by Holly Hood
I replaced the brush and wiggled into my sweat pants. Now it was time to sleep, to forget all the events of the day and just tune the world out. I set my phone to silent and tossed it on my nightstand, sinking into my bed and my fluffy comforter. Just as my head settled into my pillow a rattle coming from my window set me upright. I cursed to myself at the sight of Slade working his way through my window.
I turned on my lamp. Pulling the covers to shield myself from my unwanted visitor and whatever the reason was he came to see me.
“It’s been almost three days since we spoke. Do you think you’ll cave anytime soon?” He pulled up my computer chair and took a seat in front of me. “Or are you that stubborn?”
I was stubborn. “I would have talked to you when I was ready.” I pursed my lips, avoiding his stare, which was more like an annoyed scowl. Who was he to scowl at me? I was doing what was best for my heart.
“Why are you not ready to talk to me,” Slade demanded. His eyes darkened.
“Why do I have to explain myself?”
“Because it’s polite, and I would think you would want to explain yourself to me.” He shrugged, hunkering down on his legs like he was some cowboy about to shake the truth out of me. He sanded his hands together waiting for me to say something.
“Yeah, well, I am considerate to those that deserve my consideration.” There showed him.
He laughed. “Since when don’t I deserve it?”
I laughed too, an amused chuckle. “Since when, hmmm... since you decided to use your magic to torment innocent people.”
“Oh, please.” Slade retorted, rolling his eyes at me. “I beat the shit out of Tucker you didn’t.”
My mouth dropped open.
“You only care because of Audrey, because she came to the bonfire. Because you think, I was flirting with her. I heard it all from Karsen and Kidd, so you can sit there and deny it all you want, or you can tell me the truth.” He leaned back in the chair, resting his hands on his stomach, pleased with himself.
I glared at him. His jaw flexed. I glared some more. “I don’t need to explain myself to someone who doesn’t care.”
Slade stayed still, his eyes locking on mine. “I do care. Why would I come over here if I didn’t care?”
I shrugged.
“Maybe you’re the one who doesn’t care.” Slade told me. “Did you ever think of that?”
“No, I haven’t thought about it. I was too busy feeling sorry for myself or whatever it is you think I have been doing. I don’t like Audrey, just like I didn’t like your dead girlfriend, Ezra.”
“What do you want me to do about Audrey?” He sighed, shaking his head. “You’re so complex and emotional. It’s either all or nothing with you.”
I was the one shaking my head now. How dare he tell me I was emotional? You didn’t string girls along. Tell them how much you wanted them, take their virginity and then morph into an uncaring asshole and think it didn’t matter.
Slade stood. “You aren’t competing with her.”
“Did you hear anything I just said?” I snapped. I crossed my arms. “It’s not just about her. And don’t pretend you don’t see that she wants you.”
Slade sighed. “So that automatically means I want her too, right?”
“I didn’t say that. But can’t you see why I would be insecure. You don’t tell me how you feel about me. I don’t even know what this thing between us is. Am I just a fling? Do you want to be with me? Do you even care?”
Slade came closer, his hand heading for my hair; I pulled away. “You’re not going to touch me and think everything is going to be forgotten. You can either explain yourself or leave.”
He sat back down. “Before I explain myself. Why don’t you tell me what you have been doing while ignoring me?"
I huffed. My face grew warm at his accusations or insight. I wasn’t sure which. For all I knew Karsen informed him of my attraction to Hutch. I was an honest person, I never felt like I needed to lie about anything. Why was it so hard to tell him the truth?
My knees started shake. My body was tingling and I couldn’t breathe. “I ate lunch with someone.” There. It wasn’t a lie; I didn’t have to explain the second encounter that ended with me being almost outed. I was a big girl. I could deal with that on my own.
He didn’t react like I expected. He didn’t react at all. “The guy on the beach I assume.”
I stayed quiet. He already rolled a fiery log in Hutch’s direction and beat up Tucker. I didn’t want to give him reason to do anything on top of that. Would he?
He rolled over to me in my chair. He grabbed my face, refusing to let me look away. Pinning my legs pinned between his. I squeezed my hands together, waiting for whatever it was he was about to say to me. The close proximity made me feel intimidated.
His thumb stroked my cheek, calming my mind. Slade leaned in and planted a kiss on my lips, and the corner of my mouth. His fingers clamped tight to my chin. He pulled back, ending our kiss. “Do I care about you? Absolutely. Yeah, I don’t say it as skillfully as other guys out there. But I do. I wouldn’t come around if I didn’t.”
I sighed, my heart melting.
“I didn’t visit you when you were away at school because you never asked me to. I thought you wanted to keep this world and your new one apart.” He stroked my bottom lip with his fingertips searching my eyes for understanding.
“And Audrey means nothing to me. I don’t like her; I can’t stand her. I like you.” He accepted my kiss, letting me climb into his lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my head on his shoulder relieved to hear him explain everything to me. “It’s never been easy for me to say how I felt on the inside to anybody. That’s why I like singing.”
“But why?”
“That’s just how my family was. My parents were wrapped up in their career, in music, if there was something you needed to say you wrote about it and sung it to a crowd. You didn’t sit at home and talk about it or dwell on it.” He explained.
“I understand. And I’m sorry for being such a bitch.” We kissed, a slow melting kiss that deepened in intensity as seconds ticked by. I pulled away. Something was on my mind, and Slade was the perfect person to discuss it with.
“I don’t think I can be a part of this lifestyle. All those rules and Audrey, it’s too much.” I just wanted to be the Hope I knew before this change, before I became what I was—a witch. I didn’t know how to be a witch or why I would even want to.
“I told you I didn’t want you concerning yourself with it. You are who you are now, there is no changing that. As long as you play by their rules they will leave you alone. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Nevertheless, it’s not something you can quit, Hope.”
“I don’t like their rules. And what if one day they want something from me, something I am not willing to give?” This was the part that scared me. Sure, I could keep a low profile and not kick up dust, but what if one day I was asked to do something or be a part of something I didn’t agree with. I was just supposed to say yes?
“All of us have made it work for a long time. Don’t think about that, just don’t worry about it.” Slade said dismissive. He trailed a hand through my hair.
“How do I do that? Audrey is always around anymore. She even stole Karsen away.” I sighed, poor Karsen, although she didn’t seem too miserable on the phone.
“I will deal with Audrey.” He kissed my cheek and I got up from his lap, so he could stand. “Get some sleep. And try not to worry about the coven.”
It was the first time I heard him call it the coven. And this made everything feel real. “Did any of you ever think about breaking away?”
Slade’s face darkened. “I am indebted to the coven because they gave me my life back, you don’t be disloyal to the person who gave you life no matter who they are. Go to bed, Hope.” He slipped out of my window leaving me confused.
Maybe the coven gave him life, but they didn’t give me life. I didn’t owe them
anything.
I beat my pillow angrily and slipped into bed.
After some time, my body relaxed enough to allow the anger to slip away, and I fell asleep. I was awakened to a high pitch screech that flooded my ears and knocked me back into reality.
I opened my eyes, searching the room for the source of the racket. Elliot and Easton screamed for me to get out of the house.
I jumped out of my bed and ran into the hallway in a panic. The air was thick with smoke. It filled my lungs and made me cough. I dropped to my knees, going for Dad’s bedroom.
“Come on, Hope,” Elliot yelled from the hallway floor. His face was damp, and his shaggy hair was pinned to one side of his head. “Dad’s not here.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, fear of leaving him in the house while it was burning making me unable to move. “What about Easton?”
“He’s already outside,” Elliot said, reaching for me. I took his hand and we both jumped to our feet and ran for the door. I covered my face with my shirt, letting Elliot tug me through the smoke. Finally, we hit the outdoors. Fresh air invaded my senses.
The flash of the lights from the fire truck pulling up shocked my vision, Nona and Claude were already barreling down the beach toward us. Easton worked fast to call for help. If only I knew what set the fire in the first place.
Neighbors from everywhere offered blankets and bottled water, everything felt like it was a blur as I was bounced from the sands to an ambulance.
“I am so glad you're okay, sweet pea,” Nona said from outside the ambulance doors. I stared at the beach house hoping it wasn’t ruined. Hoping whatever caught fire didn’t take our home away from us.
“Do they know what it was?” I asked Nona.
She smoothed her red hair, tugging her robe tighter. “I’m not sure yet. You didn’t take up smoking while away at college did you, Hope?” Her face was flooded with alarm. This was the first time I seen her since I got back, and it was under horrible circumstances.
I shook my head, letting the paramedic look me over and do all the necessary things to prove I was alright. She offered me oxygen. I turned it away.
Out of the corner of my eye stood a gaunt man dressed in black from head to toe. His expression grim, I watched him, did anyone else notice him? His gaze matched mine. His eyes were dark more or less black, his skin ashen.
I looked away, an eerie feeling evading my body making my heart race in fear. Was he the cause of the fire?
When I looked again he was nowhere to be found. All that was left was the neighbors in various huddles watching firefighters work on the blaze.
Dad pulled up in a hurry to get to us kids, the look of absolute fright on his face.
Marked
Dad paced the ground outside our house. It still was unclear what was going on. There were no flames coming out of windows, or from the roof. I was disturbed, nonetheless.
Nona squeezed my arm. “Shouldn’t be much longer.”
I patted her hand. “I’m glad you guys are here.”
“Where else would we be sweet pea?” she said, tugging at my hair. “When is the last time you got a haircut?”
I wrenched my hair from her claws. “I like my hair this way.” Man, she really knew how to ruin a moment. “What I meant was I am glad we live near you and Claude. It’s nice to have family around at a time like this.”
Nona dropped her arm from around me as Jesse approached. I hadn’t seen him in forever. He sauntered over, clad in nice fitting jeans and a gray t-shirt.
“I’m sorry to hear about the house. Do they know what the cause of it was?” he asked Nona. He nodded his head in my direction, a stern tight smile on his lips. I felt the awkwardness from only feet away from him.
“Thanks,” I shot back. Nona tugged me next to Jesse.
“Jesse has been dancing at the new studio. He says they are looking for singers to perform at the café.” Nona told me. Jesse reluctantly nodded his head in agreement with Nona. He looked me in the eye, almost cringing. As if it pained him to lay eyes on me.
“Clive is looking for local talent. He prefers Ashwilder alumni, but he is willing to make an exception for Nona.” Jesse looked away.
Nona jabbed me in the ribs. My house might have been burnt to a crisp, but she wanted me to discuss a career in singing at a café where they served subpar coffee and odd-shaped cookies. “Thanks, Jesse and Nona, that’s nice of both of you.”
Jesse drug a hand through his smooth hair, he shot Nona a toothy smile. She squeezed his shoulder and sent him on his way.
“So we will talk to Clive about having you at his coffee house.” Nona informed me. “Now let’s go calm your poor papa before he shits himself.” She tugged me by the arm to the house.
Elliot and Easton were tossing a football. And Dad was wearing a path in the sand while Lynette stood waiting, being his rock or whatever you wanted to call it. She smiled at Nona and I.
“Neil. Come here. You’re wearing a hole in your shoes pacing around.” She scolded Dad like a little boy. The way I was sure she did when he was younger.
“Mom, I don’t want to hear it. Everything we own is in that house.” Dad snapped. He sighed.
“As opposed to where? Everyone keeps their belonging in their home. You act like I expected them to be spread out along the beach.” She slapped him in the arm. “Pull it together. I am rich. I can buy you new stuff.”
“You can’t restore our family’s memories, Mom.” He griped. Lynette joined us. Dad slung an arm around her shoulders. She crossed her arms.
“Your mother’s right, Neil,” she said. What did she know?
“I was under the impression you hated your memories. And your wife,” Nona muttered.
“Ex-wife,” Dad pointed out looking at me with a pained expression at the mention of my dear mother.
Nona wagged her head back and forth. “Yes, yes, ex-wife. Don’t make a habit of divorce, as I get older I forget just about everything, and keeping track of the next woman to ruin your life gets harder for me.” She shot Lynette a warning glare and traipsed off toward Claude as he started in on a game of catch with the boys.
I blushed, but on the inside, I was laughing. Nona made my week with her insult.
The firefighter came down the steps, his face glistening with moisture from the equipment and the humidity outside. “Sir, it’s all clear. You can go inside.”
Dad whirled around on his heels. “Excuse me, what did we lose?”
The firefighter’s expression was a bit confused. “Sir, I don’t know what your kids were doing in there, but all there was, was a hell of a lot of smoke. We couldn’t locate a fire.” He started down the path to the fire truck, telling his men to pack it all up and roll out.
I looked back at him. It seemed like he was a bit disturbed. The expression on his face said a lot. I looked at Dad. He too noticed. He shook his head heading up the stairs. I followed on his heels eager to see the big deal.
Nona hurried after us.
“What the hell?” Dad exclaimed, coming to a halt in the kitchen. My body slammed into the back of him. Nona all but fell on her face taking a chair with her. I looked over Dad’s shoulder shocked to see black ashes in the shape of a pentagram on the floor of the kitchen.
I helped Nona up from the floor. She plucked a pair of reading glasses from her bra and stared at the mess on the floor. “What the hell is this?”
Elliot and Easton came to stand next to me. “That looks like the necklace in the movie we saw last weekend.”
Dad and Nona spun around to face them. “What do you mean?”
Lynette looked curiously between them and Nona, she ran her hand up and down Dad’s back trying to calm him.
“There was this old school gore flick on TV last weekend, a bunch of blood-thirsty witches running around slaughtering people, the head witch wore a pentagram.” Elliot told everyone.
“Not to mention all the hot chicks running around in skimpy bikinis,” Easton pointed out. That fell on de
af ears. I swallowed the panic coursing through me.
Dad scratched his head confused. “Why is this on our floor? Did you guys have something to do with this?”
Elliot and Easton shook their heads. All eyes fell on me now.
“I was in bed. They woke me up and told me to get out of the house.” I gaped, shaking my head to get my point across that I wasn’t involved.
“Maybe it was just some kids in the area or something,” Lynette suggested, she watched me. She smiled with concern at me.
“Why are you smiling at me? I didn’t have anything to do with this.” I snapped.
Dad shot me a warning glare.
Nona clapped her hands together gaining everyone’s attention. “Let’s not fight. I’m sure it can all be explained. We all know witches don’t exist, unless of course, you count Sheila.”
Everyone stared at Nona. She waved a hand. “I’m kidding. She's not a witch. She's just a big bitch.”
I eyed the pentagram again. The image of that tall man raced through my mind. It all made perfect sense, but why? I was sure the pentagram was a warning for me.
Claude cut through the mass and held his phone out. Damn technology I thought to myself. Dad took the phone.
“Says here this is an inverted pentagram, known to be used by Satanist in the 20th century, it was adopted as their personal symbol.” Dad read to everyone.
“Cool,” Elliot said in awe. They snapped pictures of it with their cell phones. Nona swatted them away.
“Don’t take pictures of it. Heaven knows what kind of juju is in this house now.” She looked at me. “What about that boyfriend of yours and his friends?”
I raised an eyebrow not following.
“Slash or Slain, what’s his name?” She shook her head, trying hard to get it together, “Slade. They wear an awful lot of black and those tattoos. Do you think they would have done this as a joke, Hope?”
