Hollywood Witch Hunter

by Valerie Tejeda

  “Iris, can I talk to you?” Arlo asked, whisking her away by the arm.

  “I’m not going to change my mind, Arlo,” she said, tightly folding her arms as he closed the bedroom door behind them.

  “Listen,” he started. “I know this is not what you want to hear right now, but taking Belinda to this lady is the only play we’ve got. We really don’t know what we’re dealing with here.”

  “I don’t care!” she shouted. “I don’t want to—”

  Iris cut herself off when she spotted the hotel’s unmade bed. Her blood boiled hotter than the witch’s that had just been sleeping there. Jealousy coursed through her veins.

  “Just hear me out,” Arlo interrupted, realizing where her gaze went. “When you first told me about what you Hunters do, you said the point was to protect humans from these evil witches, right?”

  “Where are you going with this?” Iris had a sour look on her face.

  “Iris, listen, if we don’t try to figure out what’s going on with the warlock we don’t know what could happen.” Arlo inched forward. “The whole reason I got on board with this Witch Hunter thing in the first place was to help people … like you do.” Arlo grabbed Iris by the shoulders, gazing into her eyes.

  “What? Why are so you quiet all of a sudden?” Iris asked with a pensive look.

  “Iris, there’s something I need to say.”

  Arlo reached for Iris’s hands, lacing his fingers with hers. Goose bumps rippled across her skin like a tidal wave of electricity. Their eyes met and Iris felt like she was standing on a cloud.

  “I know you’re mad that Belinda’s here, and I don’t blame you, but I wanted to let you know … I like you, Iris. And I know you probably don’t like me back, but if you do, I want to be with you. Sure, I think we should go to see this witch doctor, but I won’t if you don’t want me to. I’ll tell Belinda to leave … right now. Whatever you want.”

  Iris’s stomach jumped. She wasn’t expecting this from him. She was expecting more of a fight.

  “Just say the words, Iris, and she’s gone.”

  She stared into Arlo’s dark green eyes, wanting nothing more than to wrap her hands around his neck, pull him closer, and kiss him.

  But she didn’t.

  She was too hurt, too confused. She wasn’t sure who to believe. She knew she saw Arlo kissing Belinda even though they both denied being at Griffith Park. And on top of that, the fear of possibly losing Arlo if she let him close, trumped everything else.

  So she lied.

  “Arlo, I’m sorry. But I don’t … I mean … I don’t like you like that, I mean.”

  Her chest boomed as the lies left her mouth. She swallowed hard, fighting the urge to lose her lunch.

  “And, you don’t need to tell Belinda to leave or anything,” she continued. “I’m good with you going to Burbank. I came here to take you back to the Fortress, but if you want to go, I can’t stop you. But I won’t be going with you guys. I just can’t.”

  “All right. Well, gotta admire a girl for being brutally honest. That’s one of the things I do love about you.” He dropped her hands and looked at the ground. The wind left her lungs and her heart thrummed an uncomfortable beat.

  “Arlo, wait,” she pleaded as he turned to walk away.

  “It’s okay. You’re this powerful kickass Hunter. I knew it would be a ‘no,’ but it was worth a shot, right?”

  His face went solemn and Iris fought back tears. A part of her heart died, and the rest of it was left barely beating.

  Twenty-Eight

  She’d had enough.

  Frustrated and out of patience, Iris left the hotel room, letting the door slam shut behind her. She left Arlo with Belinda and wanted to do some research on her own.

  She pushed her way through the revolving door and was pacing toward the parking lot when she spotted a downtrodden-looking Dex, and Deacon, who was wearing a face-splitting grin.

  Iris was surprised they were here. She didn’t tell anyone she was going to the Beverly Hills Hotel, but then again, the Hunters could have easily tapped into her cell phone. She would have done the same thing.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked Dex with a wide gaze. Dex sighed heavily, but said nothing. His body was stiff and he couldn’t look her direction. “Dude, you okay?” she asked. Dex wasn’t acting like himself.

  Deacon’s demented smile grew a little bit wider and that’s when Iris felt a twinge in her chest.

  “We’re here to get you, Iris,” Deacon said. His voice was oozing with hate. “It’s over.”

  Iris jumped. “What’s over? What the hell is he talking about?” She shifted her gaze to her cousin, but his eyes were still glued to the pavement.

  “Here,” Dex said, handing her a phone. “It’s your father.”

  Oh no. Dex was acting weird, and her dad was on the phone. This couldn’t be good. She took a deep breath and held her head high as she put the phone to her ear.

  “Hello?” she said, hiding her nerves behind a steady tone.

  “Iris.” Her dad’s voice was quick. “The board has voted on your recent actions and has agreed you’re to be held responsible for the death of the actress. You’re off the team.”

  Her body went warm and she felt like she’d gotten stabbed in the gut. This had to be some sort of a mistake. “What?! Are you serious? This is so unfair!”

  “I know. But life’s not always fair, honey. You need to go back to the Fortress and pack your things. You’re going to be spending some time with your mom in Colombia.”

  “Colombia?” Iris flinched. “I thought she was in Spain.”

  “She was. Now she’s on her way to Colombia.” He sounded agitated.

  “Without coming home first?”

  “You can get the whole story from your mom when you see her. And your brother doesn’t know you’re off the team and I’d like to keep it that way so he doesn’t get upset. I told him you’re just going to meet your mom and that’s it.”

  “So you want me to lie to him?” She peered at Dex, shaking her head that he could keep something like this from Knox. She knew he was just following orders, but still.

  “Yes. Just for now. It’s for his own good.”

  “So even though I carry the gene like everyone else, it’s just over?!” she yelled. “How come a horrible hunter like Deacon gets to stay?”

  “Hey!” Deacon exclaimed.

  She knew Knox or Dex, or even a deadbeat Hunter like Deacon would never be held responsible for the actress’s death. But just because she was a girl, she was out. The board members had always been sexist.

  “I’m sorry, Iris.” Her dad softened his voice. “I did all that I could but the decision is final—”

  “What are you really doing in Wales, Dad?” she interrupted. Her eyes darkened in anger. She was digging her nails into the sides of her pants but didn’t even realize it.

  “I’m taking care of some business, Iris,” he swiftly replied.

  “What kind of business?” she pried more. Her voice was threatening and forceful.

  “This is neither the place nor the time, Iris!” he snapped. “You’re off the team. Is this understood?”

  Her blood was officially boiling. However, she knew no good could come from giving her father the third degree over the phone. She needed a different approach. “Yes, sir.” Iris gave in, taking a long breath. “Well,” she cleared her throat, “it was an honor serving on the W.H.O. while it lasted,” she said convincingly.

  “And it was an honor having you, and I mean it. But I promise you, this is for the best. Okay?”

  Iris hung up the phone and handed it back to Dex. She wanted to cry. But that was the last thing she was going to do with Deacon standing in front of her. She didn’t need any more of his crap.

  “I’m so sorry, Iris,” Dex said, putting his hand on her shoulder. “For the record, I don’t think this is fair either and I hate lying to Knox about this.”

  “Well, I think it’s fai
r,” Deacon added with a snide grin. “I’ve said from the beginning that you were just not Hunter material.”

  “Oh, and you are?” she hissed. “Don’t freaking start with me.”

  “Look,” Dex turned to Deacon. “Will you go wait in the car so I can talk to my cousin for a second?”

  “Fine.” Deacon turned on his heel and left, stomping his feet in the process. He was so immature.

  “I’m so sorry, Iris,” Dex said with sincerity. “I wish there were something I could do.”

  There was no way Iris was going back to the Fortress. And there was definitely no way she was going to just hop on a flight to Colombia.

  Then, it hit her.

  Silos. She would take him up on his offer and go to Wales. If she could just talk to her father, maybe she could convince him to make this right. He owed her that much after all.

  “Actually, Dex, there is something you can do.” Her face brightened. “Don’t take me back to the Fortress, just go back without me,” she offered with pleading eyes.

  “Iris, you know I could get into a lot of trouble here if I just—”

  “Just say that I made a run for it. They all think I’m the devil anyway. It wouldn’t be that far-fetched. I’ll text you later and tell you where I am, but for now I can’t tell you anything. Please, Dex,” Iris petitioned her cousin. She grabbed his arm and squeezed it tight.

  Dex paused for a moment, staring at Iris and scratching his head. She could tell he was torn. “All right. But we need to make this look real.” He held out his hands. “Hit me. ”

  Iris took a step back. “I’m not going to hit you!”

  “Good lord, woman, will you just kick my ass!”

  She hesitated. “Okay,” she finally huffed. “Here we go.” Iris shrugged and decked him in the nose, sending him skipping backward.

  “You okay?” She ran up beside him. He held his nose and waved her away.

  “Just go,” he ordered, clutching his face.

  “Thanks, Dex.” She flashed a quick smile. “You’re the best.”

  Iris sprinted across the street, narrowly dodging the oncoming traffic, and ducked into a nearby alley. She called Silos but he didn’t answer. Damnit. She went for Levana next.

  “Hey. If it isn’t my new Hunter BFF,” Levana answered in her typical seductive tone. “You know, at first I just befriended you to help me get Belinda out of here, but now I really like you. Isn’t that just—”

  “Levana. I need your help,” Iris panted. “It’s the longest story ever, but is there any way you can pick me up in Beverly Hills?” she shouted through the car horns and busy street traffic.

  “I totally would, but I’m getting my nails done.”

  “Still?” Iris yelped. “Didn’t you leave to do that like hours ago?”

  “Yeah. But the color was all wrong so I made them do it again. Plus … I may have got a sacrifice in.”

  “Levana!”

  “Hey! I can’t help it. And if it makes you feel any better I purposefully sacrificed someone who was totally awful. I’m talking she was a killer. Like an actual murderer. I got her to confess to killing her best friend with her boyfriend a few years ago just because her friend beat her for homecoming queen, and she totally got away with it. Isn’t that just, ew? So I picked her instead of the super shallow and hot girl next to her. I didn’t want you to be mad at me. Aren’t you so proud?”

  “Wow, Levana,” Iris said flatly. “It’s not like I don’t appreciate it, because trust me, I do.” Her response reeked of sarcasm. “But, things like that still need to be left to the law.”

  “Oh come on, she would’ve just ended up behind bars and out on bail and probably would’ve done it again anyway. Aren’t you even a little proud of me? I mean, I could’ve gone for an innocent and I didn’t.”

  “Okay. Fine. I’m a little proud of you,” Iris said. She couldn’t believe she was having this conversation right now. “Now, let’s move. Do you know where Silos is?”

  “Yeah. He still has my car. I guess he found out where Helmer is.”

  “Really?” Iris perked up. “Is there any way you can trying call him? I’ve been trying over and over but I can’t get through.”

  “That’s because he’s probably near Malibu with horrible reception. But don’t worry, I’ll be able to get through to him.”

  “How?” Iris asked with confusion.

  “Don’t worry about it.” She giggled. “It’s a witch thing. I’ll make sure he’s there within the hour, if not sooner.”

  “How do you even know where I am right now?” Iris looked around, wondering if Levana or one of the other Hollywood witches was secretly spying on her or had access to a street camera.

  “Again. A witch thing,” Levana said coyly. “Or … maybe not? A witch never spells and tells.”

  Twenty-Nine

  Iris paced back and forth through the alleyway as she waited. She turned to find Silos pulling up in the witches’ white Range Rover. Her stomach jumped as he rolled down the window and flashed a broad smile.

  “Had a change of heart, did ya?” He smirked.

  “I guess you could say that.” Iris stared at Silos. She was slightly hesitant to hop in the car with him, but not enough to hold back. Now that the warlock was here, Iris took her knife and destroyed her phone, leaving the crushed pieces on the street. She didn’t want the Hunters to track her. “Thanks for picking me up,” she said with a weak grin.

  “It was my pleasure. So you’re coming to Wales, then?”

  “Yes. To confront my father, and that’s it.” Iris wanted to be clear. Sure, she thought the warlock was incredibly hot, but she wasn’t running away to Wales with him to live some happily-ever-after fantasy. She was on a mission.

  “Well, lucky me,” he said snidely.

  Iris giggled and opened the door to the passenger seat. Silos brought a smile to her face, which was surprising considering she just got booted from the team.

  “Wait. Would you like to drive?” Silos asked, taking out the keys and dangling them in the air.

  “Me?” She pointed to herself. “You’d let me drive the witches’ car?”

  “Well, why not? You know the area better than I do.”

  “Hm.” The Hunters rarely allowed Iris to drive anywhere, and whenever they did, it was usually because someone else wasn’t available. She’d never had someone give her the keys, just for the hell of it.

  “All right. I’d love to drive,” she said, snatching the keys from Silos. “Thanks. But just to let you know, I don’t mess around when I drive so you’d better buckle up tight,” she teased.

  “Why?” He cleared his throat. “Am I in for a rough ride?” He raised his brow.

  She playfully rolled her eyes. “Something like that.”

  Iris let out a short breath, sinking into the driver’s seat as she gripped the wheel. It felt nice. “So I hear you found Helmer?”

  “Indeed I did. He’s in Malibu, hiding in a house by the water. Fancy a stop at the beach?”

  “Ha.” Iris laughed. “Do you really think we have time for that? I mean, we are in the middle of tracking down a powerful warlock.”

  “True.” He bobbed his head. “But my theory is, there’s always time for a little fun. All work and no play is no way to live.”

  “Easy for you to say. The work of a Hunter never ends.”

  Iris rolled down the window as they drove down the Pacific Coast Highway. The salty air was cool and refreshing. Seagulls cawed in the distance and waves crashed to a sound of their own melody while hints of seaweed roamed through the air. Iris loved the smell of the ocean and though she couldn’t explain it, the sea always reminded her of her mother. It was comforting.

  Suddenly, something caught her eye. “Do you see that?” Iris asked, quickly taking the car to the side of the road. She jumped out of the driver’s seat and raced toward the beachfront. The waves were huge, much larger than usual.

  “What’s going on?” Silos asked, coming
beside her.

  “Something’s not right here. Those waves are way too high for Malibu this time of the day. I’m thinking there’s an Ethas here.”

  “I think you may be right, love. There’s magic. I can feel it.”

  Iris scanned the beach. There was a group of bikini-wearing women sunbathing and sneaking shots of vodka, a few children building sandcastles, and two guys throwing a football. Nothing out of the ordinary for Malibu.

  Then, she noticed something odd: a beautiful young woman with long black hair and milky-brown skin stood in front of the sea, twirling her finger in the air like a maestro conducting an orchestra. The tide obeyed her every motion.

  “Found her,” Iris said, motioning her head to the right. “But don’t look. I need to catch her off guard.”

  Iris took a step forward and grabbed the knife from her back pocket.

  “Wait.” Silos held out his arm. “What’s your plan?”

  “My plan?” Iris said in an irritated tone. “To go over there and kill her?”

  Silos drew back. “She’s just moving the waves. Are you so certain she’s here to hurt someone?”

  “The witches in L.A. aren’t like you warlocks,” she asserted. “They’re under Belinda’s curse. They have to kill to survive. If she’s messing around with the water, it’s for a reason. She’s preparing for a sacrifice.”

  As soon as the words left Iris’s mouth her eyes widened in fear. There was a wave coming that had to be over fifteen feet tall. Faster than Silos could protest, Iris started to run. The witch saw Iris and dropped her hand, crashing the large wave at the same time.

  Iris leaped on top of her, taking the witch to the ground. “What are you doing here, Nomad?” Iris growled, holding her knife to the witch’s throat. Silos ran up by her side.

  “I’m just playing around. I’m not here to kill anyone,” the witch said in a shaky voice.

  “She’s telling the truth, Iris.” Silos came to her defense. “She’s just a drifter.”

  “Really? I find that hard to believe considering this beach is full of rich brats.” She turned toward Silos. “And if she doesn’t kill someone now, she will later. That’s what witches do.”