by Ben Alderson
“I can’t believe it!” I shout.
Will arches a brow. He doesn’t understand that I’m on the verge of a mental breakdown. I need to vent, rant, and build a time machine that takes me back to Old Savi during a time I can promptly smack her across the face for making such awful choices. Well, actually, just one choice.
“I can’t believe this is my life now. I made one bad decision, and now, everything is falling apart. Every time I think I’ve gotten things under control, something else happens. I mean, how much more can I handle? What else can go wrong?”
I’m no longer rooted to the ground. Instead, I’m walking around in a circle, waving my arms frantically, and yelling at the sky like the gods can actually hear me. I hear Will chuckle from behind me, and I just about lose my cool.
Spinning on my heel, I’m inches from his face before he even realizes I’ve moved. With my index finger planted firmly against his broad chest, I say, “This is your fault, you know. If you and your stupid friends didn’t come to my neck of the woods, we wouldn’t be in this mess! If there wasn’t a bonfire, I wouldn’t have tried to get George to go into the woods that night!”
I’m shouting, and I don’t care. I’m tired of trying to figure out how to get myself out of a mess. I’m tired of being in danger. I’m tired of lying to my friends in order to protect them. I just want to hop onto the next bus out of Hillcrest and never look back.
But I can’t do that. This is my home, and my actions have led to this nightmare. The supernaturals of Hillcrest are in danger, and they don’t even know it. It’s only a matter of time before the hunters launch their attack and kill innocents.
“We have to stop them,” I say aloud. I hold Will’s stare, daring him to fight me on this. He knows this is wrong. They have to be stopped.
“It’s not that simple,” he says.
“Protecting innocents is a simple choice, Will. This is the moment you decide the kind of man you are. Are you the kind who stands aside and watches the massacre of innocent people?” I ask.
He exhales sharply. “You’re not people. You’re an abomination.”
There’s that word again. Abomination. George’s mother called me the same thing moments before Zane, the wolf alpha, ended her existence.
“And what are you, Will? Because we both know you’re not human. I tasted your blood, remember?” I lick my lips, and he’s transfixed in that moment. “Your blood is dosed in magic, isn’t it? So tell me, what exactly are you?”
He swallows hard, and I watch the Adam’s apple in his throat bob deliciously. I ache to crawl into his arms and sink my fangs into his soft skin. I don’t share his memories anymore. I drank from so many that night, their thoughts became a muddled mess in my mind. I’m grateful I don’t have to bear the executioner’s truth, but I do wish I could peer into Will’s soul and see what other secrets he may be hiding.
I arch my back and stand on my tiptoes, angling toward him so our lips nearly brush. It would take little effort on his part to eliminate the space between us. I feel the heat of his skin against my own as we share a breath. His catches in his throat, and I know it’s not just because of me.
“Don’t move,” I whisper. I rest my palms against his chest, and I fight to tune out the hammering beats of his heart. I lean against him, and he wraps his arms around my waist. Together, we melt into each other. My soft curves rest against his hard muscles, and we wait.
With each footfall, I sense them approach. There must be at least half a dozen, and their presence only grows louder. I know they are heading straight toward us, and if Will and I don’t move quickly, they’ll see the intimate embrace we’ve adopted.
“We have to move,” I say softly. I turn back to face him, and our lips brush. I gasp at the connection. His lips are full, soft, and so incredibly warm against my own.
I blink, and we’re standing behind the base of a thick tree. I turn within Will’s grasp. He doesn’t release me, and when I try to pull away from him, he only holds onto me tighter.
“Don’t move,” he whispers into my ear. His breath is hot on my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.
We watch as Elder Jane steps through the tree line. Several men in full-on army gear follow her into the clearing. I know these men to be hunters even though I’ve never seen them before. Their humanized military gear gives away their cover. I fear for the elder’s safety, but from where I hide, I can’t do much to protect her.
The hunters are interrogating her about her investigation into the disappearances of several dozen college students who were said to have attended a bonfire party in these woods. The elder is calm, having a challenging response to each accusation. Elder Jane has been the “police chief” of Hillcrest for as long as I’ve been born, so I’m sure she’s used to humans coming in and questioning her ability and the strange things that happen in this town. Though Hillcrest is considered a safe haven (for supernaturals, anyway), we don’t have the greatest backstory. Too many humans go missing after venturing across our border…
The longer they speak to her, the harder it is to hear their words. As each minute ticks by, I become more aware of Will’s arm wrapped around my waist. I’ve never had an intimate relationship with someone before, choosing instead to spend my time with family and George. I’m a loner and a bit of a homebody. I stick to the shadows and mind my own business. I’ve never felt that pull shown in movies, but for some reason, I feel something for Will. Is it because of his ex-girlfriend’s memories that once clouded my judgement? Is it because I tasted him or he saved me? I don’t understand the connection we share, but I ache to explore it.
I want to hate him. I hate his kind, and I should hate him. My actions brought me to that place, but he led them to me the night they abducted me. If he didn’t do that…
I exhale slowly, shaking my head. I have to stop blaming others for my crappy decisions. It’s not Will’s fault that I ended up in that place. I chose to go to the bonfire. I chose to kill his girlfriend I wish I made better decisions, but I didn’t. I’m in this mess because I’m a horrible vampire.
I don’t realize I’m trying to pull away from Will until he yanks me back. His lips reach my ear in record time, and he tells me to shush. I zoned out and didn’t realize a hunter was seconds from discovering our really bad hiding place.
I panic, and the darkness within me coils until it balls into a knot so tight, I fear I may scream. It’s heavy and strong, and just when I think I finally regain control, it blasts out of my core. Suddenly, I’m weightless and overwhelmed by this ecstatic pleasure. I gasp as the darkness within me takes hold of the world around me, enveloping Will and me in a swarm of bright silver lights.
And then the hunter turns the corner, and we come face to face with my greatest enemy.
Except he doesn’t see us.
Instead of shouting for help, revealing our cover, the man scans the area and continues walking. I watch him retreat until he disappears into the woods. The seconds tick by, and before I realize what’s happening, the man tells his friends he hasn’t found anything.
Only then do I notice Will’s death grip around my waist. He’s pulling me against him so tightly I don’t know where he ends and I begin. His fist is clenched, his dark knuckles softening in color as he tightens the squeeze he has on reality.
I try to turn in his arms to reassure him that we’re going to be okay, but I can’t move. He’s frozen behind me, stiff and unyielding, and I fear speaking will only alert the hunters to our presence. So I grasp his fists of fury and rub my hands over his bare skin as far as I can reach. Slowly, Will softens and loosens his grasp on me. I lean against him, and we breathe in unison until the hunters make their retreat.
“That was close,” I whisper.
“How did he not see us?” Will asks, keeping his voice low.
I shake my head. “I have no idea. He looked right at us just before walking past. He should have noticed—”
“You can come out now, child,” Elder Jane
says.
I squirm in Will’s arms until I’m facing him. Jaw slack, eyes wide, we mirror each other’s shock. How did I not notice she didn’t leave with the hunters? Did she hear us talking? Does she know Will’s with me? What am I going to say to her? George and I have worked so hard to hide my transition from the council, and now, in the light of day, the witch elder is going to see me for what I really am.
And George and I will die for what he did to save me.
“We haven’t much time, girl,” Elder Jane says.
Without speaking, I mouth for Will to stay hidden. I see reluctancy in his eyes, but he does agree to stay here while I speak with the elder. I thank him before turning on my heel to emerge from the shadows, exposing myself to the one person who could inform the council of George’s abomination.
Chapter Eight
George
Nightmares have always filled me with terror. Unlike dreams, my nightmares seem more real somehow. They’re more tangible in a way. The worst part is how I feel like I’m actually awake, trapped within them. Deep down, I know I am asleep, and no matter how hard I try, I simply cannot wake up.
Swaddled in a thick darkness that bares teeth and claws, my nightmare tries to snatch me, bite me, nick me. I open my mouth to scream, but it fails me. It’s as if the darkness itself is devouring everything I give into this dreamscape.
The freezing sensation within my body starts at my feet and crawls slowly up the rest of my body. As the smoky shadow slithers toward my head, I sense the darkness taking control of my body as it prepares for its final meal.
My feet and calves are numb now. Soon enough, my waist is immobile and stiff. My lungs are shallow, and it becomes harder to breathe. As the shadow reaches my neck, I take my final breath, inhaling as deep as I can, knowing that soon enough, I will not be blessed with the ability to breathe.
“George,” a voice calls from the dark. “George…”
I am fearful to respond—not that I can even speak in this state. Now, the darkness has its smoky hands over my mouth, stopping me from even attempting to reply.
Something hard grabs onto my shoulders and jolts me.
Once. Twice. Thrice.
The incantation to a spell that gives the caster clarity during a difficult time floods my mind, but without my voice, I am weak and unable to spell cast.
“Wake up!”
A voice pierces the silent darkness. This voice sounds different somehow. It’s not the darkness speaking to me now.
“George, come on!”
I sense the urgency in this voice. Before I can consider the caller’s panic, all at once, a light so incredibly bright bursts through my imprisonment and rushes over me, clearing my body of the lingering darkness.
I blink fast, rubbing my hands over my eyes to help me wake. I gawk at the intruder. “What are you doing here?”
Chad hovers, leaning over me with his hands gripping both my shoulders. His furrowed brows and slack jaw only highlight how worried he seems. “You wouldn’t wake up, and you were making strange noises. I thought you were in pain or sick or something.” Chad speaks quickly, and I don’t miss that he isn’t answering my question. “Are you all right?”
Covered in sweat, I just sit there, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the light and my mind to comprehend seeing Chad here, in my room, in a house that’s supposed to protect Alcott witches from supernatural intruders.
“Chad, what are you doing here?” I sit up, unable to deny the strange ache that runs down my back and up my arms. “You shouldn’t be here.” As I say that aloud, I question myself as to why. Mother is not here anymore, so Chad is under no particular threat. But still, I am used to wanting to keep my friends far from this place. Father is down the corridor in his office, and I wonder if he senses Chad’s presence.
“After you messaged me last night, saying that you wanted to see me, I couldn’t wait any longer. You’ve been ignoring all of my messages and calls. Forgive my lack of patience.” Chad raises his brows, flashing his puppy-dog eyes. “I’ve missed you.”
I throw my arms around his neck and pull him onto the bed with me. The sudden rush of happiness and relief for seeing him crashes into me. Quickly, I’m overwhelmed by the sensation that these feelings were held back somehow.
Abraxon. Had he smothered my true emotions so I didn’t feel the desire to respond to my friends?
“I am sorry I have not messaged or answered your calls, but it has been really…”
Chad places a cold kiss on my forehead, which distracts me from what I was saying.
“You do not need to say anything. I understand how hard it has been for you. You forget that both Savi and I lost our parents to a supernatural murder too. The only difference here is she and I had each other to get us through the difficult times. I’ve been so concerned about you being all alone here. I can’t even count the number of times I have almost come over to see you. With everything we uncovered before the attack, it has been pure hell giving you the time and space you asked for.”
For a moment, I just let him hug me as I consider my thoughts. There is one constant memory that haunts the back of my mind. It’s something Mrs. Tate said about the treaty and a forbidden romance. With Chad here, I cannot help but cringe at the thought of the story we studied during that lesson.
Are you going to lie to him? Abraxon’s voice resonates from the deep dark pits within me.
Lie about what? I question.
Your father…
I take two large deep breaths, and I bury down Abraxon’s comments. I don’t need to answer him—no, I shouldn’t answer him. All he wants to do is taunt me. I want to enjoy this moment with Chad without having to think about anything else except for the way he smells of cedar wood and spices and how his body feels so cold pressed up against mine. He’s so familiar to me; it’s strange to think we’ve been spending so much time apart.
“Like you said, I just needed some time,” I whisper into his hair as I pull him closer.
“Do you need more?” Chad asks.
“Everything is still very raw for me,” I say.
Why don’t you tell him why you really didn’t want him around? Abraxon mumbles.
“But I’m glad that you came to see me,” I finish.
“Have you heard from her coven?” Chad’s voice deepens into a slight growl as he asks about the dark coven that disappeared after Mother’s death.
“Not yet,” I tell him. I hope my words clear the tension that stiffens his body. “Besides school, I have just been at home… alone.”
“Good,” Chad says too fast. “You promise you’ll tell us if they return?”
“Us?” I repeat his words.
“Savi has been just as worried, perhaps even more than me. She’s just been… occupied.”
I must have physically shifted at the mention of Savi because Chad sits up and looks me up and down. His brows crease, like he’s thinking hard, choosing his words carefully.
“Do you blame her?” he asks finally.
How I feel about Savi right now is much more complicated. I know she didn’t kill Mother, but she did stop me from seeking revenge in the moments after Mother’s murder. No matter if it was instinctual to protect the alpha or not, she stopped me. For that, I feel… bitter.
“Can we talk about something else?” I groan.
“She loves you, George. You need to understand that. She feels horrible about—”
“Please!” I snap, hands pressed on either side of my head. “We need to talk about something else.”
Chad takes a breath and straightens up. “The hunters are back, George. These are the people who did those terrible things to Savi—all because she refused to tell them your name. This is why we have been trying to get a hold of you. This is why I’m here now. I was worried about you. I couldn’t wait any longer to warn you.”
My breath hitches in my throat. “They’re back?”
“They’re in town. Last I saw, they were speaking with Elder Jane
about something.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe for Savi. Maybe for something else entirely…” Chad stands and walks to the window that faces out into the cold morning beyond. “Whatever their gain is in Hillcrest, it makes me uncomfortable. I need to protect Savi, and you and I cannot do that when we are apart like this.”
I struggle to grasp what he is saying because a deep anger bubbles within me, making listening to him nearly impossible. No matter what Savi did, I will never forget the way Savi hobbled toward us after emerging from the forest. She was covered in puncture wounds and soaked in her own blood. I can’t imagine the pain she experienced for days on end. The memory of seeing her that way will remain with me forever. It’s still as fresh as any other memory I hold true. A new desire for revenge cuts through me, and this time, I know Savi will not stand in my way.
“A storm is brewing in Hillcrest, George, and I do not think it will be long until the downpour covers this town entirely.” Chad turns to face me and extends a hand. “Will you help me keep her safe?”
I throw my legs over the bed, Abraxon pulsing within my chest. “If they lay a finger on Savi, I will be certain to remove it myself.” The wind outside picks up, smacking against the glass beside Chad.
Chad smiles weakly and opens his mouth to reply when a bang sounds off beyond my room. In a blur, he moves, racing to the door and throwing it open. We both look out upon the empty corridor. To Chad, everything seems normal, but I know something is wrong. The door to Father’s study is open, moving slightly as if the momentum of it opening was just calming. But Father cannot open his door.
“Stay back,” Chad growls, hand stopping me from following him toward the room. “It could be hunters.”
I push past him. “This is my home, Chad. There is nothing inside this house but us. The house would tell me if we had an intruder.”
“Did the house tell you I was here before I woke you?” Chad asks his question, already knowing the answer.
