by Jones, L. A.
Tales of Aradia the Last Witch
Volume 3
By L.A. Jones
I dedicate this story to my "baby" sister Heather whom I have respected and loved from the day she was born and I will keep doing so until the end of time. Out of all the things, I am grateful for, having her, as my sister is definitely the most important.
Copyright L.A. Jones 2010
Published at Smashwords
Cover Art by Lam Lu
This eBook is licensed for personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away so if you would like to share this book please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter One
"You've done this before!" Lamont shouted over the music as he twirled Aradia.
She responded by throwing her head back, and laughing.
The song they were dancing to was DJ Got Us Falling In Love Again by Usher and Lamont and Aradia moved perfectly to the beat. In fact, they were dancing so well everyone else on the dance floor had turned to watch them in fascination. Aradia noticed all this, and she could honestly say she loved the attention. Most especially the looks of envy she was now getting. It used to bother her before, but Aradia was used to being stared at and not just because of the original reason. Now there was also the new expectation of her having to choose a consort by the end of the year.
After the assault on the house where she had been held captive by Henry McAlester, Aradia had once again achieved celebrity status. However, upon arriving back in Salem Tristan had revealed to the entire hidden community the conditions of her having to choose a consort before the end of the school year. The conditions being she had to choose a man of the hidden race to be by her side or there would be war! It was enough for every hidden in school to stare at her in trepidation. However, as much as Aradia knew she had to focus on the issue of her choosing a consort right now she just wanted to have fun.
"I think I know how Julia Stiles felt in Save the Last Dance," Aradia said as Lamont stopped twirling her.
He paused, but only for a few seconds. "How did she feel exactly?"
"Like she was having the time of her life!" Aradia shouted back as the song began to wind down.
Lamont laughed again.
After the song was done, everyone clapped for Lamont, and Aradia.
Aradia then nodded at Everrett who stopped the music, and spoke into his microphone. "As much as you guys would like to keep grooving we must now turn our attention to our fabulous hostess: Aradia Preston!"
She got on the stage right next to Everrett, took the microphone from him, and looked to the crowd. Everyone stared at her, trying to anticipate her next move.
"Well is everyone having a good time?" Aradia finally asked.
The crowd happily responded, but Aradia teased them by saying "I can't hear you!"
The crowd once again responded eagerly.
"That's good to know because here at Club Tolerance trying to promote tolerance is indeed our goal, but that doesn't mean we can't have fun while we are at it!"
A low rumble of laughter could be heard from the people below standing below her.
However, as the laughter died down, Aradia continued to say, "Well as much as we wish this could last forever in the next hour it will be officially 11pm, and witching hour will begin."
The crowd laughed again, but this time softly and in confusion.
Aradia then inhaled and said, "Which basically means we all need to start heading home so I can get my witching done and everyone knows if I don't do my witching I get very cranky!"
The crowd burst into laughter along with Aradia, but she waved them down to silence. "So after just one more song we need to start getting our things together, and heading on out! Do not forget the club opens only two nights every week so another party will be starting tomorrow. This Saturday night right here at Club Tolerance! So I hope to see you, thanks for coming, drive safely, and remember at Club Tolerance everyone is tolerated. Why? It is because no matter who or what you are or your social strata we all have one thing in common: we like to party!"
The crowd whooped, hooted, and hollered after Aradia's speech. The good nature did not last though for as soon as Aradia turned off her microphone Everrett put on I'm a Slave for You by Britney Spears.
The crowd groaned heavily while Everrett just hollered, "Oh give me a break. It's the last song for the night! Cut me some slack here people!"
"He'll be lucky if we don't cut him," Al groaned as he rubbed his eyes with his arm.
While some people took to the dance floor, others eagerly looked for their stuff, and began walking up the stairs.
As soon as Aradia slipped off her the stage, Lamont appeared at her side, and asked her to dance.
But by now, Dax had shown up and said, "Sorry Lamont, but this last dance is for me!"
Lamont opened his mouth to protest, but Dax was already pulling Aradia towards the dance floor. The two of them stared into each other's eye as they moved seductively to the song. The provocative words, and taunts in the song's lyrics coupled with the snake charm rhythm. It made the hot, and heaviness between Dax and Aradia become thick as smoke.
As the crowd shuffled out of the club, they all turned to look at Dax and Aradia. The two of them took no notice even when the song stopped. For several minutes, they just stood gazing into each other's eyes. They did not even notice Everrett leaving, chuckling softly.
Finally, Dax said, "you know I am really proud of you Aradia."
"Seriously?" She let go of him and then walked over to the bar.
"Yeah I mean at first I seriously doubted you pulling off this promoting tolerance thing but now..." he paused for a few minutes and shrugged." The thing is these days there is less violence happening between the hiddens, and it is all thanks to you."
Aradia turned smiling at the praise, but then she noticed Dax's face darkening. "Uh oh."
She then asked what was wrong.
"The thing is there are less fights but," Dax sighed. "Now people are starting to get the wrong idea about everything else."
"What do you mean?" Aradia asked.
"I think Xan has a crush on Roy's cousin, Brenna," Dax stated flatly.
Aradia looked at him blankly. "So?"
"Did you hear me? My brother Xan, a vampire, has a crush Brenna who happens to be a werewolf!" Dax said sounding exasperated.
"How is that a bad thing?" Aradia demanded while folding her arms and looking extremely annoyed.
"It's bad okay!" Dax thundered.
Aradia slipped on to the bar, reached over, and got the wastebasket. After dumping its contents into another and placing on it the bar, she turned to face Dax.
After staring at him long and hard she finally asked, "How is he dating a werewolf bad? Please explain this to me."
Dax sighed, stared at the ground, and then he took a few steps towards her.
"The fact is Aradia," said Dax, "I am all for tolerance and everything but inter-racial dating in the hidden world... I think that's going a bit too far."
Dax looked at her, extremely confused.
At least until Aradia went on to say, "We are living proof that inter-racial dating in the hidden world is do-able."
Dax then grinned as Aradia continued, "And as far as I am concerned we are also proof that it's a very beautiful thing."
Dax chuckled as he slowly started walking towards her.
He smiled before saying softly, "You are very beautiful."
Aradia giggled just as Dax captured her lips with his own. Their kiss deepened until Dax started to move his hand up her shirt. Unfortunately, this was when flashbacks of Henry ripping off her clothes and her brutal rape erupted in Aradia's mind like a volcano. She then quickly pushed Dax away.
At first, he stood silently and extremely confused.
However, after staring at Aradia for a few seconds who was now breathing heavily he finally said, "Oh yeah sorry."
"It's funny," said Aradia once she pulled herself together.
She crossed her legs, and propped her chin onto her hand. "It's been over four months since...he did what he did to me but..."
Aradia could not finish her sentence and just shook her head instead.
Dax sighed and said, "No love it's not funny. It isn't funny one bit."
Once again, he walked to her, but instead of kissing her, he wrapped his arms around her body and held her close. Aradia leaned on his shoulder, pressed her nose against his black polo shirt, and breathed in his scent.
"I still have nightmares about it you know," she finally said in a croaking voice.
Dax just nodded, stroking her hair.
She sobbed all over Dax's shoulder until finally she managed to sputter, "I still can't believe that...that...bastard raped me! Worst of all, he was my first! The first guy you lose your virginity to is supposed to special! It was not like that for me. I lost it to a lunatic who raped me! I mean think about that Dax my first sexual experience was rape! I mean God that knowledge is bad enough, but every day when I hear or see a commercial or a student or teacher lecture about rape. I just want to...to..."
"Hush love, hush," Dax crooned softly as he continued stroking her hair.
Once he calmed her down Dax pushed Aradia away gently. He then put two fingers to her chin, and tipped her face to look at him.
"Rai," he said, "I know you are hurting and what he did to you was awful but..."
"Don't you dare tell me to get over it!" Aradia snapped, "People have been telling me to get over it since day one! Tristan, Lamont, hell even Roy..."
"Rai love my little Rai of sunshine calm down you got to remember that it's one thing to talk about something like rape, but it's a whole different nine yards for it to actually happen to you" Dax said cupping her chin.
His face then took a serious turn as he said, "But the sad truth is Aradia you do need to move on not just because it's the only thing you can do but also because men like him thrive on power and by doing what he did to you he established power over you."
"Still why? Why did he...?" she trailed off in a sobbing croak.
Dax shrugged and said, "I guess he thought that by raping you he could play God for a while by messing up your life."
He then sighed, and held her face in his both his hands. "Don't let him do that to you love. I know he is dead, but do not let him keep that power. Don't let him play God with your life, but most of all don't give him the satisfaction," said Dax.
Before Aradia could even say anything in response, he wrapped his arms about her, and held her.
"You can do this sweet heart but at your own pace. You can move on but only when you are ready. Until that time..." He sighed and looked at her again.
"Until that time I will wait for you," he said smiling. "Because God knows you are worth it."
Chapter Two
"I can't believe it!" Keon shouted at the top of his lungs as he clawed at a nearby painting like a wild animal even going so far as to rip it right off the wall.
He shredded it to ribbons while muttering, "Can't believe it. I just cannot believe it. I just can't believe it!"
"What?" Saul asked as he stepped into the lair, and marveled at the damage.
Everything that belonged to Keon that even had the fraction of a possibility of being broken lay smashed on the floor.
Saul took a deep breath and asked again, "What's the matter?"
Keon rose from the painting he was currently destroying to look at Saul with narrowed angry eyes. It was all Saul could do from leaping back in fright.
"What's wrong?" Keon finally growled as he rubbed his hand over his face. "What's wrong? I will tell you what is wrong! After all the trouble, I go to planning an effective way to capture the last witch those worthless McAlester brothers bungle it! Now not only does she walk free, but also she has achieved more political power in the hidden world than ever before! If that is not bad enough she is persisting in her promoting tolerance theories and 'gatherings' and people have started to follow her views!"
He howled as he slammed his fist against the wall, and made a huge chunk of the stone crack and fall! Keon's breathing became heavy with anger as he straightened up. Saul chose this time to ask what had happened. He was then told that the McAlester brothers were dead in addition to the head of all the vampire clans in Pennsylvania and his clan. Most surprising of all, hatred was common in the hidden world especially between the races, and yet a handful of hiddens had been able to put aside their differences just to save Aradia. Saul did not know whether to be shocked, intimidated, or impressed. Keon, however, was neither. He was tired, angry, and frustrated that not only had the McAlester brothers failed in a plan that he himself had brilliantly devised but that that this scrawny little child was turning out to be a bigger bother then he thought! He hated being wrong, but now he was beginning to hate Aradia even more!
When he had been told to observe her, Keon had felt nothing but resentment. The changes she had done such as the club, and promoting tolerance had only helped to build the resentment.
He and Saul, who was his second in command of the clan, personally led the Night Shadow Vampire clan and had been faithful servants of the Sovereign since the day they helped him take the throne. In return for their loyalty, they had been rewarded riches, and more power than Keon had thought imaginable. However, in spite of the support he had given the Sovereign in the coup he was still considered a subject so when he was given an order he had to follow it. So when he was told personally by the Sovereign to move his entire clan from Transylvania to the United States, Keon had obeyed without any hesitation.
In the beginning, he had had no complaints. In fact, Keon had grown quite comfortable in Salem, and had fallen in love with the fact that since he was one of the Sovereign's followers he was virtually untouchable. He could cause all the damage, and chaos he wanted with no fear of punishment. He could even blatantly walk right up to another vampire, or a werewolf, fae, or shape-shifter, and brutally murder them in front of their friends, family, and still walk away just as confident as before. Why? Because he firmly believed that with the Sovereign's protection, he was invincible.
Aradia, however, had changed all that. She was now more feared than anyone else was in the hidden world even more than the Sovereign was. This meant that no longer could Keon do any damn thing he wanted. Now he was forced to keep a low profile as he observed Aradia, and this in itself really pissed him off.
"Oh you are going to regret not letting them kill you when they had the chance you stupid little witch." Keon muttered and clenching his fist. "You are going to regret it enormously! I swear to freaking God!"
Chapter Three
"We're taking in two foster girls," Ross Preston announced at the dinner table on Sunday.
Aradia stopped as soon as she heard this, with her spoon filled with soup halfway to her mouth. She blinked a couple of times before looking up at her parents.
"What?" she whispered softly.
Ross grunted, Liza t
ook the hint, and explained to Aradia, "We're taking in two foster girls. Their names are Melina, and Marietta. They are from Brooklyn, NY. Marietta is nine and Melina is your age so we expect you to help her out at school."
Aradia still sat completely stunned. Until finally she gathered her broken wits, and cried out, "Mom, Dad are you nuts? You can't take in two foster girls!"
"Why not?" Ross asked her.
"Why?" Aradia sputtered, "Because...because now with me being forced to chose a consort. Me still running my nightclub to promote tolerance and... How do you expect to hide my powers from them because most likely these girls are going to be human?"
Ross sighed. "Believe me Aradia, we know that this is tough and we realize how much pressure you are under."
"The thing is," Liza added to her husband's statement. "These girls have nowhere else to go. The social services only just seized them from their parents in Brooklyn after a drug bust."
"They even have recordings of the father offering his daughters to the dealers to pay off his debts," Ross grumbled and clenched his fists.
Liza continued while ignoring her husband's comment. "The sad truth is Aradia; these girls have had a hard time. They need stability but most of all they need a good home and we can provide that."
"But what if they take advantage of us?" Aradia asked.
"Then they go it is simple as that," Ross stated.
He then rose from the table, put his dishes in the dishwasher, and turned to look back at them.
"They will be arriving in one week so we need you to help fix up the house in preparation," said Ross.
"And as for your powers," Liza added, "All we ask is for you to keep a low profile but only at home. Outside and anywhere else, you can use your powers okay? Just not at home."
Aradia was stunned into silence. She could not believe her parents were doing this. They were taking in two children while Aradia was dealing with managing the club to promote tolerance, which was currently still an unfavorable issue. In addition to being forced to choose a consort, and trying to prevent a war? She could not believe it! She opened her mouth fully intending to protest against such actions, but then she took a second look at her parents' faces. They looked very serious about this, and Aradia got the feeling no matter what she said they would not change their minds. It made Aradia wonder what had happened to those poor girls to make even her parents so desperate to take them in?