by Holly Hood
“Ever since I moved here this is the way it has been. I hate to say it, but I think after what happened with me everything got worse,” I said.
The thought made me sad. Slade could have lived in Cherry worry free if it weren’t for me and the mess I made coming to town.
“These were all choices he made. Just like the one that ended Audrey. I’m assuming he killed her?”
I eyed Hutch. “If Slade didn’t kill her, she would have killed Tucker. He did the right thing.”
Hutch wiped his hands on his legs and stood up. “I’m not so sure about that. Tucker’s family is average beings. Killing a witch never goes unpunished.”
You didn’t have to be all knowing to understand that. “Yeah, and now I wonder what that means for all of us.”
I grabbed Hutch’s hand letting him pull me up.
“I promised you I would help you,” he reminded me.
I shook my head. “Hutch, you don’t want to get involved in this. I don’t even know what is going on and I know you should stay far away from it.”
I saw my dad near the beach houses. “There’s my dad. I got to go.”
Hutch stayed put. “Before I take off, I want you to promise you’ll be careful. If there’s anything I can do for you, let me know.”
“Goodbye, Hutch,” I jogged across the sand; I didn’t need anything from him. Needing anything meant involving him in my problems and I didn’t want to do that.
I hopped over the rope, and before my feet were planted on the bike path two guys on rollerblades were headed right for me. I held my breath, closed my eyes and braced for impact.
“Shit,” one of them said. I opened my eyes staring at the two of them in a heap before me. “Did you see that?”
I was confused.
“You almost killed me,” I said, glaring at them. “Next time watch where you’re going.”
I moved around the two of them. Dad waited on the sands by Nona’s house concerned.
“Next time watch where you’re going, witch.”
My blood boiled. I balled my fist turning around. I tried to stifle the swell of energy that pounded my chest into chaotic beats. My fingers tingled, this weird sensation took over my entire body and I knew something bad would happen if I didn’t do something.
“What did you call me?” I asked. I watched the first guy stand up. He helped up his friend.
“I said watch where you’re going. This is a biker’s path, not the lane for you and your broomstick,” he said. He found this amusing.
I stepped forward, extending a hand and before I knew what happened I sent both of them sailing backwards over the ropes into the sand.
I stared down at my hands, they trembled. And slowly everything made sense again.
Dad clamped down on my shoulder. “What are you doing?”
“He called me a witch. They almost killed me. I defended myself,” I said.
“You’re in enough trouble,” Dad clamped down harder on my shoulder. “What are you trying to prove?”
I pulled away from him. “I defended myself. I have nothing to prove to anyone.”
He shook his head. “Get inside, Hope. Tossing guys all over the beach isn’t defending yourself. It’s causing trouble. Trouble that you don’t need.”
I watched the two skaters in a hurry to get away. I used power I didn’t know I was capable of.
“I didn’t lay a finger on them,” I said, I smiled.
“You think this is funny?” Dad asked. “I saw everything.”
I rolled my eyes. “Then you would know I didn’t lay a finger on them. I used magic.” I started for the house.
“I don’t want to hear about magic. This is real life, nobody is capable of magic,” Dad said. “I think you and your friends have been watching too many of those cult movies.”
I stopped right before the steps.
“What are you doing?” Dad asked growing agitated with me.
I waved a hand at the door, opening it. “What do you have to say about magic now?” I dropped my hand. The door slammed shut.
“I’d say the wind did it. And I’d tell you that I love you and I don’t want anything happening to you,” he said going up the stairs.
“Everything already happened to me. Don’t you see that?” I sat down on the steps. Dad went inside.
He didn’t want to admit that his daughter was something more now. I raised my hand guiding one of Nona’s lawn ornaments across the lawn. Making it dance.
“Hope,” Dad warned from inside.
I dropped it on the lawn. “Such a party pooper.”
Chapter 4
I sat in the attorney’s office waiting to be called in. The echo of phones ringing down the hallway, the clomp of high heels, and the whir of the copier and fax machines made it all too real.
Nona talked on the phone with the lawyer. Her lawyer, the one she knew for some time now. He owed her a favor and she swore he would make a miracle happen for me.
I wondered how much that miracle cost. Tucker and his father entered the room. And I wondered if any lawyer could go up against the mayor.
Before we all were forced in the same room the door to the lawyer’s office came open and their lawyer came forward.
“Mayor, you can come right in. We are almost ready,” he said, the door shut again leaving me to my thoughts and all the sounds swirling around me.
Nona turned on her heel making another descent across the marble floor.
The doors opened again.
I couldn’t believe my eyes. I wanted to scream with joy at the sight of Slade. But I stayed where I was.
The officer with Slade instructed him to sit. Slade did, dropping his hands on his lap, his expression somber, unchanging and downright unreadable.
“We are waiting for her lawyer,” Nona told the secretary.
Slade’s gaze moved across the room to Nona. He raised an eyebrow.
I wondered what he thought.
I concentrated on the words. Are you okay?
Just fine.
I’m sorry we are in this mess, Slade.
Why would you apologize? It’s not your fault.
I gave him a small smile. It feels that way. I’ve been so worried about you. I’m glad I know you’re okay.
Don’t worry about me. Worry about yourself, Hope. Do whatever your lawyer wants you to do.
What about you? What are you going to do?
Our wordless exchange agitated me. He was being selfless, only concerned with helping me, when he needed to help himself. I wanted to scream out loud. Tell him to put up a fight because he deserved so much more than what he put up with.
Nona tapped me on the shoulder breaking our connection before I got the answer I wanted to hear from him. We followed behind Slade into the lawyer’s office. When the last person entered the door shut and we all took a seat around the table.
The lawyer’s discussed all the technical parts with each other, as the rest of us sat staring in different directions. Tucker out the window, Slade at the table and at me, I never took my eyes off of him. I didn’t want it to be the last time I saw him.
Tucker’s dad cleared his throat. “Now that we have the gory details out of the way, I have an offer to throw out on the table.”
Tucker’s lawyer grew uncomfortable. But he kept his mouth shut.
“Here we go again,” Slade said, shaking his head.
Nona pursed her lips, agitated with Slade’s outburst.
“There’s always an offer. Don’t buy into their bullshit,” Slade said looking straight at me when he said so.
I opened my mouth ready to say something. Nona dropped a hand down on the table ending my attempts.
“Let us hear the offer,” she said, giving Slade an evil glare. If he spoke again I was sure she might jump up and slap the smug look off his face.
But he did. “Why do you think I’ve never went to jail?” Slade dropped his cuffed hands down on the table.
His words fell on deaf ears.
&n
bsp; “My client is willing to drop all charges if Hope signs a statement that says Slade attacked Audrey and Tucker,” Tucker’s lawyer said.
I couldn’t believe what they wanted me to do. “No,” I said right away.
Nona clamped her hand down on my arm stopping me from going any further.
“All charges will be dropped?” She asked. “Simple as that?”
“Simple as that,” Tucker’s dad repeated. He fixed his tie, shooting Slade a glance. “We know all too well what Slade is capable of and how easy it is for these young girls to fall into this lifestyle. We want the right person punished. Not the victims.”
I gritted my teeth. “I am not a victim. Your son is the victim. He should be thanking Slade for saving him. If Slade hadn’t stopped her, Tucker would be dead right now.”
Slade dropped back in his seat. “Go ahead, Hope. Take the offer. It’s the best thing for everybody.”
I couldn’t believe him. “Why would I do that?”
Tucker sat up. “Because you’d be an idiot not to, suck it up and do what they want or sit in jail and rot for all I care.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “Why are they allowed to get away with this?”
“It’s all about who you know, Hope.” Tucker smirked.
“Just sign the paper,” Slade said again his jaw going tense.
“But what happens to Slade?” I asked. Nona slid a paper and pen down the table to me.
“Slade returns to his cell until his court date. And Cherry can say they’ve rid the town of its trash,” Mayor Sinclair spoke up.
I choked down the rage and started writing. I pushed the paper away, tears sliding down my cheeks. I stood up, ready to leave.
“Good girl,” Mayor Sinclair said passing me. Slade passed by next. We followed behind out of the office.
The officer told Slade to sit. Nona collected her purse and as we prepared to leave I stopped in front of Slade.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
He shook his head, refusing to see any of it as my fault. Nona put her arm around me as we headed for the door. I turned, a smile erupting on my lips at the sight of the cuffs gone from Slade wrist. Magic worked again for me. Slade forced his arms behind his back standing.
As we walked through the parking lot I focused on the cop car, disabling the engine with more magic as we climbed into Nona’s. I didn’t have to hope it worked. I knew it worked. I knew I gave Slade enough time to make a break for it. He deserved it.
Chapter 5
I twirled my fork through my pasta, doing my best to pretend I wanted to eat my food. I didn’t want to be with my family sharing a meal. I was angry with everyone at the table.
“Pass the bread,” Dad said.
I lifted the fancy bowl and dropped it in front of him going back to my plate.
He let my foul attitude go snagging a breadstick.
Nona dropped her napkin. “She’s angry with me.”
I held back the eye roll.
“She’s upset with all of us,” Dad said.
I took a sip of water.
“Sooner or later Hope will realize we helped her. And that we love her and care about her wellbeing,” Nona said.
She wanted me to speak. I refused to budge.
“She’s giving you the silent treatment. She used to do it to Mom all the time,” Elliot pointed out.
I rolled my eyes. She deserved everything she got. The thought of my mother made my temper flare to an even higher level. I squeezed the napkin in my hand dropping it on top of my food.
Nona jumped up taking off to answer her phone. I watched her traipse back and forth. The look on her face told me everything that I needed to know.
I crossed my arms leaning back in my chair as she entered the room.
“The strangest thing happened,” she said taking a seat.
I raised an eyebrow.
Everyone wanted to hear what happened, but I already knew the answer.
“That was the lawyer. He called to inform me that Slade has gone missing. They have no idea where the boy could be,” Nona said.
Dad shook his head. “You got to be kidding me.”
“That’s awful. What a shame,” I said standing up. “It looks like Mayor Sinclair is going to have to find someone else to blame everything on.”
“Hope, did you have anything to do with this?” Nona asked.
“Of course. I wiggled my little fingers and unlocked his handcuffs. And then when we were in the parking lot I did another spell and disabled the car so Slade could escape,” I laughed at how ridiculous the truth sounded.
The bad part, nobody else found it funny.
“Now if you all would excuse me I will be in my room stirring my cauldron and making voodoo dolls,” I said.
I headed for the stairs.
“If she in fact knows magic she needs to do a spell to adjust that shitty attitude she has all of a sudden,” Nona said. “I may not be a witch, but I will knock her right off that broomstick if she keeps this up.”
I slammed my door shut. And spun around a bit elated to have showed them all I wouldn’t sit by and put up with all their nonsense.
The curtains fluttered drawing my attention. I pulled them back and jumped.
“How long have you been there?” I asked.
Slade locked my door and sat down on my bed.
I double checked through the window that nobody saw him come inside. I prayed nobody knew he showed up.
“Not long,” he said.
I sat down. “Thank god you’re here. I thought you were going to take off without me.”
I leaned in planting my lips on his. Eager to offer myself to him in any form, he barely returned my kiss ending our lip lock.
“What’s wrong?” I said.
He sighed, he avoided looking at me. I knew avoidance. I could see it in his eyes. The way he darted away from mine, the way he sat trying to keep a distance between us.
“Everything is wrong right now. I didn’t come here so we could take off. I came here to make sure you were alright before I did,” he said.
I jumped up. “You expect me to stick around here? If you don’t think I can make it your wrong. I have a lot more control over this magic; I know I could handle it.”
I didn’t want him to leave me alone.
“You need to stay here. This isn’t over. I have a lot to deal with and I can’t drag you along. Hope, don’t be selfish,” Slade said.
I laughed. “For wanting to be with you?” That made me selfish?
“This isn’t some fairy tale. I messed everything up,” he stood up. “I want you to stay away from Henry Park. The coven will come after me; I’m the one who killed Audrey. Let me deal with this. Don’t involve yourself.”
I dropped back down on the bed defeated. Slade’s hand slipped through my hair. He pulled me by the chin.
“If I didn’t care about you I wouldn’t be here. I don’t want to ruin your life,” he accepted my kiss.
I pulled him to me, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“Please don’t give up on me. I am so much stronger than you know.” I pulled my shirt over my head, closing my eyes at the feel of his lips against my skin.
“You need to be. And I know you are. That’s why I like you so much,” he tugged at my pants. “That’s what makes me so crazy about you.”
I smiled, undoing his pants. “So prove it.”
I sunk my nails into his back, biting at his neck; we fell into my bed, a perfect tangle of arms and legs. Slade’s hand trailed up my body and found my breast, he squeezed hard, and I dug my heels into the bed.
His hands gripped my waist tugging the shorts right off of me, and before I knew it one hand slipped down my backside and found my most sensitive spot driving me crazy as his fingers toyed with me, playing me like a guitar, sliding in and out so perfectly, I warned myself to take it slow and not give into him so quickly but I knew it was going to be hard.
My mouth collided against his; I
wanted nothing more than to taste him. To savor another glorious sex filled moment. One I could relive later when he wasn’t around.
His lips pressed again mine in a torturous battle of sex and angst. Of lust and regret, I knew what I was doing was wrong and I knew that soon enough I would be emotional all over again, but another part of my body was throbbing so hard I couldn’t stop myself.
My hands slid up Slade’s muscular arms, down his glorious back, he was spectacular. A fine piece of fleshy art I couldn’t stop touching.
He licked my bottom lip and bit down hard; slipping between my legs he entered me like a professional, knowing exactly how to work my body like so many times before.
I stroked the tattoos on his chest grinding my hips and pushing into his muscular frame. Slade dropped down planting a slow kiss against my lips thrusting so deliciously. He dropped his head as soon as my teeth nipped the skin of his neck and let go. I followed right behind him, jerking and moving underneath the weight of him savoring every ounce of pleasure rushing through my body.
Slade collapsed beside me, out of breath and content. I kissed his cheek and rested my head on his chest getting comfortable. Finally we both were content and pleased. I closed my eyes, drifting off into a euphoric rest.
***
Slade sat up at the sound of my phone. I hit ignore sending Karsen to voicemail and stroked his chest.
“I’ve missed this,” I whispered, nuzzling against his face. I kissed his cheek, my fingers finding his lip ring as he lay back down beside me again. He kissed my fingertips.
“I have to leave soon,” he said, playing with my fingers to keep me from tickling his side.
I hated hearing it. “I never saw this coming.”
Slade sighed; he rested his arm behind him staring at the ceiling.
I sat up. “I can’t help but feel like I ruined your life.”
Slade’s stared at my chest. “Don’t take too much credit. It wasn’t that much better before you came along.”
I didn’t find it funny. “If we never met, this wouldn’t have happened. And you wouldn’t be leaving Cherry. Am I going to see you again?”
Slade’s hand slid up my back. “Anybody else would be relieved to see me leave. What is wrong with you?”
