Ben nodded and tugged me toward the back of the house, where I nearly cried in relief at the sight of the sliding glass doors. I gave Benjamin a tight hug. “I'll be back.”
He nodded silently and watched as I darted out into the backyard until I was able to make a break for the treeline to stay away from the main road.
I didn't look back as I ran, no real destination in mind. I just knew I needed to get far away. I needed time to think about everything that had just happened, what all of it meant. My chest, legs, and feet all burned as I headed into the woods. A rustling in the trees nearby made me press on faster. I couldn't let him get me yet. I needed answers, but on my terms.
More rustling, closer. I dove sideways, taking another path, but slid to a stop with a yelp when a shadow leapt in my way. No, no, no—
But it wasn’t Johannes. My eyes picked out the details in slow-motion: dark fur, bright eyes, that familiar white splash. Oh, thank God.
The wolf ducked his head and turned tail. He jogged forward a few steps, then looked back at me and jerked his nose, pointing ahead. Still panting from my flight, I nodded and stumbled forward. “Okay. Okay, I’m coming.”
He barked and ran on. I could barely see anything in the darkness, but he seemed to take care to never get so far ahead of me that I lost sight of his tail. By the time he slowed, my shins ached and I’d lost count of the sticks and rocks I’d stepped on.
I made it into the clearing behind him and wasn’t surprised that he’d brought me back to the house. The same old two-story I’d followed him to the day I learned that he was no ordinary wolf.
He circled around behind me and nudged my leg, urging me again to the front door.
Grabbing the door handle and praying this wasn't an elaborate trap, I went in. What I found was the last thing I would've expected from a decaying old house in the woods. But more unanticipated than the house’s pristine condition was that when I turned to look at the wolf, he was gone.
In his place was the man from my visions.
I stared at him in disbelief. A large grin broke out across his face.
“Alice...”
Chapter Seven
I was tired and bleeding and sick of being used in whatever game this was. “Tell me what is going on right now.”
“Please calm down. You'll work yourself into a panic.” He put his arms up in surrender.
“What is this place?”
While the outside looked like it hadn't been maintained in a century, the inside looked like a museum-quality showpiece from the first half of the 1900s. Flames glowed in the fireplace, though I hadn’t seen smoke from the chimney on the way in. The living room and kitchen were open to one another, and it was… the haquiet. I'd never seen anything like this outside of old black-and-white TV.
“Please let me look at you first.”
“No.” I looked around me quickly for anything I could use to protect myself. The wolf made me feel comfortable and safe, but I didn’t know if it had all been a clever ruse until now. Maybe he was talking about himself when he gave me the warning. Either way, I didn’t want to be caught off-guard anymore. As soon as I spotted a screwdriver on the coffee table, I grabbed it and held it out in front of me like a knife. “Tell me right now. Why did you come for me? How do you know Johannes?”
“I’ve known him many, many years. I was worried about you…” He looked at me with eyes I could never forget, those wonderful, gorgeous autumn eyes. “There are so many things you don’t know about him or this town.”
“Then tell me, starting with this place and who you really are.”
He sighed and licked his lips before he spoke. “This is my home. I built it myself in 1946.”
I laughed, a dry, hollow sound. “Do you think I'm stupid? That's impossible.”
“Before now, did you think a man who can turn into a wolf was possible?” When he got no response from me, he continued, “I was born in 1929 in a small town in Tennessee. I grew up with my large family until I was...” He hesitated. “Until I moved to a new town with Zella.”
Zella... That name sounded—The grave. The one I stumbled upon when Grandpa was visiting Grandma's grave...
I saw the wolf there.
I cleared my throat. “Zella Barlow?”
He smiled softly. “She wasn't Barlow then. We were friends for many years before moving here to Janafield. She wanted a life for herself, not something someone else had planned for her.”
“I don't understand.” I could feel fatigue weighing down not only my body, but my mind too.
“Please sit.” He skirted around to my side to gesture at the couch. “I'll continue.”
I was hesitant, but my body ached so much it was taking my breath away. Perhaps sitting for a moment would be all right...
I took a few steps backward until I reached the couch, afraid to turn my back on anyone at the moment. My body practically sang as I sank into the plush cushion.
“She'd tell me all the time about how she wanted to start a farm and raise chickens. She thought they were cute.” His handsome face glowed as he spoke. His happiness was infectious, and I could feel the harsh lines of my angered face washing away.
“But she was always worried someone would find out what she was and take away everything she built.”
“What do you mean what she was?” I asked, perplexed.
“May I please wash your wounds before I finish?” His eyes trailed over my body before returning to my face.
I finally looked down at myself. My extremities were covered in cuts and areas I was sure would bruise sooner rather than later. My face probably wasn't any better. Everything stung as if hissing at me for running. After I gave my consent, he went to the washroom and returned with supplies.
“I'm sorry to say I don't have much in the way of amenities. When you return to town, you'll have to clean them properly if they’re still around.” His words seemed sincere.
At this moment, I didn't even want to think about going to town. I knew I needed to, but damn it if it wouldn't be hard.
He was quiet as he poured rubbing alcohol onto a rag and did his best to get off the blood and dirt. I hissed in pain as he neared my feet.
“My apologies. Please let me know if I'm using too much pressure. I'm afraid my senses have dulled considerably since being stuck here.” He was stuck in this house? What could possibly be keeping him here..?
“Thank you,” I murmured quietly.
“You're very welcome. Is it all right if I sit here, or would you like me back over there?”
I looked at him, in awe of his consideration. He seemed so kind, but I still needed to be on guard. “Here is okay for now.”
“Wonderful.” He sat on the other side of the couch.
“Now, I need answers.” I put up my steely wall, which his kind-hearted aura was chipping away at.
“A promise is a promise.” He smiled. “Zella was an extremely rare type of Magus.”
“A Magus? What is that, like a wizard or something?” I scoffed.
“Close, but not quite. Magi look like humans, but they have the ability to shapeshift.” His hands moved vividly as he spoke. “Each type of Magus has a different form and abilities. They become far more powerful.” He paused to let me absorb that information.
I stared at him, deadpan. “Really?”
“Alice, I'm not lying to you. Please believe me.” His face was honest, pleading with me.
“Okay, let's say I believe what you're saying to me. Why was she worried about someone coming after her?”
“There are bad people in this world. Those who can't handle magic beings, and those who want to harness our power for themselves. But Zella was never one to like listening to what anyone told her she needed to do.” His chest puffed out in pride as he spoke about her. “She and Benjamin would butt heads all the time.”
I rubbed at my forehead. “And who is this Benjamin?”
The man cleared his throat. “I'm sorry. I meant to say Johanne
s. When we first met each other, that is not what he went by.”
That little boy who’d let me out was— “Wait, so you're telling me Johannes is from the twenties too?”
“Yes he is. Johannes is a Ghoul Magus. They are very powerful and use magic rooted in darkness.”
My head was pounding as I tried to absorb everything he was telling me. “So, you can turn into that giant wolf; are you magic too?”
The friendly smile on his face morphed into a grimace. “Yes, but that is not why I can only leave as the wolf. Johannes has trapped me here with a curse.” Slowly, he began to unbutton his linen shirt. He was careful, gauging my reaction.
As the skin was revealed, I could see a large scar in the same shape as the white sunburst of fur on the wolf. It looked grisly against the taut muscle of his chest.
“It's where his curse hit me.”
“Does it hurt?” I resisted the urge to trace my fingers along its jagged edge.
“Not anymore.” He reached out for the screwdriver in my hand. “May I?”
I slowly gave it to him. As soon as he had it, he tossed it back to the table.
“See, we can be friends. Think of the times we sat together while you stroked my head.” He gave me a cheeky grin.
I quirked a brow at him before rubbing at my face as if it would suddenly have things making any type of sense. Why was all of this happening? Was Johannes really hiding so much from me?
“You know… I don’t even know your name.”
He reached out and lightly gripped my hand. He pressed a soft kiss to my knuckles. “My name is Atohi Hayecha. I’m so glad we can finally talk like this, Alice.”
I pulled my hand back and tried to ignore the tingling that lingered from the feel of his lips against my skin.
“I think you need rest. We can discuss more in the morning when you're feeling better. There's a bed upstairs you can use that may suit your needs better than this couch.”
I nodded and followed him up the stairs, watching in awe as the lights flickered to life in his path. The upstairs was open like the first floor. It was homey, with the bed pressed against one wall. A thick blue plaid quilt was spread across the expanse of it.
“It's not much, I do apologize.”
“Atohi, you helped me and gave me somewhere to stay. This is perfectly wonderful right now because it is not Johannes’s… I can’t believe he just locked me up like that… I’m so glad that—hey, what can you tell me about the little boy. He said his name is Benjamin.”
“A child? I’m not aware of a child…” Atohi frowned.
“I’m not making it up… I don’t know why Johannes would hide the little boy from me. Johannes seemed like he really wanted to tell me something after he realized you and I had talked.”
“It's likely he's worried I'll turn you against him with tales of his Ghoulish form.” Atohi waved his fingers around mockingly. “He should be more concerned with that window I broke. Third one this year.” His chest puffed out in pride.
The happiness that surrounded him was like an aura.
“How can you hold onto all of the joy even after being trapped here?”
He paused for a moment before nodding to the other wall, which was lined in shelves holding hundreds of trinkets. “At first, I suffered terribly. I wouldn't even go outside because I was bitter about what he'd done to me. Eventually I knew I couldn't let myself live like that. So, I started tinkering again. Or as best as I could, anyway. It's hard to grab things when you don't have fingers.”
He laughed, but it held a bitter note. I approached the wall of creations. Many of them moved, though they didn't seem to have any motors. A small windmill made of twigs and leaves that spun lazily caught my attention.
“These are amazing.”
“They are moved by my magic. I don't have nearly as much as I used to since I can't really practice. My magic reserves are mostly depleted, but I do have enough to maintain these small things.”
“We'll get you free and then you can show me all the other fantastical things you can build.” I smiled warmly at him before it was cut off with a wide yawn.
“Please lie down. Tomorrow I can show you more.”
I nodded and slipped under the covers, trying my best not to irritate anything further. I could've cried at the relief of being off my feet.
“If you need me, Alice, I'll be downstairs.” I felt a tug at my heart when he turned to leave. I wanted him here. I wanted that comforting energy he exuded.
“Wait... You could stay up here if you want. Not because I'm afraid or anything. Just, you know, reasons.” I shrugged nonchalantly, like that had made perfect sense.
He smiled softly. “I'd love to stay.”
Removing his shoes, he slid in next to me, lifting one arm up to allow me to rest against his chest. I hesitated for only a moment. How many times had I clung to him as the wolf? I placed a hand on his pec, being mindful of his scar. Atohi's thumb was rubbing soothing circles into my shoulder.
“Will you tell me stories about her?” I asked after a moment of watching the little trinkets move on their shelves.
“Of course. Hm, you see that flower there?” He pointed to a rather funny-looking red flower made of various rusty metal scraps.
“Did you make that one?” I quirked an eyebrow at him. It was endearing, in a slightly hideous sort of way.
Atohi squeezed my side at my tone. “Hey, I love that one. And no, I didn't make it. Zella did.”
“She could make these too?” I marveled.
“No, she was trying to make me a gift for my first birthday we spent together. She asked Johannes what he thought. His mistake was his sharp tongue.” His eyes gleamed down at me mischievously. “She punched him right in the nose.”
I laughed. “You're kidding.” Apparently Johannes’s poor nose had met the fate of not one, but two Barlow women.
“I swear. Cross my heart. I think that was the day I realized I couldn't imagine my life without her.”
His deep voice lulled me into a dreamless sleep with tales of Zella and her high spirit and a take-no-prisoners attitude I wish I had inherited. It felt safe with him.
~~~
When I awoke, Atohi had already slipped from bed. It was cold without the heat from his body. I knew I needed to get up, but it was so hard. I didn't want to face Johannes. I didn't want to face Cole. I didn't want to face what happened to the house or Grandpa. Couldn't I just stay there and live out my life pretending things were all okay?
I gripped my hair in a tight fist with a groan as I realized not only were my clothes at Johannes’s house, but also my purse and cell phone. How was I going to get any of it? I would have to figure out a way to even get into town wearing only this shirt without someone spotting me.
From downstairs, I could hear Atohi muttering to himself. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and hissed as my feet touched the cool wood of the floor. I was shocked they didn’t sting from running barefoot, though. I glanced down at my legs, but the scratches were gone. This was like the shower all over again. I shot up and nearly tripped on myself trying to get downstairs.
Atohi rose from his couch as he saw me. He smiled sheepishly. “I went to see if I could get your things while he was out. I'm sorry if anything is damaged. Navigating things while a wolf is terribly inconvenient.”
In that moment, I was so grateful, I didn't even think as I grabbed his shoulders and hugged him. “Atohi, you're amazing!”
I pulled away quickly, blushing and acting as though that hadn't just happened. Why was I so embarrassing? He bit his lip to stifle a laugh as he handed me my bag with my dress dangling precariously over the side, a few leaves and sticks attached to where it must've dragged across the ground during his journey back.
“Something in there keeps squawking, and I'm afraid I don't know what it is.”
“It's my phone!” I hurriedly grabbed it out and held it to my chest. “Atohi, I said you're amazing, right? Because you're amazing. Than
k you so much.”
A light dusting of a blush graced his cheeks at the praise. At least I wasn't the only one who turned into a blushing mess today. He was just too much.
“I tried to grab anything with your scent on it as quickly as I could. I'm certain he'll have sensed I was there. Luckily, he didn't have time to properly fix that window I broke last night.” He rubbed at the back of his neck.
I quickly slipped upstairs to change before I rejoined him. He was turning my phone every which way.
“I suppose you've never gotten to see a cell phone before.” I sat next to him.
“I've seen people use them while in town, but never up close. Why is yours shaped like a cat?”
I held back a laugh.
“That’s just the case.” I took it off and handed the phone back to him. “It's not the newest or greatest, but it does the job.”
“Will you show me how to use it sometime?”
“Of course!”
My phone's ringtone went off again, and though he hid it well, I knew it had startled him. He quickly handed it back to me. Sue's picture flashed on the screen.
“Crap, Sue is probably freaking out.” I quickly swiped to answer, secretly impressed I even had reception out in the woods.
“Hey, Sue!” I began nervously.
“Where are you? Do you need me to come get you? I'm worried sick. Granny said you never showed up, and Cole isn't answering his phone. His car was gone when I drove by his place.”
“I'm fine.” She began to protest, but I cut her off. “I'm really okay, Sue. I'll see you in a bit, and then we can talk. I just need to check something at the house first.”
We said our good-byes and hung up. I raked a hand through my hair. This was undoubtedly going to be awkward. Hey, Sue, I just ran away from the mayor's house in the middle of the night to sleep at a place in the middle of nowhere with a man who is sometimes a wolf. Oh, and he's trapped here because the mayor is apparently some sort of shapeshifting wizard. No big deal.
“I can go with you, if you would like,” Atohi offered.
“Yes, please.”
Eyes Like Autumn (Seasons of the Magi Book 1) Page 9
