A Late Summer Bloom (21 page)

“I can assure you, Julien, the love in your heart is real.”

“Even if that is so, my love for you can only complicate things. I told
you from the beginning that I was not your knight in shining armor, Little Witch.”

“Oh, but you are. You just don’t know it yet.”

“I want to be everything you need. The fact remains, I am not of royal
blood. When you defeat
Natas
, and you will, how can
you expect to save the covens without procreating a pure bloodline?” He shook
his head at the thought. “No, I’m sorry. I can’t think of you with anyone other
than me. It would drive me insane. The more distance between us, the better.”

He watched as she hardened her expression. There were no tears, just
pure determination. “My allegiance is to my self-preservation and happiness.
You are part of that equation. I feel it down to my toes and you will never
convince me otherwise. I will rule the covens, but I will do it my way. And if
you don’t want any part of it, well, that’s on you. Now, let’s go get Desiree.
I’m tired of being scared. I want to start living my life.” She turned away
from him and walked straight to the exit of the cavern. Her shoulders no longer
slumped, her voice no longer shook and her confidence no longer waned. Julien
watched, as his once scared little witch walked toward the fight of her life
instead of running from it.

Before following after her, he stood motionless. Could they be
together? Was it possible? All he knew was that she wanted him. She loved him.
And a witch to the tenth power can do whatever she wants. Can’t she? Oh how he
hoped that was true. He interlocked his fingers, stretching his arms out in
front of him. At first, it was a blur in his peripheral vision, but he took
another look just the same. His ink blot was turning into a defined tattoo. The
flower was not yet filled in with color, but the petals were vivid.

How strange.

Chapter Thirty-One

Desiree was powerless. She felt like a fly caught in a spider’s web.
Colt had been quiet for some time now, so when he stirred, she noticed. He
straightened. “Are there many others out there like me?”

She looked away before meeting his eyes.
“Not that I
know of.
And I’m afraid if there are, there aren’t many. If you want, I
can tell you what I learned from my heritage and spiritual classes.”

Colt’s eyes widened, obviously thirsty for knowledge. “Please.”

She giggled at his reaction. “Okay. There was a time when witches and
watchers mingled together in the most basic of communities. Much like the human
race, witches and watchers are all born with free will. We can choose to be
part of a just society or shun it.”

“And what of the warlocks?”

“They are supernatural beings who become enslaved to evil. They no
longer possess a conscience or free will.”

“Hmm.
What happened to my people?”

Desiree looked away and sucked in her bottom lip. After biting at it
several times, she met his gaze. “Have you ever heard of a place called
Visionaries Hollow?”

“No. I don’t think so.”

“When I was a little girl, my grandmamma used to sit me on her knee and
tell me stories of the olden days. It was a time when the watchers and witches
lived in harmony. Anyway, it was said that the town housed an abundance of
witches and watchers. One day a beautiful young witch, named Rachel, fell in
love with a traveler named
Korian
. Travelers are warriors
who police the supernatural realm. They are the peacekeepers.”

Without looking at her, Colt spoke. “It must be nice to belong
somewhere.”

He wasn’t saying it to her, just saying it aloud. Desiree scooted closer
to him. “Anyway, this traveler had a best friend, Jonathon, who was a watcher.
Korian
asked Jonathon to protect Rachel when he was away
fighting in battle. See where this is going?”

Colt laughed. “While he was protecting her, she fell in love with him?”

“Ha! Such a typical male point of view—but no, Jonathon fell in love
with her. He went to great lengths to get Rachel to fall for him. Some say it
was his undoing. In a split second of desperation, Jonathon sought help from
the darkness, allowing the foulness of evil to invade the peace of Visionaries
Hollow. It is said that’s when all hell broke loose. The watchers accused the
witches of using their kind as mere servants and war broke out, leaving the town
destroyed. Rachel was killed in the battle. Naturally,
Korian
became enraged and tried to kill Jonathon. It was after this war when the
divide between the races occurred. It drove a wedge into our communities.
Anyway, after this war in particular, the master decided the travelers could have
free will and decide when they wish to return to witch status.”

“Why would a traveler become a traveler in the first place and why
become a witch
again?”

“As of late, most join to exact revenge of some kind. But, if they revert
back, they can no longer join the ranks of the travelers. The pull to remain is
great, though. The travelers have immortality and youth. They can shift and their
powers exceed even the most royal of witches.
Except for the
tenth power.”

“So I’m a watcher.
And today?
Do the witches
get along with the watchers?”

“For the most part.
We need each other.”

“And what of the travelers and the watchers?”

Desiree smiled a devious smirk. “I heard it’s a little like the Hatfield’s
and the McCoy’s. But who knows what it can be today.”

He offered her a sad, knowing nod. Desiree put her hand out to him in a
gesture of friendship. He looked at her hand and just before he touched it, a
wind whirled through the darkened pit.

Like a vacuum, it pulled them up toward the beam of light. They were
being summoned from their prison and Desiree knew it wasn’t for anything good.
As they were hurled up through the hole in the ground, a shrill echo bounced
off the treetops. Her eyes stung from the sunlight. She squinted, looking
cautiously around at her surroundings. It was then the warlock made his
presence known.

Desiree watched the warlock approach Colt. He was tall, almost pristine
in his appearance, and quiet as he circled him. She watched Colt squeeze his
eyes tight and then open them slowly, their signal for a black aura.

The warlock noticed and whirled around to look at Desiree. He walked
toward her.
         
Without speaking,
she heard him.

Tell me
your gift my
dear?

“I wouldn’t tell you even if I knew!”

“Oh, you know. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have heard me inside your
head.” He smiled and his teeth lengthened to points. “I will love devouring you,
piece by piece. Since our friend over there is a watcher, he might prove to be
useful to me. As for you, if you keep your gift hidden, I will have no choice
but to destroy you. However, I will have someone else for my next feeding if
you choose to play nice.”

Desiree watched his teeth lengthen into fangs, her stomach churning
with fright. She wouldn’t show her fear. Instead, she was defiant. “I don’t
play games,” she snapped.

“I can vouch for that. She doesn’t play games, especially Simon Says.” Simon
Granvil
stood a few feet behind the warlock, laughing.
The warlock looked stunned when he spun around to find a traveler ready to do
battle. Wasting no time, the warlock’s fingers stretched and his nails lengthened
into sharp blades. Desiree stood frozen to her spot, concern for Simon weighing
her down. The warlock shocked her by quickly and unexpectedly turning back to
her, slashing at her throat. Desiree jumped back.

Simon’s muscles rippled and his face contorted with anger as he pulled
a long gleaming sword from behind his back. He spat at the warlock. “Just like
a coward to go after a woman. You will keep your filthy claws off her.”

“You can try to stop me,” the warlock said, “but more will come. You
cannot win. Our army is too great.” As their exchange went on, Desiree tried to
think of a way to help.

Her eyes moved to where Colt stood. He motioned to her, pointing to the
woods. More were coming.

With her anxiety mounting, Desiree called upon every fiber of power in
her body to do something.
Anything.
It was then her
head splintered, and her mouth grew parched. Desperation and a fear for Simon
coursed through her blood, causing her body to shake with alarm. A burning
sensation crept over her skin until she gasped for air. Focusing in on the
warlock, a fiery rain descended upon him until flaming pellets singed his skin.
A shocked Desiree looked on as an equally surprised Simon turned to stare at
her. And when he did, the warlock unleashed his fury on the distracted warrior.

The warlock, shrieking in pain from the burning drops, grasped Simon’s
waist and lifted him off his feet. Raking his finger knives down the length of Simon’s
thigh, the warlock opened his flesh, exposing the bone. Blood spurted out,
Desiree’s fiery rain diminished as fear took hold of her soul. She helplessly
watched Simon struggle for his release. In the midst of the battle, she saw no
hope for triumph and sunk to her knees in defeat.

Unable to watch Simon die, Desiree begged. “Please, take me. I will do
whatever you want. Please stop. You’re killing him!”

“You will tell me your gift, and I will bring you to kneel before
Natas
. If you do, I will kill your traveler
quick
, instead of slow. Tell me.
Now!”
The warlock hissed.

“No!” Simon shouted, out of breath and with pain evident in his voice.

Desiree felt Simon’s mind probe. Unsure what to do, she braced herself,
tears sliding down her cheeks. Desiree was ready to face the truth, but could
Simon? They would soon lose one another again.

The warlock’s eyes yellowed with anger. Raising his hand high above
Simon’s head, threatening death, he shouted at Desiree. “Tell me now or the
traveler dies, and I will feed you his beating heart.”

Simon closed his eyes in surrender.

Desiree shrieked for mercy. “No! I will kneel before him—” She looked
up when Julien Beaumont stepped out from the trees.

Cocking his head to the side, Julien pursed his lips. “What have we
here? Trying to strike a deal? How’s this for a deal. I cut, you die!” He
raised his sword and in seconds, sliced the hand from the warlock’s body.

Screeching in agony, the warlock’s grip on Simon loosened.

Simon seized the opportunity to use his own sword and slice away the
other hand. Simon’s blood left a trail in the dirt as he moved away from the
beast. He croaked the words out. “What took you so long friend?”

“Just trying to get a few pointers from you, old man.”

Desiree ran to Simon, dragging him away from the horrific scene as Julien
ripped the dripping fangs from the warlock’s mouth. The blood-curdling screams
echoed throughout the woods, the mist slowly seeping up from the carcass of the
warlock,

Desiree shouted to Julien. “There
are
more
coming, Julien. We have to leave.”

The mist of souls filled the air, hundreds climbing up through the fog
of freedom to the heavens above. Simon held on to her hand.
“
Mon
ange
.
You have been saved.”

“Why would you trade your life for mine? Why?”

“You know what gift my beautiful wife, Aimee, possessed?”

Desiree shook her head and, through her tears, managed to answer. “No,
Simon. What was her true calling?”

Before Simon slipped into unconsciousness, he whispered.
“The fiery rain.”

Desiree’s tears soaked his shirt as she pressed her hands tight to his
wound and cried.

All that remained was a putrid smell and a shriveled, slimy bag of
bones. Colt made his way over to Desiree and Simon. He hesitated before joining
them. Desiree nervously looked at Colt. “He won’t bite, but he might die. We
must do something.”

“No ma’am, he won’t bite.”

“Nor will he die.” Julien said. “But we must get him to the cavern
immediately.”

He searched the outer perimeter to determine the best escape route,
leaving Desiree and Colt tending to Simon.

Colt looked around. “I don’t think I can do what them there men just
done.”

“Not many can. These men are travelers. It is what they were trained to
do.”

“I see your auras, Miss Desiree. They become brighter around him.” Colt
pointed to an unconscious Simon. Desiree nodded her head in silent agreement.

Julien approached them. “It’s time to go. We can’t wait. My nose says
to go east a half mile or so and then double back. The cavern isn’t far.”

“How did you find me?”

“Giselle tapped into the veil, said she found you through him.” Julien
pointed at Colt.