by Ben Alderson
“No, it didn’t,” I whisper.
Regardless of his restraint, I knock his arm out of my way and walk toward Father’s study. As I reach for the door, I notice how hard my hand is shaking. Has Father left me? Is this it? Am I forever alone again?
“See,” I say, peering into the room, praying Father is still inside. “There’s nothing to see.” I close the door before I can get a good look inside, because I need to prevent Chad from seeing anything of interest inside the room. I’m not sure how I can explain a phantom figure, if it’s even possible for Chad to see the ghost.
Before the door fully closes, Chad’s hand snakes out and stops it. With a harsh push, he knocks the door open and steps inside the room before I can stop him. My discomfort of him being in Father’s private study is overwhelming, but I can’t think of a good argument to stop him. Instead of fighting, I follow in after him.
He spins in circles, looking for what could have made the odd noise. After all, we are supposed to be alone in this house. He stops in the middle of the room and faces me.
“There’s nothing here,” he says, confused and defeated.
But Chad is wrong. Very wrong.
Behind him, separated by mere inches, Father stands, his face pulled by thunderous rage and disgust. His unblinking gaze is pinned to the back of Chad’s head, his lips moving slightly as if to whisper a spell. Chad does not sense or see him. But I do, and I fear the later confrontation. How am I to explain the vampire?
“Then let’s get out of here,” I tell him, unable to ignore the pure hatred Father is showing toward Chad simply because he’s a vampire and we’re witches. Like Mother, Father hated vampires during his living life. It seems that even in death those strong feelings have not changed.
Chad raises his nose and sniffs the air, pulling a face of revulsion. “It smells like something died in this room.”
Father’s face pinches even more at the insult.
“It does,” I reply, not wanting to explain why it might smell that way. Getting into the conversation of it being locked for so many years would only create more questions.
I usher Chad out of the room only to hear Father’s whisper behind me.
“Leave the door open,” he instructs.
Chad doesn’t react to Father’s voice, but I do. I obey, leaving the door open slightly before guiding Chad back into my room.
“What now?” I ask, turning to face him. I can tell from his stiff shoulders and vein-covered neck that he is still on edge. I find myself raising two gentle hands for his chest and pressing my palms against him. This is the only way I think I can help calm him.
“We need to do something about the hunters before anyone—witch, vampire, or wolf—gets hurt.”
A thought passes through my mind. It’s aided by Abraxon, who is still quiet. “The academy. Elder Jane needs to know.”
Chad steps back. “The elder witch? Are you sure we should tell her?”
“Elder Jane has control and access to enough power to protect this town. She needs to know. If what you are saying about the hunters is true, then we are all in danger. Think about what they did to Savi. They’ll do the very same to others who may not be able to withstand the torture. If the hunters get hold of the right supernatural, they can reveal some pretty serious secrets. This could mean our end.”
Chad nods in agreement. “When do we go?”
“Now,” I say, rushing for my drawers and pulling out a set of plain clothes. “We go now before she leaves the academy to complete whatever task she is given for the afternoon. Elder Jane never stays on academy grounds after lunch.”
In the corner of my eye, as I pull on my thick, moss-colored knitted jumper, I see Chad peer at the clock.
“Then we better get going,” he agrees.
In only a few short moments, we are out the door and on the main street of Hillcrest. During our trek to the school, I considered the fact that vampires aren’t allowed on academy property. We’re not even allowed to speak about the school to anyone who doesn’t attend.
And here I am, taking the brother of a hybrid I created straight toward its gates.
Chapter Nine
Savi
Elder Jane tries to hide her shock, but she fails miserably. I can’t help but wonder what she’s thinking as I slowly approach from behind the tree. Can she see and sense my differences like others have? Is that why she seems surprised to see me here? Or maybe she’s surprised to see a vampire so deep into werewolf territory. Will she ask if I overheard details of the investigation? Will she ask me to remain silent on the matter so we don’t create mass hysteria?
“I shall admit that I’m surprised to see you here, Savannah,” Elder Jane says. Her dark brown hair is pulled back into a sloppy bun that rests atop her head. Her eyes seem hollow and dark. I wonder if she’s slept since the hunters invaded. I know I haven’t. “I’m glad to see you’re home safely. George is a student of mine, and he was quite perplexed over your sudden disappearance.”
“Yes, I—uh…” How much do I tell her? Do I admit what happened? Do I tell her these hunters are monsters, not humans. I should warn her, right? But warning her means exposing more secrets. The truth means putting George and Chad in danger. I can’t do that, not until I speak with them and we create a plan that protects us all. “I was forced to deal with a personal matter. I left abruptly, so I couldn’t warn George before leaving.” There. I didn’t really lie.
She nods and takes a step toward me. I’m not sure when I stopped approaching her, but she clearly noticed. With each step she takes, the knot in my throat hardens. How close is too close? I can’t allow her to sense my differences, not without endangering George in the process.
“Do you know what the humans are doing in Hillcrest, Miss Danvers?” she asks.
I suck in a sharp breath. George once told me how Elder Jane is renowned for her keen intuition. She can sense a liar in a field of honesty. George believes her innate abilities are what granted her the title of elder. The council bypassed qualified candidates—like George’s mom, who has ties to the founding families of Hillcrest—in favor of Jane. (Although, George’s mom was psychotic, so maybe they just considered mental health when determining who would become the elder witch) If I am not careful, Elder Jane will find out everything and likely sentence both George and I to death for our involvement.
“I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help hearing the whispers overtaking Hillcrest. It seems there is an investigation into the disappearance of local college students.” I choose my words carefully, never referring to the intruders as humans. I don’t want to lie to her, and I certainly don’t want to mislead her. These parasites aren’t humans.
Again, she nods. “I find it interesting that you are here, where the humans allegedly spent their final moments, during the very time an investigation has begun.”
I blink away her innuendo, pretending I haven’t the slightest clue what she’s hinting at.
“Tell me, child, what is a vampire doing on werewolf territory?”
“I—um, I’m taking a walk.”
Taking a walk? Seriously! Why did I not consider having a cover story ready in case I got caught doing something stupid, like eavesdropping on the council meeting or sneaking around Wolfsbane Forest?
“Must you lie, Savannah?” she asks. “Truly, we haven’t the time.”
She’s close—too close—and I must make my decision. Either I let her see what I am, or I give her something else. I doesn’t take me long to weigh my options, because she’s only steps away from seeing what I really am. I throw up my hands to stop her, but she speaks before I do.
“I sense George’s magic, Savannah. How is George involved here?”
“We witnessed the attack, but I swear it wasn’t our doing,” I blurt. I panicked when she mentioned George. All I want to do is protect him from the mess I’ve created.
“Tell me everything,” she orders.
“I overheard a conversation about
the bonfire, and I convinced George to attend with me. I thought he could use the break. Things at his house are always… tense. He refused at first, because there was a full moon that night, but I told him the wolves would never break the treaty. I thought we would be safe,” I say. I frown as I mentally relive that night. If I just would have listened to him and gone home, our lives would be so different right now.
“Continue,” she says.
“Everything was fine. I stayed out of sight, so no one could see my eyes. We stayed away from the fire’s light and toward the shadows. People left us alone until…” I gnaw on my lower lip, my gaze flickering to the spot where George used his magic in front of humans. I can’t tell her that. She’ll kill him if she found out he broke a top rule.
“Until what, Savannah?” she asks, unable to hide her annoyance.
“Until we heard the wolves. It was too late. We couldn’t stop them. There were dozens. It was over almost as soon as it began.”
“And why do I sense George’s magic even now?”
I couldn’t tell her he used his magic to kill a werewolf, even if he was protecting himself or the humans. Exposing magic is forbidden. There is no gray area. Either you risk exposure or you don’t. And George did.
Elder Jane exhales sharply, silently encouraging me to pick up my storytelling pace.
“We came back to cover up the crime,” I whisper.
“And why would you do that?”
“To protect Hillcrest. To protect exposure.”
She nods. “I suppose I can’t chastise you both for that. It’s what I would have done if you came to me that night. And I do wish you did. It wasn’t your responsibility to clean up the alpha’s mess.”
I cringe when she mentions Zane, the alpha. Sure, he should have kept his wolves at bay, but the humans shouldn’t have been that deep into Wolfsbane Forest either. I’m sure the wolves thought they were safe to hunt animals, like they always were when they’re under the moon’s sway. I never spoke to Zane of that night, but I’m sure he regrets the massacre. After all, it did lead to his brother’s demise.
“I’ll deal with the alpha, but right now, we have more important things to worry about, like getting these humans off our trail. They’re right about the disappearances, but unfortunately, we can’t provide them with any leads. We’ll have to get creative if we want them to leave town.”
I nod. “Elder Jane, there’s something you need to know about these… humans.”
The loud vibrations of a silenced mobile phone echo through the woods. Elder Jane pulls her phone from her pocket, glances at the screen, and frowns. She tells me to give her a moment, and I am grateful. I need time to figure out how to explain the existence of hunters to the elder witch without implicating George.
“Hello?” she says.
Do I tell her about my abduction and the many torture sessions?
“Yes. I understand.” Her voice is tight.
What about Will? Can I save him just as he saved me?
“Don’t move. I’ll be right there.”
I turn on my heel just as she turns off her phone.
“I’m sorry, Savannah, but we’ll have to continue this another time. I must tend to something urgent.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
“It will be.”
“Is there anything I can do?” I call, but she’s already running back toward town with speed I didn’t know witches could possess. She may not be as fast as a vampire, but she’s definitely making great time. Thankfully, I didn’t have to find the right words to explain the existence of hunters, but soon enough, she’ll learn about them and their true intentions for being in Hillcrest. Maybe if Zane informs her of their agenda, she’ll forgive his transgression.
Almost as if I summoned him with my thoughts, the wolves appear. One by one, they cross the threshold of the tree line. With their golden eyes on me, I can’t help the moment when my lips curve into a smile. Closing the space between us, I approach them without caution, running a hand through the many manes of fur. One by one, they rub against me, coating me in their unique scents which I’ve come to appreciate.
“Savi?” someone calls.
I turn to face Will, who’s been cornered by the wolves. One hand holds a gun and the other a dagger, and he has both pointed at the slowly approaching wolves. Seeing my pack mates in danger sparks a sudden wash of rage to flood through me.
Will is no longer the hunter who saved my life. He’s the hunter with a weapon drawn and dagger unsheathed. He’s the hunter threatening the lives of those who continue to protect me.
And that I will not allow.
Chapter Ten
George
Before we step more than three feet onto the long driveway that leads up to the academy, we are rushed by teachers. Countless bodies run across gravel and grass, hands waving and voices raised. Their clear aggression and panic is pinned on us.
“Holy sh—”
Someone shouts my name, overpowering whatever Chad was saying.
“What under the Goddess’s sun are you doing bringing one of those here?” a teacher screams.
Chad mocks her tone,“One of those?”
“It is forbidden,” a low-voiced teacher growls. His gray beard tickles his round stomach, making him look nothing less than the humans’ idea of a wizard.
“Take the vampire! We must clear his memory,” someone shouts.
The larger teacher reaches a hand for Chad, who hisses, teeth bared, in his direction. He falters, hand still hovering close to Chad but not close enough to touch.
“George!” Mrs. Tate’s face is as red as a boiled beet. “You’ve overstepped every line your ancestors have ever drawn, but bringing a vampire here of all places? Do you understand what you have done?”
“Yes,” I tell her plainly. It is difficult to pay her much attention, because three other witches, who move cautiously toward Chad, try to help capture my boyfriend. Between the witches and Abraxon, who moves like a sickness in my stomach, clearly excited by this confrontation, I’m beginning to feel ill.
“You have nothing else to say?” Mrs. Tate asks.
The commotion has caused student witches to peer out of the frosted-glass windows of the academy’s main building. I see the outlines and shadows as more join to watch a witch with a vampire in a place that no other supernatural knows exists.
But here I am, with Chad, and I am not being stopped now. Not when I must to see Elder Jane and save our beloved town.
Long nails pull at my skin as Mrs. Tate grips hold of me. My yelp is conjured from my own surprise, not pain, but Chad doesn’t know that. Quickly, he breaks free from the witches who’ve encircled him, and he’s by my side. His eyes glow like fresh blood on snow, his anger directed at Mrs. Tate, who stumbles backward.
“Stop your… friend, or we will be forced to intervene,” Mrs. Tate spits. Glowing flames tickle to life across her hands.
I clap my hands, forcing the air to enhance the sound. It gets the full attention of the surrounding teachers.
“We are here to see Elder Jane,” I announce.
“Not happening,” a younger teacher says, his eyes narrowed at me. “We cannot put the elder in danger.”
“You really believe I would bring danger to my own school? To Elder Jane?” I ask, trying not to laugh at the stupidity of what he said.
“At this point, George Alcott, we don’t know what you are capable of doing,” Mrs. Tate replies.
She has a point, Abraxon chuckles. And they are never going to let you through unless you persuade them…
That is against the code, I reply.
You’ve broken rules tenfold at this point. Do it again before more witches come to restrain you both.
Abraxon is right. If this is going to work, I need to act fast. Even so, in this moment, I don’t want to admit it, but I don’t really know what I’m going to do about this mess.
I will help, Abraxon whispers to me.
The teachers’
shouting ceases almost immediately as I look up to them. I catch my own reflection in the eyeglasses of one who stands close to me. Black eyes look back at me.
“I am here to see Elder Jane. I command you all to let us through,” I say, invoking as much trepidation as I can muster. Chad is still and silent beside me, but I sense his confusion. He doesn’t understand what I’m doing. “Now!”
Abraxon’s own voice mimicks mine from within, filling every vein in my body with his presence. His power is both deadly and intoxicating. His words are my own just as mine are his. Together, in this moment, we are truly one.
But it ends almost as quickly as it began. The group of teachers rock backward, their gazes settling back into the real world.
“Come with me,” Mrs. Tate says. “I am taking you to see Elder Jane for this. The rest of you return to your classes.”
Not a single teacher resists what Mrs. Tate says. In fact, they hardly look at Chad or me again.
“Follow me,” Mrs. Tate says.
I grab onto Chad’s hand as we follow Mrs. Tate toward the academy and through its main doors. With each footfall, I feel that this will all unravel badly, but our guide does not snap out of the persuasion I used against her.
On and on, we walk. Chad’s wide eyes scan every possible inch of the academy’s innards. He is the first vampire in Hillcrest’s history that has ever stepped into the academy. And he is sure making the most of absorbing every detail. After this, I know he will have a multitude of questions for me—questions I will gladly answer if we get through this alive.
I don’t count on being able to use my magic on Elder Jane. She is different to me. She means… more. Silently, I warn Abraxon to leave her alone, and in the same breath, I order him to leave me alone while I deal with her.
We reach her office door before I register that we’ve moved this far into the academy. It is open. Elder Jane leans against her desk as if she’s been waiting for us.
“That is far enough, Mrs. Tate,” Elder Jane says from across the room. “Leave the boys with me. Please return to your class for the meantime.”
