by K. A Knight
“What’s Bob doing?”
“I asked for cookies, and he clearly doesn’t know what they are, so we’re playing a lovely game where he pops in unannounced all the time, even when I’m bathing.” Sarcasm laces my words.
Perses tries to contain his laughter. “You want cookies?”
I nod in defeat.
He does something with his hands, and two seconds later, a plate of what looks like double-chocolate cookies appears.
“Now that you have to teach me!” I yank the plate from him and start on my first one, moaning at the heavenly taste.
I glance at Bob who looks desolate. Shit. I sigh, then hold out a cookie to him.
His eyes light up, but he grabs it hesitantly, watching as I take a bite of mine. He copies and smiles at me. He devours it in seconds and stares at the crumbs left behind in sadness.
“Can I have one?” Perses asks.
When I nod, he grabs two, giving one to Bob.
If only the boys could see me now, sharing cookies.
I sit and watch as the cookies dwindle. My life has become so weird. Sharing cookies with a god and a gremlin in a god’s house in the in-between.
Oh, and did I mention a god killed me? Weird.
12
Alexander
I hold in a moan as Aurora’s phone rings again. The little human has been ringing her nonstop since we picked up Nev, informing her Aurora asked us to.
I lean over and swipe to answer the call, my voice calm and collected. “Yes?”
“You fucking prick. I’ve been ringing for two days with no answer!” the human screams down the line.
I hold the phone away from my ear and let her rant. She’s such an angry human, but I can understand. When I can’t hear her scream anymore, I put the phone back to my ear. She’s panting.
“Lane, I apologize. We were out looking for ways to help her,” I say softly.
We told Lane that Aurora was in an accident on a trip with us and is in a coma in a private hospital. It was a hard sell, but when we sent her a video, she broke down in sobs and demanded to be told where Aurora was so she could come. We ignored her request and told her we’d keep her updated on Aurora’s condition every day.
It was the only way we could keep her from hunting us down.
When I called Tom, the grouchy bear and Aurora’s boss, I told him the truth. Fair enough to say they are both pissed.
“How is she?” Lane’s voice breaks and my coolness falters. This little human truly does love Aurora, and I remember how much Aurora cares for her.
“The same,” I allow, despair coloring my words.
“Please tell me where you are. I need to see her,” she begs.
She sniffles, and I stop myself from giving in, instead rattling off the excuses. “It wouldn’t make a difference, Lane. Please, she would hate for you to see her like this. Plus, we need you to keep an eye on her house and Tom.”
“She’s my family,” Lane whispers, making me swallow hard.
“I know. I promise I’ll call if anything changes.” I take a breath. “I’ll make sure she comes back to you.”
With that, I end the call. It rings again right away, but this time, I don’t answer.
I grab Aurora’s hand again.
“You shouldn’t lie to the human,” a voice says from the adjoining bed, stronger than it was last week.
I look over at Mikael. When he woke, we asked him if he would like to be moved. He point blank refused and hasn’t left Aurora’s side. Seems our little witch thawed the heart of our cool brother.
“What else would I say to her?” I lean back, keeping hold of Aurora’s hand.
“The truth.” Propped up against the single bed’s headboard, he swallows hard, his voice already sore from talking. He’s gained some weight back, and he’s not as pale anymore. It’s good to see.
“That’s not mine to tell. That’s up to Aurora.”
He nods and gazes at her, his expression softening. “She’s special.”
When his voice cracks, I lean over to pass him a glass of water.
He nods his thanks, and I look down at the little witch, my lips twitching. “That she is.”
We caught Mikael up on what happened while he was gone, and he told us everything, too. Seems our Aurora kept him company.
“I don’t think she had a good life,” he mutters, his voice stronger after his drink.
I turn back to him and tilt my head in question, genuinely curious. She’d been tight-lipped about her past. “Why do you say that?”
“She told me she didn’t have any family, anymore. She didn’t celebrate Christmas and never had a birthday…” He trails off, and a stab of jealousy hits me.
She told him all this?
He looks at me and smiles. “No need to be jealous, brother. I think the only reason she told me was because she thought I wasn’t real.”
Am I that easy to read? It does make me feel better, though. “She flinched the first time I touched her, and when we came at her too fast, she moved away without even realizing it. I heard her scream in her sleep a couple of times as well.”
He nods. “They all seem to like her.”
I snort at his understatement. “I think they all like her more than they’re willing to admit.” I keep my voice soft as if not to wake her. “She has Ezra’s heart already, and even our Ben falls at her feet.”
“And Jason?” he asks.
I nod. “Him, too, although he doesn’t show it as much. You know him. By the time she became one of us, he’d stopped hiding behind his books.”
I smile, thinking about how she helped my family.
“That’s good,” he trails off, hesitating. “And you?”
I look down at her again.
“I would die for her,” I say, meaning every word.
Other words bubble to the surface, but I’m not ready for that, yet. They’re words I’d only say to her, but I think if I do, she’ll run the other way.
Yes, our Aurora certainly isn’t the normal witch, and I love it.
13
Aurora
“So, what did you mean about me needing my guys?” I try to sound casual.
Perses has been teaching me more about the gods, Hekate in particular, for hours. I’m in dire need of a change of subject, and that question has been bugging me.
He sighs and runs his hand through his hair. It reminds me of Alex, and a pang runs through me. “Your powers will continue to grow, Aurora. I unblocked them that day, and now that you’re around your men, and when you go back—”
I interrupt. “I’m going back?”
I can’t hide my excitement. I must admit, I worried I was trapped here forever. This place is lovely, but I miss my home and my family.
He smiles. “Of course. Now, as I was saying, your powers will continue to grow, but not even Hekate herself could hazard a guess on what will manifest. You need help, people to ground you, to stop your darkness from overtaking your light. You are both the sun and the moon, Aurora.”
“What if I don’t want to be?” Voice quiet, I look down at the floor, remembering the capacity for darkness I hold.
He leans forward and gently lifts my chin. “One cannot exist without the other. The sun is nothing without the moon. Darkness is not evil, my sweet Aurora, like the light is not wholly good. Both have the capacity to be evil; it is the way you use it. Think of it like this: the wanderer in the desert begs for the night where those in everlasting night beg for the sun.”
His explanation settles me a little, but I roll my eyes. “Fine.” Then, I shake my head. “Is a man evil because he holds a gun?”
“The gun itself is not evil; it is the way it is used. It could be used to protect or to kill. Either way, the power is there to do its master’s bidding. It’s you who decides how.”
I nod slowly, thinking his logic through. “So, I need people to ground me?”
“Yes, and you already have them,” he says smugly, making me tilt my hea
d. “You do not fool me. I see your heart. They hold it.”
I swallow hard, my eyes widening in panic.
He reads my fear. “It’s a good thing.”
“Why?” I seem to be asking that a lot.
“Those witches are destined to be at your side, to guide and support you as you save the houses.”
“But there’s only five of them and ten houses?” I ask, confused.
“Six. There are six of them, so far,” he replies, ignoring my other question.
“Who is the sixth?” I’m more confused than ever, a constant state recently.
“There was another of them, a brother. He was killed in an accident. Too early, his life ended. He was destined to be with them and meet you.”
I think back to the photograph.
“You’ve seen him,” Perses says softly.
“Yes, once in a photo,” I reply.
“At birth, nine boys and one girl were blessed. Three of the boys were lost—hidden in the human world. You must find them.”
The flip in conversation throws me. “Me?”
“Yes, you were the blessed girl,” he says helpfully.
“Blessed by who?” Voice quiet, I take in all this new information.
“Hekate herself. She gave her life for you.” No blame fills his expression.
“What?” I exclaim.
“She was weaker than the others. You see, she watched over her descendants when all the others turned away. She intervened when needed and offered guidance, which is why your house not only survived, but thrived; why you were pure, unlike the others who turned to the darkness. But when this decision to save them was made using a new generation, she was weak. She gave her remaining power to you, and so did her watch. And with it, her house died out with only you left to survive.”
Tears stream down my face and thicken my voice. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. What is gone is never truly lost. She lives on in you, and you must save them, Aurora. You must become what she predicted.”
“How?”
“You must first save the lost one,” he helpfully states.
Bloody god riddles. “But he’s dead.”
Perses smiles. “Indeed.”
“Then, how do I save him?” I ask slowly. I must be missing something.
“By the power you were born with. Your parentage was not a mistake. You were always destined to be a hybrid. You freely use your witch powers, and now you must master and accept the other half of you.”
“Then, we’re fucked,” I grumble.
I sit holding a glass of scotch. Not really my drink of choice, but I needed something while the god and I continue our conversation.
“So, let me get this straight,” I say. “I’ve got to master my darkness, save a dead man, go back to my guys, find three lost witches in the human world, and save the rest of the witches?”
He thinks his answer through. But seriously, I hope he doesn’t mean I have to, you know, connect with all nine men, because holy hell. That’s a lot of dick, even if I do like it. That’s more than one a day, so they couldn’t have a schedule…
“Less elegantly put, but essentially yes.” He sips his scotch.
I down mine in one shot. The burn helps me wake up a bit. “Okay, so let’s say I master my other side and manage to save the dead man. How are they supposed to help me?”
“You bind them to you; their power increases yours and vice versus. It evens out the load. As yours grows, you can share it when it becomes too much.” He pours me another drink and with a nod of thanks, I take a sip. “Don’t worry so much about the other three at the moment. You’ll find them when you need them.”
“How do I bind them?” I’m curious about that, even though it’s not something I plan on doing. Yet, anyway. And I’m going to ignore the other three comments. One crazy thing at a time.
“You have already started to.”
Great. Well done, Aurora.
I stand and pace again. I seem to be doing that a lot recently. “What if they don’t want to? They should have a choice in this; not because some gods said they had to.”
The thought makes me mad, and yes, a little insecure that they might reject me.
“They’re blessed, Aurora, but that does not mean it’s not a choice. They can choose not to, and the power will pass to someone else eventually.”
The fact they have a choice makes me happy but anxious.
“The relationship does not need to be sexual, either. It could be friendship or closer to a family. But I don’t think that will happen,” he says smugly.
“Wait, what?” I turn to him, stilling my movements.
“I’ve watched you and them, Aurora. They knew deep down what they were getting into, yet they carried on because they care for you.”
At this, I down my drink, and again, the burn gives me a bit more confidence.
“You’re uncomfortable with the thought of love or someone caring for you?” Perses asks.
Wow, okay. I’m going to need more scotch. I pour myself a glass full and tumble onto the sofa, the scotch loosening my tongue. “Yes. I’m broken, Perses, by this darkness and my fucked-up history.”
“That’s exactly why you deserve it; because you think you do not. You do not see yourself, Aurora. But they do. You should give them a chance. You’re dying for love, Aurora, to be held and supported. Let go of your fear that they’ll leave you like your mother did. Trust me, απόγονος μου.” With that advice, he leaves the room.
I remain sitting, drinking, and staring at nothing while I try to work through my issues. I have so many that, by the time I’m done listing them all to myself, I’m drunk.
Great. Some savior I am.
14
Ezra
I’ve stood outside her door for hours, unable to sleep. When I try, her eyes are there when I close mine. But I can’t bring myself to go in. Her stillness horrifies me. Usually, her attitude and laughter fills the room. Its absence now sends pangs through my heart.
My brothers all cope in their own way, but me? I sit outside her bedroom door like the stalker she accused me of being. My lips quirk at the memory. She can call me whatever she likes as long as she opens her gorgeous eyes again. I bang my head back against the wall.
Someone sits down next to me, but I don’t bother to look. I know who it will be.
“You get any sleep?” Alex’s calm and collected voice makes me want to scream not be so perfect.
I glance over, ready to growl at him, then really look at him for the first time in days.
Without anger and worry clouding my vision, I realize my brother is broken, too. Huge bags hang underneath his dark and wild eyes. His usual mask is gone from his pale face. His hair sticks up at all angles like he ran his hands through it. He stares at me, his suffering on full display.
“No, I can’t. Every time I try, I see her,” I admit.
He nods and focuses on the door. “Do you love her?”
Despite his even voice, I sense his hesitation.
I look at the door, too, and think about my answer. I like spending time with Aurora. She makes me smile and feel young for the first time in a long while, and holding her in my arms is like heaven. I would do anything to see that smile on her face; let her dress me up or make fun of me… Anything.
When I kissed her for the first time, I knew there would be no other woman for me. God help someone if they hurt her. I honestly don’t know what I’d do. I let myself feel pain at the idea of losing her.
I turn back to him with the answer on my tongue.
Ben comes sliding around the corner. His eyes twitch between us with excitement. “He’s found something.”
We spring up and jog to the library.
The kid smiles hugely when we get there. Jason already sits on the sofa, a tense expression on his face. I lean against the wall and cross my arms to hide my trembling hands. Alex stands in front of the kid and Ben sits down.
“Ben said
you found something?” The vulnerability is wiped from him, our fearless leader back in his place.
I think not being able to do anything wounded him more than anything. He’s a man of thinking and action, and not even he knows what to do.
“So, I was reading this book— I mean, it’s not really a book, you know, because it’s so big… Why do we even call it a book?” He babbles on, his glasses shifting repeatedly.
“Your point?” Alex asks, calmer than I feel.
Ben smiles at us with glee. “She’s not dead!”
“Come again?” I growl.
“She’ll wake up. If her soul had left her body, she would be dead already. So, I believe she’s still there, just not here.”
Like that makes sense?
“Explain,” Alex snaps, his emotion getting the better of him.
“It’s like dream walking. Have you heard of it?”
We look around at each other with guarded glances and don’t say anything. We all researched it after the incident with Aurora.
“So basically, your soul and body are still here, but it’s like being asleep. Your consciousness, the thing that makes you… you, alive and functioning with charming personalities, isn’t here. I think her conscious is dream walking, and she’s trapped wherever she is. That’s why she isn’t waking up. She’s asleep.”
Jason twists his hands in his lap. “So, what do we do?”
“Well, erm, nothing.” The kid winces at our reaction.
“Nothing?” Ben repeats. The anger on his face rivals even mine.
“There’s nothing we can do. She needs to find whatever is trapping her and stop it, and then make her way back to her body. It’s all up to her.”
Alex starts pacing. Jason and Ben remain silent and stare at the floor. I turn and punch the wall, then lean my head against it.
“How long can she be trapped there? Won’t her body deteriorate?” Jason asks, ever the knowledge seeker.
“I’m unsure. There are no cases of anyone being trapped in their dream walk for extended periods of time. I would say her body won’t deteriorate, as her magic will keep it alive. But I could be wrong.” The kid sounds worried.
