Burned

by Kensie King

  The waitress returned and brought my stack of pancakes with a plate of hash browns on the side. “Can I get you anything else?”

  “No, thanks,” I told her, my voice almost flat when what I really wanted to say that what I needed was a ticket back to the land of reality. This was way more than I’d expected when I’d come here.

  When she was gone, I gave Grace a level look. “So you’re telling me you’re a werewolf. And I’m pretty sure there are ghosts here in town. What else?”

  Grace grabbed a piece of bacon off my plate. “Vampires.”

  “Fuck.”

  She smiled. “Exactly.”

  “Holy shit,” I said, shaking my head even though I believed her completely. “Are you serious?”

  “Like I said, why would I lie? I don’t even know you.”

  She was right. What reason would she have to lie—unless she wanted a story? But she didn’t seem like the type. And at least she was being upfront with me, unlike Dylan.

  When she reached for more bacon, I slid the plate in her direction. Might as well keep her talking.

  “Why are you telling me this when Dylan wouldn’t?” I asked. “I mean, I assume you’re on the same side since you two seemed like…friends.”

  “He’s just doing what he thinks is right. Best for everyone. But I feel like it might help if you had more information—as long as you still agree to leave before midnight tomorrow night.”

  A little calmer, I spread butter on my pancakes and then drenched them in syrup. “I’m still planning on leaving. But I’m coming back.”

  “Naturally. And when you do, I’ll tell you more, too.” A small smile curved her lips. “As long as there isn’t fire involved.”

  Well, it wasn’t like I really had that much control over it. But I did know that it came when I felt threatened, hence the flames in her library.

  “So werewolves don’t like fire?” I asked.

  “It’s not just any fire. A witch’s fire is especially lethal to us.”

  “Hmm.” My respect for her went up a couple of notches. After all, if she was giving me clues about what could hurt her, she must not be against me. “Giving away all your secrets.”

  She laughed. It was carefree despite the gravity of the situation. It also reminded me she wasn’t much older than me. Early to mid-twenties at most. I supposed I stuck to the mentality that said all librarians were old—and wore glasses. At least half of that was true.

  Grace peeked at her watch and then slid out of the booth. “I have to get to work. I pulled out some books, though, if you want to swing by and take a look.”

  “Thanks.”

  I watched her walk away, trying to picture her morphing into a wolf form by the light of the moon. Which reminded me that the full moon wasn’t far off.

  And neither were other supernatural entities. Werewolves. For real? And vampires. I speared my fork into the fluffy pancakes, not sure whether to be impressed or terrified. I’d heard stories of all these kinds of beings, of course, but it was different to know they actually existed.

  And that I got a first-hand peek at one.

  I also sort of liked Grace now that I’d heard her side. She was way more forthcoming than Dylan had been.

  It occurred to me a brief moment that they might be dating. Until I thought of how Dylan had looked at me once or twice. How he’d been rough but gentle with me.

  Fuck. The dude was an asshole, but I was still sort of hot for him.

  And then there was Gage.

  Seemed like vampires and werewolves weren’t my only problems.

  Then the thought occurred to me. If Grace was a werewolf and Dylan was clearly…something…was he a werewolf too?

  I swallowed the last bite and shook my head. That kind of speculation might get me into trouble right now. I needed details and since I knew I was going to get answers soon, my best bet was to prepare for that and lay low otherwise.

  The waitress dropped off the check and I paid with a pile of bills. I already shot off an e-mail to my editor about the Knob Creek Hotel story, so I figured I’d focus on that part first. After all, I had to pay the bills.

  Since the waitress wasn’t nosy and let me have my space for the most part, I made sure I left a generous tip before swinging my satchel over my shoulder and heading outside. It was sunny and warm, a perfect late May day.

  The town was kind of the perfect little town, too, with families walking on the sides of the street preparing to shop or chat. It was idyllic, and an intriguing setting for things that went bump in the night.

  But then it hit me that some of those people might be just like Grace or Dylan.

  Or even like me.

  Insane. Even crazier was that my next stop was to go try to talk to a ghost.

  #

  It wasn’t hard to find the cemetery once I reached the hotel. Just a short walk away from the main building in a clearing surrounded by pine trees. If I headed to the left instead of the right, I would have walked straight into the hedge maze that was behind the hotel. Laughter sounded from within, making me curious. I might have been here for a job, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t have some fun.

  Once you come back, I reminded myself. I’d leave tomorrow, keep my distance until after the full moon, and then I’d come back and really get to researching. Learning the town. Getting to know and experience Knob Creek.

  My attention came back to the headstones. There were very simple ones, just crosses made out of heavy boards, the wood splintered from years of harsh weather. Others were headstones with names carved across the front. Several rows of them.

  When I reached the end of one, I paused.

  The largest headstone on the end said Savannah Powers, Master of the Flame.

  It was my last name and the same thing the voices had said in the walls of the hotel. And during my research I read that women often kept their last names as power passed down through the generations. To keep family close, to keep the name strong. Another bond.

  Which meant I might have just found an ancestor.

  “Lincoln,” a soft voice said.

  I whipped around but didn’t expect to find anything. It was the same voice I’d heard inside the walls. A ghostly voice. But then movement caught my eye at the edge of the cemetery. When I looked over, my gaze was riveted on the figure of a woman with black hair, the same shade as mine. She wore old clothing, probably from more than a century ago.

  “Savannah,” I said, certainty in my voice.

  Her lips curved, indicating I was right. Alarm raced through me. If this was Savannah, it meant I was staring at her ghost.

  First disembodied voices, werewolves and vampires, and now an honest to goodness ghost.

  She turned and started toward the hedge maze. I studied her figure, the consistency of it. So solid, it was hard not to believe she was flesh and blood.

  “Savannah,” I said again, calling out to her.

  Her voice drifted back to me on a whisper of wind. “Not here.”

  So I followed her, almost tripping on a fallen branch when I dodged the outskirts of the cemetery to catch up. On another path, I spotted a group of people walking through the trees. Maybe they were on a tour—maybe one that Gage led. I tried to look and keep jogging after Savannah at the same time.

  When I caught sight of her again, she disappeared into the hedge maze. My satchel slapped against my side as I hurried in that direction.

  “Savannah,” I called again.

  “Follow me, Lincoln,” she said.

  I entered the maze and then caught sight of the hem of her white dress as she vanished around a corner. Slightly out of breath, I whipped around another corner, but she wasn’t there. I frowned and stayed put, irritated that she couldn’t just come out and tell me what she needed to say. No hidden panels or mazes, just her and I face-to-face.

  A cool breeze blew against my cheek, and when I turned around, she was there.

  Just five short feet away from me.

 
; “Shit,” I hissed, taking an involuntary step back. A stray branch from a hedge poked my cheek.

  “I won’t hurt you,” she said.

  But still. Fuck. She was a ghost. I blew out a slow and cautious breath, trying to compose myself. “I… I heard you. In the hotel.”

  “We’re family,” she said.

  Her words filled me with something I’d never felt before. Belonging? That sense of knowing where I came from. Or that maybe I was where I was supposed to be.

  “Why now?” I asked. Was it because I’d come to the town? Was that her only way of getting in touch with me?

  “He is not who you think he is.”

  I ventured a step closer. She looked so real, but also like a painting at the same time. Pale. Tragic. Hanging around her neck, she wore a simple medallion about the size of a quarter. I couldn’t tell what was on it, but it looked old.

  “Who?” I asked.

  She looked toward the walls of the maze as voices floated in our direction. The tour group. And one of the voices was deep and male. Gage?

  After a moment, I asked her if that was who she meant.

  She met my eyes again. “He wants the key.”

  “What key? Where?”

  Her smile dripped with sadness. “Right here.”

  I glanced to the ground, as though I’d find a key laying directly at my feet. Then I felt another flutter of air pass by and yelped when she stepped right in front of me. Her hand came out and, to my amazement, her finger touched my chest.

  “You are the key,” she said.

  I could feel the iciness of her finger, chilling me to my core. My breath plumed in front of my face, a puff of freezing air. Then I blinked, and she was gone.

  It was like the sun came back out, and suddenly heat surrounded me. I could feel the warm air again.

  The voices grew louder, coming closer to where I stood in one of the branches of the maze. I turned and moved back the way I came, ready to find the exit. The chill was still inside of me, but not just because of Savannah’s presence. It was also her words.

  If Gage wasn’t who I thought he was, who was he? I’d kissed him. I’d told him I’d heard voices. Did that even mean anything to him?

  Was that why he’d been so friendly? Or was our fast connection to each other something else entirely?

  His voice hit me from the next aisle over. “Her family claimed she went crazy. Said she would walk through the maze for hours and hours unable to find out way out.”

  I came around the next corner and froze. The entire group stood there, Gage at the front. He smiled at me.

  Then he glanced to the rest of the group. “Looks like this one found his way out all right.”

  The tour group chuckled. Suddenly, I didn’t find anything Gage said very funny.

  Most of the group had packs on their backs like they’d been hiking. Most looked eager to test out the maze.

  Gage gestured to the aisles of hedges. “Please, try it out. See if you can find your way to the exit.”

  I eased toward the entrance and stepped out. Gage followed, moving to my side as the hikers vanished inside the greenery.

  To my surprise, Gage slid his hand down my arm and then took my hand. “You’re cold,” he said.

  My mouth opened but it wasn’t like I could tell him I’d just seen a ghost. Especially one that was warning me about him. “Were you, uh…on a hike?”

  He nodded, fingers warm on mine. He didn’t feel like a liar but there was something guarded in his face. “Are you okay?” he asked, eyes dark and curious.

  I cleared my throat, trying to get back on my game. “Yes. I was researching but then it turned into exploring.”

  True enough.

  “You’d probably like one of my hikes, then. The one on Knob Creek Hotel grounds covers all the history of the place and local attractions.”

  “I should probably check that out, then,” I told him. It was only halfway true. Inside, I was fighting a battle. Part of me wanted to believe he was that charming, sexy man who’d seemed genuinely scared when I’d gotten trapped behind the hotel wall panel. But the other wanted to believe Savannah. After all, what reason would a ghost have for lying to me?

  “So,” he said, giving my hand a squeeze, “I was thinking we could try dinner again? Or make a day of it. I have tomorrow off. We could do some sightseeing, I could give you some background of the place, and then dinner afterward.”

  His words, his eyes, his touch—everything was very persuasive. And after my dream of him last night, my body was already responding favorably. But I couldn’t because I promised Dylan I’d leave tomorrow morning.

  He was coming at check-out to make sure I did.

  “Sorry,” I said, trying to soften the blow with a smile. “Tomorrow is no good. I have some things I need to do.”

  “If it’s research, I can help. Like I said, I’m off tomorrow.”

  A whisper of cool air touched my neck and I fought an irrational shiver. I doubted it was meant to scare me. More like, to warn me.

  Savannah was still here.

  “That’s a tempting offer. But it’ll have to wait.”

  “Huh,” he said, eyes amused. He lifted a free hand and surprised me by brushing his thumb on my lip. “It sounds like you might be trying to avoid me.”

  My laugh was sincere. That wasn’t entirely it at all. “I promise that’s not the case.”

  A cloud went over the sun, and it shaded Gage’s face, making his eyes black as charcoal. “You sure?”

  I tried to swallow, to form an answer, but it was like the words were stuck in my throat—unwilling to come out. My gaze was locked with his. I couldn’t move. But it was the first time I’d felt nervous around him.

  “Gage,” I said softly.

  “Yes?” He smiled.

  I broke free of his gaze and felt like I could breathe again. “Sorry,” I said, voice rough. “I don’t…”

  I didn’t feel well. Like I couldn’t get my head on straight.

  “You all right?” he asked. He glanced back to the maze. “I could take you home. I’m almost finished here.”

  “No. I’m—it’s fine.”

  He lifted his eyebrows, clearly not believing me.

  I tugged my hand away from his and backed up. “I’ll see you around.”

  He lifted his chin in acknowledgment. “Maybe I’ll stop by later to check in on you.”

  Fuck, no. I couldn’t handle that if this was how I felt around him. I couldn’t handle that until I knew if he was really the person Savannah was talking about.

  My feet were unsteady when I walked back to my car. Once I got there, the sun came out from behind the clouds and I felt normal again. Even a little foolish. I’d let a ghost get to me. And a warning. I had no clue why her words made me uneasy around him in the first place because now, looking at it with a full sky of sun, I realized that I’d been taking advice from a ghost.

  Maybe not my smartest moment.

  When I got in the car, I sat still for a long moment, breathing in and out. Figuring out what my next move was. Then I tossed my bag into the passenger seat. As I did, I spotted a glint of metal.

  “What the hell?” I asked, leaning over.

  On the floor, flashing in the sunlight, was a necklace. No, not just any necklace. It was the one Savannah was wearing. The chain was brushed gold, the medallion exactly the same. When I looked closer, I saw the design on the metal.

  It was a pentagram.

  I hesitated to reach for it. How the hell did it get in here?

  Then I gave a choked laugh. Probably the same way I just saw a ghost in a hedge maze. Or the same way I’d heard whispers in the hotel.

  Ghosts communing with me from the dead. Or, more likely since we were a group of witches from one generation to the next…magic.

  I grabbed the necklace but still scanned the parking lot. It was possible someone had put it in here.

  But oddly less likely than it being my dead ancestor.


  I stuffed the chain in my pocket for now. First, I needed to get back to the Book of Shadows. I might find something in there.

  And then, research.

  My new mission was to figure out who Savannah Powers really was, and why the hell she’d come back.

  CHAPTER 8

  So, yeah, I was pretty sure Gage was a vampire.

  In the Book of Shadows, in the vast section on vampires, was a medallion exactly like the one on the necklace. And right next to it, in cursive handwriting by one of my ancestors no doubt, it said, For protection against creatures of the night.

  Which meant, if Savannah was warning me against him, he had to be the enemy. A vampire. And if I were going strictly off movie and television standards, Gage fit the bill. He was quiet, smooth, charming, eyes dark as onyx. He had an allure about him I couldn’t seem to get away from. Was that a way for him to compel me?

  I hadn’t been able to break away from his gaze earlier. Like he was holding me captive simply from a look and a few low words.

  Did real vampires do that?

  I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out—even if I was curious—because if Gage was trying to get me to spend time with him and he was the bad guy, then the reason he wanted me around probably wasn’t a good one.

  He was evil.

  Right?

  I stood from the small desk in the motel room, going over what I’d learned so far. Witches, werewolves, and vampires all existed in Knob Creek. Oh, and ghosts—although Savannah was probably using her witch powers rather than appearing like a typical ghost would.

  Also, Knob Creek was some sort of supernatural vortex.

  And I was a key.

  I shoved a hand through my hair. Believe it or not, I was pretty much on Dylan’s side for this one. I needed to leave town. I was caught up in something serious, something I didn’t understand, and it made sense to keep everyone safe in the meantime.

  I’d get my answers after the full moon.

  My stomach grumbled and I remembered I hadn’t eaten lunch. I glanced around, briefly contemplating room service before I remembered they probably wouldn’t have something like that here.