Arkadia (Halfway House Series Book 1)

by Dzintra Sullivan

  Eloise grabbed her bag and headed out. She needed to pick up Raven from her friend’s house, and then wanted to head to the library for some research. This was not the public library for humans; Eloise needed to go to the Paranormal Hall of Records, which was situated under the oldest church in Huntsville. There was a small and obscure entrance that was only known to a small group in town, but this might be where she would find the information she required.

  Fingers crossed. Eloise put the car in gear and drove out of the driveway.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “What are we looking for?” Raven asked as she opened yet another book, blowing off the dust and sneezing for what seemed like the thousandth time. “Haven’t they ever heard of housekeeping?”

  Eloise laughed as she replied, “It’s protected by magic, not a feather duster.” Reaching for another large and dusty book, she said, “We are looking for a paranormal creature, and I have a feeling it may be one that has been overlooked for quite some time. Because of its ability to mask itself, it will have appeared to become extinct in my opinion, of course.” Eloise had explained the situation to Raven on the drive over to the church. Raven had been both horrified for Arkadia and yet amazed at finding out Violet was an unidentified para.

  The hours seemed to slowly tick by as Eloise and Raven looked through book after book. Raven blew the dust off yet another book. It would have been funny to watch this as a time lapse video, the clock hands quickly spinning round and round, and the large towers of books starting on the right and quickly being transferred to the left as each one was looked through and dismissed.

  Raven had gone on a coffee run twice, and they both had had a bathroom run three times. The way the magic protecting the library worked, the entrance changed slightly every time, and trying to remember the way in caused a few minutes of panic for Raven on the first coffee run.

  Eloise took off her glasses and sat back in the chair, rubbing her tired eyes. “This is useless. We are looking for a needle in a hay stack, and we should just call it a night.” Looking at her watch, she continued, “Oh yes, yes, yes. We can grab some takeout on the way home.” She looked at Raven who just smiled. “Well, not for you, the blood bank is yet to create a drive-through system, but I think the rest might be happy with some burgers and fries.”

  “Can we take some of this home so we can continue looking?” Raven asked.

  “Unfortunately, as soon as you go past the entrance, all the pages will become blank. Part of the protection spell I am afraid.” Eloise sighed as she started putting the books back onto the shelves. Raven passed her the last of the books needing to be stacked away when a book dropped from the end of the shelf, falling open onto the floor at her feet.

  Raven bent down to pick it up and a few words caught her eye: “physical control of fae.” As she picked it up and continued reading, she asked, “Eloise, have you ever heard of a … Mes … Mesmer?” Eloise squinted as she thought.

  “Mmmm. I remember my grandmother talking about them, why?” Raven sat down at the table and placed the book so she could show Eloise.

  “It says here the Mesmer can control human or fae with a simple gesture, that a highly experienced Mesmer can minimize those gestures to be almost invisible.” Eloise listened to Raven read.

  “That could fit; let me take a look.” Raven pushed the book over to Eloise who took a seat, her long delicate fingers running over the text as she tried to find when they had last been seen. “Species status: whereabouts unknown, possibly extinct,” Eloise read out loud.

  Eloise stopped and looked at Raven, thinking a few heartbeats before she said, “It doesn’t say anything about masking abilities, not that it means anything. All it would have taken was a deal with a witch a few generations back, and they as a species could have vanished, or at least appeared to have.”

  Raven creased her forehead as she asked, “It’s that easy? Would that have been permanent?” Eloise rubbed her eyes at the strain of so many possibilities, all of which were not necessarily good.

  “Depends on the witch and the spell. If they made a deal that was a permanent additive, then it would have continued down the family lines, like a forced evolutionary twist. It could have been a marriage that included a witch who may have wanted to disappear into the human world permanently,” Eloise said and shrugged. “The Mesmer are a dark fae, and were one of the more dangerous breeds of dark fae. I remember stories my grandmother used to tell me about Mesmers kidnapping young men and keeping them frozen like statues until they died of thirst. The entire time the Mesmer would sit-in front of them, eating and drinking, making them watch every morsel they consumed.”

  Raven screwed up her face. “Eeww, gross! Why would they do that?” Raven asked, to which Eloise simply replied, “Because they could.”

  “That may have been the lead we needed, Raven.” Eloise rubbed her arm in thanks. “We can’t take the book with us, but we can take the knowledge. And hopefully, Google might take us the rest of the way.” Eloise popped the last book back and grabbed her bag. “Ready, Raven? Let’s get some food for the animals and go home.” Eloise winked and Raven laughed at the reference to Emerson and his yet-to-be-freed inner wolf.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Arkadia couldn’t believe Eloise was making her go to school today, granted it was Monday, but surely some consideration should be given. All she got from Eloise was, “It will be a good distraction for you.” Arkadia walked down the stairs in a pair of black jeans and a red sweater, her hair pulled back into a simple ponytail, not a trace of makeup on her face.

  Raven looked up from her breakfast, her eyes going wide with surprise. Emerson being as delicate as the proverbial wolf in a chicken house, said, “You look like shit, Ark … oooph!!” He winced as he rubbed the back of his head where Eloise had given him a warning tap to close his muzzle.

  Raven asked, “Want to walk to school together?”

  Arkadia looked at her and shrugged. “You’re risking social leprosy, but whatever.” She grabbed her bag and wandered out the door leaving Raven running to catch up with her.

  “Do you think she will be at school?” Raven asked as she walked alongside Arkadia.

  “I don’t know,” said Arkadia. “I don’t know if it’s a good thing or not that she did turn up. I mean what am I supposed to say, ‘Hey, Vi, hear you’re a para. Me too. Heard you don’t like math, me too. Heard you want me dead. Aaahhhh, no thanks’.” Raven laughed as she watched Arkadia mock herself. “Besides, it’s not like I can say anything anyway, without giving myself away or ending up being committed for believing in the bogeyman.”

  Arkadia’s heart raced a little as the school’s steps came into view, and she could see three people waiting at the top, like normal, as if nothing had happened. They reached the bottom of the stairs and Raven grabbed Arkadia’s hand and squeezed it, mouthing, “Will you be okay?” Arkadia nodded at her and looked back up the stairs at Chey’s face, her eyes filled with love and caring, and then looked over at Cat, her smile contagious as she bounced around excitedly. Arkadia’s eyes traveled over the third person, Violet, who immediately wrapped her arms around Arkadia’s shoulders and embraced her tightly.

  “Oh my sweet friend,” Violet said as she released the hug to look at Arkadia. “I have been sick all last week. The girls have just filled me in on what’s been happening, it’s horrible, I can’t believe what you have had to go through.”

  A completely confused look crossed Arkadia’s face as she said, “Violet, the police told me you’re a witness.”

  Violet waved her hand around. “Oh no,” she said dismissively. “I went and re-visited them yesterday to tell them they misunderstood. I told them I saw a blonde girl running away from that area, but I never mentioned you. What kind of friend do you think I am?” Violet put her hand to her heart and pouted a little. “The stupid police got it wrong, that’s all, but I sorted it out, don’t worry.” Violet swiveled on her too-high-for-school boots and sashayed off toward
the lockers, leaving Chey and Cat with the same dumbfounded look on their face that was on Arkadia’s.

  “That girl is just plain crazy,” Chey said as she looped her arm through Arkadia’s. “I swear when they were handing out social skills she was still in the line for shoes.” She shook her head and laughed. “Oh, and by the way, Arkadia,” Cat looped her arm with Arkadia on the other side and continued with a contagious giggle, “there was a certain handsome hockey player who apparently couldn’t stop talking about you at training yesterday. To the point where the coach threatened to gag him.” Cat winked and giggled some more.

  “Well … we are a couple.” Arkadia casually dropped the bombshell on her friends.

  “YOU’RE WHAT??” both Chey and Cat screamed in unison, stopped on the spot, and turned to look straight at Arkadia.

  “A couple?” Cat asked.

  “Official like?” Chey asked. The pitch of both their voices was getting higher by the syllable.

  “Yes and yes, but you will have to wait on details since the bell is about to ring.” Arkadia baited the hook with a grin. Cat and Chey protested having to wait on such juicy gossip, but as Arkadia predicted, the bell rung and their presence was required in a class.

  “Lunch break, Arkadia, and the dish of the day is you,” said Cat. A chuckle was shared by them all as they went off to start their first class.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Later that night, Arkadia was sitting at the kitchen table talking to Eloise and Raven as the clean-up after dinner took place. “She seemed truly concerned, I don’t get it,” Arkadia said discussing Violet and how she had acted toward her earlier at school. Eloise braced herself for the onslaught her next question might get her, but she felt it was a valid one nevertheless.

  “Don’t bite my head off, but are you one hundred percent sure it was Violet in the window?”

  Arkadia thought for a second and nodded. “Totally. It was Violet, and she held me magically. I was frozen and completely under her control, well, my body anyway.” She shuddered as it was the scariest moment she had ever experienced, even more than when the wolves were attacking. At least with the wolves, she knew the who and the why.

  “Then she has to be a Mesmer, and some deal was made a long time ago to give them the added ability of masking their existence,” Raven said as she got out the coffee mugs.

  Drying the last of the dishes, Eloise agreed. “That would make the most sense. The problem is getting proof, and without it, we can’t do much except make ourselves look silly.”

  Arkadia had heard Bohdan’s truck coming long before he knocked on the door. She swiftly opened the door and launched herself into the waiting arms of Bohdan, who made all the stress of the day disappear instantly. Her lips sought his in a kiss that expressed how deeply she not only had missed him, but how much she needed him in her life. “How was training, Puff?” Arkadia pulled back to look at Bohdan, his hair still damp from having a shower after training. He smelt of earth and woody musk, and it made her toes curl with tingles.

  Bohdan tilted his head, a quizzical look on his face. “Puff?”

  She chuckled at his expression. “I am searching for a love name for you, Puff, as in the dragon.” Arkadia still chuckled. “You no like? I had thought about scales, but it sounded like you’re a dealer,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows as she stifled more laughter.

  Bohdan squeezed her ass as he pulled her hard against him, walked back into the house, and rumbled softly into her ear, “You can call me anything, as long as it’s always me you’re calling.”

  Looking over at Eloise and Raven, Bohdan nodded. “Evening, ladies.” Raven smiled in return, and Eloise tucked the dish towel on the hook and turned to look at Bohdan.

  “Evening, Mr. Drak, would you care for a coffee? Raven is making a fresh pot.”

  Bohdan put Arkadia down and shook his head. “I appreciate the offer, Ms. Mayflower, but I just came by to ask if Arkadia needed anything. I have assignments that need my attention, and as much as I would love to hang here with my queen and her family, bad grades equals no ice time according to coach.”

  Eloise nodded and said, “He’s a smart man.” She turned to the boiling kettle as Arkadia went to talk to Bohdan on the verandah.

  “I wish you could stay and never leave.” Arkadia wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head upon the muscular cliff face he called his chest. Shutting her eyes, she listened to the thumping of his heart.

  “It only beats for you, my queen,” he murmured, placing a kiss to the top of her head. “Is there anything you need?” he asked softly. Arkadia could feel the heat pooling in her special spot as his voice caressed her ears.

  Lifting her head, she spoke trying not to get lost in his endless brown eyes. “Oh yes.” She reached around to cup Bohdan’s tight ass in her hands and gave it a playful squeeze. “I need something from you,” she said and winked, “But as long as I know you love me, then I know everything will work out, and soon this nightmare will be just a distant memory for me.”

  Bohdan growled at the feeling of Arkadia’s hands on his ass, entwined his hands into her hair, and pulled her lips forcefully to his, letting his tongue seek out hers and playfully dance around her mouth. It showed how close to losing control he was when it came to anything to do with Arkadia. Slowing it down with a soft peck on her nose, he said, “If I had my way, we would never leave my cave. But for now, while I still have a weak hold on dragon, I am going and I’ll see you tomorrow. Text me if you need me, I am only seconds away.” Placing another soft kiss to her lips, Bohdan took a deep breath, inhaled her scent to satisfy his dragon’s need to own her, and jogged off to his truck. Arkadia wrapped her arms around her own body, now feeling cold with the absence of his body. She softly smiled, waved, and watched him drive away.

  “He’s a keeper,” Raven said as Arkadia wandered back into the living room and slumped down on the sofa with a contented glow on her face.

  “He is just perfect,” Arkadia sighed and settled back to rejoin the discussion on what to do about a problem named Violet.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  The next few days passed without much fuss. School, then magic study and, yes, while Arkadia was still having the occasional flop, she was batting at eighty percent success. Ever since her night with Bohdan, she had been feeling whole, and her magic had showed that. Arkadia was still only mastering simple spells; she would have to achieve a harder level to pass her PSEs. But as Eloise said, every successful spell was one step closer to her mark. Arkadia desperately wanted her mark. At the beginning of the year if you had asked her, she would have fobbed it off with a shrug and a “who care’s” attitude. However, things greatly changed after Eloise came into the house and believed in her when no one else had. Eloise had told her she was valuable and special; they were words Arkadia hadn’t heard about herself before. Arkadia felt that there may be something worth trying for, then Bohdan came into her life and well … he was definitely worth trying for. Arkadia hadn’t realized how disjointed she was until she felt all the puzzle pieces click into place with Bohdan. He completed her in a way she had never even contemplated dreaming of, yet now couldn’t live without.

  The police had visited once, informing her she was still a suspect despite Violet correcting her statement and the investigation was on-going, complete with the “don’t leave town” speech. Violet had been overly supportive at school, and always asked if she could do anything or help with anything. It was kind of creepy. Arkadia couldn’t get the image of Violet’s eyes, cold and evil, as they stared at her through the crack in the curtains, freezing her body in an ice-cold magic spell, rendering Arkadia totally vulnerable. Arkadia knew in her heart that it was Violet that day. Her eyes had terrified her, it wasn’t something easily forgotten, and yet the “Violet” at school had been so nice and supportive, to say Arkadia felt like she was going crazy was an understatement.

  Arkadia had gone from being the most popular girl in school to being a virtual
leper; she used to be a person who everyone looked up to, asked advice from, and set trends for the coming seasons. Since the murder has happened, there was a grand total of four people who still spoke to her: Chey, Cat, Violet, and of course, Bohdan. She wasn’t sure if people no longer acknowledged her existence because they believed she was a murderer, or if, perhaps, they believed she was a witch. Of course there was a third choice and that was they believed she was a murdering witch whose only reason for living was to hunt them down and eat their brains. The teens in Huntsville had been watching far too much of The Walking Dead.

  Even when Arkadia went into town, which she rarely did now, people would cross the road to not have to speak to her. She had seen mothers scoot their young children away from view, like they were fearful Arkadia was feeling hungry and children were on the menu. This was the reason Arkadia went to school and came home, that was it. Arkadia was even more grateful for Eloise, who no matter what, she was there believing in her. Arkadia almost wished she was her mom.

  Coming in the front door on Friday afternoon, Arkadia already felt the weekend vibe kicking in, her body preparing itself for the impending Saturday morning sleep-in. Arkadia tossed her bag in the hall closet in the corner, and wandered into the kitchen to get some juice. Eloise sat at the table with the laptop open checking e-mails, her face flashing all shades of terror. Arkadia could see she was holding onto the edge of the table so hard, even her knuckles were white as she read an email. Arkadia walked over to the fridge and proceeded to fill a glass, looking again over to Eloise, not sure if she should interrupt what was clearly a very distressing e-mail. She put the jug back in the fridge, took a sip, and decided to ask tentatively, “Eloise, is everything okay? You look like you have seen a ghost.”