Rayne pushed away from the counter before walking around it to take a stool at Dia’s side. “What more can there be?”
The weakness in her mother’s voice killed her. “I’m so sorry, Momma. I was trying to distract Ryan from going back to the stream this morning, but all I did was put us in a position where he had another chance to drink the water within the cave, and now his sight is perfect. When you all wiped his mind, you didn’t know that something significant had already happened.”
The three sisters looked at each other and then past Dia, and all three mouths fell open.
“What are you saying?”
Dia jerked at the sound of Ryan’s voice, and she froze before slowly turning his way. Behind him was the rest of the family, everyone looking at her like she’d just killed a baby rabbit. She rose from the stool, desperately wishing she had some idea what to say, wondering just how much he’d overheard.
“Ryan….”
He looked from her to the older women and then turned back to look at those who had followed him out of the family room. When he turned back again, the expression of shock and disbelief clouding his features broke her heart. The anger, once it formed in his eyes, took her breath.
“Everyone thought he was crazy! He’s spent his life in and out of mental institutions.” Ryan shook. “My father has nearly lost his mind because of you people. I didn’t believe him. No one ever believed him!” He advanced on Dia, fury and confusion in his eyes. “Are you all for real? Are you witches?”
Tears filled her eyes, but she didn’t allow them to fall. “Ryan….”
“Answer me, dammit!”
Dia jumped and nodded, knowing the distinction between witches and mystics would mean nothing to him.
His body shaking, Ryan looked her over with contempt before he tore from the house, slamming the door behind him. Babies started crying, her family started yelling, and all she could do was sit there as everything within her crumbled.
The sound of a vehicle starting penetrated the fog filling her mind, and she fled to the door and stepped onto the porch. Ryan was in her Jeep, pulling out of the spot where she’d parked. Without a backward glance he peeled out of her aunt and uncle’s driveway as if the hounds of hell were on his heels, throwing up rock and dust behind him.
Chapter Twelve
Silence.
The motel room was filled with deafening silence, and after three days of wrestling with everything he’d overheard, it was driving him crazy.
Ryan couldn’t concentrate, couldn’t even stand to leave the television on because the noise was too much like being around Dia’s boisterous family. He’d been staring at the dark screen for so long now, though, as he’d played every moment with Diamond White through his mind, he may as well have left it on. The few times he’d tried it only proved there was no use. As much as he wished it were so, his attempts to be distracted hadn’t worked.
If only he hadn’t left his gaming system behind. Or his car…but he’d been too distraught to go back to Dia’s place when he’d fled he hadn’t even thought about it at the time. And couldn’t make himself later, once he’d caught his breath.
He couldn’t look at her then, although he’d nearly give anything to have been able to leave Mystic Waters behind….
Ryan blew out a breath and wondered why he hadn’t heard from any of them. They had to know where he was. It wasn’t as if he had anywhere else to go until the situation with his father was dealt with, and the Jeep was parked right outside his door. They could have called the police and reported he’d committed Grand Theft, Auto. Or, apparently, they could have located him to wipe his mind. A chill went through him, remembering they’d said they had already done it once.
As they had his father’s….
The knock at his door startled him, and Ryan almost laughed. So they’d finally decided to make a move, had they? Well, good. He wanted the confrontation over with. He wanted his mind wiped. If for no other reason than he didn’t want to live with this overwhelming sense of loss. If he didn’t remember being captivated by Dia’s beauty, her personality, her adventure for life, then he could go on as he always had.
Ryan rose from the bed and pulled on the pants he’d been wearing off and on for days. The thought of work, work, and more work didn’t taste as good as it always had before. That had been his life and until he’d found her. It had satisfied him once. And it would again, he promised himself, as he turned the knob and opened the door.
The police officer standing with his fist raised as if about to knock again shouldn’t have caused such a sense of disappointment, but he did. So they’d sent the police to take care of him, instead of confronting him on their own. So be it. He just didn’t care anymore. Still, he had to swallow whatever lodged in his throat. “Good morning, Officer. What can I do for you?”
“Good morning, sir. Are you Ryan Steward?”
Ryan nodded. “Yes.”
The officer opened and glanced at the little black notepad he held in his hand. “You are the son of Clayton Davis?”
Surprised, as it hadn’t occurred to him the visit had anything to do with his father, Ryan nodded again. “Yes.”
“Sir, we’ve been trying to find you. Your father was found yesterday afternoon and returned to the hospital’s psychiatric ward. He’s terribly sick, sir, and the doctor asked us to locate you to have you return to the hospital as soon as possible.”
Reeling, Ryan nodded. “Okay. Um…okay. I’ll be along shortly.”
The officer nodded and turned to leave, but Ryan needed to know more. “When you say sick?”
The officer shrugged. “When we found him, he’d been out in the woods for days. He’s dehydrated, nearly starved, and has several lacerations. Mostly, from my understanding though, their concern is over his heart. He’d been off his medication during his absence.”
“Okay…um, thank you.”
The officer nodded again and looked him over with concern. “Are you okay, Mr. Steward?”
Knowing his confusion was showing, he nodded, and after one last doubtful look, the officer returned to his cruiser. Ryan closed the door and leaned his head against it before stripping off his clothes and heading for the shower. Even though he’d stop along the way and buy new clothes before going to the hospital, he had no choice but to put back on the ones he had. Thankfully the motel had soap and shampoo he only now realized he hadn’t used while locked in the shock of the past few days. The stubble on his normally clean jaw would have to wait.
Once clean of body, he went about the room and gathered up the boxes and congealed food he’d had delivered but hadn’t been able to eat. Since the shower had renewed him, some, he was aghast to realize he’d lived in such a stinky mess. His need for neat and orderly hadn’t just flown out the door, it had disappeared with a poof!
Like magic.
The jerk to his stomach wasn’t unexpected, but because it was so empty, it hurt. He’d have to grab a quick bite to eat on the way to the hospital…and a toothbrush, and some deodorant, and shaving cream and razors. All things he would have had with him if he’d had his belongings. Fury filled him, making him shake. Those evil witches had nearly destroyed his sense of self, just like they had his father’s!
It took a few minutes, but as he calmed down, he had to plop onto the bed and look at the truth of his situation. None had been evil. They were fun-loving family members who had done nothing but give him a new perspective on life. If what he now believed was a reality, he was certain they could have taken everything from him. The clear sight he’d never believed was his to have. The outgoing personality he’d have given his life for while growing up. And the chance to love a gorgeous woman, who at any time in his past would have been so far out of his reach, he never would have considered letting himself fall in love with her to begin with. Even if she somehow cast a spell on him to make him love her, he knew he would have anyway. Just because she was her. Dia White. The most thrilling thing to have happened in his l
ife.
As he pondered all he knew about them, the reality was that none of them were old enough to have harmed his father in any way. And…if his mind had been wiped of the events preceding the last morning he and Dia made love, the only logical explanation was that for him to have remembered, could have threatened them in some way.
“For a man who makes his living creating fantasy games, you sure have acted like a jerk.”
Ryan jumped up and grabbed the keys to Dia’s Jeep. Just as soon as he dealt with whatever his father needed, he was heading up the mountain and taking back all that was his.
Including the woman he loved.
****
It was hard to look at the man lying on the bed and believe it was the same one he met the day he arrived in Mystic Waters. Clayton had lost considerable weight, his skin was ashy, and he looked like his last breath could come at any moment.
Unlike before, his father wasn’t restrained. There was no need. He’d fallen into a coma.
“What would you like us to do, Mr. Steward?”
Ryan turned to the doctor, his brows raised. “What do you mean? I’d like for you to fix him, of course.”
The doctor smiled a little at that. “We’re doing all we can for him physically. But I’m talking about once he recovers, if he does.”
“Oh, yeah. I’ll be taking him off your hands. I need to make some calls, but I’d like to have him put in a home where he can get help, and I can keep an eye on him.”
The doctor’s expression made it clear he didn’t think help was an option, but now that he knew what he was dealing with, Ryan hoped he could find a way to bring peace into his father’s life. “I’ll be back in the morning to check on him. I would appreciate it if you’d text me with any changes.”
The doctor nodded and wrote on the chart in his hands. “Will do.”
Left alone with his father, Ryan took his hand and squeezed gently. “I promise. I’ll do everything I can to help you. You aren’t crazy. You never were. I know that now. And from here on out, things will be different. Just get better.”
Surprisingly Clayton’s eyes fluttered, but they didn’t open. Ryan sighed, and left the room, wondering just what kind of power the local witches had….
Chapter Thirteen
Spider webs.
Dia cringed as she pushed those closest out of the way and moved further into the shed. She hadn’t thought enough time had passed since she’d been here last to allow for so many, but then dark and undisturbed were their favorite places to hide. The arachnids had taken full advantage of her absence and made themselves right at home.
She’d started the generator before unlocking the shed’s doors so lighting wasn’t a problem as she searched for something to sweep away the pests. Since the floor was made of packed dirt, there was no reason for a broom, but as soon as she’d had the thought, movement outside of the open doors captured her attention and delight flooded her for the first time in days. Vines grew from the ground and twirled as they wove themselves through each other. Those making up the brush head straightened, and those binding the brush together tightened. As if a season had changed, the vines dried instantly and their leaves hit the ground. Thicker vines danced and braided themselves but they remained long, creating what was clearly the handle. Dia watched the last of the process completely captivated, as the last strands attached head to handle.
“That’s quite impressive.”
Dia gasped and jerked back and then sent what she knew was a silly smile at her mother. It was good to see her, but more importantly, it was good to see her smiling, too. “Hi, Momma.”
Rayne advanced on her daughter, and the broom danced to the side making them both laugh in surprise. “That is amazing!”
Dia nodded. “It is. I wanted to knock down spider webs and wished I had a broom, and it just made itself!”
Rayne looked her over speculatively. “And you were afraid you had no magic.”
Dia nodded as her smile faltered. “Is everyone still mad?”
Rayne shrugged. “They aren’t mad. They’re concerned. Have you heard from him?”
Shaking her head, Dia held out her hand and the broom flew straight into it. She couldn’t help but smile. “I don’t even have to say anything. It’s like the earth knows what I want as soon as I think it.”
“That is some very strong magic.”
“But to answer your question, no. Ryan hasn’t come back for his car or his game system.”
“Or for you.”
Though not a question, Dia shook her head. “No, not for me either.” To distance herself from the hurt she felt, Dia used the broom to knock down the webs before cautiously carrying each spider out the door. As much as she hated them, Cavanaughs didn’t kill anything unless absolutely necessary. Once her shop was as it needed to be, she opened her hands and the broom made itself comfortable in the corner of the shed. Though she felt a smile again, this time it didn’t develop. Instead she solemnly retrieved Camellia Cavanaugh’s booklet and flipped to the place she’d used to cast the love spell. She looked over the words again, and sighed, amazed her mother hadn’t demanded the little book back before now. But then, maybe that was why she’d arrived.
“This is the spell I used.”
Rayne took the pamphlet but didn’t even look down before reciting the words:
“Three hearts of the precious wild growing rose
Beneath the sun and starry sky, grows;
Three silver drops of honey so gold
Awaken the mysteries of bold, and old;
Three silver spoons of blood red wine
And thee shall be mine;
Thee shall be mine;
Until by will I set thee free
This is my will, so shall it be.”
She smiled gently and then looked at her daughter. “Do you know what this book is?”
Dia nodded. “A book of spells.”
Rayne nodded. “But did you know it is a companion book to Camellia’s diary?”
“No, I didn’t. I thought it was her diary.”
Rayne handed the book back, smiling when Dia hesitated in surprise before taking it. “Her diary is quite long and details what happened as a result of each of the spells she created and tried. She was like you in a way, though ultimately her gift was more like Destiny’s and Jewell’s. She was of the Divine, but her ability to find truth took a while to develop, and in her impatience she made some mistakes.
“This spell was one.”
Dia looked at the lovely words again ad then closed the book. “What happened?”
Rayne moved to the shelves containing the herbs, pickled items, and spices that made up Dia’s treasure-trove. She searched the bottles and jars and began choosing this and that. “Camellia was born at the turn of the last century and by the time she was your age, the Roaring Twenties were in full swing. Her oldest sister was the one who carried the line, so her part in the family was that of teacher to her nieces.”
Rayne glanced at her as she sat three small bottles in the center of the stove. “If you remember, before Destiny, Haven, and I destroyed the three-thousand-year-old love curse placed on our ancestors that was the way of it. It wasn’t until my sisters and I were thinking about having babies and knew at the time that only one of us would be able to, I realized how emotionally draining that particular part of the curse was. The three of us didn’t want the others to lose the chance at motherhood, but we were all fearful it wasn’t going to be us.” She smiled. “Well, at least Haven and me. Destiny claimed she never wanted kids, but after seeing her raise her boys, I’m sure she’s forgotten that.”
Dia nodded. She knew the story and knew it well. “So Camellia was dissatisfied with her lot in life?”
Rayne nodded. “Yes. By all accounts in her sisters’ diaries, Camellia was always heavy of heart. Her oldest sister was busy playing mother and surviving the pain of losing the man she loved, which was also a given at the time. Few of the men before our generation ever s
urvived the relationship beyond planting the seed for the next generation. Those who did live lost the Cavanaugh woman they loved to whatever fate had been decided for them. The men lost their children as well, because the aunts never allowed the babies to leave the protection of the family.”
“So it was a damned if you do find love, and damned if you don’t kind of thing.”
Rayne reached for a large jar and pulled it down to look at the pickled frogs floating inside. “Yes. It was.”
“So what happened?”
Sitting the frogs back on the shelf, Rayne continued her search. “Because she hadn’t yet found her mystical feet, Camellia decided to force magic to come to her. She felt cheated by fate. Not only couldn’t she have children, those she was responsible for teaching couldn’t look to her for help in their training. So she decided to create her own spells, and like you, for some time thereafter, they blew up in her face both figuratively and literally speaking.”
Dia grinned at that. Now that she’d found her own magic, her quest to have something other than what was hers seemed so silly. “Go on.”
“Well, according to her diary, she met a man who appealed to her. Which wasn’t all that earth-shattering, but what was is he didn’t find her appealing at all.”
“And the Cavanaugh women had never had trouble attracting the men they wanted, whether they could have children with them or not.”
Rayne nodded, smiling. “That’s correct. I’m glad you know so much of our history.”
“Not enough, apparently. But in my defense, there are hundreds and hundreds of diaries to go through.”
“Yes…” Rayne said on a sigh, “There are.
“So anyway, Camellia had already been dabbling in creating spells, which is why this particular one is so far back in her little book. She’d failed at all those that came before, but this time, she adjusted an ancient gypsy spell to suit herself, certain she’d succeed.”
Unforgettable Heroes II Boxed Set Page 170
