Wanted
Page 16
Matt! Conor! Helphelphelphelphelphelphelp! I screamed in my head. Would they hear me?
I moved right, trying to dodge around him. He laughed again as he shadowed me. Okay, more stalling.
“Why now?” My voice was getting stronger. “Why did you wait so long?”
He paused, cocking his head to the side. “I didn’t know who you were. Not until the Council spoke of a powerful witch who would cause problems. Then Tre came home and mentioned you, Ashlinn O’Hara. He wanted you for himself, but I knew I had to have you. Your power will make our family the most powerful on the Council and I will take that bitch’s seat.”
I had no idea what he was rambling about, but it kept him busy and not biting me, so I let him go on. I dug deep, tried to call more power, and I shoved at him again. He must have been caught unaware because he stumbled back a few steps. With a bewildered look, he took a step forward and stopped. He angled his head, listening to something. As he turned, the door burst open.
My body sagged against the wall in relief, and I managed a small smile. Matt and Conor walked into the room through the broken door. Behind them, Tre lay on the floor, not moving. With vamp speed, Mr. Davis was suddenly behind me, hand wrapped around my throat, hauling me upright. I made a choking sound as my air supply was cut off.
“Get back,” he snarled.
The boys froze. Mr. Davis squeezed harder and I choked more, silently this time, as I had no more breath to make a noise. Conor took a step forward, eyes blazing, but Matt put a hand on his arm to stop him. Oh, Goddess, he wasn’t going to just tear into me right here in front of Matt and Conor, was he? His grip on my throat loosened, and I sucked in air, coughing. My relief was short-lived as his hand forced my head to tilt left. He was. He was going to bite me right here.
I went limp, boneless with fear. As he struggled to keep me upright, Matt and Conor rushed him at the same time. I can’t be sure what happened, but I hit the floor and managed to roll away from the scuffle. I struggled to my knees, fighting both my dress and jellied muscles. I looked up as four adult vampires entered the room. Two men in tuxes and two distinguished-looking women in black dresses loomed over me.
One of the men looked disturbingly like Conor, and I now recognized the other one as Matt’s dad. The woman in front crouched down to help me stand. I could still hear the boys scuffling with Mr. Davis behind me.
“Enough.” The other woman’s voice was commanding, full of power, and froze everyone. I turned and saw Conor held in a headlock by Mr. Davis, while Matt had grappled him from behind, trying to free his friend. The three separated and stood, facing the woman as she stepped in front of them.
“Conor, is this not the witch you are making your familiar?”
Conor’s gaze roved over me, checking to see if I was okay. I was fine, although a slight trembling wracked my body. The woman next to me held on tightly so I wouldn’t collapse on the floor.
“She is.” His voice was hard.
The woman, who was obviously in charge, stepped in front of Mr. Davis. “Gerard, what is the meaning of all this? Were you attacking this girl?”
Mr. Davis’s face was beet red and he was panting, his eyes hungry and cruel as he looked at me, but he did not respond.
“Nicholas,” the woman spoke over her shoulder. “Can you read him?”
Matt’s dad stepped forward, patting me on the shoulder as he approached his son. He stood in front of Mr. Davis and everyone was silent for a moment.
“He attacked her ten years ago,” Mr. Finley recited, voice deadpan.
Matt looked at Mr. Davis in shock, eyes wide, mouth hanging open, and then back at me. His face changed into a look of pity and regret. I wasn’t sure what was going through his mind; I hoped he didn’t blame himself for tonight. Conor watched the silent exchange between me and Matt as Mr. Finley continued.
“He wants her as his familiar. He figured out Ashlinn was the same witch he’d attacked all those years ago and planned to finish the familiar bond tonight.”
Apparently Mr. Finley could read minds. He stepped back, giving me a view of Mr. Davis, who now looked beaten, loss and resignation all over his face.
The woman in charge drew herself up tall. “Gerard, I am disappointed. You know the rules. You will be punished. Your seat is forfeited. Liam, Nicholas, please take him away.”
Conor’s dad stepped forward and helped Mr. Finley usher Mr. Davis out of the room. I sighed. It was over. I was safe. Relief flooded my body, and I really couldn’t stand anymore, even with the nice woman’s help. I sagged to the floor, causing her to reach for me in alarm.
“S’okay,” I murmured. “I just need to sit.”
Looking up, I caught the stares of both boys on me, concerned. I waved them off, trying to tell them I was fine.
The woman in charge gazed down at me, as a queen would look on her subjects. She must have been an elder, maybe even the head one. “Are you quite alright, child?” she addressed me.
“I’m fine, thanks. I just need a minute here,” I reassured her.
She studied me for a moment longer and then turned back to Conor and Matt. “You boys did well, trying to save your witch. She does seem powerful, though I haven’t yet examined her closely. Help her up and we will adjourn to the Council room.”
She turned on her heel and swept past me, nodding at the nice woman who still stood silently. The silent woman shifted her focus to the boys, who still hadn’t moved. “Matthew, are you okay?” I looked between them. I knew it wasn’t his mom because I knew his mom. Was there a relationship there?
Matt nodded. “Yes, grandmother, I’m fine.” Grandmother? I didn’t think I’d ever get used to the fact that no one looked over thirty. She definitely did not appear to be a grandma.
“And Conor, you are well also?” she asked.
“Yes, Mrs. Finley. I’m only worried about Ashlinn.” He nodded at me, still sitting on the floor in a heap of shiny green satin. All three of them looked at me expectantly.
I stood, almost steady, blowing out a breath and smoothing the material of my dress as I felt their gazes take stock of me. “I’m fine. Are we all supposed to go to the Council room?”
Matt’s grandma turned kind blue eyes on me, Matt’s eyes. “Yes. When you are ready, the boys will escort you there. It’s not far.” She smiled and left us.
Awkward silence hung in the air. I wasn’t sure who should speak or which issue to address first. The boys seemed just as unsure as they remained rooted to their spots.
“Well,” I pronounced, flapping my arms uselessly. “Shall we go?” Okay, so I was avoiding all the issues and trying to get us out of there and on to the next problem.
Conor moved first, coming to stand in front of me. His angry gaze pierced me. “I told you not to go anywhere by yourself,” he scolded before pulling me into a fierce hug. Confused, I wrapped my arms around him, relieved, and pressed my cheek to his starched tux.
“Sorry,” I mumbled.
He held me at arm’s length to examine me to make sure for himself I was fine. Now I could see in his eyes he wasn’t just angry. He’d been scared. Scared for me, scared of losing me.
“Hey,” I said gently. “I’m fine. In Matt’s defense, he told me to stay right there, and I didn’t. Instead of running back toward people, I ran this way, like a dumb blonde in a horror movie. It all worked out in the end because you guys came when I called you.”
Conor’s mouth flattened. “You called both of us?”
“Well, yeah. I wasn’t sure who it would work on, or if it would work. I figured if one of you heard, you’d get the other.” I shrugged. It had made sense in the panic-filled moment.
Matt stepped forward, face blank of emotion. “Only I got it, Ash. I heard you and I got Conor. He’d been talking to his dad and grandmother and they came with us, grabbing my dad and grandma on the way. Conor and I were faster. We got here, took care of Tre, got in the room, and totally had Davis handled before the elders caught up to us.”
Conor was still silent, brow furrowed. I was pretty sure his ego was hurt because Matt had heard me call and Conor hadn’t.
“Matt, your dad can read minds? Maybe that’s why you can hear me. You have some of his talent,” I suggested. Matt shrugged, giving Conor a sidelong glance. I was sure Matt knew Conor’s ego had suffered. “Yeah, that’s probably why.”
We walked into the empty hallway. Tre was nowhere in sight. The dads must have grabbed him on their way out with Mr. Davis. I wondered briefly where they would take the two of them.
Conor spoke in a quiet voice. “You can both stop coddling me. Matt’s dad’s mind reading only works when he’s staring into the eyes of someone. Matt was not looking at you when you called for help. You two are connected. I’m sure it goes back to the night Matt found you after Mr. Davis attacked you.”
Matt’s baby blues turned to me. “I had no idea it was Mr. Davis. It’s just creepy how all this time, he was so close.”
I shuddered again. “Yeah, thanks for that reminder.”
“How did you keep her alive, Matt?” Conor inquired.
Matt shrugged. “I was eight. The only way I knew to help her was to give her my blood. So that’s what I did, and I waited with her until she’d regained her strength.”
“Apparently it created some type of bond between you.” Conor’s voice was carefully neutral.
I took his hand as we walked down the hall. His skin was warm and still made me want to run my hands all over him, even after all we’d just been through. Matt’s eyes flicked down to where our hands joined before going back forward. I sighed. This was never going to be uncomplicated. Matt needed a woman. Just not Victoria.
Chapter Eighteen
None of us spoke as the boys slowed to a stop in front of one of the many doors. It was open and I looked in on a dozen or so adult vamps all standing around waiting, for us apparently. They all turned to look as we stopped before the doorway. The woman in charge from earlier—Conor’s grandma, I corrected myself—stepped forward and gestured us in.
“Let’s get started. Ashlinn, I am Vivian, the elder in charge,” she said with a smile.
We walked to the middle of the room, Conor’s hand still in mine, Matt on my other side, a warm, calming presence. The elders stood before us. All twelve sets of eyes studied us. I felt like a bug under a microscope. I probably looked like a hot mess; my hand fluttered to my head to smooth my hair.
Beside me, Matt chuckled. “You look fine.”
I glared at him as Conor squeezed my hand.
“So, Ashlinn is to be Conor’s familiar,” Conor’s grandma, Vivian, said. She wore her black hair in a knot at the nape of her neck and her green eyes brimmed with intelligence. Her dress was formal yet simple, a boat-neck black sheath pulled in at the waist and then draped to the floor. She was elegant, and still commanding.
“Yes,” Conor said simply. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to do anything, but I nodded.
“And you acquiesce to this?” she addressed me.
She was using big words. I hoped I could keep up.
“Yep. I’m all good,” I responded with a nervous smile.
Matt chuckled again. I discreetly put my elbow in his ribs.
A man stepped forward. “Does she have control of her power? Or will she throw you when you try to conduct the ceremony?”
Heat filled my face as I remembered the loss of control I so recently exhibited.
“Ashlinn and I have been working on her control and she will do just fine,” Conor spoke confidently, but his eyes slid toward Matt.
Vivian nodded. The others continued to study us. My pulse raced under their relentless scrutiny. I fidgeted in place, not able to stand still.
“Very well. Let’s see her in action.” She glanced over her shoulder and a man stepped forward carrying a small, round table. He placed it in between the Council and us before melting back into the shadows.
Confused, I studied the objects on the table: two large pillar candles; a small, silver bowl of water; a couple of rocks; and a heavy-looking book. I looked back up at Vivian in question.
She gestured toward the table. “You do have command of all the elements, correct? Demonstrate.”
Oh. They wanted a show. Conor squeezed my shoulder, a gesture of reassurance while Matt stepped far enough away I no longer felt his comforting presence. Fine. I would have to do it without him anyway.
Feeling like a trained pony, I concentrated on the candles first. Creating fire was one of the first spells I’d learned. My dad was a master firestarter.
Breathing out, I grounded and centered, the action coming almost automatically after all the practice from the last couple days. I barely had to breathe the words of incantation before both candles lit with small pops of flame. Murmurs of approval came from the Council members.
“Nice,” Conor commented under his breath. He’d never seen me manipulate any element except air before.
Water was next. I wasn’t sure what they wanted me to do with the water. I knew a spell to heat it and create fog. My mom’s master element was water. She had shown me a couple of spells I could do without casting a circle.
I turned my focus on the small bowl and chanted the words quietly. At first nothing happened and panic threatened. I could feel at least twelve pairs of eyes studying me, picking me apart, waiting for me to fail. My hands clenched and I breathed out sharply.
“Come on, Ash.” Was that Matt’s voice in my head? Couldn’t dwell on that right now. I knew he believed in me, that was enough.
I closed my eyes and focused on the spell, the words, the intent. After regaining my focus, I stared at the bowl again, chanting the words a little louder.
The water rippled and bubbled and a small fog formed over it. I released the spell and glanced up at Vivian. She was watching me, approval in her shrewd gaze. With a nod, she indicated the other items on the table.
Earth and air were left. Air I’d been working on with Conor; I saved that one for last. Earth was tougher. I couldn’t do a whole lot with those rocks. I could make plants grow faster and produce bigger fruit, but not out of rocks. Sometimes I used crystals as focal pieces in certain spells. The spells I did often required more ingredients, however.
So what did they want me to do with the damn rocks? I stared at them as though they would give me the answer. They just sat on the table, lumps of different minerals, all mixed together. One of them looked like granite flecked with mica and quartz.
Oh, wait. It hit me. I could separate a rock into its minerals. It would take a lot of energy. I was pretty sure I remembered the separation words; it would have to do.
The rock became my focus, like it was the only thing that mattered in the world. After a brief moment, the words came to me and I chanted. I pulled on every ounce of power I could muster from inside me. After I finished the incantation, I pushed with my mind, with everything I had.
Dust flew over the table as the little rock exploded. It wasn’t a huge explosion, but it still caused everyone to start, even me.
Gasping, I grabbed Conor’s arm. His free hand cradled me, comforting, his eyes riveted on the table. When the mini dust cloud settled, one rock was gone, replaced with four small piles of different material.
My mouth fell open. Okay, I knew the spell, but I had never actually used it on a rock before. Behind me, Matt laughed his approval. For the first time, I finally believed what they’d been telling me all along. I was powerful, and I wasn’t even at the height of my powers. My shoulders straightened with pride as any lingering insecurity left me.
I smiled broadly at Vivian. She pressed her lips together, eyes shining. Was she hiding a smile?
A derisive snort from behind Vivian drew everyone’s attention. “So she can manipulate the elements. What hap
pens when Conor goes to bite her? We all heard what happened last time. Air is obviously her strength, she uses it without thinking. She should have a distraction for her final test.”
I recognized the voice, imperious and strident. Conor’s mom stepped forward, her brown eyes on me. She was the only one who wore her hair down, blonde waves cascading over her shoulders.
That was his mom? The ice-bitch I’d heard him talking to the day I’d run out of his house. She didn’t look as scary as she’d sounded. In fact, she looked completely harmless, like a ‘50s housewife—harmless.
Conor stiffened, his right arm still around me, creating a circle of protection, my hand still clenched his left arm. Vivian looked from her ex-daughter-in-law to us, eyebrows raised.
“I suppose that is a fair declaration. Conor, while she performs the next spell, pretend to bite her.”
I clenched my jaw. I had this, I totally had this. Conor and I had been practicing and I’d gotten it. I looked up to reassure him as we let go of each other. His face was stone, eyes still on his mother. When he glanced down at me his eyes were apologetic.
“It’s fine,” I reassured him. “We’ve got this.”
I didn’t think he seemed as confident as I felt. I focused on the book and found my center again. I could do this.
The book lifted off the table slightly and Conor leaned in, breathing on my neck. I forced my eyes to remain open only to see the book waver. No, dammit. I had this. It steadied, but as Conor’s fangs gently scraped the tender skin of my neck, goosebumps covered my skin, my breath caught, my heart raced, and the book went flying off to the left, crashing into the wall before falling to the floor with a dejected thump.
Conor straightened, green eyes neutral, as he turned back to the Council. I bit my lip, face on fire.
“I can do this,” I croaked. I turned to face the book, lying open on the floor. “Conor, do it again.”
This time the book floated for all of five seconds before flying toward us, making us both duck.