Divided (Elena Ronen, Private Investigator)

by Jennifer Sights

  Time passed, and I grew weak. I didn’t know how much energy I had left. If it took every last drop of me, I would keep trying until I collapsed. Finally, Vittorio moved. He raised his head from my shoulder and said, “You can stop now,” so softly I almost didn’t hear him. He was weak, oh so weak; I didn’t want to stop. I wanted to heal him. I continued to let my power flow through him. He pulled away from me and said, “Stop, mio amore, please, you will hurt yourself if you do not.” I didn’t want to listen, wanted to heal him, but he was alive, and I was weak, so I called my power back to me. It returned, sluggish. Vittorio and I held each other, both of us drained.

  “Mio amore, you have done the impossible. You brought me back from death.”

  “What?”

  “I was dead. I felt my life force leave my body. I saw the Goddess. How did you do it?”

  I tried to explain.

  “Your power acted on its own. That is amazing.”

  I was too drained to think about the meaning of that. I didn’t understand, and didn’t care. “Can we save this for later? I can barely sit up I’m so tired.”

  “Yes, mio amore, we both need rest. But we may not get it quite yet.” He looked to our captives, and I was relieved to see they were still restrained.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

  “What are we going to do about them?” I asked.

  “I do not know yet. But before we discuss anything, I must try to reach Julian.”

  I held my breath, praying Julian was alright. I had a sick feeling in my stomach, as if I was forgetting something very important.

  “Julian? Julian, are you alright?” Vittorio asked. After a moment, his shoulders relaxed, and I let out my breath. “Thank goddess. I cannot talk long, but will call as soon as I can. I am so sorry to have involved you in this.” After a few more moments, he said goodbye then hung up.

  “We must figure out what to do here.” He looked at my face. “You have an idea, mio amore?”

  “Yes. I don’t know if you’ll like it or not. I know this is all supposed to be secret, but I really don’t know what else we can do with Kevin and Clavius’ bodies here.” I paused, afraid of what he would think. “I’d like to call Jerry and ask him to help us.”

  “Jerry is your police officer friend?” Vittorio’s face and voice were neutral.

  “Yes.”

  “But you said you have not spoken to him in nearly three years.”

  “That’s true, but I still trust him. Police are going to get involved, and I’d rather have him be the first to arrive. If you have a better idea, if you know who we can trust in the coven, tell me.”

  Vittorio stared past me.

  I turned to see what caught his attention, but nothing was there.

  He continued to stare. “You are right. I do not know who we can trust, and we need help. I do not want to involve Julian in this anymore, even if he could do something without risking his career. Yet it goes against everything I have been taught to tell an outsider of our power. What will he say to it?”

  “I don’t know. I’m sure it will be hard for him to believe. I had a hard time with it, and I have power. But Kevin accepted it.”

  “Are Kevin and Jerry alike?”

  “Not really, but Jerry was like a father to me until we quit speaking. I don’t think he’ll just dismiss me as a nutcase.”

  “I hope not,” Vittorio said softly.

  “I didn’t mean he’d have us committed.” How could I have been so thoughtless to say something like after Vittorio’s childhood experience?

  “It is alright, mio amore. I know you did not mean it like that. But that is a very real possibility.”

  “I don’t think we have to worry about Jerry. It will be hard for him to accept, but I think he will, eventually. And I don’t know who else we can turn to.”

  Vittorio was silent for a long while. “Very well. Call your Jerry, see if he will help us. But be very careful how you present this to him. If nothing else, we have two dead bodies here. We could be arrested as suspects.”

  “Thank you, Vittorio.”

  I hoped Jerry hadn’t changed his phone number since we last spoke. After three rings, someone picked up the phone. I held my breath. “Jerry?”

  “Who is this?”

  I recognized his gruff voice. “Jerry, it’s Elena.” I paused, waiting for him to say something. “Don’t hang up, please. I need your help.”

  “You aren’t on drugs again, are you?”

  “No! Jesus, Jerry, no. I’m still clean.” That was why we fought when I quit the force. He was afraid I’d stop taking Zoloft and go back to illegal drugs. Nothing I said would convince him otherwise, and my therapist convinced me it would be healthier for me to end my relationship with him, at least for a while.

  “Well, what’s wrong?”

  “It’s really hard to explain, and I hope you believe me. I need you to keep this to yourself until I see you. Please, you can’t tell anyone.”

  “Tell anyone what?”

  “Can you meet me out in Wildwood?”

  “Do you know what time it is, Elena?”

  “Actually, I have no idea. I’ve had a really tough couple of days, and I don’t know who else to turn to.” I gave Jerry the address. “Please, will you meet me there?”

  “Three fucking years and you drag me out of bed in the middle of the night. Alright, fine, I’ll meet you there.”

  “Come alone. And promise not to tell anyone?”

  “Goddammit. I always had a soft spot for you. Never understood why, you’re nothing but trouble.” He sighed, and I pictured him rubbing his face with his hand. “Alright, I promise.”

  “Thank you, Jerry. Thank you so much. You have no idea what this means to me.”

  When Jerry arrived, I was grateful to see two cups of gas station coffee in his hands. I spent the next hour trying to explain everything to him. He didn’t believe it, and I knew I’d have to prove the magic bit to him. “What aren’t you telling me, Elena? And don’t say nothing. I hear it in your voice.”

  “Remember Kevin?”

  “Sure. Why the hell you didn’t listen to him sooner, I’ll never understand. I always liked that kid. How is he?”

  A sob escaped my throat. “He’s dead.”

  Jerry choked on his coffee. “Shit. What happened?”

  I told Jerry everything about the night.

  “You have two dead bodies, one of which you admit to killing yourself?”

  “I swear it was self-defense.” I wiped the tears from my face.

  “I believe you, Elena, but I can’t keep this quiet.” He took a sip of coffee, trying to process everything I’d told him.

  “I know, and I never expected you to. But I wanted you to be the first person here.”

  “What do you think I can do?”

  “I don’t know. Isn’t there some way you can get involved?”

  “Lucky for you I don’t work for the city anymore. I’m a state trooper. Technically, since you’re in unincorporated Wildwood, yeah, I can be involved.”

  “Oh, thank you, Jerry. I’ll just feel better knowing you’re there.”

  CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

  I went over everything with Jerry again, this time while he took notes.

  “You’re telling me Samuel has some kind of power to break people’s minds?”

  “No, he can project images into someone’s mind, and they don’t know if it’s really happening or not. Whatever it was he showed Elizabeth was so horrible her mind snapped. I understand the feeling. Jonah almost broke me when he made me feel like I was consumed by fire.”

  “I don’t believe it. Elena, please tell me the truth. If I think you’re obstructing justice with this cockamamie story, I’m going to have to have you arrested.”

  I decided it was time to show him. I tried the light orb trick I used with Kevin. “Nice trick, but you could do that with a flashlight.”

  “Search me. I don’t have a flashlight.”

  He did
. “I still don’t believe you. It could be some sort of optical illusion.”

  I rolled up my sleeves and showed Jerry my scars.

  His eyes widened. “What the hell happened to you?”

  “These are only a few days old. I have the power to heal.”

  “I haven’t seen you in three years. Those could be old.”

  “Fine. Give me a knife.” I knew I shouldn’t do this after all the power I’d expended on Vittorio, but it was the only way.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Please, Jerry, I’m trying to make you believe me. Give me a knife. I’m not going to stab you. I’m on your side, remember?”

  “I’m not so sure about that now that you’re making up stories.”

  “I promise I’m not going to stab you.” Jerry reluctantly handed me a small pocketknife. I pushed up my sleeve and drew the knife across my arm, nice and deep.

  Jerry drew in a sharp breath.

  I called my power while he watched the wound heal in moments, mouth open. “Now do you believe me?” I let Jerry inspect my arm.

  “I don’t see how it can be a trick. I guess I have to, but -” For once, Jerry was speechless.

  I collapsed into a chair and let him recover. I understood why it was such a shock.

  “What else can you do?” Jerry finally asked.

  I explained about the electricity. He insisted I show him, so I did, as gently as I could, and for only a second. I then explained that I was still learning how to control it.

  “Why are you telling me this?” Jerry’s eyes were wide.

  “Nothing that has happened would make sense without it.”

  “What about your boyfriend?”

  Vittorio was in the next room so Jerry and I could have some privacy while we talked.

  “What about him?”

  “What can he do?”

  “Does it matter right now, Jerry?”

  “I guess not.” He paced. “Shit. What the hell am I going to tell my captain?”

  “Are you going to arrest us?”

  “No, but I do have to bring you both in for questioning. I believe you, but I don’t know what’s going to happen to you or Vittorio. I’ll do all I can to make sure you stay out of jail, but I can’t promise anything. I’m going to have to call in more manpower.”

  “Can we try to get some rest until your backup gets here?”

  “Why not?” Jerry waved his hand as if to dismiss me and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket.

  I made a phone call of my own while Jerry was busy. “Courtney, I need you to meet me at the police station.” I gave her the address. “I should be there in about an hour. I’ll be busy for a while once I get there, but just wait for me, okay? There’s no place safer for you to be.” I didn’t want her to be alone at the hotel.

  I’d fallen asleep, and was woken by the sound of police sirens some time later. Vittorio and I were handcuffed and put in the back of separate police cars and driven to the station. It was unsettling to be on this side of the law, but I was too tired to think about it very hard.

  At the police station, I had to repeat my story on the record. Steve Ericson, a cop I didn’t know, conducted the interview while Jerry waited outside the interrogation room. It took even longer this time, as he was less inclined to believe me than Jerry. When I got to the part about my scars, I again asked for a knife.

  “No way,” Steven said.

  A knock sounded on the door. Officer Ericson opened it, and Jerry came in. “Let her do it.”

  “No way,” he said again. “I don’t trust this wacko with a knife.”

  “Steve, she’s telling the truth. I saw this myself. I’ll stand by just in case, but give her a chance.”

  Steve made no move to do as Jerry told him, so Jerry gave me his knife again.

  “You’re crazy, man!” Steve backed as far away from me as possible, never taking his eyes off me.

  Again, I cut my arm and called my power to heal it. Steve’s eyes went wide as he tried to back even further away, into the wall if he could. “Alright, fine. I believe you; just knock that shit off.”

  I had already called my power back to me.

  “I need a coffee break, Jerry,” Steve said.

  “Can I have some too?” I remembered how awful the coffee at the city station was, but anything was better than nothing.

  The officers left, locking the door behind them. I may not be a suspect yet, but Steve wasn’t going to take any chances with me. I wondered how well Jerry knew him.

  About fifteen minutes later, Steve returned with two cups of coffee, looking more calm than when he left. He finished the interview an hour later, and told me to wait there, again locking the door behind him. As if I could go anywhere. I was so weak I could barely sit upright.

  Jerry returned a while later. “They finished questioning Vittorio, and have decided to let you both go.”

  “Can I see him?”

  Vittorio walked through the door. I ran to him and held him tight. It had only been a few hours since I last saw him, but I was still tired, my energy still depleted, and my power seemed to need Vittorio even more at times like these. “It’s okay; they believe us,” I whispered into his ear, inhaling the scent of his skin.

  “Who’s the girl waiting in the lobby for you?” Jerry asked.

  “Just a friend. I figured we’d need a ride home.” I was glad to hear Courtney was safe.

  “Is she involved in any of this?”

  “She doesn’t know a thing about it.” That much was true, at least for the moment. I wasn’t sure how much we were going to tell her.

  “Alright, but you better not be hiding anything from me. I’ll call you when we need more information from you. And be careful,” Jerry said.

  We decided it would be safe to go back to Vittorio’s since everyone except Neal was out of the picture for the time being.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

  It was late when we got back to Vittorio’s. Vittorio went to make up the guest room, though I knew it was in perfect order, while I led Courtney to the kitchen.

  “Do you want anything to eat or drink?” I asked.

  “Just some water would be great. Thanks for letting me stay here.”

  I pulled out a chair for her.

  “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Anything.” As I answered, I found I truly meant that. I liked the girl, and would truthfully answer anything she asked. I set a glass of water down on the table for her and filled a kettle to make tea for myself.

  “Do you live here, too?”

  “That’s an easy one,” I laughed, setting the kettle on the stove. “Kind of. I have my own place, and it’s really just in the past few days Vittorio and I talked about me moving in here. I don’t know if I’ll get rid of my place, but I probably will. We’ve had a lot going on lately.”

  “You are so lucky. He’s gorgeous!” she gushed and giggled.

  I couldn’t help but smile. “Luckier than I deserve to be, that’s for sure. Come on, don’t you have any harder questions than that?” I teased. I didn’t know the girl well enough to know how to put her at ease, and I hoped light-hearted teasing would work.

  “How did you meet Vittorio? And how on earth did you snag him? From what I’ve heard, he never dated anyone seriously until he met you.”

  “Gossip gets around, huh?”

  Courtney blushed and looked down.

  “It’s okay; don’t be embarrassed. I met him at The Chapel. I was sitting at the bar minding my own business, when Bryn - the bartender - gave me a drink I hadn’t ordered, saying it was from Vittorio. I marched right up to thank him and introduce myself, and found myself rooted in place, staring like a damn fool. I have never been so awestruck by a man before; it was humiliating.” The kettle screeched its readiness. “I couldn't fathom why he would be so interested in me, but I found out a few days later.” I paused my story while I fixed my tea. I sat at the table with the mug of steaming Earl Grey tea, comforted by the ar
oma.

  “Why was that?”

  “Like you, I had no idea I had any power. Turns out my power is quite attracted to Vittorio’s, and it made itself known to me in a rather embarrassing way.”

  Courtney gave me a questioning look. She wasn’t going to make this easy on me.

  “One night at The Chapel, he kissed me. Just a kiss, nothing major. It barely would have earned a PG rating, aside from the way it affected me.”

  “How is that?”

  “My whole body felt like rubber. I almost fell, and when he caught me, it made the effect even stronger.” My cheeks burned. “I wanted him more than I have ever wanted anyone before. He realized then I had power, and brought me here to try to explain it to me. I agreed to let him teach me to control it. When he tried to leave the guest room to let me sleep, my power protested. Had it not been for Samuel, well,” I stared into my mug, letting my hair fall around my face, flustered at the prospect of telling Courtney. “I’m not sure even the dirtiest porn director would have wanted to film what I would have done to Vittorio.”

  When I finally looked back at Courtney, she was staring at me with her mouth open. “You’re kidding?”

  “I wish I was. He couldn’t train me. Until I could control my power, I couldn’t even be in the same room with him. Samuel had to train me, then he had to train us together until we could fully control our power together.”

  “You can control your power now, right?” She took a drink of water.

  “Yes, mostly, but it still takes great concentration when I’m around Vittorio.” I blushed again. “If I’m overly tired, I tend to lose a bit of control. Nothing like that first night, though.” I left out the incident where I nearly jumped Vittorio’s bones at The Chapel. If Courtney stuck around, I was sure she’d hear about it one way or another.