“What information?” James asked. “I’ve had my people working on it and they haven’t come up with anything other than the occasional public record.”
“That’s because you don’t know where to look,” Paris said, grinning when Sami climbed up onto the stool next to me. She had hot chocolate, a jar of marshmallow fluff and a doughnut. She got her sweet tooth from both Aric and me. “I went to witch forums and chatrooms to ask around. I said I was doing a paper for the local centennial celebration.”
“Does this place have a centennial coming up?” James asked.
“I have no idea,” Paris replied. “It sounded good, though.”
“Where did you get that doughnut?” I asked Sami. “Is that from the box we got at the store the other day? I hid those.”
“I know,” Sami said. “I found them.”
“Are there any left?”
“This is the last one.” Sami eyed me for a moment and then broke the doughnut in two and handed me half. “You did save Dad. I guess you’ve earned that.”
I dunked the doughnut into my hot chocolate and turned to Paris, ignoring the disgusted look on her face. I could practically see her adding up the amount of sugar we were eating. “So what did you find?”
“There are a lot of legends about the Dolloway family, and one of them claims that one of the later husbands didn’t disappear like the other husbands,” Paris replied. “There are whispers he realized what was going to happen and ran while he still could.”
“Do we know where?”
“Yes and no,” Paris said. “His name was Pete Holbrook, and he moved to Morganville a good thirty years ago.”
Something occurred to me, even though I was vaguely certain Paris touched on it before. I couldn’t remember what she said, though. “Why do they all have the name Dolloway? Shouldn’t these wives have taken their husband’s names when they married?”
“That’s an ancient witch thing because there’s power in names,” Paris explained. “My guess is that the property was handed down to the women and it didn’t matter who they married, because the men could never get their hands on it.”
“They also died or disappeared before that was ever an option,” I pointed out.
“That, too,” Paris said, bobbing her head. “The thing is, I found a woman who these forum witches swear up and down is Pete Holbrook’s second wife. She also happens to be a witch, and they claim that this woman protected Pete from the Dolloways tracking him down.”
That was interesting. “Is she still alive?”
“She runs a shop in Morganville.”
“That’s only a half hour away,” I mused, biting the inside of my cheek as I glanced at James. “Aric needs rest. He’ll be ticked, but he’s going to have to stay here tomorrow. You guys should be okay with the dome.”
“You’re going to talk to this witch, huh?”
“We’re going,” Paris clarified, causing Heath to balk. “I’m going. Zoe, Aric and Sami are my family. Besides, I’ll be safe as long as I’m with Zoe.”
“And I might need her to ask the right questions,” I added.
“Fine,” Heath muttered. “This is the worst vacation ever, though. I hope you know that.”
“I promise to make it up to you,” I said.
“How?”
“Sami is old enough to babysit,” I said. “You can take her for weeks at a time.”
“Hey!” Sami was offended.
“We’ll miss you terribly while you’re gone,” I said, earning an elbow in the ribs for my joke. “I’m exhausted, so I’m going to turn in. We should get on the road early tomorrow.”
“I’m going to bed, too,” Paris said. “I think this is our best option, Zoe.”
“I hope so.” I drained the rest of my hot chocolate and dumped the empty mug in the sink, ignoring Helen’s annoyed sigh as she grabbed it and loaded it into the dishwasher. I shifted my attention to Sami. “Where is Trouble?”
“Asleep on the couch.”
“Grab him,” I said. “If you want to sleep with us, that ship is sailing right now.”
“How did you know?” Sami was surprised. “I thought I would have to be sneaky to get you to do it.”
“I had a feeling,” I said, internally smirking. “I’m surprised you want to sleep with us after this morning, though.”
“Dad is too tired for that,” Sami said. “You’re too tired, too. I just … want to be close to him.”
“I think that will make sleeping easier for all of us,” I said. “Grab your dog and get a move on. Morning is going to come too soon for those of us with sore muscles.”
“Do you think Dad will snore?”
I nodded.
“Are you going to snore?”
I nodded again.
Sami let loose with a dramatic sigh that would’ve been welcome on any number of ABC Family’s teen shows. “I guess I’ll survive … although it would be nice if you’d think about my feelings every once in a while when it comes to the snoring. I need a good night’s sleep more than you need it. I’m still growing, after all.”
And that attitude? Yeah, she gets that from me.
Twenty-Five
“Where are we?” Sami’s voice was barely a whisper as her gaze bounced around the gloomy room.
“I don’t know.” Somehow in sleep we were either drawn into the same dream, or I was drawn out of my head and into hers when someone tried to lure her away again. I wasn’t sure which, but I was thankful she wasn’t alone – and that Aric peacefully slumbered between us back in the real world. “It looks kind of familiar, doesn’t it?”
“It looks like that house I was in but kind of different.” Sami slipped her hand into mine. She didn’t appear afraid, but she obviously wasn’t taking any chances. “Why do you think we’re here? Is it a dream?”
“It could be,” I said, lifting my chin as a shadow caught my attention on the walkway above. “It could be something else, too. I learned a long time ago not to discount anything when it comes to magic.”
“That’s an interesting way to look at things.” The shadow on the catwalk spoke, but it was too dark to make out any features. The voice was decidedly feminine. “Why have you come here, Zoe Lake?”
Either this was an interactive dream or I’d stumbled upon something else. “I don’t know,” I answered. “You tell me. We were just minding our own business trying to sleep off a sugar buzz and you drew us here.” I was totally making that up, but there was no way she could prove otherwise.
The shadow walked along the catwalk, finally stopping in a spot close enough to the candle chandelier to illuminate her features. I was relieved she looked relatively normal – for a psychopath, that is. She didn’t have any warts growing out of her nose or anything. That’s always a bonus.
“I did not bring you here,” the woman said. She was dressed in a simple black dress. It looked old and homemade. The lack of electricity led me to believe we were bearing witness to a time long past.
“Yes, you did,” I said, doubling down on the lie. “Stop denying it.”
“Yeah, we don’t like liars,” Sami warned.
“Let me do the talking, sweetie,” I said, squeezing her hand.
Sami ignored me. “My mom is going to kick your ass and rip your insides out and make you eat them.”
As far as threats go, it was a pretty good once. Because it came from a kid who barely weighed a hundred pounds it wasn’t ultimately terrifying, but it did make me proud. “And we’re not going to let you dress up the meal with sugar or anything,” I added, earning a giggle from Sami.
“I did not bring you here.” The woman was frustrated as she gripped the spindly railing above. “Stop saying that.”
Aric often says I can derange a person in ten seconds flat. I’ve often thought it’s a compliment. “If you were wearing pants I think they’d catch fire right about now,” I said. “I don’t care if you want to lie to yourself, but you’re really not helping matters by lying to me.”
“Stop saying I brought you here!”
“Stop saying you didn’t!”
The woman jerked her head to the side as she tried to collect herself, licking her lips before turning back to me. “You’re the Archimage. You were prophesized.”
“I’m a mage,” I corrected. “I sucked up the Archimage. It doesn’t exist.”
“You were prophesized.”
“Well, I’m going to be prophesized to kick you in the vagina if you’re not careful,” I said.
Sami’s mouth dropped open. She’d never heard an insult quite like that before.
“Don’t tell your father I said that,” I warned. “He doesn’t think it’s funny when I say stuff like that, and I promised not to teach you a lot of my more … um, colorful … threats.”
“Your magic is one of resurrection,” the woman said. “You will birth a new line of witches.”
“Oh, no, that’s not going to happen,” I argued. “I gave birth once and I’m never doing it again. Whew! The screaming, sweating and swearing was something I’m willing to go through only once.”
“You already gave birth to the future,” the woman said, narrowing her eyes as she focused on Sami. “She is the Archimage in human form. You retain some of the book’s gifts, but she is the promise.”
“She’s twelve and has the patience of a two-year-old who can’t get a bag of candy open,” I countered. “She’s not anything to you.”
“She will be.”
“No, she won’t,” I snapped, drawing the woman’s eyes back to me. “Are you Abigail? Are you one of the Abigails? If you are, tell the rest of your brethren – and that includes those stupid wraiths running around outside – that I’m going to burn your entire house to the ground.”
“You said we should be careful about burning the house because we might start a forest fire,” Sami reminded me.
“We’ll be careful and bring a hose,” I said.
“You are not stronger than we are,” the woman said. “We’ve been waiting for this convergence for centuries.”
“Well, I guess that’s going to make the disappointment all the more bitter, but I don’t lose,” I said. “You’ve seriously pissed me off, though, so congratulations on that front.”
“You cannot win.”
“I don’t lose,” I said, tugging Sami’s arm. “I’m not sure why we’re here. I think the fact that we are scares you more than you’re willing to admit. I’m happy about that. I really am. You’re going to be a lot more terrified when I get through with you.
“The thing you need to remember is that I absorbed the Archimage to burn down a bunch of other people who thought my power was the key to their ascension,” I continued. “Ask yourself where they are now. They’re all dead. You might not be dead – I’m guessing you anchored your soul to something to stave off death, although your spirit seems different from the others I’ve encountered. You will be dead when I’m done with you, and it’s going to hurt.”
“Do you think I’m frightened of you?”
“I think you’re terrified of me,” I said. “You should be. I’m the thing that gives evil monsters nightmares. You should remember that when you go after my family. I like to hurt people, and I’m going to throw a fricking party when it’s time for you to go.”
“I am not afraid of you,” the woman said, although I didn’t miss her noticeable gulp.
“You are,” I said, smiling benevolently. “I haven’t even opened my full bag of tricks yet. When that happens, look out.”
“Yeah,” Sami said, grinning as her form started to fade. “She’s going to kick you in your vagina.”
“Don’t tell your father I said that!”
“HOW DO you feel?” I woke with a start the next morning, Aric and Sami whispering to each other as they propped themselves on pillows and watched me sleep.
“I’m fine,” Aric said, pushing my snarled hair from my face. “How are you?”
“I’m wishing I would’ve given in and let you put a television in the bedroom,” I replied. “There has to be something more entertaining than watching me sleep.”
“Never,” Aric said, his stomach growling. “Although … .”
I couldn’t help but smile as I struggled to a sitting position and touched his cheek. His color was better, although not completely back to normal, and his eyes were bright. “You’re not warm.”
“You always said I was hot,” Aric said, feigning hurt. “Where did the love go?”
“It’s here,” I said, pressing my hand to his chest, reassuring myself with the steady beat of his heart. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, worrywart,” Aric said, grabbing my wrist and jerking me closer. “I’m okay. I’m more interested in you. Sami says you guys went on an adventure last night.”
I arched an eyebrow and locked gazes with a completely unrepentant Sami. “Really? She told you that, huh?”
“She says you guys traveled through time,” Aric said. “She also said you threatened a strange witch and you plan to leave me for the day.”
“She said a lot,” I said, poking Sami’s side as she squirmed. “You have a big mouth, Sami. You get that from your father.”
“She gets that from you,” Aric said. “Don’t try distracting me, Zoe. Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’m going to Morganville with Paris to talk with a witch who might’ve married one of the Dolloway husbands,” I replied, opting for honesty. “It could be a wasted trip, or it could be the answers we’re looking for.”
“I’m going with you.”
“No, you’re not.” I vehemently shook my head, causing a strand of hair to get caught on my lip. When I removed it I felt the telltale signs of crusted drool on the corner of my mouth. Great. My husband wakes up looking like a fashion model after being severely hurt and I have dried drool on my face. Life just isn’t fair sometimes.
“Zoe, I don’t think you should take off on your own,” Aric argued. “You need backup.”
“I’m taking Paris.”
“Paris is about ten months pregnant and can’t handle herself in a physical fight,” Aric said. “I love her, but she’s not going to be able to help you.”
“I love you, but you’re not making the decision on this one,” I said, pulling back my arm. “Paris knows the right questions to ask. We can’t risk taking Sami out of the protective dome. You have to stay with her.”
“Then take my dad.”
That wasn’t going to happen. He would make fun of my driving skills and play radio Nazi for the entire trip. “I’ll be fine,” I said. “I’ll protect Paris and only be gone for a few hours. Everything will be fine.”
“That’s what I said to you before I left the yard last night.” Aric sounded angry. If I were in his position I would probably feel the same way. That didn’t sway my decision.
“And I had faith in you,” I said. “Aric, I’m going. You’re staying here and taking care of our daughter. Besides, it’s one old witch in a magic store. How dangerous could it possibly be?”
“Knowing you and the trouble you attract I can’t even hazard a guess,” Aric said. “You’re not going.”
“I am.” I shifted to the edge of the bed and rolled my legs off. “Who is hungry? Grandma made soup for lunch, but I’m betting there’s a huge breakfast out there, too.”
“I’m hungry,” Sami said, her expression reflecting uncertainty as she glanced between Aric and me. “Unless … if Dad isn’t eating, um, I don’t need breakfast either.”
“I’m eating,” Aric said, patting Sami’s hand. “Your mother isn’t leaving this house, though. Mark it down.”
“Why don’t we save this fight for after breakfast? I think we’ll all feel better with full stomachs.”
“You’re not going,” Aric repeated. “I’m putting my foot down.”
“YOU PUT YOUR foot down, huh?” James didn’t look impressed with his son’s decision as we sat around the dining room table. For the f
irst time in as long as I could remember, Aric and I sat at opposite ends of the table, glowering at one another. “That sounds like a wise choice after your wife risked everything and saved your life.”
“No one asked you,” Aric shot back, snapping a slice of bacon in half as he furrowed his brow. “It’s not safe for her to leave this house.”
Instead of coddling Aric – like I expected – Helen cuffed the back of his head and earned a dark look for the effort.
“Was it safe for you and your father to leave this house last night, Aric?” Helen asked.
“We were doing what we thought was best at the time,” Aric gritted out.
“And how did that work out? I believe Zoe almost fell over because she absorbed half of your pain and then she took off into the night to protect you,” Helen said. “She helped carry you back … .”
“I walked!” Aric was very close to losing it, but Helen ignored his tone.
“She carried you back and then took care of you until you fell asleep,” Helen said. “Now we have a plan that may not yield anything, but it’s much less dangerous than what you did. And I think Zoe has earned the right to make her own decisions.”
I was floored by her support. “Thank you.”
“I’m not trying to keep her here because I want to be the boss,” Aric said. “I want her close in case … .”
“In case what?” James asked. “In case she’s attacked? She’s been attacked numerous times and always come out the other side. You two have fought battles together and apart. She is fully capable of talking to an old witch.”
Aric blew out a sigh as he stared at me. “Well, when even my mom and dad think I’m being a jerk, I guess I have nowhere to go but up. Do what you want. I won’t stand in your way.”
“That’s good to know,” I said, keeping my tone stiff. “This whole you putting your foot down thing has been very enlightening. We should never do it again.”
Aric raised his eyebrows when he realized the disagreement wasn’t over and I had no intention of letting it go. “Oh, don’t be like that,” he said. “I said I was sorry.”
“No, you didn’t,” Sami said, flipping her eggs on top of her hash browns and mashing them together. She got that from me.
Dying Covenant: The Complete Series Page 22
