A Stake With a View (You Are The Worst Witch! Goodbye!) (A Wicked Good Witches Paranormal Romance Book 6) (13 page)

Melinda flinched as Eva kicked William again, rolling him onto his back.

Riley’s gaze shot sideways, then back to her as if his point had just been proven.

“You’ll never be mine until the vampire is dead.” His eyes stared into hers. Cold. Unfeeling other than rage. One-minded.

The Feyk’s spell had taken over.

Her nightmare was coming to life.

The reality of watching Riley torture William shattered her into pieces.

Melinda could not believe the next words that spewed out of her mouth. “Then free me, Riley. Free me right now and ki-kill him. Get it over with and we can leave here.” She didn’t know if she could survive any scenario that included losing William, but it was a better fate than hours of torture with the outcome still being a painful death.

The death request did not have the effect Melinda hoped it would.

Riley kicked the empty water bucket off the pyre, jumping down, his tone accusatory. “If you don’t love the vampire, why do you care what fucking happens to him?”

“I don’t love him,” she cried despondently. “I don’t love… William.” She was unable to speak his name without pain riding the word.

Riley scowled. His spiteful gaze penetrating her with a level of fear she’d never experienced before. An icy sweat ripped through her and she thought for sure she was passing out.

How had this happened? How had they fallen so easily into Eva’s trap?

Where were her brothers?

It struck her that they wouldn’t even know this was happening. Possibly for hours. Possibly ever. The rest of her family might be locked up in a cage somewhere else.

Why had she had the dream if there was nothing she could do to stop it?

Just so she could suffer through it twice?

No.

It wasn’t the vision or the reason behind having it, to blame.

It was completely her fault for not sharing it, in its entirety, with the people it mattered to the most.

There was no one else to blame. Only her.

William’s torment, bloodshed, and death, was on her hands, and her hands alone.  

Eva towered over William, a leg on each side of him. She leaned over, to see directly into his eyes.

“Nothing personal, just returning the favor,” she spoke dejectedly. “Oh, wait. It is completely fucking personal.”

His body slid out from under hers. Riley dragged William across the ground like a bag of garbage, towards the pyre opposite Melinda. It took him, plus three Feyk, to hoist William up the pyre and bind him to the stake.

“This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening.” Melinda closed her eyes and opened them, praying she was about to wake up from another dream at any moment.

There was no dream, no nightmare, to wake up from.

No one was going to show up and save the day.

Tears streamed freely. There was no stopping them. She tried to look away as they bound William to the stake, but was unable to do so. Was he conscious? Aware? She sobbed, knowing the answer to those questions.

He was paralyzed, physically. Not mentally. He was still awake and aware in a useless body. Like someone who didn’t go under properly after having anesthesia. And was forced to live a waking nightmare as some painful never-ending procedure was done to them.

William’s physical strength was so weak, he couldn’t even hold up his head. It drooped over in front of him.

Eva jaunted over and climbed his pyre, a disturbing smile on her face.

She grabbed William’s head, hoisting it up, so his eyes could see Melinda tied to the other pyre.

“So here’s the deal, William. If you beg for death,
and you will...
we’ll light up the pretty little witch and you’ll have a front row seat to watch her burn before you join her.
Got it?
Good.” She dropped his head and jumped down.

Melinda stared back in complete terror. The reality of what was about to happen, crushing her. Everything started to spin rapidly. If her heart pounded any harder it would burst out of her chest. Splotches of black burst in front of her eyes.

William’s torture would never end.

He’d never ask for death if it meant ending her life. This was a fact she didn’t need any vision to tell her. It might take her life being threatened by a tortuous death to turn her into a vampire, but William would never request death if it meant taking her with him.

Riley stood about half way between their pyres, facing William. A fireball danced precariously in his hand.

Blood rushed to Melinda’s ears.

She screamed.

She could feel it in her gut, but she could not hear it.

Her body shook, her lungs labored in attempt to get enough air.

She struggled in vain to get free of her bonds. 

A voice slipped into her mind, soothing but weak.

“Don’t be frightened, Melinda. Close your eyes.”

It was William’s voice. Feeble, but certain.

She did not question how she’d heard this, or if it was even real, she just obeyed.

Crushing her eyelids closed as tightly as possible.

She did not witness Riley’s first strike upon William, but the blood drained from her ears and the sounds of it cut into her brain, engraving a permanent scar.

CHAPTER 14

Charlie sped along the road toward home, too many thoughts and concerns racing through his mind. He’d just hung up from one of the most disturbing phone calls of his entire life.

Michael had called to explain what had happened to Mr. Morgan, informing him that Emily was missing. That he and Lizzy were at the mansion, and William had taken off to retrieve Melinda and Lucas after they’d charged off across the Isle chasing a gargoyle. Charlie had lost contact with her, unable to reach her, his calls going directly to voicemail. The world was spinning out of control and he had no idea how to get it to slow down.

After hearing what Eva had done to Emily’s father, Charlie knew without a doubt that she needed to die. And that she’d stop at nothing to get what she wanted. What was that now that her father was dead? Was she planning on carrying out their original plans?

No matter how hard he tried, he could not keep up. Even with his werewolf abilities or the Guardian ring. He was always a step behind. Always catching up. Always just a little too late.

Why couldn’t he get ahead?

Was he just bad at the job?

How had his parents done it?

Charlie didn’t remember his childhood filled with moments like these.

Did they happen, but somehow his parents hid it from him?

The road wasn’t lit well and Charlie bounced around, ignoring the potholes, in a hurry to get home. He needed to come up with an idea. A solid plan to get them back in control. He was tired of being a step behind at every turn.

“What the hell?” he exclaimed, seeing someone staggering in the middle of the road just ahead.

He was lucky to have seen the man at all as he was dressed in dark clothing.

Charlie pulled to a stop, shouting to the man. “Hey, get off the road before you get run over.” He didn’t have the patience to help the man right now.

Probably just a lost, drunken tourist.

He’d have Mack take care of it. He grabbed his phone to call her.

The dazed man spun around, peering at Charlie. He stepped closer, his silhouette drowned in the jeep’s headlights.

Charlie dropped his phone, his fingers no longer able to hold their grip on it.

It was a ghost he was seeing. Nothing more.

He opened his door and got out of the jeep.

He kept hold of the doorframe for support when his legs faltered underneath him.

The man walked up to him.

“Charlie? Is that you?”

It took Charlie what felt like forever to find his voice.

“It’s really you,” he breathed out. “How? How did you get here?”

“You say that like I’ve been away. It’s only been a few hours, Son.” He looked at Charlie’s face more closely. “You look… different.”

The shock started to wear off, a feeling of comfort spreading throughout Charlie.

Everything would be okay now.

Jack Howard had come home.

Charlie did not know how it happened, and he did not care.

His father would fix everything.

#

Thanks so much for reading.
I’d like to take a moment to thank every reader who takes an extra minute to leave a review on Amazon. Your time and opinion is appreciated! Thank you for letting others know what you think about this book and the series.

Never left a review before?
No worries, it’s easy! Answer this simple question:

What is the first thing that comes to mind after finishing this book?

Loved it. Hated it. Need to go get the next book, Right Now!

Whatever your answer, this is your review. It’s that easy!

Just a few short words are all that’s needed, and so very appreciated. THANK YOU!

Ready for the next book?
Bite Me Baby! Book 7:

Get it on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Starla-Silver/e/B00PREX74U

Book 1, Demon Street Blues

Book 2, Alpha Knows Best

Book 3, Bye Bye Bloodsucker

Book 4, Ghast Me Gently

Book 5, A Nightmare to Remember

Book 6, A Stake With a View

Book 7, Bite Me, Baby!

Book 8, Vampire, Interrupted

Book 9, Hexed and Dangerous Coming Winter 2016

All Future Book Releases…
Plus Occasional Book Sales, Offers, and Freebies. Giveaways. Exclusive Previews. And more!
Sign up for Alerts Here:
http://www.racheldaigle.com/demon-isle---wicked-good-witches-.html

While there, check out Rachel’s other Series, the Fated Saga. 

A Fantasy Adventure Quest for All Ages.
A Bewitching Tale of Family, Destiny, and Magic… Suspenseful Action and Dangerously Addictive.
 Also Available in Kindle Unlimited!