Burned (Keeper of the Flame Book 1)

by Lila Kane

  “You know, you saw me when I was vulnerable, too,” I tell him. “With the fire. I understand this isn’t something you can control. It’s okay.”

  He still doesn’t move.

  I scowl at him. “Fine. I’m just trying to help,” I mumble.

  I bend down and grab my shoes, bringing them to the other room and plopping on the couch to shove them on my feet. Before I stand, I see the dog at the corner of the hallway.

  “I’ll be back soon,” I tell him, figuring he’ll hide in the house until he’s able to shift back to his human form.

  Before I can stand, he pads over and sniffs my shoes. I reach a hand to touch him again, but he backs away.

  Burying my frustration, I grab my purse and head for the door. Ryan bolts in front of me and blocks my way.

  “What are you doing?” I ask.

  He angles his head as if to say, What do you think I’m doing?

  I don’t want to tell him I’m going to check on Logan, but I’m pretty sure that’s what he suspects.

  “I’m not going to let him out,” I say. “Just make sure…everything looks okay.”

  He doesn’t move. Yeah, I’m probably not the most trustworthy person as far as Logan’s concerned. I haven’t exactly played it safe in the past.

  “I promise.” I nod my head toward the door. “Now, move unless you’re coming with me.”

  Ryan stays put so long I think he might actually want to come. But then he walks away from the door and disappears into the hallway again.

  “Should I stop for some dog food?” I call out behind him.

  He barks back a response as I slam out the front door, irritated. It’s not like I can’t handle his shifting. I opened up to him about the fire and not being able to control it. I know it’s not the same thing but still, he should be able to trust me. We’re on the same side.

  I roll down the windows and let the wind blow my hair as I drive. It doesn’t take me long to reach the hotel, the imposing structure through a maze of trees not too far from Logan’s house. I have mixed feelings about this place. Selena must have lived here at some point, and I feel drawn to it. But I’ve also been stuck behind the walls on the lower level of the hotel. I’ve also been chased through the hedge maze in the back by Logan when he was angry.

  Not good memories.

  I was pretty sure Shadow Hill was going to be a mellow and boring place when I arrived last week. So far, it’s proven otherwise.

  I take the opposite way around the hotel, walking through the leaves, my boots crunching on loose sticks. The closer I get to the cave, the more I can feel Logan. I bet he can feel me, too.

  When I arrive at the mouth, the large rock Ryan used to cover the hole is still there. Last time I had to use my power to get it to move. I’m afraid of what will happen if I try it again, so I try to use my human strength instead.

  I brace my back against the rock and push with my legs, feeling triumphant when it budges. It rolls a few more feet and I keep pushing until it’s far enough I can peer into the opening.

  My heart thumps out an uneven rhythm. It’s quiet all around me except for a bird chirping somewhere in the distance. I brush aside a dangling vine.

  “Logan?” My voice comes out as a whisper. I clear my throat and try again. “Logan?”

  When he doesn’t respond, I stick my head in farther, trying to see him. What if he’s hurt? I can feel him inside the cave, but I can’t tell if he’s even conscious anymore.

  “Logan?” I call again.

  He still doesn’t respond. Biting my lip, I almost turn around. I almost leave. I shouldn’t be here‒especially not by myself.

  I sigh. “Shit.”

  I can’t just walk away either. Bracing my feet against the ground again, I push the rock with my back, nudging it even farther.

  The opening is wide enough for me to step inside now. I wish I would have brought my flashlight so I can see where I’m going.

  “Logan?” I hiss, leaning into the hole.

  I hear nothing at first, then something grabs my shirt and hauls me into the darkness.

  Chapter 2

  I spin around, ready to defend myself. But Logan is bent over with his hands on his knees, breaths measured. Definitely not a threat.

  “You…trapped me in here,” he says, voice low and rough.

  “I had to.”

  He doesn’t argue. Either because it’s too painful or because he knows it’s true.

  There’s not much light entering the cave, but it’s enough for me to see the amethysts lining the wall and sprouting up from the floor. There are dozens scattered about, and really no place Logan can stand where he’s not within a few feet of one.

  It’s only been four hours since I trapped him in here, but it looks like it’s already taking its toll.

  “Logan,” I whisper.

  His head is still hanging. After a moment, he lowers himself to the ground close to one of the walls. He leans against it and drapes one arm across his drawn-up knees. “If you’re here to rub it in, you might as well go.”

  “No.” I sit where I am, in the middle of the cave where a patch of light is shining in from the opening. “I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

  He starts laughing and it turns into a cough. “You wanted to make sure I’m okay. Do I look okay?”

  I reach into my satchel and pull out a bottle of water. I roll it in his direction and he stops it with his hand. “I stabbed you with a letter opener and you were fine. So, I’m thinking even though it’s painful to be in here now, you’ll be fine once you get out.”

  He gulps down half the bottle of water and recaps it. “You’re planning on letting me out?”

  I twist my hands in my lap. “You were planning on letting me go, weren’t you? After I did the spell?”

  His face is serious when he nods. I believe him. I did even when I was locked in his house.

  “Myra doesn’t know where I am,” Logan says.

  There’s less pain in his voice now, but more sadness.

  “Why didn’t you tell me about her?” I ask. “Why didn’t you tell me she’s the reason you wanted me to do the spell?”

  His lips curve into a humorless smile. “I tried, Willow. At first, I didn’t want to say too much because I didn’t know if it would work. But then I got to know you some. I believed you could really pull this off. Don’t you remember me coming to you outside the library?”

  I scowl. “That was after you’d already kidnapped me and held me hostage. Why the hell would I believe you had some legitimate reason for wanting me to do the spell? And why the hell would I risk coming to your house again?”

  He rubs a hand over his face. “Doesn’t matter now, does it?”

  I fiddle with my necklace as guilt creeps over me. But it’s not all my fault. Logan should have been honest up front. Then again, how do you tell someone you just met that you’re a vampire and you need them to reverse an age-old spell in order to save your sick sister?

  That might not have gone over so well. Better than kidnapping, though.

  “I can check on Myra if you want,” I tell him.

  He meets my eyes from across the dim space. He lifts his eyebrows.

  “I mean, I know she’s still at your house. But I can make sure she’s okay.”

  “But you won’t let me out.”

  I stand, dusting off the back of my jeans. “This conversation isn’t really productive anymore. I get that you’re pissed off, but what did you expect? I can’t let you out. Not yet.”

  He doesn’t move, just dangles the bottle from his fingertips and watches the water swish back and forth.

  I start toward the door, keeping an eye on him nevertheless.

  “Yes,” he says.

  I stop in another patch of light and turn. “What?”

  “Yes, would you check on Myra for me? Tell her I’m fine and I’ll…” He shoves a hand through his hair, which is already askew from who knows how many times he repeated the motion. �
��I’ll hopefully see her soon.”

  I nod, meeting his gaze. “You will. ’Bye, Logan.”

  I ease through the opening. I’m about to push the rock back when he appears on the other side.

  I slap a hand to my chest. “Logan. You scared me.”

  His lips move in a ghost of a smile, features taut with strain. “Sorry. Are you going to come back?”

  I think on this for a moment, debating on trying to use some leverage or something here. But it’s not in me right now. Finally, I just nod. “I will. I’ll bring you some more water and maybe some food or something. You still eat, right? Or did that change after the full moon, too?”

  He gives a low laugh. “Yeah, I still eat.”

  I nod and he backs away. I work for a few minutes to shove the rock farther over the opening, but leaving it partly to the side so Logan has some light. I have to figure this out soon. He can’t stay in there forever.

  On my way to Logan’s house, I call Cheyenne.

  “What’s up?” she asks in her usual cheerful tone.

  “I’m going to Logan’s house. Can you meet me there?”

  She sighs. “How did I know you were going to say something like that?”

  “I need to check on Myra.”

  “Psycho vampire sister who tried to strangle you?”

  “Cheyenne.”

  I can envision her shrugging on the other end of the phone. “It’s true.” She pauses before speaking again. “You visited Logan, didn’t you?”

  Again, I could lie but there’s no point. “Yes.”

  “Of course. Your mom‒”

  “Just call her Faye.”

  “Faye,” Cheyenne corrects, “needs time to look around for those books. I’ll leave her here and be there in five.”

  I wait for her in the circle drive, leaning against the car and wondering if Myra knows I’m here. I have the necklace and I’m pretty sure she can’t be too much of a danger to me. Not with how sick she is.

  When Cheyenne arrives, she looks around. “Ryan still at home?”

  I nod.

  “Still in doggy mode?”

  I frown and push away from the car. “Yeah. He tried to stop me from leaving. I guess I probably should have left the back door open for him or something in case he needed to, uh, you know, go out.”

  She makes a face. “Gross.”

  “He wasn’t being very understanding.”

  She eyes the house. “Of you wanting to spend time with vampires? Hmm, can’t blame him.”

  “I’m not asking you to agree with me. I just want you to understand where I’m coming from.”

  She props her sunglasses on top of her head, pausing on the porch. “I get it, trust me. You just haven’t lived here for years like me and Ryan. You haven’t grown up with the myths and stories‒and realities. We’re natural enemies with the vampires. And that logic has been engrained into us our whole lives.”

  I reach out and ring the doorbell. “Makes sense.”

  “So,” Cheyenne says with a roll of her eyes, “I’ll try to play nice. But if she starts anything like her brother did, I can’t make any guarantees.”

  I smile at her. “Thank you.”

  Myra opens the door a moment later. I see the whites of her knuckles when she clenches her hand on the door knob. “You brought a werewolf here?”

  Cheyenne grins. “Nice boots.”

  Myra doesn’t look flattered at the compliment.

  “How do you know she’s a werewolf?” I ask Myra.

  She crosses her arms, still blocking the doorway. Her eyes are hooded by heavy lids and my stomach twists with sympathy. “I can sense it.”

  Cheyenne glances at me with a smirk. “We all have our own abilities. She can sense paranormals and I can sense her feelings right now. I can tell she’s trying not to vomit all over her pretty boots.”

  “Bite me,” Myra says.

  Cheyenne flashes a smile. “I believe that’s your territory.”

  Myra starts to say something else, but I step between them. “Please. We didn’t come here to argue. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

  Myra narrows her eyes. Finally, she steps back and gestures to the foyer. “I’m fine.”

  I step inside, but Myra keeps her gaze on Cheyenne. Her back is straight and she looks poised for a fight.

  “Do you have my Book of Shadows?” I ask.

  Myra nods. “It’s hidden well.”

  Cheyenne glances at me.

  “I’ll give it back,” Myra says, “if you tell me where Logan is.”

  “I can’t until you give it to me.”

  She lifts her eyebrows. “Looks like we’re stuck.”

  Cheyenne rolls her eyes but keeps her opinion to herself.

  “Who was that you took out of here earlier?” Myra asks.

  “My mom,” I say, surprised.

  Cheyenne frowns. “You didn’t know who Logan had in his own basement?”

  “He’s a big fan of handling things on his own,” Myra says. “He asked me if I wanted to come and stay with him, said he was going to try to help me, but said he didn’t want to get my hopes up. I didn’t even know your mom was in the basement until you came over.”

  Cheyenne’s voice goes sharp and heated. “Do you know why Willow’s mom was in the basement? Do you know why Willow was here? Your brother wasn’t just having friends over for company‒he kidnapped Willow. How can‒”

  “Stop.” I shake my head at Cheyenne at the same time Myra starts coughing. It sounds so painful, I wince.

  “Oh, hell,” Cheyenne says. She grabs my arm. “Come on, let’s get some water.”

  “I’m fine,” Myra chokes out.

  Cheyenne ignores her and I steer her toward the kitchen. When I reach for the cupboard with the glasses, she lifts her eyebrows. “Wow, you sure know your way around Logan’s kitchen.”

  I scowl at her but don’t answer. I’ve already told her Logan wasn’t exactly a tyrant when I was here. Sure, I was his captive, but he didn’t hurt me. He fed me and made sure I was comfortable and charmed me more than I’m comfortable admitting.

  I fill the glass with water as Myra wanders into the kitchen. She takes the glass from me and drinks most of it before seating herself on one of the stools at the counter.

  “He told me you were going to help,” Myra said. Her eyes are rimmed in red, but she holds my gaze. “He told me there was a chance you could reverse the curse. When I got here to Shadow Hill, I could feel the change. I felt better. I still feel better than I did before. I actually…” She looks down at her water. “I actually let myself hope for a while. Let myself believe maybe I could get better.

  “That probably made me overlook the truth of it all,” Myra continues. She gives a choked laugh. “I mean, come on, it’s not like I didn’t know what he was doing. Trying to reverse the curse. It’s what my other brother has wanted for years. But Logan…” She sighs, holds her hands out in appeal. “He was trying to help. In his own weird way.”

  I glance at Cheyenne, but she only shakes her head. I guess convincing her is going to take more work. And Ryan…well, he might never be convinced.

  “I want to help,” I tell Myra.

  She doesn’t say anything. This time she’s the one who glances at Cheyenne.

  “Can I talk to you for a minute?” Cheyenne angles her head toward the hallway.

  I sigh and follow her, leaving Myra in the kitchen. When we stop in the hallway, Cheyenne shoves her hands in her hair and closes her eyes. “Are you kidding me, Willow?”

  “What?”

  She opens her eyes and shakes her head. “You want to help her?”

  “I don’t mean reverse the curse, I mean see if there’s something I can do to help her feel better.”

  Cheyenne narrows her eyes. “What, like a healing spell or something?”

  “Or something. I mean, if I can do other spells, I might be able to do this, right? And it’s a lot better than unleashing all kinds of evil. Obviou
sly, Myra and Logan don’t want the curse reversed necessarily, they just want to make her feel better. Maybe this is how we can keep the spell intact and make Myra and Logan happy.”

  Keeping the spell intact means all paranormal power is limited. The vampires can’t become full vampires, werewolves won’t change at the full moon, and so on. It’s in all of our best interests to put the spell back in place.

  She taps her fingers against her lips. “Maybe.”

  I laugh. “That’s all?”

  “What else am I supposed to say? It might work. Or you might tell Myra you’ve trapped her brother and she might try to nibble on you‒”

  “I heard that!” Myra calls from the kitchen.

  Cheyenne’s eyed widen. “See? Or”‒she lowers her voice‒“you might let Logan out and he’ll nibble on you, too. I don’t think he’s going to be happy about how things turned out.”

  “Then I’ll convince him that this is the best plan.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  I smile at her. “One of my more endearing qualities. Tell me you’ll help me.”

  She folds her arms.

  “Come on,” I coax. “You know you want to. You said your life was more interesting since I came to Shadow Hill.”

  She lifts her eyebrows.

  “I’ll make a love potion for you, and then you can make all the cute guys in Shadow Hill fall in love with you.”

  She laughs. “All the cute guys in Shadow Hill already are in love with me. I’m an independent woman, I don’t have time for romance.”

  “Come on, there’s got to be something I can bribe you with.”

  “Maybe…” She glances to the kitchen. “Myra’s boots.”

  “I heard that!” Myra calls again.

  I roll my eyes. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Chapter 3

  I steel myself for seeing my mom again. I have the feeling if given too much time to think about it, I’d come up with a million ways to tell her how disappointed I am in her for leaving me and my father. So instead I decide to stick to the facts. I need to do some spells and she’s the only other witch I know right now.