Burned (Keeper of the Flame) (22 page)

When I get to the diner, I park my car and
walk in without looking over my shoulder to see that Ryan and
Cheyenne have arrived. I’m pretty sure Logan will find me here, so
I have to pretend everything is normal.

I ask the waitress for a booth near the door.
Even though it’s louder and more crowded, it’ll make for an easier
escape, and it’ll be quicker to get Logan outside if I can weaken
him like I’m supposed to.

I order two coffees. When they arrive hot and
steaming, I put the vervain in his, my hand shaking as I glance
around. I keep looking at the window, too, hoping he won’t walk in
and see me.

When I slide his mug back to his side of the
table, I straighten as the door opens. It’s Logan.

He lifts his brows when he sees me. “Willow,”
he says.

I try to keep my face even. “Hi, Logan. I
thought this would be a good place to meet.”

He shrugs out of his jacket and sits across
from me. He looks at the coffee.

“Something to drink while we talk.”

He smiles, cupping his hands around the mug.
He doesn’t look suspicious. Yet. “Talk. Sounds promising. I’d
prefer to do it somewhere quieter, though.”

“I’m not…” I clear my throat. “I want to make
sure I know what the plan is before I go anywhere with you.”

He lifts the mug but narrows his eyes. What,
can he smell it or something?

I sip my own drink to distract myself. I can
feel his eyes on me, locked on my face in question.

He lowers the mug and says, “I’m pretty sure
yesterday you said you’d take your chances. So what are you doing
here then?”

“This town isn’t that big. I can’t avoid you
forever. I’d rather not be kidnapped again.”

This seems to amuse him. “You’re right. This
town isn’t that big.”

My eyes keep straying to the mug, willing him
to drink. I think one sip is all it’s going to take.

“How about you tell me what’s really going
on,” he says.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean it doesn’t take a genius to know
you’ve got a plan.”

I put steel in my voice. “My plan is to
figure this out with you. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

“I don’t believe you. Your plan is to stop
me. Tell me what you’re up to.”

“Logan, I’m not‒”

“Willow.” His voice lowers and he casts a
quick glance around. “You need to come with me.”

“No.”

He taps his fingers on the edge of the mug.
“Do what I say, or your mom gets hurt.”

“What?” I choke out. “My
mom
? What did
you do, Logan? What‒”

“Calm down, Willow. People are starting to
stare.”

“Did you hurt her?” I ask.

“Not yet. But if you don’t tell me what
you’re up to, she’ll get hurt.”

He lifts the mug to his lips and I reach my
hand out. “Don’t drink that.”

Some of the coffee spills, dripping on his
hand. He hisses out a breath and sets the mug down calmly, even
though his chest his heaving.

“I’ll tell you, Logan, please don’t hurt my
mom‒”

He stands abruptly, snagging his jacket. The
door opens and Ryan walks through, gaze going straight to our
table.

When I see the murderous look in Ryan’s eyes,
I step between them. “Don’t do this here.”

Logan doesn’t seem to care about doing
anything but leaving. He yanks open the door and walks out.

I start after him but Ryan catches my arm.
“What’s going on?”

“He has my mom.”

I pull away and go after Logan. He only made
it a few feet, staring down at his hand before putting his jacket
back on.

“Logan, please‒where’s my mom?”

He rounds on me, eyes so dark I back up until
I’m against the building. “I told you what would happen if you
tried anything.”

“I didn’t‒I mean, I stopped you from drinking
that. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

Ryan takes two long strides and stops inches
from Logan. He’s taller than him, but Logan doesn’t back down.

“Where’s Willow’s mom?” Ryan asks.

Logan’s lips curve into a deadly smile.
“Somewhere safe.”

Ryan grips his collar so fast, I barely see
it. But Logan’s just as fast and he shoves Ryan before taking a
swing.

“No!” I reach for Ryan, but I can hardly
follow their movements.

Cheyenne runs over from her car. “What the
hell is going on?”

Ryan lands a punch on Logan’s jaw and I gasp.
Logan spins around, knocking Ryan to the ground. He aims a kick
right into Ryan’s stomach.

“Stop!” I yell, dropping to my knees next to
Ryan.

Logan starts to swing again, sees me and
freezes. “Move,” he says.

“No. Logan, don’t do this.”

He swipes at his lip, clearing a drop of
blood. His chest is still heaving from the fight, from anger and
adrenaline.

“You have one hour.” He straightens his
jacket. “Be at my house in one hour or your mom is going to get
hurt.”

He walks away without looking back. I set my
hand on Ryan’s stomach. “Are you okay?”

Ryan shifts, and then gets to his feet,
hauling me up with him. “I’m fine.”

“But‒”

“I’m fine,” he repeats.

“I have to go.”

I start to Ryan’s truck. He scoops an arm
around my waist and hauls me back.

“Stop, Willow.”

I whirl around to face him. “Did you hear
what Logan said? He has my mom. He’s going to hurt her‒”

“And if you go there, he’s going to hurt
you.”

I grind my teeth together and appeal to
Cheyenne. “Help me, please. Tell me what to do. I have to be there
in an hour‒”

“Deep breath,” Cheyenne says.

I try to pull one in, but my shoulders shake.
“I‒I can’t‒”

Ryan folds me into an embrace, running his
hand down my hair. “It’s okay, Willow. Come on, we’ll figure it
out.”

My heart races out of control. “There’s
nothing to figure out.”

“Willow, look at me,” Ryan says.

I duck my chin. “Please don’t try to talk me
out of this. I have to help her.”

“Look at me.” He lifts my chin and meets my
eyes. “You can’t walk in there without a plan‒some way to get out.
Or to get in touch with us.”

“He’ll be reasonable. He can’t expect me to
just disappear.”

Cheyenne folds her arms. “He did last
time.”

I press my hands over my face. “You’re
right.” What else can I do? Selena. She can help me. And so can
Ryan and Cheyenne. I straighten. “Let’s go to the library. I need a
few things.”

Ryan gives me a skeptical look but follows me
across the street to the library. Cheyenne opens it up for us.

Inside I collect what I think I’ll need, and
a few more things that hopefully Logan won’t think to check for. I
have to reassure Ryan three times before he’ll let me back out the
door.

“No time,” I say. “Wait for me here, okay?
I’ll be in touch with you soon.”

Ryan presses a kiss to my temple, and then my
mouth. “Be safe.”

Cheyenne hugs me. “Buy some time. If you can
get us in there, we’ll help with your mom.”

I nod and get in the car before I can change
my mind. My hands are tight on the wheel the entire way there, my
stomach swirling with nerves.

I’ve never seen Logan as angry as he was in
the diner. And now that he knows I tried to slip him vervain, I
have no idea what he’ll do.

When I pull the car around the long circle at
the front of the house, I fight to keep going. I could turn and
run. I could hide from Logan. But then what will happen to my
mom?

Even though I haven’t seen her in years, even
though I don’t know her anymore, I can’t leave her here with
Logan.

I come to a stop close to the front door.
Clutching my satchel close to my body, I take a deep breath and
tell myself Logan won’t hurt me. He just wants to become a full
vampire.

And if I can’t stop him, I’ll have to help
him. At least my mom will be alive. At least I’ll be alive.

I get out of the car and walk to the front
door with a few minutes to spare. I lift my hand to knock, and
wait.

I don’t hear anything inside at first, then
the door creaks open. I expect Logan, but it’s not him.

It’s a woman close to my age. Beautiful with
dark hair and deep blue eyes.

“Hi,” she says. “You must be Willow.”

I don’t know what to say. I don’t think I’ve
ever seen Logan with anyone else, and now he’s got a woman in his
house?

“Come in,” she says, stepping back
inside.

I walk in, noticing she looks tired. There
are circles under her eyes and she’s moving slowly. I open my mouth
to ask her something, but hear Logan coming down the hallway.

“Myra,” he says, voice gentle.

I stare at him as he puts his arm around
Myra’s shoulders.

“Myra,” he says. “This is Willow. Willow, my
sister Myra.”

“Your sister,” I whisper.

His lips twitch, but he smoothes out his
expression when he looks at Myra again. “I thought you were
resting. Come on, I’ll walk you back.”

“Nice to meet you,” I say as she turns.

She glances over her shoulder with a small
smile. Her eyes are curious, but all she says is, “You too.”

Logan points where I’m standing. “Stay here.
I’ll be back in a minute.”

I fold my arms, tempted to ignore him. But I
can’t afford to make him angry again. Not when I don’t know where
my mother is.

His sister looks like him a little. The same
eyes. But what’s she doing here? And does she have any idea what
Logan is trying to do? She doesn’t look like a vampire, but then
neither did Logan when I first met him.

I listen for voices but can’t hear anything.
Only a moment later, Logan returns, boots silent on the hardwood
floor. He walks straight to me with purpose, stopping so close, I’m
intimidated. I almost back up.

But I don’t.

“What was that this morning?” he asks.

I rub my hand over my cheek, shaking my head.
“What do you expect? For me to just go along with something I don’t
believe in?”

“Yes,” he snaps, eyes flashing. “You haven’t
been here long enough to decide whether or not breaking the spell
is a good idea. You’re not a part of this like I have been‒or my
family has been‒all this time.”

“That’s not
my
fault. And if you
weren’t so
selfish
‒”

“You think that’s what this is?”

I take a step back, swallowing, ready to hold
out my necklace in defense.

“You have
no
idea what this is all
about.” A muscle jumps in his jaw and he steps even closer, eyes
dipping to my lips. “I tried to tell you, tried to talk with you
and you didn’t want to listen. So now we’re doing things my
way.”

I lift my chin. “Which way is that?”

“What’s in your bag?”

I look down, distracted. “What?”

He pulls it off my shoulder, yanking it from
my hands when I try to stop him. He opens it up, pulls out my cell
phone. He stuffs it in his pocket.

“Logan‒”

“My way,” he says. He lifts his eyebrows at
my Book of Shadows. “We’ll see about that.” He frowns when he sees
something else. “Take it out.”

I peer inside, figuring he’s talking about
the bag of vervain. I take it out, holding it up. “Now what?”

He narrows his eyes. “Trash.”

“Lo‒”

He takes my arm, pulling me to the
kitchen.

“You’re seriously not winning any points
here,” I say, stumbling after him.

He tosses open the cabinet under the sink and
points to the bin. “Trash.”

Like I can’t come back in here and get it out
later. I throw it in there and fold my arms. “I want to see my
mom.”

“What’s in your pockets?”

I gape at him. “Nothing.”

He steps forward. “Show me.”

“I said nothing. Logan!”

His finger grips my belt loop and pulls me
closer. He digs in my front pocket as I try to push his hands away.
He comes out with a library card.

When he frowns, I snatch it back. “I just got
it this morning,” I say, trying to sound convincing.

“Anything else?”

He reaches for my back pocket. I point my
finger at him. “Don’t you dare.”

“You know what happened last time you tried
to trick me,” he says. “I’d appreciate full disclosure.”

“I don’t have anything in my pockets, okay?”
I reach back and pull them inside out. “See?”

“Good.”

His shoulders relax and I step back as well,
hoping he’s finished. Then he says, “I’m going to need your
necklace, too.”

I shake my head. “I’m not going to do
anything with it.”

“Then take it off.”

“It’s been in my family for years,
Logan‒”

“I won’t lose it.” He pulls a handkerchief
from his pocket and opens it. “Come on, set it inside. I’ll save it
for you until this is done.”

Feeling sick inside, I take off the necklace.
I know it probably wouldn’t have done much to help me anyway, but
it’s a nice form of security. I drop the necklace in the
handkerchief and turn away.

“Now I want to see my mom,” I say. “I won’t
do anything else until I know she’s safe.”

“Of course.”

He agrees so readily, I’m caught off guard.
“Really?”

“You held up your end of the bargain, I’ll
hold up mine.”

I swallow, trailing after him as he guides us
to a door off the stairs. It’s paneled like the walls, and almost
blends in. He opens it and starts downstairs.

My boots click against the floor as we
descend into the dim basement. “You put her in the basement?”

“Safer,” he says. “For both of us.”

I frown, thinking I’m going to find her
chained to a wall or stuck in some kind of cell. But I’m not so
sure when I see the basement. It’s nice, more than livable, and
furnished well. There’s a room off to the side, bolted from our
end.

“What do you mean safer?” I ask, stepping
closer to the door.

His voice lowers when he glances at me. “I
can feel her power. It’s not like she shows it off or anything, but
I can tell she’s a strong witch.”