Cauldron of Ash

by Dorothy Dreyer

  “Bye, Laurel. I… I hope you’ll be okay. Please look after Rascal for me.”

  She lifted her head. The smallest of smiles showed on her face, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Sure. You too.”

  My chest felt as if it was hollow. I wanted to hug her and tell her I wished her well. I wanted to give her my contact information so she could call me. I wanted to tell her to tell Killian goodbye for me.

  Oh, God. Killian.

  He’d made me promise not to leave without saying goodbye. But how was I going to do that? There was no way my parents were going to let me out of their sights. Rascal tried to run toward me, but Laurel picked him up, my chest tightening at the sight.

  With heavy dread, I dragged my suitcase to the door of my room and followed my father to the stairs. I kept turning my head left and right, scanning the halls and the doorways, but there was no sign of Killian. As my father carried my suitcase down the stairs, I held on to the hope that Killian would be near the door to see me off, but we reached the main floor, and he was nowhere to be seen.

  Principal Grayson stood at the entrance with a paper in her hands. “Mr. Darkana, here are the stipulations of our agreement. Her assignments will be sent via email. You are to send me an update once a week on Reagan’s progress, and I will make rounds every other month for a check-in during the term of her sentence. If all the points are followed to the end of term, there will be a board meeting with your family to decide if Reagan will be allowed to be taken off house arrest.”

  My father took the paper, handed it to my mother to put in her purse, and then nodded to Principal Grayson. “Yes, of course. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding, Principal Grayson. We’ll be in touch next week.”

  She nodded to him in return, and then she spared me a glance. I wasn’t sure if it was anger or fear or pity.

  We left the building, and as the door shut behind us, my heart went into overdrive. Our car sat in front of us, and my father opened the back door for me to get in. Before I did, I turned in a slow circle, taking in the school and its surroundings, searching for Killian. Could he be watching me through a window? Could he be lurking in the woods to get a glimpse of me? Would he rush out the front door for our promised goodbye?

  “Reagan, let’s go,” my father said.

  Tears formed at my lashes, but I ducked my head to hide them from my parents. They would be outraged if they found out I was crying over a vampire. House arrest would be the least of my worries. Without a word, I slipped into the backseat.

  My father slammed the door and got in the car. My mother glanced at me over her shoulder, but I turned away, gazing out the window as my father started to drive away.

  As we made our way down the driveway and out the gates of the school, I felt my heart sink. This was what I’d wanted. I’d wanted to go home, and now I was getting just that. But this tight pinch in my chest meant that Killian actually meant something to me. And as much as that scared me, knowing I might never see him again scared me more.

  Chapter Twenty

  Dear Diary,

  House arrest. My worst nightmare came true, I mean it could be worse I could be in Wildwoods jail. But for the past week I’ve been holed up in my parents’ house. The tension between me and my parents is unbearable. That’s why I’ve kept inside my room every chance I get. My mother is avoiding me at all costs as well. Every time we sit down for dinner, she’s not there. Dad makes up excuses, but I see through the lies each time. I know she can’t bear to be in the same room as me. She sees me as a traitor for getting close to Killian. At just the thought of his name, my heart tightens. I miss him more than I’d like to admit. After being near him every single day at school, being without him for a whole week hurts. I want him close, to talk to him, to figure out what the hell is going on. But that’s never going to happen because there’s no way I can see him again. Not only because of the school situation with Christine, but also because of my house arrest and the fact that we can’t be together. My parents would disown me, my coven would make sure that I suffered for the rest of my life. I’m royally screwed.

  The worst thing about house arrest is that it gives me every minute of every day to think. Yep, as if I weren’t already suffering enough, I have so much time on my hands. My teachers send me homework each day, but I smash it out within a few hours, which leaves the rest of the day to sit in this dark room and feel sorry for myself. To try and figure out what happened that day in the woods. Who that dark figure was and why Killian was acting like he knew more than me. What was he keeping from me? Speaking of the dark figure, I’ve been having nightmares about him every night. They feel so real, like he’s…

  A knock at my door caused me to stop writing. I placed my pen down and shut my journal. My father walked in with someone behind him; he smiled briefly and stepped aside. I jumped off the bed. Whitney?

  “I thought you could use a friend,” my father said. “She can stay over tonight since it’s already late.”

  I smiled at him as he closed the door. Whitney dropped her bag down at the head of my bed.

  Whitney pulled me in for a hug and I let out a huge sigh. Exactly what I needed, my best friend. Without being able to use my phone journaling was great, but having a friend here to talk to was even better; at least she talked back. We sat down on my bed.

  “So tell me everything, from the moment you walked into that school to the last moment and don’t you dare leave out a thing,” Whitney said as she stretched out on my bed, resting her face in her hands. She looked up at me, batting her eye lashes. I laughed for the first time in a long time. This right here was what I missed most. Propping my hands behind my neck, I leaned back into my pillow.

  For the next hour I told her what had happened—everything, including Killian. Whitney was the only person in my coven who wouldn’t judge me. She had her own issues with falling for the wrong guys, so I knew she wouldn’t hold it against me. She was a part of our coven, and we had known each other since we’d been born. Our mothers were best friends. After I finished with my tale, silence filled the room.

  “Oh my God, Reagan. I can’t believe all this has happened. To lose Miranda and then a fellow classmate? You must be at your wit’s end. How are you holding up?”

  I lowered my head and fiddled with the hem of my top. “I barely am.”

  Whitney placed a hand on mine.

  “My whole world has turned upside down. Everything’s changed since I… since I killed Miranda. I’ve changed. I’m a monster.”

  Whitney pulled me in for a tight hug, my head rested on her shoulder.

  “No Reagan, you’re not a monster. It wasn’t your fault, you’re not a bad person at all. Your friend Christine, that wasn’t your fault either. You even said, she hit her head. That’s what caused her death. Not you.” Whitney reassured me. We stayed silent for several minutes until Whitney pulled away.

  “And this Killian guy. I need to meet him to see if he’s as hot as you’ve mentioned.” She raised her eyebrows up and down.

  As I wiped away my tears, my cheeks felt hot. It was a nice respite to not concentrate on the tragedy, but instead think about Killian. “The thing is I don’t think you’ll ever be able to meet him. He’s, uh, he’s a vampire. You know the rules. Plus, I don’t know if I can ever see him again. It was doomed from the very start.” I threw my hands up in the air.

  “Well, it’s a good thing your father invited me over then, so we can have a slumber party. Seems like you need a distraction.” She leaned over the back of my bed, pulling something out of her bag. She spun around, throwing a dozen bags of suckers and chocolates. My eyes lit up.

  “We’re so watching an action movie, too. Something that won’t make you think about what’s happened or about the lover boy.” She walked over to my TV cabinet and started flicking through my movies. She pulled one out and spun around with a huge grin. “You up for some sexy Paul Walker?” Of course she would pick The Fast and the Furi
ous, one of my favorite movies.

  “I thought you didn’t want me to think about lover boy,” I joked.

  She threw a pillow at me and laughed.

  We settled in with our snacks between us, watching the movie. Halfway through, I glanced over to see Whitney had fallen asleep. Typical. She never could stay awake through an entire movie. My eyes started to droop closed.

  I could feel myself drifting off. I could hear Killian’s voice. Calling me. I wanted to go to him, but I couldn’t move.

  “Reagan,” Dream Killian said. “Help me!”

  A loud bang shook me awake. Whitney jumped up next to me.

  “What the hell was that?” she whispered, grabbing my hand tightly.

  I looked around in a panic, trying to pinpoint where the sound had come from. Another loud bang rung through my room. My gaze darted toward my window. My curtains were drawn open. Something hit against it again and again. I couldn’t see a thing from my bed, as it was pitch black outside.

  On shaky legs, I stood up and walked toward my window. Something was banging against it. I squinted my eyes, trying to look out. Nothing but blackness greeted me. I looked down at the outside sill and found a couple shells of the limodangious nuts scattered on it. My breath caught in my throat. I leaned back and turned around, a sudden shiver running through me. Something knocked against the window again, and I jumped back. A palm laid flat against my window. My heart started beating fast. Who the hell’s out there? I felt something touch my hand, and I swore.

  “Don’t sneak up on me like that. Someone is out there.” I snapped at Whitney.

  “Oh my God!”

  I shushed her.

  “Who the hell could it be?” she whispered. “Could Killian have gotten out to see you?”

  I considered her words for a second, but then I shook my head. No way he could get out and see me. Could he? I glanced back to my window to see the hand had now disappeared. Maybe it had been Killian?

  I let go of Whitney’s hand and reached up, flicking the lock to my window. I had to know if it had been Killian. Whitney helped push the window up. Cold air blew into my room and I instantly shivered. Taking a deep shaky breath, I stepped forward and leaned out my window. At first, I couldn’t see a thing, just darkness. Then the next second someone was in front of me and I screamed.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  I stumbled backward, colliding with Whitney, and we both tumbled to the ground. I hurried to get to my feet, grabbing Whitney’s hand to help her up. When we looked back at the window, there was no one there.

  “Tell me I’m not crazy,” I said. “There was someone there. Wasn’t there?”

  Whitney was shaking, wrapping her arms around herself. “Yes. I saw it. Who was that?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know, but I have a strange feeling I’ve seen him before.”

  “When?”

  “Remember I told you about that punishment we had, when I had to go track down a bush in the woods?”

  Whitney’s eyes widened even more. “That was what you saw? Seriously, that’s creepy.”

  We both inched closer to the window, holding on to each other for security. We scanned outside but didn’t see anyone or anything. Just tree branches waving in the wind.

  “Let’s go out there,” I whispered. “Maybe whoever it was went around the corner.”

  “I thought you couldn’t leave the house.”

  “Technically, I can’t leave the block. The Council was at least generous enough to let me get some fresh air if I need to. So, you with me?”

  “I don’t know,” Whitney said, narrowing her eyes. “Sounds dangerous.”

  I rubbed my hands together. “We’re not exactly defenseless.”

  Whitney bit her lip and nodded slowly. “Okay, but do you think we can get past your parents?”

  I put an arm around her. “You know, you really were the best in the coven to perform a cloaking spell.”

  A small smile appeared on her face. “Okay. But remember, it only lasts a few minutes before we’re visible again.”

  “All right. We’ll be fast.”

  Whitney and I snuck into the dark hallway. We could hear my parents in the living room watching something on television. My father’s snores drifted out toward us, so it was likely we could get past him with no problem, but I wasn’t sure what my mother was doing or how alert she was.

  I turned to Whitney and nodded. She returned the nod and held her hands on my arms. Closing her eyes, she began mumbling the cloaking spell. I felt a tingle make its way over my body. One moment I was looking right at Whitney, and the next moment she was gone. I looked down at my own body and was pleased not to see it. She was so good at the spell, but she was right—it would only last a few minutes.

  She still had her hand on me, so I took her by the wrist, and together we headed for the front door. As we snuck through the hall by the living room, I spotted my mother. She had her phone in her hands and was concentrating on that. Whitney and I made it to the front door and I slowly turned the knob, grateful when the door didn’t make any noise opening.

  Once we were outside, I whispered to where I thought Whitney’s head might be. “Let’s go left.”

  It made sense because my window was in that direction.

  “Why would that creature from the woods be looking for you?” Whitney asked as we searched.

  “I don’t know. But now that I think of it, Killian always seemed to be extra worried about me. Like he knew I was in danger. Maybe he knew this creature was looking for me.”

  “But then why didn’t he just tell you?”

  We both froze, spotting a moving shadow at the back of the house. We stopped talking, waiting to see the shadow move again. But everything was still and unmoving, so we ventured forward. Something touched my leg; I grabbed Whitney’s hand and held back a scream. Then I felt his fur on my foot. Rascal? I leaned down, picking him up, happiness bubbling inside me at the sight of him. How the hell had he found me? I placed him on my neck, and he nuzzled my ear. Whitney looked at me in question, but we didn’t have time to discuss Rascal right now.

  The light around us began to change. I didn’t understand what was happening. It was as if the sun was suddenly above us, flickering. But no, the flickering was in my head. It was the magic. It was the change in me and Whitney that was causing my vision to flicker. We were becoming visible again.

  “Crap,” I mumbled. “The spell is wearing off.”

  Whitney squeezed my hand. “Come on. We’ve got to go back. It’s too risky.”

  I wasn’t sure if she meant it was risky because of the possibility of my parents catching us or because of whatever it was lurking outside my house. It didn’t matter, though; she was right. We had to get back inside.

  We hurried back to my door, trying to keep quiet as our feet shuffled along. I did my best to turn the knob and creep inside quietly, but when Whitney tried to squeeze in behind me, her foot caught the leg of the side table by the door. The noise scared Rascal, who jumped down on the table, causing the vase on top of it to topple down.

  With a gasp, I reached out in a sad attempt to catch the vase. I missed entirely, and the vase crashed to the floor. Rascal squealed as he raced toward my room, as if he knew where it would be.

  It felt as if I held my breath for minutes, but I knew it had only taken my father seconds to spring to his feet and charge into the front entryway. He stood there, glaring at me, his face going red and his teeth grinding together. I was barely aware of Whitney whispering an apology right before my father’s screams exploded from his mouth.

  One hour later, I lay alone on my bed. Whitney had no choice but to go home, and not only did I have to endure house arrest, but I was denied visitors for a week. So much for catching up with my best friend. Rascal lay with me, which I was grateful for. He kept hidden when my parents were around, so they didn’t know he was here. And I had snuck him some scraps from my dinner so he
could eat.

  Fighting not to scream into my pillow, I took five minutes’ worth of deep breaths to calm myself down, determined to get a least a little bit of sleep. I must have drifted off because my dreams were filled with dark shadows and strange knocks against my window. I tossed and turned, covering my ears, trying to get the dreams to stop.

  But when I sat straight up in bed, I realized the knocking wasn’t from my dreams.

  Rain splattered onto my window. I threw off my covers and climbed to the edge of my bed, drawn to look outside. The closer I got, the faster my heart began to race. There was something out there; I knew there was. It wasn’t just hearing the noise from outside, it was a feeling, as if I was being silently called. But by whom? And why?

  I slowly stretched my neck out, leaning closer to the windowpane, reaching my hands out to move my curtains out of the way. I was barely able to swallow a breath before lightning struck and my window shattered into a million pieces.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Frozen in place, I didn’t dare move an inch. My body shook as I saw the broken glass shattered all over my bedroom floor. Rascal let out a squeal before he ran back to my bed and hid under the covers. Nothing happened for a good minute while I stood there in shock, and then suddenly someone was there inside my room. I held back the scream as he floated toward me. The figure that we had seen earlier, the one that I’d seen that day in the woods. He now stood in my bedroom with the hood of his black cape covering his head and face.

  I wanted to scream out to my parents, but something made me stop and wait. He obviously wanted something from me, but I couldn't figure out what. I watched him carefully as he lifted his hands, pulling back his hood. My heart instantly went into overdrive. His fangs were the first thing I saw, and then his dark, haunted eyes struck me. They looked pitch black, no life in them at all. His long hair was slicked back into a ponytail, and it went all the way to his butt. He had a scar that ran down the side of his face, from his right eye down to his chin that looked gruesome. Then something about him felt recognizable, as if I’d seen him before. From the way he carried himself, he had to be someone high up in the vampire ranks. Though it appeared as if he’d lived a long life the way he held himself. He still looked reasonably young, probably due to vampires not aging.