by Tl Reeve
Judge Hazel sneezed, and I tried my best to hide my grimace as she reverted back into the old crone she truly was at this stage in her life. Not holding on to the glamour made her that much more powerful, though.
In an eerie tone, filled with some of the most powerful magic that sent goosebumps up and down my arms, Judge Hazel lifted her arms. She called the four Watchtowers to help her in her task, then said, “Crossing the divide of the lands and sea, reveal to us the very things that we need to see!”
Before everyone’s eyes, the ceiling of the courtroom became a black swirling vortex, then to what appeared to be a live action IMAX screen, complete with the freezing temperature of the North Pole. I shivered in the biting cold from the winds that blew straight through the room. But, there was no one there to be seen—the entire vicinity was empty save for a few animals. Even the lights I had seen earlier with Jason were no longer shining. This was so not looking good for me at all.
After a few more minutes of seeing no one there, she let go of the spell, thanking the watchtower guardians as she did so. She trained her gaze on me as she said, “Any other lame attempts at pleading your case, Ms. Lantross?” At my silence, she turned her attention to my parents. “No more suggestions from either of you.”
I slumped down in my chair even further. If I sunk any lower, I’d probably be on the floor. There wasn’t a damn thing I could do to prove my innocence. There was no one in that courtroom more surprised than I was to see that barren snow, completely devoid of the beings I had banished. I had no clue what had happened, or where any of them could possibly be. Had I just lost my mind? Had I really killed all those people, including my sister, and just hallucinated them still being alive and only cursed?
Tears gathered in my eyes. I was no longer sure of anything when I could have sworn I heard sleigh bells coming from outside. That sound seemed like additional proof that I had last my mind.
Just when I was ready to give in to my fate, and tell them to do what they will, even if that meant I had to hang, the doors banged open. In a deep, demanding tone that I had to admit sent shivers down my spine, five more words were spoken that were like a salve to my wounded pride. “Your Honor, if I may?”
7
I never thought I would have ever been so happy to see Victor walk into a room. Right then, he was my knight in bright red velvet. Victor still wore the suit, but he was no longer the jolly old man I had turned him into. And he as stood in front of the court, I no longer saw him as the thorn in my side from our days in school, but the fully matured male he had become that held more than a small corner in my heart.
He came and stood by my side and spoke in a tone that demanded attention. “Ladies and gentlemen, elders of the court, Jacquelyn Lantross is not guilty of murder. She may be guilty of showing her love in a peculiar way, and being more than a tad overprotective, but she hasn’t harmed anyone.” Victor turned to address the audience. “And let’s face it, the ones she sent away and placed the curse upon weren’t very missed. Otherwise, the lot of you would have put up a much bigger protest long before just now.” The next was directed at me, “Though she should have gone about things in a far better way.” Right when I was about to respond, he hurried to continue. “But I should have, too. This beautiful enchantress I’m standing beside right now is my True Mate. Even though I’ve always known it, I was too much of a chicken shit to say anything, afraid she would reject me after all the foolish pranks I pulled when we were younger. Every time I did try to speak to her, the wrong words came out of my mouth. Maybe if I said something sooner, none of us would be standing here right now. Because I probably would have told her that her sister was more than capable of taking care of herself, too.”
“You can say that again.” This came from Jadine, who now stood with our parents. She must have walked in while I was busy blushing at Victor’s words.
While Jadine began explaining to the elders why I had done what I did, as quietly as I could, I confronted Victor about these feelings of his. Ever had a whisper argument with someone? That’s what we did, without even facing each other, because we both kept looking straight ahead, hoping no one would notice. “What the fuck is wrong with you? If you’ve known all this time that I was your mate, why waste time by teasing and terrorizing me all through our school days?”
“Because boys are complete idiots, and I’m no exception? I have a problem with feelings, and maybe I misplaced mine.” A lame excuse, but it was a start.
“Fine, what about after we were out of school?”
“I didn’t wanna jump straight from school to being tied down with one female for the rest of my existence, no matter how amazing and beautiful that female was, and most definitely still is. Plus, I was terrified of what would happen if you didn’t accept me.” The last was said with so much vulnerability that I almost let up on him. Almost.
“So, all those bimbos you dated… you were just testing the waters? Wait, don’t even answer that, because it’ll make me want to knee you in the balls.” And I may actually have use for them later, went unsaid. “How could you let me continue dating all those douchebags that never even lasted past the second date? Especially the ones that only tried to get close to me to get closer to Jadine?”
“Well, some of them may have been steered away from you and toward Jadine by me, so that they would leave you alone. The humans you were with never made it home. And before you give me that look, you testing the waters is one thing. I wasn’t about to risk you getting serious with anyone, and none of them deserved you, anyway. You were way too good for any of them. Oh, fuck it.” Victor stopped talking, grabbed my arm, and pulled me into him for the most heated kiss I ever had in my entire life. He conveyed with his lips in that kiss so much more and so much better than he had managed to speak with his words.
Judge Hazel cleared her throat rather loudly, making us break apart like two teens caught kissing on the front porch. We both realized just how quiet it had become in the courtroom. We were so lost in that kiss, I completely forgot where we were. To us, she asked very sarcastically, “Are we interrupting the two of you? Would you like us all to perhaps go elsewhere while you work things out?”
“Damn young folks just show no respect these days,” was tacked on by Judge Harold. Then he growled low under his breath, “I don’t see why we have to stay up through this crap while fang boy over there gets to sleep the whole damn time.”
Judge Eldrich kept on snoring.
Victor interlaced my fingers with his as Jadine went on to speak with the court. “As you can see, everyone is now back, both alive and well. So how about we stop wasting your time and get out of here?”
After mumbling under her breath, Judge Hazel did a roll call. As their names were called, one by one, all of Jadine’s exes walked in. Not only were they very much alive and well, but they all were also fully grown.
Jadine turned her head slightly toward me when she heard my shocked gasp and whispered, “That’s what took us so long getting back. I parked the sleigh and took them around to see what their presents meant to the ones that deserved them. It worked so well for some of them that they grew right up at being so proud at what they had accomplished. Others, well, I took them to see the ungrateful ones, whom we should have given giant lumps of coal instead. We lingered for a bit and saw them not only berating the gifts they were given, but also showing utter contempt and disrespect to their parents. At the last house, when this smug, pudgy little girl was alone in her room, I made her doll come to life in her hands—made the doll’s head do a one-eighty and tell the little troll she better start treating her parents right. After watching her piss her pants and run to her mommy and daddy, they realized how awful they themselves had been acting, and voila.”
Judge Hazel banged down on her gavel once again to get everyone’s attention over all of the chatter as the males were reunited with their families. “Fine, what you say may be true, but your sister isn’t just walking out of here scot free after all the tro
uble she’s caused. She will be receiving some type of punishment.”
With a devious smile that I didn’t even know my sister was able to form, she went on to say, “How about a sort of community service? I have the perfect idea in mind.”
8
“And that, my little ones, is how the legend of Santa Clause began. As well as your mom’s community service, delivering presents right alongside your dad.” I closed the book Jadine had conjured up for the kids when we told her she was going to be an aunt. She said it was an important part of their history. “Okay, Crissy and Donovan, how about the two of you go over to Auntie Jadine’s and help her get things ready for tonight’s Solistice party? And, while you’re at it, see how things are coming along with the Naughty or Nice list.”
“Yay! She’ll probably have cookies!” they exclaimed together as they jumped down from my lap.
I flicked Jason off my shoulder. “Go with them and make sure they don’t get into any trouble.”
“Caw! You just wanna get you some,” was his response as he flew toward the door. “Come on, you two.”
As soon as the door closed with everyone on the other side of it, Victor came back into the living room with his Santa hat on and nothing else. I stood from my chair, grinning from ear to ear as I opened my robe to let it fall to the floor. He had me up in his arms and was tossing me on our bed before it had so much as a chance to touch the carpet. “Have I told you lately how much I love that vampire speed of yours?”
“Aw, Mrs. Stranovich, keep talking like that and you’ll never get out of this room.” He took his time climbing atop of me, letting his hands glide along the contours of my body as he did so.
Once we were face to face, the tip of his erection standing at attention at my already thoroughly wet and waiting core, he took my lips in a kiss that was just as searing as the very first time he kissed me in that courtroom all those years ago. It was a kiss that went beyond words, way past passion, and touched my heart while caressing my very soul.
Without breaking that connection, Victor entered me in a thrust so deep, rubbing up against that spot that had me already ready to scream out his name. I snatched the hat from his head as he continued that ancient dance that would never grow old with us, so that I could feel those thick, silky strands cascade between my fingers.
Releasing my lips, Victor lifted just slightly as he kept his hips going at the perfect momentum. He looked me in my eyes, that I knew were glowing violet from both passion and magic as his gleamed red from passion and hunger. As I watched his fangs slide down, his features become harsher and, to me, even more sexy. My juices flowed that much more around him with anticipation for what was to come.
When he bent his down and pierced my neck, I unleashed my built-up power, heightening our every sensation. After a few more pulls of my blood and a few more thrusts, we both came together, as one, the way we had always been meant to.
* * *
The End
About the Author
When you become a Mom, you begin to put yourself last, and your combat boots begin to collect dust. Going to your child's PTA meetings in full Gothic, especially industrial, regalia is pretty much frowned upon. Especially by your own children, and your teens would die of a heart attack. But, one should not have to completely stop being themselves, uniqueness is greatness. So all of that darkness is put into words in her books, and designs in her jewelry sold in her Etsy shop, GothicMoms DarkCharms.
Mother of five beautiful children, but by far more than just that. T. A. Moorman is an artist, a violinist, a seamstress, a crafter, a writer, a blogger, a reviewer, a dark confidant and a darkly dangerous, fiercely protective friend.
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Blog: http://gothicmoms.blogspot.com/
I Loved a Warlock from Wichita
Brigitte Ann Thomas
1
Kaitlyn
“Your family is from Wichita? Please, please tell me you’re kidding,” I said as I tried to hold back a laugh.
“Really, really not,” my live-in boyfriend of nearly a year, Aramaeus, answered with a blank face.
A single laugh slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it. I pressed my lips together and covered my mouth with my hand to prevent any further unwanted outbursts.
“Go ahead, Kaitlyn. I can tell you’re dying to. Your head is going to blow up like a cartoon character if you don’t let it out.”
“I’m so sorry.” I squealed before erupting into a loud round of laughter. I laughed so hard that I couldn’t hold myself upright any longer and crashed to my knees on the floor. Then, I fell over onto my side, clutching my gut as the laughter continued.
“All right, well it’s not that funny.”
Aramaeus reached his hand out to me and helped me up from the floor.
“Come on, Aramaeus,” I said between the small laughs that were still coming. “You’re a warlock from Wich-ita. Witch-ita. It’s pretty damn funny.”
Aramaeus rolled his eyes at me and leaned down to kiss me on the forehead.
“You’d better go ahead and get it out of your system now before you meet them. My father isn’t really the laughing type. And my mother—well, you’ll see.”
Reaching up, I wrapped my arms around his neck and brought his head down until it was touching mine.
“Are you just trying to scare me?”
“No, I just want to keep you apprised of the situation, Kait. My parents aren’t warm and understanding like yours. They can turn people into woodland creatures when they are frustrated. And don’t get me started on my brother. Yours may still hold you down and fart on you, but mine is much worse.”
“Nothing is worse than having someone fart on your face.” I still occasionally had nightmares of Emil chasing me down, tackling me to the ground, and sitting on my head until I damned near passed out. Then, he would fart right before he let me go because he knew I would need to take a deep breath when he got up.
“Your brother just has brute strength. Mine has magic. He turned me into a spider once, when I was too young to know that I had to protect myself at all times—even when I was sleeping. He kept me in a jar under his bed for almost a week. My parents thought I had run off, and he didn’t tell them any different. When he finally let me go, I told them what he did. And I got in trouble for it. It was my fault for not anticipating an attack and keeping my shields up.”
Okay, he won on the worse brother front. At least Emil got punished for being a heinous jerk.
“Oh, honey,” I said softly. I pressed a light kiss on each of his eyebrows.
“I wasn’t asking for your pity.”
My proud warlock.
“Who said anything about pity? I just like kissing you.” Unwrapping my arms from his neck, I pulled back and grabbed him by the hand. “How about I take you into the bedroom and show you just how much?”
Aramaeus groaned and dipped his head down to give me a quick kiss.
“I wish we had the time, sweetheart, but you have to finish packing. They’re expecting us by sundown tonight. And we’ve got—” He paused to check his watch. “Two hours.”
“I can pack fast,” I said as I tugged at his belt with my free hand.
Aramaeus laughed and kissed me again.
“We both know you’re lying. You don’t do anything fast.”
I shot him a mischievous smile as I tugged at his belt again.
“Are you complaining?”
“No, but we don’t want to keep my parents waiting. And you’d better believe a family full of witches and warlocks would be able to tell that we just had sex.”
“Yuck!” I let go of his belt and his hand immediately. “I guess I will finish packing my suitcase. Anything in particular you want me to bring?”<
br />
I gave him an obvious wink.
“Hmm…” he said as he grabbed me by the waist and pulled me closer to him. “Something you can wear that will keep you from freezing your toes off in the snow. We both know you’re not accustomed to cold weather. North Florida isn’t known for its cold winters. Kansas is a lot colder.”
Aramaeus kissed me on the nose. Then, he let me go, giving me a pop on the butt to encourage me to go pack.
I growled in a playful way, and then I disappeared into the bedroom to pack and prepare myself to meet his parents.
Aramaeus
* * *
With Kaitlyn in the bedroom and out of sight, I could let myself freak out a little. I had never brought a partner home to meet my parents, let alone a human. A human I planned on proposing to over the holiday. In my two hundred years on the planet, I had never met anyone like Kaitlyn. She was definitely a one-of-a-kind woman with a big, accepting heart—the kind of woman I could give up immortality for—so I would never have to live without her.
I wasn’t going to tell my parents that much, though, not until it was done. I wouldn’t give them a second to try and stop it.
“Is there anything we should get to bring your parents?” Kaitlyn yelled from the bedroom. Her voice could really carry.
“Do you have some eye of newt lying around?”
“What?”
“It’s a witch joke, Kait.” It was my turn to laugh some. “Don’t worry about it. I grabbed something for them last week. You just worry about being your normal, charming self.”
“Okay.”
It didn’t take warlock powers to tell that she was actually nervous about meeting them, no matter how hard she tried to hide it behind her smile.
