It was hard not to pull over the car and shake this kid. How could he not see what this really was?
“Do you stay on the property?” Logan asked, glancing at me quickly.
Preston nodded, “Mostly. It’s a pretty incredible experience. You might want to try it. With your anger issues and all.”
Logan’s lips tightened, and I did my best not to drive us off the road as I hid my laughter. If only he knew.
“Yeah, we’re thinking about it,” I replied.
“The meeting sessions along with the supplements he provides makes things much clearer,” Preston continued.
“Supplements?” Logan and I asked in unison.
“Many kinds, depending on our issues. All of us receive the Boletus mixture. It’s like a shake and tastes great. Kind of earthy.”
“Sounds delightful.” I rolled my eyes for only Logan to see.
“Up ahead is a clearing. This is where the Great Camp starts. Isn’t it gorgeous?” he asked.
I pulled the car off the road.
“How do you get there? There’s no road?”
“Not to get to the house. You have to take one of the canoes that are always left right up there.” He pointed ahead and began shifting uncomfortably in the seat.
“You’ve been quite helpful,” I said. “ We both hope you find what you’re looking for. But it comes from inside, Preston. No one can provide that except you. I only hope you figure that out before it’s too late.”
Logan shook his head as if to tell me it was already too late to save him.
“Does this Nicholas have a partner of some sort?”
“There’s a woman who accompanies him to lots of things, but she doesn’t provide guidance or anything. Someone told me that Nicholas considers her a hard case. Yet to completely see the light he allows her to accompany him to most everything so she can see for herself the good he can produce.”
“I see,” I murmured, nodding my head.
“I hope you two find what you’re hoping to, Preston replied. “My guess is that it’s inside the camp. You’d be surprised how at peace you can become.”
The rage was building inside of me, and I closed my eyes not allowing my heart to hear anymore. Listening to what this guy had to say was frightening, but it allowed me to glimpse how my father was handling things. I needed to know more, and there was only one way to find out. I pushed that thought aside as Logan’s voice brought me back to reality.
“You can get out now,” Logan said to Preston.
We both heard a grunt as he got out of the car.
“You did a number on him,” I whispered.
Logan smiled as we both watched him trundle off in the direction of the lake. I turned the car around and got back on the road.
“What do you make of it?” I asked, rolling down the window for some fresh air. The car felt very constricting as I tried to process everything Preston had told us.
“I think your father’s feeding them something pretty awful,” he replied.
“Mentally or physically?” I asked.
“Both,” he replied grimly.
“Do you smell that?” I asked, rolling the windows back up.
“Yeah, I do. Pull over,” Logan pointed to a turnoff up ahead.
We got out of the car, and I realized I smelled something earthy.
“Mushrooms,” I replied.
Logan let out a sigh.
“That’s what my father’s using. That poor woman on the steeple was probably on some hallucinogenic mushroom.”
“They probably all are… of some sort or another. He must be growing them around here. I really think —”
“Mushrooms like that are nearly impossible to propagate.”
“Not happening,” Logan interrupted, getting back in the car.
Following his lead, I climbed in the driver’s seat to take us back to our place.
“I think it’s the only way,” I attempted again.
He shook his head, but I knew I would do what I needed to whether I had his approval or not.
Many minutes of silence passed between us. I glanced quickly at him and his face was devoid of expression.
“I’m worried that you’re going to grow to hate me,” I announced, tightening my grip on the steering wheel.
“Where did that come from?” he questioned, turning to face me.
I took a deep breath in.
“If it’s true my father kill—”
“Triss, you’ve got to quit acting like everything is your fault or that you have any control over others’ actions. If your father was responsible for my father’s death, it has nothing to do with you. I don’t understand why you’d even go there.”
“I don’t want to be a constant reminder of everything bad that’s happened to you,” I whispered. “I’ve seen your expression change over the last couple of days, since I told you about what I saw.”
“You don’t think it could be for a variety of other reasons?” he questioned. “It’s not like the last few days have been all that pleasant. We’re dealing with a very evil man and every day we find out even more than the previous day. Am I angry about my father’s death? Beyond. Do I hope for payback? Absolutely.”
“I feel like your change happened after I told you. I mean I’d understand completely. What are you thinking?”
He sighed. “I know you’ve decided to do something that I can’t stop. I don’t want you to explore that side of things — ever. Justified or not. The one thing that is protecting for you from the creatures your father sends is the one boundary I’m afraid you want to cross.”
“Somebody’s got to stop him,” I murmured.
“It doesn’t need to be you.”
We had printed all of the pages I had managed to scan from my family’s spell books and spread them over every surface in the house.
“How did my mom ever get hooked up with my dad? She’s the exact opposite of him. Her entire family fought against this kind of evil. And why would Aunt Vieta just get up and turn? It doesn’t make sense.
“Check this out. I’ve barely scratched the surface, but here are some of the connections I’ve been able to make between my father’s family and witch hunts beginning in Europe.” I said finishing up my last one. “Not surprisingly, when they moved to America so did the hunting.”
He came over from the dining table he’d been canvasing.
“Check it out.” I shoved the notebook in front of Logan with my list.
1587 – Germany (Trier peak)
1590 – Scotland (North Berwick)
1603 -1606 Germany (Fulda)
1626 – 1631 Germany (Würzburg and Bamberg Witch Trials)
1648 –NH (Portsmouth)
1656-1680 NH (Hampton)
“Whoa,” Logan looked up with a mixture of reverence and dread. “These are different than the ones I put together.”
“That’s not comforting,” I sighed, feeling a pounding headache at the base of my skull waiting for its moment to take over completely. Do we have any coffee?”
Massaging my neck, I contemplated what this really told us beyond the obvious. What had my father’s family been trying to incite for hundreds of years? Trying to steal property from other witches? Creating distrust in witch communities? What was it exactly that they hoped to achieve?
“I’ll grab some. You okay?” he asked. “It’s a lot to take in.”
“Yeah I’m just exhausted.”
“I don’t think we should wait any longer. The only way we’ll know is if I go in there.” I glanced at him still in the kitchen.
“If I go into the compound,” I repeated, a bit louder.
“I knew what you meant the first time,” he snapped. Logan spun around, forgoing the coffee, and arrived by my side.
“No, you’re not going in there,” he said softly, calmly this time.
“It’s not up for discussion. He’s my father. My mother’s been captured. Your mother’s been captured. I’m the one who can find things
out. You burned your bridges. I haven’t.”
“Please, Triss. Don’t do this. We don’t need to know his motives to get our mothers back.” He sounded desperate. I knew he didn’t even believe what he was saying.
“You can’t protect me from everything,” I started.
“Well, not if you’re going to be ridiculous,” he argued. “There’s no guaranteeing you’d come out.”
“Do we really believe that I’ll be safe going forward with him out in the world? If I don’t attempt something this constant pursuit will never end because we won’t know the basis for his actions.”
His glare was cold and distant. He moved across the room, it seemed, as far away from me as he could get.
“Why don’t you understand? Your mom’s in there too,” I accused more than questioned.
“I’m afraid he’ll convince you of things you’d never do if you were out of the confines of his walls. I want my mom to be okay. I want her to be with me this very moment. And believe me knowing he had something to do with my father’s death boosts my hatred into an entirely new category,” he replied, pausing for a moment. “But we’ve both lost almost everyone we’ve loved to him. Why would I rush to give him the last person I have left?”
Opening my mind to what his words implied made me realize how selfish I was being. Would I want him to go in there, leaving me on the outside? Absolutely not, but something was driving me or pulling me to face my father. I wanted to expose his hidden demons. The pull on my heart was becoming too strong to ignore. I could no longer neglect my responsibility in this mess, and I needed Logan to acknowledge that.
“You’re right. I wouldn’t want you to go in there either. You’re all I’ve got as well,” I whispered.
“The problem is that you’ll have your entire family in there coaxing you. It’s beyond risky,” his voice softened, as he realized I was listening to him.
I understood.
When he looked over at me, his gaze fell to the floor. He knew I had made my decision and there was nothing he could do to stop me even though I understood his concerns.
“I never should’ve told you how much I admired your stubbornness.” He attempted a grin.
I went to the couch he was sitting on and laid my head down on his lap. His fingers slowly traced my cheekbone.
“Promise you’ll help me,” I said, looking into blue eyes that were filled with an acceptance now.
“Always, my love,” he whispered.
“Kiss me please,” I pleaded. The pull of desire running through my body couldn’t be contained as our emotions cascaded from love down to heartache reaching back to betrayal all within seconds. The twisted emotions mingling between us created an intimacy — a rawness — that I hadn’t experienced before.
He stood up leaving me on the couch, and I immediately began panicking.
“Remember our choices seal our destiny,” he breathed.
My confidence began cowering in the corner of my mind as I realize that I might have lost him, over my father. I closed my eyes and pulled in a deep breath as I thought about what I was doing.
Not hearing any footsteps leave, I opened my eyes to see him watching me, smiling with a bemused expression. My skin flushed as he bent down, merely hovering over me. His closeness created an unstoppable electricity between us.
“Will you do me the favor of allowing for a dry-run and coming up with a solid plan before you enter his camp?”
I nodded in desperation.
He began kissing me with a passion that was beyond exhilarating. I wanted more. I wanted to be held. When I reached my hands to his face, he backed away.
“What are you doing?” I murmured confused.
“Letting my absence sink in,” he smirked.
I gasped.
He grabbed my hand and led me outside to one of the paths.
“Where are you taking me?” I asked.
“I had a little something planned for us,” he paused, “before everything took a sudden turn.”
My heart started beating faster as we approached an area that had candles circling a blanket.
“How?” I asked. “Candles out here?”
“LEDs, actually,” he laughed. “Out of all of this, that’s what you pick up on?”
Embarrassed I tried again.
“It’s very sweet,” I returned a nervous laugh.
“After you.” He held out his hand, leading the way to the center of the blankets.
I sat down on the blankets he had piled high for us, and my nerves began to get the better of me. I was hoping for something that I wasn’t sure would happen. I looked up at him through my lashes and saw that he was staring at me intently.
“I hope our discussion didn’t ruin whatever your intentions were out here,” I said.
“Is that so?” His eyes were hypnotic. “And what do you think my intentions were?”
The heat began running through my body with that simple question or maybe it was more like an accusation. That’s what it felt like. Oh, how could he do this to me with one look or by uttering a few words?
“I, uh —” I said, my mouth dry with anticipation.
“Yes?” he toyed with me.
I could only nod.
“My Triss, finally rendered speechless?” he smiled, his eyes dancing with a mischievousness I wanted to explore.
My Triss. Oh, how I needed to hear that right now.
He sat next to me, and my excitement couldn’t be contained.
He began by placing a tender kiss behind my ear, sending chills of an entirely different sort through me.
A moan escaped from my lips, and a fire that matched my embarrassment developed.
“Was that too much?” he whispered, his breath lingering on my flesh.
“No.”
His lips glided across my neck, and I felt the beating of my heart would give away my desire in the quietness of the night. His kisses stopped, but his fingers gently traced my jawline.
“I want more.” Looking into his eyes, his breathing changed with my statement.
“Is that what you think I had planned?” he breathed, his lips lingering near mine.
I nodded.
Shaking his head, he smiled. He gently cupped my face in his hands as his kisses began again, and I closed my eyes enjoying the softness of his touch.
But he stopped.
“We should probably get going,” he whispered. “Tonight’s a clear night to go scout your father’s place.”
Was I even hearing things right?
“What are you talking about?” I argued.
“I want to ensure that I’m leaving you with something you’ll want more of,” he growled, his lips touching the lobe of my ear. “Anticipation is everything, babe.”
“Is that so?” I rolled over, pinning him to the ground allowing my lips to follow the path I desired.
Chapter 14
A bit later we found a good access point down to the lake and parked out of sight from the main road. Logan unbuckled the straps from the canoe that was secured on top of our car, being careful to not make much noise. We needed to make every movement as if someone was right behind us. The wilderness surrounding the lake belonged to my father and that alone was warning enough. There were no other homes belonging to anyone else for miles.
The darkness was unsettling as I followed Logan down the path to the water. He held the canoe above his head providing yet another opportunity for me to be amazed by his strength. When we reached the lake, he bent down and maneuvered the canoe into the water.
Holding the canoe steady, Logan helped me onto the bench so I didn’t fall overboard.
“Logan, I’m frightened,” I whispered, situating myself in the canoe. I was gripping the sides of the boat so hard that my fingertips felt raw.
“It’s only going to be worse once you go in there,” he replied grimly. “I wish you’d understand that.”
The lapping of the water alongside the canoe was the only sound that we were
trespassing. Staring down at the lake water was like looking into a black hole with ripples. It was not a place I wanted to be. I don’t know what I was expecting from this expedition. Our goal was surveillance, but on some level I hoped I’d see my mom. Not in the state she was currently in, but the one when she was loving and selfless — normal.
“I’ve got to see my mom,” I replied. “We’re so close to getting her back.”
“We’re close, but she’s not ready. We can’t just grab her. This is purely to survey everything, okay? We can’t risk it.”
I sighed, nodding my head.
“Triss, you’ve got to promise me that no matter what you see tonight you won’t go after her. You have to promise me that or I’ll put this canoe back on the roof and drive away.”
“I get it. I…”
“It’s not safe. Even just staking out his home is risky,” Logan whispered.
The unsteadiness of the canoe as Logan stepped inside created a wave of nausea. It would figure my father’s camp would only be reachable by water, the one element of the planet that made me ill without fail.
As Logan shifted in the canoe grabbing the paddles, I caught a glimpse of dull black metal tucked in his belt, and it put everything into perspective. I couldn’t let my emotions get in the way of doing what was smart.
“If we’re caught, we won’t be okay, will we? Even though I’m his daughter?” I asked, catching Logan off guard.
“We aren’t going to get caught,” Logan’s gaze tore deeply at my soul as he sat facing me.
“Then why do you have a knife?” I asked, my mouth completely parched. “Isn’t a wand enough?”
“I’m not taking any chances.” Logan’s eyes locked on mine with only the light from the moon making them glow.
“I’m sorry for dragging you into this mess,” I whispered.
“You didn’t drag me into anything. I’ve got some unfinished business with your father as well.” And with that we began making our way across the lake to his encampment; a camp that had been in his family since 1869. We had no way of knowing what it looked like in the present day. All we’d found were old historical clippings, but with those I could tell the main home sprawled in many different directions. If everything had survived through the years, there looked to be several other buildings on the property as well.
Altered Souls (Witch Avenue Series #2) Page 12