Scornful Sadie (Dark Sorceress Trilogy Book 1) (5 page)

“I always stay cloaked,” I explained. “I can’t have anyone trying to find me after I kill a lover or family member.”

Mel squinted as she studied me. “Ok…but there’s more. You aren’t telling us everything.”

“Yes, I am,” I lied. I hated she could read me so well.

Her eyes showed she disagreed, but she didn’t fight me on it. I finished reassuring them I would return in two weeks. The people in my life didn’t seem to trust me when I spoke of leaving, something that didn’t sit well with me. I was trustworthy before, but I’d changed. When had I become a person no one could believe? My word was everything, and never before had I been faced with this issue.

What had become of the Sadie Tabors I once was? Had she really modified everything about herself over losing a few people in her life? Change was difficult, but it wasn’t something to lose yourself over.

Could I find my way back?

I bid goodbye to Tessi and Mel, leaving through the front door though my intended travel wasn’t something I could do in the open. I cast a few spells on the apartment: one to strengthen the cloak, one to stall any leads from showing up, and one to alert me if danger arose for either of my friends.

Tessi would probably sense the magic, but I prayed she wouldn’t rat me out to Mel. Melody was hardheaded and acted before she thought. I didn’t want to think of what would happen if she dove into a fight without preparation.

Forcing the thoughts from my mind, I slipped back inside and backed my way down the hall and into the storage closet. Closing my eyes and lowering my head, I focused on Grandma’s house in Tennessee. I could see it, smell the flowers and all the herbs in her kitchen. I jerked as the magic pulled me into the transportation.

Moving faster than one could imagine, my feet landed with a soft thump right outside her front door. I adjusted the bag on my shoulder and after my insides stopped spinning, I knocked.

The door flew open, surprising me enough to make me jump back. He stood there, staring at me with wide eyes so similar to my own. He looked older, more mature, more like Scott. His hair was longer than it was back then, curling around his ears and the base of his neck. His face held scruff where hair refused to grow before. He was at least a couple of inches taller, making me feel smaller than ever.

“Sadie?”

“Santos,” I said, grinning.

He pulled me in the door, wrapping his arms around me and holding me tightly. “I’ve missed you, sis.”

“I’ve missed you, too,” I said, my voice muffled by his chest. Beating my hand on him, I squealed, “I can’t breathe!”

He released me, his face glowing with happiness. His dimples punctured his cheeks, reminding me so much of Sebastian. His dimples had been always present. “I can’t believe you’re back.” He said it so simply, yet it hit me right in the heart.

“Heard there’s a wedding to attend,” I joked. I pushed the door shut behind me and dropped my bag on the floor.

He looked at me exasperated. “Is there ever! All anyone does is worry about that damned wedding.”

Shocked, I stared at him. “Did you just curse?” The Santos I grew up with was a goody-goody. He would have never said a bad-to-him word.

He shrugged. “I’ve grown up, Sadie. I’m twenty-three now.”

His words made me realize how much I’d missed while being gone. My confidence wavered each second I was here. I missed Charleston. I nodded in acknowledgement of his words, but wasn’t sure what to say about it. “Where is everyone?” I asked instead.

“They don’t hang out here anymore,” he said, making his way to the kitchen.

I followed.

“This place was supposed to be shared by us all, but Scott’s been saving up for a house for him and Liv and you left, so I’ve been living here. I take care of Grandma’s library and stuff, plus I’m close to him.” He looked out the window then and my own gaze followed.

Sebastian’s tree was huge, leaves branching out and budding all over. It’d grown exponentially since I’d been here last, now standing at least ten feet tall. “Sebastian,” I whispered.

Santos smiled sadly. “I miss him a lot.”

Placing my hand on his bicep, I squeezed in comfort. “I do, too. Part of the reason I left.”

He looked at me with misty eyes. “We missed you. We needed you.”

I nodded curtly. “I know.”

He didn’t ask anything else about my departure after that. Santos was still Santos, even if some small things had changed. He fixed me a glass of tea, directing me to sit at the table we’d created so many childhood memories at. We chatted randomly, but Sebastian’s tree stayed on my mind.

“Dating anyone?” he asked, conjuring some chocolate chip cookies on a plate in front of us.

Taking one, I bit into the chewy deliciousness and shook my head. “You?”

His grin said it all.

“Who?” I teased. Kicking his shin under the table, I goaded him to tell me.

“His name is Jackson. I met him at school,” he told me.

Santos started college just before I left, majoring in engineering. He’d never revealed to me he was interested in men, but it didn’t come as a surprise. In school he’d always worried about studying, never interested in dating anyone. He wasn’t picked on thanks to our brothers, but I’d always felt he was hiding something from us.

“When can I meet him? Is he hot?” I asked.

He blushed, actually blushed, and said, “Yes! He’s tall, blonde, and has eyes that could pierce your soul.”

I was happy to see him happy. “Does he know what you are?”

He nodded vigorously. “I told him on our year anniversary!”

“Wow,” I said. “How long have you been together?”

“Going on three,” he said with a smile.

“Wow,” was all I could say. I was ecstatic for him, for Scott, but it was bittersweet. I couldn’t help but wonder—what if Aiden had stayed around?

What would have become of us?

“We’ll talk more soon, ok?” I said, standing. “I want to go see the tree.”

He nodded in understanding. “Go. It helps me.”

Slipping out the back door, I breathed deeply as I took in the air around me. It was the same. Grandma’s flowers still grew all around, the yard was still large and open. We’d grown up here, trained here, mourned here. Walking to the tree, I laid my hand on the bark, feeling the energy swirl under my palm.

“Sebastian,” I whispered.  My voice carried in the wind, seemingly hugging the wood. “I miss you.”

Sinking to the ground, I leaned against the trunk. I sat there for a long time, the sun soaking in my skin as I visited with my brother. He’d been evil in his last days and it wasn’t something I’d been comfortable with, but he was still my flesh and blood. My older brother. My one-time protector.

The sun was setting when I finally opened my eyes, stood, and stretched. I heard the back door open and turned.

Gasping, I clenched my fists at my side.

“Momma,” I choked out. Once again my emotions were taking over.

What in the hell was wrong with me?

She ran to me, tears streaming down her face. My dad stood behind her, stoic as ever, watching. She wrapped me in a warm, motherly hug and I held on for dear life. It felt so good to be back around my family.

“Sadie Mae Tabors, you better never leave me like that again! You tell your mother where you’re going!” she chided as she practically strangled me with her embrace.

I nodded my head, unable to speak.

She held me, her soft, comforting scent of flowers overwhelming my senses and bringing back so many memories. When she pulled back, my father came over, roughly patting me on the back.

“Sadie,” he said. “What you did was immature and unnecessary.  If you wanted to leave, you know we would have supported you. Sneaking out and then cloaking your whereabouts?” he chided. “I thought we raised you better than that.”

His anger masked his hurt, but I heard it in each word. His only daughter left without a word, without a trace, and he was left wondering if she was ok. If she was even alive.

I’d have been mad, too.

“I know, Dad.”

“You know? Do you
know
what you put your mother and me through? How upset your brothers were? Your grandmother?”

I hung my head. Normally I would fight him, argue, but the pain in his eyes was too much. It hurt me to even look at him. I should have called, at least.

My mother spun and faced him. “Spencer, she’s here now,” my mother said. “Leave it alone. Sadie must have had a good reason to leave like she did.”  Turning back to me, she caressed my cheek. “And I’m sure she’ll tell us all about it when she’s ready.” She said it as more of a demand than a comment.

I wouldn’t tell them anything, but I smiled softly anyway. I wasn’t a child anymore, and while I understood they were upset, I owed them nothing more than a simple explanation.

“How did you know I was here?” I questioned.

“Santos informed your grandmother when you arrived, and she told us about twenty minutes ago,” my dad said angrily. “Why do you always go to her?”

“I didn’t,” I spat back. Distancing myself from them, I silently told Sebastian goodbye and headed inside.

“Where are you going?” he yelled.

Yeah, he was uber pissed.

“I’m going to get my stuff in a room and to take a shower. Then I’m going to go find my other brother,” I called.

I heard my mother rushing to catch up. “Sadie, you aren’t staying with us?”

I shook my head. “I’ll stay here with Santos. It’s obvious y’all are upset and I think it’s best I stay here.”

“We just missed you, Sadie,” she said, crying once again. “We don’t understand why you left.”

Spinning around, I said, “I needed space. I couldn’t deal with everything going on and needed to get away. That’s all.”

“For five years?” Dad screamed. “Was this because of that Aiden boy?”

Hearing his name made me fume even more.

“Leaving your family over a boy is ridiculous,” he said, shaking his head.

“Don’t, Dad. Just stop. I’m not a child, nor am I an idiot. I just told you why and that’s it. Stop trying to put words in my mouth.” I hurried inside before he could say anymore and growled in frustration.

“They’ve been pretty upset,” Santos said from the doorway.

“I couldn’t tell,” I responded. Pushing past him, I grabbed my bag and called out to him. “Which room can I use?”

“Mine’s the one upstairs on the left,” he answered.

The back door slid open and I rushed down the hall and into the bedroom at the end. Closing the door, I sealed it from outsiders and threw myself on the bed.

How had everything gotten so messed up? What was wrong with me? When Grandma and Aiden left, something snapped inside. The more I dwelled on Harlow and her decisions, the angrier I got. I’d decided to leave months before I actually did, using Grandma’s resources to assist in my searches.

Florida was my first destination. Orlando was overrun with hungry vampires and impish fae who enjoyed controlling the elements more than they should have. Within six months, I’d destroyed most of them and Orlando was fairly safe again.