Back in the trees, hidden in the shadows, is a man. He’s tall, with dark hair liberally streaked through with silver. He looks to be in his early sixties but is powerfully built. He cocks his head, then lifts his face up, nose in the air like a dog trying to catch a scent. I jerk back in shock, and a loud crack rings out as my foot snaps a branch beneath me.
He whips his head toward us and looks directly into my eyes. His expression changes into shock, and something like recognition. Caiden freezes, following my gaze, but when the man takes a step towards us, Caiden bursts into motion, grabbing the keys from my hand and shoving me toward the car.
“Stop!” The man bellows, leaping over bramble, running straight for us.
The man reaches us just as Caiden inserts the keys into the driver’s side door. He tosses Caiden backwards into the dirt and jumps on top of him, fisting the front of his shirt.
“What are you doing here?” He growls, shoving his face right up in front of Caiden’s.
“GET OFF OF HIM!”
Terrified of what he might do, I don’t stop to think about the consequences. I fling out my right hand, all my fear and anger bursting forth. The enraged man flies off of Caiden, landing in the bushes ten feet away.
His head whips up, shocked at first, then realization dawns in his eyes. As he leaps back to his feet, a huge black wolf, so much larger than any I’d ever seen before, emerges from the trees behind him. Its menacing silver eyes are trained on me, a vicious snarl ripping up its throat.
“No,” the man tells it, putting a hand out to keep the animal back.
I barely register the man’s words. All I see is the beast’s lips pulled back, exposing its sharp, deadly teeth. Werewolf. It must be.
Again without thought, I cast my hands out and flatten the older man back down to the ground. The wolf whimpers as it gets tossed against a tree, falling in a heap at its base.
“Come on, let’s go!” Caiden grabs me from behind, swinging me around and pushing me towards the open door of the car.
“Get in! Move over!” He shouts, pushing me over the center console so he can get behind the wheel. He jams the keys into the ignition, bringing my car to life with a roar.
The man springs up again, the black wolf right behind him. They reach the car just as Caiden slams the transmission into drive.
“Wait! Stop!” He’s gripping the handle of the passenger door in one hand, the other pressed up against the window. He’s so close I can see my own astonished expression mirrored in his gold eyes.
A sound like a gunshot reverberates as he bashes the car door once with his open hand.
A split second later, Caiden peels out, tires spinning on the leaf litter. The wheels finally catch, shooting us forward and knocking the man off. We swerve madly down the windy road until we reach the highway, leaving them behind in a cloud of dust.
Silence hangs heavy for a few seconds. Then Caiden lets out a curse, slamming a hand on my steering wheel.
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this! Goddamn it! Do you know what they are!”
I put my hand over my pounding heart and try to slow my breathing as Caiden lets out another string of profanity.
“Calm down Caiden, its fine.”
“Fine? Fine? They’re werewolves, Emerson! And you used magic in front of them! Do you have any idea how bad this is?”
With my breathing back under control, I take a moment to appreciate the sight of Caiden, his eyes bright with fury, firm jaw clenched, chest heaving. I don’t know what it says about me that the sight of him pissed off and completely unrestrained has me feeling warm all over. Or maybe that’s just the adrenaline still pumping through my veins. Shaking my head at my wayward thoughts, I get back to the matter at hand.
“They may know we’re witches, but they don’t know who we are. We don’t live anywhere near here, and it’s not like there’s anything for them to track us by.”
He scowls at me with narrowed eyes. “Just because they don’t know who we are doesn’t mean they can’t find us. If they got a look at your license plate, it’ll lead them straight to your door.”
“No, it won’t. The car is new, remember? I don’t have plates yet – just a temp tag in the windshield. I don’t think he can get much off of that. It’ll be fine.”
“Really?” His voice rises in anger again. “So you’re fine with the possibility that a pack of werewolves might be hunting for you now? That we might have just put the entire coven in danger? That your father might be in danger now?”
The blood drains from my face. I didn’t think about that.
“We have to tell Caroline about this. Everyone needs to be on their guard.” He hits my wheel again, still fuming. “I can’t believe I was so stupid.”
After a few miles Caiden regains his calm facade, but I know he’s still beating himself up for agreeing to this. We don’t say anything else the rest of the way home.
I peek in my purse at the photograph I pilfered. Although we were nearly caught by a couple of werewolves and may have just put the whole coven in danger, I can’t be sorry we went.
Chapter 20
My nerves are strung tight as we pull up to Caroline’s. Before we get out, Caiden looks me in the eye for the first time in hours.
“We’re going to have to tell her everything. You know that, right? She’s going to want to know why we went out to Ashwood Creek. You’re going to have to tell her what you think really happened to your mom. I don’t know why you were so reluctant to tell her last time, but you have no choice now. If those werewolves are able to track us, then we’ve just put the entire coven in danger.”
As much as I dislike the idea of laying my crazy theories bare for her to ridicule, I know he’s right. Everyone here could be in danger. Now isn’t the time for secrets.
I also think Caroline knows more about my mom than she was willing to tell last time. If I tell her my suspicions, will she finally come clean? Only one way to find out. “Alright,” I mumble, climbing out of the car.
Once again, Caroline seems surprised to see us at her door, but this time she doesn’t ask any questions, just steps back to let us through. Something in our expressions must have tipped her off, because once inside she leads us straight to the living room and asks, “What happened?”
I glance at Caiden. He meets my eyes squarely, giving me a small nod of encouragement.
Turning back to Caroline, I take a deep breath and launch into the story, telling her everything, starting with my early suspicions about my mom’s death, all the way up to leaving school, finding out my grandmother’s name, and snooping around her house. The only thing I leave out is the story I told Caiden about the night my mom died. That isn’t something I want anyone else to know.
When I explain about my fight with Sebastian and how we left school early, her eyes sharpen. I tell her about our trip, how the woman acted when she heard my mother’s name, and about the werewolves that attacked Caiden and I afterward.
Her mouth opens in horror. “How on earth did you get away from them?”
“Emerson,” Caiden answers, looking at me with something akin to awe. “She just threw them around like they were nothing. I’ve never seen someone so inexperienced have such control... She was amazing.”
I look away, my face heating.
“But,” he says, his voice sobering, “I didn’t stop long enough to wipe their memories. They know what we are, and I’m afraid they’ll be able to track us here.”
“Don’t worry Caiden. We’ve dealt with these animals before. We’re better prepared for it now.” She turns her eyes on me. “To tell you the truth, I’ve been expecting it since you and your mother showed up here.”
“What do you mean?”
She stands up from her chair and paces slowly around the room. “I was hoping to avoid this conversation until you learned a little more about our history and your own powers, but I see we don’t have the luxury of time anymore.” She turns and faces me squarely again. �
�I’ve already told you that you’re mother thought she was in danger. Well, after your mother took her life, I did a little research. It turns out Elizabeth was right. She was being hunted.”
“What? But you said she was just paranoid–” I stop abruptly, too angry for words. Caroline lied to me. I knew there was more to the story, and she deliberately kept it from me.
“I know I said that, but you weren’t ready to hear the truth yet–”
“How the hell would you know what I was ready to hear?” I yell, my temper slipping the leash. The lamp on the table next to me explodes, distracting me enough to get my fury back under control.
Caroline raises one eyebrow at the shattered lamp, but doesn’t comment on it.
“You weren’t ready,” she repeats sternly, capturing my eyes with hers. “You didn’t know enough about us or your own powers. But now it’s time you know the truth.”
She continues to hold my gaze and I feel my anger drain away. She may not have told me right away, but she’s telling me now. I’m going to finally know the truth.
“Who was it?” I ask after I’ve calmed down enough to speak. “Who was hunting her?”
“I suspected it was the Silver Lake Pack,” Caroline answers. “But I’ve never had any proof. Elizabeth moved to this town because she heard there was a large coven here. She hoped we would be able to keep you both safe. But unfortunately, the years of running, the fear and the paranoia, had taken their toll on her mind. She sought me out, asked me to protect you after she was gone, then drove out to that bridge and did the only thing she could think to do.”
I stare at her blankly, not understanding. Caiden reaches over and squeezes my shoulder in support.
“I’m sorry, Emerson,” Caroline continues. “The pack found her. She wanted to run again, but she was afraid that this time, they would catch her, and she couldn’t take that risk with you. She killed herself in order to keep you safe.”
A buzzing noise fills my ears, nearly drowning out Caroline’s words.
“The pack didn’t know about you. They didn’t know she had a daughter, so she assumed that if they heard about her death, they’d stop looking for her, and they wouldn’t find you.”
“I don’t understand...” I shake my head slowly, trying to make sense of it all. “Why were they hunting her?”
“Your mother was an extremely powerful witch, Emerson. Not only was she powerful, but she was rare.”
“Rare? What is that supposed to mean?”
Caroline comes over and sits back down across from me, reaching out to take my hand gently. “I don’t know if you’ve gotten to this part in your training yet, so it might not make much sense to you, but there are different types of witches. Different types of witches can do different kinds of magic. And there is one kind of witch that is extremely rare... Your mother was from what we call the warrior class, the war deities like Morrigan and Odin. This type of magic is very powerful, and very dangerous. The pack must have discovered Elizabeth’s abilities and sought to eliminate her.”
“The pack tried to kill her...” My voice sounds dazed, far away.
“She took her own life to protect you because they were hunting her. For all intents and purposes, they did kill her. They killed her as surely as if they threw her into that river themselves. If not for them, Elizabeth would still be alive.”
My blood boils, heat coils in my chest, spreading outward, along my arms, down my legs, creeping up my neck. My voice turns low and gravelly. Dangerous. “That man we saw, he was part of the pack that killed my mom?” I can already envision myself driving back out there, finding that monster, making him pay...
“Yes. And now that Silver Lake has seen you, Emerson,” Caroline says, bringing me back from my violent visions. “They must suspect who you are. They’ll be coming for you now.”
Caiden grips my shoulder painfully. “We need to get her out of town. I have a cousin in Pennsylvania. I can take her there for a few weeks while we figure out what to do next.”
“That won’t be necessary, Caiden.” A chilling smile spreads over Caroline’s face. “We’ve been preparing for this day. When they come, we’ll be ready.”
Caiden stares at her, shocked.
“It is time to stop running. If they want a fight, we’ll give them one.”
“We aren’t ready,” he protests. “Emerson barely knows anything about her powers. We need to leave!” He insists.
“It’s too late for that,” Caroline says, her eyes faraway. “I have seen it in a vision. The time has come. The Great War is beginning again.”
She looks at me with manic fervor.
“Emerson, you are your mother’s daughter. You are of the Morrigan, the Battle Goddess. With your strength and abilities, we will at last have our revenge. We will eliminate these beasts once and for all.”
* * *
I drive Caiden back to the school to get his car, my mind still churning over Caroline’s revelations. Caiden’s face is tense as well, his thoughts probably just as tangled as mine.
“Thank you,” I say abruptly.
“For what?”
“For coming with me today, even though you didn’t want to. For trying to protect me when that guy came after us. And for listening to me, about my mom.”
The expression in his eyes causes me to look away.
“You’re the only one who didn’t think I was crazy when I told you my mom didn’t commit suicide. No one else believed me, or even gave it a second thought.” My voice hardens as I think back on what Caroline told us. “And I was right, in a way. My mom was being hunted. Those animals were after her... And now they’re coming after me.”
He reaches out, putting a hand on my shoulder. “You’re not in this alone. You have the whole coven behind you. I won’t let them hurt you.”
I nod, the determination in his eyes leaves no doubt in my mind that he means what he says. He’ll stand with me, no matter what.
“This means that we’ll have to step up your training, though. Make sure you’re prepared for when these beasts attack.”
My mouth slowly curls up in a menacing smile. They want a fight? Let them come. I’ll be ready for them.
I drive home, my mind so preoccupied that I don’t notice someone’s outside my house until I’m walking up the porch steps.
Sebastian is sitting in one of the wicker chairs on my porch, one leg propped up on the low table. By the way he’s huddled into his black jacket, I assume he’s been there for a while.
I freeze mid step, completely stunned. Except for the short conversation in the car with Caiden, I haven’t thought about him at all tonight. My eyes caress his strong jaw, his gleaming blond hair, and for a moment I’m happy to see him. After all the stress today, I just want to wrap myself up in his strong arms. I want to tell him about the men who are hunting me, have him tell me that everything will be alright. I want to confess to him all about my mom, explain the relief I feel at finally knowing what really happened to her.
But then the memories of earlier today crash down and I grow cold. Sebastian doesn’t have any idea the hell I’ve been going through this past week, made all the worse by his continued taunts and insults.
Josh’s comments come back with vivid clarity. For the past two days, Sebastian has watched Josh attack me, has egged him on. I told Caiden earlier that Sebastian didn’t judge me like the rest of the town, but after the things he’s been saying recently, I was obviously wrong.
Sebastian stands up slowly, his hands in his front pockets.
“What are you doing here?” My voice shakes with hurt and anger.
“I came to apologize.”
“For what? Telling Josh about our sex life? Or lack of it, I should say.”
“Josh was out of line with that.”
“Josh has been out of line for the past two days!” All my rage comes boiling out; I can’t keep it in anymore.
“And you just sat there! Letting him insult me over and over again! What hell is
wrong with you? Are you really that spiteful, that you’d sit there and encourage him to abuse your girlfriend?”
I take a step toward him and stop myself. I’m moments away from attacking him. I need to get it together.
“And why?” I continue more evenly. “All because my daddy bought me a car?”
Sebastian’s eyes gleam gold in the dark before he looks away.
“I was an ass about it. I’ll admit it. But you have no idea how difficult it is, dating you and knowing that no matter what I do, I’ll never be good enough.”
He raises his head defiantly now, his voice growing louder.
“Your family is rich – you can have anything you want with a snap of your pretty little fingers. What can I offer you? A ring so small you can’t even tell it’s a diamond? I thought I could help you out getting a car, lend you the money, even though it would have bankrupt me. But no, daddy swoops in and gets you that, too!”
He slams his hand down into the porch railing.
“At the end of this year, I’m gonna graduate. We both know I won’t be going to college. I’ll probably end up working at that goddamn garage for the rest of my life! Sure, you might stay with me until you finish high school, but then what? You’re going to go off to college and forget all about your pathetic high school boyfriend! You’ll marry some rich lawyer or doctor and live happily ever after, and I’ll still be stuck in this little shitbox town! I love you, Em! And I know that no matter what I do, I’ll never be good enough for you!”
The emotion radiating from him knocks my breath away. The streetlight illuminates his face, revealing tears glistening in his eyes, and I feel my heart break just a little. But this explanation doesn’t make up for what he’s done, how he’s acted.
“Good enough for me?” I seethe, my voice dangerously low. “Have I ever asked you for expensive presents or jewelry? Have I ever told you that what you did for a living wasn’t good enough? How shallow do you think I am? I’m with you because I care about you! Not because of the things you can buy me or the money you make!”
Silent Circle Page 15