Legacy of Secrets 01-Cursed Secrets (13 page)

“No. It’s reasonable to think if you’re going to spend your life with someone they should understand there are some things you just can’t give up. I wouldn’t be able to give up running. That would be the one thing I couldn’t live without. Hell, I couldn’t go out for a few days and I was going through withdrawals. I say don’t sell yourself short for someone who can’t see you for who you really are. That’s what I would want anyway.”

“I’m glad you think so. Now what else are we to do?” he asked so innocently I couldn’t help but laugh.

“You really are going to make this terrible for me aren’t you?” I asked as he pulled me into his lap.

“No ma’am. I’m going to do my best to make it as enjoyable as possible,” I squeaked as he picked me up and carried me to the bed.

“Be gentle, I’m afraid I might break something if you get me too excited,” he barked out a laugh and buried his face in my hair.

“Have I ever told you that your scent reminds me of wine? Perhaps that’s why I favor it more than before,” he propped himself on one elbow.

“Have you come to favor anything else since you met me?” I beamed.

“Your lips,” he let out a seductive hiss and bent to kiss me.

My entire body turned to jelly at his touch and I lost myself in the moment. His lips on mine, his hand tangled in my hair, mine in his shirt, rolling on the down comforter in pure bliss was exactly where I wanted to be.

“Do you have to go? You couldn’t postpone your trip a few more weeks?” I yawned.

“I’m afraid not. If it were possible I would, though,” he pulled me into his chest and I sighed.

“Well you’re going to text or call while you’re gone, aren’t you? I might need a distraction from my house guest,” I shuddered.

“I will if I can. Sometimes the business keeps me busy. If you didn’t want her to come why did you agree?”

“I’m not sure really. I’ve been alone for so long sometimes I feel so detached from everything. Like the world is spinning at warp speed and I’m stuck watching it all. It would be nice to have a connection to someone. Not to mention I can’t talk about you
with
you, that would just be weird,” I giggled.

“Oh? And what would you say to her that you couldn’t say to me?” he challenged.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I bit my lip and he chuckled.

“I would, but unfortunately it’s almost dawn and I’m afraid if your grandparents catch me here it would be hard to explain.”

“That it would. Thanks for coming over,” I played with the fuzzy hair at the back of his neck, he trembled.

“It was my pleasure,” he bent to kiss me. My lips were quivering when he finally broke away.

“I do believe the pleasure really has been all mine,” I answered breathlessly.

“Perhaps, but wouldn’t
you
like to know?” I shoved him playfully and he laughed.

“Come on, I’ll walk you to the door,” I grabbed his hand and felt myself beginning to deflate.

“I won’t be gone long, just over the weekend. Don’t be sad, Lia.”

“I’m not sad,” I shook my head.

“That’s not what it feels like,” he tugged me closer.

“Well I’m not. I get this weird nervous feeling when you’re not around. Does that sound about right?” What I didn’t say was how all my happiness went out the door with him and I was desperately afraid I’d lose him.

“Okay, I’ll buy it.
For now
,” he cupped my face in his hands touching his lips to mine one last time.

“Good night, Christian. Be safe,” I breathed.

“Goodnight, Lia. And I’m always safe,” he whispered against my lips. His emerald eyes pierced mine. It wouldn’t be long; he didn’t like being away from me either.

I pushed the door shut, squealed inwardly, and raced to my room. His scent was everywhere and I drank it in. His lips were like magic. My entire body was buzzing, but all the extra energy exhausted me. I crawled under my covers, smiling, and sank into the darkness of a dreamless sleep.

Christian

My thirst was almost painful when I left. So many times she was exposed, but I didn’t want her blood. Actually I did want her blood, but for entirely different reasons. I wanted to claim her, to make it so no other man could touch her, but that wasn’t right. She deserved better than to be blood bound. Once I got back from Pennsylvania, I would claim her in every human way and leave the rest up to her. That was fair.

Satiating my thirst was…difficult. Every person whose blood I drank didn’t seem to replenish my energy. Possibly I’d exhausted myself being near her for too long, but it was worth it. I gulped down elixir when I arrived home and eventually my strength returned.

Gathering all the ingredients for the spell and the talisman, I set out to the old house she called home. It was virtually abandoned. The appointment with the realtor was the following day and it took all of my patience to wait. Of course I wouldn’t buy it, but that would give me an excuse to go inside. A little compulsion would cease any interruptions and I’d be free to piece together the past.

I made it to the house well before the realtor. The car I rented smelled like leather and stale bread, but it was fast and showcased my best quality; wealth. I leaned against the hood, staring up at the house. There wasn’t anything special about it, aside from its history. The vinyl siding looked new, as did the roof, but it smelled dusty and a bit like rotted wood. Every sense was screaming to turn away, but I had to know what happened. I had to see if there was a way to help her.

A shiny black beamer pulled into the gravel drive and a very top heavy woman emerged. She was much shorter than I, with platinum blonde hair and unnaturally plump lips. Her expression portrayed surprise, but when she smiled I realized her face didn’t actually move. Botox wasn’t good for some people, I shook my head.

“Well, you must be Mr. Mason. You spoke to my boss on the phone. My name is Carrie Fontaine. It’s fabulous to meet you!” she shook my hand animatedly and I smiled.

“The pleasure is mine. I will be sure to thank your boss for sending such a
fabulous
hostess in his place,” I beamed and her ceramic face flushed.

“Oh, well that’s much too kind of you. So shall we begin? This house doesn’t seem like much from the outside, but the inside is spectacular!” she led the way, swaying her hips dramatically. It took everything I had not to laugh.

“It certainly has character. Did anything interesting ever happen here? It looks quite old,” I watched as she carefully turned the key in the code lock, giggling nervously.

“Not that I’m aware of, but there’s a lot of history in this town. Did you know the Quakers settled here themselves? Isn’t that just amazing?” she added, avoiding my question.

“Mmhmm,” I waited for her to invite me in and we set out on the tour.

She chatted almost nonstop, but eventually I cornered her in the downstairs bathroom and compelled her to keep to the ground floor. She was also instructed to tell anyone who showed up or called that I was using the facilities, but not to mention anything other than my interest and, of course, my money.

I found the master suite and reluctantly crossed the threshold. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. I could sense the death. Quickly, I arranged the room per Austin’s instructions, donning the talisman last. I lit the candles counterclockwise and placed myself to the southernmost part of the circle. I sat and began reciting the incantation.

             
Da mihi tutum iter, mihi temporis et loci, da mihi, quae evenerant hic. Adiuva me, serva me, exaudi orationem meam

             
Da mihi tutum iter, mihi temporis et loci, da mihi, quae evenerant hic. Adiuva me, serva me, exaudi orationem meam

             
Da mihi tutum iter, mihi temporis et loci, da mihi, quae evenerant hic. Adiuva me, serva me, exaudi orationem meam

The room swirled in fog and I kept completely still. Any movements or sounds could alter the past and change everything. Glimpsing this moment was forbidden by most accounts, but I wasn’t a sorcerer so that law didn’t matter to me.

Shapes swirled as the view came into focus. I saw the wolf killing the man, Lia’s father. Then I saw her mother, confused at first, until realization slapped her in the face. She pled, slipping in her husband’s blood, for the wolf to stop. She screamed over the man’s body, shaking with tears. The wolf lunged and shortly after the woman was dead.

The wolf shuddered and whimpered. It made odd jerky movements toward the closet on the far side of the room. Amazingly, it opened the closet door with its paws and stared into the darkness. First it was startled, then angry, then surprised before the shrieking began. I had to fight not to shield my own ears, but it soon stopped. The quaking beast twisted into odd angles on the floor, gnashing and tearing sounds filled the room.

A man emerged and slowly approached the closet. A very faint pulse filled the space between them. His outstretched hand almost touched her when his words rang out,
Lia, I will not hurt you
. Followed by other words I couldn’t make out. She started screaming again and he jumped back, seeming to battle with himself before turning from her and shifting back into the wolf.

The vision dissipated and I sat there stunned. I knew that man, but I couldn’t place how. The question ate at me as I prepared to leave. I released Carrie from the compulsion and invited her to my hotel for dinner. When one couldn’t hunt, the food must come to him.

After drinking from and compelling Carrie once more to leave and forget me, I settled in at my computer. The entire evening I’d been chewing on the identity of the man, only to come up empty. My only option was to contact Austin and hope he would know more information. My phone chimed.

             
How is your trip? –Lia

             
It’s progressing. How’s your sleepover? –C

I meant to call her after I arrived, but I was so wrapped up I’d forgotten. Something was wrong with the entire picture.

             
Not bad actually. I just wanted to check on you. Would you mind running with me when you get back? –Lia

             
Sure. I’ll let you know when I get home. I’ll call you later. Let me know if you need anything. –C

Austin buzzed in through Skype and I explained the situation. I left out no details. He rummaged through files and papers I couldn’t see as I explained what the man looked like. After several photos of men I didn’t know he abruptly stopped searching and sat hard on his chair. He stared at me, wide-eyed, for several minutes. He didn’t speak, but instead he held up a picture. I leaned forward in my chair, eyes glued to the screen.

“Yes! That’s the man! Why does he look so familiar to me? Who is he?”

“It’s Josiah” his face paled.

“Holy Christ. What does this mean? How did he know who she was?” I asked in a whisper.

“You said you saw her mother pleading? She was alive?” he swallowed hard.

“Yes, she acted like she knew him, but I couldn’t make out what she was saying. What are you thinking?”

“I…I think she’s his daughter. From what you explained it seems logical. He comes to find her mother with another man, takes his revenge, than finds Lia. It explains how her mother knew him and how he knew Lia. If that’s the case this has just gotten very complicated. She’s part werewolf, Christian. To be more specific, her father is the last known hybrid in existence.”

My throat felt thick. A werewolf? A hybrid’s daughter? I cursed under my breath. Everything changed so quickly. Shutting off the ache in my chest, I told Austin my plan. Since we knew the severity of the situation, her survival meant more than anything else. No matter what I wanted or how badly I wanted it, the only way to keep her alive was to pretend like I felt nothing.

Lia

I was surprised that I had a good time with Leslie. It felt good to talk to someone, but I couldn’t ignore the apprehension. Being friends with her was awkward, to say the least. The dream didn’t surface and I wasn’t any more of a freak than normal. We got off to a slow start, but eventually we ended up laughing and dishing about boys, celebrities, music, and such.

I couldn’t ignore the nagging sensation that something was wrong. Christian hadn’t contacted me in almost two days or returned any of my messages. It was odd. For Leslie’s sake, I pushed away the anxiety as best as I could. I was sure she could feel the tension, but was nice enough to let it go.

On Sunday she left, promising things would never go back to the way they were. She apologized for the thousandth time and we exchanged numbers. As soon as she was gone, I raced to my room and stared at my cell phone, willing him to call me. Whatever was going on was either really important, or just more important than me. Different scenarios popped into my head of him parading around wherever he was with various types of women or conspiring to stay as far away from me as possible after crossing the line he’d drawn.

I shoved the craziness away and did the only thing I knew would help- run. It had been four days and my body was so tense I felt like a giant rubber ball. Dallas was gone, the neighbors were sure to have heard about what he did and they’d watch for me. I suited up, kissed Nana and Pops, and sprinted from the back door.