She grabbed the suitcase mustering every bit of strength she had to go through the doorway.
“Where will you go? When will you come back?” Michael’s legs disobeyed his order to go to her, and stop her.
“I don’t know.” She dug up a whip of bravery and faced him. She owed him that much.
“We could find you a place on the island, away from me.” This idea was already more than he could bear. And he wouldn’t get this much.
“I’m sorry, Michael. I really am. But I can’t stay here. I can’t stay on the island. Please don’t call me and ask when I’ll be back, because I don’t know. I don’t think I’ll know for a long time.”
What was her measure of a long time? Days? Weeks? Months? Never?
He’d barely had any time with her. Their lives together just starting. There was no one else like Emily in the entire world and he’d been such a dope to not admit it sooner. And now, he was losing her. And she had every right to run away. Every right to hate this place. And him.
“The only thing I’m sure of is that I have to leave.” Emily’s words filtered across her tongue now of their own volition. Unable to hold them back after holding them for so long. “It’s not fair, what I’m thinking and feeling, Michael. I know it’s not, but I can’t stop it. I don’t think it’s going to go away until I get away. My dad came to the Isle for me. To protect me. And his reward is getting murdered… he’d be alive if it wasn’t for me.”
Michael wanted to argue but the strength left him.
Emily’s emotional outpouring flooded on.
“I can’t even look at you without so much hurt, and anger. God that’s miserable to say. So much of this is all me, Michael. I’m not trying to pull the it’s not you, it’s me card. It’s not like that. I’m just so angry, and so much of it’s at you and I don’t want it to be. When Eva took over my body I was half way to dead. And suddenly I popped back to life and you didn’t question it was really me. The situation was so impossible, and the thing is, you did figure it out before it was too late. And still, I can’t make myself give up the resentment that you didn’t know sooner.”
Michael just stared, about as blankly as Emily had been for weeks.
“I started to remember things…” her voice dropped, speaking low. “I started to remember things from while Eva was inside me. What you did to her, thinking it was her, not me.” She had wanted to tell him before, but the moment never felt right.
Michael forced the bile rising in his throat down. It pushed its way back up, threatening to send him flying to the toilet. Emily remembered him strangling her with the silver chain. Charlie stabbing her. Both of them filled with such anguish and taking it out on her body.
Emily lowered her gaze, unable to hold his any longer.
“I remember the way you sounded. The venom in your voices. The repulsion in your hands when you touched her… when you touched me. I understand your reaction to her, it would have been mine too. And yet the memories of it felt like me. You did those things to me.”
Michael stared blankly into nothing. His mind a momentarily emptied space.
“I have no one to help me. No one who knows what being a Spirit Vessel means. What will happen to me, or how to handle these things… these things that feel like memories that I know are not mine, but feel like mine. I know you want to help, but you can’t. Not this time.”
It didn’t seem like more than a few seconds, a few eternity building seconds, but when his vision refocused on where Emily had been standing the space was empty.
In blurry movements he located a pair of shorts and shirt, put them on and somehow got himself down the stairs without falling.
Melinda caught him at the front door. She’d just come down to wait for Lucas.
“What’s Emily doing putting a suitcase in her car?”
He ignored her, floundering out the door and down the porch stairs.
Emily was getting into the driver’s seat of her car. Michael froze on the bottom steps.
Her gaze said enough to keep any words from forming.
Goodbye…
Please don’t let this be forever, his gaze begged of her.
She gave no indication of her intent to return and drove off toward the ferry landing.
Michael slumped down onto the step, in shock. Charlie, Lizzy, and Melinda were behind him, giving each other questioning looks. Melinda sat down next to Michael and touched his knee.
“What happened?”
He turned, his face blank, unable to explain.
Melinda saw the pain etched in his eyes and tears threatened to surface in her own. They’d broken, exactly like she feared they would.
“Michael?”
He looked forward, away from his sister.
“She left.”
“What do you mean, left?” inquired Charlie, behind him.
“I um,” Michael shook his head, ashamed of how dumb he’d been. “I asked Emily to marry me.”
“And her response was to tear out of the driveway?” Charlie responded, baffled.
Michael got to his feet, rubbing his hand over his face.
“I thought Emily was holding in her feelings because she thought it would be too much for me to handle. Because of my gift,” he blubbered bitterly. “But in truth, she blames us. She blames me. She hates this place.” He let out a shaky sigh, unable to ignore the sympathy and sadness pouring out of his siblings at him. “I thought I was doing the right thing by asking her to marry me. I thought it was the only way to show her…” he gave up explaining. Why bother?
“Men,” muttered Lizzy. “You’re so daft sometimes. Of course she hates this place right now, and you just asked her to spend forever, here…”
Charlie eyed her, pleading for her to stop before making it worse. She shrugged. But obliged.
Michael lumbered to the top of the stairs at the edge of the porch. If he could go back in time and force his mouth shut. Not ask that moronic question.
Marry me… those two words had just ruined his life.
What the hell possessed him to think asking her to marry him would solve their problems? Or suddenly fix her? It wasn’t out of love between them, it was a desperate attempt to fix something he could not fix. His request unmasking a larger more unsolvable problem.
Marry me…
Worst decision he’d ever made.
“She’ll come back,” insisted Melinda.
“You didn’t hear her. You didn’t feel what she was feeling. It was…” he broke off, the pain of it too much. God, to be able to shut down and tune out. If there was ever a moment he needed to… there wasn’t enough alcohol on the island to black him out long enough to turn this bad nightmare off.
Melinda met him on the porch. “Give her some time. You’re the only guy Emily’s ever been head over heels in love with. She just needs to get away. Mourn. Heal.”
“She doesn’t have her ring. She’s vulnerable. I can’t protect her out there.”
“And she can’t be here right now. And you have to be, Michael. We need you here.” She didn’t want him to get silly notions about running off to follow Emily.
It wasn’t long ago he’d been itching to get off the island.
Finding out their father was alive, and telling Emily he loved her, had kept him here.
Their father was dead.
Emily was gone.
Michael said nothing more, needing to be alone for a while. As if this day could not get any worse, they still had a vampire to vanquish. And not any vampire… William.
Fuck this day!
Fuck this place!
Fuck my life…
Charlie gave him a supportive pat on the arm. Michael shrugged out of it, winding his way back to his bedroom. His and Emily’s room. He’d fallen in love with that idea. No more just him. Or just her. But them. Their lives intertwined.
But her coming to the mansion was bred out of tragedy. It wasn’t because of choice. They’d talked about moving in together, but hadn�
��t made any plans yet. Time and life hadn’t permitted it.
And her time here had been centered around his concern for her, not their future together. And he’d missed the most important signs. The obvious ones. He, who knew Emily Morgan better than anyone else did. He’d failed her again. By not seeing the truth, soon enough.
Michael sank to the floor, unable to feel much of anything except regret. Not going after her felt wrong. Not knowing where she would go, or be, felt wrong. Would she even answer his call? If he gave her a few days alone. It was already driving him crazy, the not knowing…
He refused to think about this situation lingering on for more than a few days. Perhaps she’d come back, fast, realizing she did want to be here, and needed to be here.
Because he could help her and because she did love him. Or she had…
Why doesn’t this day just screw me with a jackhammer!
Oh, wait. Too late!
Everyone was leaving them.
Them… he and his siblings.
The only ones who had no choice but to stay.
Because of duty. Because of the blood coursing through their veins. Howard blood.
Another bar went up on his prison cell. Locked in just a little more. The Demon Isle being the prison he might never leave, alive.
CHAPTER 18
Lucas arrived to keep Melinda company while the Charlie, Lizzy, Michael, and Courtney went vampire hunting. He was eager and willing to stay with Melinda, especially if it meant not being involved in any sort of magic.
Everyone tensed when Michael appeared in the kitchen.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” he told them all. “Let’s get this vampire hunt done.” His tone was focused, yet flat. And empty.
He was dressed all in black, like the rest of the party, except for Courtney. Charlie and Lizzy had slipped into her apartment and grabbed some of her belongings. She was dressed ready to attract vampires… black one-piece dress that snugged against her skin and stopped just below her ass. Come fuck me pumps no female could possibly flee from a potential attacker in. Hair in a tight ponytail, free shot straight to her neck vein. All of it calling out, I can’t escape. I’m easy. Come suck me dry.
Charlie looked over each of them, and despite them looking the part, he wanted to be sure they were on board. “Everyone ready for this?” Just another mission, he told himself, hardening his jaw.
Lizzy nodded. Michael too. Courtney smoothed her hand down the front of her dress, making for the front door. Charlie hit dial on the phone in the kitchen. The line set aside for direct calls between them and Mack.
She picked up.
“We’re heading out.” Charlie hung up, readying himself to walk out of the mansion. He avoided looking at his sister, if he did, he’d not be able to go through with this mission. His courage balancing on a treacherous precipice.
From the farthest corner of his eye, he saw Melinda gripping the edge of the kitchen counter as if afraid to let go. He was grateful she’d not be here alone and as he passed Lucas, they exchanged a silent understanding that she would not be alone for a single moment, until they’d come home and the job was done.
It was nearing two in the morning. Charlie stalled for a few seconds on the front porch. Courtney was at the end of the driveway with Michael a few steps behind. Lizzy, almost down the stairs. Clouds covered the moon in thick patches. A fine, cool mist settled in the air. Fog would roll in soon. Typical for the Demon Isle in the middle of the night during summer.
Something to enjoy on any other night.
Something that only added to the gloom this night.
He could not stall any longer. He lumbered down the stairs a pile of stale energy. Resolved, focused, but on the precipice of imploding.
Part one of the plan… the perfect lonely darkened street.
Part two… Courtney stumbling along the sidewalk acting tipsy. An easy meal for a hungry vampire. Not William, they’d decided. He’d remain nameless until captured. Not their friend. Or mentor. A ruthless killer who had to be taken out. That’s it.
Part three… Charlie, Michael, Lizzy taking up positions in the shadows, keeping a firm eye on Courtney. Ready to spring when the vamp flew in for an attack.
Part Four… Courtney fumbled with the glass vial in her hand. The werewolf blood to slow down their opponent. In her pocket, a wooden stake, just in case things got out of hand. She was willing to help them, her life already stolen. Charlie refused to put her in more danger, despite this, he hoped she’d keep to their agreement that he’d be the one to deal the deathblow.
Charlie, Lizzy, and Michael were each armed with the same weapons. They’d asked Mack to stick to her normal routine, so as not to raise additional suspicion. But she was on alert and ready to come running if they needed her.
The trio of witches watched Courtney strutting leisurely down the sidewalk, humming to herself like she was out on a late night drunken stroll. She stopped after a bit, leaning against one of the darkened buildings. Closing her eyes, acting a bit wobbly from too much to drink.
They watched from both directions, for signs of anyone approaching.
And watched.
And watched.
And watched.
Buzz… Buzz… Buzz…
Charlie’s phone. He took a quick look, his sigh audible.
“We’re wasting our time, aren’t we?” Michael sensed it instantly, his empathy working like sunburned skin that could barely stand to be touched.
Charlie called out to Courtney; she was there in a flash.
“Mack found another body,” he explained, throat tight.
“Son of a bitch.” Michael knew it was coming and it still hurt to hear.
Lizzy raked her bottom lip biting back the agony.
“Where this time?” asked Michael.
“Not far. Mack wants us to meet her.” He looked at Michael expectantly. “Are you up to a death reading?”
“Do I have a choice at this point?” he challenged bitterly. “I think we’ve reached that unequivocal no turning back, need to know, moment. If it’s William, we’ve already prepared for this. Still, it’s not going to tell us where he’s hiding out.”
“No. But we’ll know for sure what we’re dealing with. See how crazed Will… I mean, how the vamp…” Charlie was having great difficulty seeing it as any other vampire. He gave up and motioned testily for them to follow. “Be careful,” he warned. “He may have eaten tonight, but he could still be lurking.”
He.
Meaning William.
Charlie’s body shuddered involuntarily.
This was an impossible task.
No way to think of it as any other vamp.
William. He had a name and it was William fucking Wakefield.
Condemned to die.
A silent plea went out to the universe, praying hard for it not to be him. By some miracle, if they existed… please let us be wrong… but no other vampire had set foot on this Isle since… Charlie couldn’t even remember when.
They arrived on the crime scene without incident. A hollow in the middle of a small park right outside the main part of town, close to the ferry landing and Demon Isle Lighthouse. Mack had kept the scene quiet, sent her deputy to handle a non-supernatural related problem; one that entailed looking out for reporters or tourists who happened to be stalking the area so late at night and redirecting them. Too many deaths… this was going to cause a panic if she didn’t handle it perfectly.
The sheriff greeted them with lackluster fanfare and patted Michael’s shoulders as he bent over the victim. She’d assumed he’d do a reading and backed away to give him space.
Courtney twiddled the wooden stake in her hand, watching curiously.
Charlie and Lizzy stood side by side, bodies touching, gazes firmly fixed on Michael.
He was on knees beside the victim. A young woman, maybe mid-twenties. Not so much older than his sister, Lizzy, or Emily… just thinking his girlfriend’s name shot a bullet through
him.
He reached out, hand hovering a few inches over the lifeless body.
An entire life snuffed out to feed the lust of a bloodthirsty monster.
His eyes raised upward as his hand lowered and connected with the dead body. The death reading surged into Michael’s mind like a nightmare he knew was coming and could not stop.
Hearts pounded hard, blood rushing.
No one breathed, or blinked.
Waiting for what Michael would see.
Already hearing the proverbial ping of the hammer nailing the final rod of steel into William Wakefield’s coffin.
CHAPTER 19
Emily had gotten off the ferry and sat in the parking lot for too long. She hadn’t thought this far ahead. Only that she had to get away. Escape The Demon Isle. Escape the Howards. Escape Michael…
It hurt to leave, and yet it was a good pain. A necessary pain. A brutal pain that topped all others she’d experienced these last few weeks, but also brought a breath of freedom. It made no sense to her how she could feel this way. This push and pull, like the tide she was leaving behind.
To go where?
Still no answer.
Fingers gripped the steering wheel. The engine cut off after she’d gotten sick of the idling and wasting gas having no idea where to go. Because the sad truth of it was there was no place for her to go. She was on her own. No family. No friends outside the Isle. No town she called home.
God, Michael’s face. She was hurting him so much it shamed her. She’d loved Michael Howard since she’d first laid eyes on him, and now it sickened her to think of him. Which sickened her even more, love still swirling around intermingling with the anger.
Why did he have to utter those words?
Marry me?
It had crossed some invisible line.
Broken the dam she’d been holding together.
The idea of, forever, with Michael was something she’d always wanted.
Now, it was over.
For good?
She couldn’t even answer that for herself with any honesty.
Tears streamed down her face as darkness settled across the sky. She had to go somewhere. But where? A hotel… again, where? How far away did she need to go? Her brain rattled through the list of people she knew. So few not from the Isle. And those not from the Isle acquaintances really. Old college buddies she’d never been close enough to for something like this.
Vampire Interrupted (Wicked Good Witches Book 8) Page 24