Love Spell: Book 2 of The Grimm Laws (6 page)

He flipped to the page where he’d drawn Rapunzel in the tower. His eye trailed up the fat braid of red hair until he came to the girl’s face. A shiver ran through him. He’d not realized it until Elle pointed it out, but the traditional Rapunzel had blonde hair. Looking at the face of the girl now, he realized that she bore a strong resemblance to Rae. Funny, he’d not thought about Rae, per se, when he was drawing it. He’d pictured a girl from another time, a lonely girl who was wistful and a bit of a dreamer. Rae was the polar opposite of that girl, and yet there was the same fierce look in her emerald eyes and that same stubborn set of the chin. He shook his head. This was crazy! He needed to get some food in his belly. He closed the sketchpad and placed it on his dresser. He didn’t know what in the heck was going on with these pictures, but it was starting to worry him.

A sense of movement outside the window caught his attention. He jumped as a shiver of fear ran through him. It was if a dark, ominous presence had entered the room. He glanced around before standing and looking out the window. Nothing. He ran a hand through his hair. Man, he was starting to get spooked by his own shadow. Weirdness!

E
lle looked
down at her phone. Rae was texting her.

She responded back.

Edward shot her a sidelong glance. “Everything okay?”

She put her phone back into her purse. “Yeah, it’s Rae. I told her we’d catch up tomorrow.”

He nodded.

“Where are we headed?” They were going up the canyon to Edward’s house, and that’s the last thing she wanted. She couldn’t handle running into Mrs. Porter tonight. Things were volatile enough as it was with Rush without adding fuel to the fire.

“You’ll see,” Edward said mysteriously.

“Are we going to your house?”

“Nope.”

Relief settled over her as they passed his neighborhood and curved up the canyon. Finally he pulled into a parking lot for one of the trailheads. “Are we going hiking? In the dark?”

He only smiled.

The days were growing shorter and the nights colder. Not the ideal time for hiking. Elle suppressed a shiver. She’d not thought to bring a sweater or jacket.

Edward got out of the car, came around, and opened her door. Then he went around the back and opened the trunk and retrieved a large square basket that was covered. He grabbed his letterman jacket and a sweatshirt. “For you.” He handed it to her.

“Thanks.”

It was one of Edward’s sweatshirts and about four sizes too big, but she was grateful for it as she slipped it over her head. He draped the jacket over his arm and took her hand, holding the basket in his other hand. He led her through the parking lot, up the trailhead, and to a grassy spot where they could see the city lights twinkling below.

She cocked her head. “Are we having a picnic?”

He put down the basket, opened it, and pulled out a folded blanket. “A candlelight dinner.” He gave her a quirky grin as he pulled out two battery-operated candles. “Well, sort of a candlelight dinner,” he amended. “The wind is too strong up here for candles.”

She laughed. “I’m impressed.”

“Good, that’s the point.” He motioned. “Have a seat in the finest starlit, open-air restaurant in Tower Heights.”

“Thank you.”

He began pulling items from the basket. “Dinner tonight consists of fried chicken strips, potato wedges, Cole slaw, baked beans, potato chips, and two chocolate chip cookies.”

There was a boyish quality about Edward that was very enduring. He’d gone to great effort to impress her, and it was working. “Wow! This looks fantastic. I’m famished!”

“Me too.” He twisted the top of a green apple soda and handed it to her. “Ladies first.”

“Always a gentlemen,” she said appraisingly.

To Elle’s relief, the conversation stayed on light topics while they ate. The food was excellent, and she found herself laughing at Edward’s witty jokes. When they’d finished eating, they put the empty containers back into the basket. Edward stretched out his legs and looked up at the stars overhead. Elle looked up as well. “It’s so clear up here.” She pointed. “Look, there’s the big dipper.” It laid on her tongue to tell him about constellations, but then a pang went through her. Sitting on the roof and talking about the stars was something she and Rush did together.

“The moon looks so large tonight.”

“A big ball of cheese.”

Edward chuckled as a comfortable silence settled between them. Then his expression grew serious, and he turned to face her. She went tense, her heart dropping a notch. Things had been going so well. Was he going to ruin it now by putting pressure on her? “Elle,” he began, “I know things have been a little off between us lately because of the accident.” He hesitated. “And a few other things.”

Irritation flickered over her. “Things like Rush?” She figured she might as well get it out in the open rather than beating around the bush about it all night. If she and Edward had a chance of working things out then they would have to discuss Rush sooner or later. From the sound of things, it was going to be sooner rather than later.

His jaw became hard. “Yeah.” He let out a breath. “Look, I don’t really know what happened between the two of you.” She started to respond, but he held up a hand. “And I don’t really want to know.” A wounded look came into his eyes. “It would only make me hate him even more,” he said vehemently.

She brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms tightly around them. It was probably better that Edward didn’t want to talk about Rush. How could she explain things to him when she didn’t understand them herself?

“I know it has been hard for you due to the coma and memory loss.”

“You have no idea,” she muttered.

He began rubbing her arm. “I know, and I’m sorry. What I’m getting at is that this thing between you and Rush. It’s not real. It came about because you were confused about who you were. He took advantage of the situation,” he finished bitterly.

She sat there, unsure what to say. Edward detested Rush—that was obvious, and she had been confused since the accident. But if what Rush told her were true, then her involvement with him began long before the coma. The old Elle had been dating Edward and sneaking around with Rush. She briefly thought about admitting as much to get everything out in the open, but she didn’t want to hurt Edward any more than was necessary. It wouldn’t change anything, and she was a different person now. She was starting to realize that she would most likely never get her memories back and that the only way she could gain an ounce of self-respect was to start fresh, accepting the person that she’d become through all of this. The sparkling lights, combined with the velvety night around them provided a protective cocoon in which she could share her thoughts openly. The wind picked up, and she hugged her arms and instinctively moved closer to Edward, seeking his warmth.

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes, Edward. I’ve done things I’m not proud of.”

“I understand,” he said tersely. “We all make mistakes—do things we wish we hadn’t.”

She turned and looked him in the eye so that there would be no misunderstanding. “I wish I could sit here and tell you that I had zero reservations about the two of us. I wish I could tell you that I’m the same girl who wrote that wonderful letter you showed me.” She paused, knowing the next part would sting. “But the truth is, I can’t.” The words settled like boulders between them. “You are a wonderful person and will always be an important part of my life. I just don’t know that I can make a commitment to you right now.”

His eyes went hard. “Is this because of Rush?”

The accusing words encircled her heart like a vice. Would there ever be any escaping Rush? She was starting to seriously doubt it. “I’m not really sure,” she admitted.

The space between them seemed to grow empty and large as he stared out into the distance.

She glanced at his rigid profile. “Say something,” she implored. Anything would be better than the silence.

A sad smile flittered over his lips. “I guess I was just hoping that we could put everything behind us.” He gave her a pleading look. “I’m here and you’re here. I love you, Elle.” His voice broke. “I always have.”

“I care about you too,” she said tenderly.

He surprised her by putting an arm around her and pulling her close. It felt good to be protected from the wind. She leaned her head against him. They sat that way for a few minutes until he spoke. “See, this feels right.”

Did it? Yes, it surprisingly did.

He turned and looked into her eyes. “Elle,” he murmured, caressing her hair. He leaned in, and a tingle ran down her spine the instant before his lips met hers.

He pulled her into his arms and gave her a tender kiss that unearthed something Elle couldn’t quite pinpoint. It was a combined feeling of security, longing, and heartache. Then his lips grew more demanding, and she felt a flicker of desire as her arms went around his neck. When the kiss was over, he put his forehead to hers. “I’ll wait for you,” he whispered, brushing the curve of her cheek with his hand.

Her eyes misted. “Are you sure? I’m so mixed up right now. I can’t make you any promises.”

He put a finger to her lips to silence her. “Absolutely.”

It would later be hard for them to fully understand what happened next. They felt more than heard a movement behind them and then a cold black shadow slithered around them, cloaking them in darkness.

A paralyzing terror seized Elle, and she could hardly breathe. She sputtered and coughed, hungry for air, but it was no use. Her lungs were being squeezed by an invisible force that was snaking around her, and she was losing consciousness. Then the scene changed as a vast wasteland appeared before her. In the distance was a stone castle, shimmering against the gray landscape. She began walking toward it, but then the ground groaned and started to split as a deep chasm cut its way through the rock. She gasped in terror at the river of fire running below. Her foot slipped, and she fell back in an attempt to keep from falling into the fire as strong arms caught her. She looked into the face of her rescuer. Fair-haired with a kind look in his golden eyes.
Edward
. She smiled up at him, but then he vanished, and she was standing alone in the wasteland once more.

In the distance, she saw him, beckoning to her. He was yelling something she couldn’t hear, but she recognized at once the fierce look in his blue eyes, the determined set of his jaw. She knew him as well as she knew herself. “Rushton!” she screamed, but the words got sucked out. A feeling of overwhelming love burned through her with such intensity that she could hardly bear it. Then her heart clutched as a terrible sadness overcame her. His expression twisted to hatred, and there was a condemning look in his eyes. No matter how much of herself she gave to him, it would never be enough. She would never be enough. She fell to her knees in anguish. Then a terrible screeching sound rent the air. She covered her ears and looked up as a hooded figure loomed over her. The faceless shadow lifted an arm, wielding a razor sharp knife. It slashed through her, gutting out her fears, leaving her raw and exposed. She felt the confusion of not knowing who she was, the anguish of realizing that she’d been a terrible person before the accident. She was weak, a coward. This was her worst nightmare incarnate—her greatest fear. This was death. She struggled to fight, but it was no use, the abyss was too great.

A white light shot through the gloom, blinding her. The monster shrieked and recoiled as if in pain. Then it retracted into itself as the light grew brighter, dispelling the darkness. The absence of fear was the first thing Elle became aware of as a familiar voice penetrated her consciousness, followed by soft laughter. Adele stood before her.

“You saved me,” Elle said simply, tears filling her eyes. “I was weak and afraid.”

Adele gave her a wise smile. “You are stronger than you think, dear. The power lies within you to do great things. You only have to look inside yourself to find it. Cast your fear away, and the darkness won’t be able to overtake you.”

Elle reached for her, but she grasped only air, and then she was floating in a soft bed of daisies.

“Elle! Elle!” She opened her eyes. Edward was kneeling beside her. He was clutching her arms. There was a frantic expression on his face. “We need to go, NOW!” He pulled her to her feet and grabbed her hand, dragging her behind him as they ran down the path. They jumped in the car. He started the engine and peeled out of the parking lot. He raced down the canyon road at record pace, his hands clutching the steering wheel, and all the while, Elle was battling her own thoughts.

When they reached the bottom of the canyon, Edward pulled into a gas station and turned off the engine. He turned to Elle. “What the heck happened up there?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know.”

He rushed on. “One minute we were sitting there, and then that black thing circled around us.” A crazed look came into his eyes.

“That black shadow thing!” she added. The world began to spin as the paralyzing fear returned with a vengeance. Elle gulped, fighting hard to get a good breath.

Edward caught her arm. “Hey, are you okay? Take a deep breath. Elle! Look at me!” he commanded.

Her eyes met his.

“Relax. Take a deep breath. Whatever it was … it’s gone now.”

Blessed air filled her lungs, and she willed herself to relax. Edward began rubbing her back. A full five minutes went by before Elle’s breathing returned to normal. “I’m sorry,” she finally said.

He gave her a weak smile. “No need to apologize. That thing was … it was …”

“Evil!” she inserted.

“Yes.” A stupefied look came over him. “I don’t believe in the supernatural.”

Neither had she before getting to know Adele. Then a peculiar thought struck her. Adele had been there in the vision or whatever that was. She’d saved her.