I shook the thought from my head as I got to Cole’s car.
“I don’t suppose I could bother you for a ride to Granny’s?”
“Granny’s? Sure, I can do that. Hop in.”
He reached across the car and pulled the handle to open the door for me. As soon as I sat down, I welcomed the heat he had blasting.
“Thanks,” I sighed as we pulled away from the curb. It seriously felt like this day would never end.
“No worries. I just need to do something real quick first.” The sleeve of his sweater rode up as he turned down the main drag. I could see the barest hint of ink on his wrist I’d never noticed before. From what I could see, it was a closed fist with a single candle tucked into the top of the fingers. Then again, he usually wore button-ups to work, I’m sure in part to hide it.
“That’s fine. I really appreciate the ride. I did not want to walk this late.”
“I don’t blame you. There’s definitely some weird stuff going on lately.” He gripped the wheel a little tighter. I could practically feel a question about the wolf dancing around in his mind.
In a quick attempt to distract him from it, I said, “I’ve never seen that tattoo before. Does it mean something?”
“Just from a group I got into. We all got the same one,” was all he offered as he pulled his sleeve back down to cover it.
I nodded and leaned back, unable to really think much on it. I just felt like all of my energy had been sapped. It was so warm, and I was so damn tired… Somewhere between the hospital and the first set of stoplights, I passed out.
When I woke up, I jolted in the seat and nearly choked myself with the seat belt. I shivered from the cold. Cole wasn’t in the car, but we were parked outside an apartment complex. This must’ve been what he needed to do. I didn’t want to be ungrateful, but just how long had he been in there?
I got out of the car to stretch. I felt a little stiff. It couldn’t have been longer than ten, fifteen minutes since he picked me up, right? My phone call log showed that I called Sue… an hour ago. Okay, what the hell?
I had two texts from Suzanne.
Suzanne: Everything is all set with Granny. Let me know when you get there.
And a half hour later, Sugar, I hope you just passed out and that’s why you’re not texting me back.
I dragged my hand down my face. I should’ve just called Johannes from the beginning. Who knew how long I’d be stuck out here now. What part of town was this even? I looked around and spotted the pharmacy. Okay, at least I knew around where I was.
I walked towards the apartment complex to see if I could find Cole. Maybe he just, you know, forgot he had a person in his car. Stranger things have happened, especially lately.
I tugged on the cool metal of the handle of the front door to the complex, but there was no give. Dammit, key entry. An illuminated call box with tenant names listed caught my eye. I batted away a few rogue moths to see the names.
Thank God… I pressed my finger to the little grey button next to C. Jackson.
I crossed my arms, trying to repress a shiver, as I waited… and waited. I pressed the button again and still got no response.
“Cole, you’ve got to be kidding me!” I groaned and rubbed at my temples. This was not okay. I just wanted to crawl in bed and cry. Was that too much to ask for?
Despite my reservations, I knew what I needed to do. Fumbling with my phone as I walked back towards Cole’s car, I dialed Johannes’s number. He answered the phone in a voice that was clearly thick with sleep.
“Johannes, I’m so sorry to wake you, but could you please come get me?” I kicked at a pebble on the ground.
“Alice?” He sounded much more awake now. “Are you still at the hospital?”
“No, I'm at the apartments on,” I looked around for a street sign. “Cambridge. Near the pharmacy. I'll explain when you get here.”
I hung up and tucked my phone back away, though it barely even fit in the pocket of his sweater with the large grey tabby-themed case it was in. I know Cole was doing me a favor, but he was so going to get an earful when I saw him again. What the hell was even going on?
I started to pace the parking lot, torn with indecision on standing near the building or just starting to walk toward Johannes’s house and hoping he saw me on the way. I turned and nearly screamed at the pair of gleaming eyes staring back at me until I realized it was only the wolf. I almost cried in relief as he neared the glow of a streetlight. I walked over and dropped to my knees before him, ignoring the bite of gravel and dirt on my bare skin.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face in his lush black fur. He nuzzled his head against me, making small noises in the back of his throat.
“It was you who let the neighbors know about the house, huh?” I pulled away, and he pressed the cool wetness of his nose against my cheek. The small action made me smile.
“If I look at you, are you going to do that weird vision thing?” I waved my hand before my face.
The wolf whined; I could hear his tail swishing happily behind him.
I sighed. “I just don't understand what you are... Or if I'm simply going crazy.” A tear slid down my cheek. “I'm just ruining everything. I don't know what to do. Let's just run away together. I’m sure we can pretend you’re just a really big dog.”
We sat in silence, pressed close to each other. Cole still hadn’t shown back up. It was just as well. I’d never hear the end of it if he saw the… Was this an attempt to try to find the wolf? No, he wouldn’t leave me stranded in the middle of the night on purpose, right?
I moved toward a more shadowy part of the parking lot. I know I shouldn’t be so paranoid, but if case this really was some sort of trick Cole was playing, I didn’t want to make it easy for him to see the wolf. “Johannes will still see me here, yeah?” I asked the wolf, not really expecting an answer. I just felt better talking to him. I looked down the street, hoping Johannes would show up any moment.
The wolf started pawing at my dress, trying to get my attention back.
“What are you doing? Stop that!” I said to him in a harsh whisper. He had never acted this way before. I turned to admonish the wolf for his insistent tugging. When our eyes met, the world around me blurred.
It was the same man from before, but he no longer had the boyish grin. He immediately gripped my face and pressed his forehead to mine. His dark eyes were pleading with me as his lips rapidly moved. “I need you to be careful in who you trust. There are dangerous people in this town. People that want to use you.”
He was frantic. The whole connection seemed hazy, like a TV with static so heavy you could barely see the images. It continued to blur before it popped altogether.
Everything faded back just as a set of headlights shone brightly from down the block. My eyes rolled in my head and my body hit the ground.
~~~
A wet cloth on my face made me stir. I groaned as I reached up and grasped at the hand touching me.
“Are you awake, my love?”
Managing to crack one eye open, I saw Johannes hovering over me. A quick glance around revealed we were in his living room.
“What happened?” My words were a little slurred.
“You hit the ground pretty hard, Alice.” Johannes set the washcloth to the side and gripped one of my hands, rubbing a thumb over my sore knuckles.
I squeezed at my forehead to try to will the memories back to me. Grandpa in the hospital, getting a ride from Cole, sitting under the streetlight… The wolf! How much had Johannes seen?
I sat up, too quickly according to the thumping pain in my head.
“Let me get you some water.” Johannes patted my knee, then left for the kitchen.
I looked down at myself and frowned at the rip along the hem of my dress, at the dirt still on my knees from when I’d dropped to hug the wolf.
Johannes returned and set the glass on a decorative coaster on the coffee table. “Did that m
an try to hurt you, Alice?” His blue eyes were fierce. So much so, it sent a spike of fear down my spine, and his ire wasn’t even aimed at me.
“No, I… Did you see him? Cole, I mean.”
“Yes, he approached me as I went to put you into the car. He claimed to have just needed to step inside for a moment. Is that not true, Alice?”
I slowly shook my head. “I woke up in his car, and I think he was trying to use me to get to…” I remembered what the wolf told me. There are dangerous people in this town. People that want to use you. I clamped my mouth shut and stared at him wide-eyed for a moment. The wolf meant Cole, right? Not Johannes? No… Johannes wouldn’t hurt me; he’s done so much to help me. But, there’s no way I could tell him about knowing a giant magic wolf. “You know, maybe we should call the police. Something’s just not right with him.”
“Darling, use you to get to whom?” His usual calm demeanor was melting away. He furrowed his eyebrows, a deep crease settled in.
I didn’t understand where all of his anger was coming from. I swallowed heavily. My mouth felt so dry.
“He’s just obsessed with that silly urban legend about the wolf.” I laughed and tried to wave it off, acting like I hadn’t just seen the wolf before Johannes had come to my aid. “I shouldn’t have told him I saw it. Trick of the eyes, you know.” I grabbed the glass and took a long sip. Johannes studied me.
After a beat, he finally smiled and brushed my hair behind my ear. He took my now-empty glass, then stood. “Let’s go to bed. It’s been such a long day.”
I nodded in agreement, looking around for my shoes. “Do you think you could give me a ride to the inn? Sue said she had a room set up for me.”
“Nonsense, you’ll sleep here. At least for the night,” he amended after seeing the incredulous look on my face.
“Are you sure?” I bit my lip.
He smiled, his posture still rigid, but slowly relaxing. “Of course. Let me put this away, and we’ll get to bed.”
As he led me up the stairs, a small, plush bunny slumped over against the wall caught my attention. It was down the hall, by a closed door, and its white fur looked a little matted and well-loved. I had to smile—it looked so out of place it in his picturesque home.
“Something catch your eye?” Johannes quirked a brow up at me, a small smile playing on his lips.
“There’s a cute little…” I trailed off as I looked back to find it gone. “Never mind, I thought there was a stuffed bunny.” I shook my head to clear it.
“You must be tired enough to be seeing things, then. Let’s get you into bed.” He pushed open the second door on the right. "This is the master bedroom.” He cut off my protest about using his room before I could even voice it. “Ah, now, dear, I can't keep an eye on you if you’re in another room. The house is far too large. You were on the ground when I found you.”
I couldn’t argue with his logic. It seemed to come from a genuine place of concern.
His room was impressive with its vaulted ceiling, and crown molding that mirrored the living room lined the walls to perfectly frame black-and-burgundy Damask wallpaper, and what looked to be original wood flooring. His four-poster bed was cherry oak, like the rest of the furniture in the room. It had a dark and sexy vibe, as if Johannes was going to reveal he was a prince of the night come to sweep me away.
I ran my hand over the maroon satin bedsheets, nearly melting at their softness. The canopy encasing the bed was sheer obsidian.
“I told you you'd have to try the sheets for yourself. I just wish it was under better circumstances.” He gripped my shoulders from behind and skimmed his lips along my jaw. “Make yourself comfortable while I prepare a few things.”
Before he left the room, he set out a change of clothes for me. I neatly folded the dress he had given me as well as his sweater and placed them on one of the dressers before taking the clothing Johannes had left me. I clicked my tongue when I realized he had only given me a nightshirt. Sneaky little jerk. I quickly buttoned it and dove under the covers before he came back.
I couldn't help the groan of pleasure at just how amazing this bed was. I was used to worn springs and generic-brand sheets with a questionable thread count. This was almost enough to distract me from Johannes's reappearance.
“Are you comfortable?” he asked as he switched the light off, bathing us in darkness.
“Yes, thank you.”
I rolled onto my side and stared at a picture hanging on the wall. In the darkness, I couldn’t make out the two figures, but one was definitely Johannes. I’d recognize those cheekbones even without light. I tried to shake that thought and the ones of the day’s events out of my mind.
“I think… I think I should go to the police tomorrow. There’s just something going on with Cole…” I said it quietly, as if trying not to wake anyone, even though I was talking to the only other person in the house.
Johannes slotted himself against me, one hand gripping my hip as he settled closer.
“Do you think he intended to harm you?” There was an edge to his voice.
“Not me, no…” I said slowly.
Johannes’s grip tightened briefly before he pushed me onto my back to hover over me. He pursed his lips as he thought.
“I will speak to him. I think he and I are due for a chat.”
“Johannes…”
He cut me off with a press of his smooth lips to my own. “You should rest now. Unless…” Johannes trailed a hand from my shoulder, down my clavicle, and over the swell of my breast. “I can take care of you,” he purred.
Where I’d been eager for Johannes’s touch just hours ago, now my stomach turned—and not in a pleasant way. It was too much. Tonight had been too much. I just—
I gasped out a “Stop” and reached for his wrist. His fingers stopped, but he made an agitated noise in the back of his throat, pulling his hand away.
“Why do you push me away?” he demanded. “Have I not made sure you were happy? And yet you struggle against me. What have I done to make you turn away from me?”
I pushed at him, panic building in me. He barely moved at all. I was trapped.
I was trapped again, and the wolf wasn’t coming to save me this time.
He stared down at me, waiting for an answer. “I—" I shook my head and shoved at his chest again. “I don’t know how to feel about anything right now, let alone this. Everything is going so wrong. Grandpa—and my dad—" I didn’t mean to say it, but it came out anyway: “My dad wouldn’t want me to be here.”
Johannes shook his head and barked out a single laugh. “Your father wants to hide you from who you are meant to be, Alice. He’s made you blind to things that are your birthright to know.”
“Johannes, I don’t know what you’re talking about! Get off me.”
He knocked my hands away to press my shoulders down. “No, Alice, you need to listen to me.”
I wasn’t sure if there was anything he could say in that moment that would make me want to listen to him.
A howling outside the window drew our attention. My heart leapt at hearing the wolf so near. A frown marred Johannes’s face. “So that’s what this is about.”
He sat up and ran his fingers through his dark hair, gaze cast to the ceiling for a moment.
“Just what has he told you?” he asked as soon as he looked back down at me.
“…He?”
Johannes knew about the wolf after all. He’d known this whole time.
“You know him? Who is he?” I demanded, managing to scramble out from beneath him to pull my knees up to my chest.
The sound of glass shattering made him turn away.
“That little beast,” he growled. “Don't move, my love. I shall return.”
Johannes reached out to cup my cheek but pulled back when I flinched away from his touch. He didn’t offer anything else before he left the room, shutting the door tightly behind him. I rushed to see if he’d left it unlocked, but when I grabbed the handle and twisted,
it didn’t budge. Yanking on it did no good.
A small sliver of a strange shimmering light outlined the edge of the door. I reached for it only to recoil when it sent a strange tingling up my arm. Was this some sort of magic? It didn’t make any sense.
I pounded on the door. “Johannes, let me out! You can't just lock me away.”
I made for the window instead, hoping I might be able to climb down, but I hadn’t made it more than a few steps before I heard the door creak open.
Spinning, I said, “Thank God you came to your senses, Johannes, what's—”
I stared in shock at the small child standing before me. He grinned and clutched the small bunny plush I had seen earlier to his chest. Where had this child even come from? Who was he?
“H-hello, what's your name?” I stuttered.
“Benjamin. This is my bunny. His name is Mr. Hopps.” He squeezed the plush a little tighter to his chest.
“Um, that’s—a very lovely name.” I cleared my throat, still so shocked at seeing a child. “Benjamin, what are you doing here?”
“I live here with my dad. Why were you locked in the room? Did you need a time-out?”
It felt like time had stopped. This was Johannes’s son? His… son? I didn’t want to believe it, but the boy was a spitting image of his father, from his blue eyes to his mane of thick, dark hair.
I racked my brain for how to reason with a child. I crouched down in front of him. “The time-out is over, and I need to leave. Can you show me the way out?”
“If you leave, will you come back?” He looked at me with large, watery eyes. I felt a painful clench in my chest. No one in town had ever mentioned Benjamin, not even Johannes. He had to be so lonely.
“Yes, I promise.”
He stuck out his tiny pinky to link with mine. “You have to pinky promise.”
I linked our fingers. He finally led me down the stairs. I debated grabbing my shoes until I saw Johannes’s shadow from just outside the door. He would surely see me if I got any closer.
“Sweetie, your daddy and I are playing hide-and-seek now. Is there another way out? I don't want him to find me.”
Eyes Like Autumn (Seasons of the Magi Book 1) Page 8
