Blood Rush (The Lost Witch Trilogy #2) (25 page)

Zane blinked at her a few times and propped himself up too as he looked at her with a small smile. “Were you just now thinking that you wished I was awake so we could talk?”

Sarah frowned and flopped back down on her back. “You have got to be kidding me. My thoughts are so loud now that they wake you up? This is unreal. You’re going to get really sick of me fast,” she said worriedly.

Zane yawned sleepily. “Not in this lifetime.”

Sarah smiled and turned on her side again, loving his messy hair and sleepy eyes. She slowly reached a hand towards Zane. Zane smiled back and reached his hand towards her. Their beds were close, but not close enough so they could touch. Sarah closed her eyes feeling happy and loved. Before she knew what was happening a small amount of energy left her finger and moved towards Zane. She breathed in, surprised as the energy turned into a bright sphere of light.

Zane’s eyes widened in wonder. “This isn’t going to hurt me is it?” he whispered just before the ball touched his finger and dissolved around his hand, making it glow for a moment before fading. Zane looked startled for a moment but then let out a breath before collapsing on his back.

Sarah hopped out of bed in concern and flew to Zane’s side. “Did I hurt you?
Zane!
Are you okay?” she demanded, shaking his shoulders as his eyes had closed.

Zane smiled slowly and then opened his eyes, staring up at her. “
Wow
,” he said softly.

Sarah breathed a sigh of relief and then let go of his shoulders as she sat next to him on the bed. “You scared me to death. I don’t even know what I did. I was just looking at you one moment and then everything I was feeling left me and went to you. That’s all I can say to describe it.”

Zane closed his eyes, smiling contentedly. “I don’t know what you did either, but please do it again. It’s like you said. Everything you were feeling just enveloped me. I’ve been able to read your thoughts lately, but this was incredible. It was more than a power hug. It’s like you gave a part of yourself to me and now it’s a part of me,” he said wonderingly, rubbing his heart.

Sarah pulled her knees up and smiled down at Zane. “I like that. Can you do that to me?” she asked shyly, wanting to experience what he had.

Zane rested his head on his hand while he held his other towards her. She lifted her hand in response, but didn’t touch him. He closed his eyes, as if he was concentrating hard and then she saw it. A small circle of light formed and moved towards her. She watched it avidly as it slowly came closer and closer. When it reached her, she expected to feel the shock of electricity but was surprised when it felt like warm water. It entered her hand and spread through her whole body. She felt all of the love Zane had for her, overtake her and become a part of her. She closed her eyes and smiled happily.

“Oh that’s wonderful. Thank you,” she said, feeling humbled and grateful and loved.

Zane stared at her quietly for a moment and then reached over and pulled her towards him. “You’re now a part of me and I’m a part of you. I can feel you in my cells and my blood. We’re bound to each other now. I can sense it.”

Sarah blinked in surprise and shook her head. “Did we just do a ritual?”

Zane grinned and shook his head. “Who cares? I belong to you and you belong to me. Forever Sarah. No matter what,” he whispered.

Sarah leaned down, overcome by her feelings for him, but as she reached for him, Zane closed his eyes and shook his head, turning over and getting out of bed.

“No Sarah. I’m going to respect the rules. We’ll be married someday, but if you kiss me now, after what just happened, I know your dad would
have
to kill me because there is no way I could stop,” he said, running his hands through his wavy hair.

Sarah frowned but nodded. “I understand. Okay then. Why don’t you take a shower first?”

Zane shook his head and walked over to the closet. “No, I think I’ll go for a run before school. Otherwise all the metal I come in contact with today will melt.”

Sarah grinned. “I’m coming too. I could use a good run.”

They both changed quickly and walked through the still quiet and dark house, walking out through the back morning room door.

Sarah glanced up at the stormy dark sky and grinned. The wind whipped off the ocean and the sound of the waves crashing revved her energy up high.

“Do you know where the lines are so we don’t cross them by accident?” she asked Zane as he stretched for a moment.

Zane nodded and stood up. “We’re safe as long as we don’t go past the forest to the north and if we don’t pass the docks to the south. Let’s go,” he said shortly and took off at a sprint.

Sarah grinned and took off after him, catching up to him easily. They pushed each other faster and faster, grinning competitively. Sarah pulled in the power surrounding her from the ocean and leaped into the air, her hair streaming behind her like a banner. She was flying.

Zane slowed down and watched her, struck by the beauty, the shock of it and the power as Sarah almost faded on the edges as she flew across the sand, her whole body turning into a blur of color and motion.

Sarah must have realized that he wasn’t with her anymore because seconds later, she held her arms straight out to her sides and her feet floated down to the ground. She ran a few more feet and came to a stop, turning around questioningly. She walked slowly back towards Zane, her hands on her hips, smiling.

“Why didn’t you fly with me?” she asked, tilting her head.

Zane walked towards her and shook his head, not knowing what to say. He put his arms around her and picked her up, swinging her around in a circle before letting her slide back down. He stared down into her face still stunned.

“Hearing you talk about it and seeing it are two different things. When we floated down from the house the other day, that was just floating and no big deal. But what you were just doing,
that
. . . that was incredible. It was amazing,” he said simply and kissed her hair.

Sarah grinned and lifted her face up to look into his. “You could fly if you wanted to. It’s so easy.”

Zane tipped his head back and laughed. “Only you would say something like that.”

Sarah punched him in the arm. “Want a lesson?”

Zane let her go, stepping back. “Sure, why not. Teach me how to fly Sarah,” he said, motioning towards the beach.

Sarah clapped her hands delightedly. “Cool. All you do is run as fast as you can and then tilt your head back, throw your arms back, leap into the air and command yourself to fly.”

Zane looked at her doubtfully. “There has to be more to it than that.”

Sarah rubbed her hands together. “Nope. Let’s try. Together this time,” she said.

Zane shrugged and then started running down the beach again. Sarah watched him, smiling as they both ran faster and faster and faster. “Now!” she yelled and leaped into the air. She looked to her right and Zane was right with her, his head flung back and a look of such wonder and joy on his face that she laughed happily. They flew about a quarter mile before Zane slowly lowered to the ground.

He laughed and jumped up and down and then did a back hand spring on the sand. Sarah smiled knowing this was a moment she would never forget. Zane walked towards her, grinning and she knew what was coming. He grabbed her and threw her into the air. She laughed at how high he had thrown her and hoped he caught her on her way down. He did and then wrapped her in his arms, kissing her soundly. They stood like that, wrapped in each other’s arms for a long time before Zane let her go.

“Come on, we’re going to be late for school if we don’t hurry now.”

Sarah nodded and they ran back to the house, holding hands as they walked back through the morning room doors. Zane flipped on the light and looked around the large spacious room. No one was there yet. All the lights were still off. Usually Beatrice was puttering around by now.

Sarah glanced down the hallway towards the kitchen and felt the awful quiet as if it were too heavy. “Zane? Something’s wrong,” she said, feeling sick to her stomach all of a sudden.

Zane reached out for her shoulder, squeezing it comfortingly. “Let’s go find everyone,” he said quietly.

Sarah held onto Zane’s hand as they walked slowly through the house. They first went to the kitchen and looked at each other worriedly as they realized no one was there. Agnes should have been there making breakfast. Gretchen would have been there too. And where was her dad? Sarah swallowed nervously and used her mind to talk to Zane.
Something cold is here, in the house. I can feel it.

Zane glanced back at her and nodded.
I feel it too. Come on, I need to find my mom and grandma.

Sarah hurried with him up the stairs, going down the hallway, past their room and on toward Gretchen’s and Agnes’s. Sarah felt a dark, heavy presence watching her and she whipped her head around, staring into the dark corners and recesses of the old house.
Zane? There’s evil here. It’s watching us. Something bad has happened.

Zane’s shoulders tensed, but he didn’t respond. He slowly opened the door and sighed in relief. “No one’s here,” he said gratefully walking around the room and glancing into the bathroom.

Sarah felt a cold shiver slip down her back and her arms and shook her head. “Then where are they? Where is everybody?” she whispered, looking back over her shoulder nervously.

Zane slowly turned back to face her, feeling her emotions pour off her. “Sarah, calm down. Your energy is going crazy. They might have gotten up early to go shopping or something. It’s probably no big deal.”

Sarah nodded her head, knowing that was the only logical thing, but stopped when she felt a dark energy creep towards her from behind. She gasped and threw up her energy shield before turning around to face it. Zane was beside her instantly.

“Zane, put up a shield
now
,” she ordered without looking at him. Her eyes were glued to the darkness coming towards her.

Zane immediately threw up his energy and then grabbed her hand, making their energy multiply. The darkness moved forward, touching her shield and then shattering back away from her.

Sarah gasped in horror and turned to look at Zane, feeling terrified. “Something horrible has happened. There’s evil in the house.”

Zane’s face turned hard and his eyes blazed bright silver. “Stay as close to me as possible. We need to check the house to make sure no one’s still here and then we’re getting out. Let’s hurry,” he said, pulling her out of the room quickly.

Sarah glanced behind her and knew what she would see. The dark energy had reformed and was now following them. She groaned softly, feeling sick but kept pace with Zane. They checked every room on the top floor and then moved to the ground floor. They’d already been in the kitchen and the morning room, so they checked the front parlor and then started on the bottom bedrooms. The only thing they found was dark silence.

Zane pushed open the door to Beatrice’s room and Sarah could sense immediately it was empty. As they walked towards the guest bedroom that was to be Charlie’s, she felt the darkness more heavily.
Zane, be careful. We’re getting closer.

Zane nodded without looking at her and pushed the door slowly open, but it was empty too.

Zane sighed and looked down at Sarah.
There are only two more rooms left. If something or someone is there and it’s bad. Get out as fast as you can. Promise me.

Sarah looked up into Zane’s silver eyes, and saw strength and courage there. Resolve too. Zane was determined to protect her no matter what.
I won’t go without you. We’re stronger together than apart.

Zane’s muscles bunched and he looked down in frustration.
We don’t have time to argue Sarah. I can’t let any harm come to you. Promise me.

Sarah shook her head wordlessly. She would never promise to turn her back on him.

Zane growled in frustration but gave up and turned back towards the last two bedrooms. The first one would be her father’s and the next one was her grandmother’s. Zane pushed the first door open, scanning it quickly. Empty.

They turned and walked towards Francis’s room but Sarah pulled back on Zane’s hand almost immediately as she gasped out loud. “Zane. It’s so cold. Don’t go in there,” she whimpered.

Zane looked at her worriedly, but then carefully let go of her hand and pushed her away. “Stay here, while I go look, okay Sarah?
Stay here
,” he said gently.

Zane walked the last few feet to her grandmother’s door and then stopped. He looked down at the wooden floor and paused. Sarah hurried to his side and looked down too. Bright red drops covered the floor as if paint had been splattered from a brush.

Sarah moaned softly and grasped onto Zane’s arm. “Blood.”

Zane nodded tersely and pushed the door open, tense and ready for anything that would come at him. He walked slowly into the dark room, looking back and forth, searching for movement.

Sarah gasped for breath as she tried to control her breathing. She let go of Zane’s arm in case he needed to move quickly. She felt along the wall and turned on the light switch, illuminating the whole room in soft yellow light. Sarah’s eyes were glued to the floor though as she saw the red splashes and dots make a pathway towards her grandmother’s bed.

Zane walked slowly towards the bed, still looking quickly around. Sarah felt ill, cold and shaky as more dark energy began to hover around her, trying to get through her barrier. She breathed in and out slowly and told herself to get control. Zane needed her. Her grandmother needed her. This was no time to fall apart just because of a little blood.

The fear receded slightly as her adrenaline and energy took over, flowing smoothly through her arms and legs and down her spine. She felt her power begin to hum all around her and she was able to walk up to the bed and stand beside Zane.

She swallowed and took in a deep breath before looking at the bed. Her grandmother lay perfectly still in the middle of the bed. Her hands were clasped over the blankets, in an unnatural still way. Her chest wasn’t moving and her eyes were closed. Her face was incredibly pale and her skin looked so thin it could tear. The only color on the bed was the bright ribbon of blood that led from her neck out onto the bright crisp white sheets.