Mina's Revenge

by J. M. Witt

“I’m not finished with you.”

  She slashed out at me with her knife which I grabbed. As it sliced into my hand I held it firm and grabbed her wrist with my other hand, snapping her forearm in half. Her shrills filled the space and when I released her, she fell to the ground. Keeping my hand clenched as the warmth of the blood seeped over my fingers, Mina and I took off.

  When we reached my truck, the storm dying down, she climbed in the passenger side and me behind the driver’s seat. We took off, though my bloody hand was slipping on the wheel.

  “Rollo!”

  I swerved, nearly missing a tree. “Take the wheel.”

  She did as I ordered as I tore off a piece of my shirt and wrapped it around my hand as best I could. Once that was done I took the wheel back and reached my other hand out to her. She flinched and practically crawled into the passenger door.

  “Don’t touch me.”

  “Mina?”

  “Zeke told me everything.” She glared at me. “You came to Woodland Creek to kill me. Why not just get it over with?”

  “Please, let me explain.”

  “Explain what? That you fucking played me? Pursued me until I gave in like a fool? I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you.”

  I pulled down a dirt road and when I was certain we weren’t being followed, I pulled off the road and threw the truck into park. “Listen to me right now. Yes, I came here to Woodland Creek and you were my target.” She stared blank faced back at me. “Nothing added up and I started doing my own reconnaissance to try to find the truth. A letter from Scott, or Jude, also grew my suspicions. What I didn’t expect was to fall in love with you, Mina.”

  “NO! Don’t you dare.” The tears were falling from her eyes as she wiped at them aggressively. “This whole thing has been a sham. I’m such an idiot.” She pulled her knees up and buried her face in her hands, my fingers still itching to touch her.

  “Mina, please forgive me. I should’ve told you, but I knew you had secrets of your own and I didn’t want to scare you away.”

  “Well you did a pretty damn good job.” I stared at her as her swollen eyes met mine. “Not only did I trust you, I fell for you. You’ve destroyed that, destroyed me.”

  I tried reaching for her again as she scrambled out the door. “MINA!”

  Jumping out after her, I watched her shift and then take off. Scrubbing my hands over my face, I winced at the wound. Did I follow her or give her space? I didn’t know what the fuck to do, but I knew I couldn’t run on my injured hand.

  “Rollo?”

  Startled, I turned to see Jack. He was alone and I eyed him suspiciously. His family had deep ties to Zeke’s, but he had a good heart. “Jack?”

  “What they’re doing isn’t right. I’m with you. What can I do to prove it?”

  “Start talking.”

  Jack spilled everything. Zeke’s plan all along had been to claim pack leader and if it meant killing me, he was prepared to do so. Mina was also a mission he planned to complete since I hadn’t. He shared the same obsession as his mother that Mina needed to die.

  The only thing Jack wasn’t privy to was why. Why did Zeke and Victoria have this fixation on Mina? What secret was still hidden that we had yet to uncover? Something in Mina’s past had to be linked to something Victoria didn’t want anyone to know about. But what was it?

  I needed to find Mina. She wasn’t safe and I had to convince her that she needn’t fear me. I was the one trying to protect her. We also needed to go see Jillian again. She had mentioned a spell that could take Mina back to the night of her mother’s murder, but Mina had refused. I couldn’t blame her. But it may be the key to uncovering what none of us knew. Who killed Mora and why?

  It hurt to breathe. My heart was broken and I didn’t know how to fix it. I had to keep myself under control. I didn’t want to hurt any innocent people, but I also wanted to lose myself in my powers. What Zeke had told me was true. Rollo came to Woodland Creek to kill me. I had a target on my back and had no idea why.

  Sitting down in the grass, I clasped my hands on the back of my head. What was I missing? Victoria wouldn’t elude to why she wanted me dead, just that it needed to happen. I couldn’t go back to my place, that’d be the first place they’d look for me. The shop was out, too. There was only one place I could turn.

  Shifting back, I ran off through the woods. I sat on the property line for a while, observing until I thought for sure I was safe. I made my way to the back door and pawed at the wood door. I could hear the cats inside going crazy and then a few lights turned on.

  Amy pulled the curtain aside and jumped when I barked. Her eyes found me and then she opened the door.

  “Mina? What are you doing here?”

  I looked around and whimpered. Not wanting to shift, but I had no choice. I stood, trying to cover myself as she blushed.

  “I’m sorry. Here.” She removed the long cardigan she wore and wrapped it around me. “Come in. Are you ok?” I started sobbing and she had me follow her upstairs.

  Sitting on her bed, she pulled some clothes out of her dresser and handed them to me. She showed me to the bathroom and drew a bath for me. I hadn’t had a bath in ages and couldn’t wait to sink under the water. Amy tended to me like a sister or a mother would and scrubbed my back and then my hair. Thoughts of my mother bombarded me and I started crying all over again.

  “Mina, I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?” Amy was sincere and I was grateful.

  Shaking my head and wiping at my nose, I shakily said, “I think I want Jillian to do the spell. I need to know what happened to my mother. I was there, but I can’t remember. I think it’s the only thing that is going to stop all this madness.”

  “Ok. We’ll tell her in the morning. You should get some rest.” Draining the water, I stood as she wrapped a towel around me. “You can stay in my room. I’ll be right next door if you need anything.”

  She motioned at another door in the bathroom, pointing out that the rooms were adjoined through the bathroom. “Ok. I can stay there. I don’t want to take your room.”

  “Nope, I insist.”

  I managed to get myself dressed and crawled under the covers after she combed out my hair. The attention was soothing and had me completely relaxed. I was vaguely aware of the lights going out and Amy wishing me a good night’s rest. My heart still ached for Rollo, but I couldn’t release any more tears. I knew we needed to talk, but I knew my body would betray me if I let him get too close.

  I woke in the morning to a knock on my door and Amy asking to come in. Waving her in, I looked to the clock to discover I’d slept most of the morning away. Then it dawned on me that I had clients today.

  “Shit. I have to get to the shop.”

  “It’s taken care of. I posted a note that you had an emergency to tend to. And with everything going on, it’s not safe for you to be there anyway.”

  How did she know? I hadn’t told her anything last night, except that Rollo and I were over. “What are you talking about?”

  “He’s here. Has been all night. Slept outside on the porch.” She giggled, “It’s really quite endearing. He loves you, Mina. Are you sure you can’t work it out?”

  With my eyes downcast, my throat tightened as I confessed. “I love him, too, but it’s complicated. You don’t know everything.”

  She sat down next to me and took my hand. “I think I do. He explained everything to Grams and I this morning.”

  My head jerked up as I questioned her, “Everything?”

  “He was sent here to kill you, but instead he fell for you. So he started doing research of his own to try to figure out why his stepmother wanted you dead.” She took a deep breath and smiled at me as I closed my jaw. “Is that everything?”

  “Yeah, I guess. If he’s being truthful.”

  “Listen, you’re a Thomas by blood. You’re safe in this house and nothing can hurt you. Get dressed and come eat. We’re in the kitchen. Grams is a good judge of character. If she d
idn’t trust him, he wouldn’t still be here.”

  She left the room, my cousin. I don’t know why it just then resonated with me that she was family. She was my cousin. She was odd and peculiar, but I’m sure they thought the same thing about me. I spotted some clothes at the end of the bed that weren’t there last night. Magic or had she come in earlier to find me still asleep? It didn’t matter. It was time to be a big girl and face my big bad wolf. I smiled at that and knew already my body was betraying me where Rollo was concerned.

  Making my way downstairs, the smell of food overtook my senses as my stomach grumbled. Almost anything I could ever want for breakfast was laid out on the kitchen counter. I took a little bit of everything, loading my plate. I sat down at the small table in the corner and began eating. The thump of his boots on the hardwood floor immediately got my attention.

  Keeping my eyes on my food, I listened as he moved around the room. He was pouring a glass of something and within moments a glass of orange juice was placed in front of me. The metal legs of the chair across from me scraped along the floor and then he sat down. I spotted his bandaged hand resting on the table as his fingers lightly drummed on the tabletop.

  “Is this your plan, to ignore me?”

  I didn’t say anything, just kept eating.

  “Mina, stop acting like a child and talk to me.” I looked up at him and with a smug look shoved more bacon in my mouth and smiled sardonically at him. “Don’t choke.”

  Rolling my eyes, I removed them from his face and gazed back at my plate. We sat in silence and soon I couldn’t eat anymore. Pushing the plate away, he immediately took it to the sink and cleared the few remaining contents. I slithered out of my chair and attempted to head out of the kitchen.

  His hand came down on my bare wrist, his touch scalding me. Warmth spread through my entire body as my fingers curled into themselves, my nails digging into the palm of my hand. All my strength gave way as he came closer to me. His other hand ran over the back of my head and through my hair the way he always did. I had to close my eyes to try to hide the emotion in my eyes.

  Letting him pull me to his chest, I inhaled deeply as he started apologizing. “Mina, please don’t shut me out. I’m so sorry. I promise you since the first moment I laid eyes on you, all thoughts of why I came to Woodland Creek left me. I’ll die before I let anything happen to you. Please say you believe me.”

  I knew what I was going to say before I said it and I hated myself for it. “I believe you, but I’m still hurt.” His arms wrapped tighter around me as I gently held onto the material of his shirt.

  “Please look at me, Sweetheart.” His hands cupped my face as I tilted my head up to his, refusing to open my eyes. His nose ran along mine. “Please let me see them.” I let them flutter open and instantly lost myself in his green-blue depths. “I love those eyes and everything behind them.” He kissed me softly as my eyes flickered shut.

  Whimpering, I pulled away before it got too heated. “Please, Rollo. Take it slow, I’m still trying to wrap my mind around everything.”

  Smiling, he kissed my nose. “Of course.”

  Jillian walked into the room then. “Alright. Since you two finally have everything figured out, it’s time to get down to business.” My Grandma, though it was still strange referring to her that way, was blunt to a fault and it made her very endearing.

  Sitting down in the living room, the four of us began discussing what would come next. I agreed to take the potion. If it worked the way it was supposed to, I’d be taken back to my childhood and I’d be able to retell what had happened all those years ago. I shot back the liquid and began coughing at its horrid taste. Latching onto Rollo’s hand, I felt the room begin to spin and I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer.

  “Mina, are you there?” I was aware of Grandma Jillian talking to me, but I couldn’t quite get my mouth to work.

  ~ YOUNG MINA ~

  “Mina, are you there, sweetie?”

  “Yes, mom!” I yelled from the spot on my bed as I flipped through the pages of my book.

  “Please come down, Mina. Your Uncle Scott will be here any moment.”

  Huffing, I climbed off my bed and headed to the kitchen. Mom was headed out with that Jude guy again. It wasn’t that I disliked him, but I preferred Uncle Scott. He was watching me tonight while Mom went out and I was looking forward to it. He always let me stay up late and was teaching me how to play poker, though my mom didn’t know.

  I heard his truck pull in the drive and ran out to greet him. Jumping on his back, he carried me back into the house and dropped me on the couch.

  “I need to talk to your mom, kiddo. Give us a minute okay?”

  “Sure thing.” I went back to my room and didn’t think anything of it until I heard their voices getting loud.

  “Scott, I’m not discussing this with you. I know what he’s done, but he’s trying. I love him. Can’t you understand that?”

  “Yes, because I love you. He’s never taken care of the two of you the way he should.”

  My mom’s voice grew sad and I didn’t quite understand what they were talking about. Who’d never taken care of us? My father? Uncle Scott always told me he didn’t know who my father was. The front door opened and I saw Jude come in. He’d overheard the same conversation and smiled at me. Embarrassed that he’d caught me, I slammed my door shut.

  A few minutes later the front door closed again and I heard a car, Jude’s car, pull away. A knock came to my door and Uncle Scott poked his head inside.

  “You heard that didn’t ya?” I nodded. “I’m sorry kiddo.”

  “Uncle Scott, do you know who my daddy is?”

  Sighing, “I do, but I promised your mom I’d let her tell you. She’s going to tell you soon.”

  I started crying, “I want you to be my daddy.”

  He wrapped an arm around me and said, “I want that, too. But, I’ll always be your Uncle and uncles are way cooler. I get to let you stay up late, eat junk food, and teach you how to play Poker. Dads have to be responsible.” I laughed at that and agreed. “Now. How about we go get some pizza? And if you’re good, we’ll stop for ice cream on the way home.”

  “Yes!”

  I went to bed with a belly ache, but fell asleep almost immediately. Scott would probably fall asleep on the couch like he often did. That meant I’d get his yummy French toast in the morning.

  When I woke, it was the middle of the night and there was some shouting coming from the living room. I was used to this kind of thing happening. Before Jude, Mom had some boyfriends who liked to break things. Jude was probably the same way. Then sounds I wasn’t familiar with began to fill my ears.

  Not knowing what to do, I hid under my bed until everything went silent. My door opened and I had to cover my mouth to keep quiet. A pair of old brown work boots circled my bed and then left the room. It seems I waited forever to come out. Everything was quiet for a long time before I decided to leave my room and see if everything was ok. When I walked through the living room, the room was destroyed. Broken glass and toppled furniture was all I could see. And blood. There was blood on the floor and walls.

  Everything went silent and then a ringing in my ears began. Walking to the kitchen, I saw my mother’s lifeless body, covered in red, on the floor. On the other side of the room was Uncle Scott. He was sitting up against the lower cabinets, not moving, eyes open, and was also covered in blood.

  The back door opened and a panic-stricken Jude walked in. He took in the scene and locked eyes with me. Moving his hands in front of my face, he chanted, “You will forget you saw this, Mina. All you will remember is that your mother was murdered and Jude disappeared.”

  My eyes grew heavy as I fell into Jude’s arms. I think I fell asleep because I was startled awake when my bedroom door opened later. I had no recollection of what had happened.

  “Mina? Oh, God. Please, no. MINA!”

  Recognizing Scott’s voice, I sat up and climbed out of bed. “I’m here.�
�

  Pulling me to his chest, he was sobbing. “Thank, God. My girl. I thought you were gone.” He examined my face and arms, asking, “You’re not hurt?” I just shook my head. Something was different about him, but I couldn’t quite place it. “Come on. We need to go.”

  “Go? Where?”

  “You’re staying at my place tonight, ok?”

  “What about Mom?”

  He closed his eyes for a long time before saying, “We’ll talk about it tomorrow. Let’s get you home and to bed.”

  I didn’t argue. I was familiar with Scott’s house, though he seemed to forget that because he almost put me in the wrong bedroom. I had my own designated bedroom at Scott’s which made me feel very special.

  The next few months were incredibly hard. The doctors said I’d forgotten any details due to the trauma. My mother was dead and Jude was gone. Scott never left my side and took guardianship of me since my mother didn’t have any other family. My mother’s shop ended up getting boarded up, but Scott promised that one day we’d get it back. I didn’t believe him, no longer caring about anything. The only thing I cared about was getting my revenge.

  Mina was recounting her story to Jillian and even her voice sounded young again. This odd sense of dread washed over me as I pulled Amy out of the room.

  “When did this happen?” She looked at me strangely. “I can’t recall the date. Do you remember?” Nodding, she shuffled through a stack of newspapers and handed it to me.

  Finding the date and then reading the story over and over again, I sank into a chair as horror filled me. It was around the same time I’d injured my troublesome shoulder. Several of my father’s men were headed out on a mission, but I hadn’t been told where or what, and since I’d injured myself I couldn’t go. It was shortly after my father had died and Victoria was leading the pack.

  Was it just coincidence or was my family responsible for this? I caught what Mina said, that Scott had been dead. But if that was the case, how had he been the one to come back and retrieve her later on? Was he just caught in the crossfire or was he an intended target, too? I can’t imagine if he was an intended target that Victoria would let him live after finding out he was alive.