Something Witchy This Way Comes

by Veronica Blade

  “Sure.”

  She stopped and looked over her shoulder. “Goodnight, Hayden.” I’d swear there was something more in her eyes, like she wanted to stay in my room with me. Sadly, I was too catatonic to pursue it.

  * * * *

  By the end of Wednesday, Tessa and I had practiced until we could easily do everything Chait asked. I would’ve been more impressed though if Chait had asked for something more complex — like levitating my own body. But at least we managed the easy stuff. And we weren’t as exhausted when he left.

  I wanted to keep an eye on Tessa at all times, but I needed to delay being discovered as long as possible. Luckily, David or Rena didn’t return to Delia’s. So each night, I hung out while Tessa worked, then followed her home after her shift and parked my car around the corner. She’d sleep with Bree and I’d hide in her room until the next morning when we’d confirm her parents weren’t around.

  I would’ve preferred Tessa stay in her room with me, but I let her have her space. It went against my impulses and I hated it. But pressing her to be with me would alienate her and I’d have to sleep at my own house. Without her. I’d be even more miserable. Worse, I’d worry about her.

  Even if she lay next to me, it’s not like she would’ve let me do anything. And that would drive me nuts. As if her scent all over the bedding didn’t already drive me half mad.

  I intended to see what she was doing Friday night when she informed me she had to work. I began to hate Delia’s, because I had to share her with all her customers.

  Yep, I needed to go to that party Saturday night to lose myself with some willing girls. Would Tessa be okay while I was gone? Maybe I’d leave for only a couple hours, just to prove I could be away from her.

  I knew there’d come a time when we’d be in danger, but that time wasn’t now. She was still a newbie and no one expected her to make any decisions. Yet.

  Friday night at Delia’s was uneventful. Chait showed up but he was alone and didn’t stay long. We went to her house after her shift then said good night and slept in our usual spots.

  “We have to find a way to run every day,” I said as we stretched against the chain link fence early Saturday morning.

  “You could but I don’t think I can. Hard to do when you’re raising a child. They have needs, like eating and getting to school.” Tessa snorted. I usually hated it when girls did that. So unfeminine. But with Tessa, it was cute and endearing.

  “Where is Bree now?” I asked.

  “My mom’s watching her. Correction. My mom was in her room with the door closed while Bree sat alone in front of the TV.”

  I wasn’t touching that. But I figured it was less about watching TV and more about the mom shutting out her child. “What time does Bree usually get up? Around seven, right?”

  “Usually earlier, why?”

  “We could do our run every morning before she wakes up, while your parents are still there. We’d have to get up pretty early but it’d be worth it.”

  Tessa stopped stretching to stare. “I hate you. I really, really hate you.”

  I laughed.

  “Thank God that won’t work. These days, my parents are never home, not even early morning.”

  At least we could run on the weekends. “That’s enough warm up. C’mon. Let’s run.”

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Tessa

  “Could we do a drive-by and check on Bree before we train?” I asked Hayden. We’d planned to go straight to his place after our run. I hoped he wouldn’t be irritated at the detour.

  “You think something’s wrong?” Hayden asked. “You seem more worried about her lately.”

  “I always thought that deep down, my mom loved us. Now that I know better, it feels wrong to leave Bree with her so much. Not that I think she’s in danger or anything but…”

  “You don’t want her around the black hole of emptiness. It’s not really out of our way and it’s not like we’re in a hurry.” He signaled to turn and doubled back. “She can come with us. I bet she’d have a blast watching us spar. Maybe I could teach her a couple defense moves.”

  “Really?”

  “Sure, why not? She’s a good kid. If she gets in our way or needs some attention, you’d probably appreciate the break from me whipping your ass anyway.” He snickered.

  I wondered how it could feel so right with Hayden and yet be so wrong. It was a constant struggle, every hour, every minute to keep my feelings in check.

  Not that I was winning that battle.

  I hoped he suffered as much as I did. But as smoothly as he’d handled things all week, I figured he’d gotten past the stage of wanting to sleep with me. He probably realized that he could never provide for my needs or Bree’s and decided not to hit on me anymore. We’d settled into a routine and got along well. That was it. I knew he liked me and, if I threw myself at him, Hayden being Hayden, he probably wouldn’t refuse.

  I told myself it was good that he wasn’t coming on to me anymore.

  “Here we are.” Hayden exited the car with me tagging behind.

  Mom was in the kitchen cooking, but I didn’t see Bree. A television blared from somewhere, but since the one in the living room was off, the noise probably came from the one in Bree’s room.

  “Hi, sweetie,” Mom called out. She had been more absent than ever these past few days. In fact, I hadn’t seen her since our confrontation over Zoe. She’d been staying out later, if she came home at all, and slept in until after I’d gone to school. By the way she greeted me, our fight the other day had been swept under the rug. Back to business as usual.

  “Hi.” I set my purse on the counter.

  “Oh, hi, Hayden.” She returned to stirring something in a pot that smelled like beef stew. No gushing over him this time. She probably realized that trying to impress someone who’d witnessed our earlier conversation would be impossible. Good. “I wasn’t sure what you were doing tonight and the babysitter has plans, so I arranged a sleepover for Bree at Jackie’s house.”

  “Okay, thanks.” Why was I thanking her for being responsible for her own child? “I was going to take her to Hayden’s house with me now. What time is the sleepover?”

  “Five. Can you drop her off?”

  “Sure.”

  “We could bring her pajamas and stuff with us now,” Hayden said. “Hang out at my place for a bit, then maybe go to the park or go swimming. Later on, we’ll drop her off at Jackie’s straight from my house.”

  Wow. I wanted to kiss him. “That sounds perfect. I’ll get our stuff.” I turned to go then stopped abruptly. “Uhm, Mom? I haven’t seen Dad in over a week. Does he still live here?”

  My mom laughed, a nervous high-pitched noise. “Of course. Why would you ask that?” She hadn’t even glanced over her shoulder to make eye contact with me or Hayden.

  I didn’t bother answering. Motioning for Hayden to come, I went to Bree’s room. Something told me he’d rather follow me than be alone with my mother.

  Bree squeaked in delight when she saw Hayden. Apparently, whatever made him irresistible to women didn’t discriminate against age. She eagerly gathered her things and we left.

  At Hayden’s mansion, he led us down the endless corridor to the gym. He swung the door open and switched on the light. My mouth fell open. The humungous room could fit my entire house inside it. Mirrors covered the majority of the wall space. In the far corner were weights and near that, a punching bag. Along the next wall were hung dumbbells, ropes, nunchucks and some long bands — I couldn’t fathom their use. In another corner sat exercise machines in pairs, from treadmills to ellipticals. In the center were yards and yards of space to spar, with a large, thick mat right in the middle.

  “Why did you bother taking me to the karate studio when you have all this?” I asked. “We could’ve avoided the whole kidnapping fiasco.”

  “I think they would’ve gotten you eventually. And anyway, I figured you’d be uncomfortable here in my house since you didn’t seem to l
ike me much.”

  Bree didn’t need us to entertain her. She didn’t need us at all. From the moment we stepped foot in the gym, she’d dashed off to explore, but not before I rattled off a warning to be careful.

  Hayden and I got in a good amount of practice before Bree decided she wanted in. He taught her a blocking move he’d taught me, then we wrapped it up and strolled to the pool. Hayden found some floaties for Bree. Since I didn’t have a bathing suit, I stayed out and watched.

  * * * *

  “Are you sure you don’t want to go to Skyler’s party?” Hayden asked outside the bathroom while Bree changed into her clothes.

  Now I kind of wanted to go, especially since I only had a few more minutes with him.

  “Positive. And thanks, by the way,” I said in a tone that meant I didn’t really mean it, “for telling Nadia and Corinne about it. They’ve been bugging me to go with them. They’re relentless.”

  “Maybe you should listen to them,” Hayden said as the bathroom door opened.

  “Are you coming with us?” Bree asked Hayden.

  “No, midget. You’re doing a sleepover at Jackie’s. Maybe next time.” He patted the top of her head.

  “Let’s go,” I urged Bree. It had been so long since I’d driven my own car, I’d almost forgotten it existed — and that it was parked at Hayden’s.

  He followed down the driveway. “Hey. You should go tonight. You might have fun.”

  I smiled. God, I was going to miss Hayden. I’d spent practically every minute with him for days. He’d become a habit. I hoped after a night away, I’d miraculously see there wasn’t anything compelling about him after all.

  “No. I’m not going. But we can run in the morning. Eight-thirty?” I got behind the wheel. I had no plans to go anywhere, though it was Saturday night. I had a book I wanted to get back into. Maybe I’d read it in another tub full of bubbles. A much better choice than subjecting myself to the temptation of Hayden.

  “See ya.” He closed my door and backed up toward his house.

  * * * *

  My key slid into the lock of my front door. Someone was inside and it wasn’t my mom or dad. Not David, not Chait or Rena and it wasn’t Phillips or Linton. Someone else. Someone familiar and yet not familiar.

  A sorcerer. The energy was unmistakable — a pulsing, vibrating swell of power that permeated my being. I stopped to text Hayden, then changed my mind and put my phone away. Whoever it was knew I’d sense them. They didn’t bother with a Blocker or anything fancy. They weren’t trying to hide.

  I opened the door, but stayed on the porch in case my instinct turned out to be off. Something tickled my nose. Orange blossoms? Reminded me of… my grandmother.

  Just then, images rushed me. The time Grandma took me shopping for my birthday. Instead of asking her to buy me the same gadgets my friends talked about and coveted, I insisted on getting every color of pen I could find, along with tons of paper so nothing would ever come between me and writing the stories in my head.

  Grandma was supposed to be dead. Who else could project the images? I’d practiced reading pictures with Frank and Lila so I knew the difference between a first-hand memory and one a sorcerer had seen from someone else. The shopping memory arrived to me crystal clear, not faded or distorted like a copy. It had to be Grandma’s way of letting me know it was her.

  What if it was a trick? I cautiously made my way over the threshold and to my room. The wood floors creaked under my feet with each step. “Who’s there?”

  My bedroom door seemed to open a few inches on its own. “Tessa, come in.”

  No, it couldn’t be. I held my breath and opened the door the rest of the way. A woman stood in the shadows and ran a shaky hand through her short blond hair. She was exactly how I remembered. Except younger. My eyes blurred. “Grandma.”

  I launched myself at her, my purse falling to the floor with a thump.

  “Oh, Tessa.” She wrapped her arms around me and stroked my hair. “I’ve missed you so much.”

  “I thought you were dead. Does this mean Zoe’s alive too?”

  “No sweetheart. You know she can’t be. You saw her. Remember? She can’t come back.”

  “But you came back.” I nuzzled into her neck.

  “Only because I never really died in the first place.”

  I hugged her tighter. Grandma was supposed to be dead. If she was hiding in my room with the curtains drawn, she wanted everyone to keep thinking that. How long could she stay without risking too much? However long, it wouldn’t be enough.

  I relaxed my hold and withdrew to look into her eyes. “What’s going on? Are you on the run?”

  She gave me a sad smile. “Yes. I only have a few minutes.”

  Grandma probably wouldn’t be able to return to me any time soon either. I’d need to memorize everything about her. “You look younger than Mom. Hard to believe Mom and Dad never noticed. Or me, for that matter.”

  “Of course they did. But you were much younger and had other concerns. I told them I had a very talented plastic surgeon.”

  “I don’t care how good he is.” I shook my head doubtfully. “No way can he make a sixty-something woman look this good. No way.”

  “There are ways to make yourself look older. I worked in a movie studio for a while and learned how to do makeup.”

  Ah, that explained it. “So we age at a different rate than normal people. Which means I’m going to look like I’m seventeen for, like, another twenty or thirty years?”

  “No, dear. You’ll reach maturity like anyone else. Then everything slows down.” She chuckled softly. “Sometimes, I don’t know whether it’s good or bad. If I date a non-sorcerer, I look ridiculous dating someone my own age. I’m forced to date younger men.”

  “Grandma!” I giggled. I needed to get as much info from her as I could before she had to leave, but it felt good to be able to joke with her again.

  “I’m teasing.” She laughed and hugged me again, tighter. “I’ve missed these moments. You have no idea how much.”

  “Well, if you weren’t so busy being a cougar.” I snorted.

  “I wish.” Grandma sighed heavily. “But I don’t stay in one place long enough to date.”

  “Why did you fake your death?” I asked when she’d loosened her grasp and I could breathe again. “And why are you hiding?”

  “I can’t even begin to cover everything. But I’ll try.” She sat on the bed, taking me with her and slinging an arm around my shoulder. “I’d made my choice. I was naïve and believed anything they told me. As the years passed, I rose in the ranks. The more I discovered about our leader and his operation, the more I realized I had to disappear. With my knowledge of their organization, the only way out was in a body bag.”

  “Which side did you choose? Fawn texted me earlier to set up a time to meet Boris’s people at Headquarters, but I haven’t answered. I need to answer her soon.”

  She rose and wandered about my room. “You know about the rival groups, Jane’s people and Boris’s?”

  “Hayden filled me in a bit,” I said.

  “Is he your boyfriend?”

  I snorted. “Very definitely not.”

  She glanced at me over her shoulder, a smile playing at her lips. “But you want him to be.”

  My gaze fell to the floor. “He’s not boyfriend material. But I don’t want to talk about him. I need to know which side you chose.” And if trusting Chait was a huge mistake.

  “Boris.”

  My instinct had steered me well. “I had a feeling choosing them would be wrong.”

  “That depends on how you look at it.” Grandma turned and leaned against the dresser in front of me. “Boris is extremely powerful and skilled at manipulation, which makes him dangerous. But Jane’s side has some undesirables too — usually spying for Boris. Even if they aren’t on Boris’s side, sometimes people have their own agenda. If Jane were the greatest leader in history, she’s still only as good as those backing her up.”


  “You make both sides seem scary. If you had it to do all over again, who would you choose?”

  “I’d hold off as long as I could. I don’t know… maybe I’d run. But I wouldn’t choose Boris.” Grandma roamed the room.

  “So you’re working with Jane now?” I asked.

  She stopped to lift a framed photo of her and me in happier times. “Yes. But as much as I’d love to say that you can rely on all her followers, I can’t.”

  “Which means I can’t trust either side.” My shoulders slumped.

  “While Boris is in control of that faction, none of us are safe. Take your meeting with his people but do it in a public place, somewhere you feel comfortable.” She slowly returned the photo to its spot, her gaze fixed to it as is if reluctant to let the memory go.

  “I will.” I nodded. “What happened to Zoe?”

  Grandma pursed her lips a moment then returned to my side and sat. “Since I wasn’t there, I can only tell you what I heard.”

  “She didn’t choose Boris’s side.” I held my breath and paused a beat before my next words. “You think… you think he killed her?”

  “We’re not so easy to take out, but not impossible. Because of the perpetual war between factions, we generally don’t go out alone, opting to stay in groups of three or four. Zoe—”

  “Chait was over at Hayden’s the other night, by himself.”

  “I guarantee he wasn’t alone. Just because you didn’t see anyone…”

  What Grandma said made sense. Very likely, Chait hadn’t told us everything. The thought filled me with angst. Should I continue to trust him? “Go on. Tell me what else you know about Zoe.”

  “She still lived with your parents, which left her unprotected. Ideally, you don’t choose until you’re over eighteen when you can leave your parents. You go straight to your people where there’s safety in numbers. Zoe knew that and kept her loyalties to herself. But they watched and figured it out.” Grandma searched my face, resting a hand on my cheek. “You have to do better than Zoe did. You can’t show any favoritism. Make both sides think they’re ahead of the game. You only have a month before you turn eighteen. They’ll wait, so long as they believe you might choose them.”