Aconite (The Elektita Series Book 1) (18 page)

Even though my car
was in the parking lot we walked. Jo must have ridden with Jonathon last night.
I tried to think back to see if I had ever actually seen a car but couldn't
remember. The car that I had borrowed from Sebastian's garage was gone as well.
I wonder who had come to pick it up?

The walk was
silent as I took in this small town from a whole new perspective. It was colder
now hence the wool jacket I had chosen to wear over my clothes. Even though I
had only been gone for a few days it had felt like an eternity. The air still
smelled the same, just a tad crisper. The fisherman still manned the ports even
though fewer townsfolk walked the streets. A thicker stream of cars passed us
by, shielding their occupants from the harsh ocean breeze. It took a few
moments before I realized the change was not only the town but it was also
within me. Reedsport felt more like home than before. I felt connected to it
somehow.

"Something is
different," I spoke my observation, hoping that Jo would take it as an
opening to tell me something. But she didn't speak and when I looked her
direction she was focused, brows drawn and screwing up her nose towards a spot
far of in the distance.

"Are you
okay?" I watched as she actually shook herself from whatever she had been
pulled into. She hadn't stopped walking, only turned her attention back to me.

"I think it
is everything you have been through." Her words and false smile betrayed
the worried look in her green eyes. I didn't know what would cause such change,
but I had a horrible feeling I would find out soon enough. I hadn't noticed
before but Jo lived a few blocks away, putting her smack dab between me and the
cafe.

"Have you
always lived here?" It was odd that we happened to live in such proximity
to each other and I never noticed it before. Then again, I have been rather
preoccupied.

"No, actually
I just moved in," she said unlocking the door to her apartment. It was a
duplex, so she only had one neighbor but the FOR RENT sign meant that she
didn't need to worry about neighbors at the moment. The apartment was small
with boxes that sat haphazardly throughout the rooms. The furniture was the
only thing that gave it character, even her bedroom was full of boxes with
clothes and shoes thrown everywhere. Living out of boxes would drive me crazy.

"I'll get to
unpacking eventually. I've kind of been busy as of late." I watched as she
flung clothes around creating larger piles before finally deciding on her
outfit of choice. It couldn't be that hard. As a waitress she only had one
choice in tops. The black t-shirt with the cafe logo on the front was the only
acceptable shirt.

Jo shut herself in
the bathroom, emerging fifteen minutes later looking much more like herself.
She wore a high-low layered red skirt with the cafe shirt tucked into it. High
sleek stilettos and a mini top hat that must have been in the bathroom
completed her work attire.

"I don't know
how you can stand the cold in something like that," I said, waving my hand
up and down at her outfit. The tattoo that ran up her leg was vibrant and
beautiful, no wonder she wore skirts all the time. If my tattoo didn't glow and
cause gut wrenching pain I would probably wear clothes that showed it off too.
Here I was wearing skinny jeans, a cotton blouse and a wool coat and I was
still contemplating how I wasn't going to freeze to death and we hadn't even
made it into winter.

"Beauty
hurts," she said tipping her hat to me.

The cafe was open
and buzzing with business when we finally arrived. It didn't appear that the
indoor storm that I had caused last week had any negative effect on business.
Which was good. When we walked in, the smell of my favorite coffee smacked me
in the face. Even though I had already finished one cup a girl could never have
enough. I headed straight for the counter, greeting customers as I passed. When
I finally made it to an empty stool, Mack was coming from the kitchen. It was
always nice to see him. It felt like he was the sanest of the bunch at times. I
dearly wish that I never find out that he was a werewolf, witch, or familiar. I
think that would burst the bubble that I had placed him in. My dream didn't
seem to coincide with what I wanted though.

"Glad to see
you back, Alexis." His warm smile was about as nice as the cup of coffee
he had in his hand. I tried not to use what I had seen the night before to
change how I felt about Mack.

"Well aren't
you clairvoyant, Mack."

His laugh was
hearty and deep as he sat the cup in front of me.

"Nope, just
observant I saw you come in." I nodded at that before taking a sip of the
warm liquid. Without further prompting Mack went back to wiping counters and
taking to-go orders.

"Where's
LeAnn?" Normally she worked the counter taking orders so Mack could get
the food out on time.

"Home, I
guess. She called in this morning and said she wasn't feeling well."

I didn't want Mack
to over work himself so I strapped on an apron and got to work, taking orders
and bussing tables. I had gotten into a good flow before I realized that Jo
hadn't made it back up from the office. I made sure all my tables where taken
care of and Mack was good with the two people that stood at the register before
heading back down the hall. Before I even made it to the office I could hear
raised voices clearly arguing about something. One problem, it was in a
language that didn't resemble my own. I rounded the corner into the office
without giving them time to recover from whatever they were arguing about. My
entrance didn't stop the argument. They knew I didn't understand anyway.

"Arguing over
the money or the bet?" I had to make a joke of it even though it was clear
that a silly bet wouldn't cause that big of a problem.

"You told her
about the bet?" Jonathon's voice was light and joking as he pretended to
be appalled that I knew they had bet against my temper tantrum.

"Yes, Mr.
Tight Ass here swears we only bet a hundred dollars but I clearly remember him
saying five hundred," Jo retorted. Her voice had gone back to her normal
high pitched tone. Jonathon only laughed at Jo's use of the words tight ass.

"Well, I
don't know if it was one hundred or five hundred all I know is I am owed a
check." I chose to ignore whatever had caused the argument for right now.
Because I was sure that it was not about the bet.  I'd find out some other
time, one way or the other. Jo's grin from earlier grew even wider as she
clapped her hands together unable to contain her excitement.

"Ah, your
payment." Jonathon sat at my desk in one of client chairs while Jo, per
usual, sat on the top of my desk. So I sat in the crimson chair that I had
picked out with me in mind.

"Real quick,
why doesn't anyone ever sit in this chair?" I ran my hands up and down the
leather arm rests. I couldn't imagine how anyone wouldn't want to sit in it.

"Because it's
yours." They both said in unison. Or maybe they were scared of my magic
temper tantrums? I couldn't help but wonder. Maybe they thought that one day I
would come to work during the wrong time of the month and have a supernatural melt
down because one of them were in my seat and create a tornado that would sweep
this place away.

"Yoohooo…
Earth to Alexis. Are you even listening?" I had tuned my surroundings out
contemplating what the extent of my power was. No wonder the Gods thought it
was too much power for us to wield.

"Yes, sorry.
Go on." I had absolutely no idea what either of them had been saying.

"Well, open
it up." Jo's excitement was barely contained. Her fingers inched closer
and closer to the envelope that sat on the desk in front of me. If I didn't
open it soon she was going to do it for me. I couldn't figure out why on earth
she was so excited about me getting paid. I was new and probably worked three
days out of one work week. One of those days I even shut the place down with a super
storm. I picked up the envelope that had my named neatly printed on the front.

The thickness of
the paper inside sent off warning bells that this was not a normal pay check. I
felt across the bottom like a child trying to guess what was under the Christmas
tree. A hard metal key caught my attention. I glared at both of them. I just
wanted to get paid. Instead I was going to have to deal with some other crap
that I got thrust into.

I ripped open the
end and slid both the folded paper and key out onto the table. I eyed it
suspiciously and waited to feel any twitch from my tattoo but it remained still
and silent like a normal tattoo for once.

"What is
it?" I still couldn't get passed all the suspicion that these to have
created within me.

"You would
know by now if it was something harmful, your Aconite would have alerted
you." He was right, but I was still human. At least in my mind and
suspicion runs deep in our blood. Slowly I unfolded the paper revealing a deed.

"This is a
deed for a house in my name." I dropped the document back on the desk as
wave after wave of my dream tore through me; the very house from my dream.
Without conscious thought my mind raced through parts of the house that weren't
from the dream. I already knew the house that I had only dreamed of once. I
searched for the address that hung next to the door. Now the anticipated pain
from my flower sang through me. It wasn't a dream or a memory, it was a
premonition. I instinctively put my hand over my belly as if I would feel the
child even now in present time.

"I don't want
this!" I yelled as my sight came back to the present. Jo stood next to me
as Jonathon cradled me in his arms on the floor.

"Tell
me." He was asking me in no uncertain terms to trust him with whatever
just caused me to crumple to the floor in a mess of pain and tears. He was
asking me to trust him enough to divulge a secret that I wished to keep to
myself. I felt that warmth and security he provided. I felt the strength in his
stature. He could protect me if only I would let him.

"No."

His grip grew
weak, but he didn't let me go completely. I had hurt him but I needed this.

"Not unless
you tell me what you two were really arguing over when I came in." If I
was going to give a little, they should be willing to give a little as well. I
watched as they seemed to have a conversation without actually having one.

"Okay,"
Jonathon let out with a sigh.

"I told you
my theory on your deaths and how they coincided with you coming into your
magic, right?" I shook my head at that. I knew at that moment I wouldn't
like what they were arguing about.

"You also
know that your family found great joy in your deaths." His voice was low,
and he had wrapped his arms tightly around me. He had begun to shake, sharing
his sudden fear with me. I was really not going to like what he was about to
say. When a werewolf was scared it meant there was really something to be
worried about.

"Your family
rejoiced from the deaths that they themselves meted out," he said, the
last sentence in a rush almost like he was too scared to say the words or let
me hear them.

"Are you
saying that they killed me in each and every life?" I knew that to be
false and they should as well. Sebastian was the one to stab me to death the
very first time. Jonathon though bobbed his head up and down in a contradiction
to the facts that we all knew as truth.

"But that is
not true and you know it. Sebastian stabbed me in my own bed. I saw it."
He didn't know I had seen it for myself; but now wasn't the time to get into
it. He sank his face into the curve of my shoulder, breathing in deep. He
didn't like my reminder, but all I had done was state fact.

"That is not
my story to tell." His muffled voice was barely audible against my skin.
There he went invoking the “it's not my story” crap again. Pretty soon I am
going to get everyone together to go over everything I needed to know all in
one shot. I was seriously getting sick of bouncing from one person to the next
just to finally get to another mind blowing scenario that is my life.

"Okay, then
how does your theory become truth if clearly there was at least one time that I
died by the hands of someone else entirely?" I wiggled one arm free
reaching out towards Jo. Without a second thought she clasped my hand and pulled
me from Jonathon's hold. I wanted to have this conversation like an adult not a
child that needed coddling. If I was going to deal with this I needed to learn
to deal with it better.

I barely glanced
at the paper and key that still sat on the desk, trying to stifle the pain that
still laced through me. I wanted one damn day to be normal. I was barely back
comfortably in my seat before Jonathon carried on with his terms of the
agreement.

"When
Alexandria came into her powers the Elektita knew it even before she revealed
her unique gifts. Her mother was their informant. Then every time you where
reincarnated you died within years of coming into your powers. When the urge to
find us was the strongest." Did he just admit to being the reason that I am
murdered over and over again? No wonder I held little trust for him. All my
dreams felt like different times and different places so it would make sense
that we were fated to return to each other over and over again. Jo was destined
as my familiar. I swung my attention to her.

"You led him
to me." I knew I sounded accusatory.

"No, Alexis,
you always find us." That was destiny at its finest. I had been wrong. I
was destined to make the same mistakes in each life. That is what Jonathon's
theory sounded like to me.

"Each life
you would search us out, the Elektita, learned of your decision and ended that
lifetime before you could be the downfall of their plan."

My mind whirled
with the implications. I knew that what I felt between Jonathon and Sebastian
was beyond love, but I would have never thought it was destiny. Then on top of
it all, the Elektita had their own connections to the magic that lay within me.
They could find me once it was awakened.

"But her
family is long gone. I am sure the hunt for the chosen one was buried with
them." I looked between the two, waiting for them to confirm what I knew
as truth but they both sat their quietly, sullen.

"Right?"
I was panicking now. There could not be that many immortals running around
searching for the next incarnate of the chosen one.

"The
Elektita’s beliefs have been passed down through the generations in hopes that
one day the power that they feel was taken unfairly would be returned. They
hunt you still to this day."

I mentally checked
that as something very significant in my here and now before asking the next
question.

"What does
that have to do with your argument?" He was beating around the bush and I
wanted to know why.

"Jo sensed
one of our spells, along the perimeter, being tested. Our spells were placed within
a hundred miles of us to keep out those who would do us harm. They are only
triggered if the person trying to pass is seeking harm on us, or more
specifically you."

"What in the
hell where you arguing about?" I still wasn't getting why any of this would
cause an argument. If they had spells in place to keep them out why would that
be cause for worry?

"Jo wanted to
tell you, I didn't." I wanted to give her a hug and scream to the world
how thankful I was that someone actually wanted to tell me the truth prior to
it blowing up in my face, but the anger at Jonathon swallowed my happiness
whole.

"You wanted
to keep the fact that someone may be trying to get to me a secret—from
me." My voice exploded into a violent outburst that I am sure echoed
through the entire place. I had been surprisingly calm up until this point. I
slammed my fist into my chest repeatedly.

"You wanted
to keep the fate of my life a secret."

"Calm
yourself, Alexis. I only wanted to hold this information until I spoke with
Sebastian. If there is a way we can strengthen the wards there would be no
reason to worry." I felt sick with each word he spoke as a sinking feeling
settled itself deep within me.

"There is no
way for you to stop them." I spoke the words with such calm surety that I
sent my arm hairs on end.

"What do you
mean?" Jo's voice had reverted back to the fast squeak it did when she was
scared I was going to cause another mess. I set my attention on the moon that
sat in between the trees along the wall. I was going to tell them about my
dream omitting the promise of a child. A little voice inside urged me to keep
that part a secret. I took a deep breath in and exhaled. I was about to confess
that I had lied to them when I had done nothing but ask them to be truthful
with me.

"I lied to
you, Jo." I looked her fully in her large green eyes pleading for her to
understand.

"Last night,
my dream was not a repeat of a prior dream. It was new and scared me more than
any before." My heart was pounding. The urge to flee was thrumming through
my nerves. I didn't want to face this now or ever but with potential enemies
banging at the front door it was now or never.

"I didn't
dream of the past or even the present. I dreamt of the future. I couldn't tell
how far into the future but it definitely was the future. I lived in a house of
my own. The address wasn't recognizable until now." I flicked the deed
that sat on the desk." Jo sank into the other chair that sat directly in
front of me, dread written into the lines of her face.

"I was
getting the house ready for Christmas dinner. Everyone was coming." Pain
engulfed my chest as I grew nearer to the part that I hoped meant nothing. Now
that I knew that it was more of a premonition than a dream I was even scared to
speak it out loud.

"Sebastian had
set the wards so when the doorbell rang I knew it would be you two." I
swallowed a large gulp of air, working to steady my breathing. I could
visualize the entire dream like it was happening at this very moment. My hand
rested against my belly with remembrance of the child that grew inside of me.
Jonathon arched an eyebrow clearly as confused as I was about Sebastian setting
wards for the house he had gifted me, but he didn't interrupt.

"But when I
opened the door a hooded figure stood in your place. I tried to close the door
before it  could pass but I was too slow. All I felt was the hood as whoever it
was blew by me and down the hall. A female’s voice promised she wasn't here to
hurt me but my tattoo flared even brighter than ever before."

Fresh tears ran
down my face with the memory. The tattoo gave a small pulse reminding me that
it was only a memory now. There was nothing to fear here.

A deep growl tore
through the room as Jonathon slammed his finger into the screen of his phone
furiously searching for something. I was stunned silent as he began speaking
feverishly into the phone. None of what he said made any sense at all. The only
thing I knew for sure was that something I told him had sent him into a rage.

"Jo…" I
whispered, trying not to interrupt whatever he was talking about. "What is
he saying?"

Jo glanced at me
before shaking her head no. She either couldn't tell me or didn't want to. I
reminded myself that she was the one that wanted me to know this stuff so I
didn't have a reason to be angry with her. Jo and I sat in silence listening to
Jonathon's side of the conversation. By the expressions on Jo's face I could
see she understood what was being said. I soothed my anger with the thought
that she couldn't bring herself to tell me not that she didn't want to. Minutes
passed and Jonathon's replies became few and far between.

"Fine."
His last word was in English. Maybe it was for my sake but who knew.

"We will meet
Sebastian and Rich in an hour." He said silencing the flood of questions
that was bound to spill out.