First Witch (Awakening Series Book 2)

by Jane Hinchey

  "What the fuck is going on?" Frank demanded, "Skye is hysterical. We've had to sedate her and you know how hard it is to sedate a vampire."

  "We're in Azure Falls, in an apartment above a store called The Black Cauldron."

  "So Georgia is with you?"

  "She is."

  "Is she alive? Because Skye has been screaming that her sister is dead."

  "I've been trying to heal her. It's not working." Zak’s voice was flat. Emotionless.

  "So...she's...?"

  "Dead." Zak finished for him. "We need to bring her home. And we're going to have to do something about the ten other dead witches here."

  "Ten? Holy shit. So the hunter took out the entire coven."

  "Affirmative."

  "Zak? I'm sorry. About Georgia. The guys are all shook up. They, we, all loved her like a sister."

  "Just get here." Zak hung up. He didn't want to hear words of sympathy. He didn't want to think that she was truly gone. He didn't want to entertain the idea that any of this was real, not for one second. Shoving the phone into his back pocket, he strode over to the closest witch and hauled her body over his shoulder and carted her downstairs, laying her on the floor in the workshop beneath the apartment. He couldn't leave them out in view in case the wards wore off and someone suddenly noticed a bunch of dead women on the rooftop.

  After laying them out side by side and covering them with sheets and towels, he returned to sit with Georgia.

  "You know"—he pulled her hand out from beneath the covers and clasped it between his—"I pretty much fell in love with you the moment I laid eyes on you? You were so unimpressed with me though." He laughed softly, "Pretty sure you told me to drop dead a time or two. And I totally messed up the night at the dance. When Veronica kissed me. And I was such a dickhead for not seeing she was setting it all up just to hurt you." He shook his head, memories playing like movies in his mind.

  "Veronica knew what you didn't. That I loved you. That it wasn't just a physical thing, that you wouldn't be a one-night stand for me. That you changed my world. You completed me. I think that's what drove her to do what she did. Why she betrayed us all. If I could turn back time, to that moment on the dance floor...well, I never would have been on the dance floor with her. It would be you, only you. And then none of this would have happened. Marius wouldn't have risen. Skye wouldn't be turned, you wouldn't have been taken. None of it. We'd be at your farm, enjoying lazy breakfasts, hot nights. Skye would be running the shop, making dates, living life. You'd be weaving your own special brand of magic on your furniture. We'd be happy." He was silent for a moment, dreaming about the life they could have had, should have had. He looked into her face.

  "I was going to marry you," he whispered, a tear escaping his flooded eyes. "I've got the ring. You would have hated it, but secretly loved it, because I know you that well. And I know you scoff at marriage, but I also know how much you hate it when the girls look at me, how chuffed you'd be that you were the one to take me off the market. Oh yeah. You'd have hated it and loved it." He chuckled and sniffed. Hours passed and he continued to tell her stories of the future he'd planned for them. Never letting go of her hand. Still trying, so very hard, to believe that she hadn't gone, that she hadn't left him.

  21

  The day passed and night fell. The only light was from the lamp by the side of the bed, plunging the room into a soft light and eerie shadows. His phone buzzed and he picked it up from where he'd left it on the nightstand, Georgia's hand still clasped in his.

  "Yeah?"

  "We're here. Downstairs."

  He hung up and slipped his hand from Georgia's, touching the back of it where it fell to the covers. Running his hand over his face, he made his way down to the store where he could see his warriors waiting outside the window. They’d caught the first available flight to Azure Falls and then hired cars to transport them here. Unlocking the front door, he opened it and stood aside.

  Skye barreled in first. Her sedation had obviously worn off. He could feel the nervous energy radiating from her. She threw herself into his arms and clutched him tightly. So tight he could barely breathe, but he didn't loosen her grip, just let an arm settle around her shoulders as he secured the front door with the other.

  He nodded to the curtain at the back of the store and the warriors headed toward it. He followed Skye's hand clasped in his. Wordlessly they climbed the stairs, gathered around the apartment door waiting for Zak. At the door, he released Skye, who looked forlorn. Dainton stepped up and wrapped his arm around her waist, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. She leaned into him, silent tears pouring down her cheeks.

  Letting them into the apartment, Zak directed them to the living room.

  "Make yourselves at home. Skye. Come with me." He held his hand out to her and she stepped forward, clasped his hand, her body trembling. He led her down the passageway to the bedroom at the end. He stopped in the doorway, looked at Georgia who lay in the bed, then back at Skye, who hadn't seen her sister yet. Letting go of Skye's hand he placed it on the small of her back and ushered her inside.

  "No." Skye's anguished whisper ripped through him and he gritted his teeth, turning his gaze to the curtains he'd drawn across the window earlier.

  "No, no, no." Rushing to her sister, Skye clasped the hand lying on the covers and raised it to her face, wetting Georgia's skin with her tears. "Georgie girl?" She held her breath, waiting for a response. When none was forthcoming, the wail that rent the air chilled him to the bone. Unable to bear witness to her pain, which was as great as his own, Zak turned away. He should comfort her, but right now it was all he could do to remain upright.

  He returned to the living room. The warriors all had their heads bowed, sorrow thick in the air, so thick he almost choked on it.

  "Did you bring vehicles?" he asked, clearing his throat.

  "Three." Frank nodded.

  "Good. We've got ten bodies to bury. I sure hope you've come up with a plan on where."

  "Of course. There's a disused quarry a couple of hours drive from here. We can bury them there."

  "Let's get moving," Cole said, jumping to his feet. If they had something to do, something to occupy them, it would keep the pain and sorrow at bay. Zak understood. He'd been drowning in it all day and needed out, just for a moment, before he lay down next to Georgia and died right along with her.

  "Follow me." Zak led them downstairs to the workshop where he'd laid out the witches.

  "Jesus," Kyan said. "How did he manage this?"

  "I'm not entirely sure, but I think they were all linked to Georgia. He only had to kill her to kill them all. They all have identical injuries in exactly the same place, and they appear to have died at the same time, yet I only found one weapon, and it was in Georgia's chest." The last words were choked out and he closed his eyes, pushing the memory down.

  "Fuck me," Kyan cursed.

  "Kyan, go down to the vehicles, get things ready, and make sure no one is about. We'll put four in the first car, and three each in the other two. Put canvas down, we don't want to leave behind evidence."

  "Got it." Kyan disappeared, his boots loud on the wooden steps as he thundered down them. They heard the shop bell ring as he let himself out.

  Zak helped the others carry the bodies downstairs and stack them on top of each other in the back of the SUVs they'd hired. It wasn't ideal, but it was the best that they could do. Ten dead women were sure to attract the local authorities and they couldn't leave them on the rooftop to rot.

  Returning to the bedroom, he stood in the doorway, heart breaking as Skye continued to beg, plead and cry for her sister to wake up. He told her he was going with the warriors, that they'd be gone for hours, but he doubted she heard him. Heart breaking all over again, he left, making sure to lock the shop door behind them.

  It was dawn when they returned. Skye was lying on top of the covers, her body curled into Georgia's, her arm across her waist. The warriors shuffled in. Standing around the bed
they looked grimly at Skye, then Georgia. No one spoke. Skye eventually stirred and lifted herself off the bed. She dragged her hands through her hair and over her face and took a deep shuddering breath.

  "What now?" she asked no one in particular.

  "We take her home," Zak replied. Making sure the sheet was wrapped securely around her body, Zak lifted Georgia into his arms. Her head fell back, exposing the long column of her neck and her hair fell, the long strands almost reaching his knees. Her arm dangled and Skye stepped forward, tucking it back so it was resting against Zak’s chest.

  "Gather," was all Zak could manage through what felt like razor blades in his throat. His warriors circled around him, a hand on each other's shoulder, until the final link, Skye, put her hand on Zak’s arm. He closed his eyes and teleported them back to Redmeadows. They appeared in the kitchen of his house. He knew the kitchen had been one of Georgia's favorite places, sitting at the breakfast bar, chatting with whoever happened to be in residence.

  Skye was shaking again and Dainton took her aside, sat her at the table and prepared a mug of blood for her. Zak headed upstairs with Georgia, knowing his warriors were watching him with frowns on their faces, but he wasn't ready to let go. He couldn't bury her. Not yet.

  In their bedroom, he stripped away the sheet wrapping her and slid her beneath the familiar covers of their bed. The one she'd made for him. He was exhausted, he hadn't slept in days, and he wanted to sleep one more time by her side. The room blurred as he slid in next to her, pulled her close, cringing at the coldness of her body. As tired as he was, he lay there, trying to make the moment last, trying to stop time so he didn't have to say goodbye, so that this wouldn't be the last time he lay by her side. His pillow wet from the silent tears sliding down his cheeks, he closed his eyes.

  "I love you," he muttered, letting exhaustion take over. He slept.

  "Come on!" She tugged at his sleeve, trying to wake him.

  "Five more minutes, woman." He groaned, "I'm exhausted."

  "No! Zak! Wake up! Now! I don't have much time." Georgia's sweet voice was insistent in his ear. His eyes sprung open—Georgia? Sitting up, he realized he wasn't in bed anymore, he wasn't even in his house anymore. They were in a field full of wildflowers, the sun was shining overhead and he could hear the sounds of a stream nearby. Soft white fluffy clouds filled the sky. Georgia was kneeling by his side, shaking his arm.

  "You're alive!" He wrapped her in his arms and they tumbled backward onto the ground. She laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck and planting her mouth against his. Oh, the scent of her, the feel of her, it overwhelmed him. His nerve endings blazed at the sensation of her body plastered against his, the taste of her on his lips. He grew hard in his jeans, knew she felt it when she rocked against him. He groaned. Oh dear heaven, he'd never thought to feel that again.

  "Wait." He broke their kiss, a frown pulling his brows together. "What's going on?"

  "I would have thought that was obvious." She smiled her sultry smile and ran her fingers across his chest. "But you're right. As much as I want nothing more than to jump your bones, Zak Goodwin, we have more pressing matters to attend to." She jumped up, moving away from him in the tall grass. He got to his feet, his eyes raking over her. She was in her tight jeans, boots, and a white tank, her hair dangling over her shoulder in a braid.

  "You died!" It was almost accusing.

  "Sort of."

  "Explain." She began walking away. He hurried to her side and threaded his fingers with hers. She smiled.

  "The witches betrayed me." Her voice was soft and laced with hurt.

  "They what?"

  "They said they needed to link with me and channel my magic, to make them stronger, said they needed the extra power for the spell they'd devised to kill the hunter. Only, they weren't channeling my magic, they were draining me. I was a sacrifice...for their spell."

  "Holy. Shit."

  "Yeah, I know, right? I didn't see that one coming either. Aunt Melissa sure had me fooled."

  "I'm guessing the hunter got there before the witches could do the spell?"

  "He did. He'd worked it out pretty much from the start. As usual, they'd underestimated him. He kept telling me I was his secret weapon. All he had to do was wait until they linked themselves to me, then kill me. Whoosh, the whole coven gone in one fell swoop."

  "How did he know what the witches had planned? That they were going to link to you?"

  Georgia shrugged. "Best guess, I suppose. I think he knew all along that they planned to sacrifice me. They didn't know that he has his own magic. I think he's a witch, or at least part witch. He definitely has magic."

  "But you're here now, dream walking. So you can't be dead?"

  "Not entirely. Remember when I inadvertently stabbed you with the dagger? And you died? But you came back when I removed the dagger?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Similar principle. The dagger is mine, I awakened it with my blood. You wear the ring that is linked to the dagger. You killed me with the dagger, but you also removed it."

  "I didn't kill you!"

  "It was your body, Zak. The hunter was controlling you, I know, but in regards to the mystical properties of the dagger and the ring, it was you."

  "Okay. I get it. Just, please don't say that I killed you." He ran a hand through his hair. "But after you daggered me, and removed it, I woke up, what, within hours? You've been...dead...for over two days now."

  "I think maybe it's because I'm a witch too? There's something anchoring me, preventing me from coming back."

  "What?"

  She shrugged. "No clue. But the coven's grimoires could help. Can you get them? The witches were playing big; I bet they brought everything they needed to the ceremony where I died."

  He turned to her to assure her he'd turn the place inside out to find the answers they needed, when her image glitzed and shimmered, like a television screen on the fritz. He could no longer feel her hand in his and when he looked down he could see right through her flesh.

  "Georgia?"

  "I can't maintain the dream walk for long. I'm on limited power here."

  "Damn it!" He wanted longer with her, greedy for the sight of her, her touch, her taste.

  "I love you." She smiled, her hand reaching for his cheek, but he never felt it. She shimmered out of sight, gone.

  "Georgia!" Suddenly awake and sitting up in bed, he looked down at her frozen body. "Georgia?" He touched her cheek, pulling his hand back when her flesh was still cold. He rubbed a weary hand up over his face and into his hair. It had been a dream walk, hadn't it? Not just a dream? Not just wishful thinking? He couldn't risk it. If she was trapped in some sort of spirit world, he had to help her.

  The grimoires. She'd said to gather the witches’ grimoires, see if they held any clue.

  Ten minutes later the conference room table was piled with ancient books. The grimoires.

  Aston was at his computer, pulling up images. He called Zak over.

  "I retrieved the material the first blade was wrapped in from Georgia's place. I remembered she'd said it had some symbols or writing on it, but it was so faded she couldn't make it out."

  "And? Have you found something?" Zak peered over his shoulder. On the screen was an enlarged photo of what looked like leather, cracked and worn. Throughout the leather were symbols, faint, but readable.

  "Once I scanned it I was able to do some photo manipulation. This is the best I can get it, but we can see the symbols. I don't know what they mean yet, but I'd suggest we look for matching images in the grimoires."

  "Sounds like a good place to start," Zak agreed. Cole, Kyan, and Frank were already seated at the table, a grimoire in front of each of them. Dainton appeared in the doorway, Skye's hand clasped in his.

  "Now you're all here, I have news."

  "What is it?" Skye rushed at him, but he held her back with a hand on her shoulder.

  "Take a seat." He told her, waiting while Dainton pulled Skye away from him and sho
ved her into a chair. He took the seat opposite her. Standing at the head of the table, Zak looked at them all. Aston swiveled in his seat, eyes intent.

  "Georgia dream walked last night." Zak paused, letting the words sink in.

  "Are you sure it was a dream walk and not just a ... dream?" Frank said what everyone else was thinking.

  "I'm sure. She's in a kind of spirit world."

  "You think we can get her back?" Cole asked, brows raised. "Bring her back from the dead?"

  "I do. She does. She's positive we'll find the answers in the grimoires. The witches tricked her; they were using her as a sacrifice for their spell."

  "What?" Skye's voice was high. Zak nodded at her grimly.

  "When they linked to her to drain her magic, they were draining her life force. The hunter knew that if he killed Georgia during that process, it would kill them all."

  He paused, letting that sink in.

  "There's something else." They all looked back at him. "Take a deep breath, tell me what you smell."

  They all breathed in deeply through their noses, frowning but doing as instructed.

  "Dust. Floor cleaner. Hint of blood."

  "Do you smell a decomposing body?"

  "No." One by one they shook their heads.

  "If Georgia were truly dead, her body would be decomposing by now."

  "She's in a form of stasis." Aston swung back to his computer, fingers flying over the keyboard. "While in stasis her body is an empty vessel, waiting for the return of her spirit...or soul if you prefer."

  "Oh my God." Silent tears crept down Skye's cheeks, a weak smile tugged at her lips.

  "Start searching those grimoires. Aston has some images of the symbols you want to be looking for. I'm going to see if I can dream walk with Georgia again, see if she has any other clues for us."

  He tried to hide the impatience thrumming through his body. They'd have one shot at this; they had to get it right. If they stuffed it up, Georgia could be lost to them forever.