I pulled back a bit and looked at him with my heart in my eyes. “I know we have a lot to learn about each other. I also know it’s fast. Really fast, but I feel you in here.” I took his hand and held it over my heart. “I feel you deeper than that. I feel you in the very essence of me.”
“What are you trying to say, Ella?”
“What I’m trying to say, before I start rambling , is that I love you too, Jaxx. Completely.”
He grabbed me roughly by the upper arms, dragged me to him, and really laid one on me. The kiss started out rough, but quickly turned gentle and coaxing. The man tasted good. Like mint and Jaxx. A newly formed snowflake in the midst of a blizzard.
“We can’t do this here.” He pulled back breathing hard. I blindly tried to follow his lips with mine wanting more. He chuckled as he tucked my head under his chin and held me until my breathing returned back to normal.
“Wow,” I mumbled into his chest.
“My thoughts exactly.” He smiled down at me and then looked around at the mess I had created in the bathroom. “Time is running short, Ella. We have to fix this and get out of here before Sabrina brings someone back to witness this.”
“How do we fix this? It’s a disaster.” I looked around bewildered.
“Close your eyes. Take a deep breath and picture what the bathroom looked like when you first walked in. Picture the mirrors as whole, the floors clean of blood, and the cracks in the sink sealed. Now, open your eyes and will with all you have for it to be so.”
I opened my eyes and watched as the mirrored glass on the floor floated back to the wall and melted into full sheets once more. I stared as the blood dried and flaked away into the air around the puddles and splashes, and I watched the sinks seal themselves before my eyes. I looked at Jaxx in total astonishment. “I did that? I really just made that happen?”
He rubbed his nose against mine. I loved his gentle side, the side that he only let out when he was with me. He appeared so fierce with everyone else. “Yes, it was all you. You are a natural. So very strong. Stronger than you think, little raven. I think you could accomplish anything you wanted too.” He leaned down to kiss me again just as several people rushed into the restroom.
I turned out of Jaxx’s arms and saw Sabrina gawking around the bathroom. Several teachers crowded in behind her as she stopped short.
“What is this?” the principal asked. He had to have come in last, because I didn’t see him standing there until then.
I blushed and hid my face in Jaxx’s chest.
Jaxx looked around the crowd meeting everyone’s eyes. “Sorry, sir. My girl was upset due to some bullying and I came looking for her. I found her in here crying.” I stiffened at that, but he just winked, encouraging me to play along.
“That doesn’t explain why you two children were necking when we arrived.”
“I got carried away comforting my girl. Can you really blame me Mr. Boyd? I mean look at her.” Jaxx actually had the nerve to smile at the man. Some of the teachers lightly laughed at that and Mr. Boyd looked a little pink in the cheeks.
“We got a complaint that Arabella was mistreating Ms. Gardener here.”
“As you can see sir, Ella is still upset. From what I have gathered in the short time I have been here, she has never bullied or bothered anyone in this school.”
“Well that seems to be true enough. Obviously this has been a misunderstanding, but I still have to have all of you come to the office to call your parents and discuss this at length.”
“Of course, sir. Lead the way.”
Chapter Seven
Barely Concealed
With that we all filed out of the bathroom and followed Sabrina and the Principal to the front office. When we arrived the principal asked me for my parents’ home number.
“I’m sorry Mr. Boyd, but I have recently left my parents’ home. I’m a legal adult and responsible for myself.”
“And you Mr. Royce?”
“Same.” Jaxx answered absently.
Sabrina suddenly exploded. “This is all bullshit. That freak sitting there acting all innocent just made glass fly at me and...and… made the doors open and close by themselves!”
“That’s enough!” Mr. Boyd shouted at Sabrina. She fell back into the seat she had taken when she entered the office.
“Now young lady, we will get to the bottom of this. I assure you, but there was no broken glass. There wasn’t any damage to the lady’s restroom at all.”
Sabrina started to sob. “But…. she had a tornado around her. Her feet didn’t even touch the ground!” She jumped up and pointed her finger at me looking demented. “She worships Satan! She’s a witch! She was using her dark powers on you to make you believe her!”
Mr. Boyd looked like he was boiling from the inside out by the end of her rant. “I will not have this craziness spouted in my school. You will be silent or I will have you escorted off the school grounds.”
Sabrina sat back down with a huff and glared at Jaxx and I.
“Now I know what Ms. Gardener said happened, but I want to hear from your Ms. Reese. In your own words. What happened in the girl’s bathroom?”
“I was washing my hands after lunch when Sabrina stormed into the bathroom and grabbed my hair and yanked my head back. She accused me of stealing from her and threatened me,” I said calmly.
“Liar! She’s totally lying Mr. Boyd! I can’t believe you are even listening to her! She’s a witch!” Sabrina interrupted, jumping from her seat again.
Mr. Boyd gave her a sour look and she sat back down, crossing her arms over her chest. “Go on, Ms. Reece, what threats did she make?”
I told him about the verbal threats and what was written on Jessa’s locker and car. “And she sent disgusting things to my friend Devon’s house, and his parents have involved the police.”
“You are such a liar! I didn’t do that! She’s a member of some satanic cult, Mr. Boyd! Just look at her! She’s a witch! She’s probably doing some kind of voodoo magic right now!” Sabrina shrieked.
I mentally rolled my eyes. Nothing new there, I’d grown up listening to that shit. I just looked at Mr. Boyd blandly, and Jaxx took my hand in his, squeezing my fingers as he frowned at Mr. Boyd.
Mr. Boyd stood up behind his desk, he looked shaken up by what I’d said. He took a moment, I assumed to decide what needed to be done. “Well it seems we need to call the police since they have already been involved in this escalating problem,” he surmised, looking at the three of us.
Sabrina started screaming at Mr. Boyd, her face purple as she shook with rage. “Do you know who my family is?” she demanded. “You will be not only out of a job for this bullshit, but I will personally make sure your life is a living hell!” she threatened him. “You are done here! Your fat ass will be run out of town when my daddy hears about this!”
With that Mr. Boyd picked up his phone and called campus security. They arrived moments later. “Please escort Ms. Gardener off of campus and make sure she does not return at any point today. I will have to investigate these claims and sit down with her parents before I can decide how long she will be suspended.”
“Yes, sir,” the guard said as he took Sabrina by her arm and dragged her out kicking and screaming.
“You’ll pay for this Witch Slut!” she spouted shrilly. “You and your stupid satanic cult!” she continued as the guard pulled her down the hall.
“I apologize for this. No child should be subjected to that,” he acknowledged as he looked at both Jaxx and I, frowning. “However, you were both caught out of class, no matter what the reason, without a tardy slip. Not to mention the PDA. So, I am going to have to give each of you detention,” he continued apologetically.
We both sighed with relief that it hadn’t ended up worse, so much worse. I could have been ousted! I thought as I nodded somberly at Mr. Boyd.
“We do not condone bullying in this school. Ms. Gardener will be investigated and if she is found to have been bullying students
here, she will be expelled on those grounds. So rest easy,” he said, attempting to reassure us.
I rolled my eyes. Yeah, like that meant a whole lot to me. Her parents would back her up. They always did. She tried to kill a girl just months ago, and she got off without a hitch! They didn’t even question the hag. “Thank you, Mr. Boyd,” I replied with a tight smile. Jaxx and I took our tardy and detention slips and left the office.
“We need to get out of here. Now,” Jaxx decided. “I know this is your school and you think you belong here, day in and day out, but it’s not, Ella. Staying here is going to be detrimental.”
“I’m starting to believe that.” I tangled my fingers with his as we moved down the hall toward the side exit that led to the parking lot.
“Norms cannot know about us,” he reminded me, looking at my bewildered face and shaking bottom lip. He pulled me into his arms and stroked my cheek. “This is not your fault. I know that. You have to believe that also. You have not been trained, but we are going to fix that,” he assured me.
I nodded and smiled up at him. With a sigh I laid my head on his shoulder.
“If it’s important to you, you can always finish high school online, but you can’t be around so many Norms without better control,” he said softly.
“Jaxx, I know, and I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened. You’re right, I need better control. I need to learn everything I can. Can your uncle help me? Will you help me?”
“We’ll both help you, little raven.” He grinned. “I meant what I said. I love you, more than the moon. We are in this together, forever. I promise.”
We finally reached the lot and I found my bike on its side with WITCH scrolled across the body in white paint. That was the last straw! I couldn’t handle anymore! I just wanted to crawl into bed and pull up the covers. Jaxx saw my face and seemed to be able to tell what I was thinking.
“No, don’t do that, it’s fixable. Anything is fixable as long as we are together, Ella.” He pulled out his iPhone and dialed the local body shop. He spoke quickly, telling them what had happened and where we were located.
While he was on the phone I sank down onto the curb and stared at my boots deep in thought. Today was supposed to be a good one. A new me. Tough and unshakable, but it was too much. No fuck that! I can handle anything. I just have to keep picking myself up. I have something to live for now. Something to look forward to. I can do anything as long as I let myself be strong, I thought. After the show in the restroom, that proves I’m one fierce bitch! With that thought I smiled.
“What has put that smile on your face, little raven?”
“Just you. Always you. I’m so lucky, so much luckier than I ever thought I would be. You are my silver lining in a world of bullshit.”
“I could argue that I’m the lucky one. I have finally found my other half.” He took my hand and pulled me to my feet. “Let’s get out of here. My uncle knows the owner of the body shop. They’ll be here within the hour.”
“Jaxx, can I ask you a question?”
“Anything, little raven.”
“Why is it sometimes you speak like you are an eighteen year old from this time? But at others you speak like you are out of one of those regency novels.”
“I already told you that we are long lived. We are essentially immortal. We stop aging when we hit our maturity, for most that would be at about twenty five years of age, although we come into our powers at eighteen.”
“Exactly how old are you?” I asked curious.
Jaxx looked pained. As if I wouldn’t like his answer.
“Come on old man. It can’t be that bad,” I joked.
“I am Two hundred and forty six years old,” he muttered.
My jaw dropped at that and I started to laugh. It wasn’t really funny, but the words that popped into my head, made me laugh and he frowned at me. “Cradle robber,” I snorted with laughter, and soon he was laughing also. “It isn’t fair that you’ve had to wait so long to find me, when I’ve only had to wait eighteen years to find you.”
“We all face our own trials before we find our other halves, little raven, some worse than others. Yours haven’t been a picnic from what you have told me.”
“True, but so long.”
“You are with me now. That is all that matters.”
I wrapped my arm around his waist as we approached his sleek black ride. “Forever,” I said with a smile.
He opened my door and handed me into my seat. Then we were speeding away from the one place I used to look forward to. School used to be an escape from my parentals, from the abuse and hatred. Things changed.
“Will your uncle be home when we get there?”
“He should be. You can never tell with him though. He is always popping in and out of places. No worries, love. He will adore you as much as I do. I guarantee it.”
“I’m sure I will enjoy meeting him. Anyone that loves you has to be special.” I was still nervous though.
“So what do you want for dinner tonight? We didn’t eat lunch thanks to the energy drain. You must be famished.” He smirked at me. Pervy man.
I chuckled and snuggled into my seat, enjoying the ride to his home.
Chapter Eight
Revealed
When we pulled up to Jaxx’s house I was taken back again at how massive it was. Even though I had been there once before, I was still dazzled by the size. It was a two story colonial red brick home with white windows and trimmings. Two large pillars sat in front to support the roof of the massive porch. There were several hanging baskets hanging from the eves. The yard and the flower garden out front were well tended. You would never guess that it was a house for just two men. Around the back of the house I knew there was a full tennis court and an in ground pool that took up a lot of space, but there was also a labyrinth of flowers and shrubbery to get lost in.
Jaxx walked around the car to get my door then handed me out. As we strolled up the front, I noticed a Harley Davidson V-Rod parked on the other side of what had to be his uncle’s black Lexus. I turned to Jaxx. “Does your uncle have a thing for Harleys also?”
“Umm, No. He is much too contained to ride any sort of bike. Let alone that monster.”
That made me giggle. How could anyone related to Jaxx be tucked in? When we got to the front door, Jaxx walked right in, but I lagged back out of nervousness. I’d never had the meet the parents’ moment.
“Come on, little raven. He won’t bite. Well not much.” He rolled his eyes at my confused look. “I’ll let him explain.”
We moved through the house and Jaxx twined his fingers with mine. At his touch I relaxed instantly. “You are my instant Xanax,” I laughed.
When we reached the front room, I noticed a tall lanky man who was probably in his mid-thirties leaning against the main book case. He had dark hair and even darker eyes. You could get sucked into those eyes and never escape. I thought, quickly diverting my gaze to take in the room. Instantly my eyes caught eyes that were mirrors of my own. I felt Jaxx go still beside me as I stiffened with confusion.
“Seb, what’s going on? Who is this?” Jaxx asked.
I took in the one I knew had to be a stranger in the room. He was tall, but still an inch or so shorter than Jaxx. I would say he hit about six foot one at least. He stared at me like I should know him. His eyes were the same as mine. His hair color matched mine, even his well defined cheek bones, and full lips were mine, I thought, my heart racing. “Gavin,” I whispered.
He jerked as if electrocuted by an unknown source.
Jaxx bristled beside me and I could feel the anger and confusion radiating off of him.
“Who-”he started to say, but his uncle cut him off.
“Let it be, Jaxxsane. Watch and listen, but for goddess sake let this play out,” his uncle said with so much authority I didn’t think anyone could deny him.
“Who are you?” I asked my twin just to be sure.
“You know who I am. Just as I know you, soul deep.
We might not share the same soul as you and your destined, but we are of the same blood and womb,” Gavin said softly, regarding me carefully.
As my thoughts were confirmed I latched onto Jaxx for dear life. I never thought I would meet my twin two days after learning he even existed. Jaxx looked at me and I was sure he noticed the pain twisting my face and my heart.
“I don’t care who this is,” Jaxx snarled. “This is my home Seb. I let you stay here because we are family, but you have stepped too far with this, and you’ve upset my destined.”
“I do apologize, dear nephew, but as you can see there is a reason for my bringing dear Gavin into your home. The reason just hasn’t opened itself to me as of yet.”
Jaxx looked at me, telling me silently with that look that he would explain yet another thing in time. Jaxx turned to Gavin and narrowed his eyes. He seemed to be sizing him up as prey. “What is your reason for being here? If you wanted to find your sister, you could have done it without pushing yourself upon her unexpectedly.” Jaxx stared at Gavin hard.
“You’re right of course. I ran into your uncle at the conclave and he told me that he’d seen someone that could be my mirror image. I’ve been looking for my sister for months, ever since I found the letter from our mother that was kept from me.”
I stifled a gasp knowing I had the same letter tucked away at my uncle’s house.
“Yes, Arabella, I see that you know of which I speak. Our mother abandoned me as well. I was raised by some very unsavory characters. Until I found the letter I thought I was stuck with them. I was ashamed of where I came from. Until I found out I had other family. A twin. You.”
“I need to sit,” I said, squeezing Jaxx’s hand.
“Come,” Jaxx murmured as he led me to the nearest sofa and seated me beside him, as close to his side as possible.
I looked up and noticed that although the conversation was happening around him, Jaxx’s uncle had been listening and absorbing. “I see why you are the historian of our people,” I said as I stared at him.
Fated Truth (The True Witch Saga) Page 8