Boxed Set: The Ink Series Volume 1-4

by Holly Hood

  I raised an eyebrow. “The boys?”

  Nona waved a hand. “I know teen boys. They are having issues with your father whether they want to say so or not.”

  I licked my lips and sighed. “Nona, he’s fine. He’s always fine. The boys are just getting older and a little defiant.”

  “I’ve contacted the church,” she said.

  I dropped my pencil and shoved my papers away. “What?”

  “They want to help,” she said. “I’ve been very impressed with their services and I think they might be useful.”

  “Nona.” I cleared my throat. “He doesn’t need a church. He needs his family.”

  “He needs a miracle,” she insisted. “I did my best for your dad when he was growing up, which wasn’t easy because your gigolo grandfather preferred frequenting strip clubs and casinos rather than taking care of his family.”

  I didn’t know what to say. I looked around the room praying for a miracle so I could get out of such an awkward conversation. I hid behind my hair when she started on their love life and her attempts to spice it up in the bedroom in order to keep my grandpa around.

  I only met my grandpa two times in my life and I was okay with that. My dad wasn’t fond of him and I never found a relationship with him of importance because nobody else did.

  “Nona, please promise me you will let me figure things out before you take our problems to the church,” I said once I could get a word in.

  She shook her head. “It’s already been arranged, Sweetpea.” She stood up clamping a hand down over mine. “Everything is going to be better. You mark my word.”

  I crossed my arms and watched her leave. Nothing was going to be better if we involved the town in any of our drama. Things would only get worse.

  More like hell

  I was close to storming right out of the house. And it wasn’t like me. I stayed and fought battles I knew I could win. But this fight wasn’t going anywhere.

  I dropped down on Slade’s bed and worked my heels on. “I’m only going because my family is forcing my dad. Otherwise I would steer clear of church.”

  Slade wasn’t having it, there was nothing I could do to convince him what I was doing was okay.

  “This is the most idiotic idea I have ever heard of.” He opened his closet.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, watching him go through his clothes.

  “I’m going with you.” He pulled out a dress shirt. “Did you really think I would let you go into a witch hunt alone?”

  I rolled my eyes. “It’s not a witch hunt. It’s for my dad.”

  He pulled his t-shirt over his head. “They shut down Henry park. They want to eradicate the entire state of magic. Fucking magicians aren’t even safe.”

  Maybe that was true but I cared more about what would happen to my dad than anything anyone in Cherry could do to me.

  “Besides.” Slade lifted a newer pair of black boots from his closet. “I doubt they will even let us in.”

  The same thought crossed my mind. Like when you’re about to attend a really popular party everyone you knew would be at and you thought by some accident you misunderstood and really weren’t invited. That’s how I felt about going to church.

  ***

  The line was long and the door seemed like it was a million miles away. I wondered if we were ever going to make it up to it. Nona chatted with the older woman in the line in front of us while we waited. I was glad we were there with her because otherwise I would have totally felt out of my element and like the freak show I was sure they all thought I was standing there.

  Odds were if anyone denied us access Nona would get us in. Nona didn’t let anything go easily and even though the town thought of me as a devil worshiping slut, I was still family and she would fight for me.

  I looked at Slade, he was doing his best to hold it together while a group of men stared him down and eyed his tattoos. He tilted his head, the grip on my waist grew tighter. “Shoot me now.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t bring my gun,” I said. “I figured they were going to do a strip search at the door.” The line moved a few feet and quickly came to another stop.

  I fiddled with the belt on my dress and stared down at my shoes the closer we got to the door. I hated California, back in Georgia people loved to see me. It was hard to get the cold shoulder all the time, without forming a complex.

  Dad joined us in line, he smelled like Jack daniels and aftershave. I gave him a small smile. Nona on the other hand wasn’t smiling. She sighed and shook her head. “I told you if you needed me to iron your shirt to call me, Neil.”

  “Shirts fine, Mother.” He ran a hand down the front of his button up. “If they have a problem with what I’m wearing I can go back home.”

  Slade leaned in. “We could all go back home.” I elbowed him in the side reminding him we were going through with it.

  “Well if it isn’t the queen herself,” the man at the door said to Nona. “The queen of Cherry.”

  Nona playfully swatted him. “Now, Charles. The title hasn’t officially been given to me. But I will gladly take it.” They both laughed. His eyes fell on Slade and me.

  “I wasn’t aware we had guest today.” He cleared his throat. “Are you guy’s sure you’re at the right place? There are no cauldrons or broomsticks in here.”

  Nona quickly ended his grin.

  “This is my granddaughter, Hope. And I would appreciate it if you paid her the same respect you pay me. Or I will gladly cancel any further plans of contributing to the church.” She crossed her arms. “And this is my son, Neil. The one I called you about the other day.”

  “The only reason we are here,” I mentioned. He turned, slowly forcing a smile. “Well, Hope. We are more than willing to welcome anyone who wants to worship with us.”

  Slade rolled his eyes. “He says that now.”

  Nona eyed Slade. But she kept her mouth shut and guided Dad through the church doors.

  Heads turned as soon as we stepped inside. Everything was painfully white. Not a drop of color anywhere. It was blinding.

  Nona headed to the front of the church and took a seat. Dad slipped in beside her.

  “I didn’t think we would be sitting in the front.” I smoothed out my dress and took Slade’s hand thankful for the comfort.

  “Look at it this way,” Slade whispered in my ear. “At least you can’t see everyone gawking at us.”

  I turned my head, he was so right. All eyes were on us. It was a very unsettling feeling. I touched the barrette holding my hair back wishing I would have decided against it so I at least had a shield.

  It wasn’t like any church I ever seen before. There were no bibles, no old wooden pews. Everything was shiny, new and fancy.

  There was even a flat screen hanging on the wall.

  The ‘Pastor’ and that was using the term very loosely, took the stage. He was as much a pastor as I was a virgin. “Good morning to you all.”

  In unison the entire church answered back. I rubbed the back of my neck watching him walk the stage.

  “It’s always nice to see familiar faces and new ones.” He looked at Slade and I. “Welcome.”

  I nodded and shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

  He moved back and forth on the stage with his blue jean shirt and fitted khakis.

  I leaned into Slade. “This guy hardly looks older than us.”

  “I was thinking the same thing,” Slade said back.

  His name was Harvey Dillinger, and he had a certain way about him. The entire town of Cherry hung on to his every word.

  I did my best to stay awake while Harvey went on and on about salvation and doing the right things in order to have eternal forgiveness.

  The room was silent, I could hear myself breathing and my dad’s stomach growling. I hoped for my sake and Slade’s it all would end soon.

  Finally he stopped talking. “And finally, I have been asked a favor.” He looked at us in the front row. Nona shifted in her se
at and nudged Dad to his feet.

  Harvey stuck out a hand. His shirt rolled to the elbow. He wasn’t formal for a pastor. Slade leaned in again. “Looks like the pastor enjoys tattoos as much as us.”

  I zoned in on the black ink on his arm carefully hidden by his sleeve, but not quite. “That’s just weird.” I watched Dad take the stage and shake hands with Harvey.

  “Everyone, this is Neil Zigler and he has come here today seeking help with some inner demons.” He put a hand on Dad’s shoulder. “We all have demons, whether we like to admit it or not.”

  I crossed my arms. Harvey started reciting lines from some religion, one I never heard of before.

  “Let us stand,” he said. I looked at my dad, it was written all over his face he wasn’t happy to be there and he was only going through the motions to keep Nona from freaking out.

  I smoothed my dress down and looked at Slade. He stood up.

  “What the hell are they reciting?” he asked. “I’ve never heard this before. Is this even about god?”

  I studied the big chandelier hanging overhead. It started to sway, just enough that nobody else noticed but for some reason I did. I could hear the tinkling of the glass above us even with the entire room chanting like some freakish cult.

  I took Slade’s hand. Something was not right. The lights flickered and everyone gasped. I grabbed Slade totally freaked out.

  “What is happening?”

  “I don’t know,” Slade said. The lights went out and we were plunged into darkness.

  “Sweetpea,” Nona said. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” I said shaken. “Do you think Dad is alright?”

  “I’m sure he’s fine as long as he doesn’t try making it off the stage in the dark.” She sighed. “Let’s sit down.”

  “Everybody stay calm,” Harvey said. “I’m sure this is just some kind of electrical issue.”

  Hushed silence fell over the crowd. Slade and I found our seats. The lights popped on and I searched the stage. But I didn’t see my dad.

  “Where is he?” I asked. We lost power again.

  “Just calm down, he probably found his way down,” Nona said. “Everything isn’t some huge conspiracy.”

  “I’m not saying that,” I snapped. “I’m just concerned.”

  Slade squeezed my leg. “Stop arguing.”

  I rolled my eyes. I was the only one concerned with my dad’s disappearance it seemed. The lights came back on and I nearly peed myself when I saw Hutch standing before us all.

  I jumped up and started for the stage, Slade right on my heels.

  “Where is he?” I demanded making it on stage. Hutch smirked avoiding my glare as he stared into the crowd. “We’re all fine. Everything has been taken care of. See you all on Wednesday.”

  People started to leave. “Where is he?”

  “Aren’t you the guy Hope was running around with last summer?” Nona asked, as if it wasn’t obvious.

  Hutch nodded. “Some might call it a stupid fling.”

  “Where’s her dad?” Slade asked. “I have to hand it to you, this was pretty clever.”

  Nona shook her head not understanding. I grabbed her arm. “Come on, Nona. You can introduce me to the pastor.” I was willing to try anything to get her off the stage and away from Hutch’s threat. She didn’t need to know what was going on.

  Slade would fill me in on everything later.

  “Harvey,” Nona interrupted Harvey at the door. He said goodbye to the young couple and turned his attention to us.

  “This is my granddaughter, Hope.” Nona pushed me forward.

  He extended a hand. “Nice to meet you, Hope.”

  I shook his hand. “Nice to meet you too, Pastor Dillinger.”

  He grinned. “Call me Harvey. I like to keep it simple here.”

  “Okay. Harvey.” I nodded, watching Slade and Hutch in the background.

  “So, Hope. What did you think of your first experience?”

  Nona excused herself, promising to find dad.

  “A little strange.” I crossed my arms. “But you do know how to sway a crowd.”

  He nodded. “Your grandmother tells me you used to dance.”

  I raised an eyebrow looking at Nona. She nodded, giving me the look that told me she wanted me to play nice. “Yes for a long time. That all ended once we moved to California.”

  “I come from a family of dancers. My mother was a ballet dancer for twenty years, so were both of my sisters.” He crossed his arms. “I’ve always found it intriguing.”

  “What got you into religion?” I asked.

  “I guess I enjoyed rebelling,” he smiled. “I’m sure you can relate.”

  I looked away. “Can’t we all.” I sighed. “It was nice meeting you. But I really need to find my dad. You wouldn’t know what happened to him would you?”

  “Not a clue. Once the lights went out I ran to the back.” He searched my eyes concern etched on his face. “Is there something wrong?”

  I immediately shook my head. I knew better, I wasn’t going to open up to another stranger. But I would get some answers. “How do you know Hutch?”

  “Oh, he started attending a few weeks ago.” He looked back at Hutch. “He’s been a big help with events. It’s nice to find younger people willing to take an interest in church.”

  I brushed my hair off my shoulders. “I have to go.”

  He touched my arm stopping me. “I know this might come off the wrong way. But would you mind if I asked for your number?”

  I pulled away.

  “I haven’t been here long. I hardly know this place. I could use some good friends.” He pulled a pen from his shirt pocket and wrote his number on the back of a card. “I swear I’m not trying to intrude in any way.”

  I took the card staring down at the church logo. And back up at his tattoo. “Your tattoo.”

  He nodded, tugging down his sleeve so the rest of the world couldn’t see it. “Was a very bad decision after a night of drinking. The church probably wouldn’t have hired me if they knew it existed.”

  I swallowed. “No, they wouldn’t.”

  He raised his chin. “So call me sometime, maybe you can introduce me to your friends. We can grab a pizza or something?”

  “I will have to talk to my boyfriend about it. And I doubt he will be on board. He has issues with this town.” I started toward the stage.

  Hutch was gone and Slade was antsy. I needed to know what happened.

  A method that doesn’t cause madness

  I paced the room like an idiot. “He was gone, you and I both know this.” I turned to Slade chewing on my thumbnail. “Why would Nona act like everything is fine.”

  Slade ran a hand through his hair staring up at the ceiling in his room. “Everything is not fine. You and I both know that. She doesn’t know what is happening.”