the paper in my desk drawer for safe keeping.
I sat down on my bed. Unsure if I was supposed to feel any different. The room was silent. I sighed, I guess it was one of those things you just had to wait and see. The phone rang scaring the crap out of me.
I reached over answering the handset in my bedroom.
“So you finally showed your face?” Karsen asked.
I leaned back against my headboard. “Yeah, back in one piece.”
There was a light tapping on my door. I unlocked it half expecting Karsen, but it was Nona. “There is chili on the stove on low. I have Pilates. I will be back in a couple of hours.”
I nodded that I understood.
“So, what happened?” Karsen asked. I wasn’t in the mood to get into it.
“It’s nothing I want to talk about right now. What are you doing tonight?”
Karsen scoffed from her end. “Henry Park is having their first gig of the summer tonight. And being the good girlfriend that I am, I am attending.”
“Could you pick me up? We could walk there together,” I said already sifting through my drawers for something to wear. I needed to be deep in the action. I needed to speak to Slade and figure out where we stood as well.
“Are you saying you want to come, after everything that happened the last couple days with Audrey
and Slade?” Karsen let out a miserable sigh indicating she thought I was the biggest idiot she knew.
“I have no idea what happened. Even so, I would hope Slade would be honest with me. I can’t wait in the wings for the rest of my life. If Slade doesn’t want anything to do with me, then he can just say so.” I chewed at my nail.
Karsen was silent.
“I get it, Karsen.” I plucked a black camisole from the rack. “He has done nothing that deserves my interest in him anymore. But I know, deep down, Slade is still the sweet guy I once was into.”
“Fine. You have an hour to get ready. And if you guys decide to have a scream match, remember screaming is his thing and you will probably lose.” She hung up the phone before I could counter with an equally sarcastic comeback.
I turned to face my mirror. I told myself I wasn’t this weak girl I convinced myself I was. I was Hope Zigler. I could be just as strong and conniving as Audrey. I had too much to lose to not be.
HOTNESS
“Holy crap, where is Hope Zigler?” Karsen choked, checking me out on the porch as I walked out. I locked the door behind me laughing at her over dramatics. She touched the blue silk top I was wearing. “You look stunning. If you’re trying to piss the rest of the female population off you will definitely succeed.”
I rolled my eyes. Karsen was being a little over the top. I didn’t go all out. I just wanted to look nice—really nice. I had this overflowing amount of confidence searing through me, and it was tugging at my sense of fashion suddenly.
I smoothed my high wasted grey skirt, tickling the fringe around my hips with my fingertips. I smoothed my hair and headed down the steps all set for Henry Park. Keeping my hair over my shoulders, I had even spent an extra ten minutes flat ironing it in front of my mirror until it was silky smooth. After that I dug out my old concealer covering the love bite Hutch had given me. I smiled at the thought of it, my insides a bit tingly the moment his face flashed in my mind.
“So, do you feel like filling me in on what happened last night now?” Karsen asked trying to keep up with my confident stride past a group of guys playing beach football. I grinned, the blank awe on each of their faces told me all I needed to know—I looked hot.
“There isn’t a lot to tell,” I shrugged it off. “I spent the night with Hutch because I was too drunk to show my face back at my house.”
Karsen squeezed my arm excited. “So?”
“So what?”
She shook her head frustrated. I wasn’t giving up all the gooey details. “You know I would never run back and tell anyone anything you told me right?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Of course I know it. You’re my best friend.”
Karsen shot me that look. The one that told me I needed to spill.
I sighed. “Hutch is hot.”
Karsen nodded in agreement. “Hutch is smoking hot, in that tall-dramatic-enticing-I-want-to-throw-you-down-and-have-my-way-with-you kind of way.”
I laughed at Karsen. “He’s also sweet and not afraid to say how he feels, and he’s caring.”
We stopped walking coming to stop behind two rather large men dressed in black. Henry Park was alive and as packed as the last time I had been there.
“And then there’s Slade.” I crossed my arms, the same familiar pangs of lust coursing my veins at the thought of him. “There’s definitely no denying he’s hot.”
“He’s hot in that I–have-a-fucked–up-life-die-trying-to-save-me kind of way,” Karsen said with a nod, ignoring the man in front of us who shot her an offended look.
“Who can blame him, he does have a messed up life.” We made it through the gates of Henry Park and quickly headed for the stage. The music was already flowing; the crowd was already thick and rambunctious. Elbows and backs bumped and swirled in mosh pits all around us. I held tight to Karsen afraid to be knocked into one.
And there he was, black baseball cap on backwards, aviators shielding his intense blue eyes from the crowd, his voice tearing through my conscience. Every scream and growl threatened to knock me off course.
I pushed my hair behind my ear, a small smile playing on my lips as Slade cupped the mic with both hands shouting at the audience. His black cutoff shirt showcased all his tattoos and all the muscles his arms housed. My stomach ached with lust. I shook the bad thoughts out of my head.
He produced his perfect pearly whites as he let out a guttural scream. It was hard not to like someone with such raw talent and emotion on stage. If only he could have that much in his love life, I thought bitterly.
I dodged the burly man about to smash into me, yanking Karsen out of the way. Her eyes were glued to Kidd as he played backup.
“They are so hot,” she gushed, clutching her chest as she watched her man move to the beat of the music. He pulled the black Fedora hat from his head sending it loose into the audience. A screaming girl caught it.
“That was my favorite hat,” Karsen whined, watching the girl dance around with Kidd’s hat on her head.
“I’m sure he has more.”
Slade stood on the speaker, extending the microphone to the crowd. He raised his hands in the air, igniting the crowd into a roar of celebration. I smiled. He leaned forward; chaos ensued as a throng of girls battled to touch him. They tugged on his hand, but he stayed planted, singing along to the lyrics as he gave the crowd what they wanted—him.
The band finished up, taking their break and letting the stagehands clean up the mess before the next gig. Karsen and I headed back to the Rv. I had to admit I was a little nervous. As we finally slipped through the crowd, I was disturbed to see Audrey hanging on Slade’s arm and praising him on his great performance.
Karsen stopped walking and tugged me close, nose to nose with me. “We can leave. I will leave right now…Kidd will understand.”
I shook my head refusing to give in to Audrey anymore. “No, I’m going to say hi. Tell him what a great job he did.”
Everyone’s attention immediately fell on me as I approached, including Slade and Audrey.
“Great job, love the new song,” I told him, giving a little wave. He pushed Audrey away from him, his eyes a bit alarmed to see me standing before him. He bit down on his bottom lip checking me out. It was obvious.
Audrey crossed her arms glaring at me.
Kidd wrapped his arm around Karsen kissing her head. “Glad you came, sex kitten, and you too, Hope.”
I smiled at Kidd. “Thanks, Kidd. You guys still are great.”
Slade was now standing before me. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
I looked up at him and gave a shrug. “It was sort of a spur-of-the-moment thing. You did great, by the way.”
He slipped his hat from his head smoothing back his dark hair and planted it on my head. I smiled, as he tugged me close and kissed me, his hand cradling the back of my head.
“That wasn’t what I was expecting, but thank you.” I smirked, immediately enchanted by him.
Slade stared me down. I couldn’t tell what he was really thinking without a view of his eyes. I pulled off his aviators and slipped them on, giving him a teasing smile.
He stroked my mouth with his fingers, "still mad at me?”
I bit down on my lip trying to decide if I was. “It’s hard to stay mad at you when you’re so hot.”
He smiled, playing with his lip ring knowing what it did to just about every girl on the planet.
“Nothing happened. I promise you there is nothing going on between her and I. She isn’t making things easy that’s for sure.” He pressed his forehead against mine. “Things have been crazy dealing with the coven and Audrey. I wanted to explain things to you earlier, but I also knew how pissed you were.”
I touched his face alarmed. “What do you mean?”
Slade shook his head trying to act like the hero and keep the truth—whatever that was from me. “She’s not so easy to get rid of. And it’s hard to try when she is the daughter of the man that I owe my life too.”
Slade agreed. “I forgot to mention how hot you look right now.” He changed the subject, stealing another kiss.
I pulled away. “What does that mean for us, with Audrey always around it's quite difficult to be around, Slade.” I hated when reality hit me.
Our meeting was interrupted by Audrey before Slade could give me an answer.
“Look who decided to show up. Hope.” Audrey glared at me. “I thought you were too busy being mad at Slade to hang around.”
I glared right back. “It was you who I was trying to avoid, not Slade.”
She stepped in front of Slade. I backed up before things got to personal. It was clear she didn’t want me anywhere near him. He was like her possession—her prisoner even.
“Look here, Hope.” She pursed her lips, the anger seething from her as she looked me over. “Things have been quite fine without you running around trying to ruin things.”
Slade grabbed hold of Audrey’s arm keeping her at bay and unable to pounce. Kidd and Oz both came to stand next to us; they too were concerned with the showdown.
“Audrey lay off, Hope.” Kidd told her, a disturbed look on his face. Karsen was just as horrified.
Audrey laughed at everyone, her pretty white teeth sparkling against the sunlight. She pushed her blonde hair behind her ear and concentrated on me again, tugging her arm free from Slade’s grip.
“Back off,” she hissed.
I stepped closer. “You back off, h doesn’t want you. Why don’t you find someone who does? It would make things a lot easier." Now I was the one being grabbed. Karsen pushed me back.
“You leave Hope alone or I will stomp a hole in your ass,” Karsen threatened, ready to take on Audrey, so I didn’t have to.