Malice: A Barrington County Novel

by Stacy Charasidis

  Afterward, Nathalie told him she wished he wasn’t so handsome. “Your face is going to be our downfall, Dean,” she said bitterly.

  “It already was,” he said sadly. “So what do we do now, Nathalie?” He was sitting on her sofa, drained, rubbing his eyes.

  Nathalie surprised herself. “I’m willing to start again, slowly, if you’re interested.”

  Dean stared at her, hope and fear warring in his eyes. She stood near her living room window that looked out over Town Circle. Tall, slender, and strong, she was ever a tree that would bend but never break. Her green eyes and her nose were red from crying, and her arms were folded across her chest defensively. She was so beautiful to him, and he ached to hold her and run his fingers through her long brown hair. He remembered how soft it was. “I’d take anything you want to give me.”

  Her stance relaxed slightly. “Okay, then. We’re seeing each other.” They said goodnight.

  The next day he had supper with her again and they went for a walk. He was so handsome in his suit, so nice to everyone. He told her how much he loved her. She allowed him to kiss her goodnight.

  A few days later they ate, went out for ice cream, and then made out in a dark corner of the park like teenagers.

  The day after that they skipped dinner completely. When he arrived he looked around questioningly. “Was I supposed to bring food?”

  “No,” Nathalie said, kissing him hotly while she unbuttoned his pants. “You’re dinner.”

  After that Dean brought over their damaged lockets and placed them between their palms and laced their fingers together. Nathalie could feel the rose’s tiny thorns against her skin, drawing blood from both their hands and smearing over both amulets.

  More blood! Nathalie got angry. “You showed Elanah your charm. She knew about it.”

  “No I didn’t,” Dean said. “I don’t know how she found out about them. I only took mine off after I found yours broken in your room.”

  “Elanah lied,” Nathalie said, crying.

  “Don’t cry, Nat. Taline said feelings of true love and commitment will fix them.”

  Nathalie’s watery eyes stared at him uncertainly. “What? When did you talk to Taline?”

  “I didn’t. I didn’t know how to reach her, so I put our lockets in an envelope, addressed it to her, and left it in my mailbox at home. The next day the envelope was still there, but now it was addressed to me, complete with lockets inside and a note from Taline, explaining what to do.”

  He held her tightly. “Nat, the charm isn’t silver. It’s silver-plated iron. Iron is anathema to the Fae, and their amulets. She can’t fix them, but we can. We need to declare our love. The magic will only work if our declarations are true, from the heart. Think about it. Not only are Luke and Sadie madly in love, their rightness for each other is confirmed by their magic. They know they’re meant to be together. We have this. If we belong together, despite all the crap that has happened to us, we’ll know for sure if we can fix them.”

  “I already know the answer,” Nathalie said, wiping her eyes.

  “I do too, so let’s fix these. Nathalie Parker, I love you and only you,” he said simply, kissing her.

  “I love you too, Dean Croft, only you,” she replied softly, kissing him back.

  Light flared briefly in their joined hands. When they looked, the lovers were entwined once again and the iron rose and its thorns were gone.

  Dean unlocked the amulets and put hers over her head. “Don’t take it off again, Nathalie. Ever. You can’t add anything to this necklace because you don’t need to, so don’t even try. It’s me and only me you need near your heart, nothing else.”

  “Okay,” she said humbly as she put his chain around his neck.

  Dean moved in the following weekend.

  She had forgiven Dean because she loved him with her whole heart, and she knew her feelings were reciprocated unconditionally. She knew life would always try to get between them, but she was determined not to let it happen again. Their time apart had made her realize how much she treasured Dean, and how much she was treasured. Elanah could go suck an egg on the freeway. Dean’s heart was spoken for.

  As Nathalie walked toward the table, Dean stood up and pocketed the box he’d been playing with.

  “Hi babe,” he said, kissing her firmly before pulling out a chair for her. They sat and listened to the band for a bit before Nathalie asked where Luke and Sadie were. They were supposed to be joining them for dinner.

  “They’ll be here soon,” he said, clearing his throat. He looked nervous.

  Nathalie found she was having trouble breathing.

  Dean pulled the ring box from his suit pocket. She remembered the first time he had proposed to her, by the falls. It had been so romantic, and it seemed like a lifetime ago. She looked at the box and back at him. He grabbed her hands and kissed them, putting the box between her palms and wrapping her fingers around it.

  “Nathalie, I love you. This is your ring. You will be my wife, and I’m not asking this time. I’m telling you to put your ring back on.”

  Their heads were close together. Nathalie’s eyes filled with tears as Dean deftly took the ring out of the box and slid it on her finger. “And we’re not waiting. We’re getting married in December. Waiting is stupid. I already spoke to Mr. Barrington about reserving the hotel.”

  Nathalie wiped her eyes. She’d missed her ring.

  Dean stared at her, waiting for an answer.

  Nathalie got up to sit in his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. “That sounds great,” she said before kissing him thoroughly. “I also have news,” she said quietly in his ear.

  Dean was breathing heavily with relief and desire. That kiss, and her squirming in his lap, gah! He hadn’t been sure his strong-armed approach would work, but was very glad it had. Nathalie was his again, and soon it would be permanent. No one bothered to hex married men to sleep with them. Married men were boring. He couldn’t wait to be married and boring.

  “What news?” he asked, kissing her neck.

  “I’m pregnant.”

  Dean stilled. “Uh…what?” was all that came out of his mouth.

  Nervously, Nathalie blabbed on. “I took a test a week ago and saw Doc Peabody today. Based on his calculations, our baby was conceived the day after Sadie and Luke’s wedding. Remember when you went commando?”

  “You’re pregnant?” Dean asked reverently, placing his hand on Nathalie’s stomach. He whooped for joy. “That’s awesome!” he said loudly, kissing her soundly on the mouth. “God, I’m such a stallion!”

  “Really?” Nathalie said sarcastically, but she was very happy at his reaction. She’d been nervous to tell him, but now that he knew, and was happy about it, the terror left her. Now they had to tell their parents, and more specifically, her father. That would be interesting. At least they had each other. They hugged and smooched like idiots before she squeezed out of his arms and went to sit in her seat just as Sadie and Luke arrived.

  Dean winked at her conspiratorially. “No sweat, babe. I’m as good with kids as I am with horses. Practically raised the twins myself. Kids are a blast.”

  Nathalie started to look worried the moment Dean said the word “horses.”

  Luke and Sadie sat down. “And what are we talking about here?” Luke inquired.

  Sadie was staring at Nathalie’s finger. “They’re engaged again,” she said happily, bursting into tears and hugging Nathalie tightly. “I’m so happy!”

  Nathalie laughed. “I am happy too. We are reengaged!”

  “And it looks like I’m going to be a father!” Dean said, waiting for that news bomb to shock his best friend. Luke had known that Dean was going to strong arm Nathalie. He had been the one to secure the wedding date at the hotel for his buddy. But he didn’t know about the baby.

  Nathalie giggled when Sadie’s jaw dropped in surprise.

  Luke just smiled, playing it cool despite his wild happiness at the news. “That’s great, Dea
n, because Sadie’s pregnant too.”

  As Dean’s mouth opened in shock, Luke smirked as he looked up and waved his hand. “Waiter!”

  Tess & Gabriel

  Gabriel and Rain had lived together for three years. Their time in Superstition was short and painful as they divided up their things. Rain was very angry and wouldn’t speak to him at first, but then it was as if she couldn’t bear not to know what happened. They fought viciously.

  When Nathalie told Rain her plan to invite Dean over for dinner to talk, Rain had tried to convince her not to, but Nathalie was determined. She loved Dean and wanted to explore the possibility of them getting back together, but slowly.

  Unlike her sister, Rain didn’t want Gabriel back. She couldn’t forgive him for what he’d done. Anyway, he had admitted to her that he’d fallen in love with Tess and couldn’t be sure that his decision to start their affair had been a purely magical compulsion. He felt a lot of it was personal compulsion. He wanted Tess from the first moment he saw her in that stunning green dress at Luke and Sadie’s wedding.

  He let Rain scream and shout at him, throw his things around, and watched her let him go. He was relieved when he moved back to Barrington. He’d been home for two months now, and hadn’t approached Tess. He wanted to give her time to think about their relationship. Did she really love him or was it the magic talking?

  At first he hadn’t been sure he loved her or if it had been the magic. He’d been so confused once the charm was gone. He needed time to think. But Rain…didn’t feel right anymore.

  It hadn’t taken him long to realize he yearned for Tess. He was madly in love with her even without Elanah’s charm. He missed her smile, her love and support, and her body. He missed her slim form clinging to his as they kissed and made love. Tess had never hidden anything from him or kept any part of her heart back. She shared her life fully with him, and that was what Gabriel wanted from his partner.

  Rain denied it when he tried to explain the difference between the two relationships, but he knew that his words struck home. Rain had loved him, but only on her own terms, and when it was convenient for her. Tess would give him everything, and he would do the same.

  His heart hurt at the thought of their parting three months ago. Tess had been devastated when Gabriel left, but she let him go. He wanted her to be sure about him too. His father gave him regular updates on her, and now that he was home, he’d watched her for the last two months. She had not bothered him. She wanted him to come to her when he was ready.

  Now he was ready, and he was waiting for her outside the hotel.

  As Tess exited the main doors, she saw Gabriel sitting in one of the Barrington’s golf carts and her heart missed a beat. She knew he was living at home but hadn’t seen him since June. She paused at the top of the stone stairs and studied him as he stared at her.

  She looked like an angel with the sun striking her long, blond hair. He drove away the butterflies in his stomach and got out to greet her. “Hi, Tess. Can I take you home?”

  Tess smiled as she walked down the steps and Gabriel smiled back, a huge grin on his face. He hugged her the moment she was near enough, and they wrapped their arms around each other and stood there for a long while.

  “God, I love you Tess.”

  “I love you too, Gabriel.”

  “I missed you so much.”

  “Me too.”

  “You smell so good. Are you going to marry me?”

  “Yes,” Tess said.

  And then he kissed her.

  Tess didn’t make it home. Gabriel borrowed the Barrington suite at the hotel and made love to her.

  Afterward, she told him she was pregnant.

  Gabriel was floored. “Really? Our baby? When did you find out?”

  Tess sighed. “I’ve known for a while.”

  “When were you going to tell me?” he asked curiously, moving down to kiss her slightly rounded belly.

  “I wouldn’t have if you hadn’t chosen me. I would have gone to pastry school, had my baby there and managed myself. I wouldn’t have bothered you and Rain.”

  Gabriel was silent for a moment. “A family,” he said wonderingly, climbing over to lie on Tess gently. “Wait, do you think the baby can feel…”

  Tess laughed. “No.”

  “Good, because I really want to do that again,” he paused and then added, “then we’ll plan our wedding.”

  Chapter 37 – An Apology

  Limerick, Present Day

  In September, after recovering sufficiently from her shoulder wound, Elanah received a visit from Sadie, who threatened her with a coin.

  A demon coin.

  “It’s a favour, you see. A favour I can call in at any time,” Sadie explained menacingly, her voice low and her eyes glowing purple with power and dislike.

  Elanah was frozen with fear. She’d rather die than meet Dannerlich again. How would he repay her betrayal? With blood, lots and lots of blood. Her blood.

  “I gave that bastard demon back to his brothers, but with this favour, I can get him back and send him to you.”

  Elanah’s heart pounded in fear.

  Sadie stood perfectly still, her hands folded primly in front of her. “Which I will do, if you ever step foot in Barrington again, or go anywhere near Nathalie and Dean. Do you understand?”

  Elanah stared in horror at the coin glinting in Sadie’s hand. She nodded yes.

  A few days later Elanah disappeared.

  Vail couldn’t find her mother anywhere.

  All Elanah left was a note.

  To my beloved daughter,

  Forgive me.

  All this started with a look I couldn’t resist.

  My ascent into heaven was so swift!

  Enchanted, blissful, I existed there for a short and glorious time.

  But I made a mistake.

  Then another…and another.

  They piled up like dead bodies during a plague.

  Then I fell,

  When I could no longer maintain a state of grace.

  My descent into hell was slow, but inexorable.

  I couldn’t stop what I was doing.

  I couldn’t change who I’d become.

  Now I am trapped.

  Tortured and suffering,

  Because I remember everything.

  Forgive me.

  Please forgive me.

  Because I’m sorry,

  So very sorry,

  For what I’ve done.

  I love you baby,

  Mom

  Epilogue

  In the Superstition Library’s basement, Hagar was running her hands over the stacks of rare books in the room. It was filled with demon tomes, old witch-family spell books, and ancient journals. The section that was concerning her was the one on prophecy. There was a book calling her, needing to be read, and warning her that something was awry. It would not leave her alone.

  She didn’t have time for this. She was due at a huge baby shower in Barrington and it would take her at least two hours by carriage to get there. Three very pregnant mothers-to-be were being surprised, and she wanted to be there to do the surprising.

  She and Sadie had become great friends, and she really liked Nathalie and Tess as well. She was glad the girls had resolved their differences.

  She was also good friends now with Rain, despite the rare-book stealing incident all those years ago. Rain had been furious at first when she found out her sister Nathalie had decided to stay friends with Tess. Nathalie explained that Tess was an integral part of their lives as Gabriel’s wife, and life was too short to spend it mad. It was Hagar who’d reminded Rain that she was dating Superstition’s rich playboy (he had many horses and cows), so why did she still care? Rain had relented, and would be attending the shower with Hagar, but was not going to speak to Tess or Gabriel.

  As soon as Hagar touched the book she was looking for, it stuck to her fingers almost in desperation. She pulled it off the shelf, but before she could look at the cove
r the book fell from her hand to the floor on its spine and cracked open, the pages flipping as if it was outside in the wind and not in an airless room.

  She lifted the book and read the small poem of prophecy being revealed to her and knew right away which book she was reading:

  The Prophecy of The Three Girls

  Three girls are born from magic and mayhem

  Heads of yellow, brown, and black.

  Their eyes sparkle with charm and cunning

  Their lips curve with mirth and mischief

  While their blood boils with latent potency

  The soothsayer

  Perhaps a prophet

  Stands on a corner

  Touched by the gods

  And declares our doom:

  Death rides on the wind,

  From the tongues of three girls.

  Is it truth

  Or lies?

  It is foretold they will wield great power unrestrained.

  For who can resist three little girls?

  The Witch Book of Prophecy, handwritten by Lilith Verone, 1513

  Hagar knew right away they were in big trouble.

  The End

  Acknowledgements

  I have a bunch of girls whom I force to read all my work once a piece is ready. They don’t have a choice. They are tricked into coming over to my house for dinner, only to leave with manuscripts and specific instructions about what I need, and fast! (Did I mention that I get to talk about my work for two solid hours while their eyes glaze over? Oh, yeah. That happens.)

  I desperately love these girls. In alpha order per usual so there is no fighting: Carolyn, Dominique, Linda – thank you for your feedback and editing expertise. We never catch everything, but we catch lots. I know someone is going to find a mistake and proceed to inform me, but I will “accidentally” spill coffee on them to show my appreciation. I mean really, where were they before I printed?

  I need to make special mention of my twin sister, Liz. She has read Malice a bazillion times for me. She tried to run, but I know where she lives. Is it a twin thing, you ask? It is, but I also have a GPS. Best. Thing. I. Ever. Got. For. Christmas. Thank you, my beloved Sister of the Egg. Without you I probably wouldn’t publish anything. It’s a good thing I am putting your Masters of English Literature to work. Ha ha. You’re welcome.