Frog Hollow (Witches of Sanctuary Book 1) (20 page)

“Stay with me, Lizzie,” the other one assures her.

As their hands touch, grasping for life and sanctuary in each other’s arms, the curse rains down on their enemies. Three families to be forever haunted from that day forth.

I gasp as my eyes snap open, reality slowly finding light in my head. I know it all now, the beginning, the end, and the secret of the Haunted they never wanted to be found. Reid clings desperately to my arm, his eyes shooting daggers at Priscilla. “You’ve ruined her. You’ve taken her life away,” he chokes out.

Priscilla dismisses him, looking straight past him to me. “Do you still seek the Haunted child?”

Reid roars beside me. “Of course, because now we have to kill them. We have to make sure they don’t find Willa first. So, yes, we still seek him!”

She nods, straightening her hat back to its original position. “Wait for me.”

Reid’s arms wrap around me as I cry against his chest. “I’m so sorry,” I yelp. “I had no idea.”

“No one did, Wilhelmina. There is no way you could have known.”

“I know now.” I sob between words. “I know why Roux Bessette wants to kill me.”

My skin crawls at the thought of it, fear engulfing me to the point I think it might tear me in two.

“Don’t worry about it right now, okay? We’ll figure this out. At least now we know their motive. I’ll take care of it. I won’t let them take you, I promise.”

I weep openly in his arms, overwhelmed by it all. “You were wrong,” I tell him, gulping in air. “You don’t need me. I need you.”

His tears are in my hair as he begins to sob. “And I needed to hear you say that.”

Chapter 19

MASQUERADE

I wake up in a fog, unsure if the last twenty-four hours have been a bad dream or maybe my unruly imagination getting the best of me. When I roll over and spot Reid sitting in the armchair next to the bed, I realize it has all been real. I am now, thanks to the ghost of Priscilla DeMarci, the official keeper of the truth, like every woman in my family before me. I clearly recall it all in my head, the little girls, the same ones Julien and I discovered in the graveyard, my ancestors. If that is true, it also means Priscilla indeed returned after having found Julien in the downtown home of his father François. She hadn’t gotten to speak to him, because he was surrounded by guards, but she promised he looked unharmed.

I sit up in the small bed, rubbing my eyes as they focus. Reid is already awake, dressed and lacking all hints of the grief we experienced last night. “Good morning.” I groan and try to stretch. “Did you even go to sleep?”

He scoots up to the edge of his seat. “A couple hours. This chair isn’t that comfortable.”

“I would have shared.” I point to the bed, though I realize too late it is much smaller than I originally thought.

Reid laughs while coming over to squeeze in next to me. “I managed,” he says. “I was more concerned about you. Last night was insane.”

“I’m okay.” It’s a lie. I still feel my heart beat rapidly in my chest. “Have you told the others yet?”

He shakes his head. “I figure the less they know, the better. Fiona obviously thought the same, or she would have taken my mom or Jade with her. It’s best the others believe they have no real reason to be coming after you.”

I groggily agree. We can tell them when it’s safer, and there is no one left to kill them for it.

“What about Julien?” I ask timidly. “Did you tell them Priscilla found him?”

He nods. “Zeke talked to Anders this morning. It seems François is throwing a giant party tonight, a masquerade ball in honor of the return of his son.”

I grumble at the thought, and Reid touches my shoulder. “I know,” he says. “Anders knows nothing about Roux Bessette, though, so crashing this party seems like our best bet at finding him.”

I crawl out of bed, a little clumsy on my feet. “What is it with southerners and masquerade balls?”

“’Tis the season.” He smiles, helping me right my balance. “Sera and Abby are out finding us all proper formal wear, so it’s probably best you go ahead and take your shower. I’ll go down and find you some breakfast.”

I look at his kind smile and sigh.

I really don’t deserve either of them.

“Thank you,” I say. “For everything.”

He hugs me gently, my cheek resting against his chest. “You are always welcome.”

He disappears out the door, leaving me alone with nothing but my thoughts. It’s worse than torture. It’s what I deserve.

I take a long, hot shower as I try to forget about the curse. When I emerge twenty minutes later, I find a bowl of steaming hot oatmeal, a glass of milk, and a variety of fruits waiting on my bedside table. He left a note explaining Abby has dragged him off to get dressed and fair warning that I am her next target. I eat my breakfast in a rush as I dry my hair and throw on some clothes. Just as Reid predicted, Abby bangs on my door before I can manage to clean up my mess.

As soon as I open the door, she grabs my hand and begins dragging me down the hallway. “There is so much to do! It’s going to take all day. I can’t believe they expect us to attend a ball on such short notice.”

I look at the weird wildness flashing in her eyes. “You’re going to put makeup on me, aren’t you?”

She laughs, a hysterical kind of sound. “If only that was all I was planning on doing to you. Now hurry, we don’t have much time!”

We enter a room where Sera and Sadie wait, sorting through a variety of colored shopping bags. “Jade didn’t come?” I ask, as Abby whirls me around and sits me in a chair.

“Mom is helping Cari keep an eye on the house and your store,” Sadie explains with her head stuck down a bag. “Plus, someone had to break the news to Julien’s grandmother.”

I bite my lip, because I can imagine how well that conversation will go. Rebekah probably hates me now, blames me for Julien’s misfortune, and she would be right. Abby jerks my face around to her. “No time for sulking,” she says. “Stay still.”

Almost an hour later, my makeup is done and my hair curled and sprayed so it hangs loosely, yet precisely down my shoulders. When I turn around, I almost gasp. Sera, already in her midnight blue gown and black feathered mask, twirls around the room like some sort of forgotten angel. “You look amazing!”

She smiles, coming over to pat my cheek. “Don’t look so bad yourself, sweetheart,” she says, smiling ruefully. “I’m going to go check on the boys and make sure they have everything they need.”

As she whisks out of the room, I spot Abby emerging from the bathroom in a canary yellow gown with matching mask that sets off her beautiful bronze skin perfectly. Her hair is pulled into a messy side braid that looks too complicated to be a mistake. “You really went all out for this, didn’t you?”

She smiles brilliantly. “We need to fit in,” she says, “but a girl should always stand out as well.”

“I don’t think anyone will miss you.” I run my fingers down the feathers that create a butterfly design around her face.

She sticks her tongue out at me and holds the bathroom door open. “Your dress is waiting. I’ll meet you and Sadie downstairs as soon as you get dressed.”

I take in a deep breath at the thought of my dress, and Sadie giggles at my fretting. “It’s perfect for you,” she says as I shut the door behind me.

She’s right too.

I pull the garment bag open to reveal a deep magenta ball gown that sparkles from head to toe. I take a calming gulp and begin trying to figure out how to put it on. Once I zip the back, I turn to inspect myself in the mirror, amazed by what I see. The dress is perfect. The top half is a form fitting sweetheart bodice, and the bottom is full, swishing in a way that reminds me of Cinderella. I spin a few times just to watch it swirl around me. I start to run out into the room to show Sadie, but my hand stops at the door as I inch it open.

I hear Zeke’s uneasy voice as I catch a glimpse of Sadie standing in the middle of the room in her perfectly white gown. She looks stunning, and I listen as Zeke nervously agrees. “Wow,” he says, breathless. “You definitely know how to make this difficult on a guy.”

“What do you mean?”

He sweeps into my line of vision, absolutely dashing in his tux and emerald green mask that resembles something from Phantom of the Opera. He looks almost normal, the sunken lines of his face hidden from view. “I just have a few things I need to say before we go through with this tonight.”

Sadie blinks nervously at him.

“I love you, Sadie.” Zeke’s hands shake as much as his voice. “And if I could, I’d make sure this isn’t the last white dress you wear.”

“Zeke.” She trembles, but he holds up his hand.

“The past couple months, you’ve pushed me to experience every aspect of life that I’m going to miss out on, and recently I decided there is still one thing I’m not willing to give up.”

Sadie’s breath matches my own as I wedge my face into the small opening at the door. We both gasp as Zeke drops to his knee, a tiny diamond ring sparkling between his fingers. “I know it’s selfish of me, but—will you marry me?” he asks. “Tonight? Right now?”

“Yes!” Tears well up in her eyes as she flings herself at him. “Why would you even have to ask such a question?”

Zeke laughs, his smile full and vibrant. “Well, I thought that’s how it worked?”

Sadie can’t stop smiling as she kisses him. I wait until they run out of the room, their laughter ringing down the hallway, before I gather the nerve to come out. I sit on the bed to put on my shoes as I try to take in what just happened. Sadie and Zeke are getting married, confirming their love and commitment to each other for the remainder of his life. I want to be happy, though my heart pains me as I’m reminded of the reason for their rush. They will be risking their lives today to save mine, to save Julien’s because I care about him. It feels wrong.

The door squeaks open, and Reid silently steps into the room. If it weren’t for the shaggy hair hanging over the scarlet, black, and silver design of his mask, I would have never recognized him. The guy is definitely rocking that tuxedo, and I can’t help but admire it. “Hey.” I jump to my feet. “Did you hear the news?”

He nods, stepping closer to me. “I think half the world heard the news. We’re stopping by the courthouse on our way to the ball.”

The guilt is instant. “They shouldn’t go with us.”

“Shhh.” He comes over to pull me into a hug. “I already tried to convince them not to, but they refuse to hear of it.”

“I feel horrible about it, though.”

“Don’t.” He takes in an uneven breath. “You should feel nothing but absolutely gorgeous right now.”

I blush as his eyes drop down to my dress. “Thanks.”

He smiles as he strokes my hair. “There’s just one thing missing.” He goes over to the bed to sift through the bags. “Ahh, here it is.” He pulls out a white mask with magenta feathers encircling it. “Come here.”

I lean forward as he gently places the mask over my face and then pulls my long curls back over my shoulder. “Now you look perfect.”

I try to bite back the smile, but there is no use. He holds his arm out to me, matching the stupid grin on my face. “May I escort you to the wedding of Mr. Prescott and Miss Lawson?”

I wrap my arm around his and nod. “You may.”

He leads me out of the room as we both try to ignore the spark of electricity that sends a shock up our arms at the site of contact.

An hour later, we stand on the steps of the Charlotte courthouse, cheering and throwing flowers in the air as Zeke and Sadie enjoy their first kiss as husband and wife. It’s a magical moment tainted by the reality that their reception will be thrown by people who want me dead.

Everyone still laughs and revels in the enjoyment of the new couple’s happiness, while I fret by myself in the back of the crowd. Reid weaves his way back to me, his hand catching mine. “Smile.” He touches his lips softly to my temple. “We have all night to be serious.”

“How are we even going to get into this ball? I’m sure we aren’t on the guest list.”

He rolls his eyes. “Mom can make sure anyone is on that guest list.”

He notices my frown again, and he realizes that no amount of reason is going to soothe my worries. So instead, he throws his arm around my shoulder and holds me tight. “Fine,” he says, giving in. “We’ll just stay back here and be sourpusses together.”

I pat his side and lean my head on his shoulder. “You’re a good date,” I say, and he laughs.

I manage to stay relatively calm until we join the crowd that approaches the stone steps of the immaculate hotel that is throwing the party. Security is tight. Reid nudges me to point out the armed guards standing in the windows and those lurking in the shadows of the neighboring alleys. We spread amongst the crowd, lingering at store windows, waiting our turn as Sera secretly performs her magic on the attendant at the door. After watching her glide by him, holding the arm of Zeke’s cousin Anders, we know our turn is next. Reid leads me up the steps, smiling politely at the doorman. I notice the glazed look in his eyes when Reid states the made up names Sera chose for us. “Mr. and Mrs. Goodman,” Reid tells him, not waiting for confirmation before leading me inside.

We are greeted with a giant dome entryway lined with crystal chandeliers. I glance down and see my reflection in the shiny marble floor as he tugs my arm forward. We continue to follow the crowd down the long hallway until we enter what I assume is a pavilion. The room opens up into an almost outdoor-like experience. Hidden walkways are shadowed by rows of green foliage, fountains, and a clear ceiling that lets in an array of colors from the setting sun. “Forward,” a squat looking woman directs as we walk by. “The ballroom is on your left through the gallery.”

Reid nods, thanking her politely. The ballroom exceeds my expectations, grander than any fairytale I can imagine. The ceiling is tall, draped with exquisite fabric that matches the gold and bronze walls. Directly in front of us, at the far end of the ballroom, is a stage with a band producing a slow but joyous jazz beat. The dancefloor takes up the entire middle of the room, while the rest is filled with tables, each set with half-filled wine glasses and an array of exotic cheeses and fruit. Reid leads me over to a table in the far corner, opposite the direction of Sera and Anders. Our objective is to spot anyone of importance. To me that means Julien, while Reid is more worried about Roux or François.

Minutes later, the rest of our crew finally makes its way into the room, each pair spreading out to different sections of the crowd. Despite Sera’s warning, Zeke and Sadie are the first to join the dancefloor, taking their chances in order to enjoy their first dance as husband and wife. “I don’t want you trying to do anything crazy tonight,” Reid whispers in my ear.