Covet

by Smeltzer, Micalea

  I wanted to say I couldn’t forgive him but I’d be lying.

  Adelaide cried the whole way back, I couldn’t even talk to her to tell her what he’d said to me.

  Where was he? Why could he leave at any time? Surely, if the Iniquitous had taken him he couldn’t just walk out? What did all this mean?

  I parked the Range Rover and dumped our Starbucks out into a trashcan since I knew the wrath of Jee wasn’t worth leaving them there, and grabbed our stuff—the Starbucks bag and a few odd things we picked up at the mall.

  The ride up in the elevator was the longest of my life.

  “What’s wrong?” Ethan asked running down the hall to us at the sound of Adelaide crying.

  “She’s fine,” I assured him. “She’s not hurt.”

  Winston collided into the back of Ethan and quickly righted himself, pulling Adelaide into his arms. She clung to him like her life depended on it.

  “What’s all this sniffling about?” Jee asked, walking down the hall with Nigel in his arms. The cat had taken an uncanny liking to Jee I couldn’t begin to fathom.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Winston asked over the top of Adelaide’s head.

  I sighed and dropped the bomb. “Theo’s alive.”

  They all gaped at me like I expected.

  “What the fuck?” Ethan blurted. “Are you serious?”

  I nodded. “Deadly.” No pun intended.

  “How’d you find out?” Winston asked. “Did he tell you in … uh …” He pointed to his head and I shook mine.

  “No, Adelaide figured it out.”

  She pulled away from Winston to point at my necklace. “Her necklace, Theo made it, it’s his firefly. If he’d died, it would have too.”

  “Jeez.” He held her a little closer. “Who knew this whole time we could’ve known he was alive?”

  I clutched my necklace and felt silly I hadn’t known, but there was no way I could have. All I’d known was it was an enchanted firefly. I figured they lived forever—or at least an extra long life.

  “Why wouldn’t Theodore tell you he was alive?” Winston asked me over the top of Adelaide’s head.

  “He said he was protecting me, because he knew I’d try to find him. He also said he could get away at any time, but some things were worth the risk. Whatever that means.”

  Winston exchanged a look with Ethan. “They must’ve taken him wherever Thaddeus is,” he supplied. “That’s the only thing I can think of that would keep him from leaving.”

  “How can he leave, though?” My voice was almost shrill. “Surely they have him guarded, locked away somewhere.”

  Ethan shook his head. “If Theodore said he could get out, it means he can.”

  “How?”

  Jee stepped forward. “He’s a protector, he’s your protector, his powers far outweigh those we know to be true.”

  “This is all so confusing,” I muttered. “I clearly didn’t learn enough about where we came from, about protectors, about any of this.”

  “Come.” Jee motioned. “Story time.”

  ***

  He led us all to the training room where we sat in a circle. He waved his hand a fire appeared in the circle floating above the circle.

  He smiled. “I always loved a good campfire and story.”

  He cleared his throat. “Enchanter’s powers can be traced back to an ancient line of Wiccan power, thousands of years ago. They were first recorded in Egypt—believed to be Gods and Goddesses, bringing destruction and despair, happiness and health. As time went on, they moved around the world, spreading, growing in numbers. I’m sure you’ve all heard of the Salem Witch Trials?” he asked and waited for us to nod. “Those were the times when the Iniquitous first began to rise. Our friends, family, no one could be trusted. Those who turned to the dark side poked fingers at their fellow enchanters who wouldn’t convert, and they were persecuted. Many of those who were executed were mere mortal, but the hysteria had grown substantially within the human race and they saw evil everywhere.

  “Over the years, the enchanters and Iniquitous separated and lived … almost peacefully, neither bothering the other. But around two hundred years ago, the Iniquitous began hunting them down and those they could not convince to join their side were slaughtered. It was a messy time, a frightful time, one where many enchanters feared leaving their house and didn’t know who to trust.

  “That’s when the war first began. Our numbers were large then, and they fought back. United, their powers were more than the Iniquitous could handle. Many died on both sides, but in the end the Iniquitous retreated into the shadows like the monsters they are.

  “Things became peaceful again and stayed that way for a long time. Some began to think the Iniquitous had died out, but others knew they’d be back one day. A strong enchanter came along, his powers unparalleled. Handsome and charismatic he could charm the pants off anyone. Many talked about making him King—”

  “Is there royalty?” I asked.

  “Up until then, no, but many loved him and felt to give him the title would signal the end of the Iniquitous. That we were united and powerful, with the best of the best. But then greed took over. When you possess so much power, you can’t help but covet more. That desire takes over until it consumes you.” He stared at me and I shivered. It was like he was taking about me—warning me. “Thaddeus craved more power and he sought out any means to get it, even if it changed him in the process. Turned and twisted his insides until they were barely recognizable.

  “There’s no coming back from it, once you’ve gone down that path. He turned on his fellow enchanter, killing many of them. He didn’t even try to convert them to his side, he didn’t care, he wanted them dead.”

  “You’re talking about Thaddeus, aren’t you?” I interrupted.

  “Yes—I fled just in time. He was my friend, you know. I admired him, we grew up together, but I saw something change in his eyes one day and I knew I had to get away. If I’d stayed, I’m certain he’d have killed me first. He must assume I’m dead, or he would’ve tried to find me. I’ve been good about keeping my identity hushed. Your mother left too, she knew it wasn’t safe to be near him, and I guess especially not if she was pregnant with you. She was a kind woman, pure, she would’ve turned to the dark side. Not for him, not for anything.”

  “But she loved him—I mean, she had to, right?”

  Jee bit the inside of his cheek. “Yes, I suppose she did, but I always wondered … Never mind.” He shook his head.

  “What?” I probed.

  “I always wondered if there was another who stole her heart.”

  Back to his story, he continued, “Once Celeste fled, Thaddeus spiraled even more out of control. Enchanters fought against him, but he possessed powers we’d never seen before. Many died, and thus the second war began, and it’s never really ended. It’s fought much more quietly these days, so as not to attract human attention, or attention to themselves. But there’s an underground faction of enchanters who follow the movements of the Iniquitous, know the ins and outs of their hideouts, and take them out one by one when they can. It’s not an all-out slaughter like you may assume, or even want, but it is smart. By not drawing attention to themselves they’re able to kill much more effectively.”

  “I was with them,” Ethan piped up. “Before I went back to the manor. They sent me there to keep an eye out, they got word the Iniquitous were planning to invade the safe houses. They wanted me to be a lookout. Theodore knew where I’d gone, and he assumed why I returned—I ended up telling him, of course—that’s why he trusted me with you.”

  “Do they have a name?” I asked.

  “They call themselves The Hood,” Ethan replied.

  “How’d you find them?”

  “They found me actually.” I raised a brow and he began to explain. “They hear about promising enchanters, and then … well, I guess they sort of spy on you, to see if you’re indeed on the right side. Then they send you a letter, welcoming you,
with a place to meet them if you accept their invitation.”

  “Sounds like a fraternity to me.”

  “A what?” he asked, puzzled.

  “Never mind.”

  “Anyway,” he continued, “The Hood hunts down Iniquitous and kills them quietly. They have people on the inside too.”

  “How do they, you know, not go bad?” Adelaide asked.

  Ethan shrugged. “I’m sure it happens, or could if it hasn’t. But they get a lot of their Intel that way.”

  “What are we going to do about Theo?” I asked. “We know he’s alive, we have to get him.” I looked around the circle at my friends. Adelaide was the only one who nodded excitedly with me.

  “Mara,” Ethan began slowly, “if he said he could get away at any time then we have to trust he’ll come when he’s accomplished whatever it is he’s trying to do.”

  “You have to be kidding me,” I cried, exasperated. “He’s alive and you expect me to wait.”

  “Mara—”

  “No.” I stood up and glared at the three guys. “I can’t believe you expect me to be okay leaving him there. Wherever there is. You know they must be hurting him.”

  I turned on my heel and fled from the room, up the stairs, and to my bedroom.

  I felt like crying, hurt radiating in my chest as I fought tears. How’d they think I could be okay with finding out he was alive and doing nothing?

  Hugging my pillow to my chest, I lay on my stomach.

  A soft brushing against my mind told me Theo had entered it.

  Go away. I snarled at him.

  He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t leave, either, and secretly I felt better having him there.

  Are you still ignoring me?

  It’s been a week.

  Mara, stop being childish.

  “I need a break,” I told Winston, and the leaves I’d been levitating off the ground fell back down to the earth.

  I walked off, where I’d be to myself, but still within the safety of the bubble Ethan had us enclosed in.

  Scuffing along, I found a stump and took a seat on it.

  I’m mad at you.

  Ah! She speaks!

  Don’t be a smart ass. I’m hurt, you know it. How could you let me believe for six months you were dead?

  It’s what I had to do.

  What if you thought I was dead for six months and I’d had the opportunity to tell you but hadn’t? How would it make you feel?

  He growled in my mind. I’d be livid.

  Exactly.

  He huffed. You do realize we argue like an old married couple, right?

  I rolled my eyes. And you do realize we’re not married, we’re barely even a couple, right?

  Barely even a couple? Pretty sure we’ve established we are.

  A good boyfriend wouldn’t let his girlfriend think he’s dead.

  I was—

  Protecting me, I sneered in a mocking tone. I know. That’s always your excuse. When will you learn to trust me? I might be young and new to this world, but I’ve already gone through a lot. You don’t have to keep secrets from me.

  Yes, I do, if I know by telling you you’ll do something reckless or stupid—most likely both.

  That’s not fair. You don’t even give me a chance.

  You forget I know you—almost better than I know myself. I can read you like an open book, and I know there’s no way, if I’d told you I was alive and to wait until I was ready to come back, that you’d have listened. You would’ve done everything to rescue me and ended up hurting, or worse killing, yourself in the process. Can’t you be happy I’m alive? Or would you rather I was dead?

  Don’t. You. Dare. Say. That. I spat out. You know there’s no way I’d want you to be gone. You have no idea what I felt watching … watching the sword go through your body. I felt like I was dying with you. I’ve never felt pain like it, and I wasn’t even the one hurt.

  I’m sorry. His words were soft, almost apologetic, but not quite. This was Theo after all. It was never my intention to hurt you or cause you any pain—and I understand what you mean, if the situation was reversed I wouldn’t be happy with you either. But the information I can get is worth my staying.

  At least answer me this, are they hurting you?

  He grew quiet. I can’t answer you.

  They are then. I shook my head, toeing the dirt. A stubborn dandelion was budding its way through.

  I can take it.

  You shouldn’t have to.

  I don’t have to. I can leave, I promise you.

  How can you leave? I don’t think they’re going to let you walk away.

  I’m a special protector.

  I’ve heard you say that before—but why? How?

  I can’t explain it now, but I have powers most dream of, some would say powers that aren’t supposed to exist. I promise you, I can get out of here undetected and come to you.

  Do you know where I am?

  Yes, I can see through your eyes if I want, but even if I couldn’t I’d find you. I can always feel you, Mara. Sense you. You can’t get away from me so don’t even think about it.

  I laughed. I wouldn’t even try—though, I might enjoy you chasing me.

  Admit it, doll face, you want me on top of you.

  I smiled at the familiarity of him joking. I miss you.

  He sighed inside my mind. I miss you too.

  Whatever you’re doing, hurry back to me, please.

  I will.

  I felt him slip from my mind, and I instantly missed his presence. Not talking to him the last week had been hard, especially knowing he was actually alive. But I was hurt, and I was having trouble with the fact he let me think he was dead. I’d needed some time to myself to think, but I’d still felt him there at times.

  I stood up and brushed the back of my shorts off and headed back to Winston.

  “Ready?” he asked me, dropping the stick he’d been playing with.

  “Yeah,” I sighed.

  I didn’t feel ready at all. My heart wasn’t as invested anymore, not now that I knew Theo was alive.

  But they couldn’t be allowed to exist in our world and get away with what they’d done—the slaughter of the New York and Seattle safe houses. We hadn’t been able to get an official word on what happened in Seattle, but having been there we could assume.

  I still wanted to see them suffer, to cower and pay, but the urgency was gone.

  Now, I felt like we had more time.

  More time to learn.

  More time to train.

  More time to strategize.

  My thoughts circled back to The Hood, and I wondered if Ethan could get word to them we wanted to help. I wasn’t sure they’d want to take us on, since we were kind of a hot mess. But hey, we were getting there.

  Winston and I started practicing again. Instead of levitating the leaves he had me move on to sticks.

  “That’s good,” he coached. “Now throw it.”

  “Are you going to catch it, Air Bud?”

  “Funny.”

  “I’m impressed you knew what I was referring to.”

  “I grew up in the human world,” he reminded me. “I’m not like her.” He tossed a thumb in the general direction of Adelaide.

  I threw the stick with my mind, and it soared through the air, landing out of sight.

  “Good.” He clapped his hands. “I want to get to the point where you can levitate and throw people.”

  “Now, I’m intrigued.” I smirked and spread my feet wider.

  He pulled an item out of the bag he’d brought with us and set it down. It was a box of Nigel’s cat treats.

  “You know Nigel is going to be pissed if we lose his treats.” I raised a brow at Winston.

  He scoffed. “We can buy him more.”

  I stared at the box and it lifted easily into the air. I held it there for a few seconds, my hands held out in front of me, and then when I moved my hands the box went with them flying through the air at rapid spe
ed. Dropping my hands, the box dropped too and fell to the ground several yards from us.

  And so it went.

  Next he pulled out a hammer, then an encyclopedia, and last a blender.

  A freaking blender of all things.

  When I successfully levitated and threw all of them he beamed with pride.

  “Now you’re going to try with me.”

  “With you?” I squeaked. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  He waved a dismissive hand. “What’s a few scrapes and bruises?”

  “Winston,” I whined with nerves. I didn’t want to hurt him, and he was way heavier than anything I’d levitated so far, so chances were this was going to end bad.

  I felt Theo prick my mind. Hang him by his foot and shake him.

  Go away, you’re not helping.

  Laughing, he retreated from my mind.

  “You can do this, Mara,” Winston urged. “Don’t overthink it.”

  I frowned but closed my eyes. Somehow, by closing my eyes, I always seemed to find my way better.

  Inhaling a deep breath, I let it out slowly.

  Winston grew quiet, letting me work through it on my own. He was good like that; instead of pushing me to do something he let me think it through.

  After a moment, I opened my eyes and held my hands out.

  I pictured lifting him into the air like he was light as a feather.

  Nothing happened.

  I tried again.

  I could feel my mental walls shaking with the effort.

  “You’re too heavy,” I complained, teeth gritted as I tried to lift him.

  “Mara,” he said softly, “you’re stronger and more powerful than you think you are. You can do this. You can do anything.”

  He was right—my doubting myself wasn’t helping anything.

  I was strong, I was powerful, I was capable.

  I was a warrior.

  I had to be confident in myself if I was ever going to be ready to take on the Iniquitous and Thaddeus.

  Centering myself, I felt my magic flow through my belly and up through my arms, coursing out of me.

  Winston lifted off the ground and hooted with pleasure.