"I'm sorry, Ella, I truly am but life goes on and our friendship has survived this. I know that everything isn't as it used to be, but I haven't changed."
"I know you’re the same, but this supernatural stuff is scary. You were involved with a real vampire. Oh, my God, Julia, a vampire!"
"He was a half vampire and we’re both using past tense. It’s over, now I'm dating—"
Okay, maybe that didn't come out exactly as I planned but now I had no choice, I had to tell her about Quentin.
She sat up.
"What? Who are you seeing now? Please don’t tell me aliens exist?"
"No, Quentin isn’t an alien. He’s a giant and paranormal like me," I said adding quickly. "I think you’ll like him; he’s great. We met at a gallery."
Ella gave me another faint smile and put the kettle on. Usually she would’ve asked me if I wanted a soda or some biscuits but tonight she looked off.
“Maybe, but not now, not yet."
“It's all right, we don’t have to rush anything."
"I'm also seeing someone. A normal, you know, a human, and he’s sweet and doesn't know about your world."
I gave Ella a smile and placed my hands on hers, somehow thinking that this would comfort her. She looked scared at first, but she didn’t move her hands.
"Ella, it’s all right, really. I want you to be happy, but I miss you like crazy. Maybe we should organise a double date or something?"
This time I had to be more firm and tell her that it was silly to be so distant. Besides, I needed to tell her about the fact that she was also magical. Lying to her would only make things worse and our friendship would be completely over.
"I don’t know, maybe, but if we do this, then you have to promise not to mention anything to Will!" Ella exclaimed, tossing her long hair behind her like she wanted to show me that she was still feisty deep inside.
I swallowed hard and took her hands again. This was going to be so much more difficult than I expected. Alex didn’t want me to tell her the truth and I was ready to go against his better judgement.
"Listen, there’s something that I have to tell you, something important and you won’t like it, but I promised I would never lie to you."
My words came out inaudible and I felt pressure on my chest, like someone was pressing a hot wire trying to stop my breathing. I had to close my eyes for a second or two. Ella was saying something to me, but I couldn't understand her. Utter blackness came unexpectedly, and I dove right in losing touch with reality.
At first, I smelled a clean antiseptic odour and when I opened my eyes I wasn’t sure where I was. Everything was blurry, and my mouth was dry. I searched for my excess magic, wanting to feel my energy flowing through me, but I felt empty. It took me a moment to realise that I was in the hospital. I turned my head to the right feeling weak and drained. I search for any injuries, but my body only seemed exhausted, like I’d just run a marathon.
"We’re still trying to figure out what happened. Mrs. Jenkins is very worried, she’s with Ella now," the voice belonging to my father was saying.
"Mr. Taylor, this isn't normal. Julia’s magic never bothers her when she’s around me. You’re saying that someone attacked them when they were talking?"
I opened my mouth to ask Quentin what was going on, but then thought I would find out so much more if I kept quiet. Dad and Quentin would fuss over me without explaining anything at all.
"Possibly, I don’t want to speculate over this. My daughter always seems to get herself into trouble. I have a murder case on my back and the commissioner is demanding an arrest!" Dad said raising his voice. They had their backs turned to me, and they didn't even realise that I was wide awake.
"I heard about what happened at La Caz Pharmaceutical, Mr. Taylor. My assistant mentioned something about a kitchen knife. I normally don’t listen to such gossip, but my assistant was friends with someone who worked on the production line," Quentin said. I was amazed with how well he was interacting with my dad. I had no idea how long I’d been out, but my father surprised me yet again, talking to my boyfriend like a normal person.
"This is off the record, Mr. Van Rooyen. A witness from that night mentioned that they saw a blond woman on the scene right around the time when the murder took place."
Dad shrugged his shoulder undoubtedly with a tense expression, although I couldn't see his face.
My heart started pounding in my chest.
"Julia, are you awake?" Quentin asked reaching my bed. I was so lost in my own thoughts that I didn't even notice them looking at me. My head felt heavy and that annoying absence of magic was driving me mad, because I knew this meant trouble.
"What’s going on? Why am I in the hospital?" I started asking questions while Dad put his usual straight unrevealing expression on his face.
"Your mum went to get coffee, she’s been sitting here the whole time," Dad began with a deep frown, which meant that she should be back any minute. "Ella’s mother found both of you in her kitchen. It looked like both of you were spellbound. She called an—"
Fear seized me so fast that I lost all ability to breathe because the realisation of another blackout hit me so hard I thought I was going to pass out.
"How is she, how is Ella? I need to go and see her right away!" I said raising my voice and trying to get up, but Dad, Quentin and a nurse who appeared out of nowhere were pushing me back to bed.
"Ella’s unconscious. She’s in the human ward and her mother’s with her," Dad said letting the nurse take care of me. Quentin also backed out, looking at me concerned and anxious.
I don’t know what happened after that because I was so shocked with the news of another blackout, that I passed out.
I regained consciousness later on feeling stronger. This time my mum was sitting next to me talking to Quentin.
"Mum, how is Elle? Please tell me that she’s conscious now?" I asked biting my lip so hard that it bled.
Mum looked tired but seemed to be in high spirits.
"She hasn't woken up yet, the doctors don’t know what’s wrong with her."
I sank back into my bed feeling like someone had sliced my chest open and poured boiling hot guilt inside. Ella was lying unconscious somewhere in the hospital and it was all my fault that. I blacked out and attacked her, there wasn't any other explanation. I had to find my dad as soon as possible and tell him that he needed to lock me up because I was dangerous. People close to me were getting hurt, my magic was out of control and my own family was in danger.
"I want to see her, please tell the he… I mean the doctor that I'm okay to get up," I said but Mum pushed me back on the bed.
“You're not going anywhere, Julia. You’re dehydrated, and you need to stay in bed. Mr. Van Rooyen, please tell my daughter that I'm right."
"But—"
"Julia, please, I promised your dad that I’d keep you in bed," Quentin cut me off, standing beside my mother within a moment. I wanted to scream and tell them that it didn't matter how I felt, it was all about Ella and the fact that I was the one who caused this.
My mind was racing, and I tried to think of a spell that could help her or about my grandmother.
Quentin and my mum obviously had a little chat. I didn't have time to think about Mum or the fact that I didn't tell her about him, but they seemed to get on just fine. They stayed for another hour, then the healer asked them to leave because visiting hours were over. I couldn't pull myself together thinking about Ella and dying to know if she was going to be all right. Mum didn't know anything else. In any other circumstance, she would have asked me a million questions about Quentin, but right now I was in the process of having a meltdown, so it was better for her leave. Quentin mentioned that my father had gotten a phone call and also had to go.
"Please, my human friend is in another wing. I need to know what’s wrong with her," I pleaded with the giant nurse who was using magic to give me added energy.
She had a kind face and like most giants, she was taller t
han a normal human.
"Julia, I told you already. She’s stable but unconscious; we have the best healers dealing with her, so you need to wait," she said, already annoyed with me.
When she left, I lay in the bed ready to leave. I didn't care that I needed to stay in the hospital for another night because I was being monitored. Physically there was nothing wrong with me. The main problem was that my magic was gone. It was as if someone had emptied my body of magic and only left my human genes.
The main healer came in to check on me. She said that I had a fever and wasn't going to let me go home until tomorrow. When I questioned her about my best friend, she didn't have any updates.
After dinner I tried to get some sleep, but I kept tossing and turning worried sick about my magic. The training was supposed to help me, but it seemed that I wasn't making any progress. I loved Ella and I was dying inside thinking that I’d hurt her. My mind was pounding with abnormal thoughts.
It took me half of the night to actually get some sleep. At eleven, a nurse came in and gave me a dose of sleeping pills, so I was out shortly after that. She promised that I wouldn’t have any dreams.
She was right to that extent, but she didn't say that I wouldn’t have any visitors at close to five in the morning. Indeed, I had visitors and when Alex and Tron showed up, I was ready to scream.
"Go on, roar if you want. No one will hear you; I’ve just cast a spell over this room," Tron said calmly. This time he wasn't smiling, he was completely serious. Alex was silent, writing something in a small notepad. In the end I chose to stay calm and gain some answers.
"I thought I was in control and now Ella? I can't believe this," I cried with frustration.
"You went there to tell her the truth, didn't you?" Alex asked all of a sudden and uncertainty flickered in his eyes. The entire ward was silent, but healers weren’t like humans. They ought to keep some kind of spells in place.
My jaw dropped, and I stared at them like I was seeing them for the first time.
"She deserved to know. How much longer were you planning to keep this away from her?" I asked, furious, not caring about my body, only hoping that my magic was coming back to me. I didn't care what they were planning to do with me. I wanted to be ready.
"Julia, you haven't listen to yourself. Something has tricked your source. Have you had any other incidents with anyone?"
"Incidents, what do you mean?" I asked quietly. Tron stroked his chin and Alex continued to stare at me without any kind of expression on his face.
"Someone or something shocked your magic, so you need to think before we go see Ella and assess the damage," Tron said calmly. His white hair seemed much longer than the last time I saw him.
I tried to think about what they were saying. Digging deep down into my thoughts my mind ran through all the events from the past couple of weeks. My last training session was much better, but that was only last week. Then I was at a pack meeting and my encounter with Nathaniel. As soon as I had his image in front of me, I felt a tingle of energy run down my spine. Tron and Alex were watching me closely, but I didn't want them to know that I’d come up with something. Whenever I was around Nathaniel my magic would come alive. He worked up my energy, caused complete distribution but not always in a positive way. It had been two weeks since our meeting outside my apartment. New, dangerous thoughts were rolling through my mind over and over, while two very powerful paranormals were expecting some kind of answers. What was I going to tell them?
"I don’t know, doubt it. I did take control of my power when I struck Kelsie’s ex, but my spell was weak."
Tron narrowed his eyes like he knew that I wasn’t telling them the whole truth.
"We need to increase our visits for now to avoid more trouble. I think you need to stay away from Ella. She shouldn't be in this state for more than a couple of weeks," Alex announced nodding towards Tron. It seemed that they understood each other more when they exchange silent looks.
"What do you mean by staying away from Ella?" I hissed nearly falling off the bed. "She needs me, our friendship is important. Telling her the truth is freaking important!" I shouted not caring for the world that they were much stronger and more advanced in magic than I was.
"Do you want to cause her more harm, Julia?” Tron asked. “She’s been living in isolation from magic all her life. Your power has been unsettled but this is no longer the case. Just stay away from her for now, at least until we figure out how to stop the blackouts."
I folded my arms together looking between the both of them with reservation. They were right to some extent. I wanted to do anything in order to protect the people closest to me and if that meant that I needed to stay away, then I had no other choice but to obey.
Chapter 13
Some much-needed honesty.
My two teachers didn't stay long after that. We arranged another training session and just as I was about to ask if I could go with them to see Ella, my lids became heavy and darkness shaded over me.
It was late morning when I woke up. The nurse came in again to check on me. I told her that I felt much better, but I had to wait for the main healer to be discharged. It was clear that the early morning visit actually took place. I was eager to sneak out and see Ella because I was desperate for news.
That didn't happen because as soon as I was out of bed, Dad stepped into my room looking more serious than ever.
"And where do you think you’re going?" he asked folding his bulky arms together.
"To check on Ella."
I was planning to go into her room just in case, but I wanted to see her face to make sure she was going to make it. Tron and Alex used their own energy to help with the healing process. After all, Alex was her fairy father, even though she’d never met him.
"Hon, stop being so stubborn. Sit down and listen to me. I’ve got something important to tell you," he said with an unusual tone of voice. Then I remembered his conversation with Quentin and my stomach sank. Was he here to tell me that he’d discovered the truth? That I was his main suspect?
"What it is Dad?" I asked quietly. All of a sudden, my life was a mess. I couldn't even remember how I hurt Ella and now my own father had come to arrest me for murder.
"Jennifer was the one who broke into your apartment."
My throat went dry in an instant and beads of sweat gathered on my forehead. Dad never could sit calmly in one place, this time he was pacing around my hospital room. I could tell that he was in quite a shock. Me on the other hand, well, I wasn't quite understanding what he said.
"Jennifer, the one who was found murdered in La Caz Pharmaceutical?" I repeated in a whisper.
"Yes, my unit found my mother’s magical artefacts in her apartment. I don’t know if she was acting alone, but the evidence points to her."
The hole in my stomach didn't stop growing. Jennifer worked for McGregor and she was ready to burn me to death. I didn't have any important possessions in my home and those artefacts that went missing, well, they were priceless.
"I don’t get it. This doesn't make sense," I said speaking aloud.
"I was hoping you would tell me. When she was fired from Paranormal Personnel, she got a job with that other one, Spell or something—"
"StaffSpell, she got a job with StaffSpell?" I hissed feeling like I needed more air all of the sudden.
"Yeah, that’s the name, I meant to write it down," he muttered taking out his notepad. Now I was ready to leave the hospital right that minute, but Dad was here, and I had to act as if I had no idea what was going on.
"I sent Stewart to have a chat with a couple of guys from there, but they all said that Miss. Griffiths was an excellent employee. She was hired straight after she left the hospital."
"This is all very suspicious." I was baffled.
He asked me a few more questions about the rival agency but I only told him what was necessary. Our conversation was interrupted by another group of paranormals.
"Surprise! We thought it was time to
see how our dear friend was doing!"
Dad muttered something about being on call when he saw Kelsie, Nicky and Kate at the door. He gave me a quick kiss and left in a hurry, ready to throw himself into this whole case once again.
At first, I was gobsmacked seeing the girls in my hospital room. Then I started crying like I’d never cried before. I didn't know what was wrong with me, the tears just started pouring out of me. The girls surrounded me, asking what the hell was wrong with me. My meltdown lasted for about five minutes but as time passed, I felt more hopeless and ruined than ever before.
"Julia, pull yourself together, you silly woman and tell us what’s going on!" Kelsie shouted. Okay, maybe this was a sign of weakness, but I needed a good cry. There was so much I wanted to tell them, but I wasn’t sure where to start.
I looked at Nicky standing in front of my hospital bed all tanned and fresh. We hadn’t seen each other for ages.
"So, I guess you’ve all met?" I sobbed. They all laughed.
"I dreamed about you being in the hospital last night. You had stranger around your bed and when you didn't answer, I decided to call your mother," Nicky explained, eyeing me suspiciously.
There was no point dragging this out any longer. I had to tell my friends that my life had turned over hundred and eighty degrees and I wasn't sure what to do anymore. I started right from the moment when I blacked out while being with Quentin in my kitchen. I had to come clean and Kel, Kate and Nicky were my friends. Tron and Alex needed to understand that I couldn't keep this away from people who cared about me. My father or my grandmother, well, they were directly connected with this whole mess, but I needed my friends. I went through my unsettled power, the visit from Tron, and my first training session. I didn't miss my encounter with Nathaniel and Kelsie’s ex- boyfriend and lastly, the blackout that left Ella spellbound, oddly similar to what happened with Quentin.
There were no more tears by the time I finished talking about my dad’s investigation with Jennifer’s murder and the fact that she was closely tied to McGregor and StaffSpell.
Elf's Affection: The Witching Hour Series Book 3 Page 10