by Amy Boyles
Dex’s jaw hardened. “I’m going to find him, and this time, only one of us is going to come out alive.”
TEN
“Andie, it's the only choice I have,” Dex said.
I ground my toe into the floor. “It's not the only choice you have. You could stay, help guard all the children. There's so much we need.”
I really didn't know what else we needed for him to do except watch the children, give me a hug, hang out with me and stay.
Dex smiled sadly. “Andie, it's going to be okay. I'm going to find the lord, discover what to do, return here and everything will be all right. Besides, he'll know where Jonas is. I need to find him, find Jonas, save the other kids. It's the only choice I have. And I won't hear another word about it.”
I wasn't gonna win this one, I was smart enough to realize that. I forced down the tears that threatened to well in my eyes, swallowed the knot in the back of my throat, clenched my fists and jutted out my chin.
“Okay, that's fine. You do what you need to do, and I’ll keep watch. But promise me to keep your phone on you. Because I have to be able to reach you. Dex, I can’t go through this again. I can’t lose you twice. I’ve already gone through that emotional torture.”
He wrapped me in a hug. My back stiffened, and I kept my arms cemented to my sides until Dex held me so long that I finally had to give in. My bones melted. I wanted to curl up in his spicy scent and just forget all this badness and take Gabby somewhere and never come back. But there were others at risk, and I knew better than to think I could outrun a demon for the rest of my life.
They were like superglue, those creatures. Once they plastered their sites on you, they wouldn’t stop until they got what they wanted.
Dex thumbed my cheek. “I’ll have my phone on twenty-four-seven. You need me, you call and I will be there.”
I nodded dumbly and backed away from him.
Dex gave me the sweetest, most sincere smile. His lips coiled on his perfectly handsome face.
“Okay,” I said. “Okay. You go and I'll be in touch. Promise me you won't do anything stupid.”
Dex’s blue eyes pierced my heart. “I will not risk losing my family again.”
“Okay,” I whispered.
Dex left. I ignored the gaping hole in my heart and turned my attention to Dot and Stone. We huddled in the kitchen.
“Dot,” I said, “I need to destroy the book. But I don't need you to tell me that you have magical acid in a can or something crazy like that. I need actual help.”
Dot fluffed her hair and scoffed. “Andie, I don't have magical acid in a can. I would never even lie about such a thing. But I do think I remember hearing about a way to destroy The Witch’s Handbook.”
My eyebrows rose to the ceiling. “You know a way? Well, what is it?”
Stone shot me a look. “I don't know if I’d get too excited about this.”
“I know, right? Last time we had Dot help us—well actually, every time we’ve had Dot help us—things have gone very, very wrong.”
That was actually true. A couple of months ago Dot said she had stored her magic in cans and that I could use them to help defeat a slew of vampires. Well, it seemed Dot had forgotten to actually put her power in the cans. So, she had been useless, to put it nicely.
“Andie,” Dot said, “I may not know all the answers, and I may mess things up sometimes, but my heart is always in the right place.”
I tapped my palm to my chest. “Dot, I know your heart is in the right place. I know that; it's just that sometimes things get a little screwball on us.”
She mumbled to herself before turning back to us. “I do know one method that could help destroy the handbook. You want to wield the power and trap the demon. To do that you've got to obliterate the handbook, which will also free Vordrid as your mentor, am I correct?”
“Yes, when you put it that way, though it all sounds a little harebrained,” I said.
Dot shuffled over to a chair, sat down and folded her hands on the kitchen table. I could tell this was about to get all serious. Like, crazy serious.
“When I was a girl, I did hear about someone who was able to destroy their tome. The reasons why they did so, I believe were somewhat nefarious. The way they managed to do it took a lot of power. More power than they had as a witch, and more power than they had as a witch with the book.”
“Okay,” I said. “So what exactly does that mean?”
“It means,” Dot said slowly, “that what I'm about to tell you will make you question everything you've ever known as a hunter.”
I laughed nervously. I brought my fingers to my mouth and basically started munching on my nails. If she was about to tell me something that was going to question pretty much a lifetime of training, then it had to be insane.
It wasn't as if everything I’d ever known hadn’t been questioned in the past couple months anyway. I mean, my hunter husband had died years ago, only to show up as an undead vampire. Then an angel had appeared in my backyard and basically professed his love to me, but didn't want to become mortal because he wanted to do the big guy’s work and save people. Though apparently that deal was off as well.
So really, what could Dot tell me that would absolutely shake my world to the core? Because as far as I was concerned, that had already happened.
Dot threaded her fingers together. “This witch transformed out of the human self.”
I quirked a brow. “Transformed? What you mean?”
Stone brushed a slash of bang from his face. “What she's saying is, you won't be human anymore.”
“I won’t be human anymore?” I shrieked.
“No,” Dot said. “Wielding that level of power means you have to channel something else, something different entirely.”
I folded my arms, bracing myself for the blow. “And what’s that?”
Dot glanced away from me. She shielded her eyes as if she didn’t want to see how her words would affect me. “You must become a vampire.”
ELEVEN
I backed away from Dot. “What do you mean, I have to become a vampire? That makes no sense.”
Vordrid floated into the room, his number 8 pointed in my direction. “Andie, actually it makes a lot of sense. The amount of magic you need to unleash the handbook’s power is astronomical.”
I cocked a skeptical brow. “Really? Astronomical?”
Vordrid ignored my comment. “You would have to obtain this power from a source other than yourself. Vampires are incredibly strong creatures. In fact, we don't know everything about them.”
I raked my fingers through my head of loose waves. “But that doesn't make any sense. Dex is a prime example. You were his mentor, too, Vordrid. You were magically released from him when we thought him dead. But Dex never said that he was able to destroy his book. I just assumed that since he became a vampire, the magic that tied him to his handbook faded away.”
Vordrid landed on the counter and pivoted from side to side. “Dex was nearly dead when the lord vampire gave him the gift of a second life, so to speak. So it's possible that his handbook itself severed the ties to Dex. The book senses when the life force of the person it's tethered to has fallen below a certain level—meaning dead or about to be dead. When it dips too low, the book releases itself from that individual. I believe in the case of Dex, this is what happened.”
I took a deep breath, contemplating everything I was hearing. “You believe that Dex’s relationship with the book was severed when he became a vampire. So if I was to become a vampire to destroy the book and gain its power—meaning I would at some point be on the verge of death—then Vordrid, doesn't it factor in that somewhere it's not going to work? The book would sever its tie to me.”
Stone thumbed his jawline. “Andie’s got a point. The logic doesn't add up. Dot, you're saying a witch became a vampire and destroyed his own book. In order for that to happen, a person has to go through the metamorphosis of becoming a vampire, which would mean that at some point they
would die.”
I nodded. “I think Stone's right. That makes the most sense. Dot, are you sure that's what the witch did?”
Dot bobbed her head like she had a tremor. “Yes, Andie, I am one hundred and twenty percent sure that that's what happened. If you don't want to listen to the ramblings of an old woman, don’t. But I'm trying to save you, your family and this town.”
I rubbed my temples. “You weren’t kidding when you said the information would rock my beliefs. It's not bad enough that Dex is a vampire, but now you want me to become one as well. Dot, I’m pretty sure this is just your way of trying to get me back with my husband.” I slid a hand down my arm. “I don't believe it at all.”
Dot opened her mouth to speak, but I was too tired and confused to discuss the matter anymore. In fact, the idea of bed sounded so good I raised my hand.
“Good night, everyone. We can finish this chat tomorrow. As of right now, I’m beat and I have a preschool class to teach in the morning.”
And with that I went to bed. I knew I had walked out of the conversation that could potentially save lives, but I didn’t buy it.
I was supposed to become a vampire in order to destroy the book so that I could then gain the power to trap a demon. Not only did it make no sense, but it gave me a headache just thinking about it.
I hadn’t accepted Dex as my husband partly because he was a vampire, and I wouldn’t become one, either. Gabby needed parents—living parents, not undead ones.
I awoke the next morning with Stone sitting on my bed, a cup of steaming coffee in his hands. “Don’t worry,” he said. “It’s got chocolate in it.”
I pushed to sitting. “Thank heaven for small miracles.”
He smiled. “Let me know when you’re ready to talk.”
I took the warm mug and started sipping. As soon as caffeine, chocolate and whipped cream slid down my tongue and permeated my veins—which was about three seconds later—I blinked.
“I’m ready for the day. Come what may.” Course, I regretted those words as soon as they escaped my lips. Come what may could be a disaster.
Stone squeezed my leg covered by the comforter. “Good news. I’ve been okayed to get the holy relic cross. I’ll get it this morning and Ron and I will distribute the bits today. We’ll go to each and every family and explain what’s going on.”
“What about Jonas? Does Ron have any idea about where to find him?”
“We’ll start looking in the most logical places first—cemetery, then the sewers.”
“Sounds like a Stephen King book,” I joked. Though I wasn’t really kidding.
Stone’s eyes danced with amusement, making the corners crinkle. “Of all the women I’ve met in all my life, none of them are quite like you.”
My heart fluttered. “I bet you say that to all the girls.”
He paused, glancing down at the bed. “I’ve encountered many people in my lifetime, some holy, some not, but you are the most capable and most fiercely loving of all of them. Andie, when all this is over, I want to be yours and I want you to be mine.”
I gulped down a knot of emotion. I couldn’t do this now. Not now. Not with Dex in such danger.
“Stone,” I started.
He grazed his knuckles down my cheek. I snatched his hand and kissed his palm. “I know,” he said. “I know how you feel about Dex. He was your first love and will always own a piece of your heart that I could never reach. I understand that. I’m not asking to take his place; all I’m asking is that you delve into your feelings for me and see what’s there.”
Stone knew who I was now, but he didn’t know where I’d come from. He didn’t know about all the times my back was up against a wall fighting a vampire and the one person I could rely on, Dex, was standing at my side, fighting beside me.
And making a joke along the way, as was how Dex did it.
“I know what’s in my heart for you,” I said, “which is why this is all the more confusing.”
Stone rose, leaving a dimple in the bed. “I’ll check in with you later and let you know the game plan for tonight.”
“Thanks,” I said.
I showered, dressed and went into the kitchen to find Dot talking to Gabby. “Vampires are creatures of the night. They drink blood. So your daddy drinks blood to stay alive.”
“Daddy drinks blood,” Gabby said.
“Okay,” I said, “that’s enough talk about vampires and blood.” I rinsed my coffee cup out and poured a fresh mug.
“Andie, I’m just trying to teach your daughter the basics of life.”
I gave Gabby a good morning hug and turned to Dot. “Dot, this does not teach my daughter the basics of anything. This teaches her about creatures of the night.”
Dot handed me a brown paper sack. “This teaches her about life as a witch.”
I shook my head. “Whatever.” I held up the bag. “What’s this?”
“Your lunch.”
I nearly fell over from shock. “Since when did you start making my lunch?”
Dot pushed up the sleeves of her persimmon-colored sweater. “Since I realized you might need extra calories.”
“I don’t need to get fat.”
Dot rolled her eyes. “These aren’t fat calories, they’re muscle calories. Look and see.”
I opened the bag to find two chicken breasts in a sandwich baggie. “Yep. That appears to be a handful of protein.”
Dot smiled widely. “You’re welcome.”
I hopped into the 4Runner and headed toward school. I drove by the police station on my way in and noticed a throng of people circled in front of the doors. One of them was Missy Burke. She used to teach at my preschool but had quit when the board decided to keep me on after they discovered I was a witch.
Though I hadn’t seen her do it in a while, usually Missy could be found riding up and down the street shouting town gossip from her window.
I kid you not.
Sheriff Terry stood in front of the door to the station. His arms flared out as he tried to keep the crowd back.
Anger twisted not only Missy’s face, but the faces of all the other people, too.
What the heck was going on?
Several people raised their arms as if demanding something. I hit the button on my door. The window hummed down a few inches, just enough for me to hear what was going on.
“They’re going to wipe us out,” Missy said. Her stringy, dark hair hung limply over her shoulders. For some reason it always reminded me of snakes. Luckily, looking at her didn’t turn you to stone.
“They want to kill us all!”
“You saw how that girl murdered that man. In broad daylight!”
I felt all the blood drain from my face. They were talking about us—about the supers.
“We have to get rid of them. They want to take over our town. Kill us all!” a woman screamed.
My fingers trembled as I gripped the steering wheel hard. My breath quickened. I had to calm down. Keep it together. My worst fears were coming to life. From the moment I arrived in Normal, all I wanted was a quiet place to raise Gabby. One without any thoughts of hunting or witchcraft. I wanted peace.
And now a bomb had dropped on that peace, and here was the proof staring at me. The crowd surged forward, and Terry pulled his Glock.
“All of y’all need to calm down before I arrest every last one of you. This is an ongoing investigation. We’re trying to live in peace with these newcomers, not string them up.”
The mob fell back, sobered by Terry’s weapon.
“But they want us dead,” Missy said.
“No one wants y’all dead,” Terry explained. “Now y’all hold your horses and get a grip. The law works in a particular fashion, and that’s what we’re focusing on. If any of you has facts that proves the woman is guilty, come forward. But otherwise, that’s not what the evidence shows.”
The mob slackened. As they started to disperse, Missy locked her gaze on me.
“There’s Andie Taylor,”
she screeched. “She’s one of them! Get her!”
The crowd turned slowly, coming to face me. It took less than two seconds for them to yell collectively and launch at my car.
The entire group headed straight for me.
TWELVE
I hit the button to wind my window up as the crowd surged toward the 4Runner. They banged on the glass and grabbed the doors. Luckily I was locked in, which the vehicle did automatically. The mob pushed, rocking the SUV.
Of course, I was stuck at a red light. They thrust and shoved, pitching me side to side. I didn't know how long it would last before they completely knocked it over.
“Stop,” I heard a man call out. “Stop it, now.”
One of the angry faces disappeared, pulled off my car. Another one was pulled away as well. Through the windshield I saw a small man with dark hair and a mustache. He wore the clothes of a priest.
“Stop,” he said in a heavy Spanish accent. “Leave her.”
Missy snapped at the man. “Get out of here, padre. We don’t want your kind in town, either.”
The crowd continued pelting my vehicle, banging on the doors and windows.
A gunshot rang through the sky, severing the crowd’s momentum.
Suddenly the mob pulled back and Terry Terry stood to one side.
He scratched his forehead with the barrel of his Glock. “If y'all think you are going to accost the citizens of my town, you've got another think coming.”
They started to yell, started to protest, and I felt it was time to set something straight.
My fingers shook, my stomach quivered and all my insecurities flooded through my veins, but they needed to know this and they needed to know it right now.
I unlocked the door. A few people glanced in my direction as I pulled the handle and stepped out onto the asphalt.
I shoved my arms out to keep anyone back. I shook out my head of blonde waves and glared at them with a stink eye I hoped they’d never forget.
“Y'all know I'm a witch. I know that’s scary, but I’m one of the good guys. I’m here to protect you, to help you, no matter what. If you need me, you come find me. But if any of you ever attempts to hurt me or someone I love”—I pulled magic from the air. It sparked on my fingertips in less than a second—“I will hunt you down and obliterate you.”
