by Leia Shaw
She snorted. “No. The opposite actually.”
“Then I would say Mindbending is out. With your ramped up power, you’d be influencing people subconsciously.”
“What about Glamouring? Can you teach me?”
Maddox shrugged and answered back in his American voice, “I don’t see why not.”
She turned to face him on the couch, sitting up straighter to prepare for the spell.
“Well, first you have to picture what you want to look like in your mind. Try something simple to start. Like your hair color.”
“I'm going to picture it blond. I've always wondered what I’d look like as a blond.”
“Now close your eyes but keep that picture in your mind. The energy is a little different than producing a Bolt. It's softer. More subtle. Instead of pushing it to your palms, pull it to your core and let it settle there.”
She concentrated, pulling energy from the air and holding it in her chest. Once she felt the heat stay steadily at her core, she pictured her hair changing from the chocolate brown to a light shade of golden blond. She’d expected to fail. Or at least become frustrated before succeeding.
So it surprised her when Maddox said, “Bloody hell! I can't believe you're doing it.”
“I am?”
“Yes! Go look in the mirror.”
With eyes closed, she asked, “Will it stay like this when I open my eyes?”
“It will stay until you purposefully change it back.” She peeked open one eye to see Maddox beaming. “Go!”
She opened both eyes and ran to the bathroom mirror. “Wow,” she said, running her fingers through her new blond hair. “This is freaking fabulous.” Then she yelled to Maddox, “I don't know if blonde suits me though.” She shut the bathroom light off and stepped back into the living room. “Let’s try red!”
“Whoa! Slow down,” he said laughing. “If you do too much at once you won't have the power left to change it back. You have to do a little at a time just like everything else.”
She frowned and slumped onto the couch.
“But it's pretty fucking amazing that you managed it on your first try.” He looked her over with a sly smile. “You are one dangerous lady.”
“Lady?” She scrunched her nose. “Now you’re making me feel old.”
Maddox’s laugh was loud and contagious. “I guarantee I’m at least a century older than you.”
“You’ve blended into American culture better than James. You look like the perfect American boy next door.”
He smirked then shut his eyes. His dark brown hair gradually lightened to a bleached yellow. The sides faded away and the top stuck straight up in a mohawk. A hoop earring appeared in his nose. His plain gray t-shirt turned into a black tight-fitting mesh that showed off a muscular chest that almost had Sage drooling.
He opened his eyes. “How’s this for boy next door?”
She roared with laughter. “I don’t think it suits you. It clashes with your baby face.”
In an instant, the glamour faded and he was back to himself. He scowled at her. “Baby face?”
“Don’t worry. It’s cute. So how old is James?”
“Thirty-two,” came the familiar voice behind her.
“Jesus, James!” She jumped up from the couch in surprise and spun to face him. “Do you have to sneak around like that?”
He gave her a somber look then flicked his gaze from her face to her hair.
Maddox shrugged. “It was her idea.”
He nodded then said to Sage, “Pack your stuff. We’re leaving.”
She waited for more, but he didn’t explain himself. Confused, she studied his face. He wore an expression she hadn’t recognized at first because it seemed so unlikely. James, for the first time since she’d met him, looked scared.
Before she could ask what happened, James spun on his heel and left the room. “There’s no time for questions,” he said over his shoulder. “Throw some warm clothes and your sorcery book in a bag then get in the car.” He flung open the door to the basement and ran downstairs.
Sage looked at Maddox. “Just do what he says,” he answered her unspoken question. “I’ll find out what’s going on.”
In only seconds, James was back in the kitchen, carrying an arm full of camping equipment.
“What the hell are you –”
Maddox cut her off with a firm push toward her room. James threw her a backpack on the way then gave her an impatient glare.
She hurried to her room and crammed in the backpack as much of her clothing she could fit, along with her sorcery book. Maddox and James murmured in urgent tones in the kitchen. She snuck closer to listen.
“When we leave, I want you to get rid of any evidence Sage was here, understand?” James said.
“Yes, of course. But will you tell me what the hell happened?” She couldn’t hear James’ answer but then Maddox said, “The Counsel?”
She thought she heard James say, “Worse.”
Chills crept up her spine. What was more dangerous than the Counsel?
Creatures of the Underworld? Vampires and werewolves. But what could they want from her? Or were they after James? Then why would he drag her along? She stopped guessing and slung her backpack over her shoulder then stepped out into the hallway.
.James gave her a once-over. “Better put on a coat. It’s going to be cold tonight.”
She threw on her black, fake leather jacket and followed him to the door.
“Good luck,” Maddox said. “Don’t worry about anything here. I’ll take care of it.” Then he pulled Sage in for a hug. With his lips at her ear he whispered so softly she could barely hear him, “Whatever happens, know that you can trust him.” He spun her around and pushed her back to James.
“Thanks, mate. I owe you,” James said then walked to the car, dragging Sage by her coat sleeve.
He sped through dark, empty roads as if they were running for their lives. She was beginning to wonder if they were.
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
He seemed conflicted – like he wanted to tell her but was afraid to at the same time. Finally, after a deep sigh, he answered, “The Counsel found out about you. They think you’re dangerous and want to take your powers away.”
“So, why don’t we just show them that I’m not dangerous? We can prove that I can handle my powers.”
“Because you can’t, Sage!” His bellow was so sudden, she flinched. “Not yet.”
Her heart sunk. She’d thought James would be proud of the progress she’d made. She all but had her powers whipped. But worse than the feeling of discouragement was an inkling of suspicion. Maybe she was paranoid, but she found it hard to believe a Counsel of supposed upstanding sorcerers were so much of a threat that they needed to flee for their lives in the middle of the night. To go camping, no less.
“What about your teaching? You’re just going to leave it all behind?”
“This is bigger than any of that.”
She waited for more but James stayed focused only on the road.
“There’s something you’re not telling me,” she accused.
A long, indecisive pause then he nodded slightly. “There is.”
“Tell me!”
“No. Not now. You’re just going to have to trust me.”
Maddox’s final words came to mind. No matter what, you can trust him.
She sighed in frustration and put her feet up on the dashboard. Even if she could trust him, she didn’t like him withholding important information from her.
She looked at the clock. It was almost two in the morning. Where the hell could they be going at this hour? When she dropped her head into her hands, a blonde lock fell in front of her eyes. Neither James nor Maddox thought it important to tell her she hadn’t changed her hair back? Men!
She closed her eyes and concentrated the same way she had to turn it blond.
“Should’ve kept it blonde,” James said after a few minutes.
Her eyes popped open. She held a length of hair in front of her. Brown. She was back to herself again. “Why? Did you like it better?”
“No. Your natural hair color is perfect. But it would help your cause to look like someone else right now.”
Maybe if she looked good as a redhead, she’d change it long-term. But to find out, she needed a mirror and some lighting.
Growing drowsy, she laid her head back against the seat and stared at the nothingness moving past her. Her eyes drifted closed.
When the car jolted to a stop, she gasped and shot up in the seat. The clock read three-thirty. She surveyed her dark surroundings. To her dismay, they were not at the Hilton.
It was so black she couldn’t see much past the car. But what she could see wasn’t promising. The car was parked on an obscure dirt road with thick woods surrounding it.
The only time she’d ever camped, she had ended up sleeping in the car after her not-so-waterproof tent had leaked during an entire night of heavy rain. At least she’d gotten the car – her foster brother had to sleep in three inches of water.
James turned off the car and wasted no time ordering her around. “Out.”
She rolled her eyes. So it was going to be like that? The cool air was a bit of a shock when she stepped out of the car, tugging her backpack with her.
James took the gear out of the trunk and set it on the ground. She stared awkwardly.
“I don’t understand. Where’s the campground?”
“Up there.” He gestured to the mountain in front of them.
A faint trail separated the trees. She grimaced. This was Massachusetts, she assured herself, not Nepal. Still…
“There’s a cave,” he said. “It will give us shelter. And it’s safe.”
“A cave?” It felt like her eyes were bugging out of her head. “A fucking cave! You want me to hike to a cave in the pitch black at three in the morning? You must be out of your damn mind!”
He ignored her tirade as he stuffed things into backpacks and organized equipment.
“Are you listening to me? I’m not going. No way.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
He tossed two backpacks towards her then put his hands on the front of his car and pushed. If Sage’s eyes could have gotten any wider, they would have. He pushed his car into the brush until it all but disappeared.
After wiping his hands on his pants, he stalked toward her. “Let’s go.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I said no. Bring the car back. I’ll drive myself to a motel.”
“Sage, I don’t have time for this,” he said impatiently. “You’re in danger, therefore your wishes do not matter. We’re going to that cave. Tonight. So pick up the backpack and get your arse moving.”
The thin veil she’d been holding over her temper ripped wide open. “What do I look like? The fucking Flintstones? I’m a city girl. City. Girl. I don’t care about the stupid Counsel. I’ll take care of myself. Go have fun in your cave but you better give me the goddamn keys to your car or I’m going to go all Harry Potter on your ass!” And she meant it. No way was she going to bunk in a bat-filled cave with a pissy sorcerer for god only knows how long.
James looked like he was going to explode with anger. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. His head titled to the side and his nostrils flared.
He was…sniffing? What the hell?
Then he froze. His muscles tensed, his eyes widened. She watched him curiously. This was different, even for James. Clouds parted and a full moon glowed, lighting up the area around them.
She only had a moment to consider it before something grabbed her. The world turned upside down as she was thrown over a shoulder and locked into place by a steel grip on her legs. Her heart raced and panic swept through her.
But it was James’ voice that said, “Don’t you dare make a sound or I swear over all that’s holy, I will beat you bloody.” He jostled her in warning.
Maybe it was the way he’d hefted her over his shoulder as if she were nothing more than a sack of rice, but she decided not to test him this time.
They took off. She was flying. Or maybe not flying. But they were moving fast. Way fast. And Sage was stuck hanging off James’ freakishly strong shoulder, blood rushing to her head, ass up in the air. Even if she were brave enough to scream, she couldn’t have because the air was moving around her too fast. All she could do was gulp it down.
What the hell was going on? Then it hit her. James wasn’t just a sorcerer. And he certainly wasn’t human. After what felt like only a few minutes, though she knew it must have been longer, James dumped her on the ground. Her body was stiff but she managed to scramble away until a cold, hard wall stopped her.
The moonlight made it clear enough to see James’ silhouette pacing across the opening of the cave. He muttered angrily but she couldn’t make out the words.
His attention snapped to her. “Because of your stubbornness,” he said. “I have to go back down and get our bags.” He threw a flashlight toward her and it bounced off her leg. “For once, Sage, do what you’re told and stay here!”
She stared at him, dumbstruck.
“I’ll be right back.” He left in a blur.
James isn’t human. She had to say it a few times before it sunk in. Then what did he truly want with her? She stood up and stumbled toward the mouth of the cave. The hell if she was going to stick around to find out.
Flashlight in hand, she lumbered down the mountain, veering away from the direction James had left. She tripped twice, hard enough to make blood drip down her leg, but it didn’t stop her. She had only walked for five minutes before she was back over the solid shoulder and dropped on her ass in the cave.
James stood over her. “I told you to stay!”
She scrambled on the dirt floor then rose unsteadily as she contemplated fighting him. But instinct told her not to. His whole body – from his stiff stance, to his balled up fists, and even his frowning mouth – emanated danger.
He spun in a circle scanning the environment around them. For what, she had no idea. Maybe he was looking for a stick to beat her over the head with.
Since escape seemed implausible for the moment, she watched him instead. She looked for weaknesses but mostly tried to figure out what the hell he was.
Moving far too fast to be human, James pulled a bunch of sticks together in the center of the cave. He lifted his hands and, in only a few seconds, the sticks caught fire.
He turned back around to face her. She could see his face clearly now, although the shadows on the walls were equally unnerving. But he didn’t look angry. He looked concerned. And just the slightest bit nervous.
She walked backward, slowly, until she bumped against the stone wall of the cave.
“Do you know what I am, Sage?” he asked while creeping toward her.
A Hunter. And with the speed she’d witnessed tonight, a lethal one undoubtedly. She tried to recall a spell she could use against him, but he could block her too easily. And it might only provoke him. Not that she’d ever worried about that before, but, daring another glance at the menacing figure before her, this wasn’t the James she knew.
The sharp edges of rock dug into her back as she pressed her body up hard against the stone wall. She looked left then right. There was no room to run.
James stood only an arm’s length away. His pale skin shone in the darkness.
“I am vampire,” he whispered.
The world seemed to halt. Her stomach dropped as she stared into his eyes – familiar eyes that seemed more dangerous now.
Fuck. She would have to use magic. When she gathered a Bolt in her palms, James spanned their distance in one long stride.
“Ah, ah, ah,” he scolded and grasped her wrists. “We’re not going to have any of that.”
He squeezed until it hurt enough for her to stop the Bolt. Then he pointed to a spot on the ground. “Sit.”
What choice did she have? She sat, while plotting her ne
xt move.
He sat down beside her. “There are a few things you should know about me. First, like all vampires, I’m incredibly strong and fast. If you try to run from me, I will find you.” That was obvious. “And I won’t be happy about having to chase you. Two –”
In a flash, he grabbed her glowing wrist. “Damn it, Sage! Stop trying to kill me!”
The Bolt flickered out again. He let out a long sigh and yanked her body closer to his. “I’m going to make you sit on your hands!” Now he was starting to sound like the James she knew. “And stop looking at me like I’m your enemy. I’m still me. I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Then stop acting like a creepy vampire!”
“Sorry.” He ran a hand across the back of his neck. “When I had to chase you it just…sort of happened. Instinct, I guess.”
James was still James. So he said. She stared down at the dirty cave ground, contemplating the absurdity. How did she not notice that the man she’d lived with for the last couple of weeks was a fucking vampire?
“How is this possible?” she finally asked after a long awkward silence. “You seem normal. Well, normal for an up-tight, pompous sorcerer.”
“Yes, but if you were more observant you would have noticed I don’t eat.”
She thought back on the last few days of meals. There’d always been some reason he couldn’t eat with her. She’d thought the frequent take-out meals were just because he didn’t like to cook. But this explained the empty pantry. What about the coffee mug he always had in his hand? She shuddered. Maybe it was best not to ask too many questions.
“But I thought you hated vampires,” she said. “And that they were evil.”
“I do hate them and they are evil. That’s why Cadmael changed me. He knew it was a punishment worse than death.”
“Cadmael did this?”
He hesitated then gave her a somber look. “Remember when I said I came close to killing him? In the last battle? I got too close. Cadmael turned me. He thought it was a fitting retribution for spoiling his attempt at Caerwyn.”
“Wow. That sucks.” How apropos. She’d never been any good with words.