by Hood, Holly
He shrugs. “I knew it was yours, I didn’t want to hang around out in the sun so I slipped through a window.”
Elliot smirks right along with Dax. From the stupid fucking smiles on their faces they seem to be the best of friends.
“How very polite of you to not bust our windows.” I sigh, looking at Slade he doesn’t seem happy that I am having such a shitty attitude with his brother so I pull it back. “So tell me about yourself, Dax. How old are you?”
“I’ll be twenty-three next month. I used to hang around the band all the time when I was younger. Never was good with instruments and my singing voice is shit. But Slade never left me out.” He grins.
I still don’t understand why Slade never mentioned him. I look at Slade and I know he is thinking what I am. He bites at his lip ring and clears his throat. “Dax drifted away for awhile.”
Dax nods in agreement. “They thought I was dead for years.”
This family reunion is becoming more and more disturbing.
“Some might say I am the cause of the whole accident, voodoo bullshit,” he says, waiting for any reaction from Slade.
“I thought it was just a car accident.” Now I’m interested.
“Voodoo?” Easton ask, snatching another pancake. “I thought witches.”
So did I.
“Let’s get this out of the way before I get really pissed off,” Slade tells me. He stands up, pushing his chair backwards and gives me a look letting me know he wants me to follow him. So I do.
“What’s going on?” I follow him out the front door and down the stairs. The sun is already sweltering and making everything intolerable. I can already feel the stickiness on my skin. “Why didn’t you ever tell me you had a brother?”
Slade rubs the back of his neck and shakes his head in disbelief. “Because honestly I wanted to fucking forget that I did.” That seems pretty harsh.
He sits down on the steps, his arms resting on his legs and rubs the back of his neck. “Dax has always been the number one person you went to if something happened. He was always in some kind of mess, always screwing something up.”
“Was the accident his fault?” How awful is it to think your own brother altered your existence? “Is that even possible?”
“The accident was just an accident. But I found out Dax was running around with covens for over a year. And he seized the opportunity. Who’d have ever thought a bunch of witches would happen upon us that night and my brother would take full fucking advantage of it.”
“That’s messed up. Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
“Because I’ve never told anyone. Not even Kidd. Nobody knows.” He pushes off his legs and stands. “My brother was looking for any and every chance he could get to become what I fucking am today.”
I chase after him, hurrying up the stairs before he goes. “So why not tell him to leave?”
“Because like it or not he’s my brother. And I can’t turn my back on him. He’s fucked up, but he’s still a good person.”
Dax comes out onto the porch. “What are we talking about out here?” He leans against the house, crossing his arms across his gray t-shirt. He grins at us. And for a moment I see a bit of Slade in him.
“We were talking about how awful that fucking haircut you have is,” Slade lies.
We all laugh. I guess he isn’t so bad if Slade can deal with him he has to be somewhat a good person. That soon ends.
“Really rad perk of killing a shaman.” Dax throws an arm around me and Slade as we go back inside the house. “I can fucking see everything.”
I turn and look at him. “Like what?” Maybe I don’t want to know that answer.
“Like that old broad smoking in the kitchen. And the guy in the living room drinking a bottle of jack. Don’t even get me started on the British dude I found in your bedroom.” Dax laughs it all off like it’s no big deal. “The dead fucking walk this earth, and they are everywhere.”
I look at Slade, he looks at me and neither one of us say a word.
Nona says hi
“What do you mean you can see dead people?” I shake my head. “And you see my Nona and my Dad?”
Dax takes a seat in the living room. “Nona says hi.” He looks to the left and shakes his head. “She also says she doesn’t like that shirt. She says it’s not your color.”
I can’t believe this.
“And I get the feeling your father is very upset he missed your wedding. That’s all the guy is talking about.” Dax nods again. “He said you looked beautiful.”
I burst into tears. And Slade tries to comfort me while Dax keeps talking about my dad and how bad he feels not being here anymore. Everything I didn’t want to hear.
“Alright enough,” Slade says. “She’s upset. We can figure this out later.”
Dax nods in agreement. “You bet. I’m sure nobody wants to hear what the brit has to say anyways.”
I watch him walk out of the room and wait until he is up the stairs before I let it out. “Are you sure he can’t leave?”
Slade laughs finding me funny. But I am serious. I want him as far away from me as possible. This does nothing for my sanity.
“I thought we covered this.” He brushes my hair away from my face. “It’s going to be okay.”
I shake my head. “He sees them all… even Hutch.”
***
After a long soak in my tub, I get dressed and go down the hall to Dax’s bedroom. His door is cracked open and when I peer inside I see him sprawled out sleeping. He’s not so obnoxious when he is unconscious.
I push the door open and step inside his room. It’s clear he has made himself at home. His clothes litter the floor. His trash is scattered on my old antique dresser. And his big black back pack sits in the corner under the velvet chaise. Something shiny catches my eye.
I grab it, it’s open and I’m shocked to see a bunch of my jewelry and fancy nick nacks nestled inside of one of his t-shirts. He doesn’t seem so innocent anymore.
I drop the bag with a thud and Dax sits up. He takes one look at his bag and his eyes soften. “Please don’t tell my brother.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” He’s a thief, Slade deserves to know.
“Because I can help you.”
“Help me with what?” I cross my arms. “The only thing I can see you helping is getting out of my house and staying far away.”
“Getting rid of the Brit. That’s what you want… it’s written all over your face.” He stands up, looking at me. I can’t disagree, the thought of getting rid of Hutch, that sounds amazing.
But what makes Dax think he even knows how to stop the crazy haunting going on in my mind?
Running Blind
An hour has passed since Dax said he could help me get rid of Hutch. And that sounds so good right now. Slade’s gone practicing with the band and I am sitting on the edge of my bed debating telling Dax that he can give it his best shot.
This is a bad idea. I know nothing about this guy.
I know that everyone else was happy to see him. But only one of them knows the truth. He’s the reason they became entangled in dark magic.
And as much as they try to live normal lives it still looms around them at all times—even here in Georgia.
“Did you want me to order a pizza or something?” Elliot asks from the doorway. “Because I’m hungry. And it doesn’t look like you plan on cooking.”
I nod. “Sure. Half pineapple please.” He doesn’t leave, he pulls out his phone and takes a seat on the chaise and looks at me. “Everything okay?”
“Fine.” I look at him. “What about you?” He was drinking with Dax, something I never thought my brothers would ever do after living with our dad.
“Fine.” He sighs. “You ever wish he was here?”
“I do.” He doesn’t have to explain. “Nona too. I miss her negativity.”
I think he wants to say something else. “What about cheese bread?” He gets up, phone to his ear.
“S
ure. Whatever you want.” I let him leave because I don’t have the energy to deal with emotions. Emotions are freaking exhausting.
After the pizza comes, I force myself to eat three slices and a chunk of cheese bread and I excuse myself back to my bedroom with a bottle of wine.
It’s very comforting to have a glass of wine tonight. I’ll just drink one glass and close my eyes and go to sleep. Maybe tomorrow I will get some more painting done.
A soft energy coats my insides with every sip I take. I down the last of my glass and sprawl back onto my pillows. The room is dark, the moonlight cuts through the parted curtains giving my things a soft glow. And it’s quiet—silent.
The curtains shake and the whole place shifts on its axis. I brace myself before I fall off the bed onto my face. I have to be seeing things.
But there he is, on my bed looking at me.
“I thought you would figure out the more you relax the easier for me to get here,” Hutch says with a grin. “You’re fucking sexy, doll.”
I’m not doing this again. “You’re dead, Hutch. This is a figment of my imagination.”
He touches my face, fingers moving across my skin. That doesn’t feel fake at all. “You don’t believe that.” He presses a finger into my bottom lip.
“I do believe that.” I don’t back away from him. I don’t act scared because that’s what my crazy mind wants. My mind wants to make me believe in bullshit.
His breath is against my cheek and his fingers dig into my skin pulling my jaw closer to his mouth. He’s a beautiful man, even if he is so god awful. One time I enjoyed the way he touched me.
I close my eyes, my breath quickening, this is a fantasy from my nightmares. The gods are trying to fuck with me.
And then we kiss. Hutch’s mouth presses against mine hard, fast, and with such force my head hits the bed and I’m trapped beneath his looming presence.
I kiss him back, something about this dirty fantasy is turning me on and I wish it wasn’t. I thrust my tongue against his, and I lift my head exposing my neck to him. He takes advantage and grazes my skin with his teeth.
“I didn’t think it would be this easy to fuck you,” he whispers against my ear, he pushes my legs apart so he can get between them. And he rocks his hips forward pressing his erection into me.
“This isn’t real.” The words come out in a whisper because all I can think about is how good it feels when he is grinding against me.
He gets my pants down and pulls my underwear out of the way plunging his fingers deep inside of me. I jerk and buck against him, letting him fuck me with his fingers.
And I come—loud.
When I open my eyes I’m alone. My heart pounding against my insides. I touch my forehead trying to catch my breath. I look at the clock, it’s been several hours.
“I must have fallen asleep,” I say to myself. But when I see I’m naked from the waist down I don’t know if it was a dream at all. “What the fuck is wrong with me?” Who gets off to their enemy? I’m a married woman. I like my husband. I like having sex with him. I have orgasms with him, most girls have a hard time getting off with anyone.
I grab my underwear and put them back on, rolling to the other side of the bed and grab my phone. I have no text from Slade.
I get out of bed, walk across the room to the closet and grab the box from the shelf. I open it and pull out the big book of spells and sit down on the closet floor.
I am not sure what I need. But I will know when I see it.
Chords
“Let’s go over that set one more time,” Slade says, he grips the microphone a sheen of sweat on his forehead. He’s shirtless and his jeans are hanging low on his hips teasing me. God, I love a man with a v. Not to mention the tattoos and muscles. I could look at him forever.
“It’s like one in the morning,” Oz gripes, lighting a cigarette. He plucks a chord, cigarette hanging from his lip.
“Yeah, Karsen is going to be pissed if I am out here any longer,” Kidd tells them.
Slade shakes his head, clearly upset that everyone has lives other than playing hardcore metal.
“Are they always like this?” Dax asks. Karsen went to bed a long time ago, and I got the job of hanging out with Slade’s brother. He’s not so bad, after a week he’s starting to grow on me. So I don’t mind.
“They are always like this. And usually around this time Slade cusses them all out, Oz throws a fit and Kidd talks everyone into quitting for the day.” I laugh and watch it unfold in front of us.
“And what about you?” Dax settles back into the pillows. He has his own tattoos. They are void of color and I’m sure come with stories. I never bothered to ask though. “How does it feel to be the wife of a rock star?”
I shrug. “I suppose not any different than if he was a doctor.” We would still make time for one another.
“Yeah well… what’s it feel like to be married to someone who practices black magic?”
“He doesn’t practice,” I laugh at his question. “The most magic I see around here is when he gets six hours of sleep a night. He’s always been very strict about it. It’s not like it's something he ever wanted.”
Dax studies Slade. “Sounds like my stupid brother.”
Speaking of magic. “I have this book. It was a gift.”
He is paying attention to me now, eager to hear more. “What kind of book?”
“A book of spells. And from what I read, it’s possible you could raise the dead.” This seems to good to be true. I’ve been down this road already. But Dax has the power of a shaman. There are different rules. Believe me, I have scoured the book and the internet.
He scratches his forehead, looking confused or maybe thoughtful. “Did you read the part about the bad that can happen?”
“Of course I did. But it would be worth it if I could have my family back.”
“Even the Brit?” He eyes me, wondering if I am that sick and twisted. “Because I get the feeling Slade likes where he is.”
“Sometimes we have to make a deal with the devil to find our little piece of heaven,” I say with a sigh. “Or maybe I’m nuts.” All my excitement turns into fear. Messing with the dead is never a good thing.
“You said you see him? But you don’t see your father or grandmother. That doesn’t make much sense.” Dax looks at me, a smirk on his face.
“I’ve never been normal. And after meeting your brother I’ve become even stranger. What can I say, I’m a freak.” I sigh. “I also learned a hell of a lot from Hutch about this lifestyle. Slade thinks that’s why we’re so connected.”
“Maybe it’s fate.”
I shake my head in disgust. “You’re nuts. Nothing about Hutch showing up in my dreams and nightmares is fate.”
Kidd starts playing bringing my eyes to the practice stage. I gasp.
“What?” Dax isn’t paying attention he’s texting some girl he met the other night.
There is Hutch standing next to the stage watching the guys play. Can Dax see him or is it just me?
I stand up and make it to the door. I can’t take another night of seeing Hutch anywhere. Especially after I let him finger fuck me.
Stroll
Slade is back from a weeklong tour. My mural is closing in on complete and nothing has got better. It’s only escalated into levels of chaos I am having a hard time dealing with on my own.
Everywhere I turn Hutch is there. Standing. Looming. Watching. Some days he says nothing to me. Other days he sits and taunts me until I blow up. Like the other day at the grocery store when I dropped a carton of eggs on the ground and ran from the aisle.
“He’s so peaceful when he’s sleeping,” I say to Karsen watching baby Xavier. There he sits rocking in his little swing, unaware that the world is so messed up all around him.
I barely see Karsen anymore. She is either sleep deprived or busy raising a baby.
“Oh, this isn’t common,” Kidd tells me. “This guy hardly sleeps most nights.” He flips channels on t
he television happy to be home.
“But he’s worth every night of sleeplessness right babe?” Karsen says tightening her sweats and taking the spot next to him.
“I wish you guys would come out with us.” I don’t see the big deal with them getting a babysitter. Her mother has volunteered repeatedly and neither one of them will let the baby out of their sight. “It would be so much fun. A few drinks, dancing maybe.”
Kidd raises his arms above his head and stretches. “Shit. Anymore I hate music. That’s all I do.”
Karsen yawns. “I love naps.”
I roll my eyes. “This is your last chance.” I look in their mirror fluffing my hair. “Once we’re gone we aren’t coming back for you.”
Karsen drops her head on Kidd’s chest. “Get the hell out of here, some of us aren’t lucky enough to wear that dress without spanx. And I’d much rather wear these.” She points at her sweats.
Kidd ruffles her mess of a hairstyle and laughs. And I go out the back door bitter that they have it all figured out. They have become the boring married couple with the child.
Slade comes down the stairs. “Are they coming?” He slips his glasses down the front pocket of his shirt.
“Did you really think they would?”
“No. All Kidd was talking about was sleeping the whole ride back here.” He shakes his head. “I’ve never thought sleep would be such a turn on for someone.”
“Remind me to never have kids any time soon,” I tell him.
“Oh, believe me. I wouldn’t be mad.” He smirks at me and I smirk back and we head to the car. “I like this dress.” He lifts the back. “Why the underwear?”
I make a face. “Because I’m not a slut.”
He cups a hand over one of my ass cheeks and backs me into the car with his pelvis. We kiss. “But if I wanted you to be for tonight you would be right?” He stares down at me, eyes dark, and he bites on his lip ring.
I smile fighting away the butterflies. “I could be persuaded.” He leans in plunging his tongue into my mouth. I hold onto him, unsure if we will even get to the restaurant at this point.
