A Witch's Love (10 page)

When Belinda nodded, the tension in Ava’s muscles relaxed.

Francesca sat before them. “You see, Ava, demons are selfish and greedy. Even though the king no doubt wants your sisters dead, he will wait until they are immortal, so he is able to absorb their energy.”

“We must evoke your powers as soon as possible. You need to start learning what you can do. The demons, I’m sure, are looking for you,” Belinda said, as she tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear.

Ava shook her head. “Belinda, I think I’d like to go back to the house now.”

She nodded as Lucas helped to her feet and led her out the door.

Belinda lingered in the shop with Francesca as Ava settled back into the car.

Ava closed her eyes and rested her head against the cool glass.

At least her sisters were safe, but for how long?

If this were her destiny, her sister’s destiny, then nothing would stop her accomplishing what needed to be done.

“Concentrate, Ava,” Lucas said, as she dodged another one of his attempts to grab hold of her. “Remember what I told you. Some demons can blink. All they will have to do is touch you and they will have you.”

They had been at this for two days now and, to say the least, she was thankful Belinda didn’t have any close neighbors. Her front yard had been turned into their fighting arena and the wear and tear was starting to show. Not only on the grass but on Ava’s resolve. She felt exhausted.

Lucas had taught her a few basic moves, but the more they practiced, the worse she seemed to get. “I’m trying, Lucas.” What was it he’d said about the thumb being the weakest point on a person’s grip?

He grabbed her wrist, dragging her toward him. She turned her wrist in the direction of his thumb and tugged. Sure enough, he lost his grip, giving her enough time to twist out of his reach.

“Very good, Ava. When you get your powers, we will try to use them in combination with the self-defense you have learned.” He started for the tree where he had set water for them. She followed, needing a break.

He sat next to the tree, deep in thought, as he stared out into the open field. “Now what you should really learn is how to wield a weapon.”

Was he crazy? A
weapon
? “What kind?”

“It would have to be something small, something that you could carry with you always.” He took another sip of water.

“You mean like a gun?” He wouldn’t really suggest such a deadly weapon, would he? When he shook his head, she relaxed.

“No, I was thinking more along the lines of a dagger.” He turned toward her, his eyes sweeping over her as if to gauge her reaction.

She felt a little nervous but a small dagger shouldn’t be so hard to handle. “Yeah, I think I could manage a dagger.”

“Good. We can go into town this afternoon and find something for you,” he said, offering her his hand.

“Ugh, do we have to keep practicing?” She took his palm, all too aware of the warmth of his skin against hers.

He stood, helping her up. “You know what they say, don’t you?” he asked, giving her a wink.

“No what do ‘they say?”

He smiled, “practice makes perfect.”

She’d like to be practicing with her powers but Belinda had insisted they wait until her training had advanced. She told Ava her powers would be stronger if she was more confident in her fighting technique. After all, throwing a punch was a lot like controlling Mother Nature, right?

The logic seemed off but she was feeling more confident. Her strength was growing by the day, yet now Lucas wanted to add a dagger. A dagger!

Talk about downer.

She’d learn any weapon if she thought it would help rescue her sisters, but the question was: Could she wield her weapon, whether it be her power or a dagger, against another living creature? Could she kill?

“Interesting, it smells like a lycan has been here,” Traxen said, moving through the forest near the witch’s home. Approaching the clearing, he turned toward the swarm. “Search the area for any signs of the witch, then report back to me with any information.” He crossed to what was left of the witch’s house.

His second-in-command followed him. “What would a lycan be doing with a witch?”

“I can only assume he was the one responsible for taking out the group of demons in town. He must be protecting her. There is only one reason why a lycan would protect a witch. She’s his mate.” He bent down to inspect the rubble. Their scent was everywhere, but there was no indication of where they had gone.

“Great, how are we going to find her now?” his second-in-command asked.

Traxen turned to face him, slapping him hard across the face. “Quit your whining! They couldn’t have gone far. Send out the other demons, as many as you can. Have them canvas northern New York. Alert me to any new information.” He turned and scanned the wreckage once more.

“Forgive me, sire. I will do as you ask,” his second said, before turning to do his bidding.

Traxen smiled. There was one way to find information on the witch and her mysterious lycan. He just happened to know three family members who no doubt knew their sister’s boyfriend. They wouldn’t be forthcoming with the information, at least he hoped they wouldn’t. He had some very painful ways of making people talk. Once he got his hands on them again, they would tell him what he wanted to know. Closing his eyes, he willed himself back to the hive.

He appeared in the tunnels before the three sisters. “Well, hello, my pets. Did you miss me?”

Ella sneered at him as she tugged on her chains.

“It seems you have been keeping something from me,” he said, pacing in front of them. He stopped, then turned toward Cara. “Your sister, Ava, wouldn’t by any chance have a boyfriend, would she?”

Cara turned her face away from his stare.

Ella yanked harder on her chains, causing the metal to clang together. “Stay away from her!”

“You will have your chance, pet, but first the little one and I are going to have a private chat.” Traxen spoke to Ella, but kept his gaze on Cara.

“If you touch her, I swear I’ll kill you!”

Thea began to tug on the chains with Ella. Traxen unhooked the chain binding Cara to her sisters. Good. They were starting to panic.

“No, take me instead,” Ella shouted.

He was surprised by her words. She was willing to take her sister’s place not knowing what he was going to do to her. Interesting. Nonetheless, he needed the young one. Cara tried to reach for them, tears streaming down her pale face.

Traxen yanked on the chain, forcing Cara back.

“Traxen, please! Take me.” Ella fell to her knees and held out her hands toward them.

He turned to Ella, dragging Cara behind him. He approached the defiant sister, helped her to stand, then leaned into her, stopping when he was just inches away from her face. She was trying to be brave and that fact pleased him.

He reached up, caressing the side of her face with his finger. “Ella, I’m afraid that I have grown a small affection for you, so please don’t beg. Otherwise you will make me angry, and you know what can happen when I’m angry.”

“Just take me.” She looked him square in the eye.

“You see, my pet, I need information and I’m afraid that you won’t tell me, no matter what I do to you. Don’t get me wrong, I admire your courage but your sister here seems like she will tell me exactly what I need.”

He watched as her lip quivered.

A twinge in his chest took him by surprise. She looked so sad, yet she was trying to be so strong . . . for her sisters?

He turned away from her but the sounds of her harsh breathing bounced off the sewer walls. At least she realized there was nothing she could do to stop him.

Even though he rounded a bend in the tunnel, he could hear their voices. He stopped, interested in their conversation. He hauled Cara in front of him and covered her mouth with his hand.

“Traxen, get back here! Take me, please, just take me!” Ella sounded desperate, making that twinge in his chest return.

Ella’s sobs reached his ear, but then he heard her voice ring out, clearer than he had ever heard it before. “We may be stuck in this hole, Thea, but Ava isn’t. She’ll find a way to get to us. I know she will. We still have hope, Thea. Ava.”

He snorted at her words. After all she had seen and been through, she still thought they could win. What would it take to break that witch of her resolve? He shook his head of the thought and continued on toward his private chamber as Cara’s muffled cries became louder. He had work to do.

Ava’s confidence was wavering. It had been four days since she’d found out she was one of the prophesized witches and yet Belinda refused to evoke her powers. What was she waiting for?

Belinda had left for the day to do some shopping in town and had left her to Lucas’s devices. He’d insisted they continue to practice self-defense during the day, now adding a dagger to the list of things for her to learn. But how did he expect her to concentrate when all she could think were her sisters?

Lucas circled her, sizing her up as she regarded him. She held the dagger loose in her hand, as if it was an extension of her arm. The time would come for him to attack her. He'd told her to watch her adversary’s eyes for that moment.

His gaze narrowed.

Moving around him, she deflected his grab, but he turned back, reaching for her again. She was quick, but not fast enough. He seized her, cranking her left arm behind her back. Pain shot through her arm.

He’d told her there was only one rule. They were to practice as if it was for real. At times like these, she really hated that rule.

All of a sudden, she was hit with a vision of her sisters, afraid in the dark. Anger began to rise in her, filling her with a resolve she didn’t know she had. She bent at the waist with all her strength, throwing Lucas over her shoulders.

He landed flat on his back. Taking the advantage, she straddled his waist, pressing her dagger to his neck. For a moment he looked surprised. But with unnatural speed he grasped her dagger hand. Twisting out of his hold, she jumped back as he leapt for her. She swung the dagger, hoping to keep him at bay.

Horrified, she felt the dagger pierce his skin.

Blood dripped from the blade onto her hand and fear filled her as she looked up to find Lucas holding his chest.

She threw the dagger to the ground as she ran to him. “Lucas, oh god . . . What have I done?”

He moved to a tree, leaned against the trunk, then cringed as he lowed himself to the ground.

“It’s okay, Ava, I heal quickly.”

She settled next to him, her gaze focused on the injury. “May I see?” Just how fast could he heal?

He lowered his hand. “Be my guest.”

Blood soaked his shirt, making it hard to examine the wound. In order to expose the injured area, she ripped his shirt. The cut was about two inches long, but she was relieved to see it wasn’t as deep as she thought. When the bleeding stopped, she watched in amazement as the wound began to close. Slowly the skin came together until all that was left was a thin red line.

“Incredible. Will I heal like that when I become immortal?” She reached out to touch his skin where the wound had been.

“Of course you will, and so will your sisters.”

She drew back, resting on her knees and hanging her head. “I’m so sorry, Lucas. I don’t know what came over me.” She looked up to find soft, caring eyes gazing back at her.

His hand caressed the side of her face. “Ava, you didn’t do anything wrong. You let your instincts take over. That’s exactly what you should be doing.”

The sound of tires rolling across dirt drew his attention. “It looks like Belinda is home. Come on, let’s go greet her.”

By the time they entered the house, Belinda was unpacking items in the kitchen.

Ava and Lucas entered and started helping.

Belinda placed a half-gallon of milk into the refrigerator then turned to Lucas. “So how was training?”

Lucas smiled. “She drew blood today.”

Belinda laughed as she looked to Lucas, then to her. “She’s ready.”

Her pulse spiked. “For what?”

Belinda left her groceries as she approached Ava, then took hold of her hands. “To evoke your powers.”

“You want to do that now? Because I drew Lucas’s blood?”

Belinda nodded. “We had to know you were ready for the path set before you.” She moved around the kitchen table. “The seer and I have already written your evoking spell. All we have to do is prepare for the ceremony.”

Ava swallowed several times, tamping down the surge of fear swirling in her stomach. This is what she’d been waiting for. Soon she’d be able to rescue her sisters and this nightmare could finally be over. “Great.” She pasted a smile on her face. “Let’s get started.”

Chapter 7

Lucas waited downstairs while Belinda got Ava ready. Did drawing first blood mean she would be able to handle this next step?

Belinda hadn’t said much about the evoking ceremony. Had she ever done this sort of thing before? A pit had formed in his stomach and with every second that passed, he felt sure it was turning into a brick.

When he heard their footsteps, he moved to the foot of the stairs to meet them.

“How do I look?” Ava twirled in a white gown.

He smiled at her effort to remain calm, even though he knew she was anything but.

“You look beautiful,” he said, taking her hand. The ceremony had to be done outside. Belinda said it was the only way to evoke Ava’s powers. The night air was crisp with a slight breeze and clear sky, a perfect night to evoke a witch’s powers.

Making their way into the open field, Belinda motioned him aside. “Lucas, will you grab the rope that is hanging in the shed at the back of house? Then meet us out in the meadow.”

Lucas nodded. Why would she need rope?

Minutes later he made his way to the side yard with the rope. Four twelve-inch white candles stood in the center of a circle. Handing the rope to Belinda, he watched as she tied the rope together.

“Help me with this, would you? The rope needs to be arranged around the candles,” she said, moving toward the white pillars.

When the rope had been arranged, he made his way to Ava’s side and studied the design. The rope created a six-foot diamond shape. The four candles were positioned at each point of the diamond.

Belinda turned to Ava. “Now you are going to have to stand in the middle of the design. I’m going to need your dagger.”

Ava paled at her words as she took a step back.

Lucas draped his arm around Ava’s shoulders. “What is the dagger for?”

“I’m going to need a little of her blood as a sacrifice to nature in exchange for her powers,” Belinda said, taking Ava’s hand.

Belinda settled Ava in the middle of the diamond. “Once I have your blood, you can start the evoking spell. I will place a drop of your blood over every candle flame.” Belinda paused to wait for Ava’s nod. “Your blood is your sister’s blood. Once the ceremony is performed, all your sisters will have to do in order to call forth their powers from Mother Earth will be to use this spell. This ceremony will only deliver your powers, not your immortality. I’m sorry to say that rite is something you will have to endure later.”

When Belinda turned to get the dagger, Ava grabbed her hand. “How will I know what element I will receive?”

Belinda rotated back, taking both of Ava’s hands. “It is said that the oldest sister will wield the element of water,” she said, giving Ava a reassuring smile.

Lucas inhaled hard. Ava would have the power of water.

After handing Ava the evoking spell, Belinda turned back toward Lucas. “Are you ready for this?”

“If she’s ready, then I’m ready,” he said, not taking his gaze from Ava. A splash of bile burned the back of his throat. He wasn’t ready for anything that might hurt Ava, but he knew this was necessary.

Belinda smiled at him before making her way back to Ava. “Give me your hand.”

Ava reached out a shaky palm to Belinda. Her eyes were saucers as she watched the blade lower onto her skin, then her brow furrowed as she turned her head away.

Lucas’s heart ached to see her frightened. He couldn’t wait to get this over with so he could hold her in his arms and comfort her. He shifted his weight from one leg to the other, unable to stay still.

Belinda made a diagonal slice into Ava’s fair skin. As the blood began to pool in her palm, Lucas took a deep breath as he suppressed the urge to protect her. While the blood dripped from the dagger, Ava grimaced. Belinda moved to the first candle, signaling Ava to start reading the spell.

Ava took a deep breath then began to read the spell.

Belinda allowed a drop of Ava’s blood to fall from the dagger onto the flame of the each candle as Ava recited the spell.

“I call upon Mother Earth

To evoke my newfound power

Come to me, I call you near

Water, Fire, Earth, and Air

Come to me, my power to bear.”

As Ava finished the spell, the flames of the candle grew, erupting up into the night sky. Belinda moved back to Lucas’s side, taking his hand. “Be strong, Lucas.”

“What do you mean—”

The wind picked up, causing the flames to swirl around Ava. Lucas’s heart beat out of his chest as dark clouds formed above him. Ava was trapped in a whirlwind of flames. He started to run to her, but Belinda held his arm. “No, Lucas!”

He wrenched free and was about to reach the edge of the flames when bolts of lightning started to strike inside the circle. His breath came to him in spurts. Ava ran from one side of the fiery diamond to the other, like a lab rat looking for a way out.

“Ava!” he yelled, trying to find a way to get to her. Jetting to the other side of the diamond, he searched for an opening. Fear anchored in his chest as he watched Ava crouch down until she was out of his view.

Horrified, he released the beast. He took a step back to gain momentum, then started toward the flames, hoping to jump them. Then he saw her.

She rose up into the air, white light shooting out of her eyes, hands, and feet. He stopped and gazed upon the unbelievable scene. Fire blazed all around him as the trees moved with the wind. Thunder racked the earth and lightning streaked the sky. The noise was deafening and in the middle of it all was his beautiful Ava.

Belinda moved to his side, taking hold of his arm as it began to pour rain. The moisture extinguished the fire as the wind calmed. The thunder and lightning eased as Ava began her descent back to earth. The white light, which had once shone bright, dulled as her body gracefully touched the ground. The vanilla-scented smoke lingered. The ground sizzled with heat as the rain began to turn into a fine mist.

Through the haze, he saw Ava’s motionless body within the diamond. Containing the beast, he sprinted toward her. As he tried to cross over the rope, he felt himself thrown back into the air like nothing more than a leaf on the wind. Landing on his ass, he let out a groan.

“What was that?” He gained his feet as he rubbed his backside.

Belinda ran to him. “The diamond holds power for her, protecting her. We need to break it.”

With the dagger, Belinda approached the rope and knelt down. Raising the blade over her head, she brought razor-sharp edge down with force onto the rope.

A boom rang out, echoing through the forest. In all his life, he had never seen anything like this.

“You may retrieve her now,” Belinda said, as she retrieved the dagger from the ground.

Lucas approached Ava with care. “Honey, can you hear me?” He turned her over onto her back as she let out a moan. He released a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.

“Let’s get her to house,” Belinda said, leading the way.

He lifted Ava into his arms and carried her into the house. Ascending the stairs, he entered their room and placed her onto the bed.

Belinda approached the bed, tucking the covers around her. “She’ll sleep now,” she said, moving toward the door. “She’s okay, Lucas, her body is just adjusting to her new powers.”

He sat on the edge of the bed, unable to move himself from her side. He had never been more frightened in his whole life.

“You should be getting some rest yourself. She is going to need you in the coming days,” Belinda said, before shutting the door.

Trying to be quiet, he removed his boots and positioned himself on the bed, wrapping his body around Ava’s. He ran his fingers through her hair, then kissed her forehead before burying his head into her neck. Her lavender/vanilla scent seemed to calm the tension in his muscles. He held her in his arms as he closed his eyes. At least this part of her transformation was over. But if this was the way he reacted to her receiving her powers, what was he going to do when she turned immortal?

Ava felt warmth on her face. She opened her eyes, then blinked. Sunlight filtered through the window, gracing her with its beauty. Smiling, she stretched her body, feeling the tension easing out of her muscles. A weight on her torso drew her attention. Lifting the blanket, she found Lucas’s arm draped over her. He lay sound asleep next to her.

She eased his arm off her body. Quietly, she slipped from the bed then went to the bathroom down the hall. The blue walls of the tiny washing room reminded her of her bedroom. An ache filled her chest.

She lowered the shade on the only window and searched for a towel in a white cabinet. Desperate for a shower, she turned the water on to let it warm, crossed to the sink, then undressed. As she removed her shirt, she glimpsed her reflection in the mirror. Memories of her mother flashed before her eyes.

All of a sudden, the walls began to shake. Pipes began to creak and groan. Water spurted around the edges of the showerhead.

Ava’s heart pounded. The water from the faucet started to flow faster. Her hands fumbled with the metal faucet as she hurried to turn shut the water off, but it wouldn’t budge. The creaking and groaning intensified.

She whirled around the bathroom, looking for another shut-off valve when the showerhead burst sending scalding water everywhere.

Screaming in pain, Ava grabbed her towel to cover her fair skin.

Pounding sounded at the door.

“Lucas!”

She crouched to the floor, away from the scalding water as the door swung open and Lucas ran to her side. He scooped her into his arms and carried her out into the hall.

Belinda appeared, taking in the scene, then turned and raced down the stairs.

“What the hell is going on?” Lucas rotated her arms, assessing her red skin.

“I honestly wish I knew,” she said, trying, rather unsuccessfully, to keep her body covered with the towel.

Belinda bounded up the stairs, peering into the bathroom, where water continued to spray wildly from the spout. “I shut off the main water supply to the house. Ava, you have to stop the water.” Belinda knelt next to her.

“I tried to turn the knob off but—”

“No, Ava, shut the water off with your powers,” Belinda said, taking her hand.

“I don’t know how.”

“Concentrate, visualize the water spray stopping.”

Closing her eyes, Ava allowed her body to relax, then, taking a deep breath, she envisioned the water ceasing its flow.

“That’s it, Ava you’re doing it.” Belinda squeezed her hand.

Ava opened her eyes. The water had really stopped. “I’m so sorry, Belinda, I had no idea I was doing that,” Ava said, shakily getting to her feet with the help of Lucas.

Belinda smiled. “At least we know your powers are working.”

Lucas laughed. “Yeah, hell of a way to find out.”

Ava looked from one to the other as heat rushed over her face. Holding the towel around her, she sped to their room, closing the door. Leaning back against its paneled surface, she swore she wouldn’t cry.

“Ava, come on, it’s not that bad. I can fix the shower.” Lucas knocked on the door.

“No, I’m dangerous. I don’t want to hurt anyone.” She searched through her bags for something to wear. Screw a shower, she’d survive without one. Her running clothes were tucked into a side pocket. That’s just what she needed right now, a good run.

Emerging from the bedroom, she spotted Lucas leaning against the far wall.

With a worried frown he came toward her. “The bathroom is fine. Are you all right?”

She nodded, then turned from him. He’d try and stop her and she needed to be alone right now.

“Hey, where are you going?” He took hold of her wrist, stilling her movements.

“I just want to go for a run and clear my head,” she said, not meeting his gaze.

“Give me just a minute, and I’ll go with you.” He entered the bedroom.

Ava called to him, hoping he’d take a hint. “That’s really not necessary, I can go alone.”

He came to the entrance, no shirt, his hair tousled. “We both know you shouldn’t be alone. You don’t have to talk. All we will do is run, I promise.”

She nodded, forcing herself to look away from his sculpted chest, and made her way down the stairs. He’d had that ‘no arguments’ look on his face, and there was no way she was going to win a discussion with him partially clothed.

As she neared the kitchen, she could hear coffee filling an empty pot. The rich aroma called her name. Belinda sat in the kitchen reading the paper, waiting for her morning Joe. She raised her head when Ava came in. “I really am sorry about earlier,” she said, taking a seat in one of the empty chairs.

“It’s fine, things like that are going to happen until you learn your powers.”

The coffee pot groaned, a sign it had completed its job. She stood, then crossed to the liquid caffeine. “Yeah, well, I thought I would only have difficulty when I tried to use them. I didn’t think it would just happen at random.”

Belinda studied her face. “Your powers are part of you and your emotions have a great affect on them. So what were you feeling when the water went haywire?”

Ava shrugged as she poured the coffee into a ceramic bird-shaped cup. “I’m not sure.” She sauntered over to the sink, staring out of the kitchen window at nothing in particular as she took a sip of her steaming mug.

Belinda rose and came to stand beside her. “Well, we need to start practicing today. Do you think you are up to it?” Belinda placed her cup into the sink.

Ava nodded. “After my run, I’ll be ready.” Hearing footsteps, Ava turned to see Lucas standing in the doorway. He’d put on a tee that showed off his form. Did he do that on purpose?