WitchLove (25 page)

I love you
. His words appeared in my head, my heart. I drew back and wiped my lips, smiling. His soul was bare to me, and I saw the pain he’d been through, the regret, the loneliness. As a new vampire he had only shown me the thoughts he’d wanted me to see, but - for now anyway - he let me see everything, and I finally understood. I saw his fury, his jealousy borne out of complete and utter devotion. I saw how it had ripped through him and made him uncertain, insecure. I knew that he understood the effect of his choices. I sensed his determination to change, to overcome the jealousy, to make things right.

I reached forward and kissed him once more, my palm stroking his face as I too let my barriers down and let him sift through my memories. It was these memories, I realised, that would once and for all extinguish any remaining questions about Luke and me.

‘You kissed him?’ he said, pulling back, a smirk playing along the corners of his mouth.

I grinned.

‘Yeah, well everyone else seemed to think we were an item so…’

‘But you didn’t feel anything… he didn’t?’

I shook my head watching his confused emotions dance across his face.

‘Daniel, I may have fought it initially, but ever since I first laid eyes on you, there’s never been anyone else.’

I focused on our bond and gently rebuilt the wall between us.

‘Hey! It’s fine, I’m not bothered… I believe you,’ he said, panic flashing in his eyes.

I smirked.

‘I know, but you don’t actually think you’re going to have access to all my thoughts,
all
the time, do you?’

He smiled.

‘You can if I can,’ he said.

‘Nah… can’t think of anything worse; all those sports scores that take up so much space in your brain would drive me insane.’

‘But we’re okay?’ he asked quietly.

I nodded.

‘You can still feel me, right? You’ll still know I’m okay… wherever I am?’ I asked.

This time he nodded.

‘Good, then you won’t need to bother flying to New Orleans then.’

‘We’ll see,’ he said with a grin. ‘The other witch is arriving. I can hear her car on the drive.’

‘Me too. Okay, I better go. I was supposed to be packing a bag.’

‘Jess?’

I turned back and he pulled me back in for one last kiss.

‘Mmmm?’

‘Be careful, please,’ he said, letting me go.

‘Love you,’ I whispered then bolted from the clearing, my heart racing, a grin plastered across my face, the branches tickling my skin as I leapt through them, giggling.

Chapter Nineteen

I stood with Susannah, Franny and Aunt Sarah, looking out across the swamp and at the black forest of trees that seemed to loom larger as the light faded. Mist drifted like smoke among the dark silhouettes of the church tombstones, the air heavy with the scent of honeysuckle, jasmine and the murky swamp water - a smell of sweet decay that made me feel slightly nauseous. Everything was still, silent, apart from the deafening roar of nature surrounding us; the chirping of crickets, the low croaking of frogs. Not a single sound came from the church and yet we had witnessed the lights turning on some time ago. And there was no sign of Brittany.

‘Are you sure this is the place?’ Susannah asked.

‘It is. I can feel the magic heavy in the air,’ Aunt Sarah said quietly. ‘But we need to be sure Brittany is here.’

‘I think we should go with the original plan,’ Susannah said. ‘Jess and I can knock as if we don’t suspect them of hexing Brittany, but they will surely know not to mess with our combined power.’

‘I’m not sure,’ I said. ‘Just wait a minute and I could leap up to the window of the bedroom we were last put in, to see if Brittany’s there.’

My aunt nodded. ‘Okay, but be quick. We’re coming after you if you’re not back in two minutes.’

I set off and darted from our hiding place, crossing the church driveway and leaping into the nearby cypress trees. It was an easy jump to the window ledge of the bedroom, but it was empty. I returned to my aunt.

‘It’s empty, and the entire upper floor is in darkness,’ I said.

‘Back to plan A then,’ Susannah said.

‘What if we just sneak into the house, rather than knock on the door?’ I asked.

‘No. If they catch you breaking in, they have all the rights on their side. It’s their property and the Council won’t be able to protect you,’ Franny said.

‘Come on then. Let’s get it over,’ Susannah said, linking her arm through mine.

‘Girls, any problems and you get out of there. Understand? I know you are both perfectly capable of protecting yourselves, but if you can’t find Brittany, or you come up against black magic, just get out. We’ll be watching and if you’re not back here in fifteen minutes, we’ll follow you in,’ my aunt said, pulling Susannah into a quick hug.

We both nodded.

‘No heroics, okay?’ Franny added.

As we reached the door drumming started up, making us both jump a little.

‘What the hell?’ I asked.

Susannah raised her eyebrows, but lifted her hand and knocked all the same.

The drumming got louder, the beats sending rhythmic vibrations under our feet and into the earth.

‘They’re in the cellar,’ I said. ‘Maybe they can’t hear us.’

Susannah lifted her hand and knocked again, this time louder and harder. The hinge creaked as the rotting wood gave way under pressure and the door swung open. I looked at Susannah and she looked back. The hallway was well lit, as were several rooms that branched off it. We could see straight through to the back kitchen, where I knew the entrance to the cellar was.

‘Should we just go in?’ I asked.

Susannah shrugged. ‘Maybe I should get Mom first.’

I looked down the corridor and listened.

‘Can you hear her?’ Susannah asked. ‘Or smell her?’ she added with a grin.

I shook my head. The scents and sounds here were so intoxicating and heavy that it was impossible to differentiate one from the other.

‘I can smell humans… and witches, but we already know her grandmother is a witch so…’ I shrugged and listened. ‘Look, I’m faster than you, so I’ll just nip into the kitchen and see if I can hear any better there,’ I said. ‘You sneak round the side and see if you can see through the cellar window. Last time, I found the window at the back was partially uncovered.’

She nodded and set off round the side of the church, sticking to the shadows and gesticulating to her mother across the road, who we knew must be watching. I stepped into the hallway and a sudden gust of air whipped past me, slamming the door shut behind me. I darted to the side panelling and flattened myself against it, melting into the shadows, but nobody came. I held my breath; it felt safer and I tiptoed down the hallway towards the kitchen.

The drumming had increased in speed and volume and a sudden wailing accompanied it. I darted into the kitchen, wishing the lights were not blaring out and exposing me to anyone who happened to suddenly enter it, but nobody was there. I neared the cellar door and this time I smiled as I fingered my lucky mojo bag in my pocket, because it had been left slightly ajar. I crept nearer and tried to tune out the ceaseless drumming and wailing. I concentrated, listening for anything that might give away my friend’s location.

A light tapping on the window behind startled me and I flew back into the shadows, staring at the window. Susannah’s dark dyed head popped up from outside and I lifted my hand in acknowledgment and darted across to her. The window wouldn’t open so she shook her head and pointed down to the cellar below. I mouthed Brittany at her and she nodded her head, her eyes wide and full of horror. What had she seen?

‘
Shall I go down?’
I mouthed at her and watched as her head violently shook back and forth and she desperately flicked her hands at me, telling me to get out.
Fine we’d call in the cavalry.

It was just before I turned to leave that I saw the shapes coming out of the shadows behind Susannah. My eyes went wide with disbelief and I pointed to them, telling Susannah to get the hell out of there. She turned round and her high pitched scream tore through the night as a mud-covered, decomposing corpse staggered towards her.

I ran from the room and just as I entered the hallway all the lights blinked out. I didn’t need light to see and darted forward to where I knew the doorway was, but a figure suddenly stepped out in front of me, rushing from the living room doorway. Before I could throw out a shield, a cool hand clamped momentarily over my mouth and a spell was hissed next to my cheek; evil, foul-smelling breath pervading my senses. I pushed the figure back with a slam and thrust my arms out ready to invoke my protective orb, but something truly terrifying was happening to my mouth. I tried to scream, I tried to whisper the spell I needed but my lips were sealed together, the skin already fusing into one smooth piece of skin going from nose to chin.

I began to panic, clawing at my face, screaming inside as I desperately pulled my jaws apart, but no matter how much I pulled, how much pain I could bear as my skin began to tear apart, it always re-formed, silencing me. Of course, I didn’t need to speak to cast the protection spell, but when your lips are fused together it’s pretty difficult to think straight, and I have to admit I went into a flat out terror.

The priestess had picked herself up from the floor where I’d propelled her and now returned the shove, sending me flying back against the wall. Her chanting grew louder, then finally I remembered the spell, and thrusting my arms out managed a quick orb of protection mili-seconds before I touched the surface of the wall, which softened as I hit it. My eyes went wide with shock as the wooden panelling behind me softened like putty and I fell into it, feeling it harden around my protective orb. If it wasn’t for the orb, it would have held me as tight as Hans Solo in his carbonite prison; as it was, I would have to drop my protection in order to escape.

The Priestess stood opposite me and sneered grimly.

‘That orb might protect you now, but sooner or later you’ll have to drop it… in order to escape, and when you do my knives will be waiting for you.’

As she said the words, she brought out four long-handled silver knives. Rubbing them between her palms she chanted, her green eyes murky and hollow. One by one she spelled the knives so they were all hanging in mid-air, pointing at both shoulder blades and hips, waiting for me to fail.

‘Like a wasp in a honey trap,’ she said. ‘All I needed was the blood of one witch and I get sent three.’

My mind was a jumble of thoughts; so she knew about Susannah and she had Brittany in the cellar; but she obviously didn’t know about Aunt Sarah and Franny, who would surely be appearing any moment now to remove the offending knives. My gaze darted to the front door and the priestess misunderstood my thoughts.

‘Oh, your friend will be some time, I imagine. I’ve ordered them not to feast on her… but then you never can tell with zombies -such a nuisance, but useful all the same. As long as they save her life energy, I can drain her later. I shall just go and check that the little witch masquerading as my daughter is still hanging on. Reanimating the dead uses up so much blood, I was hoping to have a little left over.’

She thought Brittany was pretending to be her daughter? But she’d known who Brittany was last time… the woman was certifiably nuts. With my lips sealed tight and my jaws as wide as they’d stretch I screamed; for my friend, for Susannah… for help, but of course nothing came out but a mumble.

I’m on my way Jess. Hang on.
I’d forgotten about our bond. Daniel’s words were there, in my head. They calmed me even though I knew he’d be too late. I stopped trying to scream. I stopped struggling. The crazy priestess was gone and the sound of fighting broke out around the church. My aunt was here… but how many zombies were they fighting?

Nothing happened for what felt like two hours but it was probably nothing like that, probably about twenty minutes really, and when I said
nothing happened
, I mean nothing happened that I could see. I was stuck in a wall, in the dark, desperate to find a way out. I could hear low eerie moans coming from the perimeters of the church, followed by the odd high pitched scream or war cry… they were getting nearer the front door and thankfully I could still differentiate three different female pitches.

Suddenly the door flew open, crashing against the wall and rebounding as the silhouette of Franny burst into sight. I knew she wouldn’t be able to see much and as I was unable to alert her to my position; glued to the wall in the dark, I had to think fast. I couldn’t speak; couldn’t shout. I couldn’t chant a spell or even whisper a spell, but there was one spell I could try that didn’t need words. It used earth energy. I felt the energy beneath my feet and I pulled it up into my body and used it to light my orb. I drew the energy from the ground and used it to make myself glow. I flickered like a sick Christmas tree bulb, but it did the job and Franny’s face blanched with shock as she saw me.

An unholy scream ripped through the air; a young female scream, full of terror and agony. It came from outside and I watched as Franny leapt back outside and disappeared into the fray, leaving me wondering what had happened to Susannah. They needed me. I surveyed the knives and wondered if I could dodge them once they came at me. I had the benefit of vampire speed but I’d never tested it to its limit. Could I drop my orb and wriggle free before the knives pinioned me back to the wall? And if they did catch me, could I survive them? I’d need to keep my neck well clear of the blades and my heart too, but maybe, just maybe I could do that.

Jess, don’t even think of it
. His words interrupted my thoughts immediately.

They need me,
I thought back.

Just hang on another twenty minutes. We’ll be there.

How?
I asked. There was no way he could have got a flight to New Orleans this fast, even in a private jet.

The Council were…

His words faded out, but I knew that he was coming, and somehow he would be here soon. The thought spurred me on and I went back to my plan. I looked at the knives again, as another scream carried through the air. In a way he was right, if I attempted to escape now, on my own and it went wrong, there was no one here to help me, and I’d just end up bleeding profusely all over the floor. If all four knives got me, if they’d been spelled to seek me like seeker missiles, I would be worse off than now. I decided to give it five more minutes and if I heard another scream I was going to chance it.