by K. G. McAbee
"I'm exactly what they say I am, Tommy. I'm a witch. I can't stop this. Worst of all, I can barely control it. I am sorry. I did a spell; I bound you to me. That's why you feel the way you do. The reason why you use the word 'forever'. I tried to undo it; truly I did. But it didn't work. You're still here. Leave now before I can do any more damage. Run away from me as fast as you can. Like the others do. So I don't hurt you anymore. I can't stand it. I will find a way to release you somehow."
I was crying without even realizing it. These words were harder, much harder to speak than the night I had tried to release him. After this, with Evie and Ivy gone, I would be alone. It would take more than I knew to be able to bear it, but I would manage. I would have to.
He seemed to recover from his shock quickly because he threw a lazy grin in my direction. "A witch, huh? So where's the pointy hat?"
Now, it was my turn to be shocked. I broke into laughter that shook my entire body.
Tommy's arms were around me in a second and he raised my chin so I could meet his gaze. He looked at me as if I were something to be protected instead of feared; his fingers brushed at the tears falling down my face. Then he spoke.
"I can't leave. And I won't run away from you, Annie. I refuse to do that."
I searched his face for any sign this was a joke, but I found none. Tommy pulled me closer to him before he pressed his lips to mine. I tried to pull back—
"But, Tommy..."
He refused to release me.
"No 'buts'. That is my decision. You are mine and I am yours. Nothing you've done could make me feel this way. Or change it. I see that now. I knew that when..."
Tommy's eyes clouded over for a second and I knew he was thinking of the rubble still smoldering behind us. He had never looked so vulnerable than when he was crossing that field.
No. Not vulnerable. Lost.
"...I knew that when I thought my life was over."
I was stunned. I'll admit it. I traced my fingers down his jaw. The heat remaining from my little stunt with the tree warmed the tips of them against his skin. I pulled him toward me.
The kiss that followed reminded me of the passion we had shared in the dream of fire, mingled with the sweetness of the one by the pond. Only this time, it was real. I couldn't deny his words, no matter how hard I tried. Tommy was right about one thing. This felt too right, too perfect. I wondered if I would wake up from this to find it another product of my imagination.
It took every bit of strength I had left, but I released him and tried to reclaim the breath he had stolen from me. "Give me just a minute."
Tommy chuckled as I turned around and stepped away from him.
The thin leather necklace Evie had given me slid from around my neck and the heavy stone at the bottom glistened in the moonlight as if responding to one of its own kind. I untied the knot with ease, and the stone dropped into my waiting palm. I closed my hand around it, and I tightened my grip on it as the energy flowed into it.
The energy of happiness he gave me. The passion from the kiss we just shared. The strength of fire to always keep him with me.
I returned to him and slipped the amulet around his neck. I was surprised at how steadily my fingers moved as I tied the knot to hold it there. It looked beautiful on him.
The look in his eyes was one of curiosity, and the light grin I'd missed returned as he examined the jewelry.
"A few kisses and you're giving me presents already?"
I had to laugh. The tension from the words we had thrown at one another was long gone. Decimated with the fears I had about him.
"Something like that."
I stood back and examined the pale stone that appeared almost translucent in the moonlight. If it weren't for the shimmers of blues and greens, it would have appeared to be glass. I looked up at him and smiled shyly.
"This stone...it was my father's. Moonstone. It means..."
A bit of fear raced through me as if to speak the words would make him run. To turn away from me instead of where I wanted him to be. Next to me. Belonging to me. Bound to me.
Have faith in your magic, child...and it will come to pass.
The voice was right, as it had always been.
Tommy was laughing. The words came easy.
"It's known as the lover's stone. A dream stone. Meant to protect you from nightmares, and keep the joy of love with you always. I want you to have it. To protect you. Wear this whenever you can, hun, and it'll remind you of me. Of us."
Tommy studied the stone and an odd look crossed his face before he gathered me back into his embrace.
"Thank you."
I rubbed my cheek against the soft cotton of his shirt. It wasn't long before the tranquility of the night was broken by my Goddess.
Be sure to enjoy this peace, this moment, to remember during the loneliness and danger that lie ahead.
The warning was one I chose to ignore. I was truly happy for the first time since Tommy's initial visit on Friday. I wasn't going to spoil this.
I sighed as Tommy rested his chin against my head. I reached up to stroke the moonstone hanging over his heart as his words vibrated against my hair.
"So. Where are you staying, Anya?"
Images of the hideout flashed in my mind and I chuckled against him. Tommy pulled away, the curiosity evident on his face. I couldn't find the words to describe my sanctuary, so I gave up trying. It took a second to work my way out of his grasp, but he responded to my smile.
"Come on and I'll show you."
We walked across the field in silence, Tommy grabbing hold of my hand if I strayed too far from his side. As if I would disappear into the rich shadows that fought against the moonlight and never return to him again.
Well, return like I did this time.
We reached the side of the dry shed and I turned toward him with an apologetic smile.
"I'm warning you now; it's not pretty."
I pressed against the leaves and the door swung open.
"In fact, it's downright hideous."
Tommy had to duck in order to fit through the opening and the look on his face was nothing short of priceless. It was a mixture of amusement and horror as he took in the outdated—no, outrageous—interior. I chuckled as I plopped down on the vinyl sofa.
"It's..." He was at a loss for words.
"Charming?"
The chuckle I earned was worth it.
"I was thinking more along the lines of tiny."
Tommy sat down gingerly on the couch, and every bit as slowly as I had when Evie had brought me here. I curled up on the corner and watched him, struggling to forget the memory that had brought back so many painful ones. A weight returned to my shoulders at her memory. He noticed the change immediately.
"Hey now. It's okay. We can find you somewhere..."
I shook my head, fighting against the emotions that were still so inconsistent. I was successful until he reached out and pulled me into his lap. I laid my head on his shoulder and let them go.
When I finally regained control of myself, I pulled back to mumble incoherent apologies, trying to explain I wasn't usually so emotional. Tommy was too good, too sweet to me. He simply sat there and let me try to destroy his shirt as I exposed my version of insanity to him.
Finally, I was able to breathe and respond.
"No. It's not the place, hun. It's everything else. There's so much...too much. I can't take it all in at once."
He nodded as he hooked a finger under my chin and lifted my face upward.
"Wanna talk about it?"
I studied him, shivering from the electrical current that hummed through me each time he touched me. I found myself launching into the events that had changed my world forever. Evie showing me this place, the fear and anger during the fire; even the secrets of the transformation I was sure I would never be able to tell another living soul.
He listened, paling as I described the fire and the burns. How Evie had perished, and I had to cremate her before she was fo
und. How I came to this place; and how I was healed.
Tommy waited until I finished before taking my arm in his hand. He first examined it for any traces of the described injury, but he found none. Then he looked to me; silent in his request for permission as his fingers grazed the leather strings of the band hiding my newest scar.
I had already exposed my heart to him. The secrets of my world. Showing him the symbol would be easy.
A nod was all he needed. His fingers pulled away the knot I had made. The band slipped away from my skin, falling into his palm before he turned my wrist over to expose the pale white underneath.
Gleaming under the lamplight was the mark I had described to him. The one that marked me for the Goddess as Her Chosen One.
I was afraid then I was showing him too much too soon. Scaring him away. But I couldn't take anything back now.
Not that I wanted to.
He studied the small symbol with an intensity that caused his brow to knit together; his finger tips brushed over it. I sat still, staying silent in my desire to read his thoughts. It became too much, the quiet that surrounded us. I leaned forward, and my breath caught against the back of my throat as I started to speak.
"Tommy, I..."
His interruption was so soft, I almost missed it.
"It's beautiful."
I nuzzled my face into the crook of his neck as he pulled my wrist up to his lips and brushed them across the mark. I shivered as he took the discarded leather band and wrapped it back where it had been, tying it in place before he kissed the top of my head.
"Thank you, Annie...for showing me this."
It was something I had noticed earlier, but didn't mention. Now, I couldn't help myself.
"Tommy, how did you know to call me Annie?"
He sighed and wrapped his arms back around me. "I heard it in a dream. It...was one filled with fire, and you were burning. I called you that, see? And it seems to fit. You don't mind, do you?"
I was stunned, pulling away from my perch against his shoulder as he described the dream that seemed to bind us. His voice fell away at the end and I watched him before taking his face into my hands. "No, I don't mind. It's what my family..." I shook my head to clear it. "Tommy, I've had that dream too."
He blinked, shaking his head as I described my vision, of me burning at the stake and him coming to my rescue.
My voice trailed off when I got to the kiss and the silence was suddenly deafening.
I watched him; he was taking this in all too easily. I couldn't understand how he was still here. Sitting in this place, listening to things that aren't supposed to happen, while every part of me wanted nothing more than to keep him with me.
Keep him bound to me.
"Hun...you know...do you really..."
The words left me. I wanted to make sure he was going to stay with me, despite my status as an outcast. Being the poor, uncultured girl I was sure his family wouldn't approve of. But I didn't want to break the beauty of this moment when we'd had so few. Instead, I snuggled down against his chest as his arms tightened around me once more, his head resting on top of mine.
My voice returned to me.
"Please, just...don't go. Don't ever go."
I couldn't think of anything else to say. After fighting the binding for so long, I'd given up. He seemed as much a part of me as my soul, and I silently thanked the Goddess for not listening to me in my attempts to push him away.
This was too nice; too sweet. My heart was selfish, and I wanted to make sure he felt the same.
"Okay. I won't."
The words were simple; matter of fact. I wanted to believe them. I needed to believe them. But another question came out into the open before I could stop it.
"Tommy, what happens if you have to leave Manning? You...your family...well, you've had to move so much..."
My voice trailed off as he sighed, tilting his head so it rested against mine, before he spoke. "Yeah, we don't have the best track record for stability, huh?" Then, he shrugged. "I'll be eighteen in January, Annie. So I won't have to go if they do. Unless you come with us. I won't—no, I can't—leave you behind."
I gave him a small smile before wrapping my arms around his neck. "Are you sure your Grand would approve of such a thing? Me tagging along?"
Tommy chuckled and held me tighter. "Well, it wouldn't go along with her Southern sensibilities, but...she understands. I told her about you, when I thought you had, um, got caught in the fire. And I'm planning on going to Oxford next year for college, anyway. I think you'd like England."
England. It was a world away from the home I'd always known. A place where no one would know me. A place where no one would suspect I'm different. I grinned at the thought of it before I nodded.
"England sounds perfect, love. Just perfect. I wonder if I could get into the literature program at Oxford."
I relaxed against him. We stayed that way for a while, planning a future I wished desperately would come to pass. A future where we could be normal, filled with the events and things most kids our age took for granted. But the realist in me, the girl who had seen too much, knew better. I knew it wasn't going to be easy for us. No matter how much we wanted it to happen. Our words died away, and we enjoyed a comfortable silence before I spoke again.
"Tommy, what happens if I have to run?"
His body stiffened at the question, and he shook his head so hard I was afraid it was going to aggravate his injury. "You won't, Annie. You won't. I'll make sure...damned sure...that you..."
I reached up and placed my hands on either side of his face to make him stop. When his eyes met mine, I smiled sadly.
"Hun, stop. Breathe. I'm not saying I will just up and leave. I...I can't. I wouldn't. But you can't stop these people who are after me. The ones that...did what they did the other night. I should be safe here, now. But if they do come after me, and I have to run, I'll find my way back here. Back to you. That's more than a promise, love. It's an oath. Just tell me...well, you'll still be here. Still want me, if I ever do have to leave you."
Tommy nodded, leaning forward once more to kiss me, to hold me against him, before he spoke. "I won't go anywhere. I won't leave Manning until I have you with me."
Then, a crooked grin I was starting to love so much crossed his face. "And it'll be hard...but I think I'll still want you."
I laughed, pushing against him playfully, as I said, "All right, all right. Point taken. What time is it, love?"
He glanced down at the watch on his wrist. "Just before two in the morning."
"Seriously?"
Tommy shrugged before grinning down at me.
"Yeah."
I smiled, slipping out of his lap to pull him to his feet.
"Not to kick you out or anything, but don't you think your Grand is worried sick about you by now?"
His face flashed with a fear I recognized easily. It mirrored the look on mine each time I thought I might never see him again. It was one that said I may not be here when he comes back. I leaned up on my toes, pressed my lips to his for a moment, and whispered against them.
"I'll be here tomorrow, Tommy. And the next day. And the next. I won't go anywhere that you won't."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
We said our goodbyes with reluctance, and I waved as he began to cross back over the field toward his car. When he was out of sight I went back inside. I pushed the door closed before I turned to slide down the smooth wood on the inside.
The world I knew was gone, shifting in the ashes of the house I used to know.
I was being hunted.
I was practically homeless.
But Tommy was mine.
I smiled as I leaned my head back against the wood, remembering each and every second that had passed between us.
Anya...you have to go, child. Now!
The thought was so sudden, so unexpected, I pushed myself to my feet and turned to see who had spoken, even though I knew it was the Goddess.
What?
I shook my head as the voice returned, urgent and insistent this time.
You have exactly thirty minutes to get out of here. The Witchfinders are already on the road.
I was stunned. How could they know I survived the fire? How could they know I was here?
Tommy. I won't leave him, Great Mother. I promised...I just promised....
Just go. Go now. Grab the money and the book. Hide in the trees. I will let him know you are safe.
You...he can hear you?
Anya, it is not yet your time. Now go!
Her word was all I needed to get moving. Somehow I managed to throw on my ruined jeans and discard the skirt. I snatched a bag from the bottom of the armoire, filled it with the money and the book. My last thought was to grab the man's raincoat since it had the hood to hide my hair.
I closed the door in silence as I heard car doors being slammed up by the road. The bag was heavier than it looked, but I broke out into a run as I heard the shouts behind me.
"Check the barn!"
"Get the witch, boys!"
My Goddess led me deeper into the woods until she stopped me next to the largest tree on the property.
Climb it.
I had no choice but to obey. My hands and knees were shaking as I scrambled up to hide in the branches.
Tell him I'm safe! Please....
I'd made a promise to Tommy; I'd be damned if I broke it.
I stifled a sigh as I released the branch to brush against my lips where his had been. It wasn't fair for this to happen so soon.
I won't leave Manning until I have you with me.
The memory of Tommy's words filtered through my panic and I felt better at once. If all else failed, I knew he would be here, waiting until we could be reunited again.
The crashing in the underbrush filled my ears, made me focus. Bodies in black were sweeping the grounds beneath me. The letters glowed white across their backs as they passed.
WFG Limited.
Witchfinder General.
Tommy's family. Their company.
Oh, Goddess.
I shoved the connection out of my mind as I watched them continue the search for someone they would never find.