“Never,” he hissed back. “You were a stain on our fathers legacy, and I’ve come to let you know I will make you pay for what you did!”
Her brows rose, “What I did? I tried to be a family with you. Y’all lied to me, used me and I still tried to show you mercy. You got what you asked for!”
“You killed my father!” He yelled back, his arms waving about as he spoke. He started to pace in a small circle.
Taken back by the words, Elizabeth scrunched her face, “You had the opportunity to stop it. You had the chance to change. Neither of you wanted to. You both got what you deserved. And, he was my father too. Let’s not forget that!”
Just as Elizabeth spoke her last words, Jeremy lunged for her. She ducked to the side and barely missed being hit. Her temper rose up but instead of using her magic against a man with none, she did one better. She stood up and smiled, waved her hand motioning for him to come at her. Turning to her side, she took a stance that allowed her more freedom with her movements and waited. She would fight him fairly and it excited her.
He swung wide, she blocked and pushed his hand away. He’d swing again and she’d duck or blow the blow. She was doing all she could not to engage him in a fight. They played this tango for several moments before he tried to lunge for her again. She hopped back and as he fell forward in front of her, she pulled her right hand back and swung down hard on his jaw. His forward motion along with her hit made him slam to the floor. She stepped over him then stood over him as his face laid on the carpet. She took a handful of his hair pulling his head back, blood trickling from a cut on his cheek she smiled and dropped his head in satisfaction.
She swung her leg from over him and stepped back. She wasn’t going to fight a man on the floor. He didn’t move for several moments before Zachary stepped in, “While you siblings maybe enjoying this, he needs to leave.” The young man grabbed Jeremy by the arm and pulled him up, then turned to the door.
Jaquie was now standing in the doorway with her arms crossed, she didn’t want to let him go. Angered he had gotten the best of her, but then smiled as she watched the blood now drop in a steady stream from his cheek. Zachary had Jeremy about half a foot in front of him when they stepped up to the door. Jaquie smiled deviously, raised her elbow and slammed it across Jeremy's face hitting his cheek bone and nose. Blood sprayed as the man fell forward.
Chuckling a bit, handing him a towel that was sitting on the table she leaned in close, “Looks like you got your ass handed to you once again, by a girl. You must really feel like a man.” Jaquie then patted his cut cheek and moved to the side to let Zachary take him away.
Elizabeth leaned over on her knees in shock that she actually took her brother down with the fighting skills she learned from Celeste during her dream walks. She could only smile and then started to laugh. Both Sara and Jaquie turned and looked at her like she had lost her mind. She held up a hand, “That felt amazing!”
CHAPTER 15
“I can’t believe he showed up!”
“Yeah,” Elizabeth rubbed her hand, “I can’t believe how hard his jaw is mom!” Laughing, the young witch made a face as she continued to rub her hand. The night before had been more than what you’d call eventful. She realized quickly that there was a mole in the group, someone she couldn’t trust anymore, and she needed to figure out who it was. It’s all she could think about. Who had betrayed her and let Jeremy in after Sara? Why would he do it with an apartment full of people? He had no magic, so what was his angle?
“It’s not funny! He could have hurt one of y’all bad. Good thing she has a protective neighbor. Did that guy really jump on his back and roll around with him?” Sari snickered as she envisioned the sight.
Sara burst out laughing as she sat across from her friend’s mother at the table, “Yes ma’am. I just hate that Jaquie got hurt, even if it wasn’t bad. I mean,” she started twisting her hair, “here everyone is trying to keep me safe and he gets in anyway.” Elizabeth looked shocked, she hadn’t really thought about that night like that, but it was true, they had failed to keep Jeremy out. “I’m not trying to be ungrateful or anything. I just… I don’t know.”
“No, you made a good point. With all of us there, he still managed to get in,” Elizabeth stood up and headed to her room, “and I aim to find out how!” Determined to find out who the snake was that let Sara be put in harm’s way on her watch was now her mission.
Sari called after her daughter, “Don’t do anything stupid!” She then looked at the young woman still sitting at the table, “You know… they are going to be going insane about your security now.”
“Yeah, I kind of figured so,” Sara replied as she sipped her coffee. “My biggest worry is how she,” she motioned towards the upstairs where Elizabeth went, “is going to handle this. She was so happy thinking after Edom…that things would settle down. Now that Jeremy is back, she knows there is trouble brewing but she can’t figure out what he’s up to and who’s helping him.”
Sari put her cup down, “I might have an idea, but I’ll need some help knowing for sure. You up for an adventure?”
Sara leaned forward, “if it means helping my friend and her people finding peace, ya damn straight I am!”
The two women sat for another hour concocting a plan, one that didn’t involve Elizabeth. Sara called Zachary and Jaquie and got them on board. Once everything was in motion, the two women cleared the kitchen and went on with their day like nothing was going on.
Sara went upstairs and knocked on Elizabeth’s door, “Come in.”
“Hey. You want to talk about all this?”
“Not really! I’ve gotten in touch with the elven families and the fairies. Told them what happened and asked for a more diligent watch guard on you and then spoke to Wesley separately. Told him we have a problem in our ranks, so to speak. Someone is giving away our information and we need to find out how.”
Sara sat on the corner of the bed next to her friend, “Thank you. I know this isn’t easy after Edom and all, but I do appreciate it. I have an idea…”
Elizabeth glanced at her friend then back at the spell book she was searching, “Go ahead.”
“What if we get rid of the guards?” Elizabeth looked stunned, “hold now, just listen. What if we do? Then Jeremy will let his guard down and make a mistake and will lead us to who is helping him. They’ll think we’ve given up since last night was a failure for him. Thinking we are too confident. You can keep them around just much further back.”
Elizabeth scrunched her face, “I guess we could do that. Are you sure?”
“Very!”
“Okay, I’ll make the call and pull everyone back then,” concern was visible on Elizabeth’s face, but Sara made her case and she had to trust her friend that she knew what she was doing, “I don’t have to like it, but I’ll reign them in.”
That night all the guarding stopped. No one stayed at Sara’s house or even around her building. When Sara went home, it was silent and for the first time in weeks, her apartment was all to herself. She looked down at her phone and sent a quick message to Sari, everything is set. No reply but Sara knew Sari saw the message and went on with her nightly routine.
Knowing that only three people had known directly that there would be guards close but not so close, other than those doing the guarding, Sara was sure her idea would work. She just hoped no one else got hurt in the process of it.
Putting on her coat, Sara stepped outside in the crisp evening and set her plan in motion. Sara was going to Jeremy this time. She’d learned over the years that many times when something is not on the up and up making yourself look like the one who is doing the betraying is the best way to win a spot in the mind and heart of the one doing the wrong. She was going to go all in to discover what Jeremy was up to. Knowing the strain on her friendship this would cause, Sara trusted Sari to keep Elizabeth focused.
Jeremy was dangerous. He was a witch with no magic determined for revenge against a sister who could kill h
im quickly and that didn’t sway him one bit. Sara was scared for her friend. She didn’t want Elizabeth to have to fight another family member so she went in search of the answers herself, the best way a full human could.
Knock. Knock. Knock. Sara stood tall waiting for the door to be answered. When the door pulled open, Jeremy stood there for a moment then stepped aside letting her in. He looked around outside quickly before shutting the door. She was in and now the hard work had to be done.
CHAPTER 16
Elizabeth knew her friend was up to something, so she too did some work. As soon as Sara left, Elizabeth contacted Wesley and asked for some one-on-one help. He quickly agreed.
Transforming into the beautiful panther that he was, Wesley watched Sara leave her home and go to Jeremy’s place. He sat in the shadows watching and waiting as Sara entered Jeremy’s and didn’t come out till the early morning hours. Following her in silence, the panther could smell the fear and worry Sara’s body radiated. This made him wonder what she was up to, he stayed to the shadows and kept silent as he followed her home.
Once he knew she was in for the night, he went back to Jeremy’s place. Now, they knew where he was and would watch him continuously. There was already another shifter there waiting, Celeste, in the form of a wolf. Wesley conveyed his thoughts to his guardian, and she took to the shadows of the apartment to get closer to see if she could find out what Jeremy was up to. He never thought to ask how she knew to be there but was glad for what he thought was his relief, sleep was needed, and his thoughts weren’t as sharp.
Wesley went home and slept hard the rest of the night before being suddenly awoken by his mother. “Wesley! Wake up! Hurry, come on!”
“What’s going on?” He jumped from his bed and followed his mother down the staircase.
“Come see for yourself. It’s Celeste!” The worried expression concerned Wesley and he leaped down the stairs ahead of her to the library.
Throwing open the doors, he found Celeste on the couch with Elizabeth and Sara. “What’s going on?” He looked them all over for injuries, there were none.
Celeste stood, “You won’t believe what Jeremy is up to!”
He looked between the four women, “Tell me everything, now!”
Once Wesley sat down, Celeste began retelling the events of the last eight hours. “Sara went to Jeremy’s, you know this. What none of us knew was that she told him she’d spy for him, to gain his trust. She told him that we were holding her under protection, and she demanded it stopped that she wanted nothing to do with us.” Wesley looked at her oddly, “just wait, there is more. Jeremy and she talked for nearly three hours, while you waited outside. Jeremy was foolish enough to tell her everything going on. We’ve confirmed nearly every detail she told us, it’s scary but true. After you left, I stayed and got in close. I transformed into a sparrow and was able to get into a small hole in the pipes there. What I heard him saying to someone on the phone is…the plan is in motion and all set. To tell the sisters that it’s a go for Friday at noon.”
He sat waiting for more, but no one offered up anything, “Okay… what is Friday at noon and who are the sisters?”
Elizabeth spoke up this time, “The Charles’ sisters. The ones my mother had gone and seen the day he showed up at the college. They have wanted to band together with other like-minded witches and for a coven, but the Council has been able to hold them off all these years. I did some digging and it would seem that they have an ally on the Council now and are trying to find a way to get Jeremy his magic back.”
“And that would be bad cause Jeremy wants revenge for Edom and to continue his fight!” Wesley stood and began to pace. Elizabeth could tell he was worried but she admired how well he kept his calm appearance up, very much like his father.
“Exactly!” Elizabeth replied, she stood and walked up to him. Grabbing his arm, she pleaded, “Jeremy can’t have his magic back. Not that I want it, but he is too dangerous!” She stopped talking when a thought came to her, or a voice. She froze, tilted her head a bit. Everyone in the room watched her as she seemed to zone out completely, but no one touched her.
When Wesley reached out to grab her, his mother stopped him, “Don’t. She’s fine. Someone is talking to her.”
“Talking to her?” Wesley looked around the room and even into the hall. “Who could be close enough to talk to her?”
“Distance no longer matters for her! If there is someone connected to her and has the gift to do so…they can reach her,” his mother calmly replied.
Wesley began to pace again, Celeste’s nerves were even a little rattled by this new revelation, “I didn’t know that was possible. I thought you had to be able to see her or be within a specific distance.”
“Me too,” he shot her a look.
Lady Doreen stood in one fluid movement, always presenting herself as royal and regal, looked at them both before walking up to Elizabeth. Placing her palm on her cheek with the long finger touching the witches temple and closing her eyes, Lady Doreen put herself inside Elizabeth’s mind. She made sure to stay in the shadows although Elizabeth knew she was there, they could feel each other. The elven lady watched the scene play out before her.
Lady Doreen spoke aloud so the others in the room would know what was going on… “He has blonde hair and the bluest eyes I’ve seen in a long time. He is tall and very tan. He loves her. Oh, this is Devlon! He is pleading with her to help him. She doesn’t trust him. She’s saying he has to prove his loyalty to her or never come back.” Throwing her hand to cover her mouth before a gasp escaped, “He is powerful. He knows I’m in here but can’t find me. I’ve hidden myself well and Elizabeth is building a wall of sorts to protect me.”
Elizabeth felt the elven woman enter her mind and stay in the shadows, inwardly she smiled and was thankful for her support. Never taking her eyes off of Devlon, the young witch began building a mental barricade to protect the woman she respected so highly. Devlon was strong and vengeful. Devlon started talking to her as if they were still a couple, as if he still held her heart. She knew the instant he realized Lady Doreen was listening in. He held up his hand in a stop motion, then with a flick of his wrist tore down the barricade. Elizabeth felt Doreen being torn from her mind. She faced him with clenched fists at her side, "How dare you!"
"I'm here to help. If you want it, I'll talk to you and you alone." She knew she had to keep control of her temper because this was no ordinary dream walk. She was awake and they were in her mind. Elizabeth had no desire to see what affect her magic attacks would have on herself mentally.
Suddenly, Wesley watched his mom fall into a heap on the floor. Both the young male elf and his guardian flew into action trying to help her. Neither could catch her. Her head hit the floor with a heavy thump and blood seeped out. Wesley didn’t panic but Celeste froze. He immediately tore his shirt off and tried to place it under her head. Looking up at Celeste he yells to get her attention, “Go get my father!” She took off running.
Not until Sire Levi had entered the room and surveyed what was happening did anyone say another word. Wesley was over his mother, Celeste entered behind his father, Elizabeth still stood frozen and the Lady Doreen now laid in the supine position on the floor. Levi walked up to Elizabeth and gently touched her forehead then went to tend to his beloved.
Elizabeth’s eyes flew open and immediately went to Lady Doreen. “What happened?” Wesley exclaimed.
“He pushed her out! I couldn’t stop him. It was a spell I wasn’t ready for,” she explained as calmly as possible.
“Move over son. Let me,” Levi told Wesley. Placing his hand over his wives wounds, Levi closed his eyes and channeled his power of healing into her. Slowly the wound closed, and she came too.
As soon as her mind was clear, she shot up and looked at Elizabeth, “We have to trust him. He is the key to stopping the sisters!”
CHAPTER 17
“The key? Him?” Elizabeth stood by as Wesley questioned his mother.
Wesley slowly turned his head upward to see Elizabeth staring down at him with brows raised and mouth twisted. She shrugged, “It’s true. He says he wants to fix all the things he’s done wrong and show he can be a good person.”
He stood so that he could look her in the eyes, “And you believe him?” He turned to Celeste, his brows furrowed, “How did you know to be at Jeremy’s and where he was?”
“Of course not. But he does have information that can help us with the Charles’ sisters and for that alone, I’m willing to talk to him,” Elizabeth replied confidently. “Although, that will have to wait. I need to figure out how to deal with Jeremy first and Devlon had some insight on that as well,” Elizabeth looked down towards Lady Doreen, “were you able to catch what he said?”
Celeste stepped back when Wesley questioned her. She hadn’t told anyone that Sari and Sara sent her there and wasn’t sure how much Elizabeth knew.
A quick nod from the Lady was all it took to put Elizabeth in motion. “Where are you going?” Wesley called out.
“We have to go into town and see Jewel. Come on already, we don’t have all day!” She responded as she headed toward the front door. By the time Wesley got his things together, Elizabeth was in the car waiting impatiently. Her phone pressed against the steering wheel as she texted madly to somebody. Amongst all this chaos his breath was still taken away by her beauty. He must’ve stood there too long watching her cause she looked up with an annoyed expression, he could only smile.
Driving radically Elizabeth didn’t speak until she was almost in town, “You know Sara isn’t really trying to hook up with Jeremy, right?”
“Yeah,” Wesley responded hesitantly.
“Well, we had Jewel put a spell on her pendant. One that will not only protect her but also make it so we can track her.”
Awakening Fate (The Chronicles of Elizabeth Fairbairn Book 4) Page 7