The Cursed Witch

by Chandelle LaVaun

  “I know. I’ve lived long enough to not be hurt when someone calls me by that.” His voice was soft and low but his eyes were sharp and hot. He stopped a few feet away from me and shoved his hands in his jeans pockets. “To answer you, quite simply, I followed you here.”

  I gasped. “You followed me? Why? What were you doing watching me?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t sleep well, you know this already. I had ventured out on my own like I do in Salem when I spotted you darting between shadows. So I followed you. Imagine my surprise to find you breaking and entering…into a theme park.”

  I opened my mouth then shut it. How do I explain this?

  He smiled. “Though I must say I am impressed at how easily it came for you.”

  Seriously? He thinks he can act like everything is normal here? Of all the emotions this boy had made me feel, this was the first time I was angry with him. I wanted to scream and slap that crooked smile off his stupid pretty face. I rolled my eyes. “Oh you’re impressed? Good. Let me just write that down as the best thing that happened on this trip.”

  His eyebrows shot up to his hairline. “I beg your pardon?”

  I narrowed my eyes at him and balled my hands into fists at my sides. “Is that what you wanted? For me to beg for your attention?”

  “You’re sassy with me this evening.” He cocked his head to the side like a confused puppy. “Why?”

  “Why?” I marched over and stopped right in front of him and put my hands on my hips. “Because my neck hurts from all this whiplash.”

  He took a step forward and the tips of his boots touched my sneakers. “Whiplash?” His breath swept over my face.

  That burning ember scent of his made my brain a big puddle of mush but I was not going to stand down or be swayed on this. I couldn’t take it anymore. I was sick of needing answers from everything. If I couldn’t get them for my memory then I would damn well get them from him.

  “Yes, whiplash. One second you’re all sweet and cute and giving me jewelry,” I growled and waved my hand in the air so the bracelet he gave me would wiggle around. The moonlight sparkled off the big citrine stone. “Then you ignore and avoid me all day and now you think you can be all charming and hot and just show up right when I’m all freaked out like some prince charming?”

  “Speaking of, where is your little boyfriend?” He narrowed those gorgeous eyes at me. “You seemed pretty damn cozy with him today.”

  I gasped and heat filled my cheeks. I growled but it came out a little scream-y. I couldn’t believe he was calling me out for that. I’d been scared out of my mind on that ride and it was only Cooper who had kept me from a full-on mental breakdown. “Cooper. Is. Just. A. Friend.”

  He arched one eyebrow and leaned closer, then said softly, “does he know that?”

  I screamed in my mind but would not give him the satisfaction of hearing it. “You’re lucky you look hot when you’re jealous—”

  “Or what?”

  Bright white light flashed out of the corner of my eye. I jumped and spun toward – my jaw dropped. A thick spotlight shot up through the tunnel of trees aimed at the moon. What is that? The moon was almost full tonight but the thick cover of clouds made it hard to see— it moved. The moon moved. Right before my eyes, I watched the moon grow bigger and drop lower in the sky. That is NOT normal. It was like — magic.

  My eyes widened. I heard Cooper’s voice in my mind telling me about a Coven member with moon magic. Is The Coven here?

  WAIT.

  OH SHOOT.

  If a Coven member is here…then Cooper is probably here.

  He can’t see me here. He’ll be pissed.

  I spun back around and grabbed Riah’s hand. “C’mon.” Electricity shot up my arm as I laced my fingers with his and dragged him across the courtyard.

  “Where are you taking me?” He asked with a chuckle.

  “Someone’s coming,” I hissed and led us toward the three-foot-tall stone wall that separated one of the restaurants from the courtyard. “We can’t get caught.”

  “Now you think about that.” He tugged me to a stop ten feet away from the opening, spinning me around to face him. His eyes flashed with amusement. “A little premeditation goes a long way.”

  “Oh, so you’re the exp—” he gripped my waist and lifted me off my feet. I squealed, “Riah—”

  He swung me right over the stone wall and sat me on my feet on the other side. I gasped and looked up at him and he had the audacity to wink playfully at me. He stepped over the short wall then pulled me down to the ground with him. I dropped to my knees, our bodies side-by-side. He leaned back against the wall and stretched his long legs out in front of him.

  I didn’t let myself even glance in his direction or my concentration would be blown. Again. Instead, I peeked over the top of the wall just as Cooper emerged from the shadowy forest tunnel. I cursed. The Coven was there which meant I had to be extra careful. What am I doing here? This was a terrible idea, I’m gonna get caught.

  Cooper turned and two girls I hadn’t noticed before stepped out from behind him. I frowned. The one girl had hair blacker than night itself with lips painted such a bright shade of red I could see them from this far away. She was dressed in all black and the only reason I could really see her was from the white beam of magic shooting straight out of her palms – that and it made her pale skin almost luminescent.

  The other girl was a walking piece of art. She had the prettiest indigo-colored hair, like a neon sign. Her skin was a beautiful soft brown color and covered in intricate tattoos. She glanced around the courtyard with wild yellow-green eyes, holding a wand very similar to Landreia’s. A giggle left her mouth as she flicked her wand, taking the lights out of the lampposts.

  Shit, shit, shit.

  I didn’t know if this wild-looking girl was in The Coven but I knew the other one was. She had to be, she moved the moon.

  “So…” Riah whispered then cleared his throat. “Why were you here?”

  I sighed and slouched. “All day I’ve felt like I’ve been here before. It was overwhelming and I know this sounds crazy but I just thought maybe I’d find answers in here tonight.”

  “And did you?”

  I glanced down at him and found his warm golden gaze watching me and my chest tightened. I wanted to say yes, but the truth was I hadn’t gotten any answers. Just more questions. I shook my head.

  Riah frowned. I knew that look in his eyes. He was going to ask questions about it…questions I could not answer. Because humans were not allowed to know and I didn’t know how to explain any of it without saying all of it.

  “Well, what do you want to do now?”

  “Leave.”

  “Are you sure?”

  No. “Yes.”

  “All right.” He nodded and jumped to his feet. “Follow me, I saw an easier way out.”

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Saffie

  Sleep was no longer my friend.

  Something had happened in that theme park. I didn’t know what, or how I even knew it, but I just did. Since the moment I woke up on that wharf nothing had felt more familiar than that place. Yet the feelings it stirred in me were confused and conflicting. I was comforted by it yet unsettled and on edge.

  And then that ride happened and I hadn’t been able to shake the uneasy feeling since. Those spirits and the way they acted, like they were responding to my very presence…yet they fled the moment they saw Cooper.

  It was the séance all over again and it was all too much. Everywhere I went, every move I made, I felt eyes on my back. I felt them lurking in the shadows and whispering my name. The worst part was, that wasn’t even the worst part.

  My thumb tingled with energy just thinking about my ring…and the male who gave it to me. It was the same guy from my dream a few days ago, the one chasing me through the forest – and from whatever that was on the ride.

  I promise on a bed of rose thorns.

  I promise on a sea of spider lilies.<
br />
  Every time I closed my eyes and tried to sleep, I saw that all over again. On repeat. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I knew him. Those mismatched eyes. That velvety voice. I knew it all…and it haunted me. I felt so many things at once. Fear. Anger. Frustration. Confusion. I balled my fists and hot energy shot out of my palms.

  I gasped as my magic exploded around me in a cloud of golden glitter. My pulse skyrocketed. I cursed and waved my hands around to try and stop it but it just got worse. It grew bigger and brighter until it coiled around my entire body. I glanced around in a panic but there was no one else in the hotel hallway besides me. I cursed again and stumbled back and then slammed into the wall.

  Come on, come on, come on. Stop. Please. Just stop.

  I stared down at my hands and the stardust quartz ring on my thumb sparkled like a full moon against fresh fallen snow. My heart fluttered. There may not have been any witnesses at the moment but this was a major hotel and I was in a hallway on the first floor. Wait. What did Savannah do in the plane? I closed my eyes and focused on that moment in my mind. Then I heard Savannah’s words in my mind.

  “Calm this magic from these hands,” I whispered with everything I had in me. “Cloak and seal from where it stands.”

  Ice cold energy slammed into me like a brick wall. I gasped and my eyes flew open. My magic lightened to a soft white and then it vanished completely. I sighed and sagged against the wall. Shit. My heart was pounding. My fingers trembled.

  “Saffie?”

  I leapt off the wall with my heart in my throat – then exhaled in a rush. I pressed my hand to my chest, right over my racing heart. “Dr. Troy. Hi. Sorry, you scared me.”

  She smiled softly and shuffled closer in her fuzzy slippers and oversized sweater. “No, no. I’m sorry that I scared you…but…what’s happening here? You don’t look so good.”

  I groaned and ran my hands through my hair, they were still trembling more than I was okay with. I shook my head. “I don’t know…I just…I don’t know. I don’t know how to explain, I just…”

  “Hey, hey, it’s okay.” She pulled me into her chest then wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tight to her chest. “Just breathe. Deep breaths. You’re all right.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut and focused on breathing, on the soft tone in her voice and the gentle circles she rubbed against my back. I didn’t know how long we stayed like that but my pulse finally slowed and I stepped back.

  She smiled and ducked her head to meet my eyes. “Better?”

  I nodded and let out my first non-shaking breath. “Thank you.”

  She squeezed my shoulders and winked. “Why don’t you take a walk outside? It’s beautiful out. Let the salty ocean air soothe your unease, okay? Doctor’s orders.”

  “O-okay. Yeah, all right.” I nodded then frowned and looked down at myself. “Wait, no. I’m…I’m not really dressed for outside and we’re not supposed to go out after—”

  “Doctor’s orders. Okay? This is Florida, you don’t need to wear anything more than you have on. Besides, there ain’t nobody else out there.” She chuckled and tugged on the sleeve of the robe I’d gotten from our hotel room. “Go out by the hot tub. Trust me.”

  Trust me. I did trust her, without any doubts. “All right.”

  “Call me if you need me, okay? You have my number. No matter the time of night or day.” She squeezed my hand then stepped around me and vanished around the corner.

  And then I was alone in the hall again.

  I looked up and spotted the door that led outside. Before I could think about it anymore or talk myself out of it, I hurried out the door. Despite it being mid-December and after midnight, the air outside was hot and sticky. A thin layer of sweat covered my skin within seconds. I took a deep breath. The oxygen felt thick in my lungs.

  But the moon was shining over my head. Twinkling stars dusted the black velvety sky. The ocean lingered in the air…and everything already felt a little bit better. My body felt lighter. The tension inside of me loosened. Outside always felt better to me.

  I sighed with relief, but it was hot as hell. I untied my robe then slipped it off my shoulders and hung it on a metal chair by the door. A gust of wind rushed over my sweaty skin and sent a chill down my spine. I shivered and walked away from the table. The stones under my bare feet were rough and warm yet I found it oddly comforting. I reached and tied my hair up on top of my head as I strolled through the hotel’s garden.

  The pool area had a tropical theme with the pool itself made out of rocks that looked like coral. There were big bushy plants with brightly colored flowers. The lights under the water gave it an effervescent glow. Steam billowed from the surface and wafted into the air. There was no one out there and the night was silent. I followed the pathway around the lounge chairs to the back where the hot tub was nestled into a tiny little jungle.

  I climbed up the few steps to the hot tub — then froze.

  Riah sat in the steaming water, resting against the back wall. His eyes widened and he sat up straight. Those golden eyes blazed with a burning fire. His long, pale blond hair was plastered to his wet, shirtless tan chest. I let my gaze slide down the sharp angles of his face to the ridges of his chest. Tight muscle corded around his neck and across his shoulders. Thick, chiseled biceps were barely concealed by the surface of the water. Beads of water covered his bare skin.

  My eyes drank in the sight of him like this.

  My heart beat like one of Savannah’s rock songs : strong and uneven.

  His gaze slid down the length of my body and I knew what he was seeing – not much at all. I only wore a thin little tank top and tiny little shorts, they were pajamas. Innocent enough yet not at all with the way his eyes flashed.

  I should have covered up. I should have blushed and sprinted back to my room. I should have apologized for disrupting him.

  But I was done feeling weak and flustered.

  My life was a hot crazy mess, I constantly lived in a state of fear or confusion…except for when I was with him. I didn’t know if I was alone in this feeling. I was ready to find out.

  I stepped into the water and his eyes widened. The water was hot and tingled against my skin, yet I barely felt it. I kept my eyes on his as I walked down the stairs until my feet hit the bottom and the water rose to my waist. A muscle in his jaw flexed. His nostrils flared.

  Something came over me. Something I didn’t know or understand, but I didn’t want it to stop.

  I reached up and yanked my hair free. The long red strands fell in loose, wild waves around my shoulders and floated in the water. My breath left me in little tremors. The steam billowing all around me had nothing to do with the heat of the water and everything to do with the fire rushing through my veins. My chest burned like I’d been set aflame. Each breath scorched a trail down my throat. I heard nothing but the heavy thumping of my heart.

  He swallowed and I watched the way the muscles in his neck contracted.

  Every time I was this close to him, my body yearned to touch him.

  And this time…I wasn’t going to stop myself. I wasn’t going to wait for him.

  I stepped right in between his legs then climbed up in his lap, straddling his hips. His lips parted yet still he made no move. I reached up and put my hands on his thick biceps, then traced a path up to his shoulders…then down to his chest. His body was hot to the touch and his skin soft as silk.

  His heart pounded against my palms and I knew he felt what I did. His chest rose and fell rapidly, like he too was struggling to breathe normal. He tilted his head back and looked up at me. I leaned closer and looked down into his eyes. He said nothing, but I felt the hunger in his eyes and in the energy radiating out of him.

  He licked his lips and I lost that last tiny sliver of control.

  I dove for his mouth but he found mine first. Our lips crashed together and fire exploded inside of me. His lips were wet and smooth. His mouth tasted like smoke. He was intoxicating. His tongue slid against min
e and a strangled, desperate kind of moan slipped up my throat and between our lips. He unraveled every fiber of my being.

  He gripped my knees and dragged me closer to him until I was flush against his chest, our bodies touching everywhere. My thin layer of clothing did nothing to cool the heat of his body or conceal the curves of mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and tilted his head back, deepening our kiss. But it wasn’t enough. I needed more. I needed to be closer.

  His slid his hands up my thighs and over my hips. I fisted his hair between my fingers and nibbled at his mouth. Our breath was ragged and hot. He gripped my hips then slid under my shirt up to my waist. I gasped against his lips then cupped his face between both of my hands. I moaned and sank my teeth into his bottom lip. He groaned and dragged his fingers along my bare back, pressing me tight to his body. I rocked my hips and he hissed. He took my mouth with his and I was lost in him.

  “Well, what do we have here?”

  We both gasped and broke apart. I glanced over my shoulder and my heart stopped.

  Ms. Kelly stood just outside the hot tub with her hands on her hips and fury pouring out of her eyes. My eyes widened. My pulse quickened but for so very different of a reason than it just had been. Riah cursed. He gripped my hips then lifted me up and off him, setting me on my feet in front of him.

  Ms. Kelly lifted her hand…and held my robe in the air.

  Cold dread filled my chest. I stumbled forward. “Ms. Kelly, I—”

  “Back to your room, Ms. Proctor,” she snapped. Her violet eyes blazing. “NOW.”

  My stomach turned. I hurried up the steps and she thrust my robe against my chest. I opened my mouth to say…something…but there was something in her eyes that made me stop. I slid my robe on and wrapped it tight around my body.

  “Your room, Saffie. Now. And I will be checking.”

  Shit. I nodded and sprinted back for the door. It took everything in me not to glance over my shoulder to Riah. Because now that I’d tasted him, I didn’t think I’d be able to control myself from doing it again.