by Celeste Raye
“What’s your name?”
“Jazz.”
The woman’s eyes went alight, and it was clear that she remembered her. The name was somewhat different, after all. It stuck in your head, like music.
“Yes, I remember you. I remember the day you were born. It was strange because you were the only one that was born that night. It was the middle of a storm, and I doubt that most people could even get there.”
The recognition made her hopes soar. Jazz had to ask questions, even though she was still standing on the stoop in front of the house.
“Do you remember who my parents were?”
That got another look, but this one wasn’t so pleasant. The older woman was remembering something and by the look on her face, it wasn’t good. She wrinkled her nose and then said she remembered her mother.
“She was there alone for a time until after you were born. I asked about the father, but Linda didn’t want to talk about it. It seemed to upset her, so I figured that he wasn’t in the picture. It wasn’t as common as it is now, so it worried me. But then her sister came, Marl I think her name was, and then I was pushed out of the room. Marl took care of everything.”
There was a distant look on Darla’s face. “Your aunt had a very clear idea of what she wanted to happen to you. She told me that her sister wasn’t ready to have a child and that she wanted to give it up for adoption. At first, I wanted to talk to her about it, but Marl refused. Said it would just hurt her more. Then I blacked out for a while. I can’t remember anything else, and I woke up on the floor. Linda was gone, and so were you. I always wondered what happened to you.”
“Well, I went to a place and I was adopted. I guess my aunt got her way.”
That gave Jazz a lot to think about, especially because whoever had gone to see her at the college had said that they were her aunt. Did that mean that Marl had been there to see her?
The sickening feeling was back, and now Jazz was sure that she knew what it was that had given her the surge of power. It had been her mother that had done it. Jazz wasn’t sure how she felt about it.
Darla finally invited them all in and offered them some tea. The men had been quiet the whole time, and Dennis asked her if she wanted to stay for a while. Jazz agreed that she did because she had so many questions to ask. She knew that it was a lot to ask of a person’s memory, but she knew nothing, and every shred of information would make her feel less alone. She didn’t need confirmation from her aunt; she just knew deep down that it was her mother that had passed on such strong powers.
“Did you happen to catch their last name? I don’t know what all I can do with first names, but I am sure that there is something that I could do to track them down if I had the full name to go off of.”
Darla sat down on the couch and thought about it for a moment. “You know, I can’t quite remember. I think it was Sting, or Stain. It started with an ‘S.’”
“Was it Stein?”
Dennis asked the question, and Darla agreed that it was the name she remembered. Jazz didn’t know how he would know such a thing, but by the look on his face, it wasn’t good news.
“Stein, huh? Well, I have a name now. Thank you, Darla. You don’t know how much help you have been. I wish I would have tracked you down earlier. I wouldn’t have thought to even look for you.”
She looked to Dennis and mouthed a thank-you. Jazz was over the moon with all of the information she had collected. Not only had Jazz gotten a good description of what her mother looked like, but she also had a name. Her whole name.
Linda Stein.
It sounded like a good name, but Jazz was quick to find out that it wasn’t that simple. Dennis knew the name of her family and he had gotten even more sour-pussed than he had been before.
“So, are you going to tell me what you know now?”
They were getting into the car, and he looked at her for several moments.
“Are you ready to hear some news you might not want to hear?”
She shrugged and got in the middle. Jazz didn’t debate it. She got in on Dennis’s side, and she knew that she had unconsciously already made her choice. Josh hardly said anything and was an uncomfortable third wheel. He was handsome, but it was Dennis that was for her. She didn’t know why, but Jazz knew that Dennis was the one that she was supposed to be paying attention to, and she was.
“I guess.”
“Why don’t we wait till we get back? You’re probably going to need a drink for it.”
Jazz would have thought he was joking, if he wouldn’t have been so serious about it. She was nervous what that meant, but there was no time to worry about it. Josh was asking her a question, and she was trying her best to answer him.
“Yes, I think a drink would hit the spot right now.”
Chapter Ten
“You look innocent, Jazz, and I worry that you are going to learn something here that is going to change that.”
She scoffed. “You really don’t know me, Dennis. Trust me; I am not delicate.”
She said that, but even as the words were escaping her mouth, telling him that she was tough, there was a part of Dennis that could see the vulnerability inside of her. It was clear as day, and he didn’t want to tell her what he knew. Dennis knew what had happened to her family, and he didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but she said she wanted to hear it.
“Part of the reason I have such a negative view of witches is because of your mother and aunt. We met them not too long ago, and I have to tell you, it wasn’t pleasant. Your mom was in a bad situation I think, keeping up with her sister. Your aunt, though…”
Dennis was trying to think of a way to say it without embellishing and making it worse. Her aunt was evil. The mom, he didn’t know. What she did to her other daughter seemed bad enough. This was worse. Jazz knew that she was abandoned by her real mother. At least she knew she was a witch.
“So, you met my mother?”
Dennis didn’t know how much he should say. The more that came out, the closer she got to the evil that was her aunt and her mother. Dennis was thinking of the stories that he’d heard about the two witches and the orphanage. It wasn’t going to be good for her to know all of that. They were monsters, and the Stein name was feared.
“Yes, I did.”
“And?”
She had this hopeful look on her face that Dennis found hard to ignore. She was excited to hear about them, but he knew that soon the face that was smiling in front of him would fall. It would be all his fault.
Josh tried to pipe in, but Dennis sent him away. He was done arguing with his younger brother. He hadn’t said it out loud, but Dennis had already claimed Jazz. She was going to be his, even if it took some time.
His brother made a big deal when he was kicked out, but Dennis couldn’t be bothered by it.
“I don’t want to be the one to tell you this, but they were bad, Jazz. I don’t know how else to say it. They are old and have done some very bad things. You’re nothing like them.”
“Very bad things? Like what?”
Dennis stopped to think of one thing that was bad, but also bad enough that it would be enough. Maybe she would hear about the orphanage, and then she wouldn’t feel the need to know anymore.
“There were four or five Stein witches that were sucking children’s life force to stay young. I don’t think anyone knows how long. We know it has been hundreds of years though. There is no way of telling how many children’s lives had to end.”
It was too much. Dennis saw it almost immediately, and he went to her. She was swaying a bit, and he cursed himself. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said it like that. I just want you to know that if they are your family, you’re far better off not getting to know them.”
Her blue eyes were clear as day when she looked up at him. “I never knew.”
“Of course, you didn’t. You are good. I saw that almost immediately. You have a light around you that they did not. It doesn’t matter where you came from. Yo
u’re powerful if you’re a Stein witch, and it’s a good power because it’s in you.”
It was what she needed to hear; of that he was sure. Her thoughts did not go through to him, just her feelings. His protection of her wasn’t just physical. Dennis wanted her to be okay emotionally as well.
His lips searched hers out because she was so close. It felt natural, just another way to make her feel better. Dennis wanted to take all of her stress and worry away. It started so innocently, yet it was turning into something else almost immediately. As much as Dennis had come to her with good intentions, the next thing he knew, her body was melted against his, and desires were coursing through him.
Dennis pulled away when he heard the whimper that came from between her lips. His need grew immediately, and he knew that he had to pull back. It was too much for his senses, and it wasn’t right.
“Sorry, Jazz. I don’t know what came over me.”
He put more distance between them, and Jazz was looking at him confused. It was hard for her to understand what made him change his mind so quickly. She didn’t want him to and made her thoughts known.
Jazz tried to pull him down for another kiss, but he was already gone. Her eyes opened, and she pouted for a moment, her lips quivering and her body trembling as well.
“Where did you go?”
“I’m right here, Jazz. I think that is enough story time for now, don’t you?”
He could see that she was remembering what started it all, but he fought the urge that told him to kiss her again. He couldn’t. She would know just what a kiss from her had meant for his body. Dennis didn’t want her to know.
His brother popped his head in, and their eyes met for a moment. “Josh, why don’t you show her somewhere where she can lie down? I think Jazz needs a minute, and then we can decide what to do next.”
Josh was shocked that Dennis was allowing him to go with her. He thought that it was his older brother’s way of relinquishing his silly hold on her. But Dennis saw it differently. He’d been so worried about Josh before, but how could he be? Not after the connection that he’d felt with her.
Dennis waved him off because he didn’t want to talk about it. All he wanted to do was rethink everything. He had known that Jazz would be trouble; he just hadn’t realized in what way. Now that he did, he needed to talk to some of his brothers.
Frank was stunned to hear what his older brother had to say. Then he was laughing.
“Why are you laughing?”
Dennis looked irate because he didn’t see anything humorous about the current situation.
“I mean, here I am leaving town with my crazy witch wife to keep her family drama out of it and now we find out that we’ve had a Stein witch among us for years? You don’t see the irony in that?”
Dennis still didn’t want to see it. It was a difficult situation, not a funny one. A meeting needed to be called, and they needed to come together and finally end Marl.
“I see it more as a shit-show, Frank. That is all it is to me. I don’t find any humor in it. What are we going to do?”
“We? You’re the Alpha now.”
Dennis scoffed. “It’s just like you to put this all off on me. You’re rolling around with your mate and don’t care about the rest of us.”
Frank smiled and didn’t deny the accusation. “She has certainly put it into perspective. You need the same thing.”
Dennis didn’t meet his brother’s eyes. He was afraid that he would see too much, and it was easier if he didn’t get into that. Not until he knew what it was.
“I am not worried about love; I am worried about another damn run-in with the Stein witch. Marl is the last one, and she’s the worst. Her power is concentrated, and she’s desperate. We need to figure this out, and fast.”
“Josh already told me.”
Dennis paused and then looked at his brother. “What did he tell you?”
Frank grinned a little bigger. “He said that you’re hot for this chick. For a witch.”
He added in the last part because Dennis had been so against his brother hooking up and then mating with his now-bride. He had been against Connie from the start, but now he found himself in similar circumstances. But Jazz was different because she was already part of the pack.
“Josh needs to shut his damn mouth. I don’t want to hear anything about it, brother. You know that there isn’t a way to make this easier, so yeah, there is some truth to it. I’m drawn to her. It doesn’t make sense, you know?”
Frank agreed. “You have no idea how much I know how you’re feeling right now. Go with it. We will take care of the rest of her family. You know that Connie is going to want to meet her. They are sisters. Isn’t that special with witches?”
Dennis knew that it was. He hadn’t even gotten that far yet. He was still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that she was a witch, a Stein witch, and he wanted her, no matter what she was. That was what surprised him the most. He had made mistakes in the past when it came to love, and Dennis knew that he wasn’t going to do it again.
“Bring Connie over, and we will introduce them. I knew that it was going to be a good idea to call you home. You’ve been missed.”
His hand was batted away. “Don’t get all sentimental on me now, Dennis. You were just getting to be the Alpha. What did you say, no feelings should be involved in some decisions?”
Dennis groaned and tried not to be too aggravated. He didn’t want to hear his own words being used against him.
“Maybe I should take it back. I’m not glad to see you home.”
Chapter Eleven
Jazz laid down for several hours because whether she wanted to admit it or not, the man’s words had affected her. She came from evil, and that was hard to get her head around. Her mother was dead, and from the sound of it, only her aunt was left. Her aunt who was pure evil.
It was a lot. Jazz stared up at the ceiling for hours, and when sleep finally came, her brain just digested it further in her dreams which turned into nightmares where she turned bad. It was so easy of a transition that Jazz woke up breathing a little harder.
The knock on the door was expected, and she thought it would be Cali. When she found Dennis on the other side of it, she wasn’t sure what she was supposed to say. The kiss came back and she felt her cheeks getting hot just thinking about it.
“Good morning, or rather, late afternoon. You haven’t come down, so I wanted to make sure that you’re okay. Cali was asking about you because you never came back.”
She smiled and then mumbled something along the lines of good morning back to him. Jazz didn’t want to face anyone right then, but Dennis was someone that it didn’t apply to. She wasn’t going to focus on the kiss. She was going to focus on something else.
“Sorry I have been hiding up here. I don’t know what to say about all of it. It is just strange, you know? I knew I was a witch, and I didn’t know where I came from, but that was easier.”
“I am sorry I told you.”
“No, don’t be. I came here wanting to know answers, and I have gotten them.”
“So, what now?”
She shrugged. Jazz hadn’t gotten that far. Her mind was filled with too many other things. His presence was also making it hard for her to think straight. He had such control over her, and he was acting so blasé about it. At least he wasn’t eying her like the enemy, even though apparently, she was just that.
“I don’t know. I guess I have to move on with my life.”
“You’re thinking of leaving?”
His voice got higher, and she looked over at him. “Yes, what else would I do? I don’t belong here. You said that when I first arrived, and you were right.”
“No, I wasn’t right. It just took me some time to get used to it.”
“You hate my kind, Dennis. Just admit it. And now that I know where I come from, I don’t blame you.”
Dennis moved closer, pulling her into his arms. “I could never hate you, Jazz. You belong here, an
d you will be safe here. I will make sure of it.”
“I don’t want to bring this problem to you. It’s too much for anyone to take for another.”
“We’re going after them with you here or not. There is also someone that I think you should meet. Your aunt is not the only family you have left.”
Jazz wasn’t sure about the last part, and she finally met his gaze. “What do you mean?”
“You have a sister. She’s downstairs, and she would like to meet you.”
Jazz pulled back from his embrace and asked him again. “I have a sister?”
“Well, half, I would imagine, but she’s Linda’s daughter.”
“Is she…”
Jazz didn’t know how to ask Dennis if her sister was evil. How could she get the words out?
“She isn’t bad if that’s what you’re wondering. She is actually married to my brother. You weren’t the only one that has a lot to deal with, and I think that it would be good for the two of you to talk some of this out. You shouldn’t run off, not like this.”
Jazz felt the pain washing out of her. Hope was replacing it, and now she could breathe again. She wasn’t alone, and just because of who she was didn’t mean that she was going to turn evil.
“Come down and meet Connie. She really wants to meet you. It wasn’t that long ago that she found out she was a witch.”
Jazz didn’t know what to say. “How would she not know?”
“She was spelled and lied to. It’s a long story, and I will let her tell it. Stay for a while. With your aunt running around looking for you two, you are going to have to stay. Together we are strong, and your aunt is a powerful adversary.”
Jazz hadn’t even known that she had an aunt a few days ago, so it was hard for her to feel like she was an adversary. Although, when she had been in the same building with her, all she had felt was bad vibes. She wanted to get away from her long before she knew who ‘she’ was.
She agreed to go down and meet her sister and was thankful that nothing else was presented to think about. Dennis hadn’t mentioned what was going on romantically between the two of them. He wanted to, she could see it in his face, but Jazz was also thankful that he had not mentioned it at all. She couldn’t discuss that right now.
