“Hi. Oliver Mortimer. They call me Ollie even though I’ve been asking them to stop calling me Ollie for the past six years. It makes me sound like a cartoon character on a show for toddler’s.” They sat side by side. Ollie had never been so close to a mage or a shifter before. Yet, the guy was a puzzle.
“What’s wrong?”
Ollie gripped the hem of his tunic, almost removing the stitching from his constant rubbing. “Well, Mr. Reid, you look like one of my teachers and not at all like a powerful magic user who can also meow and chase birds.”
Alistair leaned back and laughed. Ollie got the impression it wasn’t something he frequently did.
“I used to be a normal mage, until a run-in with a nasty witch changed my life. I used to be a vain young man and lots of women pursued me. With so many to choose from, I dated a lot and this one woman thought I would marry her. But she wasn’t the one I cared for. I liked her roommate.”
Ollie held up his hand. “Don’t tell me she put a spell on you?” This Reid guy was fascinating!
“Yes, yes she did. I haven’t been able to reverse it. No one has. My shifting ability has given me a newfound respect for all living things. I have seen other perspectives, learned firsthand what animals must do to survive.”
“Can I ask how long you’ve been able to change?”
Alistair swiped at his chin, a prickle of awareness brushed across his shoulders. “Over two hundred years.” He hoisted himself to his feet.
“What’s going on?” Ollie joined him and began to clear his throat. “What is that smell?” He followed Mr. Reid onto the grass when he peered straight down the property to the front of the house. Over twenty cars had been parked in the cul-de-sac. His coven lived in the immediate area and they traveled here on foot. “Do you know those people?”
People climbed out of the vehicles. Some were dressed in robes. Others had on black dresses and wore pointy witch hats. Ollie spotted a bunch of hunter-types complete with swords at the ready. Apprehension blossomed before morphing into full-blown fear as apprehension dawned on him.
“They’re not here for trick-or-treating, are they?” he asked, his voice almost childlike.
Alistair took hold of his forearm. “You’re not like them, Oliver. I’ve seen that you’re not. I will spare your life. If you want, you may live and train with me.” He wiped some sweat off his forehead. “I’ll protect you, but you must remain back here. I can maintain this shield. The one up front will give way in any second.” His voice cracked as he released his grip.
Stunned, Ollie took in the sweat on his face and the haggard expression now visible in his features. “Thank you. I always figured the werewolves would find a way to make the coven pay for taking their Alpha’s life.”
“You met Serenity?” he asked, surprised.
“Yeah. She crashed last year’s party, accused Marco of killing her mate. She took out four vamps. Then my parents attacked her. They let Marco finish her off. I was rooting for her,” he said, his tone sad.
A wall of light flashed in front of the house. The sounds of shouting vampires voicing concerns broke through the silence. Ollie jumped at the intrusion, accustomed to talking with Mr. Reid in relative quiet. His father yelled for the guards. Mom told the guests to go inside.
Alistair hurried him back to the warded gazebo before the fighting began. Ollie sat down on a bench and took the blanket Mr. Reid had found in the storage compartment under one section of seating. He wrapped it around himself to ward off the sudden chill.
Werewolves rushed out of the woods of his neighbor’s property and swarmed the backyard. Outnumbered, any vampires that remained outside were set upon by the vicious four-legged creatures. Screams rent the air, followed by the stench of blood.
His family’s coven was outnumbered and overpowered.
Alistair stood in the gazebo entrance, keenly aware and watching. Ollie caught sight of his fingers moving like he was counting, but he wasn’t. He was reinforcing whatever he’d put up — wards or spells or a combination of both. A young man ran over to them, his attention riveted on Ollie’s new friend.
“Master Reid! You’re back! So good to see you, sir. The one you sought has been subdued on the front lawn. They await your direction.”
In response, Alistair raced off.
Ollie jumped to his feet, but the young man threw him a look that dared him to try something. Despite the fact Ollie never hurt anyone or anything, he was already guilty by association, by his birth. Much of the magical community would always shun him. He drank the essence of people, could kill or make one crazed.
He’d never met a coven that had operated any differently than his own had. Alistair had lived as an animal. He understood what had to be done to survive. Vampires had animal tendencies. They were monsters, like the werewolves or any others who used excessive force.
When Ollie stood, he was alone. The fighting had ended and his house had begun to burn from inside. Tightening the blanket around his shoulders, he stepped onto the ground and began maneuvering around bodies and remains until her cleared the driveway. A group of Alistair’s friends encircled him. None smiled or offered ridiculous sayings or lewd encouragement. They stood in reverence of someone with incredible power.
Ollie realized Mr. Reid had put on an act for him when he said he couldn’t hold two shields. None of the vampires Ollie met knew the meaning of modesty.
Two shifters with claws at the ready held Marco down. The bloodsucker seethed, trying to break free and failing. When Alistair held a sword’s tip to his throat, he stared at the man and cursed him. Mr. Reid chuckled.
“I should have had them kill you instead of bleed you every day,” Marco shouted.
“You bastards enjoyed my blood. Do you know why I remained in your cell?” Alistair asked. “It was to pay your kind back for every wrong they inflicted. For each life they took.”
Marco quieted down. The spectators moved in closer. So did Ollie.
Mr. Reid nicked a piece of Marco’s neck. Blood flowed down the side and onto the grass. When Ollie surveyed the remainder of the front, he gasped. Coven member bodies had been lined along the front of the driveway. Some people took pictures of the remains in a respectful manner probably to catalogue them.
The teens looked dumbfounded from where they sat on the curb. A bunch of hunters kept watch.
“Just do it,” Marco urged. “You bore me, dude.”
Alistair’s laugh this time chilled Ollie. Coming from a dead person, that meant something. “I endured your beatings and the abuse. It weakened me so you and your buddies couldn’t get a clear sense of my power or what I was doing.”
Everyone seemed to lean closer still. Marco raised his head a bit. “What were you doing?”
With the sword, he dug a little deeper. “I ingested an herb spelled by a witch. The magic transferred to my blood. Whenever someone ingested my blood, it would begin to poison them. They also developed a yellowish luminosity identifiable to the ones who present now.”
About to argue, Marco laughed instead. “When the doorbell rang, I thought it was too late for trick or treaters. Don’t expect me to apologize.”
Mr. Reid cocked his head. “This is so much better than a candy bar. We know vampires are never sorry for their actions.” With that, he cut Marco’s head cleanly off his body.
The werewolves pressed in. Mr. Reid handed the sword to one. “He’s all yours. I request that his heart be buried in the woods behind this house. Marco must atone his sins to nature.”
They nodded their acceptance.
Ollie saw Alistair scan the group until he spotted him and began to make his way over. Halfway there, one of his group whispered something in his ear. Whatever it had bothered him, so the teen stepped out of the crowd and waited by the house.
When Mr. Reid joined him, he seemed tired. “Do you want to grab anything fro
m inside your home? You can stay with me. They’ll set fire to this house in a few hours.”
They walked across the blood-strewn lawn. “Is the coven gone?” Ollie asked.
Alistair put his hands inside his pockets. “All except three.”
“Which three?” After he said it, he knew.
“Your parents and sister are missing. Are there any secret tunnels or passages in your home, Oliver?”
About to deny having anything like that, Ollie shut up and raced through his memories. “I, I never saw it. Dad mentioned something about a special door in the kitchen. It might lead to a tunnel under the house.”
While he packed a few suitcases, Alistair remained downstairs, getting word out to the hunters and werewolves about the possibility of there being a tunnel. A half hour later, Ollie returned with his arms full. Mr. Reid took two cases and said goodbye to whoever milled about.
This time when Ollie passed by the stone wall, it didn’t bother him.
Mr. Reid looked over. “The property recognizes you as an ally.”
“Oh, good.” He fumbled his case and grabbed the handle. “This was a really strange Halloween. I’m glad it’s over.”
“From now on, Oliver, your life will never be the same. You’ll walk around wondering when your family will decide to strike. They will look at you as a traitor. I’m afraid you have no choice but to grow up now.” A twinge of regret was in his voice as he shot a short grin at his traveling companion.
Ollie shrugged. “That’s okay, Mr. Reid. Life with the Mortimer coven wasn’t easy. I had to look the other way too many times. Now I’ll have options to do something else with my life. I don’t’ have to be ‘the Mortimer son’ anymore. I want to learn more magic and live a good life. Besides,” he glanced up at the clear midnight sky. “there’s this girl I really like….”
Alistair laughed out loud, relishing the way it made him feel. Already, the air appeared changed. Death had cleared out, replaced by something he considered as hope. “There’s always a girl. I need to visit mine today to ask for her forgiveness. I had to go away unexpectedly, and might have to again someday considering an unknown future.”
They reached the front door and he once again repeated his earlier movements and unlocked the door. The light came on and Ollie entered, careful not to knock into anything with his luggage. Alistair followed, closed the door, and continued down the hall. The house sighed contentedly. The teen jumped.
“You’ll get used to that. My house is alive. She will protect you, as will my grounds. Let’s find a room for you. Do you prefer the basement or upstairs?” They stopped by the staircase.
After a brief look around, Ollie nodded towards the stairs. “Sunlight doesn’t bother me.”
“Great.” Alistair climbed up. “Welcome to your new home.”
With a contentedness he’d never experienced before settling in his body, Ollie took the steps two at a time. From now on, he knew Halloween would be a good day for him, filled with good treats. The tricks would remain in his old house, with the memories of his past.
Settling his belongings in a nice room, he glanced outside the window at the changing skyline. The darkness disappearing, honeyed yellows and oranges took over. This marked the beginning of his new, more normal life.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I based this story on the time I have spent in Montauk, along with my research. Thanks to Laureen Treacy for editing.
AUTHOR BIO
Laurie Treacy grew up in NYC and currently resides in the beautiful mid-Hudson Valley with her family. Living in an area steeped in supernatural lore and legends certainly inspires this author of YA and NA fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal & contemporary romance. Laurie enjoys urban exploring and photographing forgotten places. A proud Whovian and Studio Ghibli fangirl, she loves playing video games and binging K-dramas.
A member of RWA, YARWA, and FF&P, Laurie can be found online at www.laurietreacy.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/author.laurie.treacy/
Twitter: @llt806
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Blog: moonlightandmist.wordpress.com/blog/
Website & Newsletter Signup: www.laurietreacy.com
RAINE’S SECRET
Thea Valentine
Mafia princess, Raine Ricci, finds herself banned from the family. Her father, the Boss, forces her to leave everything she loves behind when her secret is revealed. Giving strict orders she finds herself across the country starting a new life. Two special men come into her life, bringing a sense of normalcy.
Years later, the death of her father, forces Raine to face the secret that has remained hidden for years. Now, she is forced to make a decision that could affect the rest of her life. Heartbroken by his death, he appears in her dreams. His personal hell is dark with evil lurking.
Going back home to take care of business from his death, Bobby and Tim make the trip back to ensure that she remains focused and safe. Strict instructions, by the new Boss, are given to her. Fearing for her life she finds herself getting out of town quickly. Stopping in a small town, she approaches the men about an adventure that catches her eye at a local cafe.
Halloween is a time for ghosts, goblins and all things scary. Raine talks the guys into a paranormal tour at a local haunted prison. Doubts fill their minds, but they agree. Investigating is not the only thing they have on their minds, offering her a delicious treat that she can’t resist.
Home from their adventure Raine discovers that some secrets will haunt you for life.
Prologue
Growing up with a silver spoon in my mouth, I was accustomed to having things my way. When it came to dating and men, popularity wasn’t an issue. Men flocked to me in ways that women were envious. One relationship after another, finding Mister Right remained a challenge. My Father was not able to control my actions. I went above and broke any code that pertained to men. Giovanni Ricci, my Father, was the boss for a well known Mafia family. So, yes, you could say that I was a true Mafia Princess. I wore that crown with pride. The boys protected me with their lives. They knew that my Father would make them pay if anything happened to me. I broke just about every rule that was written. The biggest one, that could of been broken, was secretly fucking my Father’s consigliere. Dante Milano was a handsome man. His olive skin was smooth, with deep brown eyes that shined like diamonds. Black hair slicked back and just overall he oozed with charisma and poise.
Keeping our relationship a secret from my Father was a complete no-no in the family. If he found out about Dante banging his daughter, you can bet that he would end up face down in the river with a bullet in his head. After months of a secret affair, bathroom fucks, snorting cocaine off my ass, we just couldn’t continue this relationship. Too many close calls, not too mention the other boys that were loyal to my Father. I love Dante and would never do anything to put him in harm’s way. If it meant that I would live the rest of my life without him, then that was what I needed to do.
A couple of months after we broke up I found out that I was expecting a little one. Dante was the father and I knew that I needed to tell him. We were supposed to meet in the parking lot of his club. Getting into his car I was nervous. Growing up around the Mafia you needed to be leary of the boys. They had the reputation of looking you in the eyes and blatantly lying to your face. Quite a few girls had gone missing when the boys felt the need to dispose of them. I knew deep down that I didn’t fall into that category because of my Father being the boss.
We both stared straight ahead. I knew if I looked into his eyes we would end up fucking right here. Even after our relationship had ended I craved for his touch. I fantasized about him taking me in every position imaginable. Before I could think any further he started to speak. “Raine, you know we can’t be meeting like this. If your Father even gets wind that we were seen together he will have me taken out.�
� Looking down into my lap, I knew he was telling me the truth. “Dante, I don’t know how to tell you this. I’m so scared. OH Dante, I’m pregnant. You’re the father.” I started to cry uncontrollably. This was making him very uncomfortable. He never did have a way of handling emotions. The only thing that I could get out of him is, “what the fuck is the matter with you? You know we cannot allow this baby to be born.” Still crying, I was able to force my plea. “Dante, I want this baby. This is the only thing I have left of you. Please don’t take this away from me. I will just tell my parents that it was a one night stand and I don’t know who the guy was. I know my Father will call me a whore and a bunch of other names, but it would clear you. They don’t have to know anything. Besides us, my sister is the only one that knows you’re the father. Then again she knows that you and I were seeing each other. She is my best friend and I trust her with my life.” I could tell that he was becoming quite agitated as one slip up and everything would be ruined. “Raine, you have somehow managed to screw things up. I can’t even do anything because of your Father. We are connected. Heed my warning, Princess, you as so much peep a word of this to anyone other than your sister, you best believe that I will handle it my way. That includes making sure you’re sister’s mouth stays shut. This may cost me everything I have and even my life. I will make you pay for opening your mouth. You will learn the meaning of loyalty. Right now your loyal to me. Got it! Now get the fuck out of my car before someone sees us together.” His stern words stung a bit.
Driving home from our meeting, I replayed everything word for word. I knew that what he said he meant. I just needed to make sure that my sister wouldn’t say anything and my story was straight. My Father would see right through the lies if I wasn’t careful. He was trained to detect liars. You don’t make boss by being walked on by people. The Ricci Family was well known in the area, respect was given no matter what the cost. Dante knew that he couldn’t do anything without my Father retaliating against him. He should just be thankful that I love him as much as I do or it would be the end of the road for him.
Tricks or Treats: An Anthology for Charity Page 33
