“Okay, I’ll pack tonight and mention something to Aunt Rowena,” I said. “Then, after my test tomorrow, I’ll swing by for you and we can get on the road.”
“Sounds like a plan,” he insisted.
It did, one I was glad to finally have set in place.
Chapter 15
My test was over. While I was positive I hadn’t aced it, I knew I’d at least passed. Anything was better than the zero I would have gotten had I not shown up at all. I crammed my hands into the pockets of my coat as I made my way to the parking lot. My bag was in the back. Aunt Rowena thought I might stay with Mina tonight for a much-needed girls’ night. And I’d agreed to pay Rose to do my chores for today.
I pulled out my cell and sent Benji a text.
Leaving now. Be there to pick you up soon. – Ridley
Sounds good. I’m ready.
“Ridley!” I heard Mina shout from behind me. I paused to see what she wanted. “Where are you running off to? Are you done for the day already?”
“Yeah.”
“Is everything okay? You look on edge.”
“No. I’m fine.”
Skepticism pooled through the color of her eyes. She didn’t believe me. Maybe it was because I was a horrible liar.
“I meant to call and ask how things with the locator spell went. Did the tea work for you?” she asked in a whisper even though I didn’t think anyone around us cared what our conversation was about.
“Yeah. It worked.” I flashed her a grin, hoping it would be enough to end the conversation.
If we continued talking, I knew I’d confess that I was leaving to find Hazel right after I picked up Benji. And, I knew Mina well enough to know she’d most likely offer to come with us.
“That’s all you can hope for then, isn’t it?” She cleared her throat and eyed me. “So, what happened with it? Where do you stand now?”
Crap. What could I say without giving too much away? I tucked a few stray curls behind my ear and debated whether I should just fill her in. There wasn’t enough time for her to come with us. She’d have to at least run it by Eli, wouldn’t she? He was her alpha, but he was also her husband. Most of the time wives told their husbands when they were leaving the state, right?
She had given me the salvia tea though. That meant I kind of owed her some details.
“Well, I found Hazel—the granddaughter. She’s in Helen, Georgia.”
“That’s not far from here.”
“Yeah. I looked it up. It’s a five-hour drive,” I said. “I’m picking up Benji and we’re heading there now. That’s why I’m cutting afternoon classes today.”
Mina chewed her bottom lip. A look shifted across her face I knew—she was thinking. Her thoughts never passed between her lips though. Maybe she wouldn’t try to come after all.
“Hopefully it won’t take long to find her. We have a street name, but we don’t know if it’s the one she lives on or a place she just happened to be at when I performed the spell last night.”
My stomach twisted at the thought. It was the first time the possibility had come to mind. If it were the truth, then we were out of luck.
Maybe.
The population of Helen was under a thousand. The place was tiny. Which meant, it wouldn’t be hard to find her.
“Hopefully, the locator spell led you to her street, and not some random place or her work. Either way, I’m sure you’ll find her.”
I had no choice. I’d made a promise to Adele. Also, Hazel’s life depended on it.
“Even if you don’t find her right away, you can always do another locator spell while you’re there,” Mina said.
She had a point. The stuff was at Benji’s. I could grab it before we left, in case I needed to perform another locator spell. Also, I’d brought the book of gray magic with me. It seemed wise not to leave it in my bedroom for anyone to find, but also because of the spells inside. I had no clue what might come in handy.
“Good luck. Keep me posted on how things go.” She pulled me in for a hug.
“I will, thanks. Oh, and just so you know, I may have mentioned I was staying with you tonight for a girls’ night to my aunt.”
“No problem. Drive careful and tell Benji I said hello. I’m serious about the four of us getting together at some point and having a double date.”
“Me too.” I smiled.
As Mina walked away, I climbed into my car. After I pulled in a deep breath, I cranked the engine, ready to pick up Benji and get on the road. I wasn’t nervous about this road trip and everything that came along with it like I thought I might be. Was it because the magic of the spell I’d done from the book of gray magic still coursed through my veins? The candle had long since blown out. Maybe it wasn’t as temporary as I’d thought.
A girl could hope.
When the Montevallo place came into view, I pulled in behind Ivette’s cherry red car and parked. It took me all of two seconds to realize none of the other Montevallos were home. Ivette seemed to be the only one here. My stomach rolled as horrible thoughts crashed through my head that didn’t have any place being there to begin with. I hated the thought of Benji and Ivette being alone together in that big old house, but knew I needed to give both of them the benefit of the doubt.
I pulled in a deep breath and forced my stupid insecure thoughts away as I popped the driver’s side door open and stepped out. I’d barely taken two steps from my car when the front door to the house opened. Benji stood there, smiling at me. He was dressed in jeans, his trademark boots, and a plaid long-sleeve shirt.
“Hey, there. I’ve been waitin’ on you to get here,” he said. “I thought you were supposed to be here earlier. Did you have a hard time on your test?”
“Actually, I’m a little late because Mina wanted to chat. I updated her on how the locator spell went and everything Hazel.”
I slipped past him and inside the house. The warmth emitting from the roaring fire kissed my skin. Gosh, I was so ready for spring. Cold weather was not my thing.
“What did you end up tellin’ your aunt?”
“Nothing much. I sort of hinted I might stay at Mina’s tonight and also paid Rose to take care of my household chores.”
A smirk twisted his lips. “That’s hilarious. How much are you payin’ her?”
“Five bucks a chore. Ten, if it’s something nasty like unclogging a toilet.”
“Not too shabby.” He crammed his hands into the front pockets of his jeans and started up the stairs to his room.
I followed him. “I also mentioned to Mina that I’d told my aunt I was staying with her for a girls’ night.”
“Probably a good idea.”
“I thought so too.”
Benji swung the door to his room open and motioned for me to step inside first.
My gaze locked on the bag sitting on his bed. It looked fuller than I’d expected. How many bags of blood did he need to pack? Were there extra clothes in there too and normal hygiene stuff?
“Oh, I should probably grab the locator spell stuff just in case the road isn’t for her house,” I said. “Did you dump the tea?”
I hoped he hadn’t because I didn’t want to take the time to get more.
“Nope. It’s all in here. I poured it into a mason jar.” He patted the bag on his bed. “Figured we might need it.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem. Let me head to the kitchen real quick for a couple of things Ivette made you for the drive. Some pastry somethin’ or other. I don’t know. She told me to grab them while she packed her bag.”
I arched a brow. “While she what?”
Was she coming with us?
Benji scratched along his jaw. “Uh, yeah. I know I didn’t run it by you before, but I had to tell everyone where I was goin’, and when I did, Julian suggested Ivette come along in case things don’t go as planned.”
“Like what?”
“Like Hazel not wantin’ to come with us.”
“And how would Ivette be able to—”
I didn’t need to finish the sentence because I already knew why Julian had suggested his youngest sister come along and why Benji hadn’t said no—because of Ivette’s power of compulsion.
“Havin’ her with us is a decent backup plan if nothin’ else,” Benji insisted.
I released the breath I’d been holding. He was right. Bringing her along was a great backup plan. One we might have to use because telling someone their life was in danger while opening their eyes to the supernatural world might be too much.
“Yeah, you’re right,” I said.
“Also, the more the merrier, right? We don’t know what we’re goin’ up against, so we might as well have more numbers with us.”
A new text came through on my cell. I pulled it from my back pocket and glanced at the screen. It was from Mina.
I’ve talked it over with Eli, and he agrees I should come with you two. This Bram guy coming to Mirror Lake affects us too. You shouldn’t go alone. It could be dangerous.
I smiled as I read her text. I’d known she would do this. Heck, she’d probably called Eli right after I left.
I’m not going alone. I have Benji. And, apparently Ivette is coming with us too. - Ridley
It took seconds for her to respond.
Good. I’m glad you’re not going alone, but I’d feel better if I went with you too. Eli feels a member of the pack should sit in on this too so we stay in the loop on it. It’s either me or Tate. Take your pick.
My lips pursed together.
You. Definitely you. - Ridley
It wasn’t that I had anything against Eli’s younger brother; he was just annoying. Especially when he and Benji were around one another. Tate didn’t like being around newly turned vampires and had made as much clear a few times in the past.
I knew you’d say that. My bag is already packed. Pick me up on your way out of town, please.
“Who is it?” Benji asked. “And, why are you grinnin’ like that?”
“It’s Mina. She’s coming with us too. I’m supposed to swing by her place to pick her up on our way out of town.”
“Mina?”
“Yeah. It was either her or Tate.”
“Mina it is, then,” Benji said. He picked up his bag off his bed and hoisted it over his shoulder. “Let’s go get her.”
I chuckled as I followed him out of his bedroom and down the hall.
As I pulled into the Mirror Lake Trailer Park, I spotted Mina in front of her and Eli’s trailer. There was a bag slung over her shoulder, and her hands were crammed into the pockets of her coat. I parked behind her car, but kept my engine idling. She climbed in the backseat to sit beside Ivette with a wide smile on her face.
“Hey,” she said to no one in particular. She unzipped her bag and pulled out a Ziploc baggie with dried herbs inside. “This is from Gran. I didn’t tell her everything about the situation, but I gave her a few details so she could make us something to use against this Bram guy if we need it. Plus, Eli wouldn’t let me leave without something.”
My teeth sank into my bottom lip. I wished I’d brought more with me besides the book of gray magic and the locator spell stuff. I should’ve taken time to create a few protection spells or talismans myself, but hadn’t. I’d been expecting to find Hazel fast. She was my end goal, but I should’ve been thinking she was also Bram’s end goal and Adele had called him evil.
Crap.
I couldn’t go home and make anything. Not with everyone with me. Aunt Rowena would know something was up for sure and press me for details.
I exhaled a deep breath; whatever Gran had given Mina would have to be enough.
“I’m glad she gave you something because I didn’t think to bring anything,” I said as I backed out of Mina and Eli’s tiny driveway.
Mina passed the baggie to me. “It isn’t much, but it’s something,” she insisted. I shoved the bag in my coat pocket and cut a right at the entrance to the trailer park. “Gran said it would be enough to hold him off for a while so we could escape, if it came to it. I’m sure you’ll know how to use it better than any of us.”
“Thanks,” I said, glad one of us had confidence in my witchy abilities because I sure didn’t just then.
My hands gripped the steering wheel tighter. Mina brought werewolf abilities to our group—and protection herbs from her Gran—Ivette brought the power of compulsion plus all her vampire abilities, and Benji brought his vampire abilities as well.
What the hell was I bringing to this situation besides hoping I knew how to use herbs from Gran if we needed them?
Knowledge, a tiny voice in the back of my mind said.
I knew what Hazel looked like. Well, sort of. I knew what Bram looked like though. And, Adele had filled me in on what he was. Granted, I’d shared that information with everyone in my car, but I was the only one who could get more info if I needed it by tapping into the other side.
I leaned back in the driver’s seat and loosened my grip on the wheel, taking comfort in knowing I’d also orchestrated this trip. Saving Hazel was something I planned on seeing through, and I’d gathered a badass crew to help me do it.
That had to count for something.
Chapter 16
The five-hour drive to Helen, Georgia, went fast. We didn’t make any stops, and there hadn’t been much traffic. We’d made great time.
When the welcome sign came into view, my insides tingled. Things were about to get real. How was I going to fill Hazel in on everything she needed to know without scaring her away or prompting her to call the cops?
That was where my mind had dipped and become stuck.
I couldn’t think of anything to say to her that would make her want to come with me—and the group I was with—across the state line to an unfamiliar town. Especially not if I chose to mention witches, vampires, and magic were all real.
I exhaled a slow breath. Explaining things wasn’t going to be easy.
“This place is cute,” Ivette said as we passed by a strip of shops. “It reminds me of a tiny town in Germany I once visited.”
It was cute, but it also seemed like a tourist trap. There were pubs, gift shops, and restaurants everywhere I looked.
Was Hazel vacationing here?
We drove a few minutes more before Escowee Drive came into view. I cut a left onto it and felt my heart rate kick up a notch. As I made my way down the dirt road, it wasn’t long before a thick forest lined both sides.
“Where are we?” Mina asked.
“I have no clue,” I said as I crept along, trying my best to avoid the multiple potholes dug into the dirt road like craters.
The sun had set hours ago, and even though there seemed to be a slight clearing up ahead, I couldn’t make out if there was anything of significance in it like a house. As I rounded the next corner, a sign lit by dull spotlights shining upward from the ground caught my eye. It said Bear Creek Cabins. Beneath that were the words pet friendly and a phone number. The entire thing was held up by two by fours jammed into the ground. In front of the sign was a stone fire pit and a few chairs placed around it in a semicircle. A decent sized log cabin sat on the hill behind it, its porch lit up by soft yellow lighting.
Was this where Hazel worked? Or was she renting a cabin?
“I think that’s the office,” Benji said. “This looks like a cabin rental place.”
“Great. How are we supposed to figure out which cabin she’s in?” Mina asked.
I slowed my car and continued down the dirt road, passing the main cabin while hoping we’d find signs of Hazel at one of the rentals because the only alternative was to ask the manager and that seemed as though it would make us out to be sketchy.
“Can’t you sniff her out?” Benji asked Mina. A wide smirk twisted his face as he cast a quick glance back at her from the passenger seat.
“Ha, ha. Funny,” she said. I didn’t have to look at her to know she’d rolled her eyes. It was clear from her tone. “It doesn’t work that way. Plus, I’m a werewo
lf, not a dog.”
“I know. I’m only teasin’.” Benji laughed.
It was good to hear him laughing, but it wasn’t something I was able to focus on for long.
The dirt road twisted deeper into the woods and then we hit an incline. When we reached what seemed like a common area used as parking for guests of the cabins, knots formed in my stomach. My headlights barely illuminated the area enough for me to see multiple paths marked by wooden signs along the parking area.
This wasn’t going to lead us any closer to Hazel. Not unless we knew what she drove.
“I don’t know what to do now,” I said. My grip on the steering wheel tightened as my lips pressed together.
Mina shifted in the backseat. “I don’t either. We can’t knock on every door, hoping she answers.”
“No, that would seem too suspicious,” Ivette said. “However, we could go back to the manager’s cabin. I can compel whoever is working to tell me which cabin she’s renting.”
“Okay.” I shifted into reverse and backed out of the space I’d eased into. “Sounds like a plan to me.”
Everyone agreed, and the tension in my muscles dissipated. How the heck did I keep forgetting what Ivette could do?
When I made it back to the manager’s cabin, the lights were still on. I pulled up in front of it and shifted into park.
“I’ll be back in a jiffy,” Ivette said before she slipped out of my car and headed up the stone steps to the cabin.
Time seemed to tick away excruciatingly slow as the three of us waited for her to come back. When she finally came into view again, I tried to read her face but wasn’t able to get anything from it.
“Think she did it?” Benji asked.
I exhaled a long breath. “I hope so.”
“Okay,” Ivette said as she slid back into my car with more grace than should be possible. “Hazel is staying in the Cozy Cabin.”
Benji chuckled. “Aren’t they all cozy?”
Ivette flashed him a look. Then, she pressed forward, ignoring his comment. “Go back to the common parking area. We should see a wooden sign with Cozy Cabin etched into it. It’s a short walk from there to the cabin is what the guy told me.”
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