by Leilani Love
Eryk laughs. “Hey be careful man, there is an animal in the woods.”
Chase heads over to his bag, and grabbing a shirt, pulls it over his head. “Put your shirt on Scott before you scare the kids.”
Scott chuckles, flexing. “You’re just worried that Violca will have a hard time keeping her hands off the guns.”
Chase snorts. “Guns, really?”
He walks up to the porch, taking a few stairs at a time. Eryk follows him in. The smell of sausage and fresh coffee causes Chase’s stomach to growl. Eva, sitting at the bar, turns and looks at them. “Hey guys, there are cups next to the coffee pot if you want some coffee. Breakfast should be done in a few.”
Brandon looks over at them and levels Chase with a look that lets him know he doesn’t trust him as far as he can throw him. Chase raises an eyebrow and walks to the counter, making himself a cup of coffee. Pouring two more, he hands one to Eryk.
Sari and Angyalka come out of their room, laughing and giggling. When they see him they both hug him tight and he picks up Sari as Angyalka jumps on Eryk who picks her up. “Can we play kitty again?”
Eryk smiles, tweaking her nose. “Sure, we can play later.”
She giggles before squirming out of his arms. Sari and Angyalka both take their seats at the bar. Hearing a door open down the hall, Chase looks up to see Violca. She has changed to a pair of denim shorts that show off her legs and a blue tank top. Looking up, their eyes meet and he sees her tongue come out and lick her lips.
Remembering the taste of her lips and how she responded to his kiss, he fights the urge to go over to her and kiss her good morning. Scott comes in and she looks away, smiling politely in his direction.
“All right guys, breakfast is done,” Brandon announces. “Eva made the toast and the sausage and eggs are on the stove, everyone make your plates.” He winks at Sari and Angel, handing them both their plates. “Except you two.”
Chapter 35
Scott watches how the girls interact with each other and Brandon. Brandon, he can tell is close to the family. He knows that Chase is a little jealous but the way Brandon and Violca treat each other, he would think they are brother and sister. There is a connection there but not sexual.
Feeling like he is being watched, he turns his head and sees Kati sitting on the chair watching him out of the corner of her eye. Scott notices that the few pictures he saw of her at the school she was always wearing clothes that were baggy and didn’t fit her well. Here at the cabin surrounded by her family she is wearing a pair of black yoga pants and a yellow top.
He knows that she will grow up to be a beauty, the only issue he has is that she seems to be almost scared of her own shadow. When Kati notices him looking in her direction, she blushes brightly before turning her head.
Scott turns to see Eryk watching him, a small smile on his lips. Narrowing his eyes he almost growls before catching himself. Eryk shakes his head, and Scott has a feeling that if they were alone his younger brother would be laughing at him.
Once the girls all have finished making their plates the guys go and make theirs. Kati and Eva sit at the bar with the younger two while the rest of them sit around the living room. The cabin is cozy despite the tension coming off everyone. Scott knows that Brandon does not trust them and wonders if they were invited because Brandon had stumbled upon Violca and Chase in the woods.
Chase chooses to sit on the chair near Violca instead of the couch next to her. He can see Brandon watching him. Violca for the most part seems to be concentrating on her food, not really looking at either of them. When she finally looks up at him, Chase winks at her, smiling when he sees her blush.
Looking up his eyes meet Brandon’s who is looking at him fiercely. Chase feels the corner of his lip go up in a bit of a smile. He is still a little jealous of how close they are but he knows Violca would have never make love to him if there was anything going on between them.
Angel comes running from the kitchen area and stands before Chase. “Will you help me fish today?”
Chase looks up at Violca then at Brandon. Brandon shrugs. “Since you guys are staying here you might as well help us catch dinner.”
“Sure Angel,” Chase replies before tweaking her nose.
Angyalka beams up at him then runs back to the table. “Chase is coming, he is going to help me catch the biggest fish.”
They all laugh at her loud statement. Violca looks up at him. “Well you better not fail or she will never let you live it down.”
Chase winks at her. “I will do my best.”
Brandon rolls his eyes at the statement and sees Violca elbow him in the side, causing him to grunt. Brandon chuckles. “What?”
Violca raises an eyebrow and Chase notices that Brandon’s smile widens. Brandon pretends to rub his side as Violca goes back to eating to her breakfast.
“When are we going fishing?” Eryk asks as he finishes his last bite.
“Depending on how long it takes the girls to get ready, about an hour,” Brandon answers, looking over at the bar where the rest of the girls were eating.
“If you guys don’t mind, I’m going to stay here and read while you go fishing,” Violca announces, looking over at Brandon.
Brandon sighs and Chase sees the look that passes between them before he finally nods. After everyone finishes eating the girls clean up. Scott and Eryk both go in to help but Eva shoos them away, telling them that the boys get to clean up after dinner.
Violca helps the girls get ready while Brandon packs up the cooler with Eva and Kati. The guys go out to change. Once everything is packed up Kati and Eva find Violca and Eva asks, “Are you staying to read the book?”
“Yeah, I want to read while I have a chance to be alone. I hope you don’t mind.”
Both girls shake their heads and Violca releases a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “You guys can share the book tonight and I’ll let you know if I read anything interesting.”
The girls smile before heading out. Violca sees Angyalka run up to Chase and grab his hand, leading him toward the river.
Violca goes to her room and grabs the book from the nightstand. Taking it back to the living room, she curls up in the couch to re-read the note her mother left them. Smiling, she turns the page. The handwriting and language is unfamiliar. Biting her lip she thinks about how the writing changed earlier when she ran her fingers over the paper. Deciding to try it again, she runs her fingers lightly over the page. The paper feels a little different, thicker, older. It warms slightly under her fingers then shimmers as the writing slowly changes.
This book is for those that come after me. A place for us to share our stories for those that come after.
I think the best place to start is the beginning. Our great grandmother was kicked out of her family’s house after she got pregnant. She went into labor while passing through a small town. She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl who had the most unusual violet eyes. When she was born, the innkeeper’s wife who helped birth her fell head over heels for the little angelic child and talked her husband into letting them stay and work there.
As the child grew she won over the entire town. She was born with a natural ability to heal others and her touch was so special that even the plants would grow. Her mother never admitted to it but the town firmly believed that the violet eyed child was a child of the gods. Believing she was a blessing to them, the town did their best to keep her a secret.
One day a Lord came through. At this time the child was almost a teenager and at the marrying age. He stuck around, bribing the people, and when he found out about her ability he decided he wanted her for himself.
He tried to buy her from her mother who refused. She could see the greed in him and wanted more for her daughter than a man who would use her. When his guards physically tried to take her daughter, she fought to take her back. The man’s guards stabbed her mother. The girl’s cry was so loud and so heart breaking that several ladies close came running. They instantly tri
ed to rescue the girl. The man wielded his knife but before he could attack any of them the girl screamed, putting both her hands on his face.
The rumor of the town is that the man went blind and released her. Grandmother just smiled and shook her head when I asked her. She ran to her mother, crying. The girl put her hands over the wound and slowly it magically healed.
According to my great grandmother the sound of her heartbreak was what caused the gods to bless them and give the beautiful child the gifts she has. The females that came to help her also suddenly had smaller gifts. Some were able to heal the others had a special power over the earth. Only grandmother was blessed with the ability to call the earth and heal.
If you are able to read this then you my dear are also related to the beautiful child who is rumored to be a daughter to one of the gods. Our gifts are many and varied, but one thing is for sure, our power comes from the earth.
Violca pauses there to think about what she had read so far. The story does not embellish anything but she still got stuck on things like powers and gods. She enjoyed reading about mythology in school but believed it was only a myth…right?
Chapter 36
Angyalka holds one of Chase’s hands while the other one holds the small cooler of drinks. “Do you like my sister?”
Chase almost trips at her question and he hears Scott and Eryk both coughing to suppress their laughter. “I think your sister is very nice.”
Angyalka frowns at that, as if thinking about what he said. “You kissed my sister. Doesn’t that mean you have to love her?”
This time Scott coughs and Chase sees Eryk shoulders shaking in laughter. His eyes narrow and he thinks about how he would like to roast them. Maybe a little fire under their ass would make him feel better. “Well…umm,” Chase stutters, not sure how to answer the question.
“If you don’t love her you should not kiss her,” Angyalka states before continuing, “When you marry her, I don’t want to wear pink, okay?”
Chase closes his eyes, trying not to smile at her words. “I promise if I marry your sister, you won’t have to wear a pink dress.”
Nodding at that, Angyalka lets go of his hand and skips ahead to Sari. Chase shakes his head, wondering what that was about. He sees Eryk and Scott looking back at him, both of them smiling at him before Scott finally says, “I don’t think you should have agreed, after all, aren’t colors something the bride gets to pick?”
Looking around, making sure no one is watching, he flips them both off. Both of them laugh as they turn back around.
The trail Brandon leads them down takes them to the lake at the end of the river. There is a small pier that Brandon is leading the girls onto. “All right guys, let’s fish before all the other people come out and scare the fish away.”
Sari gives Eryk her fishing rod, asking him to help her while Angyalka runs up to Chase, reminding him of his promise to help her catch the biggest fish. Scott sets down the big cooler, watching as the girls set up. He smiles when he sees Eryk and Chase having a hard time trying to help the younger ones fish.
Scott watches for a moment, noticing that Kati is off by herself, frowning in frustration. Taking a deep breath, he walks over to her. “Would you like some help?”
He flinches when she jumps. Nodding, she bites her lower lip before whispering, “Sure.”
Before baiting her hook, he holds her fishing pole. “Okay, when you cast out, it’s a flick of a wrist, like this see?” he says, showing her how to flick her wrist while holding the pole. Handing her the pole, he stands back before telling her, “Here you try it.”
Kati flicks her wrist a few times almost getting the movement right but still a little jerky. “Hold on,” he says and when she stops, he moves in behind her. His large hand enfolds hers, and his panther almost purrs being that close to her. “Like this, one fluid movement.”
Kati repeats the movement with his help. When she has it down he moves back and Scott baits her hook. “Okay now you are ready.”
Scott watches as she casts out. When she casts correctly, she turns to him with a smile on her lips. His breath catches. It’s rare to see Kati smile and at this moment she looks truly happy. “Good job. You will probably catch a fish before anybody else.”
Kati looks around and smiles when she looks at Chase and Eryk, both still trying to show her younger sisters what to do. Eva and Brandon are both smiling as well. She knows he is trying to hold back his laughter at the constant questions the girls are asking them.
Scott baits his hook and takes a few steps from her before casting. Kati finds herself watching him from the corner of her eye. Scott has made her nervous since the first time they met. He scared her when he came at Eryk. Every other time since then, Scott has both terrified her and fascinated her.
Kati’s reaction to him is unexpected. Eryk is the first guy in a long time to be nice to her and stand up for her. She knows her sister, Violca, might hope she has a crush on him but it is Scott who constantly draws her attention. Scott turns, his eyes meeting hers, and she feels her cheeks heat up at being caught staring at him. Quickly turning her attention back to her fishing rod, she jumps when she feels a tug.
“Let the line up a little,” she hears Scott say, suddenly near her. “Okay, now slowly start to reel it in.” The first few spins around are easy, but it quickly gets harder and she frowns, using her muscle. She feels Scott rest his hands on her, and he guides her to pull it back before reeling it in. His hands steadying hers, he lets her do the work but adds his support. She can feel his breath on her ear. “That’s it, you got it”
When the fish jumps up above the water, she is surprised to see how big it is. Kati takes a deep breath, not wanting to let Scott down. When they finally get the fish close, Brandon appears with the net, capturing it for her. Unhooking it, Brandon smiles. “Good job Kati, you caught the first fish of the day.”
Kati’s chest swells with pride and she turns to look at Scott. Scott grins at her. “Good job.”
“Thank you,” Kati replies before turning back to Brandon. Sari and Angyalka run past her, each with a worm in their hand, chasing each other, squealing. Brandon puts the fish in the cooler he brought.
“Do you need help baiting your hook or do you have it?” Scott asks.
“I want to try it,” Kati says, biting her lip when she grabs a worm from the container. Concentrating, she baits her hook and casts out like Scott showed her. Looking over, she sees Scott watching her. Smiling politely, she turns back to the lake, wondering if anyone else can hear her heart beating.
Chapter 37
Violca put the book away earlier. She had flipped through it and come across a section that talked about other females who had a healing touch. Reading the passage triggered memories of her sisters and AnnaBelle always telling her that she had a magic touch.
Violca also read about times they had run into other people who had different abilities and gifts. Some of them were good, others were bad. Her ancestors learned to be weary of others and trust their instincts. Everyone had the potential to be good or bad but her ancestors believed that individuals should be judged on their own actions not the group or race.
Smiling, she can hear Angyalka’s high-pitched squeal, and she looks out the window. Sari is the first one she sees, followed quickly by Angyalka. Slowly, one by one, they all appear. Going out on to the porch she smiles. “So, did you guys catch dinner?”
Brandon snorts. “Of course.”
Eva winks. “Kati caught the biggest fish.”
Raising an eyebrow, she looks over at Kati who blushes. “She did, did she?” Looking over at Chase, she smiles. “I thought you were going to help Angel catch the biggest fish?”
Chase grins. “Well apparently Kati had better skills.”
Brandon comes up the stairs with the cooler of fish. Violca grins at them. “I made you potato salad and baked some brownies for dessert tonight.”
“How about I cook the fish since you cooked breakfast?” Scott
asks.
Brandon shrugs. “Are you a good cook?”
Scott grins. “I know my way around fish.”
Violca heads back in the house, quickly followed by Eva and Kati. “So did you read the book?” Eva asks quietly, once they are away from everyone.
Looking over her shoulder, noticing how the guys are all outside drinking the last of the beer from one of the coolers, Violca replies, “I read some of it. It seems so unbelievable, but…” her voice trails off, now wondering what her sisters will think when she admits that a part of her believes in what she is reading.
Eva seems to sense her thoughts and smiles at her. “It’s hard to believe and I know some of my memories are clouded, but I don’t ever remember Mom lying to us. She just always seemed to be…”
“More,” Kati finishes for her.
Chase listens from the porch. Scott and Eryk already guessing what he is doing, keep most of the conversation going. A part of him wonders what is unbelievable. What is in that book he cannot read? Did they not know what they are? Can it be possible that the earth witches who are expected to be able to find and unleash the power of the Dragon Ruby do not even know what they are?
There is a faint smell of magic coming from inside the house. Chase can tell that Scott and Eryk also smell it. While Scott preps the fish for dinner, Eryk announces he is going to take a quick walk. Chase nods at him, knowing he is going to do a quick perimeter check since they have not done one since early that morning.
When he sees Violca is in the kitchen by herself, he smiles and walks over to her. Wrapping his arms around her, he puts his head in the crook of her neck and inhales deeply, loving the way she smells. He can feel her tense up, but she looks around and realizes that they are alone and then he can feel her relax against him. “Did you have fun with Sari and Angyalka while fishing?”
