The Protectors

by April Hollingworth

  “Yes,” I finally say. “We’re in this together, no matter what. But if you want to back—”

  “No. Not happening. No-matter-what doesn’t have an escape clause, sweetheart, hence the whole, no-matter-what part.” His tone is teasing, and his beautiful full lips turn up at the corners; yet his eyes, well, they’re far from teasing. They are serious and determined, and filled with promises he’ll keep.

  Looking into his gorgeous eyes, I can’t help the feeling of relief that washes through me. Reaching out, I trace the angles of his face, lean forward, and kiss him.

  “Thank you,” is all I manage to say once I pull back slightly. Taking a second, I look at the others in the room. “Okay, guys, you ready for this?”

  “Nope, far from it, so let’s get this over with,” Jasmine answers, causing everyone to go still before bursting out laughing.

  “Fair enough.” I chuckle, turning a teasing smile on my friend just in time for her to give me a wink. “Okay, let’s get this show on the road.” One by one, everyone gets up and heads off to the cars and then the diner. I turn to Janna before I leave. “This house has a warning system in case anyone comes onto the land who means harm. If anything happens…”

  “We won’t take any chances. Now stop worrying about us. We’ll be fine; you need to worry about yourself. After all, it’s your heart on the line here.”

  Biting my lip, I give Roísín a quick hug before turning toward the door and leaving. There’s nothing left to be said, so waiting around won’t do any good at all. Deep in my heart, I know that Roísín, Janna, and Vincent are better off here than with us. No way in hell do I want any attention being brought on them, and especially Roísín. After all, it’s not every day a Daphmire and her daughter stroll into town.

  Chapter 29

  Sitting across from my grandmother after all this time seems weird, to say the least. Especially with my vampire lover beside me and my friends spread around the diner for added protection.

  The idea of needing protection from the woman who loved me and took me in after my parents were murdered, seems so bizarre I’m waiting for the punchline in a joke to happen. Sadly, this situation is so far from being funny, I’d probably end up knocking someone’s teeth out if it turned out to be a hoax.

  “I don’t know where to begin,” I finally admit.

  “How about with why he’s here?” my grandmother asks, pointing a finger in the direction of Victor while refusing to look at him.

  “Actually, no. How about we begin with why a demon was impersonating you, then claimed that you had sent it after me?” I oh-so-calmly inquire.

  I watch as my grandmother stiffens, tension flows through her, almost pulsing. She opens and closes her mouth a couple of times before swallowing. She reaches for a glass of water and swallows a large gulp. Her hand trembles ever so slightly. I would have missed it, except for the fact that I’m watching her so closely.

  “When…” Her voice croaks. Taking a calming breath she tries again. “When did you find out?”

  “Ah, so you’re not denying it. I had wondered if you would. Hoped that it wasn’t true.”

  “It’s true.”

  I stare in shock at the woman who taught me about magick. Who I loved before I met her. I remember the stories my mum used to tell me about Grandma Eve, and how much she loved her. Staring at the woman before me, I wonder for the umpteenth time, what the hell happened to her?

  “What the hell happened to you?” My words fire out of my mouth like a machine gun going off. Hitting their target, going by my grandmother’s flinch. I don’t care. I just want and need answers now. “Tell me.” My words are ground out between my clenched teeth; my jaw aching from the grinding of my teeth.

  “Does it matter?” Shaking her head at her own question, she lets out a sigh. “Stupid question. Of course it matters,” she mutters. Looking up, she finally looks toward Victor and then back to me again. “I’ve been in denial for a long time. After your mother’s murder, I couldn’t handle the sadness I was feeling. Teaching you about magick helped, yet the speed at which you took to it wasn’t natural.

  “It was as if you’d been born practicing magick. You excelled at it and soon were doing spells that most witches couldn’t do. Hadn’t been able to do in centuries. I became jealous. Then you left and joined the army.”

  I stare at her in shock. Everything I remember now has a different slant on it. More sinister. Where I’d assumed she was hurting from the loss of her daughter, it now seemed it was jealousy over my magickal abilities.

  “I became angry and unreasonable,” Eve continues, apparently unaware of the turmoil rolling inside of me due to her words. “Soon, I was talking more and more to other witches who were dissatisfied with their abilities. We began practicing together and harnessing magick from other sources.”

  At this point, Victor takes my hand and squeezes it, letting me know I’m not alone, as I stare in growing horror at the woman before me. A woman I’d always thought of as gentle and caring, not…power mad.

  “First, it was only sifting magick from weaker witches, or duds who had a trace of magick that was lying dormant inside them. Useless to them, but to us… Anyway, it wasn’t long before we made small sacrifices, a bird or rodent. Eventually though, that wasn’t enough, so we moved onto cats and dogs, then larger animals.”

  Taking a deep breath, she looks at me once more before her eyes slide downward. Tracing a water drop down the length of her glass, she finally admits in a very quiet voice, “Eventually we made a human sacrifice. Oh, the power we harnessed was phenomenal.” A groan of satisfaction escapes from her, as her eyes slide shut, as if remembering brings on the euphoria she apparently felt.

  A shudder of revulsion sweeps a path through me. I feel physically sick at what I’m learning. Glancing at Victor, I notice that he’s looking grim.

  “We knew that if we could gather so much power from a mere human, the power we could take from a supernatural would be spectacular. Then you came back to town.”

  “What?”

  “It was like you offered yourself. Just when we realized we needed more power, you came back, and we could feel you. You’d somehow managed to grow even stronger than before. Being near you was like a drug.

  “Sally and Savannah, they came up with a plan for draining you, though I believe that had more to do with wanting him—” Nodding toward Victor, she scowls at him as if this is his fault. “—than with your powers.” Eve sends Victor a baffled look, as if she still can’t understand why anyone would want him, before continuing her story.

  “I devised the plan of calling forth a demon to remove your magick; I knew you would be too strong otherwise. It was Evelyn, though, who wanted us to join The Protectors. All those supernaturals at our mercy— we would have free range to cull the herd, so to speak. Drain the power we needed while…”

  “Murdering people like your daughter?” Victor probes in a calm conversational way, even though I sense the deep-seated rage rolling off him in waves.

  “Like my daughter and granddaughter. It was only when the plan came into action that I realized just how far I’d fallen. I couldn’t…” Closing her eyes, she takes in a shuddering breath before opening them to look directly into mine. Her gaze pleads with mine for, I don’t know what, maybe understanding. But I don’t understand, and I don’t think I ever will.

  “I didn’t know what to do. I’d gone so deep down the path, I wasn’t sure if I could climb back out again. So, I left.”

  “Why didn’t you warn me?” I demand. “You sent a fucking demon after me and then had a change of mind, but nooooo, a simple warning was too much?” I practically scream at her. My voice is a hoarse whisper-shout, as I don’t want to cause undue attention, yet at the same time, my need to rail at her is overwhelming me.

  “You’re right. I should have. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Tears slide down her pale cheeks, and her lower lip trembles.

  I look at her and realize I really don’t
know her at all. Shaking my head, I say the only thing I can think of. “Why did you come back?”

  She pauses midswiping of her eyes to stare in confusion at me. “Because this is my home. Candi, this is where I belong. I only went away to get my head straight and detox from the magick…”

  “Hold on. You went away for a couple of months to a magickal rehabilitation center?”

  “Yes…”

  “And it only took a couple of months to detox years’ worth of addiction?”

  “Well, no, not exactly…”

  “What exactly then?”

  “Now, Candi, you must understand—”

  “No, Eve, I don’t have to understand at all. What I know is that you went off the rails, had an epiphany if you like, and went to detox for a very short while, and now you, what, think everything should be all grand and hunky-dory now that you’ve seen your way straight?” Shaking my head, all I can do is stare at her. “Honestly, I don’t know what to say,” I finally admit. I feel exhausted. Completely drained.

  “I came back because I needed to warn you. The Protectors, they’re gathering together. They’re pre-paring for war.”

  “I know.”

  “No, you don’t. Candi, they’re building an army of supernaturals and humans…”

  “I know.”

  “Don’t be stupid, girl. There’s no way in hell you can know! There’s more going on here than even I knew about!”

  “Do not call her stupid, old woman,” Victor growls in such a threatening way, I half expect him to rip my grandmother’s head off.

  I run my spare hand gently down his arm, petting him and calming him down.

  “Old woman,” splutters Eve in shock. “How dare you?”

  “How dare he? How dare you, I think you mean,” I answer in such a ferocious whisper my grandmother sits farther back into her seat as if to make sure there’s plenty of distance.

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you. You, who stole and killed for magick that wasn’t yours. Who might as well have spat on my mother’s, your daughter’s, grave, due to your actions. Who was going to join The Protectors, for fuck’s sake! And finally, who set a demon after me, your own grandchild. And why? Simply because of greed.” Shaking my head, I look at her before standing and tugging Victor after me.

  “Wait, where are you going?”

  “Away. Away from you, and other than that, it honestly doesn’t concern you anymore.” I turn to walk away but pause after only a couple of steps. I glance back at the woman in the booth and admit to her, “You broke my heart. You ripped up my memories and showed them as falsehoods. I thought you loved me, only to find out you loved and coveted my magick.”

  Swallowing, I blink away the tears gathering in my eyes and look once more at her. “Goodbye, Eve Allhallows. Lose my phone number; you’re no longer part of my life.”

  “Candi, wait. Please. I know you’re angry, but you can’t be serious. We’re all we have left…”

  “No, see that’s where you’re wrong. I have family, and they’re right here.” I see a look of relief wash over her expression. A feeling of guilt assails me as I hadn’t been thinking of her. Stomping on it, I explain, “My family is here.” I point to Jasmine’s table. “There.” I point to Jezebel’s table. “And there.” This time I point to Selene’s table. “And right here.” This time I place my spare hand on Victor’s shoulder. “I also have some family waiting back at my house too. Where I don’t is in that booth you’re sitting in.” I know my words are horrible, even saying them causes pain inside my chest, yet it doesn’t prevent them feeling true.

  Without a final word or look, I turn on my heel and walk out the diner with Victor beside me and the others standing and following me outside. In silence, we head to our cars, climb in, and drive back to mine. The drive home is silent except for the odd hiccupping sob coming from me as unchecked tears slide down my face.

  Chapter 30

  Once we arrive back at mine, we sit in my car for a while. At some stage, Victor must have unbuckled my seatbelt and dragged me onto his lap. I only know this because I’m curled up on it as I soak his t-shirt with my tears.

  “I was so mean to her,” is all I can wail out, before convulsing into louder tears.

  “Shhh, you weren’t. You had a shock is all, a rather large one, granted.”

  “I did, didn’t I?” Sitting back slightly, I wipe my tears away with my hands. “I just don’t know what to do,” I finally admit, while staring out the window.

  “How about we go inside? Maybe get something to eat and just take a time out, hmmm?”

  I give a nod of agreement. A time out sounds good to be honest.

  In silence, we climb out of the car and walk to my front door. Jasmine opens it before we reach it, steps outside, and gives me a fierce hug. “You okay, hon?” she whispers into my ear while petting my back.

  “Yes,” I reply, to which I receive a snort of disagreement. “Okay. No, I’m not.” I admit on a shaky laugh. “I’m so confused. I wish I knew if there was something I could have done to stop my gran before she went so…”

  “Bad?” Pulling back slightly so she can look me in the eyes, Jasmine gives me a slight shake. “Now, you listen to me, Candi Reynolds. I’m only going to say this once. This situation with your grandmother is not your fault. There was nothing you could do to prevent it.

  “In fact, it sounds to me like your leaving probably saved your life. Your grandmother’s actions are hers and hers alone.”

  I open my mouth to say something. I’m not sure what though. I don’t get a chance as Jasmine carries on lecturing me.

  “I know you’re hurting right now from what you said to her. What you should realize is the simple fact it’s now up to your gran to fight to stay in your life. She should make amends. Completely. We have a battle to prepare for, and I need, we all need, your head in the game right now. I’m sorry.”

  She gives me another rib-cracking hug before releasing me and walking back inside. Taking a moment to collect my thoughts, I give a nod of my head, look at Victor, and with a trembling smile reach out and take his hand. I give it a squeeze before releasing it and move forward to enter my home with Victor on my heels.

  I come to a startled halt in my sitting room doorway, only to get knocked through by Victor walking into my back. Fast as lightning, he grabs me by the waist preventing me from doing a face plant on the floor.

  “You okay?” His voice rumbles above me. Suddenly, his hands loosen, and I’m guessing he’s noticed our guest. Before he drops me, he tightens his grip and pulls me to my feet.

  “Nina, what are you doing here?” I ask feeling confused as hell.

  “Apart from watching you fall over yourself, you mean? I came to ask if you would visit the hospital. There’ve been more deaths, and I need to know what the hell is going on there!”

  “Your sister, is she still there?” I inquire, hoping like crazy that nothing has happened to her.

  “Yes. She’s…weaker though. I don’t like it.” Fear and desperation flicker across her face before she locks her emotions away, turning her expression blank.

  “Okay, we’ll need to get something to eat, and then we’ll head over to the hospital,” I inform her.

  “Eat? Are you kidding me?” she shouts furiously at me. “I just told you my sister…”

  “We need to eat to make sure we’re capable of facing whatever is there,” I calmly inform the distraught woman.

  “You know what it’s like, Nina. Keeping energy levels up is too important and can make all the difference. Add into the situation that we have no idea what’s going on…” I trail off. A shiver slithers down my spine as I remember standing outside Jasmine’s hospital room waiting for her to dress so we could sign her and Kheda out.

  There had been something very wrong about the smell of the hospital, making us all feel uneasy, and that was before I’d seen what I’d at first thought to be a doctor or nurse checking in on the patients. Well, right up unti
l I realized the being I was looking at had no face. At all. Thinking about the faceless being I’d seen in the hospital corridor, I can’t help wondering again, had it been Death?

  Chapter 31

  We’ve just finished eating when I have an idea. I’m unsure if it’ll work and hesitate to mention it, yet my brain keeps coming back to it. After five minutes of internal debate, I look up to find everyone looking curiously at me.

  “So, have you decided if you’re going to share your idea with us or not?” Jezebel asks from where she’s leaning against the wall with her arms crossed over her chest.

  “How did you…?”

  “Your thoughts are incredibly loud, also you had a debate flickering across your face,” Selene answers, sounding and looking highly amused.

  “So tell us what you thought of,” Nancy demands, giving me a no-nonsense look.

  “Okay, I’m not sure if it’ll work though…”

  “Just tell us. If it’s a crap idea, we’ll let you know, don’t worry,” T.T. cheerfully informs me with a smirk.

  Shaking my head at her, I take a moment to collect my thoughts into some kind of order. “So, I had this thought—well, first I was wondering if it was Death I’d seen that time in the hospital…”

  “What?” exclaims Janna in shock, staring at me with a wide-eyed expression. I notice Vincent looking just as baffled and Roísín looking slightly scared.

  “Did you guys not know…oh, okay.” I try to reorganize my thoughts again. “Right, so I saw a faceless person who disappeared in the hospital. We think it might be Death.”

  “Oh, dear God. Your way of informing people of information needs to be worked on,” Janna mutters, as she rubs the bridge of her nose.

  I notice the others give slight shrugs of their shoulders and wonder what they’re thinking for just a second before my brain gets back on track.

  “Anyway, I was thinking that maybe we should do a spell of sorts before going to the hospital.”