Boxed Set: The Ink Series Volume 1-4

by Holly Hood

  There wasn’t another single human anywhere in sight. I wondered if maybe it was closed and I had accidentally come in at the wrong time. But it was noon nearly, so I didn’t see that being the case.

  I walked into the first aisle of bookcases, taking in the extensive book collection. The books all black and old, gold lettering on most. These weren’t your normal reads. Ancient was more like it. They were old and cryptic, some not even branded with English lettering on the spines, and it was a bit odd.

  I ran a finger along one, blowing away some dust to get a better view of the title. But before I could make it out, a loud creaking behind me gave me a startle. I spun around in a hurry.

  “Welcome,” a really elderly woman said. Her skin looked like brown leather, her mouth sunken in and her smile revealed why—she had no teeth.

  “Thanks.” I smiled politely, moving a little further down the aisle. She simply turned to watch me.

  “What made you come here?” she asked, pushing one long, knobby finger into a book on the shelf. She was shorter than me. Her fuzzy white hair flowed around her head like an aura, and when she moved she was slow and slightly impish.

  “I just moved here. Thought I would check out the stores around here. Sorry if I’m bothering you.”

  She lifted her arm to my shoulder. An arm full of bracelets chiming and crashing together as she clasped my shoulder. “You’re not bothering me. I’m Circe.” She swept her arm above her head like an elegant woman at a pageant, a gummy smile spanning her face. She had gentle eyes, I thought to myself.

  “I’m Hope. It’s nice to meet you.” I gave another smile as she guided her hand over my shoulders, studying me.

  “That’s a beautiful name,” she told me, leading me toward the back of the store to a small counter where there sat burning incense, an old fashioned cash register, a bell and a couple jars with something strange looking inside.

  “What are you looking for, Hope?” she asked, extending her palm toward me, the creases in her hand so prominent and wrinkled.

  I studied her eyes as she nodded for me to take her hand. As I did, she spit on the top of my hand. I tried pulling away, disgusted, but her grasp was strong for such an old woman. She lifted a candle, tipping it over and letting the hot wax drip on my skin. I winced. This woman was nuts. And then after blowing a puff of dust at my hand, she wiped at my skin, revealing a charred mark. And then she grew silent as she took it in.

  “You are unhappy and do not belong here. Your heart is heavy with sadness, but your eyes wide open.” She jerked my hand up a little higher. “You can be happy, you just don’t try. But I see a dark shadow. It is hungry and evil, very evil. You came close to it once already, no?” She eyed me suspiciously, her eyes turning into tiny slits as she stared, waiting for my response.

  “On the beach. A couple nights ago. Yes.” I nodded.

  “You must be careful,” she hissed, growing angry.

  The bell chimed again at the front of the store. Several quick footsteps echoed, and then Lucy appeared. Her face filled with light at the sight of me. “Hope. How are you?” she asked, rushing to my side. She hurriedly wiped at my hand, removing any traces of the ash.

  “Circe, no. Hope is new here, she isn’t interested in readings,” she said, scolding Circe. I watched closely as Lucy straightened up the countertop. She secured the matches, slid some papers underneath the counter and situated everything in sight.

  “Circe is my great, great aunt. She is one hundred and five believe it or not,” she told me as she punched some buttons on the register.

  “Wow, that’s amazing,” I said with a smile. It was nice to talk to someone who enjoyed being around me. Well, at least Lucy acted like she did.

  “Why are you not at that lovely school this afternoon?” she asked, her eyes growing concerned.

  “I was expelled. It’s a long story,” I said, waving my hand to dismiss the explanation.

  But Lucy gave a nod, taking me by the elbow out of PauWau. We made it back into the sun and warmth of the beach.

  “How about we get some pizza and we can talk about it?” she asked, happily leading me toward a small pizzeria on the corner.

  “Well, I really don’t want to bother you,” I said. But I was lying. I wanted to hang out with her badly. Ever since she showed up I felt this overwhelming need to be near someone my mother’s age that was sweet and warm. I missed that.

  We ordered an entire pepperoni pizza and took our seats as we waited for the pizza to come out. Lucy smoothed her black shirt, her necklaces draped nicely across the front of her, hanging perfectly against her skin. I admired the beads and crosses and how they glinted against the lighting. And even more when she was out in the sunlight.

  “Well, I think I might have thrown the book at Lydia too,” Lucy admitted after hearing the story of how I was expelled from school. She smiled warmly, but still there was deep concern in her eyes.

  “My dad probably won’t see it that way. But there’s nothing I can do about it now. I was just so upset.” I looked down in shame. Maybe I was stupid for throwing the book at Lydia. I never lost my temper like that ever. But then again, I never had the opportunity to have to before. She just pushed something in me that no one ever pushed in my life.

  “I tell the boys this all the time that they can’t let this town get to them.” She nodded, taking a sip of her coke.

  “I really don’t know how they put up with it. Whatever you say must work.”

  Lucy brushed her bangs aside. “That’s because they have to. They have no choice.” I raised an eyebrow, confused. She placed a hand on my arm. “I just mean we all know what happens when people lose their tempers. They wouldn’t want to wind up in jail… or dead.”

  I nodded that I understood and poked at the ice in my cup with my straw. “I feel so bad for Slade. They are saying he was there that night.” I looked up at Lucy.

  “And yet you don’t think so. Why is that?” She leaned back in her seat.

  “It’s like I told Slade. He has been nothing but kind to me since I got here. Someone that nice could never do me any harm I don’t think,” I explained. Lucy smiled, looking pleased.

  We talked for awhile about everything under the sun. It turned out Lucy really was a caring person. She was interested in everything I had to say and she enjoyed sharing her own interest with me. I found her to be great company.

  I dropped the last crust on my plate, letting out a satisfied groan. “Thanks for lunch.”

  Lucy smiled. “Anytime. You should come back to the bus and we could all sing some more together.”

  “Well, I don’t know. I wouldn’t want to impose,” I said, referring to Slade. I didn’t want to show up uninvited.

  “Are you kidding? I know Slade would enjoy seeing you again. He might be hard to read, but I’ve known him long enough to know when he is interested.” She gave me a wink.

  “Interested?” I pushed my hair behind my ear, feeling super nervous suddenly.

  “Slade’s a good guy. Don’t let the outward appearance deceive you. He has a kind heart. But he doesn’t show it to just anyone. The kid has been through a lot in his life,” Lucy explained easily. Unlike Slade, she wasn’t afraid to dive in a little deeper.

  “I think he is a nice guy,” I agreed, conjuring up his image in my mind. I ran my hand across the black heart he gifted me. This drew Lucy’s attention. She pulled my hand over the table to her.

  “Oh boy. Is that ink I see?” She grinned.

  I blushed, giving a little nod. “I keep asking him about it, but as of right now, he has me in the dark.” Lucy gave a nod, finally shutting down just like Slade.

  “In the dark about what?” Oz asked, coming to a stop at our table. Lucy and I stared at each other as if we both were unsure what he was talking about, neither of us willing to bring it up again.

  “You’re done so early. Get everything set up?” Lucy asked, balling up her napkin. She tossed it down on her plate.

  “We
all came over to get something to eat. Happened to see you living it up with Hope.” He checked his watch. “I thought you said you were coming straight home.”

  “I saw Hope at PauWau. We decided to have lunch. Slade and Kidd are here too?” Lucy asked, giving me the eye as she spoke about Slade. I scanned the area, laying eyes on everything, trying to locate him.

  “Yep, they’re over at the Taco Shack, which is where I am heading because I am not in the mood for pizza.” He gave a wave to both of us, jogging back down the boardwalk.

  Lucy stood up, taking our plates to the trash. I watched, curious on what she would do or say next.

  “Well, the invitation stands. I guess I should be getting on home. Hope to see you again, Hope.” She gave a lazy wave, heading off in the other direction, past the boutiques and the Taco Shack.

  I started walking down the boardwalk to go home. Dad probably had already called and realized I wasn’t home. And probably was angry with me for being so stupid.

  “Going home already?”

  I turned. It was him and I was really happy to see him standing before me. He gave me a wave, holding on to a white sack of food from the Taco Shack.

  “I’ve been gone for a while,” I told him, standing where I was, a big distance in between the two of us. He wore black Dickies, a gray t-shirt, and pair of brown flip-flops making him look ultra casual.

  “Oz said you and Lucy had a lunch date. How’d that work out for ya?” he inquired, taking a few steps closer.

  “Good.”

  He gave a nod and a sideways grin, looking me over. “And what the heck are you doing at PauWau? What’s a girl like you even setting foot in there for?”

  I crossed my arms, stepping a little closer. “I had never been in there before. I was doing a little exploring.”

  “I know a lot of things you could explore.” He cracked a smile, and then became serious. “Do you know PauWau means Witch?”

  I slowly shook my head no. I hadn’t the slightest idea. In fact, I was debating on where the origin of the word came from as I entered it. “Ooh, like cauldrons and spells and broomsticks. That’s so scary.”

  Slade didn’t seem to find what I was saying at all funny, although I was only trying to kid. His expression stayed serious as he looked at me. I dropped the silliness quickly.

  “I’m sorry. I was just making a joke,” I told him, staring down at my feet.

  “I noticed that. I just didn’t find the humor in it. You’ll have to try another one on me sometime. You want to sit?” he asked, gesturing to the bench a few feet away from us. I nodded, following him over and taking a seat next to him.

  “So PauWau means witch. So what kind of store is that then?” This time I was serious. The store was a dusty flea market in my eyes.

  Slade pulled out a taco, carefully unwrapping it. He took a bite, chewing quickly before he gave up an answer. “PauWau is owned by Oz’s family. They have a lot of ancient crap in there. It goes back hundreds of years. People come in there for recipes for just about everything. To get over a cold, to have their fortune read, to buy herbs. It’s really hard to name just one thing.”

  I nodded. That seemed simple enough. “I was fortunate enough to have my fortune read by Circe. She told me I was in danger, which I already knew, really.” I shrugged. I wasn’t one to believe in those kinds of things. I liked to use logic to figure out my path in life.

  “She’s a powerful woman. Did you believe her?” He poked me with his elbow, popping the last bit of taco in his mouth. He swiped his hands together, getting rid of the crumbs.

  “No, that’s not anything I fall for.”

  “You don’t fall for truth, for the way of the world?” He grabbed my hand, pointing at my black heart. “You don’t think there are amazing things that happen in life, that have a crazy explanation?”

  I stared at my heart. “Like my heart you mean? The one you can manipulate into anything you want?”

  Slade nodded. “You don’t believe in magic either, do ya?”

  I bit my lip, refusing to answer him. He seemed to think he knew what I was going to say next.

  “I know when you think of me your heart speeds up. And your hands tremble as their doing now.” He squeezed my hand. “Do you think that’s magic that I know this, or just logic?”

  “I think it’s you trying to be overly confident,” I said with a smile.

  “But what if it’s more than that? What if it’s something your brain can’t begin to imagine?” He let my hand go. I stared into his eyes trying to figure him out.

  “Well, I wouldn’t know unless you told me. Why not just tell me?”

  “Because it’s more fun this way. I don’t give it up that easily.” He pressed a finger against my bottom lip, starting my heart up.

  “Neither do I,” I said with an airy sigh as I stared at him.

  “Close your eyes,” Slade instructed. I slowly did as he asked, feeling the wind whip my hair across my face. “What do you feel right now?” he asked.

  I shrugged, “Nothing.”

  Slade let out a sigh. “What about now?” His voice was closer, his breath against my cheek. His hand grazing my thigh.

  I sunk deeper into the moment feeling the coolness of the breeze, the ocean’s mist against my skin and how easily it settled in tiny insignificant droplets on my skin. I felt the warmth of the sun against every inch of me. And how soft and intense his fingers felt against my thigh. I felt everything, especially his lips as they pressed into mine. As his hand tangled into my hair. As his body inched closer to mine, gravitating to me. We broke apart. I was out of breath and once again bothered.

  “You always find the right time to lay a kiss on me. Do you do that on purpose to get out of talking to me?” I asked him, sweeping my fingers across his cheek, touching his lip ring, his mouth meeting up with the tips of my fingers for a few seconds.

  “No, I just really like kissing you. And you like kissing me. Any time is a great time. Especially when you let that shy smile escape. I like how it invades your eyes. They light up and it makes you look even more stunning then you already are,” he insisted.

  My cheeks warmed. I looked away, flabbergasted.

  “Thanks,” I said so faintly I wasn’t even sure he heard me.

  “You don’t have to thank me. How about I walk you home, and I see you again sometime?”

  I agreed, standing up. I would have a lot of spare time now that I was expelled, but I really didn’t want to dive into the topic with Slade right now.

  “Yeah, I’d like that. Maybe you could teach me how you do your magic,” I suggested, waving my wrist at him.

  Slade let out a sigh. He rubbed at the back of his neck. “It’s a secret. If I told you I’d have to kill you.” I laughed at him. He laughed back. “I have other things up my sleeve.”

  I raised my eyebrow. “Like what?”

  Slade smiled. “I can guess what color panties you’re wearing.”

  I slapped his arm playfully. “That’s not impressive. That could mean you’re just a peeping tom.”

  “They’re pink. And lacy,” he insisted with complete confidence, not even looking at me for a response.

  “Incredible, you should really take your show on the road,” I teased dryly. “And you’re wrong.” My panties weren’t pink and lacy. They were white and cotton today.

  “Well, I guess that’s just what I would prefer you wear. A guy can dream can’t he?”

  We got to my house too soon as far as I was concerned. Slade opened my gate for me. I gave him a wave, heading up my porch steps. Once inside, I shut the door. Dad wasn’t home and Elliot and Easton were still in school for another fifteen minutes.

  I gathered up the dirty clothes in the hallway. The idea he thought he was right about my undergarments was still eating away at me. I unbuttoned my shorts and gasped. I wasn’t wearing white panties like this morning before school. I was wearing exactly what Slade had described. I stared at my wrist.

  Told
you so stared back at me.

  The phone rang in my bedroom, I hurried to answer it. It probably was Dad. I gathered my wits and buttoned my shorts back up.

  “Hello.”

  “You should take a picture. I would love to see them on you,” Slade teased.

  I smiled into the phone. “I would ask you how you got my number but, seeing I am wearing pink panties, I’ll just forget about that.”

  “I told you I have a lot more up my sleeve,” he said, causing my heart to pitter patter in my chest excitedly. As eerie as it was to think Slade was capable of something so odd, it was also thrilling.

  And kept me longing to know more.

  Girls night

  I heard dad’s van rumble to a stop in our driveway. My stomach knotted up and I felt almost scared. It wasn’t that I feared him, because I didn’t. I just didn’t like to disappoint him. The look on his face when I did was too much to bear.

  I hurried across the room, giving the big pot of chili one last stir. I had concocted the idea in my head that if I made him his favorite meal, he might be less harsh on me. It always worked with Mom. Whenever she knew he was going to be upset with something that she did she would make him his favorite food. And sometimes even his favorite cookies.

  I sat down quickly at the table and waited. The door screeched open, keys dropped onto the counter with a loud whap, and then he shut the door. I pursed my lips.

  “Hey, kid,” Dad said softly. He smelled the air and went sailing over to the big pot on the stove. Lifting the lid, he inhaled the aroma.

  “Hey, Dad,” I said back, waiting still. I got up, handing him a bowl, and watched as he tiredly dished the chili. He sluggishly plopped down at the table.

  “Look, I feel bad for saying anything to you about what happen. I don’t like what happened to you on that beach and I am not going to scold you for trying to defend yourself.” He blew on the spoon at his lips. “And I told them that, too.”

  I swallowed, relieved. “I didn’t even expect you to say that. Mom would have killed me.” Dad nodded. I was right and he knew it. Mom would have probably gone after me with his belt for throwing a book at someone.