Witch's Heart

by Valia Lind

  "Thanks, Alice," I reply, taking the clipboard. "You sure you don't have anything better to do?" I ask, glancing down at the paperwork Alice just handed me.

  "There's nothing I rather do."

  The earnestness in his voice surprises me, and I look up to meet his eyes already intently on mine. Once again, I reach out with my magic, but there's nothing. I can't read even a glimmer of what's going through his mind.

  "You can help out Alice in the front," I say, directing him toward the front desk, while I make my way over to the newest patient. I've never seen them before and the name on the chart doesn't sound familiar. Without being intrusive, I reach out with my magic and instantly know they're humans.

  "Hello, Mrs. Shea? I'm Krista. I'll be taking care of you today."

  "Hello. This is my husband Jim." The words take a lot of effort and then as soon as she's done, she starts coughing. The fit doesn't seem to stop and I can feel her panic rising. Placing my hand on her arm, I pull on some of my magic, sending out soothing thoughts and she responds immediately.

  "Let's get you into one of the rooms, so you can lay down."

  Her husband and I both go to help her up, but she's become deadweight. Before I can put my papers down, Nolan is there. The husband is too distraught to do much, so when Nolan reaches to take her from him, he doesn't protest.

  "I'll get her to the room. Just tell me where," Nolan says and I'm grateful he's here. My body moves on automatic, while I use my magic to keep both of them calm. I lead the way to one of the room, and Nolan gently lifts Mrs. Shea unto the recliner.

  "Steph, are you okay? Can you hear me? Oh my," the husband is at her side, mumbling and I can feel his panic rising. "She's never been sick like this. We were just walking and then she felt lightheaded and now she's burning up. Oh my."

  "Nolan," I begin, turning to the man, "Please escort Mr. Shea out into the waiting room and get him something to drink."

  "No, I want to stay here."

  "I know you do," I say, calmly. "But what your wife needs right now is for you to take care of yourself and for her to rest." He stops and thinks that over, before slowly nodding.

  "This way, Mr. Shea." Nolan throws me a look over his shoulder as he guides the man out of the room. I can read the love and concern, mixed with panic, as Mr. Shea walks out of the room and it fills my heart for just a moment. Not giving in to other people’s emotions is the first thing a Reader learns at a young age. I would never be able to use my powers if I allowed the magic to rule my actions.

  "Mrs. Shea," I step over to the now unconscious woman. Her breathing is shallow, her skin covered in sweat. I grab one of the thermometers, and when the device beeps, I have to take an extra look to make sure I'm reading it correctly. Her body shudders and a blast of emotion reaches out to me, almost knocking me off my feet. Just then the door opens, and I turn to see Nolan sneaking back in.

  "I figured you'd need some help."

  "There's not much you can do since you're not officially a medical professional," I comment offhandedly, and Nolan is getting good at reading me because he's at my side in a moment.

  "What is it, Krista?"

  Shaking my head, I focus on the woman in front of me. "Her fever is climbing. We need to get it down before it's too late."

  "What do you need me to do?"

  "Ice. Bring me as much as you can. Have Alice give you direction."

  "Krista, talk to me. Something happened when I walked in."

  "Not now, Nolan," I say, shrugging off his concern and turning back to my patient. "First, we save her."

  It's a long, long day. And just when I think it's over, it gets worse.

  Mr. Shea, Jim, is now sick as well and we quarantined him in a different room. His wife hasn't regained consciousness since we brought her in, but her breathing has become a little better. If only for the moment.

  I am exhausted. Between keeping the two patients calm, and the rest of the people coming in and out of the office, my magic needs a rest. There's something about this sickness that seems almost otherworldly. But I haven't mentioned it to anyone just yet. I want to get Mama's opinion on it first. She should be getting here any minute.

  "Hey," Nolan's voice pulls me from my thoughts. He comes into the room, carrying a steaming mug of something, as I replace the cold compression on Mrs. Shea, Steph's, forehead. "I brought you some tea."

  "I'm okay, thank you."

  "No, you're not okay. You haven't stopped in hours. You need to take care of yourself." He thrusts the mug into my hands and I have little choice but to take it.

  "Nolan, you shouldn't even be here. It's not safe."

  "If I'm to get sick, I was already exposed when I brought her in here. Plus, my shifter genes carry a bit more immunity than most." He smiles at me, fighting all my protests with logic. I've been trying to get him out of here for hours now, but he won't budge. "Come on, take a seat."

  He places his hand at my elbow and gently turns me toward the chair in the corner. I glance at Steph, but I allow him to lead me to sit down.

  "Drink it, Krista," he says, crouching down in front of me, and placing his hands over my own that are holding the mug. The feel of our skin to skin contact ignites me from within. I stare at our hands, my whole being recharging from that one touch. He moves his hands, as I bring the cup to my lips and take a sip. But he doesn't take his eyes off me.

  "You've done great work here today, Krista," he whispers, the intensity in his gaze like a physical touch on my skin. I'm drawn towards him, and I don't understand it, but I don't fear it any more. It's not just that I'm attracted to him. It's that there are solid foundations of friendship between us now, and then something more.

  "It's not enough."

  "I can't tell you how to feel, but I don't believe that's true." He smiles again, and a part of my heart feels lighter for it. But before either one of us can say anything else, the door opens and my mother steps in. I hand Nolan my cup and get to my feet immediately.

  "Are you alright?" Mama asks, coming to meet me in the middle of the room.

  "Yes. But we have much to discuss."

  Mama looks over my shoulder and then Nolan is moving towards the door. "I'll leave you to it."

  "Nolan," I call out, and he stops with his hand on the doorknob. "Thank you."

  He smiles that disarming smile of his and then he's gone. I turn to my mother and see that she's already examining Steph. I can feel her magic working all around me, her natural magic mingle with that of an Elder.

  "What do you think?" She asks me when she's done.

  "It doesn't read like a regular virus," I reply immediately. "There's something underneath it and I can't stop it. We tried both modern medicine and magical, but nothing seems to be taking care of it. And now her husband is sick too."

  "I can read it too, Krista. It's subtle, but there. I'll have them moved to the house, and we can monitor them from there."

  The house is an addition to the clinic, that's more like a hospital. Since we're the only medical spot in town, something had to be created if someone needed to stay overnight.

  "I'll get the Elders to stand watch and we can see what we can find. I want you to go home..."

  "No."

  "Please don't argue with me, Krista. I want Nolan to take you home and stay with you. You're dead on your feet. We can't afford you being vulnerable like that. Not right now."

  I understand what she means. If the Ancients were to attack, I would be useless. But I also don't want to be a burden on Nolan. Any more than I have already been today. I'm so out of it I don't even notice Mama opening the door and calling him back until he's coming into the room.

  "You don't have to..." I begin, but he cuts me off.

  "I'm not about to disagree with your mother's orders."

  I shake my head, but I know I'm outnumbered. Mama reaches out and gives me a tight hug, before she turns back to Steph. She takes out her phone and dials, and soon this place will be crawling with members of the cou
ncil. Nolan motions me out the door, as my mother gets to work.

  While I am slated to take over for my mother, I still have a lot to learn when it comes to the way things are done around here. She's been the lead Elder for over twenty years and those are some big shoes to fill. I only hope I can be even half as good as her when the time comes.

  "Ready?" Nolan once again directs my attention back to him. I look at the man beside me, and the empty spot where I should be able to read his feelings, and manage a smile.

  "Let's go.

  6

  By the time we make it to my house, I can barely walk. I didn't realize just how much of my energy I've used up today, but it's a lot more than I have ever. When I stumble over my own feet walking through the doorway, Nolan's hands are there to catch me.

  "Please direct me to the closest couch," he whispers, keeping my body close to his. I'm so tired I can't even appreciate the feel of him against me. I motion in the general direction of the living room and the next thing I know I'm being lifted right off my feet. That wakes me up immediately.

  "Nolan, put me down."

  "I'm sorry, but you're a hazard to yourself. I was told to make sure nothing happens to you." The teasing in his voice brings a smile to my lips, before I realize I must be seriously weighing him down.

  "I can walk. I'm sure I'm heavy." I say the words fast, ignoring how much it bugs me that this is still something I struggle with every day.

  "Not even a little."

  Just to prove his point, he lifts me higher, and I tighten my grip around his neck, bringing our faces closer together. He doesn't seem to be straining at all, and he's enjoying himself way too much.

  "Nolan."

  "Krista."

  I shake my head, because he's still holding me and we haven't moved.

  "Are you planning on standing in the middle of the hallway for the rest of the night?"

  "I don't know, I kind of like this." He turns his head again, ducking it down just a bit and his breath washes over my heated skin, sending a shiver up my spine. Since I'm completely against him, I'm sure he feels it. The blush creeps up my cheeks and his grin grows broader.

  "Nolan."

  "Okay, okay," he says, before he turns and heads for the living room. When he gently places me on the couch, I miss his touch immediately. It takes me a second too long to unwind my hands from around his neck, leaving his face hovering directly above mine. The desire to kiss him springs up fast and hard, and I drop my hands and scoot back immediately. I don't need to be making a bigger fool of myself than I already have. It would be helpful to know what Nolan is feeling, but even if I could read him, I wouldn't.

  "Now," he says, straightening up and his voice sounds a big strained to my ears. "Which way is the kitchen?"

  Absentmindedly, I point in the direction and he turns on his feet and leaves without another word. As I sit there, trying to figure out my own emotions, I realize I need to talk to Harper about this. I pull my phone out of my pocket and notice that I have quite a few messages from her. Most of them are asking if I'm okay. Then there's a mention of the call my mother received. Quickly, I type her a text, giving her a summary of today's events. I don't have to wait long until my phone is ringing.

  "Are you okay?" Is her first question, and I smile as I sit back farther against the cushions.

  "I can barely stand, but I'm alright. It's just been a long day."

  "But you're home now? You want me to come over?"

  "No, I'm okay."

  "Where do you keep your forks?" Nolan shouts at that exact moment and I can hear the other side of the line go silent.

  "Excuse me, is that Nolan?" Harper whispers, as if he's standing right next to her.

  "Yes," I say quickly, before shouting back, "Top left drawer by the sink."

  "Thank you!"

  "Hello, Krista!" Harper is no longer whispering, "What is he doing there?"

  "He was helping at the clinic today and Mama told him to take me home."

  "Oooh, go Mama Emily." I don't have to be in the same room as Harper to know what she's thinking.

  "Stop that, we're just friends."

  "Mhmm."

  "I'm hanging up on you now," I threaten.

  "I'm hanging up on you now," my friend replies. "I expect a full report tomorrow. Love you, bye." And then she disconnects.

  "Seriously?" I mumble, looking down at my phone. My friend has officially her mind. I'm not sure what she thinks is about to happen here, but she's definitely been affected by her own incredible love story. I told her before, I'm not the one guys fawn over. I'd call her back and tell her that, but I suddenly feel too tired to even redial. The cushions feels amazing against my back, and I roll my shoulders to loosen them up a little. Closing my eyes I take a few deep breaths, feeling the tension of the day melt away.

  I'm not sure how long I've been out, but a noise jerks me awake.

  "Hey, it's just me," Nolan says, coming up beside me. He's carrying a tray with two plates full of food on them and places it on the table in front of me. "You didn't eat much today, so I thought you could use late dinner. I made some for myself as well. Hope you don't mind."

  "No, of course not. I didn't see you eat anything either."

  Sitting up more fully, I blink the sleep from my eyes and focus on the food in front of me. Nolan made an omelet, and he also added some of the fresh vegetables from the garden. I reach for the orange juice first, taking a sip to sooth my suddenly dry throat. No man has ever done such a thing for me before and it's making me all emotional.

  "Hey," he says, clearly reading something in my face.

  "Thank you," I hurry to say, before he asks me a question I'm not ready to answer. "It smells delicious."

  He studies me for a moment longer, and I wonder what he sees. I'm far from glamorous, and after spending the whole day at the clinic, I'm sure I look like a mess. Nolan reaches over, tucking a wayward piece of hair behind my ear, looking deep into my eyes. I think he's going to say something, but he decides against it. Grabbing his plate, he settles back against the cushions beside me.

  "Any good movies in your collection?" He asks, after taking a bite out of his omelet. I allow him the change of subject, because even I don't know what's going on between us. So instead of asking all the hard questions, I grab the remote, and my own plate, and turn the television on.

  "Let's see what we can find."

  I come to as if waking from a dream. Except when I open my eyes, I'm inside one.

  This time the darkness is not complete. Main Street is shrouded in shadows, but there's enough light that I can make out the buildings and the trees lining the way. The darkness seems to glow with an otherworldly light, and it weighs heavily on me as I stand in the middle of the street.

  The emotions are back, assaulting me from every side. I gasp, my hand over my heart, as I try to keep my magic from overwhelming me.

  Slowly, I turn in a full circle, trying to pinpoint the source of the assault, but I see nothing in the shadows. I expect the presence to make itself known again, so I wait for it. Even as my limbs grow heavier, and it becomes impossible to stand.

  There is a bench about thirty feet to my right, and the need to sit down drives me forward. When I collapse on the dark wood, it's as if I've just ran a marathon. My breathing is heavy, and I'm covered in sweat.

  "I knew you would be back."

  The voice seems to come from every direction and when I lift my head, I can't find the source of it.

  "Why am I here?" I manage to push the words past my lips, but barely.

  "You fascinate me."

  "I'm not special."

  "But you are."

  My chest grows heavier by the second, and I lean my hands against my knees to brace myself. A chill runs over my skin, cooling it for just a moment.

  "What...are...you?" I ask, my strength dissipating much faster than it did last time. There's a long pause, and I don't think the creature will answer, but then it does something worse
. It begins to laugh.

  I awaken with as snap, as if my very essence slams back into my body. Disoriented, I realize the voice I heard was Nolan's and that his arms are the ones wrapped around me.

  "Krista, are you okay?"

  I glance up at him, unwrapping my arms from around his waist, and sitting up more fully. I must've fallen asleep during the movie, and ended up snuggling into him. Embarrassment and confusion burns my cheeks, as he tugs my hair out of my eyes.

  "Krista, please talk to me."

  The genuine concern in his voice is what finally gets me. His gentle tone and small caresses break through my panic and I'm me again.

  "I'm okay. I'm just..."

  I don't know how to explain what happened. Do I tell him the whole truth? Can I trust him that much?

  Yes, I can.

  I'm not sure where that certainty comes from, but it's there like a beacon, guiding me home. Taking a deep breath, I look up into his eyes. In such a small time, Nolan has become an intricate part of my life and I can't wrap my mind around it.

  If someone was to tell me that I will trust a complete stranger with my secrets, I would've laughed at their faces. But here I am, about to divulge part of my magic to him.

  "You don't have to tell me," Nolan speaks up, running his hand over a strand of my hair and tucking it behind my other ear. "I'm here either way."

  It's the perfect thing to say, and it solidifies my decision.

  "It's not that I don't want to tell you," I begin, taking another calming breath. "It's just it's hard to explain." But I try.

  When I'm finished, Nolan sits in silence, trying to digest everything I just told him. I can't even image what's going through his mind, considering I can't even wrap my own mind around it.

  "That's...incredible." He finally says, surprising me into silence.

  "Incredible?"

  "Yes! It means your powers are expanding." He goes from shocked to excited, his eyes lighting up as he looks at me. "I think you're channeling one of the Ancients, even though I can't imagine which one. It's not like we know who has woken up so far."