by Ruby Raine
Someone had broken into their home. Their sanctuary. They were in the process of heightening security, unfortunately, a little too late. Michael gasped when without warning William shot into vampire speed searching through everything. He put things back in their proper places, hoping to spot the missing item, or items, hoping when all was in its rightful place nothing would be missing.
He came to an abrupt stop, his skin pale and still, even for him.
He plunked down, his hand reaching inside a pulled out drawer on his oak desk. Empty. It was empty.
“What?” Charlie asked. But by the look on William’s face, they didn’t want to know.
“Your father’s diary. It’s not here. It’s not anywhere in this room.”
Michael blew air into his cheeks, puffing them up and holding his breath. Melinda fell onto the arm of the sofa.
“Are you sure, William?” asked Charlie. “That diary is filled with so much stuff I’d never want anyone to see. About everything we do. We don’t exactly hide who we are around the Isle, but...” just the thought of all that information in the hands of the enemy, or just stupid hands, made him sick.
William opened his mouth and closed it. They’d never seen him having such difficulty. “The diary... I have added things. Important details necessary for future generations of Howards. I’ve been adding to it since your parents,” William trailed off, his voice giving out.
Charlie was the first to realize what William was really trying to say.
“You wrote down where Mom and Dad thought the power source was located.”
William nodded, regretting the choice to add that information immensely.
Charlie sank into a chair. After a few minutes of silence, he asked, “So was any of this ever really about me? Or has it been about the power source all along?”
“Shifter probably thought it could get to the source, by getting to you,” replied William. “I should not have written it down.”
“It’s not your fault,” whispered Melinda.
Charlie got himself out of the chair, pacing the study.
“She’s right. It’s not,” agreed Charlie. “We should have upped our security a long time ago. The world has changed, and we have not changed with it. We don’t live in the same age our ancestors did, or even our parents. We cannot let this happen again.”
“What do you want to do Charlie?” asked Michael.
“We need to get Dad’s diary back for one. We need to secure this place. I’m thinking we really do need to start securing the entire damn fucking island,” he charged in a raised voice. “It’s clear from the things going on around here lately that something’s changing. Like Nina and the Guardians warned us about. And we are clearly not prepared for it. William’s been trying to tell us, but I don’t think we’ve been listening hard enough. We just let some of the most important information we own walk right out of here, into the hands of the enemy.”
“And we don’t even know who that is.” Michael shook his head in dismay.
William wished now that he’d pushed harder, and faster, for the security updates.
“Maybe if Mom and Dad were still here none of this would have happened,” muttered Melinda. Personally, she felt her share of the responsibility, seeing as it was only recently that she’d even started living up to her duties as a witch. What she said was meant for herself, in dealing with her own guilt. However, Charlie heard it differently.
This situation was entirely his fault. He wasn’t living up to their expectations as the eldest sibling. He could only imagine his parents’ reactions if they’d been here. How disappointed they’d be with him.
Melinda realized her mistake too late. Theme of the day she chided herself. I really need to think about what I say before I say it.
She tried to fix it. “Just because the shifter has the diary doesn’t mean they’re going to be able to access that tree in White Pines, any easier than us. And we’re not even sure it is the power source.”
“Regardless, it doesn’t mean they won’t try,” said Michael. “Let’s just hope they don’t find a way.”
“Even if they can’t find a way, it doesn’t make any of this acceptable.” Charlie’s head sank in defeat.
“It does give us time,” noted William.
“But how much?” asked Charlie, looking to William. “How long until this shifter, or alpha, or whatever the hell you want to call it, does whatever it came here to do? We seem to be ten steps behind, all the time. How will we prepare for this?” They all heard what he was really saying. I failed. And I have no idea what to do, or how to protect this family.
No one answered. Not even William, who usually had something to say, whether good or bad.
Charlie stood up to leave. “We need to regain the upper hand. Somehow. We have no idea what this shifter is up to, and too many things are happening just under our noses... we can’t keep letting this happen.” He left the room, needing a chance to think.
He bounded up the stairs to his bedroom slamming the door behind him. Soon it would be night, which he was already dreading. He didn’t want to wake up in the middle of the woods again.
The alpha/werewolf/shapeshifter was not dead, and now, had used its ability to gain entrance into the Howard Family’s house, and steal vital information about The Demon Isle’s power source. The source he was charged with protecting.
“I’m letting the family down,” he let out with an exhale. “Even after Nina gave her life so I could have this ring, I’m just letting people down. I can’t even control my own life, how am I supposed to control anything else?”
He looked out his window, staring at nothing in particular, wishing more than anything he could talk to his father. He’d know what to do. Jack Howard always knew what to do.
BACK IN THE STUDY, Melinda was picking up her phone. “I need to call Riley.”
“Why?” asked Michael.
“To tell him what happened of course. I need to tell him if he sees another me, that it might not be me. What if the shifter uses him to... I don’t know what. I just think he should know.”
“Fine. But just that, okay,” Michael stated.
“What are you implying?” She’d expected this argument, but didn’t feel that now was the right time.
“Just, how do we know the Deanes aren’t involved with all this? Timing’s a bit convenient, don’t you think? They just happen to show up, followed by Lizzy, and now the Feyks, old allies of the Deane family. Even you can’t deny that’s a little timely, Melinda.”
“So what? You’re saying that Riley’s just pretending to like me.” She didn’t want to think about that possibility, but considering his behavior today, she could not help but wonder. People can only hide their true natures for so long.
Melinda’s breathing became shallow, her chest getting heavier.
Michael paced the study. “We need to be more careful about who we let, know what. And of anyone, Deanes being at the top of that list! I think Charlie would agree. William?”
The vampire sat behind his desk, stacking up papers and books at a pathetic human speed. Riley’s odd behavior and poor treatment of Melinda had him rather suspect of the young man. Did he need to visit him again? Remind him of his promise not to hurt her?
“I do not believe the Deanes came here to do harm, Michael. Lizzy is from a different time, a time before dark magic came to the Isle. But... but I suppose I cannot be certain.”
“I can’t believe you two!” Melinda protested, her breath barely reaching her throat. “Do you actually think I’d date the enemy? Do you think I’m that stupid? That I’m so gullible I’d fall for a guy that wanted to hurt us? Hurt my family?” She stormed out of the room, unable to hold back the panic attack about to strike.
Michael plunked down in the same chair Charlie had removed himself from just minutes before.
“We all need to take a deep breath,” said William.
“Yeah, tense much?” Michael countered. “I didn’t mean to be
so hard on her, it’s just, she’s dating a fucking Deane! And suddenly we’re all supposed to act like we’re best friends or something.”
“And I agree with you on that part. However, truth be told, I am fairly confident they are innocent.”
“Yeah, I imagine you’re probably right, William. I guess it’s just not easy to lose old hatreds.”
“No. Indeed, it is not,” he agreed.
“I’d better go see if she’s okay,” said Michael.
“No,” said William hastily. “It may sound harsh but she needs to learn to deal with pain. If we run to her aid each time...”
Michael nodded, but looked tortured by the choice.
William wanted to ignore his own advice and run to her side at once. He closed his eyes and listened for her. She was locked in her room, sobbing. It wasn’t easy to remain seated, but he knew it was the right thing to do.
Many things seemed clear that day. More so than any recent day in memory. He sheltered Melinda too much. They all did. He sheltered them all too much. A habit he needed to break.
He needed to be sure the siblings were ready for whatever was coming. If it happened at this very moment, they were sure to fail. When had he lost his way? It was hard to pinpoint the exact moment in time. Because it wasn’t just one specific moment. It had developed over time after the loss of their parents.
No, it wasn’t just this. He’d let things become too routine. Let the siblings take advantage of his presence. They didn’t do so consciously and he had allowed it to happen. Encouraged it almost.
His love for his human family was changing him. And hurting the siblings in the process. They were not the witches they should be.
Never before had William realized his presence was actually hurting their future. Not helping it. He had thought about leaving the Isle numerous times over the previous weeks. Pondered it with hard thought. And even determined attempt.
But the siblings needed him and he was obligated to keep the promise he’d made so many years before. But by staying, was he now hurting them? Keeping them from living up to their full potential?
He would need to give this matter serious thought.
Regardless, he would not leave them mid-crisis. Especially one he was responsible for creating.
EVA JORDAN HADN’T BEEN fast enough for the Howards not to catch her, but she’d managed to escape. It had set off an instant panic though, the moment she looked across the street and saw them standing there.
For the briefest of moments, she saw everything unraveling. Everything she and her father had worked for, falling to pieces.
“Those stupid Feyks should have kept them a little busier,” she said bitterly. Her father had promised.
When finally at the outskirts of the busy streets, she found a private place behind a tree to morph back into herself. She popped back out and looked around to be sure there were no Howards out and about. It looked clear so she headed toward home.
She blew out her nervousness, letting the air consume it.
It had not been her favorite plan, but they were getting desperate. Everything they had tried so far, had failed. Mostly. They’d managed to wreak plenty of havoc. Gotten some useful information. Given the Howard’s a run for their money, Charlie especially. But they had yet to take any real steps forward. Until now.
Eva grinned. And then laughed.
She’d barely gotten away, having only a moment to duck into the crowd and morph into an elderly woman before William came striding across the street. He’d passed right by giving her no mind.
Her disguise had been perfect though. No one would question Melinda Howard walking right through the front door of the Howard Mansion. And as she’d thought, the Howards were too trusting of their Demon Isle neighbors. The door wasn’t even locked.
“Could be they’re just too arrogant, or just plain stupid,” Eva jeered. “Supposed to be these mega witches that have ruled the Isle for hundreds of years and yet I just walked right in and took what I wanted.”
It hadn’t been that easy. It had taken hours to scour the place until she’d found it, stuffed in a drawer of the vampire’s desk. And now, they had what they needed: the likely location of the Isle’s power source.
But the diary looked like it was filled with tons of useful information, practically a life story of the Howard family, so she’d decided to grab the entire thing. It would come in handy, no doubt.
Eva made her way homeward, keeping to the sidewalks, buzzing through the crowds filing off the beaches as the sun was setting and their bellies grumbled with hunger. An empty bench called out to her tired feet and she plunked down. The tide was coming in, the waves crashing harder and harder against the shore with each pulse of the incoming sea.
Charlie Howard pushed his way into her thoughts.
Eva shuddered, trying to push him back out.
Thinking about him formed an instant pit in her stomach. Along with butterflies. He’d been so concerned about her earlier that morning. If she hadn’t felt so out of it, she’d have almost thought it was sweet.
It was sweet.
And then she had to go and jump him on the side of the damn road. Yeah, the guy was hot. And her wolf found him appealing. But to lose control like that. She could not afford for it to happen again. This step she’d taken today, breaking into their home, stealing the diary.
There was no return now. No question of her loyalties regardless of what her wolf thought of Charlie fucking Howard. Pretty soon, the Howard Witches would find their lives turned upside down and have no idea what hit them.
They were close now. Closer than ever at locating the power source.
Still, if she could somehow own Charlie Howard, he’d be a hot ornament to tag along when she left. But even if she managed to become his alpha, he’d never forgive her. He would do her bidding only because he had to. Never because he wanted to. Never because he wanted her. And why did she even think about him like that anyway?
She’d come here to help her father. To make the Howard Witches pay for what they’d done to them so many years ago.
Falling for the enemy was not part of the plan. And Charlie was the enemy. He’d become the enemy long before the day she’d bitten him. It was supposed to have been Jack Howard, the father. But Charlie had gotten in the way and she’d bitten him instead.
She felt no remorse. Damage had been done. Pain caused.
It was what she wanted and what she got, if not in the original manner planned. It had actually turned out better than she could have imagined. The way his family had doted on Charlie in those first months and years after the attack. Their first-born, ruined by her bite. His life changed forever. Cursed.
She chuckled.
This is who I am. In charge. In control. And I submit to no one.
“You’d be best off to remember it, wolf,” she warned her defiant traveler. Eva Jordan didn’t submit to anyone whether her wolf agreed or not.
“Comfortable are we?” a voice startled her from somewhere nearby. She jumped up and spun around, her white hair flying with her, but saw no one. The beach was empty, minus a tourist or two watching the sunset far away.
A wide grin materialized in mid-air, lined with pointed teeth that chomped out and slithered its words.
“You,” gushed Eva sorely. “I almost got caught today! I think my father should ask for a refund.”
The pointy-toothed grin was soon after surrounded by a gaunt face, followed downward by a wiry body. Once materialized fully, the Feyk lifted his hat and bowed in greeting. “You did succeed however? Yes?” He spoke with a drawl that sounded slithery. And creepy. Like his words climbed up her spine in cold little bites.
“Yes,” she answered hotly. “Hardly thanks to you guys.”
The Feyk stepped closer, grinning wider as he did. Eva grimaced but didn’t step back, holding her ground. “So I guess you guys are free to go then,” she told him. “Job’s done.”
“Mmmmm,” the Feyk rattled. “Actually, not q
uite finished yet.”
Before Eva could react, the Feyk had manifested his body into smoke, which crept up behind her body. She suddenly couldn’t move.
Its smoky arms snaked around her belly, rubbing it delicately.
“What are you doing?” she spat out. “Stop that. Stop touching me.”
The Feyk’s touch was disgusting. Violating. And nothing she could stop or control.
“Wolf girl doesn’t want to play?” oozed the Feyk in a tone that would give anyone the chills.
“Let go of me,” she ordered.
“Don’t fret, little wolf. You’re not my type. It’s done now anyway.” His smoke-like arms let go, freeing her.
“What’s done?”
The Feyk didn’t answer.
“What did you do to me?”
The Feyk waved and winked, its smoky frame dematerializing. “You’ll thank me before it’s over. But I’d talk with dear old daddy if I were you.” It was the last thing she heard before it vanished completely.
Eva, alone again, let out an irritated grunt and grabbed her pack, storming off the beach back onto the sidewalk. “What creepy ass little demons,” she snorted, walking fast. “Never working with them again.”
She approached her home and saw her father waiting near the front door. Anthony Jordan didn’t speak, just waited with bated breath. Eva took the pack off her shoulder and drew out the diary.
“I believe this is what you’re looking for.” She handed it over.
Anthony Jordan opened it, rubbing his hands greedily across the pages. “Well done, Eva. Well done indeed.”
“Yeah, whatever, Dad. I’m getting a little sick of this frigging place, and these witches have no idea what’s coming. So what do you say we get this done while that’s still true and get off this hell hole of an island?”
Anthony Jordan gazed down at his daughter, his eyes ravenous with excitement. “We’re not leaving,” he told her.
“What do you mean? Of course we are. After we’ve done the job. That’s always been the plan. Right?”
