by D L Blade
“Let’s go.”
Mercy
Caleb left to meet up with Melissa. He was worried and wanted to check on her, especially now that we had pissed off Maurice enough that he would go after the ones we cared about.
Dorian and I stood outside my place when he dropped me off. The coven waited for me inside. “Can we talk for a minute?” he asked.
I nodded.
“I know this is really bad timing, but there’s an art gallery show on Friday that I think you’d enjoy. I know Joel and Derek love art, maybe they’d like to come.”
I wasn’t sure what his angle was. Was he asking me on a date?
“When have you ever wanted to get to know Joel and Derek?” I asked, but he only frowned. “Dorian, what’s going on?”
He looked away then back to me. “I needed a hobby when you left me,” he confessed.
“Your party?”
I was surprised when he nodded. I had no idea he had an artistic side.
I smiled. “I’d love to go.”
Thursday came and went, and by Friday, I was nervous for this gallery event. I hadn’t done anything normal in a while, and going to a party with someone I used to love wasn’t something I expected to happen, especially with everything going on—the murders, the dagger missing, and Maurice threatening us. There was so much going on right now that needed the coven’s attention to protect those around us, I almost felt guilty going out and having fun.
Dorian and I arrived at the gallery event around seven in the evening. A waitress walked by with a serving tray of wine and I grabbed one before she could pass me.
I felt more nervous tonight than I had in a while. I thought maybe the wine would help me relax a bit. So much had gone on this last week, and I couldn’t shake the thought that Maurice was going to strike after what I did to Kyoko. There was also that feeling we all had that he was up to something, and whatever plan that was, it was about to hit us straight on.
“Mercy, I don’t like telling you what to do, but I know what the alcohol can do to your powers, so maybe just one drink? Just in case,” he whispered in my ear. The heat from his breath near my skin created goosebumps on my neck.
What the hell?
“I just need to relax,” I confessed. I wasn’t sure if this nervous feeling was because Maurice could bust down these doors at any minute, or because I was here with Dorian. Someone I loved years ago. I had to remind myself that if it was the latter, it was just physical attraction.
“Are you nervous about something?” he asked with a small smirk that pulled at the side of his mouth.
I rolled my eyes, not wanting to entertain his assumptions, and looked around the gallery. My mouth gaped open as I saw the paintings around me. They were breathtaking . . . and familiar.
I padded across the gallery toward a painting of a woman’s face, painted in dark amber, green, and yellow. It was a face that reflected my own. I turned toward the others, and they were all of our old village in Salem. He had painted images of old buildings from my visions. There were paintings of children in Puritan clothing playing in a field.
They were all so beautiful, but also sad. He had created a world that was no longer mine, no longer ours. But why?
I turned to him. “Why did you paint these?”
He smiled while taking a sip of the white wine from his glass. “It was the last time I was truly happy—when I had you as mine.”
How do I respond to this?
“See, Joel, why are we not opening a gallery here? Look how many guests have shown up,” I heard Derek ask. I felt instant relief they were here.
“True. I just wasn’t sure how long we’d be here to even think about opening another gallery,” Joel responded, grabbing a wine glass from the tray as the same waitress walked by.
“Grab two,” I said.
Joel raised an eyebrow.
“I’m nervous, Joel. After what we did to Kyoko . . .”
“You had to. You know that,” Joel said.
“I know, but he’ll be out for blood now.”
Joel rolled his eyes. “More reason to not drink.” He grabbed my half-empty glass and placed it on the table next to me.
The party had died down around ten, so Dorian grabbed my jacket from the coat closet and locked up.
I heard a text come through as I climbed into Dorian’s car. Lily and Bradley wanted to host a breakfast tomorrow morning at her place with just the family. They had something to talk to us about.
Dorian drove me home and leaned in, gently kissing my cheek. “Thank you for coming tonight. It meant a lot to me.”
“How did you do tonight? Did you sell any paintings?”
He smiled. “I sold about eight and grabbed a few business cards, but truthfully, I don’t do it for the money. Just having the paintings there for people to look at, and for me to see them on display, is all that matters.”
I placed my hand on his and tilted my head. “I’m sorry you feel like you can’t be truly happy anymore.”
He turned his palm up and squeezed my hand. “I am happy.”
I hope so.
“Goodnight, Dorian.” And I kissed him gently on the cheek.
Caleb
Melissa’s hands trembled. I reached out and caressed them with my fingertips, hoping to steady her aim. “Now pull it back and let go,” I instructed.
She steadied the bow and let go. The arrow flew toward the target and hit the tree a few inches from the center. “Yes! Was that good? I think it was good. I mean, for a rookie, right?”
She’s so adorable.
“That was great. We can practice out here any time you’d like. I know you hate guns, so learning archery is a great alternative.”
She laughed. “Are you trying to turn me into a superhero? I’m not like you guys.”
I brushed the hair from her face. “No, but it’s dangerous to be unarmed.”
“I have mace. I mean, really, Caleb, you think I’m going to carry a bow and arrow every time I walk alone?”
I laughed. It was silly. She needed something practical she could always have with her, but watching her shoot an arrow toward a tree was the highlight of my morning. She looked so sexy doing it. “I can show you how to throw a knife. You can keep a dagger in your purse.”
She nodded. “That’s more like it. You can teach me during our next session, Sensei,” she teased, bringing her palms together and bowing.
I leaned closer to her, placed my hands around her neck, and pulled her to me. Her lips met mine, passionately and seductively. She was going to drive me crazy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Her fingers lingered on the back of my head, and she gripped my hair lightly.
“Caleb, I . . .” I didn’t know what she wanted to say to me, but she looked as if she was battling something in her mind. “I have to get back to the office.”
I knew that wasn’t what she wanted to say, but I didn’t press her.
“You also have your training, right?”
I nodded. “Yeah, they’re on their way. It’s easier for us to practice the magic part of our defense outside of the basement. Just in case it gets out of hand.” I laughed and she shook her head at me.
“You’re crazy,” she said as she leaned in to kiss me.
Shortly after she left, the rest of the coven showed up, except for Mercy, who had something to do at her aunt’s house this morning.
“I like this spot. It’s more secluded here,” Leah said as she neared the clearing.
I had cleared an open area of forest debris and stood at the center before Leah, Simon, and Ezra joined me.
We joined hands, formed a circle, closed our eyes, and chanted a spell we had been working on. I felt my powers flow through me, and when we opened our eyes, they were glowing a bright shade that represented our elements.
Leah lifted her hands and pulled the water from the soil around us. It had rained earlier, so she was able to extract enough to form a large pool of water in her palms.<
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“Okay, you can use me. Go for it,” Ezra said, just seconds before Leah threw the water ball at him and encased his head, drowning him with her powers. He pulled his hands up to his neck and gasped for air. She released the water back down to the earth, and Ezra coughed up the remaining liquid that had entered his lungs. “Man, I love your power,” he said.
I chuckled at the two of them and turned to Simon. “Your turn.”
Simon lifted his hands and a gentle breeze tickled my neck. The force of the breeze picked up, along with the leaves around us, blowing violently like a hurricane passing by. As the wind encircled the coven, I felt the air leave my lungs and I couldn’t breathe. The air encircled us like a tornado, and Leah had to brace herself on the ground, gripping a branch in order to keep from flying away. I became lightheaded, and Ezra’s hand raised, signaling it was enough, so Simon lowered his hands, and we all gasped for air, pulling it back into our lungs so we could breathe again.
Ezra turned to me. “I’m . . . next,” he said, still trying to catch his breath.
Leah and Simon smiled at him and grabbed a branch next to them.
Ezra shook his head. “Yeah, that isn’t going to save you.”
Ezra’s hands raised, and I heard the ripping of the roots from the trees around us as he pulled branches in our direction. He threw his hands out, and a branch flew toward Simon, grabbing him by the foot and pulling him away from the branch he held on to. Ezra directed the branch, which Simon had thought was his saving grace, to wrap around Simon’s wrist and the two branches stretched his body out until he could no longer move.
Leah decided to run, which wasn’t the best move. Ezra used his powers to pull the soil up from the ground, which created a hole which Leah fell into.
I pulled my arms out to the sides, fireballs appeared at my fingertips, and I threw them toward Ezra, but he had powered up the leaves on the ground in front of him to create a wall for protection. The fireball slammed into it and burned the leaves instead.
I held up a hand, Ezra released his power, which was still holding onto Simon, and I walked over to Leah to help her out of the hole.
“Okay, I think this was the most fun we have had in a while. Can we please do this more often?” Leah asked as she gripped my hand.
“I do love the sparring though,” Simon added.
“The sparring is needed to take out a vampire, guys,” I told them. “There may be a situation where our powers are taken from us, like they were with Mercy when she was held captive in the lair. By us knowing how to kickbox and having the ability to take out a vampire with our hands and not our powers, we will fight so much better. Trust me.”
“Yeah, we get it, but this was so much more fun.” Ezra beamed.
I looked up at the sky and grey clouds were forming overhead. “A storm is supposed to roll in today. We can keep practicing or head out.”
“We’ll keep training,” Leah answered for everyone.
Simon and Ezra both nodded.
We trained for another hour, but when the storm became too fierce, we headed back. It was true that with Ezra’s power, he controlled the elements of earth, which meant he could control the weather, but we vowed to let nature take its course and only use our magic if it was necessary or when we were training.
Mercy
It was early, and I mean early. I eyed the clock as I neared Lily’s home, and it read eight in the morning.
On a Saturday.
Why do people do this?
I walked in and found Lily in the kitchen, cooking our breakfast. Bradley was setting the table and smiled at me when I walked in. Joel was sitting on the couch, watching the morning news, and I didn’t see Derek anywhere.
“Where’s Derek?” I asked as I joined him on the couch.
“New York.”
I cocked an eyebrow.
“He’s meeting with an art collector and a real estate agent this weekend,” he explained.
“Are you moving here permanently?” I asked, my voice raising.
That would be awesome to have him so close.
He smiled and turned off the TV, directing his attention back to me. “We are. We’re going to list our home in two weeks,” he said.
I beamed! “Joel, that’s amazing news.” I looked over at Lily in the kitchen. “Is that why everyone is meeting here? To tell me that?”
He shook his head. “No, the news is something Lily wants to share with us. I still don’t even know.”
“Breakfast is ready,” Lily called from the kitchen.
We sauntered into the kitchen and took our seats.
Lily had made pancakes with chocolate and fruit toppings. I loved these pancakes. She also didn’t eat dairy or eggs, so she’d found this vegan recipe years ago with my mom and we’d eat this during the holidays or on the occasional Sunday morning family get-togethers.
I dove in, forking the corner of my pancake, not adding any toppings to it, yet. “What’s the big news you wanted to share?” I asked, my mouth stuffed.
She looked at Bradley, who had a huge grin on his face, then held out her hand. A bright, shiny diamond ring almost blinded me.
I looked back up and Joel looked just as shocked as me.
“Congratulations, guys,” I said.
I was happy for them, but I was also nervous. We barely knew him, and what did that mean for our secret? Joel had never told Derek about us being witches, but once, he had walked in on Joel performing a spell when Joel wasn’t expecting him home. They had already been married for a few years but had dated since they were in high school. We loved Derek. We trusted him, and to this day, he’s never told anyone, and he accepted that part of our lives.
Of course, at the time, I didn’t even know what I was, and he kept the family secret like Lily and Joel had, to protect me.
Maybe Bradley was like that, too, but I’d been so busy with this newfound discovery of who I was that I hadn’t been able to get to know him like I should have by now.
“Thank you,” Lily said.
Bradley squeezed her hand. “We aren’t getting married right away,” he added. “Don’t worry. We’re setting the wedding date for next spring.”
This made me feel a bit better.
We finished our food and cleaned the dishes. Bradley and Joel stepped into the family room to watch something on the TV, and I helped Lily in the kitchen.
“Does he know about us? Or do you plan to tell him?” I asked her.
She placed the last plate in the dishwasher and turned around to face me. She leaned her back against the counter and wrapped her arms around her waist. “I want to tell him. I brought it up to Caleb the other day. It won’t be easy to keep quiet the fact that you and Joel aren’t witches and yet I am. We’re from the same bloodline. Not that people who don’t know about us would put something like that together, but he might.”
I nodded. “I get it. You can tell him I’m a witch, but, of course, ask Joel about his secret. I just think telling him about the whole vampire thing may be a bit overwhelming for him.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, he may not take that so well.”
I smiled. “Tell him, but know that it could put his life in danger the more he knows.”
“I thought about that,” she said. “The whole ‘keeping a secret from your loved ones in order to keep them safe.’” She looked down and bit her lower lip. “But it didn’t keep Cami safe.”
That stung. Not that Lily blamed me, though I sure blamed myself, but she was right. Cami didn’t know about us, and yet, she had been taken over by the darkest of evil. I didn’t protect her.
I was now thinking about Cami being locked away inside the Asylum, all alone and terrified about what was happening to her. There was no way for her to escape her nightmare. “I should go visit her today,” I said.
“Want me to go with you?” she asked.
I shook my head. “Thanks, though.” I leaned into the family room. “Congrats again, Bradley." His eyes stayed glued to the T
V. “Joel, I’m heading to Salem to see Cami. I’ll catch up with you later.”
They just threw a hand up in the air to send me off with a wave, and that was good enough.
Mr. Kriser handed me my badge and escorted me to the same room where my mom had died in my arms. A rush of emotions hit me as I neared that door that led into the room that changed my entire life.
My mom didn’t just die in there, I killed her. Her lifeless body had laid heavily in my arms, her eyes still open, watching me. I don’t know how long after someone had died that their spirit lingered in or above them, but I felt my mom watching me cry. I would never get that feeling out of my mind.
I probably should have gone through therapy after what happened, but I went from my mom dying, to my Awakening, to bringing down Maurice’s lair, to having to train daily to be this vampire hunter that I was destined to be. I couldn’t mourn like normal people. There was nothing I could even do to heal my mind. I had to live in the nightmare, no matter how hard it was for me. I didn’t have a choice.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” I admitted as he gestured for me to enter the room.
He looked at the cracked-open door and back at me. “I can see if the break room is available.”
I shook my head. “No, I can do this. Sorry.” I stared at the door intently. “Just give me a minute.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, hoping it would calm my nerves. After a few slow breaths, it worked. I felt my body relax, but it wasn’t just this room that made me nervous. This hospital masked our powers. I still had them, of course, but there was that shield that protected the staff from the creatures behind these walls, keeping me from using them. This was the first time in a year I felt normal. It was both refreshing and terrifying.
I entered the room. Cami sat on a couch with her legs tucked under her. She didn’t have her cell phone with her; they wouldn’t let the patients use them in here. She held a book instead. That was progress. Cami used to read all the time before her possession.