by Raven Steele
My hand tingled. I looked down, surprised. When I looked up, my eyes met Liane’s. She, too, seemed shocked.
“It’s done,” she said.
William turned to Boaz. “Want to be brothers?”
“No.”
“Let’s play a game,” Liane said, looking at each of us.
William leaned back and folded his arms. “If it involves a monkey, I’m out.”
I laughed. “Why would a game involve a monkey?”
“Ask Liane.”
I turned to Liane, waiting for an explanation, but received none.
“Let’s play,” she paused, looking at each of us, “Dare the Demon.”
“What’s that?” I held back the need to swallow.
“It’s simple really,” William told me. “We dare each other to do stupid things. You see, we are the demons.”
“Oh.”
“It will be fun, don’t worry,” Liane insisted. “Who wants to go first?”
“I will.” William looked around the room until his eyes settled on Liane. “Since this game was your idea, I dare you first.”
“Go right ahead,” she said through a mouthful of more food.
“I dare you,” he tapped his finger on the table and eyed Liane thoughtfully, “to take us to your most favorite private place.”
“Now, William, I thought you liked innocent games,” she teased.
William blushed. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
“Of course not,” she said and laughed. “As if you could ever mean anything like that. Fine. You want to see my secret place?” She closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath.
I waited anxiously. I was in awe of Liane and her straightforwardness. Her uncouth behavior was refreshing after the way I was raised. I wished I could be just like her.
Without warning, all the candles blew out, plunging us into darkness. Both William and I gasped at the same time.
Boaz didn’t make a sound, but his cool hand slid across mine. His thumb caressed my palm, sending chills through my whole body. Inwardly, I moaned. I enjoyed his touch way too much.
Just beyond the veranda, high in the sky, a dim light appeared and continued to grow as the walls of the home disappeared around us. A thick fog rolled in, blanketing the ground that was no longer marble but now appeared as dirt. Rising from within the fog, differently shaped stones took their places in rows stretching for as far as I could see.
“Amazing,” William whispered. “It’s a graveyard.”
I came to my feet and stared up in awe. The light in the sky had formed a full silver moon, and all around us were what looked like endless headstones, mausoleums, and statues.
Liane tapped me on the shoulder. “You’re it!”
She turned and scurried away.
William jumped to his feet. His chair tipped over as he ran in the opposite direction of Liane. I looked over at Boaz who was pulling his hand away from mine.
“Apparently, you’re it,” he said and walked away from me into the maze of statues and graves, gray fog billowing up behind him.
I giggled uncomfortably. I’d never played magical games like this before, not even with Madelyn. My chest heaved up and down, a growing excitement filling me.
I called out, “I’ll have you all know that I am the queen of sneakiness!”
Laughter erupted to my left. I headed in the direction, quietly stepping around old headstones and angel-like statues. Out of the corner of my eye, a shadow crossed where I had just walked. Someone was following me.
I continued forward, but when I passed a tall cross-shaped headstone, I stepped behind it and hid. Liane walked right by me unaware of my presence.
I reached out and touched her back. “You’re it!”
Liane screamed and jumped. “Oh, you little witch!”
She tried to follow me as I ran away, but I lost her in the fog. I ducked behind a stone mausoleum, smiling big and trying hard not to laugh. Sliding with my back against the wall, I inched forward to peer around the corner. Liane’s shadow was on the other side, walking up and down the rows of headstones.
“I can hear your heavy breathing, William,” she called.
I was about to cross over behind a statue when strong arms wrapped around me and pulled me through the iron doors of a mausoleum. The perpetrator pulled my back into their hard chest. Instinctively, I opened my mouth to scream, but a familiar hand closed over my mouth.
“Having fun?” Boaz’s voice whispered, his breath warming the back of my neck.
He kept his hand on my mouth. There was something about his flesh pressed to my mouth that made my lips part to taste him. Just barely, but he noticed. He dropped his hand, and spun me around to face him, his gaze intense and hungry, his fingers pressing into my hips.
I lowered my eyes, my face reddening. “How is she doing this?”
“Magic.”
“It’s incredible.”
“Not really, love. Look around, I mean really look, and you will see this is just a simple illusion.”
I reached out to touch a stone coffin lying inside the mausoleum. It felt solid. I pushed harder until the coffin dissipated along with the entire illusion. The lit candles returned, as did our table, which lay a short distance away. Not far on the lawn, William was hunched over in a ball. Liane was almost to him.
“Do you see it?” Boaz breathed, sending a wave of chills across my skin.
“I do, but it doesn’t make what she did any less remarkable.”
“It’s simple magic, just a trick of the mind. You would be able to do so much more with your abilities.”
I looked around. “I prefer to see the graveyard.”
“Then see it.”
I closed my eyes, counted to three, and opened them again. We were back in the cramped mausoleum, facing each other. I became very aware of his hands on my waist, the slight pressure where his palms pressed, and the heat it produced.
His gaze slid down to my mouth, and his lips parted. He stepped forward, closing the gap between us. The air surged with what felt like electricity, and intensified when his hands slid to the small of my back. I loved it, that power between us and wanted more.
Before I could stop myself, I pushed up on my tiptoes and pressed my mouth to his. His lips were soft as they moved against mine, slowly at first, but when my tongue touched his bottom lip, his grip tightened, and he pulled my body flush against his. He drew my tongue into his mouth and sucked it, then kissed me deeply. The bulge in his pants grew hard and pressed against my stomach.
My pulse beat so fast, I thought I might faint, but I didn’t want to stop. Days of being near him and not touching him had finally come to a head. I wanted him to spread my legs again like he had that first day, but I wanted him to keep going. To touch me there. To feel every part of me with his fingers and mouth.
“I’ve got you,” Liane’s voice echoed across the way.
I heard scuffling and then a loud grunt, as if someone had fallen over.
Boaz let me go, leaving me gasping for breath. I lowered my gaze, too embarrassed to see his reaction. Had I been too forward?
The illusion around us permanently disappeared. Liane and William strolled back to the table.
“You can be such a baby,” Liane said.
William dropped into a chair. “I don’t like graveyards. They’re for the dead, not the living.”
“I think they’re beautiful,” Liane replied. “I’ll just remember not to invite you next time I go.”
I returned to the table. Boaz walked behind me, his gaze somehow warming the bare skin on my back.
“Who would like to dare a demon next?” Liane asked, looking at each of us.
“I would,” I volunteered, surprising them all.
“And what demon would you be daring?” William asked.
I turned to Boaz. “You. Since the day I met you and Hunwald,” I glanced at Hunwald, who still sat just outside eyeing us carefully, “I’ve wanted to know who woul
d win in a race. I dare you to race Hunwald around your property, three laps, following the line of trees over there.” I pointed in the distance.
Liane laughed. “I love supernatural races!”
Boaz whistled at Hunwald. When the wolf jogged over, he said, “What do you say, boy? You think you can beat me in a race?”
Hunwald cocked his head.
Boaz stood. “I accept your dare.”
We all walked to the edge of the veranda where concrete met grass. Liane pointed at the division. “Here is the start and finish line. You must each pass it three times. The first one to do so wins.” She frowned at Hunwald. “Does your dog understand?”
Hunwald growled.
“He’s a wolf, not a dog,” Boaz told her. “And yes, he understands perfectly.”
“This ought to be interesting,” William said next to me.
Boaz and Hunwald both stepped up to the line. They looked at each other, and I swore I saw Hunwald smile.
“On your mark,” I said. “Get set, go!”
Hunwald and Boaz took off together, trailing the edge of the forest. We could just barely see them, two figures that looked more like they were out on a nightly run instead of racing each other.
Liane frowned as they both ran past us on their first lap. “You run like a bunch of old ladies!” she called after them.
Boaz looked down at Hunwald, grinned, and then was off. He raced near the line of trees faster than I’d ever seen anyone run, but when he reached his home, he jumped onto the stone exterior and scurried along it like a spider. Hunwald had also picked up speed and was right below him, his powerful hind legs propelling him forward. In a matter of seconds, the two became a blur as they raced around the final lap.
Liane burst out laughing, William snorted, and I just stared in wonder. When they both finished the final lap, they stopped abruptly at the edge of the concrete. There was no slowing down or screeching of feet. They simply stopped moving.
“Who won?” Boaz asked, not out of breath in the least. Hunwald, however, let his tongue hang from his mouth and panted heavily.
“Honestly, I’m not sure,” I said.
Liane clapped. “Perfect! A kiss for both winners.” She bent down and tried to hug Hunwald, but he backed away with a growl.
“Your loss, mutt,” Liane muttered and straightened. “I guess only Boaz receives a prize.”
She placed her hand upon Boaz’s chest seductively. As she leaned in to kiss him, Boaz’s eyes flashed to mine. Deep down, I wished he wouldn’t kiss her back, but I couldn’t bring myself to stop them. Instead, I simply watched as Liane closed her eyes and lifted her mouth to his.
Just as their lips were about to touch, Boaz put his hand up, stopping her. “I must politely decline as well.”
I secretly let out a sigh of relief.
Liane glanced back at me with a smile and winked.
“Whose turn is it now?” William asked. He lowered onto a chair at a decorative metal table on the veranda. Lit candles adorned its top. The rest of us joined him.
“I’ll go next,” Liane said, her eyes settling upon me. “Eve, you’re the demon I dare.”
Chapter 13
My stomach dropped as if I’d just been asked to speak in front of a crowd of people with no preparation. I could use magic, but after Liane’s impressive illusion, I feared I’d look stupid trying anything less.
“Choose someone else,” Boaz said. “Eve’s not feeling well tonight.”
I looked at Boaz, surprised. I appreciated that he was coming to my rescue, clearly recognizing I wasn’t prepared, but at the same time, it bothered me that he didn’t think I could do it.
I studied his face. His porcelain skin was void of any wrinkles, making it difficult to read his expression, but his eyes… they were filled with so much intensity I couldn’t look away. Maybe he was just trying to spare me.
“I think Eve looks fine,” William said.
“I agree,” Liane said. “You don’t need to cover for her, Boaz. If she doesn’t want to play, then simply say so.”
“I can play,” I said, still staring at Boaz, his gaze boring into mine. “What are you daring me to do?”
Boaz raised his eyebrows and smiled. My magic hummed inside me at seeing his approval. For some reason, I really wanted that. After all he’d done for me, I wanted to impress him.
“How about this?” Liane asked. “Since it’s your first time, you may do whatever you’d like, but it has to amaze us.”
“Deal.” I closed my eyes and inhaled a deep breath. Something amazing.
Under the table, Boaz reached for my hand. A surge of power flowed through me, giving me a shot of confidence. I gripped his fingers tightly and concentrated hard, focusing on the magic within me. It was right there, waiting on the fringes of my mind like some long, lost friend.
I latched onto my powerful friend, ready and eager to stretch forth her power. Just before inviting her in, I hesitated. It was a lot of magic I was about to invoke, more so than ever before. Is this really what I wanted?
Boaz's fingertips brushed against the sensitive part of my wrist, making my head spin as if I'd had too much to drink. He was dizzily intoxicating.
And I loved it.
I opened my mind and allowed power to surge through me. Surprisingly, I didn’t have to feel hate to conjure magic like all the other times. Instead, it was pride that invoked the power within me, for I knew in that moment I was more powerful than anyone here. I could feel it inside me as sure as I could see the silver light of the moon hanging just above the trees, barely a crescent. With this thought, I had a sudden urge to laugh as I prepared to show them my strength.
The candles blew out when I summoned a cold wind. It swirled all around us, lifting my hair off my warm neck. It felt amazingly good, and I squeezed Boaz’s hand; a burning heat passed between us.
I kept my eyes closed and imagined the concrete all around us sinking. I saw it in my mind, how the earth would open, where the concrete would have to break to preserve the home, and the depths to which I would take it. My destruction became a reality.
I didn’t move a muscle, not even to open my eyes when the ground shook, making the candle holders on the table fall over. Liane gasped and William swore, but I ignored it all and continued to focus on my desire to impress them, which only strengthened my magic.
In place of the stamped concrete, which was sinking quickly, I summoned water from the earth. It bubbled upwards at an alarming rate from every crack and crevice, filling the spaces. The burning intensity of my power seared my chest, but it was a pleasant feeling, one that spread throughout my body.
I opened my eyes and sucked in a deep breath when the water became level with the only piece of concrete left — the same space we sat on.
“It’s an illusion of water, right?” William asked.
“I don’t think so.” Boaz let go of my hand and stood. “Do you smell it?”
They inhaled deeply. I smiled, already knowing the truth.
“I think he’s right,” Liane marveled. “It smells like the sea.”
William leaned back on his chair. “All part of the illusion.”
“There’s only one way to find out.” Liane kicked his chair backwards.
William’s arms flung out as he tried to catch himself. A high-pitched girly scream tore from his lungs when he plunged into the murky water. He surfaced a moment later and doggy paddled in front of us, gasping for air.
“I can’t believe it's real,” Liane whispered. She bent over and skimmed her fingers across the dark, wet surface.
“A little help here?” William asked, breathing heavy.
Boaz reached out and easily lifted him from the water.
Liane grabbed my hands, smiling big. “I don’t know how you did this, but you must teach me.”
I shrugged, as though it was no big deal. “I just think about it, and it happens.”
She stared at me, mouth open. “It really is true what people s
ay about you.”
“What do they say?”
“That you will be an unstoppable witch and will transform this world. You’re amazing! I’ve never seen anything like it.”
I blushed but inwardly grinned.
“Well, I’ve had enough for one night,” William announced. “Can you please get rid of this water so we can go home?”
Liane slapped him on the shoulder. “You’re such a bore sometimes, do you know that?”
“Yes. Now let’s go.”
This time I didn’t close my eyes. I simply looked at the water and willed it away. A wave of energy passed over me as the magical power left my body. I kept my gaze on the water, making it recede just as fast as it had come. A moment later, after the earth shook, dirt and concrete moved back into position and fixed themselves where needed. Only a few minutes had passed, and the veranda looked unscathed. No cracks, not even a drop of water left behind as evidence of my power.
Except for William, of course. His clothes were dripping wet, and he was drying his hair with a cloth napkin.
Liane hugged me. “We’ve had such a wonderful time. Let’s do it again soon.” In my ear, she whispered, “He loves you.”
I looked at her, surprised. She nodded her head as if to say, “It’s true.”
“Do you have a towel I can take with me?” William asked Boaz.
“Of course.” Boaz walked through the open glass doors back into the ballroom. “Come inside.”
I followed everyone into the house, my body humming with magic’s dark power. I wanted to suggest that we all go do something, dancing maybe, or even hiking. I didn’t care that it was night. I needed a release.
“Are you sure you guys have to go?” I asked. “Maybe we could play a game? Or go—”
“Sorry, sweetie,” Liane apologized, her eyes flashing to Boaz’s. “But we can’t. We’ll get together soon, though. I promise.”
William patted himself with a towel he’d retrieved from the foyer’s bathroom. “Next time, let me know in advance any plans you may have of swimming. This suit was expensive.”
